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<figure id="figure-wzjm7eznmrmpb8qxeh"><img id="wzjm7eznmrmpb8qxeh" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/37vsAH5UNQ0F6OhEv7D33jqwR0L2XNS2KVpQXaaOCF5HFk4LZo0calhe6aHiJoJQ.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/37vsAH5UNQ0F6OhEv7D33jqwR0L2XNS2KVpQXaaOCF5HFk4LZo0calhe6aHiJoJQ.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>What Does a Firewall Actually Do?If you've ever heard someone say "just make sure you have a firewall" and nodded along, you're not alone. Let's break it down.A firewall is your network's gatekeeper. Every time data tries to come in or go out of your business network, the firewall checks it against a set of rules. Traffic that looks legitimate gets through. Traffic that looks suspicious gets blocked.Think of it like the front desk at your office. Not just anyone can walk in. The receptionist checks who you are and whether you have a reason to be there before letting you through.For small businesses, a firewall is one of the most important layers of protection you can have. But here's the thing: simply having one isn't enough. It has to be properly configured, regularly updated, and paired with other tools to actually do its job.At Allums Tech Services, one of the first things we check with any new client is whether their firewall is set up correctly, because a misconfigured firewall is almost as risky as having none at all.Reach out if you'd like us to take a look at yours.

What Does a Firewall Actually Do?

<figure id="figure-4jwn3i3p1mp71dqdr" class=""><img id="4jwn3i3p1mp71dqdr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32RKhxHQ5fqpAFXEBXr952UOWSJQZmYzU1hdveZTKyZ3n2pKf4XJHfNpywzKxuMS.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32RKhxHQ5fqpAFXEBXr952UOWSJQZmYzU1hdveZTKyZ3n2pKf4XJHfNpywzKxuMS.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure>Happy Friday! We're wrapping up the week thinking about all the little tech headaches that slow businesses down: slow computers, password lockouts, printers with terrible timing... you know the drill.Good IT support isn't just about putting out fires. It's about making sure your team can actually do their jobs without technology getting in the way.If your employees are spending time troubleshooting instead of working, or you're waiting days to hear back from your IT provider when something breaks, it might be time for a change.We're right here in Tyler and we'd love to help your business run a little smoother. Give us a shout and let's chat!

End User Support Matters!

<figure id="figure-g1e4h9sohmp2mnhwn" class=""><img id="g1e4h9sohmp2mnhwn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/eereLlpSMMZkhY3r9BGFo7K4TZIDisNIEXifo3z9ym0C7leNIO2NY1fHQ4J7OuaF.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/eereLlpSMMZkhY3r9BGFo7K4TZIDisNIEXifo3z9ym0C7leNIO2NY1fHQ4J7OuaF.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure>Tech Tip Tuesday!Stop taking full screenshots and cropping them. There is a way faster way!Press Windows key + Shift + S. A little toolbar pops up at the top of your screen. Just click and drag over the part you want to capture, and it copies straight to your clipboard. Then paste it into your email, Teams chat, or document with Ctrl + V.Here is how:<ol><li>Press Windows key + Shift + S</li><li>Drag to select the area you want</li><li>Paste with Ctrl + V</li></ol>Works on Windows 10 and 11. No extra apps needed!Try it out and let us know if it saves you some time!

Snip Tool Shortcut

<figure id="figure-e741lo6egmosmta7a"><img id="e741lo6egmosmta7a" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/6GjEiKNdoeS2fPR2XnQKpuUMppsmJJwuNxwET0WEjs1JyosGEoJsJ6MVg2uBCXEa.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/6GjEiKNdoeS2fPR2XnQKpuUMppsmJJwuNxwET0WEjs1JyosGEoJsJ6MVg2uBCXEa.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure>Ever wonder what the difference is between antivirus, EDR, and MDR? They sound similar, but they protect your business in very different ways.Antivirus is the original. It checks files against a list of known threats and blocks the bad ones. It's a fine starting point, but if a threat isn't already on the list, AV usually misses it.EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) is a big step up. Instead of only looking for known files, it watches behavior on your devices in real time. If something acts shady, like a process trying to encrypt files or call out to a strange server, EDR flags it and can roll back the activity.MDR (Managed Detection and Response) is where it really comes together, and it's what we recommend for our clients. You get all the EDR muscle, plus a dedicated team of security analysts watching your environment 24/7. When an alert pops at 2 a.m., somebody is awake, investigating, and shutting it down before it spreads. That's the part most small businesses are missing, and it's the part that turns a security tool into actual peace of mind.If you're still running antivirus alone, you've got a starting line, not a finish line. Happy to chat if you'd like to see what MDR could look like for your team.

AV vs EDR vs MDR

<figure id="figure-vb61q5zujnmor8ei2r" class=""><img id="vb61q5zujnmor8ei2r" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/348nHNq8OCUCscGlfA6Vk0va0xinEsWdMptaq0KVyO0x7pMEVYdZUlVvZFj2ir2w.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/348nHNq8OCUCscGlfA6Vk0va0xinEsWdMptaq0KVyO0x7pMEVYdZUlVvZFj2ir2w.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure>Endpoint security is one of those topics that does not get much attention until something goes wrong. And by that point, the damage is already done.For small and medium businesses, every device connected to your network is a potential entry point for attackers. With employees working from different locations, keeping those devices protected has never been more important.Here are a few basics every business should have covered: a reliable endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution that goes beyond basic antivirus, automatic patching to keep software and operating systems current, device management so you always know what is connected to your network, and a clear plan for what happens if a device is lost, stolen, or compromised.The good news is you do not have to figure this out on your own. A managed IT partner handles endpoint protection in the background so you can stay focused on running your business.If you are not sure whether your current setup is giving you the coverage you need, we are happy to take a look. Reach out any time.

Endpoint Security

<figure id="figure-alv3lvmvyhmok2eo44"><img id="alv3lvmvyhmok2eo44" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2chRMVj31yL9F638avPyQFKzcQBrWenJcxpaiKp6KUU8iTvsVuBs93gWerfGN4P4.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Quick question: when did you last think about your business Wi-Fi setup?Most of us set it up once and never look back. But having your customers, employees, and business systems all on the same network is a bit like leaving all your office doors unlocked.A few simple changes, like a separate guest network and a properly configured firewall, can go a long way toward keeping your business data safe and your systems running smoothly.Not sure where to start? That is what we are here for! Give us a shout and we will help you sort it out.

Blog

What Does a Firewall Actually Do?

End User Support Matters!

Snip Tool Shortcut

AV vs EDR vs MDR

Endpoint Security

Compartmentalized Network