Key factors to help you decide what’s best for your company. IT service providers deliver the technical expertise small businesses need at a much lower cost than hiring IT staff. They can recommend, install, and manage technology according to business’ objectives and core competencies and ensure that critical data is safe. That’s why nearly 70% of U.S. small to medium…

Microsoft has announced that it will stop supporting Windows 7 after January 14, 2020, which means it will no longer provide tech support, software updates, or security updates to Windows 7 PC users. If you plan on using Windows 7 on your PC after this date, your computer will still work, “but it may become more vulnerable to security risks…

A couple weeks ago, we told you about the five can’t-miss events at the NY Tech Summit. Today, we’re recapping one of those five things: Mike Hensley’s speech about why small businesses are prone to cyberattacks. Here’s what our Senior Manager of IT Solutions had to say. Why are small businesses at risk? Most small businesses conduct their business online,…

Heading to the NY Tech Summit at the Turning Stone Casino on Wednesday, June 5? If not, we hope you’ll consider joining us. For those of you who’ll be in attednance, here’s what to look out for (other than the slots, shows, and gaming tables).   1. Keynote Speaker: Merril Hoge “Who is Merril Hoge?” “WHO IS MERRIL HOGE?!” He’s…

Last year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updated its cybersecurity framework, an industry-best outline for how to improve the security and resilience of your IT infrastructure. It’s a complex document, so we put together this quick list of key takeaways. 1. The framework is designed to help you: Describe your current cybersecurity posture Identify your target state…

Ever hear the expression, “I don’t make the rules; I only enforce them”? It operates on the premise that two separate entities work in tandem to achieve the same desired result. We’ve seen it a hundred times: The policeman doesn’t write the traffic laws; he just gives you the ticket. The referee doesn’t write the hockey rules; she just puts…

At the 18th Annual Niagara County Technology and Cybersecurity Forum, Lume Strategies Chief Information Officer Peter Capelli spoke about steps organizations can take to enhance their cybersecurity programs. In particular, he shared his expertise on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which was first released in 2014 and recently updated in 2018. What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework? Congress established the National…

Western New Yorkers don’t need to look far to see that our entrepreneurial ecosystem is thriving. This year’s 43North Finals, which drew up-and-coming companies from across the United States and Canada, were a true testament to how impactful Buffalo’s startup community has become. In remarks and speeches throughout the event, a common theme emerged: Growing Buffalo’s startup scene isn’t a…

Last week, Michael Hensley, Senior IT Manager for Lume Strategies (an Aleron company), was installed as Chairman of the Board for the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce. Hensley—who has been with Lume since its inception in 2012 and with Aleron since 2008—has served on the Chamber’s board of directors since 2015. As Chairman, Hensley will continue championing and supporting businesses in…

There’s good news at the helm for IT professionals and those graduating with tech-related degrees. According to a survey by Robert Half, managers plan to expand their teams and add more tech talent by the end of 2018. The advancing and upgrading of technological systems is occurring more rapidly than the hiring of associates able to address these issues. This…