Happy New Year!, Email Hijack Ebook, Trivia Challenge, Articles, News, and more!
 
 
VNET Newsletter // January 2021
 

Happy new year {"ANONYMIZED":"2023-04-26"},


Like us, I'm sure you are looking forward to a more positive and prosperous 2021. This month, we've prepared some great content that we think will get you off on the right foot. Below you'll find our new ebook that illustrates an email hijacking scenario that gives a holistic picture of how bad actors can take advantage of any one of us if we are not prepared.

No new year would be complete without a plan to improve your professional life and business goals, so we have a "Productivity Super Guide" for 2021 that is full of great ideas. Of course, we have a new article and a fresh podcast, plus the entertainment recommendations that we introduced last August. Check out the newest features of Microsoft Teams. Finally, don't miss the new trivia question as we continue to celebrate our more than 30 years servicing Erie County businesses and beyond.

 

–The VNET Team
 
 

Congratulations to VNET Newsletter subscriber George T. who was selected at random after responding correctly to our trivia question from our December newsletter. He will receive a $25.00 gift card to The Brewerie at Union Station. Thanks to everyone who emailed an answer, and be sure to read through this month's newsletter for our latest trivia question! (The correct answer for December was Adobe Photoshop.)
 
 
 
The Email Hijack
 

Imagine coming back from a vacation and discovering $12,000 had been stolen from your business bank account.

No matter the size of your organization, that scenario would be a total nightmare, wouldn't it? But perhaps you're confident that it could never happen to your business. Well, let me gently challenge that. Because I've seen this kind of theft happen to plenty of businesses around here. It's not a company insider who steals the cash. Nor someone at the bank. And it doesn't require anyone to steal your bank login credentials. No, this kind of theft can be set up very easily by a hacker – and all they need is to gain access to one person's email account. Email is the number one security threat to your business. It's where most cyber breaches start. Because if you think about it, your email is the "in and out" of most business communications. Far too often, we are contacted by businesses whose staff believe they've "clicked on a dodgy link." Even the best defenses are constantly tested by the huge attacks on your IT system that can be unleashed.

The days of hackers breaking into email just for fun or to cause havoc are long gone. These days, they are more likely to access an account and set up a hidden email forwarder. That means they can monitor all emails being sent to you. And from there, they can spot patterns. Such as a large invoice sent by a key supplier on the same date each month. Then all they need to do is implement some clever social engineering such as sending a fake follow-up email with "new bank details" immediately after the real invoice has been received...

This exact scenario is the subject of our new ebook. The title is "Email Hijack", and it shows you how to protect your business from precisely this kind of crime.
 
 
 
 

Guide

 
 

Download the 2021 Productivity Super Guide!

 

 

With the relief of the start of a new year, there also comes the annual kickstart. As the new year begins, we all need a boost in motivation when it comes to our health, our habits, and of course, our work.

 

The growth and success of your business lies on your shoulders. And that’s before we start talking about the growth and development of your team.

 

How are you going to ensure a new level of productivity across your business this year?
If this isn’t something you’ve already considered, don’t panic. As always, we’re here to help you out.

 
 

 
 

VNET Radio Podcast - Remote Working

 

 

Each month, VNET tackles a new technology topic for our monthly podcast, VNET Radio.

 

This month Matt Wiertel and Allan Carpenter discuss cybersecurity takeaways for 2021.

 

Not into podcasts? You can also listen to us LIVE on iHeart Radio AM1400, or listen via the iHeart Radio App. Click below for the Live Broadcast schedule, embedded podcast, blog, and instructions on how to subscribe via your favorite podcast platform.

 

Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
 
 
Virtual Party
 

Protect Your Internet Privacy
 

Why should big tech companies make boatloads of money off your data, browsing habits, and search history? Why should those companies be able to sell it to other companies to do with what they want? You don’t have to be a part of it with just a little bit of effort. We’re going to cover some alternative apps, websites, and tools that will help you to take some power back from “Big Tech.”

 
 
 
 
Virtual Party
 

Boss, I lost my laptop! A VNET TechTip
 

If a member of your team tells you they need a new laptop or other device because they’ve lost it, don’t just think about the cost.

You’ve also got to consider the data security of the lost device. Here are a few key questions you must ask yourself…

 
 
 
 
VNET on Spotify
 
Playlist of the Month
 

Rouge Leader Mix

 

Coming in hot with a compact 19 tracks, the Rouge Leader Mix is densely packed with banger tracks from EDM pioneers like Deadmau5, Madeon, and Marshmello, but also gems from rap, rock, and pop artists that are worth checking out.

 

See It When I Believe It (Mat Zo) has been one of my goto EDM tracks for the last month (look for the drop a at 3:34.) and the Lamorn remix of Bridged By A Lightwave (Deadmau5, Kiesza) takes a perfect song and gives a fresh sound that I dig.

 

My family plays Fortnite and Rocket League so I had to add some tracks that the kids would know. Flip Reset (Kashade and WILL K), and Don't Start Now (Dua Lipa) were both sampled in those games. Also, Backflip (Rivers Cuomo) is the theme song for Netflix's Green Eggs and Ham. It might be the best cartoon theme song after that of Cupcake and Dino: General Services. 

 

Hint: Don't listen to this mix with 10 watt general purpose speakers. Put on a good pair of headphones and enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Do you have a Spotify playlist you'd like to share? Email us and we'll share it in one of our future newsletters!
 
 
 
Xbox Game Pass: Ultimate
 
Game (Deal) of the Month
 

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

 

This month's game of the month isn't a single game, but a whole treasure chest of games at an incredibly low price. It's called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and Microsoft is offering it for just $1 for 3 months of service!

 

So what is the difference between Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Live? With Game Pass Ultimate, you get Xbox Live plus over 100 free games in the library to play as you please. This game collection includes all of Microsoft's first-party games, such as the Halo and Gears of War series', plus top tier 3rd party games and award winning indie favorites. If that wasn't enough, Microsoft has thrown in their exclusive EA Access service into the mix that includes many Battlefield, Need for Speed, and EA Sports titles. Keep in mind that after the first three months, the service is $14.99 per month, but in light of what you get, that's a tremendous deal that can help you get through the winter months.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Available on: Xbox One or higher consoles, PC, Android (Beta.)
 
 
Wonder Woman 1984
 
Movie of the Month
 
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
 
Director Patty Jenkins had her work cut out for her in following up on the acclaimed 2017 film, "Wonder Woman." Having to stay in the lines of continuity of Zack Snyder's "Batman v. Superman" and the hot mess that was "Justice League" had to be a challenge. I can only guys that 1984 was selected because retro 80's nostalgia has been pretty high over the last few years and it keeps the films events from conflicting with the other DC films.
 
Gal Gadot and (surprisingly) Chris Pine return to their respective roles as Dianna and Steve Trevor. Their performances and onscreen chemistry are easily the highlight of the film.

The plot, unfortunately, is bonkers. I have not the room to go into it. Pedro Pascal and Kristen Wiig ham it up as the villains, but ultimately they don't ever come off as much of a threat.
 
Overall, the film lacks the urgency and weight that we saw in the first film and it's impossible to not compare the two. That said, it's still a fun, beautiful, mindless blockbuster that we lacked for so long. See it... maybe?
 
The movie is rated PG-13. 
Available on: HBO Max & In Theathers
 
 
 
 

 

 

Q. What is Audio Conferencing in Microsoft 365?

 

A. Audio Conferencing in Microsoft 365 enables users to call in to meetings from their phones. Add a phone number to your Teams meetings with a simple click in Outlook and your attendees can join Microsoft Teams meetings on the go, without an internet connection.

 

Offer: If you're a small or medium-sized business with up to 300 users and you currently don’t have Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing licenses, you can get Audio Conferencing free for one year! Microsoft Audio Conferencing is only available to existing Microsoft 365 users.

 

 
 
 
Keeping Up with Microsoft Teams
 

Teams usage surpasses 115 Million Daily Active Users
Many organizations quickly adopted Microsoft Teams to enable their remote work strategy at the start of the pandemic. With Teams usage up 50% since earlier this year, Microsoft continues to add new features to the platform to improve usability and compete with its rivals Zoom and Google. 

 

We have highlighted a few of the new features below and have provided a link to a more in depth roadmap that showcases the advances coming soon to the Teams Meeting, Meeting Rooms, and Calling experiences. 

 

Are you currently using Microsoft 365 but not leveraging Microsoft Teams for chat or video collaboration? Do you plan to use more video focused solutions to engage your employees or clients?

 

Contact the VNET team today for a demonstration of Microsoft Teams to maximize your existing Microsoft 365 investment and reimagine your meeting room spaces.

 

Microsoft Teams - New Features in the Last Month

 

Set the scene with Together mode
We’ve got new scenes for your next meeting in Together mode. So take your team from the auditorium to a world of 8-bit pixels, a winter wonderland, or under the sea. To change the scene once you’re in Together mode, select Change scene Edit icon (pencil) in the bottom left corner of your meeting.

Publish a company-wide task list
Create and track work for your entire organization with the new task publishing feature in the Tasks app. Admins and managers can get full details on task publishing at Manage the Tasks app for your organization in Microsoft Teams.

You’ve been approved!
Use the Approvals app in Teams to streamline requests and processes with teammates and partners. Create requests, view ones sent to you, a view all past approval requests in one place. Watch a quick video to get up to speed on how it all works.

Have small group discussions with breakout rooms
With teachers and meeting organizers looking for ways to encourage meaningful discussion, a need for small groups to break out into smaller group discussions. Luckily, you can get just that with breakout rooms in Teams meetings.

Channel calendars have arrived
Schedule meetings as a team with the new shared channel calendar. Now you can view all channel events in one location and add them to your personal calendar. 
 
VNET 30 Years Trivia Question of the Month
 
25 years ago this month a cell phone was released in North America with the distinction of being the most compact mobile phone in the world. It cost a whopping $1,000 at launch and looked like something from a famous sci-fi franchise. If you didn't own one, you may have seen it featured in a few Hollywood films or in the shirt pocket of our VNET CEO!: What is the make and model of this phone?
 
Submit your answer to marketing@velocitynetwork.net for a chance to win a $25.00 gift card to Red Letter Hospitality!
 
 
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