31478 Industrial Road Suite 200, Livonia, Michigan 48150 sales@xfer.com

XFER Blog

XFER has been serving the Livonia area since 1994, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

The FBI is Extremely Concerned About Ransomware; and You Should Be Too

The FBI is Extremely Concerned About Ransomware; and You Should Be Too

Ransomware is an incredibly disruptive threat that can put your business at risk, but it is increasingly becoming not just a fiscal risk to organizations, but also to the physical health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning that should have everyone concerned about the future of ransomware attacks, not just in business, but in everyday life.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Is Wi-Fi Fast Enough to Support Your Business?

Is Wi-Fi Fast Enough to Support Your Business?

It hasn’t been too long since connectivity required an actual physical connection between the connecting endpoints, making a wired connection the de-facto option for businesses. However, now that wireless connectivity is so widely available, businesses now have a choice… but which is the better option? Let’s compare some of the pros of each to make the answer a little clearer.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Implementing IoT? 3 Questions You Should Ask

Implementing IoT? 3 Questions You Should Ask

With the Internet of Things taking the world by storm, it’s no surprise that many businesses are attempting to leverage it to their advantage. However, implementing these devices into your operations comes with its fair share of risks and challenges. Let’s discuss some of the ways you should consider implementing the Internet of Things for your business, as well as what you must consider when building your IoT strategy.

0 Comments
Continue reading

The CRM is the Consummate Business Management Tool

The CRM is the Consummate Business Management Tool

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is an especially useful solution for any business to utilize, as long as they do so with a strategy in mind. Let’s go over why this strategy is so important, and how it should be shaped.

0 Comments
Continue reading

U.S. Lawmakers Need to Consider Overarching Data Privacy Law

U.S. Lawmakers Need to Consider Overarching Data Privacy Law

For much of the past decade, data privacy has been a big issue. Ever since information was unveiled on how major tech companies (and other companies) use the information gleaned from their users, there has been a cross-section of people who have started to fight back against it. Unfortunately for Americans, this hasn’t resulted in an overarching data privacy law that protects people and their personal data. This month, we’ll take a look at the data privacy environment and discuss why there haven’t been any moves by U.S. lawmakers to protect data privacy.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Sheer Breadth of Services Makes VoIP a Strong Communications Option

Sheer Breadth of Services Makes VoIP a Strong Communications Option

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is one service that just about any business can use to their advantage. It’s a fact that the traditional telephone systems used by companies for years have not aged particularly well, and VoIP offers them an alternative solution that is both dynamic and more flexible. Let’s dig into some of the benefits your company can find from a well-timed and well-planned switch to a VoIP solution.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Is Productivity Slowing Due to Employee Social Media Use?

Is Productivity Slowing Due to Employee Social Media Use?

Businesses have always attempted to optimize productivity for their employees in a variety of ways, but there are certain distractions that will always persist–especially in today’s incredibly connected world. One of these distractions is social media, and it creates the illusion of productivity when, in reality, it’s really not helping much.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Strategic Tips for Creating Secure Passwords

Strategic Tips for Creating Secure Passwords

When we tell you that it’s a best practice to implement complex passwords for your business, do you know what exactly a complex password is? The truth of the matter is that secure passwords are a little confusing, and the standards continue to shift back and forth. Let’s examine some of the industry-standard best practices for implementing secure passwords and how your organization can go about doing so.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Technology that Can Have You Cooking Up Collaboration

Technology that Can Have You Cooking Up Collaboration

Of any operational strategy, collaboration is both the simplest to set up and the most difficult to master. The organizations that do, stand to benefit greatly from the massive amount of efficiency that is created, and the productivity that results from it. The organizations that struggle with it,won’t be as efficient and that typically means costs will rise. Let’s take a look at some of the ways businesses can work toward collaborative mastery.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Outsourcing is a Great Way to Stabilize Costs

Outsourcing is a Great Way to Stabilize Costs

Companies hire many talented individuals for many different types of positions, but one way that some organizations choose to amplify their operations is through proper outsourcing. This practice can be invaluable for businesses that want to take things up a notch and adjust the way they operate for the better.

0 Comments
Continue reading

The Right Strategies Can Transform Your Operations

The Right Strategies Can Transform Your Operations

These days it can seem like the gap between small business and large enterprise is so massive that it is impossible to close, but the truth is the exact opposite. Through the smart application of business technology, you might be surprised by how much you can improve your operations and stand out from the crowd. It all boils down to tracking your business for analytics, ensuring that you provide an excellent service or experience to your customers, and implementing the right technology solutions.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Managed IT Technicians are Reliable Repairmen

Managed IT Technicians are Reliable Repairmen

In today’s business world that is so reliant on technology, there are few issues more disruptive than a computer that is not working properly. When your computer stops working and you have no clue what to do next, who is first on your calling list for assistance? Do you have someone on-hand who can resolve your technology problems?

0 Comments
Continue reading

Crafting Successful Remote Work Policies

Crafting Successful Remote Work Policies

Considering the circumstances of the past couple years, it’s no surprise that many businesses have turned their attention towards creating a long-term plan for a remote workforce. There are many considerations that must be brought front and center to create such a remote work policy, many of which require a focused examination of technology and the practices associated with it. Let’s take a closer look at what you might want to think about when crafting your remote work policies.

0 Comments
Continue reading

91% of IT Professionals Are Torn Between Security and Business Continuity

91% of IT Professionals Are Torn Between Security and Business Continuity

When it comes to your business, what do you prioritize? Do you focus more on security, or do you focus more on the business continuity side of things? The reality here is that both are of critical importance. Unfortunately, however, it seems that many executives feel like the current circumstances surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have led them to prioritize one over the other.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Checking Out a Professional Data Backup Strategy

Checking Out a Professional Data Backup Strategy

Data backup is extremely important for any business, but some companies struggle to implement this solution in an effective way. First, we’ll outline some of the information you should know about data backup, then we’ll dive into the details on how to successfully implement a data backup solution.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Here are 4 Tips that Will Help You Get More Done

Here are 4 Tips that Will Help You Get More Done

You don’t need us to tell you that business owners have a lot of work to do, so you should make it a priority to streamline as much of this work as possible. You can use an easy four-step process to make your day-to-day tasks easier and more efficient, and who knows? You might even be able to free up some of that time by asking others to pitch in every now and then. Here are four tips you can use to get the most out of your productivity routine throughout the day.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Cybersecurity is a Multifaceted and Strategic Issue for Small Businesses

Cybersecurity is a Multifaceted and Strategic Issue for Small Businesses

There are a lot of threats out on the Internet, and many of them have absolutely a slim chance to threaten your business. Unfortunately, there are plenty that can and it only takes one to set your business back. Many IT professionals currently working for enterprise businesses deal with threats day-in and day-out, so they are experienced and knowledgeable. Small business owners, who for all intents and purposes are the lead IT decision-makers, don’t always consider these risks; they just need to keep their business running effectively. 

0 Comments
Continue reading

Knowing “Why” You Do Things Can Reinforce Your “What”

Knowing “Why” You Do Things Can Reinforce Your “What”

There is immense value in knowing what you provide to your customers and understanding that inside-out. However, knowing what you provide will only get you so far. Understanding why you do what you do can make all the difference in standing out from the rest of the businesses in your industry.

0 Comments
Continue reading

Work These 8 Things Into Your Business Continuity Plan

Work These 8 Things Into Your Business Continuity Plan

Bad things happen. If your business fails to plan for the worst, when something terrible does happen, you could be looking at disaster. If you have a comprehensive continuity plan in place, however, you have a fighting chance. Let’s discuss some of the elements you absolutely need to address when making your business’ continuity plan. 

0 Comments
Continue reading

Businesses Are Dealing with Record Levels of Turnover

Businesses Are Dealing with Record Levels of Turnover

There are some periods in history referred to as “great,” many of which were devastating in scope. We are currently living through a period that is becoming known as The Great Resignation. People are leaving their jobs in droves without having other employment opportunities lined up. As you can imagine, this is creating significant challenges for many businesses. Let’s take a closer look at what The Great Resignation really is and why it’s important to understand for a small business.

0 Comments
Continue reading