Cybersecurity Tips, IT Insights & Industry News
Practical advice from HD Tech — your Cyber Lifeguard since 1995.
IT Services for Construction Companies Orange County
IT services for construction companies in Orange County protect job site data, prevent BEC fraud, and ensure compliance. Learn what construction firms need.
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Cost of IT Downtime: What It Really Costs SMBs
Cost of IT Downtime for SMBs ranges from $100K–$336K per hour. Learn what outages can really cost your business and how to prepare for the risks in 2026.
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Signs Your Orange County Business Needs Co-Managed IT
Co-managed IT adds security, compliance, and backup support alongside your internal IT person. Learn 5 signs your Orange County business needs co-managed IT.
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Microsoft 365 Outage Response: What Your MSP Should Do
When Microsoft 365 goes down, your MSP should triage, activate backup comms, and document response. See what real Microsoft 365 outage response looks like.
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Cyberattack Cost for Small Business: What You'll Pay
The cyberattack cost for small business averages $4.88M (IBM 2024). See every cost—downtime, legal, recovery—and what prevention actually costs SMBs.
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How Should a CFO Evaluate Cybersecurity Investment ROI?
How CFOs evaluate cybersecurity investment ROI using risk-adjusted models, cost avoidance, and compliance value. Quantify breach exposure and security spend.
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Ransomware Playbook for Orange County Law Firms
Orange County law firms need a ransomware playbook covering MFA, CCPA notification, and ABA ethics — not just IT recovery. Get the full guide.
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Business Email Compromise: What It Is and How to Stop It
BEC costs U.S. businesses billions annually. Learn how business email compromise works and how Orange County businesses stop it before a wire disappears.
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Cybersecurity Partner for Accounting Firms Orange County
Need a cybersecurity partner for your OC accounting firm? HD Tech handles IRS Safeguards, FTC compliance, and flat-fee protection. Book a free assessment.
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How to Choose a Cybersecurity Provider in Orange County
6 criteria to choose a cybersecurity provider in Orange County: certifications, 24/7 response, compliance, monitoring, pricing, local accountability.
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Switching MSPs in Orange County: A Structured Approach
Switching MSPs in Orange County doesn't have to mean downtime or chaos. Learn HD Tech's Lifeguard Loop™ onboarding process — zero gaps, full security.
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Managed IT for CPA Firms in Irvine: What to Expect
Managed IT for CPA firms in Irvine requires 24/7 monitoring, MFA, backups, and FTC Safeguards compliance. Learn what to demand from your IT provider.
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RPO and RTO for Professional Firms in Orange County
RPO and RTO targets set by business impact, not guesswork. Learn how Orange County law, CPA, and healthcare firms set recovery targets that work.
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Co-Managed IT for Manufacturing Companies in Orange County
Co-managed IT for manufacturers pairs your internal IT person with 24/7 monitoring and cybersecurity depth. See if it's the right fit for your OC facility.
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NIST SP 800-171 Requirements for Orange County Defense Contractors
NIST SP 800-171 governs CUI protection in defense contracts. Learn what it requires and how Orange County manufacturers achieve compliance fast.
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CCPA/CPRA Compliance for Orange County Law Firms
CCPA/CPRA compliance and ABA Rule 1.6 require specific IT controls for law firms. Learn the security controls Orange County firms need in 2026.
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Co-Managed IT for HIPAA and PCI DSS Compliance
Co-managed IT closes HIPAA and PCI DSS gaps for Orange County businesses — continuous monitoring, documentation, and incident response alongside your team.
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CMMC Level 2 Managed IT Checklist for Defense Contractors
CMMC Level 2 needs 110 controls. See the managed IT checklist mapped to Monitor, Detect, Respond, Recover for Orange County defense contractors.
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HIPAA IT Compliance for Orange County Practices in 2026
HIPAA IT compliance requires risk analysis, MFA, encryption, and tested backups. Learn the 7 controls Orange County practices need before 2026 enforcement.
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Managed IT Services Orange County: What's Included
Most managed IT services in Orange County skip enforceable SLAs, compliance depth, and incident ownership. See what a real provider delivers.
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Co-Managed IT Responsibility Map: Who Handles What
Co-managed IT splits responsibilities between your team and HD Tech. See exactly who owns monitoring, patching, helpdesk, compliance in a co-managed IT model.
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Hire-to-Compromise Attacks: What ShinyHunters Means for You
Hire-to-compromise attacks use fake job listings to breach networks from inside. Learn how ShinyHunters targets MSPs — and if yours can stop them.
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Ransomware Recovery: What to Do in the First 72 Hours
Ransomware hit your business — every minute counts. HD Tech's Orange County team responds in under 4 minutes. Here's your 72-hour Ransomware Recovery Playbook.
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What Real Cybersecurity Leadership Looks Like — And Why It Protects Your Business
Tom Hermstad leads HD Tech with 30 years of IT expertise, AI monitoring, and ransomware recovery. See what real cybersecurity leadership looks like.
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IT Support Orange County: What SMBs Pay
IT support Orange County costs $100–$250/user/month for SMBs. See pricing breakdown, what's included, and red flags to watch before signing.
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FTC Safeguards Rule Compliance for Orange County CPA Firms
FTC Safeguards Rule compliance is mandatory for Orange County CPA firms. Learn requirements, tax-season risks, and what your IT provider must deliver.
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What Is Phishing? How Small Businesses Stop Attacks
Phishing attacks trick employees into handing over credentials or access. Learn how small businesses stop phishing attacks with MFA, email filtering, and training.
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AI Acceptable Use Policy Template for Small Business
Every business using AI tools needs a written policy before an employee pastes client data into ChatGPT. Here is a template you can adapt today — plus what every policy must cover.
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AI Tools for Construction Companies — What's Safe, What's Not
AI tools can save construction companies hours per week — but the wrong ones expose client data, project financials, and subcontractor info to outside servers.
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Can Law Firms Use ChatGPT? Attorney-Client Privilege and AI Risk
Before your attorneys paste client information into ChatGPT, understand the privilege risks, bar ethics rules, and which AI tools are actually safe for legal work.
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GCC High vs Commercial Microsoft 365 — What Defense Contractors Must Know
If your company handles CUI under a DoD contract, this guide determines whether your Microsoft 365 environment will pass a CMMC audit — and what happens if it does not.
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Managed IT vs. In-House IT: The True Cost Comparison for Orange County Businesses (2026)
For most small and mid-sized businesses in Orange County, managed IT is significantly cheaper than hiring in-house — often by $30,000 to $80,000 per year once you account for total compensation, benefits, training, and coverage gaps. Here is the full comparison with real numbers.
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Is Microsoft Copilot HIPAA Compliant? What Accounting and Healthcare Firms Need to Know
Microsoft Copilot can be HIPAA compliant — but only under specific conditions, with the right Microsoft 365 plan, a signed Business Associate Agreement, and proper configuration. Out of the box, it is not automatically compliant. Here is exactly what you need to know.
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Microsoft Copilot Security Risks: What Every Business Needs to Know Before Deploying
Microsoft Copilot for M365 is one of the most powerful productivity tools available — but it introduces real security risks that most businesses are not prepared for. The core issue: Copilot surfaces any file the user can access, and in most organizations, that is far more than it should be.
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2026 Cybersecurity Statistics Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know
The numbers are in — and they are alarming. The average data breach now costs small businesses over $3 million, 43% of all cyberattacks target companies just like yours, and most victims do not know they have been hit for more than six months. Here is what the data actually says.
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What Is CMMC Compliance? A Complete Guide for Defense Contractors (2026)
CMMC — Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification — is the Department of Defense framework that determines whether your company can hold DoD contracts. The program rule was published October 15, 2024 and took effect December 16, 2024, and CMMC clauses began appearing in new DoD solicitations on November 10, 2025. Here is everything defense contractors need to know.
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2026 Cloud Security Checklist for Regulated SMBs
Use this 2026 cloud security checklist for regulated SMBs to strengthen compliance, protect sensitive data, and reduce cybersecurity risks.
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How CFOs Can Evaluate IT ROI More Effectively in 2026
Learn how CFOs can measure IT ROI in 2026. Discover smarter ways to evaluate technology investments, reduce risk, and improve operational efficiency.
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Why Plain-English IT Is a Compliance Advantage in 2026
Why does plain-English IT matter for compliance? Plain-English IT means explaining technology, cybersecurity, and compliance requirements in clear, understandable language instead of technical jargon. In 2026, this approach helps businesses follow security policies correctly, respond to incidents fa
Read more![The Evolution of Help Desk Support in 2026 [7 Key Shifts]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbyyigwnuugghdupnutfp.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fblog-images%2Fai-generated%2F1774396518508-wo1ubu.png&w=3840&q=75)
The Evolution of Help Desk Support in 2026 [7 Key Shifts]
What does modern help desk support look like in 2026? Help desk support in 2026 has evolved far beyond basic password resets and troubleshooting. Today’s IT help desk services combine automation, cybersecurity monitoring, remote support, and proactive system management to keep…
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Secure AI Adoption: Your Employees Already Use AI
Are employees already using AI without approval? Yes. In most organizations, employees are already using tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, or Gemini for emails, document summaries, research, and data analysis — often without formal oversight or policy. Is employee AI usage…
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How Construction Firms Use AI for RFPs & ERP Data
Can construction companies safely use AI for RFPs and proposals? Yes — when AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are deployed inside a secure Microsoft 365 tenant and governed by clear usage policies. Public AI tools should never be used for confidential…
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Law & Accounting Firms Need a Formal AI Usage Policy
By Tom Hermstad, CEO of HD Tech — We manage your tech so you can manage your business. If your firm is talking about Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT but doesn’t have a written AI usage policy, you’re not leading — you’re…
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How Defense Contractors Can Use AI in a CMMC‑Compliant Environment
By Tom Hermstad, CEO of HD Tech — We manage your tech so you can manage your business. If you handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and you’re playing with Copilot or Claude in a commercial tenant, you’re not “innovating” — you’re…
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Is Your ‘IT Guy’ Putting You at Risk? 5 Red Flags to Watch For
Why relying on one IT person isn’t enough in 2026 Many small to mid-sized businesses still rely on a single in-house technician or a part-time contractor to manage their IT. While that person may be hardworking and trusted, today’s cybersecurity landscape,…
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Managed IT for Manufacturers: How to Scale Without Compromise
Why IT matters more as manufacturing operations grow In 2026, manufacturers face dual pressures: increasing production demands and tightening cybersecurity and compliance standards. Whether you’re expanding to new facilities, integrating IoT devices, or adopting ERP systems, your IT infrastructure m
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What Every Healthcare CEO Should Know About HIPAA in 2026
Why HIPAA still matters in a post-pandemic, cloud-first world As healthcare organizations accelerate digital transformation, HIPAA remains a core compliance framework—not just a legal obligation, but a business-critical standard. In 2026, the law continues to evolve in response to telehealth expansi
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Why Hybrid Cloud Wins in 2026: A Real-World MSP Breakdown
What is hybrid cloud — and why are businesses choosing it? A hybrid cloud combines the flexibility of public cloud platforms (like Microsoft Azure or AWS) with the control of private infrastructure or on-premises servers. In 2026, this model is the…
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Cybersecurity for Construction Firms: The 2026 Compliance Playbook
Why does cybersecurity matter in construction? Construction firms are no longer just targets of physical theft — they’re also being targeted by cybercriminals who see blueprints, bid data, and contractor portals as valuable entry points. With growing digital adoption across project…
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Top 3 Tech Risks for Law Firms in 2026 (and How to Mitigate Them)
Why are law firms prime targets for cyber threats? In 2026, law firms face increasing digital exposure — managing client data, handling sensitive case files, and operating in hybrid work environments. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), over 25% of…
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OC Defense Contractor Cybersecurity Checklist
What’s the most critical cybersecurity step for OC defense contractors? A comprehensive gap assessment to meet CMMC and NIST 800-171 requirements. HD Tech offers this strategic evaluation to help identify vulnerabilities before they become compliance failures. How does HD Tech ensure…
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LA Accounting Firms: Client Data Security & Compliance
How can LA accounting firms protect client data? By utilizing Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Microsoft 365’s advanced compliance tools—all monitored 24/7 by the HD Tech help desk. Why is compliance critical for LA accountants? …
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Managed IT for LA Construction: Project Efficiency
How can managed IT improve construction efficiency in LA? Managed IT services streamline project management through secure cloud access, robust mobile device support, and 24/7 remote help desk availability. This approach minimizes costly delays on Los Angeles job sites, ensuring smooth…
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Protecting OC Construction Sites from Ransomware
Why is ransomware a threat to OC construction firms? Ransomware can lock critical project data—such as blueprints, contracts, and payroll—bringing job sites to a standstill and costing millions in project delays. How does HD Tech secure construction data? We deploy enterprise-grade…
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Irvine Cybersecurity IT Provider Checklist (Accounting)
What should accounting firms in Irvine look for in an IT provider? Seek a partner with proven expertise in regulatory compliance (such as CMMC and HIPAA), comprehensive 24/7 remote support, and deep proficiency in securing platforms like Microsoft 365 to safeguard…
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5 Cybersecurity Compliance Mistakes Defense Contractors Make
I’m Tom Hermstad, CEO of HD Tech, your Cyber Lifeguard in Seal Beach, CA. With over 30 years of experience safeguarding businesses, we’ve seen defense contractors navigate the choppy waters of cybersecurity compliance. In this blog, we dive into the five…
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What Is ITSM and Why Should You Care?
IT Service Management (ITSM): A Strategic Approach to Business Technology In today’s business landscape, technology is the engine of productivity and growth. However, without a structured approach, managing IT can quickly become chaotic and reactive. This is where IT Service Management…
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The Real Cost of a Ransomware Attack in Orange County
The True Financial Impact of Ransomware Attacks in Orange County Ransomware attacks cost businesses far more than just the ransom payment—even a single event can result in multi-million-dollar losses, extended downtime, and lasting reputational damage. Recent industry reports estimate the average…
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IT Services vs. Managed Services: What’s the Real Difference?
I get this question almost daily: “Tom, what’s the real difference between IT services and managed services?” It’s a fair question. Both sound technical. Both involve computers. Both cost money. But here’s the truth—the difference could determine whether your business survives…
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HD Tech: Your Partner for 30 Years of Expert Managed IT Services
For three decades, HD Tech has been delivering managed IT services to businesses across LA and Orange County, helping them operate at peak efficiency while keeping technology risks in check. As we celebrate our 30th year in business, we’re proud to continue providing professional…
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HD Tech: Your Right of Boom Cyber Preparedness Partner
In today’s digital-first business world, cyber threats are no longer a distant concern—they are an inevitable reality. As a managed security services provider serving Southern California, HD Tech delivers more than just managed IT services and professional IT support. Our mission…
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Immutable Backup: Modern Data Protection
Understanding the Power, Benefits, and Verification of Truly Tamper- Proof Backups In a world where cyber threats grow more sophisticated by the day and ransomware attacks can cripple organizations overnight, safeguarding your digital assets is more mission-critical than ever. Traditional backup…
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Why Your Business Can’t Afford to Skip Managed Cybersecurity in 2025
In 2025, cyber threats are more advanced, more frequent, and more expensive to recover from than ever before. For business owners, the stakes couldn’t be higher—data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing schemes can bring operations to a halt in minutes. The…
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Stop Wasting Money: The Smart Way to Outsource IT Management in 2025
Running a small business today means keeping up with a fast-paced, technology-driven world. The reality is, IT infrastructure has become the backbone of nearly every business operation—handling everything from data storage to cyber security. But here’s the challenge: maintaining an in-house…
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Endpoint Security: Layers of Proactive PC Protection
Exploring the Critical Components and Modern Solutions for Defending Computer Systems In today’s digital ecosystem, the humble computer, whether a personal device, a workstation, or a point-of-sale system, forms the backbone of organizational productivity and data stewardship. Beneath their familiar
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4-Year PC Refresh Cycle: Productivity & Security
Exploring the Real-World Benefits of Proactive Device Replacement for Exceptional Businesses In a world where technology evolves at breakneck speed, relying on outdated computers can quietly erode productivity, increase operational risks, and sap the spirit of high-performing teams. To stay ahead,…
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Why We Do What We Do
Although we do a lot of fixing broken printers and helping people with outlook problems, that is not what gets me up in the morning. Nope. I mean, we have to do it, but that’s not what gets me going and…
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Four Major Types of Cyber Threat
When assessing the risks of a security breach, it helps to know what you are up against. Cyber threats can come in many different forms. Understanding the nature of these threats will help us to be more prepared to defend against…
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Password Vault – Internet Security Strategy
Everyone knows the importance of passwords. From ancient days, secret passwords have been used to authorize entry for those who know them. Those who could not accurately state the password were restricted access and may even have been considered enemies. That’s…
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Incremental Backup Solutions for Businesses
Regular backup of data is essential, especially for businesses. Without a consistent backup solution, you have no way to recover data in the event of a disaster. Doing a full backup of all files gives you a good foundation for restoration, but…
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System Image Backup & Data Protection
Any business that has suffered a data loss and survived knows the importance of a good backup strategy. Many businesses assume it will never happen and have no backup services or inadequate backup plans. Simply backing up information to discs or…
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Business Backup Solutions: Protect Your Data
Backup Solutions- How to pick the best one for your business Regardless of size, every business needs good backup solutions. Every year, thousands of businesses across the United States lose months or even years of their data because of system crashes…
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Best Security Practices for Remote Access Users
In the time of Covid-19, many businesses have been forced to ask their employees to work from home. As a result, the work from home (WFH) model may become a permanent alternative for many workers who can effectively complete their required tasks…
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Mobile Device Management with Office 365
Mobile Device Management is important when it comes to your overall technology security strategy. If you have a fleet of phones in use by your employees out in the field, then you basically have an added level of exposure for each…
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The Importance of Proactive IT Maintenance
“Be prepared” is a good motto to live by, especially when it comes to managing IT environments. Every element in your IT architecture is subject to failure. It would be foolhardy to think that everything will continue as is without problems….
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System Administrator – The Fundamental Rule
Orange County IT Best Practice • System Administration The #1 System Administrator Rule: Why Your Business Needs Exactly ONE Here’s the counterintuitive truth most Orange County businesses get wrong: you should have exactly ONE system administrator—not two or three. Multiple system…
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Secure Your Internet with a VPN
Secure anonymity is the name of the game when you are doing business over the public Internet. If you work with HD Tech and need to access your business data remotely, we setup VPN (Virtual Private Network) access for you. A VPN protects…
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Why Choose Office 365 for Your Business
Blog Why Office 365? Posted by hdtech On March 13, 2015 https://www.facebook.com/v2.6/plugins/share_button.php?app_id=144240632325488&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Dfd9261b30a0e5a2b3%26domain%3Dwww.hdtech.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26orig
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Run – Don’t Walk – to Hard Disk-Based Backups
This is the second installment in the backup series, the first being on the use of tape. We are currently in the best place for backups in the 30 years I’ve been doing IT. Disk-based backups are awesome! The best! If…
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Backups: Beware of Tape!
You’re going to be hearing a lot on backups in the coming weeks, a favorite topic and one that often is ignored by business owners. Besides the work you perform on your systems, backups are the most important thing you can do to…
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Top 10 IT Priorities (5 Now, 5 Later)
The days of having an actual hardware server for each business function (file storage, database, email) are over, you can now run multiple ‘virtual’ machines on one server. Virtualization is a big topic, suffice it to say you need to research…
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BYOD – the good vs. the ugly!
If your company has opened its doors to the use of personal mobile devices, iPads and tablets for work purposes you are one of the many who are beginning to allow them into work. Productivity is enhanced if an employee is…
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