Companies, that are built to last beyond the founder’s lifetime, have one thing in common. They are both efficient and effective. They optimize the bottom-line outcomes by utilizing their resources in a way that is unique, smart, and cost-effective. 

Now in the post-modern contemporary age, we see businesses equipping themselves with all sorts of innovative tools that are not only acting as the support system for the business but also a way to make processes faster, create an ease of access and generate efficiency.  

Traditionally, these high-end productivity tools were employed solely by large corporations, now although the inflection point has passed, Small Medium Business Enterprises ought to deploy these productive suites to remain relevant and thrive. 

The recent induction of Generative AI and Deep Learning mass adoption and rolling out in the consumer markets, its use cases are yet to be explored fully, but it remains foreseen and anticipated that organizations be they small or large will only propel further as leaders if they incorporate it in their core and augmented dimensions of businesses. 

Microsoft being a leader and staunch expert in AI, as is evident from the fact that they have funded the Open AI projects most notably “Chat Gpt”, and it intends to make these features available in their productivity suite. 

 As quoted directly from Microsoft official announcement:   “SMBs are rapidly becoming the new adopters of AI. Businesses are using AI-powered tools for sales and marketing automation and business operations automation. In fact, in a recent survey of 550 businesses with fewer than 200 employees, 72 percent said they are familiar with AI tools, with 48 percent using them daily.” 

And these numbers are expected to grow by far and large sooner than thought! 

Microsoft 365 offers a remarkable range of tools like Customer Voice, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform. These tools empower you to collect valuable customer feedback, streamline your processes, and even automate operations.  

It’s like having a personal assistant who can handle all your administrative tasks, so you can focus on what requires your most attention: running your business. Microsoft 365 is sort of like that personal assistant, but for your SME.   

“There are 11 million SMBs that now rely on Microsoft 365 solutions to help them achieve more than ever.” 

— Microsoft, 2023 

If we scour the blueprint of successful enterprises, we see Microsoft 365 services being avidly used in all of those spaces, enhancing the way businesses operate. From retail to telco to services, Microsoft 365 is helping businesses in every industry thrive.  

Retail businesses around the globe are improving their operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance using Microsoft 365 which is essentially enabling them to work better, serve customers better and sell more. Whereas in the service industry, Microsoft 365 helps service businesses give great customer service, work together easily, and make better decisions with their data, so they can serve their customers even better. 

So whether you’re in retail, hospitality, or the booming delivery industry, Microsoft 365 is your secret weapon to deliver outstanding customer service.  

If you’re looking for ways to reach and exceed your business goals, Microsoft 365 is a great place to start. With its wide range of tools and services, Microsoft 365 can help you improve your business in every way.  

Ready to streamline your business for the future? Connect with ITCS today to get your business equipped with Microsoft 365! 

In today’s world where everything is being automated and reformed to the fit digital sphere of doing business, from cloud computing to the digitalization of every line of work, the question of the safety of our data arises and the concept of cybersecurity becomes more important than ever. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent, and businesses of all sizes are at risk. If your cybersecurity infrastructure is not up to date, you could be putting your business at serious risk. But you can’t assess the risk without knowing what exactly cyber attacks are. 

Cyber attacks can have a devastating impact on individuals, businesses, and governments. They can steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, and even cause physical harm. For example, a cyber attack on a hospital could disrupt patient care, and a cyber attack on a power grid could cause outages. 

In 2017, a ruthless cyberattack called NotPetya swept across the globe, crippling businesses and organizations in its path. 

The attack was focused on Ukraine, where it targeted major banks and government agencies, encrypting their data and demanding a ransom payment for its release. But NotPetya was far more ruthless in it’s approach, even if victims paid the ransom, their data was often unrecoverable. 

The symptoms of a weak cybersecurity system entails subtle, oftentimes unnoticeable changes which have little impact on your work until it is too late and the breach is done. So how would you know to check if your cybersecurity needs an upgrade and what are the telltale signs that indicate your cybersecurity being compromised?

Your systems are slow and unresponsive.  

If your systems are slow to load or respond to requests, it could be a sign that they are overloaded or outdated. Outdated software often has security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. 

You are experiencing security breaches. 

 If you have experienced any security breaches in the past, this is a clear sign that your cybersecurity infrastructure needs to be improved. Even if the breach was minor, it shows that your systems are vulnerable and need to be patched or upgraded. 

You are not able to meet compliance requirements.  

Many industries have strict compliance requirements when it comes to cybersecurity. If you are not able to meet these requirements, you could be facing fines or other penalties. 

You do not have a comprehensive cybersecurity plan in place.  

A cybersecurity plan should outline your organization’s security policies and procedures, as well as how you will respond to security incidents. If you do not have a cybersecurity plan in place, or if your plan is outdated, you are putting your business at risk. 

You are not using the latest security technologies.  

Cybersecurity technologies are constantly evolving. New threats are emerging all the time, and new security technologies are being developed to address them. If you are not using the latest security technologies, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to attack. 

You do not have a dedicated cybersecurity team.  

If your organization does not have a dedicated cybersecurity team, you are not taking cybersecurity seriously enough. A cybersecurity team can help you to identify and mitigate risks, as well as respond to security incidents quickly and effectively. 

Shielding against known vulnerabilities is a surefire way of protecting your business from malicious attacks. But first, insight is required to arm your business against cyber threats. Most common kinds include malware, phishing, ransomware, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.  

“According to a recent report by IBM, the average cost of a data breach is now $4.24 million. This cost includes the cost of investigating the breach, notifying affected customers, and repairing any damage to systems and data.” 

But what can YOU do to form a defense against these assaults? Strong security solutions, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software, prove to be essential in the line of defense against cyberattacks. These solutions can help to block malicious traffic, detect suspicious activity, and remove malware from your systems.  

On top of that, data backups, cybersecurity training, software updates and similar practices can prevent any data leak. 

By taking the time to assess your specific risks and implement tailored cybersecurity measures, you can help to protect your business from a wide range of cyber attacks. This is where ITCS comes into the picture with our Integrated Cybersecurity Framework, Security Focused Development, Preventive Risk Management and Managed Security Services which are designed to protect your businesses and drive them to growth and success.