United Training BlogNews and resources on the latest trends in IT training and professional developmenthttps://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blogHow to Manage Meetings in Microsoft Teamshttps://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blog/postid/70/how-to-manage-meetings-in-microsoft-teamsGeneral,Microsoft,Modern WorkplaceSat, 23 Jan 2021 08:00:00 GMT<p>Midway through 2018 Microsoft made the decision to offer a free version of Teams to take on their competitor Slack. That decision has led to a huge increase in adoption. So much so that Microsoft named Teams their ‘fastest growing business app ever. Not bad.</p> <p>Microsoft Teams is a chat-centered workspace in Office 365 that helps team members achieve more together. Aside from chats, Teams also supports video calls and meetings to enable teams to meet live, whether on-demand, or scheduled. This is a quick tutorial on how you can easily manage your meetings in Microsoft Teams.</p> <h1><!--more--></h1> <ol> <li><span style="background-color: transparent;">Open Microsoft Teams<strong>.</strong></span></li> <li>Click the <strong>Meetings icon</strong> located in the sidebar on the left.</li> </ol> <p><img alt="" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/meeting_1.jpg" style="width: 431px; height: 402px;" /></p> <p><span style="background-color: transparent;">3. Your <strong>next meeting</strong> will be displayed in the right side of the window. Review its details. </span></p> <p><span style="background-color: transparent;">4. Click on the icon in the top right corner of the task pane to switch to <strong>Agenda View</strong>. Here you can review your upcoming meetings. Once you’ve done that, click “<strong>Schedule a meeting</strong>” at the bottom of the task pane.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: transparent;"><img alt="" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/meeting_2.jpg" style="width: 734px; height: 478px;" /></span></p> <p><span style="background-color: transparent;">5. The “<strong>New meeting</strong>” window will open. Type in the title of your new meeting in the Title field. Add the location, time and any details you’d like to include. On the right side of the screen you have the option to select a channel. Below the channel area, click the “<strong>Invite people</strong>” field. Start typing the name of the person you’d like to invite.</span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/2_v2.png" title="" /><img alt="" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/meeting_3.jpg" style="width: 901px; height: 680px;" /></p> <p>NOTE: If the word “<strong>Free</strong>” does not appear under your invitees’ name you can use the Scheduling Assistant. Simply click on the link under the End date and time fields to view the invitees’ calendar(s) to determine a time that is free for everyone.</p> <p>When you’re done, click on the purple “<strong>Schedule</strong>” button to save your scheduled meeting.</p> <p><img alt="" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/meeting_4.jpg" style="width: 626px; height: 472px;" /></p> <p>In the confirmation dialog box that appears, review the meeting details. The invitees will be listed on the right of the screen. Here you can join the meeting, cancel the meeting or chat with the participants. You can also edit the meeting by clicking "<strong>Edit"</strong> in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Clicking the close button will return you to Teams.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/4_v2.png" title="" /><img alt="" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/meeting_5.jpg" style="width: 901px; height: 609px;" /></p> <hr /> <p>Hopefully, this tip will help you manage your meetings in Microsoft Teams more effectively in the future.</p> 70The Ultimate Meeting Guide: How to Run a Meeting Like a Prohttps://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blog/postid/62/the-ultimate-meeting-guide-how-to-run-a-meeting-like-a-proGeneral,Microsoft,Skills,training,Work From HomeTue, 12 Jan 2021 08:00:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">The Ultimate Meeting Guide: How to Run a Meeting Like a Pro</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Without a doubt, meetings remain an essential part of doing business. Among many other benefits, they ensure your teams stay on the same page with the information they need to get things done. Unfortunately, they get a bad rap for taking up time and resources—ultimately costing your business. Surveys say employees historically hate meetings. So much so that almost half of the respondents polled by Harris for Clarizen (46%) said they’d instead do nearly anything else than attend status meetings. Moving to Antarctica was more favorable for 6% of the respondents, 8% would endure a root canal, and 17% would prefer to watch paint dry than be stuck in a meeting.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">So, why are meetings earning such a bad rap?</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">It’s mostly because of the sizable gap between the increasing volume of meetings and the value derived from the time spent. “15% of an organization’s collective time is spent in meetings,” according to Bain & Company via Harvard Business Review. And as everyone knows, time is money in any organization.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">So, what can a business do?</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">The short answer is: Conduct simple, direct meetings focused on exact action items so that the time spent feels convenient and useful for your employees.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Do you even need to meet?</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">When is a meeting necessary? Should a meeting be convened at all? They’re valid questions and could save you significant time and money. Meetings without a clear agenda often lead to unproductive behaviors from attendees. Bain & Company conducted a survey that found that $60 million, 20% of the total cost of meetings, was squandered in unproductive activity in a sample 10,000 employee business.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Watch your company’s bottom line and value your employees’ time by first determining whether a meeting is necessary. If it is, then follow some best practices for making it a success.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Here are some simple criteria to consider before calling or attending a meeting:</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span><b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">What is the action item of the meeting?</span></span></b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"> Is it decisive or informing?</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span><b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">What is the size of the meeting?</span></span></b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"> If the number of people attending the meeting is greater than 10, it’s more of a presentation than a meeting.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span><b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Is the meeting to inform a handful of people?</span></span></b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"> If the time is spent discussing status or debriefing information, you likely only need to send a memo or email or publish a document on your company’s intranet/website.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span><b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Will the meeting solve a problem?</span></span></b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"> Will it help you and your peers reach an important decision or persuade a group of people to support a proposition? Is a brainstorming session needed to gather new information for a product or service? If you answered no to any of these questions, you don’t need a meeting.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span><b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Is there a better alternative, such as using a tool with real-time chat or team announcement features?</span></span></b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"> If so, explore the merits of such a device before requiring people to pause whatever they’re doing to attend a meeting.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span><b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">Will suspending or canceling a meeting negatively impact your employees’ abilities to complete their assigned tasks?</span></span></b><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"> If yes, go ahead and convene the meeting.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050">There’s a better way to conduct your meetings, and it’s directly tied to your business’ success. What if you could eliminate your meeting-related frustrations and run them efficiently like a pro? It’s not a far-fetched businessperson’s dream. We can help you deploy Teams, teach your employees how to use them, and offer professional development training to hone communication skills. Get in touch to learn more about how we can train your team to rock online meetings.</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"><a href="/Portals/2/downloads/the_ultimate_meeting_guide.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/meeting_download.jpg?ver=V5JCP8F5fdJmIaiwB7T_Jw%3d%3d" style="width: 800px; height: 200px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:13.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" light="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#505050"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> 629 ways to stay productive while working from homehttps://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blog/postid/59/9-ways-to-stay-productive-while-working-from-homeGeneral,Microsoft,Modern Workplace,Work From HomeFri, 18 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMT<h5><strong>Believe us when we say we've all been there. Staying productive throughout your day can be challenging. That's why we've compiled a list of tips and tricks to help get you through your busy day:</strong></h5> <div><strong></strong> <ol> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Find a place to focus</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Find a space in your home where you can concentrate. If you’re somewhere with background distractions, use background blur in Microsoft Teams to keep teammates focused. ​</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Communicate often</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Your rhythm with online work from home might look different than it does in the office. For example, you may be balancing work and childcare at the same time. Communicate your schedule to your coworkers so that they know when to reach out to you.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Maintain healthy boundaries</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">​Without the normal workday signals, like a commute, it can be harder to unplug. Make sure to take breaks, stay hydrated, and give yourself opportunities to “clock out” from remote work at the end of the day.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Embrace online meetings</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Make sure all meetings include a virtual “join” option so that team members can join from wherever they are working. Turn video on so your team can interact face to face and feel more connected.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Be mindful and inclusive</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A crowded conference call can make it difficult for people to share their opinions. Pause frequently to allow time for questions and remind attendees that they can use the chat window to share their thoughts.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Record your meetings</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When you start a meeting, hit “record.” Team members who aren’t able to join can watch later or search the automatically generated transcript for important information. That way, people can easily review anything they missed or need repeated.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Make up for missing hallway talk</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">​The quick chat at the water cooler is what many people miss the most when working remotely. Instead, be deliberate about and connecting with your coworkers. Think about chat messages as your virtual watercooler and set yourself a reminder to regularly check-in with people.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Bring the team together</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Working remotely can feel a bit isolating. It’s important to create opportunities for the whole team to virtually get together, whether it’s large brainstorms with the Microsoft Whiteboard app or daily check-ins over a virtual coffee.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Have fun</b></span></span></span> <ul style="list-style-type:disc"> <li style="margin-left:8px; margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Use Teams to encourage fun activities and challenges to maintain morale. Holding a photo contest or praising employees for creative ideas are great ways to help the team stay positive, engaged and energized.</span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ol> <strong></strong></div> 59Enabling remote access to Appshttps://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blog/postid/53/enabling-remote-access-to-appsCloud,CyberSecurity,General,Microsoft,Modern Workplace,Security,training,Work From HomeWed, 09 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">2020 has pushed organizations to keep moving while protecting against new security threats that have emerged due to the rapid and universal move to remote work. ​Some organizations may be further along when it comes to securing remote work and may only need to fine-tune; others may need more assistance to ensure their remote work situation is secure. Every organization has a ​different starting point. We can help you quickly provide secure and scalable access to your apps, whether they are on-prem or cloud-based.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Empower remote workers to access the apps they need without compromising security by:</span></span></span></strong></p> <ol> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Securing access to all your apps from anywhere. ​</span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Simplifying end-user app discovery. ​</span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Extending secure collaboration to your contractors and partners. ​</span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Enabling strong authentication.</span></span></span></li> </ol> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>The first step to enabling remote access to apps starts with identity</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In our current reality of a highly dispersed remote workforce, now more than ever identity is your control plane to have greater visibility and control over who has access to what, when they should have it, and under what conditions.​ With Azure Active Directory, Microsoft’s cloud-based identity & access management solution, as that control plane you can start that access control by enabling single sign-on to all your apps connected to Azure AD for your users. ​Single sign-on ensures that users only need to log in once to gain access to all their critical productivity resources, and they won’t need to remember passwords to each application account.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Why should you manage your identities from the cloud? ​</b></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cloud is more secure. With the ability to train models and algorithms, and ways to integrate solutions seamlessly, you cannot achieve the same security on-premises. ​​</span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is much better for your workforce – the common identity you’ve created across cloud and on-premises delivers a seamless experience​. ​</span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is a much better experience for you too – you can manage all user identifies and protect your apps from a single plane of glass​ with Azure AD as your universal platform.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>With identity and authentication set, now you can securely access all apps from on-premises to cloud-hosted, and SaaS apps</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With users authenticated through Azure AD and granted single sign-on to their resources, they can seamlessly access any application connected to the service. ​You can connect your software as a service (SaaS) applications, web-based on-premises applications, and line of business (LOB) apps to Azure AD. Most organizations use about 180 apps on average—and this number keeps growing. ​</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To keep you and your workforce more productive, Azure AD has over 3,300 SaaS applications pre-integrated in the Azure AD App Gallery and you can configure any of them for single sign-on and app security with just a few clicks.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Provide a single location for people to discover and access the apps they need to get their work done</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As the number of apps used by organizations keeps growing, it is becoming much harder for end-users to find them. ​It is even more challenging when employees are working remotely, and IT is over-stretched with the new requirements. My Apps make it easy to deploy new apps across the entire organization or dedicated employee groups by creating a consistent, user-friendly experience that lets your employees securely and conveniently launch all the apps they need with just one click.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Ensure your external partners still have access, remotely</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many organizations rely on external resources to execute key aspects of business operations. This could be vendors, partners, or contingent staff. Ensuring that your external partners still have access during this crisis is critical. ​Azure AD enables user-centric collaboration with any user, in or outside of your organization. ​You can easily connect all external users to collaborate in Microsoft Teams – from chats to co-authoring files and project management. ​You can also extend access for your external users to any app that may be required for the remote work scenarios when in-person meetings with suppliers, contractors, and other collaborators are impossible.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) ensures secure access to your apps</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To secure authentication, you must first look at passwords and provide stronger factors for your users to establish trust. Passwords are the weakest link in a security chain and a single point of failure without any additional verification. ​That’s why we believe strongly that if you only do one thing to help protect yourself, it should be to turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) – which can prevent 99.9% of identity attacks. ​We support a broad range of authentication options to fit the needs of your business and your users.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">United Training is committed to your success when it comes to the importance of securing remote work. For more information on how we can get you trained at any starting point, contact us today for a free consultation on your next steps.<span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; color:black; padding:0in"></span></span></span></span></p> 53What are the benefits of Microsoft Teams?https://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blog/postid/49/what-are-the-benefits-of-microsoft-teamsMicrosoft,Modern Workplace,Work From HomeTue, 10 Nov 2020 08:00:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA80AAAABCAMAAADTqryVAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAAARnQU1BAACxjwv8YQUAAAAGUExURQAAAAAAAKVnuc8AAAABdFJOU78bOHZ7AAAACXBIWXMAABcRAAAXEQHKJvM/AAAAFElEQVQ4T2NgYBwFo2AUDAPAyAAAO2QDzOffX/AAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" style="width:623px; height:1px" /></span></span></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"></span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Have you heard all the fantastic things about Microsoft Teams but haven’t seen it in action? Built especially for the remote team workload and the in-house employee in mind, Teams increase collaboration, productivity, and communication (to name a few). Here are some of the benefits that come with using Microsoft Teams:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Collaboration </b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Collaboration is ingrained in the very being of Microsoft Teams. You can send messages, files and scheduling online meetings all with the click of a mouse! Have a question but don’t want to send a lengthy email? Shoot them a quick question in the chat. Need to share your screen to elaborate? Give them a call and get to sharing it. Collaboration has never been easier than it is through Teams.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Productivity</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cutting out the time you spend searching through email threads and files sent two months ago is a thing of the past. Being a part of different Teams can help you differentiate conversations, meetings, and content you need in your day-to-day work life. Native integration with all the Office apps makes working in Teams that much easier.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Communication</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arguably one of the essential benefits of Teams is the streamlined access to communication. Send a chat, have a brainstorming session, and meetings into one easy to use place. Have access to your team even on the go with the Microsoft Teams App that allows you to join discussions, call co-workers, and send messages even when you’re away from your computer!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Still, aren’t 100% convinced? <strong>Click on the image below to see how Teams can help you make the most of your day!</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><a href="/Portals/2/downloads/day_in_the_life.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Day in the life work from home" class="img-fluid" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/day_in_the_life_2.jpg?ver=rqNdVc8AVN4oszaRxu2zjw%3d%3d" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></span></span></p> 49Keeping Users & Data Safe When Everyone is Working From Homehttps://www.newhorizons.com/resources/blog/postid/37/keeping-users-data-safe-when-everyone-is-working-from-homeCyberSecurity,General,News ,SecurityThu, 15 Oct 2020 09:56:00 GMT<p>When everyone is in the office, at their desk, and working on their computers its hard enough to make sure corporate data, the network, and those users remain safe and protected. Having everyone work from home makes it much more difficult. IT support personnel must be prepared to perform activities they’ve never had to before. Your network’s attack surface has just grown to include every home involved, with consumer internet providers and their variable security provisions, and users on computers that haven’t been under your control. Here are some of the biggest issues to be concerned about.</p> <hr /> <p>If you know anyone who works as an IT manager or network manager let them know you appreciate them!. They are changing the way we work every day. </p> <p>With everyone going to work from home (WFH) everyone experienced some high emotions. Some were thrilled to be able to work from home and not have to commute! Others started anticipating what life would be like at home all day with the kids, the dogs, the doorbell, the spouse…</p> <p>For many IT professionals, their world turned upside down. All their users were accessing their network on unknown devices with varying security provisions and using residential internet services. Precious corporate data could easily be exposed. Their hardened network went soft. Literally, everything needed to be reconfigured to absorb the shock.</p> <p>Once all that was done came the question of how the data center was going to be supported when nobody can safely get to it. Those who had completed their migration to the cloud thanked their stars.</p> <p><strong>What Can You Do To Help Protect Your Company?</strong></p> <p>The answer to this question will vary widely depending upon how your corporate network is organized and operated. However, we can take a look at the issues that are likely involved.</p> <p><strong>Passwords</strong></p> <p>You’re the first endpoint on the path along your network.</p> <p>Don’t share your passwords with anyone! Now would be a good time to update them with newer, stronger ones. No more “123455”,”password” or your spouse’s or pet’s name. These actually constitute about 80% of passwords in use today. Don’t be one of those.</p> <p>If you’ve been asked to enable multi-factor authentication- do so. Every time you login you’ll receive a code on your mobile device that you will enter into the login dialog as instructed. This combines something you know, your password, with something you have, your mobile phone.</p> <p><strong>Download Responsibly</strong></p> <p>If you download corporate data there’s a chance you may redistribute it outside the company. This destroys the effectiveness of all those security investments. During the transition to WFH, you may have greater access to download data or store it on thumb drives and other USB storage devices. There are many ways your IT department can enable you to download important company data without compromising security.  Ask about it! Downloading software is risky and could contain hazardous viruses or malware. Before you take advantage of that free download, check in with your IT department to make sure it's safe. </p> <p><strong>Encryption Alway</strong><strong>s</strong></p> <p>The very best last line of defense is data encryption. Work with your IT department to make sure the data you access is always encrypted. Not just when it travels between you and the data center, but also when it's sitting at rest in storage preferably in the data center, but possibly local to you. Don’t share your decryption keys with anyone. When anyone appropriates your encrypted data they get garbled nonsense.</p> <p><strong>Remember That the Biggest Source of Vulnerability is… You!</strong></p> <p>Unfortunately, it's true. Nothing in the network is as dangerous as you. You’re human. You can be fooled. The most frequent form of attack today is phishing which leads to ransomware. You receive an email that looks totally genuine from a known source. You’re asked to click a link or open an attachment. When you do you’ve opened the door to invasion. Your data is literally stolen and held for ransom until you pay. It’s called social engineering and it’s the biggest danger in computing today.</p> <p>By knowing the risks and asking the right questions, you can set your IT team up for success.</p> <p><a href="http://unitedtraining.com/cybersecurity-awareness" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/2/blog-images/cybersecuritybanner.jpg?ver=GWbzRP4Af_3nqWsLO4yeKA%3d%3d" style="width: 700px; height: 146px;" /></a></p> 37