Patch Management: Why Keeping Software Updated is Your First Line of Defence

Devices & Peripherals, Hardware & Infrastructure, Security /

A significant proportion of successful cyberattacks exploit vulnerabilities that had patches available at the time of the attack. The attacker didn’t find a zero-day vulnerability or use sophisticated techniques; they used a known weakness that the victim hadn’t gotten around to fixing. Patch management is the discipline of keeping software updated systematically. It’s not glamorous, […]

Patch Management: Why Keeping Software Updated is Your First Line of Defence Read More »

Synology DSM Walkthrough (Part 1): Getting Started

Devices & Peripherals, Hardware & Infrastructure, Networking, Security, Software & Systems /

Synology makes some of the most popular NAS devices for small businesses, and their operating system, DSM (DiskStation Manager), is a large part of why. It’s a full-featured, browser-based platform that makes complex storage tasks approachable without sacrificing capability. This is the first in a series of posts covering DSM in practical depth. At the

Synology DSM Walkthrough (Part 1): Getting Started Read More »

iSCSI vs SMB vs NFS: Choosing the Right Storage Protocol

Hardware & Infrastructure, Networking, Security /

When you connect a NAS or storage server to your network, you need a protocol to make that storage accessible to other devices. The three you’ll encounter most often are SMB, NFS, and iSCSI. They solve different problems and suit different environments. Choosing the right one depends on what you’re connecting and what you need

iSCSI vs SMB vs NFS: Choosing the Right Storage Protocol Read More »

Email Security Explained: SPF, DKIM and DMARC in Plain English

Cloud Computing, Security, Software & Systems /

If someone can send an email that appears to come from your domain, they can impersonate your business to your customers, suppliers, and staff. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are three DNS-based standards that prevent this. They also improve the deliverability of your legitimate email, reducing the chance that your messages end up in spam folders.

Email Security Explained: SPF, DKIM and DMARC in Plain English Read More »

Windows XP Mode: Running Legacy Software on Modern Hardware

Hardware & Infrastructure, Security, Software & Systems /

Every business has one. A piece of software that’s critical to operations, hasn’t been updated in years, and absolutely will not run on anything newer than Windows 7. Maybe it controls a piece of manufacturing equipment. Maybe it’s a custom database built for a client that no longer exists. Maybe it’s an accounting package that

Windows XP Mode: Running Legacy Software on Modern Hardware Read More »

Network Printer Setup: Getting Everyone Printing Without the Chaos

Devices & Peripherals, Hardware & Infrastructure, Networking, Security /

Getting a printer working for one computer is straightforward. Getting it working reliably for an entire office, across Windows and Mac devices, with sensible defaults and minimal IT involvement, is a different task. Here’s how to approach it properly. Step 1: Connect the Printer to the Network For an office printer, a wired ethernet connection

Network Printer Setup: Getting Everyone Printing Without the Chaos Read More »

What is PowerShell and Why Should You Care?

Automation & Scripting, Security, Software & Systems /

If you manage Windows computers, servers, or Microsoft 365, PowerShell is the most powerful tool you’re probably not using. It’s built into every modern Windows installation, it’s free, and it can automate tasks that would otherwise take hours of manual work. Here’s what it is and why it matters. What PowerShell Is PowerShell is a

What is PowerShell and Why Should You Care? Read More »

pfSense and OPNsense: Open Source Firewalls for Serious Users

Hardware & Infrastructure, Networking, Security /

Most small businesses use whatever firewall came built into their router: a consumer-grade device with limited configurability and basic security features. pfSense and OPNsense are a different category of product entirely: fully featured, enterprise-grade firewall platforms that run on commodity hardware and cost nothing in software licensing. What They Are Both pfSense and OPNsense are

pfSense and OPNsense: Open Source Firewalls for Serious Users Read More »

VPNs for Small Businesses: Site-to-Site vs Remote Access

Cloud Computing, Networking, Security, Software & Systems /

VPN gets used as a catch-all term for very different things. A consumer VPN service that hides your browsing from your ISP is a very different product from the business VPN that lets your staff securely connect to your office network from home. Understanding the distinction (and knowing which type your business actually needs) helps

VPNs for Small Businesses: Site-to-Site vs Remote Access Read More »

Scroll to Top