Microsoft adds 6 months support for Windows 10 1709 to account for pandemic disruption
The delay keeps client systems running 1709 protected until October, reducing pressure on IT admins at a time when everything has been disrupted. Thinkstock/Microsoft icrosoft today extended the support lifespan of Windows 10 Enterprise 1709 and Windows 10 Education 1709 by six months, pushing their retirements to Oct. 13. The original end-of-support date had been fixed as April 14. Microsoft cited the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, which in just the U.S. has ranged from massive business closings and even…
Business continuity: Coronavirus crisis puts CIOs’ plans to the test
As the Coronavirus pandemic spreads, CIO have the perfect opportunity to brush up on business continuity planning as they strategize their response. MJFelt / Getty Images As the COVID-19 coronavirus rattles industries, it’s more important than ever for IT leaders to ensure employees have the tools they require to work remotely and securely. “When traditional channels and operations are impacted by the outbreak, the value of digital channels, products and operations becomes immediately obvious,” according to Gartner analyst Sandy Shen. “This…
7 secrets of successful remote IT teams
Don’t let geography diminish your IT team’s productivity. These simple tips will help you get everybody working collaboratively and effectively wherever they are. JGalione / Getty Images When there’s a contagious disease outbreak, a natural disaster or any other type of widespread emergency, IT team members may be required to work from home or at some other safe location until normal business operations can resume. Maintaining productivity and ensuring that essential IT services continue functioning uninterrupted throughout the…
Microsoft Teams cheat sheet
Microsoft’s answer to Slack, Teams provides group messaging, voice and video calls, and useful integrations with other Office 365 apps. Here’s how to get set up in Teams and find your way around. IDG / Microsoft Email is everywhere, and it has been around seemingly forever. But is it really the most effective way for groups of people to collaborate on work and advance business objectives? Several newish team messaging products, most notably Slack, wager that the answer is indeed…
7 tips for leading remote IT teams successfully
Managing virtual work environments requires an assortment of real-world skills and tools. Here are the tactics that inspire creativity and productivity. popba / Getty Images To succeed in an increasingly talent-starved and competitive IT world, more enterprises are relying on geographically dispersed workforces. Such organizations build IT teams providing the best functional expertise, regardless of each individual’s physical location. While collocated teams (every member working at same physical site) may have advantages over dispersed teams in some respects, there’s…
Verily Life Sciences: How it can help assess COVID-19 cases
When Trump said Google was working on a site, he really meant Verily. The company has launched an online tool to clarify when and where at-risk individuals should seek testing and treatment for COVID-19. ArtistGNDphotographer / Getty Images An online screening and testing “triage” tool for COVID-19 was launched this week by Verily Life Sciences, a healthcare technology company owned by Mountain View, Calif.-based Alphabet — though with a substantially reduced scope than initially suggested by President Trump. Speaking in…
How to set up your office (or home) for videoconferencing
We all want to look our best, especially when we’re using video for a remote business meeting. These ten tips will make sure you can join that videoconference with confidence. Thinkstock In today’s collaborative work environment, it’s becoming increasingly likely that you’re using video as an important tool for corporate meetings with colleagues or customers. You could be a remote employee sitting in on your company’s weekly conference, or a salesperson who wants to promote your product to a potential client…
12 security tips for the ‘work from home’ enterprise
If you or your employees are working from home, you’ll need this advice to secure your enterprise. Apple If you or your employees are working from home while our governments lurch awkwardly through the current crisis, then there are several security considerations that must be explored. Your enterprise outside the wall Enterprises must consider the consequences of working from home in terms of systems access, access to internal IT infrastructure, bandwidth costs and data repatriation. What this means, basically, is…
