​Windows 11 is set to release to the public on October 5th, 2021. This means that users will be able to download and install the latest Windows operating system at this time. Windows 10, however, will still receive updates until October of 2025. Today we are going to discuss when the right time might be to switch to Windows 11, what concerns there may be with switching, and how Mnemonix can assist with this process.
 
While the Windows 11 release is just around the corner, it may not be best to update right away. With any new major updates, let alone an entire operating system update, comes bugs and incompatibility issues. Windows 10 will remain supported and updated until October 14th, 2025. With that being said, it is best to stay on Windows 10 unless there is a business need to switch to Windows 11. Mnemonix will be sure to update you and your business once the benefits of switching outweigh the risks.
 
In most business environments, there is a unique combination of hardware, software and other peripherals that depend on drivers and compatible operating systems to work properly. With Windows 11 being brand new, the vendors of these softwares and drivers may have not had a chance to update their products to allow for Windows 11 compatibility. Updating too soon could cause for your day-to-day workflow to be disrupted due to incompatibility. To ensure your work is not disrupted, it is best to let the bugs get worked out and for vendors to update their products properly.
 
If you or your business comes across a need to switch to Windows 11 right away, please reach out to Mnemonix as we’d be happy to work with you on a smooth transition. For managed Mnemonix clients, the Windows 11 update will not be pushed out automatically without notice from our team. There are a handful of graphical and feature changes that Mnemonix will touch on to ensure your business has a smooth transition prior to upgrading your devices. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact Mnemonix.

​Multi-factor authentication (MFA) blocks 99.9% of automated cyberattacks on Microsoft platforms, websites, and other online services. In a previous blog, we spoke about what MFA is, how it works and why it’s important. Today, we’d like to revisit the importance of MFA, look at different platforms you should utilize MFA on, and how Mnemonix can help ensure you and your organization are protected using MFA.
 
Keeping your organization secure by requiring users to identify themselves by more than a username and password will decrease your likelihood of a cyber-attack significantly. Usernames and passwords alone are vulnerable to brute force attacks and can be stolen by third parties. Enforcing MFA means increased confidence that your organization will stay safe from cyber criminals. With the use of enforcement in your organization, you can ensure that any user that is logging into the system or network will be forced to validate their identity. MFA is extremely important because if your credentials were to become compromised, the attacker will need your method of MFA to successfully login to your account. That limits the risk of a cyber-attack tremendously.
 
MFA works by requiring additional verification information (factors). One of the most common MFA factors that users encounter are one-time passwords (OTP). OTPs are those 4–8-digit codes that you often receive via email, SMS or some sort of mobile authenticator app. With OTPs a new code Is generated periodically or each time an authentication request is submitted.
 
Using MFA should not only be used in a professional environment, but within your own household as well. Cyber-attacks can happen to businesses, individuals, the Government, etc. Nobody is immune to these attacks. With that being said, if you are logging into an application, website, computer or any other platform with logon capabilities, you should be checking to see if setting up MFA is an option. From Facebook to QuickBooks, any unwanted logins to your accounts could lead to detrimental losses for both you and/or your business.
 
Multi-Factor authentication is quite simple to have setup, but extremely difficult to breach. Having MFA will help ensure that you do not fall victim to a cyber-security attack. With the number of cyber-attacks growing exponentially each day, it is becoming essential to have MFA setup, so Mnemonix highly recommends that you enroll in MFA if you are not already. If you’d like to know more about MFA, or curious if it is available for your business, please contact Mnemonix at (616) 855-2847 or email at [email protected].

Shortages are continuing to impact supply chain as the pandemic impacts shipping, demand, supply, and all other levers of the global economy. Some experts suggest that these shortages will last well into 2022, if not longer. Today we will discuss how these shortages may impact you, what items are difficult to get, and why Mnemonix suggests thinking ahead for technology needs, as the wait times are growing by the day.
 
Tacos, coffee, cars, jet fuel, computer chips, shoes, school supplies: What do they have in common? They’re all extremely difficult to find, or on the verge of getting there due to supply chain shortages. Have you noticed that prices of computers, cars, phones, and other technologies have noticeably risen over the last year? That is no coincidence. The covid-19 pandemic forced a rush for home office items like laptops and smartphones as people transitioned to working from home. During this time, there was also a rush for new game consoles, so people had entertainment to help keep their minds off the pandemic. Because home office equipment was in such high demand during the start of the pandemic, and people weren’t driving many places or buying new cars, large computer component manufacturers switched from making car components to smartphone, laptop, and tablet components.
 
The computer chip shortage shows no signs of slowing. Intel warned users that the global shortage of semiconductors that has hobbled the auto industry and raised the cost of some consumer electronics could last until the middle of 2023. Today, most electronics use the semiconductors which is putting a halt on not only business technology equipment, but also cars, boats, planes, phones, etc. Due to the lack of supply in all these industries, it makes it extremely difficult to get items ordered and fulfilled. US chip-making companies say 90% of its 2021 output is already spoken for. This means that 90% of manufactured chips this year have already been assigned a home in hardware, so getting new equipment will continue to take months and cost noticeably more.
 
How can Mnemonix Help?
 
At Mnemonix, we take a proactive approach to projects when possible. If we’re able to build the project scope out in advance, and said project requires business technology purchases, we will order them months in advance to ensure we have the inventory to fulfill said project. If a specific model is out of stock with no estimated date of restock, we will work with you and your business to find devices that will fulfill your business’s needs. If you or your business have any plans involving business technology, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can place orders and mitigate the wait time due to computer component shortages. As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding shortages, equipment availability, or any other questions, please reach out to Mnemonix, we are happy to help!

​Ransomware attacks are not only growing in number, but they are also targeting an increasing number of critical companies and operations. The Colonial Pipeline attack was a prime example of how attackers were able to infiltrate a network due to the lack of standard security protocols. The White House issued an executive order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity in May. Today, we are going to look at what this executive order entails, how it could impact you, and how Mnemonix can assist with improving your cybersecurity.
 
The executive order focuses on the follow areas:

• Removing barriers to sharing threat information between the public and private sectors. Service providers will be required to share threat and incident information with agencies.
• Leveraging zero-trust architecture to modernize and strengthen cybersecurity.
• Establishing baseline security standards for software used by government agencies. Software vendors will be required to provide security data visibility.
• Establishing a standard playbook for cyber incident response. Because each agency currently has its own procedures for cybersecurity incidents, the order will aim to standardize this process across all agencies to ensure more efficient and comprehensive analyzations across the board.
• Improving cyberthreat detection, investigation, and remediation process by establishing an endpoint detection response initiative. Recommendations for the initiative are expected within 30 days, with requirements issues 90 days later.

 
Within 60 days of the executive order, the head of each federal agency was expected to develop a plan to implement a zero-trust architecture. We spoke on the zero-trust framework in a previous blog. Zero-trust is a security framework requiring all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted or keeping access to applications and data. While the impact of the executive order could take a while to affect the market for security solutions, it lays out an accelerated timeline and could help encourage other industries to adopt similar measures.
 
While most, if not all government and health businesses are kept to a higher standard of cybersecurity, we can begin to see a need for all businesses, no matter the industry to be kept to those same standards. Theresa Payton, the first CIO of the White House during the George W. Bush years stated that while these new standards are not mandated across all industries, it is best to prepare for the day that they are. She states that it is wise to slowly start updating your environment to meet the zero-trust framework as she can see that being a business standard in the upcoming years. Mnemonix has worked closely with many businesses to develop and implement up to date security protocols that have proven successful. Nothing is ever 100% secure, but Mnemonix would like to emphasize that it is important to be as secure as you are able to be, always. If you or your business would like to know more about security standards, zero-trust framework or how Mnemonix can assist with implementing up to date security protocols, please reach out.