TechSperience Solutions

Clip of Episode 109: PC Security and Today’s Cyber Security Threats

The following is a 10-minute clip of Episode 109. Click here to listen to the full episode.

Host: James Hilliard
Guest: Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling at Intel

Today’s digital work environment has elevated cyber security risks for organizations. It’s no longer safe to only rely on software-based solutions. This podcast clip explores why IT teams should adopt a “zero-trust” mindset and how you can equip your employees with the right tools, software, and training to help protect against costly cyberattacks.

 

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Episode 109: PC Security and Today’s Cyber Security Threats

Host: James Hilliard
Guest: Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling at Intel

Today’s digital work environment has elevated cyber security risks for organizations. It’s no longer safe to only rely on software-based solutions. This podcast explores why we IT teams should adopt a “zero-trust” mindset and how you can equip your employees with the right tools, software, and training to help protect against costly cyberattacks.

Show Notes:

[1:00] PC security has evolved drastically since the pandemic. With remote and hybrid work environments the norm today, security risks are even greater. Data breaches are unfortunately more common and can cause detrimental impacts. In a recent report, the average financial loss is $4.2M per breach (IBM). 

[3:36] We're in a zero-trust environment now. Companies should assume that employees and organizations are being attacked at all times. No links or external data can be trusted. 

[5:00] VPNs are difficult to maintain and manage and are no longer an effective approach to protect employees. Adding more security software slows systems down and don't lead to a great user experience. 

[6:30] Intel has looked at building security right into the hardware as a solution without slowing down PCs to better support remote and hybrid employees.

[7:10] People are the weakest link when it comes to cyber security. Organizations should implement a recurring training program with reminders about multi-factor authentication, using unique and complex passwords, and paying attention to links. Phishing attacks are getting more sophisticated so highlighting what employees should look out for is key.

[10:05] Security patches should be seamless while also considering employees' working hours. Offering the user scheduling options is ideal to minimize business interruptions. 

[12:56] Security should be a holistic mindset. It requires consideration of the employee, technology, security threats, and training. Multilayer device protection should include software, application, and hardware.

[15:40] When deploying PCs to employees, IT teams should be mindful about the software that is being loaded. Each program will impact PC performance which, in turn, impacts the employee experience. Work with a partner to effectively integrate software and systems for optimal protection and user experience. 

[18:00] Protecting data involves encryption. Zero-trust applies here too. Nothing can be trusted.

[20:15] Security assessments and audits continue to be in the forefront when it comes to balancing employees' needs and tools, various work environments, and organizational security protocols.

[23:48] In the future, Artificial Intelligence will play a key role in automating security checks to help minimize user error.

Episode 108: Current Trends and Challenges of IT Staffing

Internal hiring managers looking to fill IT positions are currently experiencing a wide variety of challenges. From low unemployment rates to a high demand for IT professionals due to hybrid and remote work environments, traditional recruiting activities are no longer effective. Listen to the podcast to learn what new strategies are needed to fill your IT positions and how Connection's IT staffing services can help.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: Patrick Dja Konan, Lifecycle Services IT Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection

Timothy Duffy, Lifecycle Services IT Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection

Show Notes:

[1:00] There are more IT positions open now than ever before.  

[1:47] The power dynamic has switched to those seeking employment. HR teams are under a lot of pressure to fill positions.

[3:48] Hybrid and remote working environments has led to the significant demand of IT staff.

[6:10] Internal hiring managers are under a lot of stress with many open positions to fill and retaining staff.  

[9:20] Hiring managers should understand the root need for the position. For IT and other specialized positions, working with a staffing company can help supplement the hiring team’s awareness of various industries and roles.  

[12:32] Posting positions on every job board will result in many applicants that won’t qualify. Hiring managers should work with IT teams on the job description and understand the career path.

[17:20] Less than 2% of IT professionals are unemployed. A best practice to find highly qualified candidates is to approach those that are currently employed elsewhere.   

[19:35] Nurture a talent pool by constantly interviewing and pre-screening candidates to build a database of potential applicants.

[23:10] Filling temporary positions and staff augmentation is another solution that may help for urgent project needs. There are many employees that enjoy contract or consultant work.

[26:05] Partnering with a company that specializes in IT staffing – that can serve as an extension of your HR team – can help businesses find the right candidate based on the need.  

Episode 107: Delivering Hybrid & Remote Workforce Capabilities, 12th Gen Intel Core

Today’s work-from-anywhere paradigm brings key challenges that organizations must address through IT transformation. This episode explores new PC solutions to address the needs of hybrid and remote employees while easing device management for IT staff. Topics include built-in security, accelerated compute capabilities, and automated data processing. 

Host: James Hilliard

Guest: Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling at Intel

Show Notes:

[1:40] Top IT security and performance challenges we’re seeing with remote/hybrid working.

[3:50] Work-from-home challenges from the personal perspective.

[7:55] How Intel strategized and mobilized to support the new remote working environment.

[11:00] Most PCs are outdated which can negatively impact security and performance.

[12:30] 12th Gen Intel Cores extend battery life by 2x and have embedded security. 

[14:00] Software in PCs can prioritize video conferencing usage for improved user experience.

[19:00] Benefits of hardware/software integration and partnering with the right provider.

[22:51] With the current supply chain limitations, developing an advanced plan, teaming with a solutions provider that can advise on the best of breed technologies, and access to global resources are critical.

[28:00] Modern PCs can accommodate for Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6 extended, 5G, and 6G to elevate the employee experience at home.

 

Episode 106: Navigating Supply Chain Challenges With GlobalServe

Navigating the ever-growing complexities of today's IT global supply chain issues is a challenging undertaking for any organization. In this episode, we'll dive into how GlobalServe, part of the Connection family, is helping customers to navigate these challenges. 

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: Peter Waters, Senior Director of GlobalServe Solutions

Jessica Cerone, Director of Supply Chain at GlobalServe

Show Notes:

[1:11] Introduction of guests

[1:30] What's one of the biggest issues customers are struggling with today?

[2:06] What is the solution to those issues?

[3:33] How can customers start to be more flexible with OEM standardization?

[5:25] Are people more flexible today than 2 years ago?

[6:24] Are we seeing more examples of customers mixing in different providers?

[8:06] What does the landscape look like from a global perspective where certain regions can acquire certain products?

[10:10] How can companies plan so far out when they were accustomed to an on-demand world?

[12:45] Is there any possibility of going back to where we were prior to Covid, or have things fundamentally changed?

[14:15] What are we seeing with pricing challenges?

[15:25] Are customers willing to pay more now, or are they still expecting bargains?

[16:42] How are we helping teams navigate shipping costs?

[18:41] How can you get creative with helping customers with these new challenges?

[24:58] How have GlobalServe's connections established throughout the years helped them to navigate the challenges of Covid?

[30:35] What are some examples of customer success stories?

[36:22] How is the experience of working in so many countries?

[41:05] Contact information

Episode 105: Microsoft Autopilot for Education

When COVID-19 hit, school IT teams found themselves needing to reevaluate the tools they were using. Modern solutions from Microsoft including Autopilot and Intune can bring an array of benefits to the education space. In this episode, we'll explore how the education field can utilize these technologies in schools to benefit teachers, administrators, and students.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: Lisa Trisciani, VP of State, Local and Education Field Sales at Connection

Rick Sabarese, Director of End-User Computing and Mobility at Connection

Show Notes:

[0:35] Introduction of guests

[1:00] What were the biggest things that IT teams have learned over the last couple of years?

[2:42] What was Microsoft Autopilot doing in other areas like the business world that the education space realized they could also benefit from?

[3:44] How have platforms like Microsoft Autopilot helped make it easier to get technology devices up and running for students?

[5:38] Why are education customers looking at Microsoft Autopilot today?

[7:51] Can a technology device be kept with an individual student and stay with them for their entire time in school?

[9:25] How can Microsoft Autopilot alleviate technology responsibilities from teachers so that they can focus more on teaching?

[12:45] What benefits does Microsoft Autopilot provide to parents of students?

[15:06] What are some of the early feedback from school districts that have adopted Microsoft Autopilot?

[18:32] How does our team work with a school district to set up Autopilot so these machines can hit the ground running as soon as they hit a student's hands?

[20:20] In a hybrid environment, can Autopilot be utilized to manage Google devices?

[23:00] Are our students more well-versed in technology platforms today?

[24:44] How are schools funding new technology solutions? What are some of the funding opportunities out there?

[30:20] Contact information

Episode 104: Who Is Protecting Your Networks, And Can More Be Done?

Does your IT team need an IT team? Here are insights into our managed services and how they help teams to secure their environments. 

Guest: John Chirillo, Managed Services Director at Connection

Guest: Tony The, Services Businesses Development Manager at Connection

Host: James Hilliard

Show Notes:

[0:45] Introduction of guests

[1:35] What are the top security breach challenges that IT teams are facing today?

[4:26] Is stealing credentials still a security issue?

[7:03] Are customers currently more interested in investing in security?

[8:11] What is the foundation and framework of Connection's managed services?

[9:49] Is the mindset of the organization more important than a specific technology?

[11:15] How do customers prioritize their security issues?

[12:36] How would Connection's managed services framework mitigate specific security risks?

[14:29] Where do certain technology toolsets fit in?

[17:07] How can we get teams on their best security footing for them?

[18:30] Is there still a wide variety of acceptable risk levels?

[22:00] What's the process for teams to understand and prioritize their security risks?

[24:05] How do you recommend that customers not get too far behind within their security environments?

[27:25] What's some memorable customer feedback you've received?

Episode 103: How Public Sector Can Use Stimulus Funds

Learn more about the stimulus packages that have passed since COVID-19 and how it impacts information technology in the public sector space.

Guest 1 Title and Bio:  Jeff Chabot, Public Sector Segment Director - Jeff is the Segment Strategy Director of the Schneider Electric Federal Sales Team. His team is responsible to lead the sale, customer support, design and implementation of critical power, cooling and management solutions in US Government information technology environments within and outside the continental United States. In his 22 years at Schneider Electric, Jeff has held various sales and sales leadership roles in commercial sales, state and local government sales and federal government sales. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science from Rhode Island College.

Host: James Hilliard 

Show Notes

[0:30] Introduction of guest

[0:45] What are the choices and funding that are currently available for the public sector?

[2:00] What should be at top of mind for State and Local to consider with the American Rescue Plan?

[4:05] Is there a time period that teams need to spend these funds?

[4:33] Within State and Local, what are some of the top areas where they can spend their funds?

[5:00] Where are IT professionals spending these funds?

[6:10] Where are K-12 focusing their purchases?

[8:05] Are there similar types of spending in Higher Education?

[8:57] What is the application process that IT professionals need to be aware of to access these funds?

[10:19] How smooth has the process and experience been for folks so far?

[11:13] Anything else we should know about the American Rescue Plan?

[12:25] Have funds started to be released for the new Infrastructure Plan?

[13:40] How is broadband defined now and how is it a part of the Infrastructure Plan?

[15:42] Will more rural areas see more funding for broadband investments?

[16:38] What are all the aspects of broadband that are covered in the Infrastructure Plan?

[19:43] Could the Infrastructure Plan help with supply chain issues, inflation, and efficiency?

[20:51] When can people begin to apply and access the funds from this new Infrastructure Plan?

[21:22] What are some tips that you have that would make the most sense for people to spend these funds? 

 

Episode 102: Tour De Force of Tech Collaboration

Finding the “best in class” IT resources to meet all for your wish-list items can be a challenge, especially when trying to future-proof your infrastructure and remote workforce all while maintaining security protocols and budgets during a world pandemic. Tech expectations continue to increase and the need for collaborative IT solutions has become paramount. 

What have other companies done to roadmap their next 5 years of success?  How have they overcome some of these challenges and mitigate the disasters of a wrong decision?  Find out on this episode of TechSperience as we explore a “tour de force” of tech collaboration. 

Guest 1: Laura Belincky – Sr. Business Development Manager, BSG

Guest 2: Brian McGuffin – National Business Development Manager, BSG

Guest 3: John Maslanik – Business Development Manager, BSG

Guest 4: Brian Chandler – Director, Business Development Manager’s Team, BSG

Guest 5: Derek Olson-Sr. Manager, Business Development Manager’s Team BSG

Host: James Hilliard

Show Notes:

[0:38] Introduction of guests

[1:30] How do you start the process of learning about your customers and what their pain points are?

[2:55] What's your favorite place to go to learn about a new customer?

[4:30] What's a unique place where someone has been able to uncover new information about a customer?

[5:31] Currently, what are the biggest pain points you are hearing from customers where solutions providers can help?

[8:16] Besides logistical pain points, what are some personal pain points we are hearing from customers?

[10:48] How do you start imagining the resources that you can provide a customer when they ask for products and/or services?

[13:20] How does bringing in more team members to sit in on meetings allow for more potential resources to the client?

[15:25] Are customers surprised that Connection can offer more services than they initially thought?

[19:05] How often do you find a customer is willing to talk to another customer about their experiences?

[24:40] Could you design a new data center from the ground up?

[26:33] What are your goals when engaging customers?

Episode 101: RTO and the Future of the Office

In 2022, many companies are navigating how to return to the office safely and smartly. In this episode, we address this challenge and explore some possible technology solutions surrounding RTO.

Guest 1 Title and Bio: Tony Dancona, Digital Workspace Evangelist and part of Connection Lab. With more than 25 years of experience in virtualization and end-user computing, Tony is considered a thought leader in the industry. He currently serves on different Technical Advisory Board including Dell Technologies, VMware and CRN Channel Company IOT.

Host: James Hilliard

Show Notes:

[0:20] Introduction of guest

[0:45] What did work look like in 2008?

[2:36] What does work look like currently?

[3:45] How are customers defining in-office collaboration?

[4:40] Are we lacking anything from working remotely?

[6:15] How do we make today's office safe?

[8:01] What technologies are you seeing most organizations trying to implement today to keep their offices safe?

[10:13] What benefits are there to utilizing some of this technology?

[11:25] Can some of this technology allow for exceptions?

[13:13] What technologies are companies looking at inside work environments?

[16:23] What verticals can this technology impact?

[17:31] How do we make offices smarter than they were a couple of years ago?

[20:51] What have been the advancements in conference technology?

[23:03] Give us a high-level primer on the Connect Aware app.

[27:50] To utilize the features of this app, what technologies are required?

[29:03] What changes do you expect to see in physical offices in the coming year?