SMART Blog

Smart Services has been providing independent agents with proactive, fast, and expert technology services since 1991.

Jerry Fetty is the CEO and founder of SMART I.T. Services, Inc. Jerry has been called the "Geek King". He has been helping companies make smart decisions about their networks and automation systems for over 30 years.

Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore a Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Solution

Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore a Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Solution

Data backup and disaster recovery are critical to the success of the modern business, but so many organizations still don’t see the importance of maintaining copies of their data infrastructure, or simply don’t think that they will fall victim to a data loss incident. Unfortunately, in this case, we have to insist that you consider data backup and disaster recovery; it’s not a matter of if you lose your data, but when.

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FBI Director Insists Government Can Access Any Private Record

FBI Director Insists Government Can Access Any Private Record

Does the U.S. Constitution allow the American government to access the electronic devices of its citizens? Based on comments by FBI Director James Comey during Symantec’s Annual Government Symposium, it certainly does.

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Tip of the Week: How Instant Messaging Can Be Used to Improve Workplace Collaboration

Tip of the Week: How Instant Messaging Can Be Used to Improve Workplace Collaboration

Instant messaging, once primarily used for social interaction, is finding a place in daily business communications. A survey from BetterCloud and reported by ITProPortal showed that over half of users believe instant messaging will become the new email in the office, which, when you think of how useful email is in the business environment, is an impressive statement. The problem lies in showing users how to leverage best practices for their instant messaging solution, and managing perhaps the biggest downside of all: how distracting it can be.

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Situations Can Quickly Deteriorate When Employees Attempt to Resolve IT Issues

Situations Can Quickly Deteriorate When Employees Attempt to Resolve IT Issues

One of the most common threats to sensitive corporate data comes from within your organization in the form of user error. It is, in fact, the leading cause of data loss and security-related problems for business.

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Couple Exploits Vulnerability With IRS Filing System, Steals $1M, Goes to Jail

Couple Exploits Vulnerability With IRS Filing System, Steals $1M, Goes to Jail

Anthony and Sonia Alika recently found out that the Internal Revenue Service is not an organization to mess with. Having been busted for filing fraudulent tax returns through the often-exploited Get Transcript site managed by the IRS, the couple will spend some time in the slammer in addition to paying restitution.

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3 Built-in Windows 10 Security Tools that Keep Hackers at Bay

3 Built-in Windows 10 Security Tools that Keep Hackers at Bay

As perhaps the most widely-used computing tool in the workplace, Windows remains a huge target for hackers of all kinds. Criminals are always trying to uncover vulnerabilities in the operating system, but this time around, Microsoft has truly outdone themselves. Windows 10’s built-in security, according to hackers at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, allows for the most secure Windows operating system in several years.

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Tip of the Week: Why Routinely Changing Your Password Isn't Always a Good Idea

Tip of the Week: Why Routinely Changing Your Password Isn't Always a Good Idea

We've been told for years it’s best to routinely change your passwords. That way, if a password were stolen, it would lose its value when the user goes to change it. While this sounds logical, new research shows that sometimes it may actually be better NOT to change your passwords.

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NATO Officially Declares Cyberspace a Battlefield

NATO Officially Declares Cyberspace a Battlefield

Security professionals have been at war with hackers ever since the Internet was created, but a recent NATO decision has affirmed the fact that cybersecurity is a real-world problem, and one that needs to be fixed. Just like land, air, and sea, cyberspace has become a battlefield, albeit a very different kind.

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Can Your Data Backup Plan Stand Up to These 4 Common Threats?

Can Your Data Backup Plan Stand Up to These 4 Common Threats?

Disasters are an unfortunate part of doing business in a technology-heavy workplace. You need to expect the worst, but it’s often difficult to predict what types of disasters your organization will have to endure. There are a few universal disasters that you’ll encounter, regardless of where your business operates.

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Alert: 27 Vulnerabilities Patched in Latest Round of Windows Updates

Alert: 27 Vulnerabilities Patched in Latest Round of Windows Updates

Microsoft's latest round of security patches resolved 27 vulnerabilities affecting Windows, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, the Edge browser, and other software. It’s important to patch these vulnerabilities as soon as possible. If, on the other hand, you’ve already applied the latest security patches, you have little to fear.

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Your Technology Will Inevitably Need to Be Replaced. What’s Your Plan?

Your Technology Will Inevitably Need to Be Replaced. What’s Your Plan?

Replacing your aging or broken-down hardware is a part of doing business, and one that few business owners want to think about before it must be done. Hardware is expensive and tricky to replace without experiencing at least some downtime. That’s not to mention arguably one of the most important questions you have to ask yourself: What do you do with your old technology that’s filled with sensitive data?

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Going Mobile is Easier Than You Think, Here’s How to Get Started

Going Mobile is Easier Than You Think, Here’s How to Get Started

Computers used to be great hulking pieces of machinery that were difficult to move. These days, however, mobility is a major contributing factor when buying a new device. Today’s smartphones are more powerful than computers built a decade ago, so it’s no surprise that organizations are prioritizing in mobility.

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How Outsourced IT Frees Up Time and Gives You Peace of Mind

How Outsourced IT Frees Up Time and Gives You Peace of Mind

Running a business is hard. As a business owner, you know this better than anyone else. You have to juggle your assets, manage your workforce, and schedule out tasks to those who are most qualified. Yet, there will likely come a time when a task comes along that nobody within your business is qualified to perform. For many organizations, this task is IT management.

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Should Your Agency Create a Meme?

Should Your Agency Create a Meme?

Memes are deeply rooted into today’s online culture. Thanks to the Internet, even the most absurd things can quickly gain popularity through social media and online forums. While they might seem silly and pointless, it would be foolish to dismiss them as wastes of time; especially considering how popular they are. If you are looking for a creative way to get your name and brand out there, why not try using memes?

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Tip of the Week: 5 Easy Ways to Move Multiple Files

Tip of the Week: 5 Easy Ways to Move Multiple Files

Storing critical physical files has been an important part of the office infrastructure for a long time. In the past, files were stuffed into folders and catalogued in a file cabinet for access; but when it came time to move files, it took a lot of work. Now, since many files are stored electronically, several shortcuts allow you to easily move your files.

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Is Autoscaling a Myth?

Is Autoscaling a Myth?

When shopping for a cloud solution, agents are routinely bombarded with a ton of impressive-sounding features promoted as selling points. One feature that you’ve probably come across, autoscaling, may not be able to fully deliver on its perceived promises.

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The Average Cost Per Data Breach Hits $4 Million

The Average Cost Per Data Breach Hits $4 Million

If you've ever questioned why your business needs to take advantage of network security, consider this: the average cost of data breaches, worldwide, has increased by 29 percent since 2013. The average cost per data breach is now an astounding $4 million! Can your business afford to deal with a data breach or data loss disaster?

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New Ransomware Presents Users With a Dilemma

New Ransomware Presents Users With a Dilemma

The Petya ransomware, a particularly vicious threat, has reared its ugly head once again; only this time, it’s not alone. Petya now comes bundled together with Mischa, another ransomware that works well alongside Petya. The ransomware is delivered via an inconspicuous email disguised as a job application, with a resume attached. Once the user downloads the file, Petya encrypts the files on the device.

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Sharing Your Netflix Password Makes You a Federal Criminal

Sharing Your Netflix Password Makes You a Federal Criminal

Sharing your Netflix password with a friend so they too can enjoy a vast catalogue of movies seems harmless enough. However, due to a recent ruling by judges of the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals, this common action is now a federal crime.

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Impatient Pokémon Go Users Take Malware Risk

Impatient Pokémon Go Users Take Malware Risk

Augmented reality is a growing trend in the technology industry. Perhaps one of the best known today can be found in the extremely popular mobile device app, Pokemon Go. However, hackers have seized the opportunity to infect players who want to “catch ‘em all” with a backdoor called DroidJack - something that certainly won’t help gamers “be the very best.”

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