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David J Steele
May
31

The Benefits of Single Sign-On (SSO) and How It Can Save Your Business Time and Money

David J Steele
Procedures and Policies

Single Sign-On (SSO) is a mechanism that allows users to authenticate themselves once and gain access to multiple applications or systems without the need to re-enter their credentials every time. It provides a seamless and convenient experience for users who only have to remember one set of login credentials while also improving security by reducing the risk of compromised or forgotten passwords.

SSO uses standards-based protocols such as OAuth, OpenID Connect, and SAML to exchange identity and authentication information between the user's device and the applications they are trying to access. When a user logs into one application, the SSO system generates an authentication token that is then used to grant access to other applications that support SSO. This way, the user can navigate between different systems without logging in again, even if various organizations host those systems and use other technologies.

 

Cost Savings

single sign on (sso)

In addition to improving user experience and security, SSO can lead to cost savings and increased productivity for organizations. For example, SSO can save time and reduce frustration by reducing the number of login screens that users must deal with. It can also simplify user management and reduce the burden on IT departments, which manage fewer user accounts and passwords.

Microsoft is implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities in their popular cloud-based productivity suite, Microsoft 365 (M365). With SSO, users of M365 only need to authenticate once and can then easily access various systems and applications integrated with M365 without repeatedly entering login credentials.

SSO is made possible in M365 through industry-standard security protocols such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and OpenID Connect. These protocols allow M365 to interact with various services, including third-party applications and identity providers, to grant users seamless access to multiple resources. In addition, the authentication process is secured with multi-factor authentication (MFA), further enhancing user data and information security.

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Nicole Keiner
May
30

Seeking a Virtual Assistant? Meet the New Microsoft Copilot

Nicole Keiner
Procedures and Policies

Imagine having a personal assistant who can help you with your Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Outlook work. That is where Microsoft 365 Copilot comes in. It can help you write, edit, and summarize documents by giving suggestions based on your prompts. You can easily create professional-looking presentations from your existing files and ideas with PowerPoint. Analyzing data is made easy with Excel. And for those who need to run effective Teams meetings and create detailed agendas, Copilot has got you covered. Copilot even works with Outlook to help you work smarter, not harder, by summarizing long email threads, identifying critical viewpoints, and even responding to emails with just a few simple clicks. You can save time and effort by letting Copilot do the work.

This month, Microsoft 365 is officially launching to the public its AI Copilot feature for its applications and services, offering users an intelligent virtual assistant to enhance their experience. Much like the Copilot sidebars we’ve seen in Edge, Office apps, and even GitHub, Windows Copilot will be integrated directly into Windows 11 and available to open and use from the taskbar across all apps and programs. Once released, the tool will provide an intuitive AI-assisted experience for users to manage their digital workplace environments better.

 

Microsoft Copilot Explained

microsoft copilot

The Microsoft Copilot tool is an innovative computer program that utilizes advanced AI technology, specifically the GPT-4 model developed by OpenAI. Its purpose is to assist users in generating text input that can be used across various Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. The program achieves this by utilizing Microsoft Graph, a cloud-based API that analyzes user data, content, and preferences to provide personalized suggestions. As a result, experts believe that Copilot has the potential to advance collaboration and revolutionize the way people work together on Microsoft platforms. Copilot is expected to make work more efficient and reduce time spent scouring through menus by anticipating user needs and offering the best advice for any given task. 

 

Examples

Microsoft Copilot in Word

  • It can offer suggestions for completing a sentence or paragraph based on the context of your writing.
  • Copilot can provide synonyms for a word you've used multiple times in a document to make your writing more varied and engaging.
  • If you're struggling to develop an idea, Copilot can offer prompts to help you get started.
  • Copilot can also help summarize long documents by creating drafts based on prompts. This can save you time and effort in editing and refining your work.
  • Copilot can also assist with grammar and spelling checks to ensure your writing is error-free.
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James Haywood
May
29

Creating Business Automation Using Microsoft 365 Power Automate

James Haywood
Procedures and Policies

Automation is an indispensable part of today's business world. It helps businesses stay organized, improves efficiency, and reduces manual effort, leading to significant cost savings. With the help of Microsoft 365 Power Automate, you can create automated workflows that meet your company’s unique needs and increase productivity. In this knowledge base article, we will look at how Microsoft 365 Power Automate can help you automate core processes in your organization for maximum productivity and profitability.

 

Introducing Microsoft 365 Power Automate and how it can help streamline business processes

microsoft business automation

In today's fast-paced world, businesses constantly look for ways to optimize workflows and boost productivity. Microsoft 365 Power Automate provides a solution to help streamline business processes and reduce the need for manual tasks. With Power Automate, you can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on higher-level tasks. This powerful tool can also be customized to fit the specific needs of your business, making it adaptable to any workflow. Automating workflows with Power Automate allows your business to operate more efficiently, saving you time and money while increasing productivity. 

Power Automate is a free desktop application that anyone can use. However, the cloud-based version starts at $15.00 per user per month. The cloud-based option is required for creating organization-wide automation. Some of the benefits of using Power Automate include, but are not limited to:

  • Improving workflows
  • Removing manual processes
  • Replacing software
  • Creating approval processes
  • Saving time
  • Reducing human error
  • Streamlining simple tasks
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Nicole Keiner
May
26

Take Your Event to the Next Level by Partnering with Intrada Technologies

Nicole Keiner
Digital Media and Internet Development
live technical support for an event

Planning an event is a daunting task, and with the rising importance of technology and multimedia in events, it can sometimes feel like a whole new challenge. As someone who has planned events, I know how overwhelming it can be to coordinate an event's different aspects. One of the most important things to consider when planning an event is using technology and multimedia effectively. To ensure that your event runs smoothly, creating a tech plan for the event is crucial. This means thinking about everything from the equipment you'll need, such as audio and video systems, projectors, and computers, to the software you'll need for presentations and multimedia displays. It's also essential to think about how you'll be able to connect all these pieces so that everything runs properly.

In addition to making sure all the technology and equipment are running properly, it's also important to consider how you plan to use multimedia. Think about how you'll use video, audio, images, and other forms of media during the event. It's important to think about the best way to incorporate these elements into your presentations and displays to enhance the visual appeal of your event and help convey its message.  And what about AV scripts?

If you're planning an upcoming event, Intrada Technologies is here to help you with all aspects of the technology and multimedia side. We offer various services, from high-quality AV equipment availability to developing a customized technology strategy and AV scriptwriting. With our expert guidance, you can rest assured knowing that your event's technology will be both innovative and reliable, providing a visually engaging experience for attendees.

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David J Steele
May
25

The Future of Passwords

David J Steele
Procedures and Policies
choosing-a-good-password

cybersecurity awarenessPasswords may become less common as governments and organizations explore alternative authentication methods. For example, many companies are exploring using two-factor authentication through a physical device such as a token, badge, or an app on a user's smartphone. This provides an additional layer of security and makes it much harder for someone to gain unauthorized access to an account. In addition, biometric-based authentication is becoming more popular, allowing users to unlock their devices by providing fingerprint or facial recognition scans.

choosing a complex secure password

Another possibility is the widespread adoption of blockchain technology, which can provide secure digital identities for users and allow them to easily access their accounts without needing a password. Additionally, major players in the tech industry have started exploring new methods of authentication based on artificial intelligence (AI). For example, Google has developed an AI system called “Trust API,” which authenticates user actions with AI-powered image recognition techniques.

Ultimately, while passwords may still be used for specific logins, their use may decline over time as more secure and convenient alternatives become available. But with all that said, we still need to manage passwords.

 

Don’t Use Common Passwords or the Same Passwords for Your Accounts

The most common passwords are still easily guessed, such as 'password', '123456', 'iloveyou', 'abc123', '111111', 'letmein', and 'qwerty'. These passwords are made up of commonly used words, numbers, or combinations of letters that lack complexity. Furthermore, some users choose simple passwords for their personal information, such as birthdates and names. Such passwords are easily guessed by someone with basic knowledge of the user's background.

Using the same password for all your accounts poses an enormous security risk. If one account becomes compromised, then malicious actors can use that same password to gain access to your other accounts. Therefore, it is important to create unique passwords for each of your online accounts—this way, even if one account is hacked, the rest of your accounts will remain secure.

It is important to choose passwords with a combination of numbers, symbols, and upper- and lower-case letters. This adds another layer of complexity, making it much more difficult for someone to guess or crack your password.

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Nicole Keiner
Apr
28

Employee Spotlight: Jennifer Daniel

Nicole Keiner
News and Events
intrada-web-developer-jennifer-daniel-thumb
jennifer daniel, web developer

Born in Harrisburg and raised in the northeastern portion of the Susquehanna Valley, Jennifer Daniel started with Intrada Technologies in January of 2021. Her hard work and dedication to her craft have paid off, as she was recently promoted. Now, as a Tier 2 Web Developer, her responsibilities include the development, troubleshooting, and maintenance of web applications, along with SEO management, Google/Bing ad management, and reporting.

In addition to being a graduate of Selinsgrove High School (Go Seals!), she received her bachelor’s degree from Penn Tech College in software development and information management. Jennifer has been actively augmenting her programming skills over the last few years in various languages, including HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and PHP, and with content management systems like Joomla, Drupal, and WordPress. She also holds numerous certifications, including - SEO Toolkit Exam for Advanced Semrush Users, Semrush SEO Toolkit Course, Google Analytics for Power Users, Advanced Google Analytics, and Google Ads Search Certification.

Jennifer truly enjoys working at Intrada Technologies as she feels she isn’t just a “macro” but part of a collaborative, creative team.

“Working for a small business like Intrada allows me to connect with clients, see projects through from start to finish, and learn a lot,” she adds. “Our team works so well together, always willing to lend a hand and join forces when needed. Everyone is friendly and genuinely cares about one another.”

When not working, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending concerts, reading, playing video games, going to the gym, or watching anime.  One thing you may not know about her is that she likes to learn new languages and is currently taking classes in German and Welsh.

Jennifer is excited to continue her career with Intrada Technologies and looks forward to new opportunities. She hopes to use her skills to help the company reach its goals while still delivering quality work for clients. With a commitment to excellence and always looking to exceed expectations, we can only imagine the amazing things she will bring to the table as a key contributor to the Intrada team. Congratulations, Jennifer, on your well-deserved promotion!

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David J Steele
Apr
27

Exploring the Role of a Full-Stack Developer

David J Steele
Information Technologies

A full-stack developer works with both the front and back end of a website or application. The front end is what you see when you open a website or app, like the colors, design, and layout. The back end is the part that runs behind the scenes – it takes care of things like how data is stored, how it’s accessed, and how users interact with it. To create a complete product, a full-stack developer must be proficient in both areas.

full stack developer coding

At Intrada Technologies, we believe in a team approach to full-stack development. Our project managers and marketing strategists first define the goals of the project. This helps our designers create a user-friendly and visually appealing interface and presentation. Next, our front-end (UX) developers write code that bring that design to life – making sure it looks great on all devices and platforms. The back-end team then stores data securely and ensures consistent user experience across all areas. This full-stack team approach combines all the pieces by incorporating search engine optimization, social media, and digital marketing to maximize opportunity, viability, and return on investment (ROI).

When upgrading a website, one of the most important aspects is ensuring that your organic placement and rankings are preserved. This means setting up redirects, canonical tags, and site maps so you don’t lose your hard-earned SEO visibility. Properly managing these elements will help ensure that search engine bots can still find all the pages on your site, even after they have been moved or modified. It also helps prevent content duplication penalties by making sure only one version of each page is indexed by search engines.


Skills

A full-stack developer is an expert in various technologies and tools, including front-end and back-end development. Some key skills required for successful full-stack development include proficiency in programming languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, React, AngularJS, and others.

Full-stack developers must also be experienced in database management, using tools such as MySQL, MongoDB, and others, and proficient in server-side programming and technologies such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Django. In addition, they need to have an excellent understanding of RESTful APIs and other communication protocols and experience with Git and other version control systems.

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Nicole Keiner
Apr
26

Tips and Tricks for Using Social Media to Drive Business Growth

Nicole Keiner
Digital Media and Internet Development
tips and tricks for social media

The internet is full of resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners, providing an incredible opportunity to impact their bottom line positively. Among the most significant assets available are social media platforms enabling businesses to connect with potential customers worldwide. But how do you go about leveraging these digital tools? Following some proven strategies can help you maximize your success in driving business growth via social media. In this blog post, we’ll discuss tips and tricks for using popular channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to reach new customers while strengthening relationships with existing ones. Whether you're brand-new to utilizing social media as a marketing tool or looking for ways to boost your current efforts, you'll find helpful ideas here. Read on to learn how these platforms can be powerful allies in growing your business if used properly.


Setting Goals and Objectives for Your Social Media Presence

In today's digital age, having a strong social media presence is crucial for any business or individual. But creating and maintaining an effective social media strategy can be overwhelming. That's why setting clear goals and objectives is important. A goal gives you a direction to work towards, while an objective provides specific guidelines for achieving that goal. Whether you want to increase brand awareness, drive more traffic to your website, or generate leads, setting realistic and measurable goals and objectives will help you stay focused and on track. And remember, social media is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Consider your target audience, the platforms they use, and the type of content they engage with when setting your goals and objectives.


Crafting the Right Message to Reach Your Audience

To effectively communicate with your audience, crafting the right message is key. It's important to consider who your audience is, what they care about, and the tone and messaging that will resonate with them. Are they looking for humor, or is a serious tone more appropriate? Are they experts in your field or new to the topic? After you understand your audience well, you can craft a message that will grab their attention and keep them engaged. Remember to keep it concise and clear; don't be afraid to inject your brand or personality into your messaging. By crafting the right message, you can create a lasting connection with your audience.

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Nicole Keiner
Apr
25

An Introduction to GitHub Copilot

Nicole Keiner
Digital Media and Internet Development
github copilot

GitHub Copilot is an artificial intelligence (AI) based coding assistant developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It is designed to provide AI-powered code suggestions and autocomplete for developers in real-time as they write code. Copilot uses natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze the code input by developers, and then provides suggestions based on the context to help developers be more efficient and productive. It is powered by OpenAI's GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) language model and trained on millions of lines of open-source code. It can be used with different programming languages, frameworks, and tools. In this blog post, we'll explore what this innovative tool offers in terms of features and benefits.

“Intrada uses GitHub because, overall, it helps us produce quality code faster and more efficiently for our clients,” states Adam Post, Intrada’s Senior Linux Administrator/Senior Web Developer/Senior Noc Administrator.  “Because the software does code completion, it allows us to focus more on the complex parts of each of our projects, which enhances our productivity.”


What It Is and How It Works

We are constantly looking for ways to make our lives easier, to work smarter. GitHub Copilot uses machine learning algorithms to generate suggestions and auto-complete functions based on context, eliminating the need for tedious manual coding. All you need to do is input a few lines of code, and Copilot generates the rest of the program for you. It's just like having a coding partner that automatically completes your thoughts. Moreover, as you continue to use Copilot, it learns your coding styles and preferences, making it even more personalized and efficient. This tool is a game-changer for developers, making coding faster, more efficient, and error-free.

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James Haywood
Apr
24

The Importance of Training Users on What a Phishing Email Looks Like

James Haywood
Procedures and Policies
phishing-websites-and-scams

cybersecurity awarenessPhishing attacks are one of the most common cyber-attacks organizations face today. In a phishing attack, attackers send fraudulent emails that appear to be from a trusted source, intending to trick users into clicking on a malicious link or downloading a malicious attachment. These attacks can result in significant financial loss, data theft, and reputational damage for organizations. To combat this threat, it is essential that users are trained to recognize phishing emails and that organizations utilize a phishing training and simulation provider to provide effective training.

phishing websites

One of the most effective ways to prevent phishing attacks is by educating users on what a phishing email looks like. Phishing emails often contain several telltale signs that can indicate that they are not legitimate, including:

  • A generic greeting, such as "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern"
  • Urgent language, such as "Act now!" or "Your account will be suspended."
  • Suspicious links or attachments
  • Requests for personal information, such as usernames, passwords, or social security numbers

Organizations can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to a phishing attack by training users to recognize these signs. In addition, users should be trained on how to verify the authenticity of an email, such as by checking the sender's email address, looking for spelling and grammar errors, and contacting the supposed sender directly to verify the message's legitimacy.

The Importance of Using a Phishing Training and Simulation Provider

While manual user training is essential, more is needed to prevent phishing attacks. Attackers constantly evolve their tactics, and it can be challenging for organizations to keep up with the latest threats. This is where a phishing training and simulation provider comes in.

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Nicole Keiner
Mar
31

Welcome, Kaamal!

Nicole Keiner
News and Events
intrada-project-coordinator-kaamal-barnes-thumb

Kaamal Barnes recently joined the Intrada Technologies team as a Project Coordinator. In his role, he is responsible for planning, initiating, and overseeing all elements and execution of client projects.

kaamal barnes, intrada project coordinator

Before joining Intrada, Kaamal served in managerial and sales positions for various companies in the Lycoming County region. In these roles, he managed customer relationships, led sales initiatives, and ensured operational efficiency. He has experience developing strategies to manage projects with challenging deadlines and budgets and confirming all tasks are completed on time. His expertise lies in effectively multi-tasking and keeping projects on track amidst changing timelines, requirements, or resources. Additionally, Kaamal is passionate about technology and enjoys staying current on the latest industry developments and trends.

When Kaamal heard about the opening of Project Coordinator at Intrada, his interest peaked.  He has always wanted to work in a similar role at a technology company and knew it would be the right fit. He applied and got selected for an interview. The rest is history. Since Kaamal was hired, he has been an integral part of the team.

“I always try to work for companies that challenge me,” stated Kaamal. “I also like a job where I do something different daily, which, to me, is extremely important.  Most of the jobs I previously had aligned with that mentality.  I want to enjoy coming to work every day.  Intrada Technologies is an amazing place to do just that.”

From the first day at Intrada, Kaamal said it just felt “right” and he felt so welcome.

“The environment is great, and everyone meshes well together, working for each other and always willing to lend a hand when needed,” he added. “You don’t see that everywhere.”

While Kaamal was born and raised in the Williamsport area, he did move to Nashville for a few years.

“I wanted a change,” he added. “But while I love the South, I knew I wouldn’t stay there forever.”

When Kaamal isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family (especially his 7-month-old daughter), cooking, jogging, and reading. He also likes playing basketball and baseball in his spare time, and is a member of a few adult sports league teams.

Kaamal is excited to be part of the Intrada Technologies team and looks forward to using his knowledge and experience to help further the mission. He believes that working with a company as innovative as Intrada Technologies will provide him with many growth opportunities, both professionally and personally.

Intrada is thrilled to have Kaamal join our team! Welcome, Kaamal!

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Nicole Keiner
Mar
30

ChatGPT in the Workplace

Nicole Keiner
Digital Media and Internet Development

ChatGPT is becoming increasingly popular in the workplace, with more and more businesses turning to this digital platform for their collaboration and communication needs. You may want to consider leveraging the power of chatbots and natural language processing technologies. But how exactly can this software be used as a content writing tool? While ChatGPT is a great way to boost productivity, save time, and enhance team collaboration, it may also come with some drawbacks; understanding the pros and cons of using Chat GPT can help you make an informed decision about whether this type of technology is right for your business. In this blog post we will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of using Chat GPT for content creation.

 

What is ChatGPT?

using chatgpt ai software

ChatGPT is an intelligent chatbot that helps automate chat tasks. Its name is the acronym for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer. It is based on the OpenAI GPT-3 engine and is designed to provide natural and fluid responses to the user through chat through learning and reinforcement techniques. The chatbot is built on machine learning technology, which means it can adapt to different situations and interactions to deliver a more personalized and effective experience.

It uses natural language processing (NLP) technology to generate ideas and create engaging content. With Chat GPT, you can quickly come up with ideas and create compelling stories, blog posts, social media updates, tweets and other types of content. Chat GPT can help you save time while producing high-quality content that connects with your readers.

 

Chat GPT and Content Writing

If you are a content writer looking for an easier and more efficient way to create compelling materials, then Chat GPT may be a solution for you. By bringing experienced professionals together with technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing, Chat GPT creates an environment that allows content writers to maximize their potential in producing effective and high-quality work. Through this platform, content writers can access a library of resources, such as samples and templates, as well as enjoy personalized support from chatbot directions to help them along the way.

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David J Steele
Mar
29

USB Removable Media – Dos and Don’ts

David J Steele
Procedures and Policies
intrada-using-a-usb-drive

cybersecurity awarenessUSB drives, also referred to as thumb drives, are a convenient form of portable storage that has become increasingly popular in recent years. They come in various sizes ranging from 4GB to 1TB and allow users to store data securely on the device itself or transfer it to another compatible device.

inserting a usb drive into a laptop

When storing essential data on a USB drive, it is strongly recommended that users take advantage of one of the many encryption options available on the market today. This type of security measure helps protect sensitive data from unauthorized access by encrypting it and requiring a unique password before it can be accessed. By implementing encryption, users can rest assured that their data will remain safe even if their USB drive is lost or stolen.

In addition to encryption, users can take other steps to better protect their data stored on USB drives. For example, it is important for users always to keep an updated anti-virus program or an endpoint detection & response (EDR) installed on any computer they use their drive with. This can help protect against malicious software and viruses that may try to access the contents of their drive. It’s also wise for users not to leave their drives plugged into computers while not being used. This could allow someone with physical access to attempt to access its contents without authorization.

When disposing of an old USB drive or transferring ownership, users must first delete all its contents and confirm that the device is blank. This will help ensure that anyone else cannot access sensitive information stored on the device. In a corporate environment, the drive should also be returned to the IT Department so they can properly erase the device to make sure no data is exposed or lost. Following these simple steps, users can ensure their data remains safe and secure on their USB drives.

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David J Steele
Mar
28

Is Your Website Results Driven?

David J Steele
Digital Media and Internet Development

At Intrada, web design is more than just a visual presentation. It’s an engaging experience that captivates viewers and drives them to act. Quality web design should be user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and above all else, results driven.

 

#1 DESIGN

We believe in the power of quality web design to create meaningful connections with your audience. That’s why we focus on building web designs tailored to your specific objectives – increasing brand awareness or generating sales leads. At Intrada, we prioritize quality over quick-fix solutions because we know lasting impressions matter most.

web development concepts

To ensure web designs are successful, we live by the 15-second rule. This means that in just a few seconds, your web design should have generated enough interest to keep visitors engaged, exploring additional pages, and returning for more. This includes having an easily navigable structure, logically presenting information, and considering user experience (UX). Our team of experienced graphic and user interface (UI) designers applies this principle to every website we create – ensuring you get the highest quality product each time.

 

#2 CONTENT

Content is equally as important as user experience. Therefore, it is essential to have writers that are well-versed in the nuances of web-friendly writing.   At Intrada, we take the time to get to know your company’s mission, the target audience you’re trying to reach, and the outcome you’re hoping to achieve.   In addition to learning about your company, we thoroughly research and analyze your target audience, competitors, and industry trends to better understand what works best in your field.

When it comes to making meaningful connections with your target audience, trust plays a significant role. Trust is cultivated when businesses show their audience how they can add value to their lives or company. This builds brand loyalty and keeps prospects engaged. To create leads, businesses must provide content and visuals that are clear and concise and explain the benefits of using their product or service. Visuals should accurately depict the company's offerings, while content should be well-developed and easily understood.

Through strong visuals and engaging written content that conveys its message clearly, businesses can achieve trust among viewers that will help keep them engaged throughout their journey on the website. When prospects understand how a product or service can benefit them directly, they are more likely to convert into leads to the client. Our team of experienced writers and editors curate relevant keywords for SEO optimization and craft unique copy that resonates with users on a personal level. We understand the power behind quality content – it's not just about getting found online but also inspiring people to act.

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James Haywood
Mar
27

Is Your Data in the Cloud Secure?

James Haywood
Procedures and Policies

Are you a business owner considering using cloud computing for your data? As more and more businesses move their data online, it can be challenging to understand if the cloud is secure. It is essential to know that the safety of your information should never be taken lightly, as hackers are constantly looking for ways to break into unprotected systems. This blog post will explain why proper security precautions are needed when using cloud services, how these measures work, and how you can ensure maximum protection for yourself and your customers’ data. Read on as we explore what it takes to keep information secure in today’s digital world.

 

What is the cloud, and how does it work?

The cloud is an online platform providing access to software and applications on remote servers. The cloud allows users to store remotely and access data, documents, photos, and videos while accessing various applications and programs. As an added benefit of the cloud, users can access and share these same documents and data from multiple devices, regardless of location. While this type of system is convenient for many individuals and organizations, it does raise some questions regarding the security of the data being stored in the cloud.

 

How secure is the cloud for storing data?

cybersecurity in the cloud

Storing data in the cloud offers many benefits, such as increased flexibility and enhanced security. However, to ensure data remains secure, several factors must be considered. For example, if you are hosting a private server, regularly update your security protocols and only grant access to those who need it. Additionally, be sure to select a trusted provider that has ample resources and specializes in network security. The provider should also guarantee compliance with industry data privacy and encryption standards so that your data remains safe. Lastly, check for auditing logs to help identify breaches or suspicious activity if it occurs. With these measures, you can rest assured that your data is safely stored in the cloud. An example of a cloud provider is Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 has built-in auditing, compliance, and data protection features to ensure data is secure and appropriately governed. 

 

Pros and cons of using the cloud for data storage

Storing data in the cloud often comes with serious considerations, and there are pros and cons to be aware of. On the plus side, cloud storage typically provides greater accessibility and scalability than most traditional on-premises solutions, meaning users have improved flexibility when it comes to accessing their data from multiple locations or devices. Likewise, storing data in the cloud can help reduce infrastructure costs for many organizations since they no longer need to manage and maintain physical hardware. However, when it comes to security, concerns abound in terms of possible tradeoffs between convenience and privacy. As stated above, the cloud is a conglomeration of servers outside your organization that manage and store your data. Therefore, it is more likely that a large cloud provider will be the target of a sophisticated 0-day attack. Before using the cloud to store sensitive data, organizations must ensure that their provider can offer reliable controls over access privileges as well as robust security measures such as encryption.

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Nicole Keiner
Mar
15

Intrada Sponsors Rotary Mini-Golf Event

Nicole Keiner
News and Events
playing operation during rotary mini golf

Intrada, a company committed to giving back to the community, was proud to be a sponsor and very involved in the recent Rotary mini-golf event. This unique fundraising event brought together local businesses and organizations for an exciting day of fun and camaraderie while raising money for several important causes. Through this special event, Intrada hopes to make a positive impact on our local community by supporting important charities and providing a memorable experience for everyone who participates.

Along with providing sponsorship, Intrada also proudly supplied the transportation, storage and construction services needed to rebuild the mini-golf holes. Additionally, several Intrada staff members decided to take things a step further by creating some brand-new, never before seen holes. From Mr. O, a life-like recreated figure with lights and an ‘ooga’ horn that made everyone jump in surprise, to other imaginative creations - these unique holes added a truly special touch that delighted all who participated.

Intrada is proud to be a part of this event. The volunteers and staff who so generously gave their time and energy made sure that it was a huge success. We are honored to have been able to contribute in our own special way, and we look forward to sponsoring more events like this in the future. Thank you all! Together, we can make a difference!

Visit www.williamsportrotary.com for more information!

Rotary of Williamsport PA

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David J Steele
Feb
28

Navigating Through Cyber Insurance

David J Steele
Procedures and Policies

More and more businesses are looking into or reevaluating cyber insurance as companies are managing IT and operational budgets. But with so many different insurance companies, requirements, and options, it is not easy to know where to start. In this article, we will outline some of the key points we consider when navigating cyber insurance requirements. By understanding how the insurance industry has changed and the advances in security-focused technology, we aim to help you be better equipped to find the right policy for your business.

 

What is cyber insurance?

Cyber insurance policies protect companies from financial losses due to cyberattacks, data breaches, and other technology-related risks. By purchasing a policy that covers the costs associated with such threats, companies can reduce their risk and maximize their return on investment. Cyber insurance is essential for any company today as it mitigates the cost and risk associated with possible cyber incidents. With the right policy in place, your company gets the peace of mind of knowing it is adequately protected against potentially devastating losses and a financial return on investment from covering those risks.

 

The different types of coverage available

cyber insurance with intrada

Two of the most common types of coverage to consider when purchasing cyber insurance are third-party liability coverage and first-party coverage. Third-party liability covers costs associated with a breach or data loss that affects other entities, such as customers, partners, or suppliers. First-party coverage is for expenses related to a breach or data loss directly affecting your business. This includes costs associated with repairing damaged systems and restoring lost data and any legal fees incurred in defending against lawsuits brought by affected parties. Both policies can be tailored to fit specific needs and budgets depending on the size and scope of your company's operations.

The cyber risk sector of the insurance industry is constantly evolving, with new products and services being released to meet the growing needs of companies worldwide. As businesses increasingly rely on digital technology, the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches has grown exponentially.

Cyber insurance policies are now much more comprehensive than in the past, with many offering coverage for a wide range of threats. For example, coverage is now available for extortion scams (such as ransomware attacks), business interruption events, system shutdowns, data loss, and damage caused by malicious actors. In addition to these types of losses, many cyber insurance policies cover legal fees associated with responding to a data breach investigation or defending against a class action lawsuit. Finally, policies can include optional coverages such as network security audits and cyber incident response management services.

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David J Steele
Feb
27

Your Email Isn’t as Secure as You Think: What You Need to Know

David J Steele
Procedures and Policies
encrypted-email-keyboard

cybersecurity awarenessEmail has become one of the most popular forms of communication today. According to Statista, an estimated four billion email users worldwide are expected to grow to 4.6 billion by 2025. On average, as of 2021, approximately 319.6 billion emails are sent daily, while 95% of people aged 24-44 have an email account.

Email communication is convenient and efficient, but it can come with risks if the proper security measures are not taken. It is important to remember that email is not a secure form of communication and should never be used to send private information. With the threat of cybercrime and hackers targeting unsuspecting users, emails are particularly vulnerable to being intercepted by malicious third parties. As such, everyone needs to exercise caution when emailing confidential data.

Emails often pass through multiple servers from sender to receiver, leaving them open to potential hacks or data breaches. To protect against unauthorized access, users should use secure passwords for their email accounts and avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious senders.

As a precaution, users should delete any emails containing sensitive data after being viewed so that third parties cannot access them maliciously.

 

Types of protected data

keyboard icon for encrypted email

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) related to emailing is the data that can be used to identify an individual. This could include email addresses, passwords, IP addresses, contact information, and other details that could be used to track a person's online activity. Protecting PII when using email communication is essential as cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated methods to access confidential information. Using strong passwords and avoiding clicking on suspicious links or attachments that may contain malicious software is crucial. Additionally, users should be vigilant in monitoring their accounts for unusual activity, such as unexplained emails sent from their accounts or emails received from unknown sources.

Protected Health Information (PHI) is any information related to the health status, medical history, care provision, or payment for healthcare services of an individual. This includes data such as a patient's name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, diagnosis code, procedure codes, health insurance policy numbers, lab results, and other information about a person’s physical or mental health. As PHI is considered personal and sensitive information, protecting it from unauthorized access and use is important.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare providers are required to ensure the security of PHI. Therefore, all data must be secured with appropriate technical safeguards like encryption and authentication procedures. Additionally, access to PHI should be restricted to only those who need it to provide care or administer benefits. Furthermore, all electronic PHI must be monitored for potential breaches to detect unauthorized access attempts.  It is essential for healthcare providers and patients to take proper steps toward protecting PHI to ensure their privacy and security when communicating via email or other digital platforms.

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Nicole Keiner
Feb
24

How to Use Google Ads to Drive More Traffic to Your Website

Nicole Keiner
Digital Media and Internet Development

Are you looking for a way to drive more traffic to your website? If so, consider using Google Ads (formerly known as Google Adwords). Ads is a powerful tool to help you reach your target audience and increase your website's visibility. However, if it's not used correctly, you could waste a lot of money. Through Google Ads, you can create online ads to reach people exactly when they're interested in the products and services that you offer.

In this blog post, we'll show you how to use Ads to drive more traffic to your site. We will cover everything from setting up your account to creating effective ads, targeting the right audience, and how to use Google Ads effectively to get the most out of your advertising budget.

 

What is Google Ads, and how does it work?

woman viewing google analytics for her website

Google Ads is an online advertising service with a worldwide reach. It helps marketers reach their target audience by placing ads on the world's most popular search engine, Google. Essentially, it allows businesses to target potential customers using a pay-per-click system, where you are only charged when someone clicks on your ad. The cost of an ad is determined by bidding (an auction) on keywords relevant to your business, which leads to more customers being exposed to your product or service. Additionally, comprehensive reporting and data analysis tools allow you to track results and make informed decisions about future campaigns. On top of that, you can adjust your bids for different times of day and geographic locations so that specific audiences can be targeted very effectively. All in all, Google Ads can make sure your business’s message reaches the right audience at the right time.

 

The Google Ad bidding and auction explained

The Google Ad auction is a complex process, and advertisers must understand how it works to maximize their ad performance. By understanding the factors that go into the auction, advertisers can optimize their campaigns for better results. The Google Ad auction works by considering several factors in order to determine the ad rank for each ad. Wordstream.com explains the process well in a few bullet points:

  • It all begins with keywords.  
  • When someone searches on Google, the auction begins.
  • Google enters all relevant keywords and their associated ads into the auction.
  • Google assigns each ad a quality score, giving that ad a rank. Advertisers only pay if their ad gets clicked.
  • The result is the advertiser or business pays the lowest cost for their ad, and the individual searching for a keyword sees relevant ads pertaining to their current search.

The factors determining the ad ranking include the advertiser's bid, quality score, and other relevant metrics. The higher an ad’s rank, the more likely it is to be seen on search engine results pages (SERPs).

Google considers an ad's relevance to be determined by factors such as the quality and structure of the ad, the landing page experience, historical account performance, and other signals. Therefore, advertisers who can create ads that better match what users are looking for will have higher quality scores and, thus, higher chances in the auction.

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James Haywood
Feb
23

Increasing your Cyber Security Posture with Microsoft 365 Business Premium

James Haywood
Information Technologies

Many businesses are looking for ways to increase their cyber security in the wake of recent high-profile cyber-attacks. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a comprehensive security solution that can help protect your business data from threats like ransomware and phishing. Microsoft 365 Business Premium leverages powerful Microsoft security tools like Defender for Business (Next Generation Anti-Virus and Endpoint Detection and Response – NGAV/EDR), Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (Email security), Azure Information Protection Plan 1 (Email Encryption and Data Labeling), Data Compliance (Litigation Hold), Azure Active Directory Plan 1 (Identity Management and SSO), and Intune (Device management. In this blog post, we'll look at some of the key features of Microsoft 365 Business Premium and how they can help keep your business safe.

 

Features overview with Business Premium

cybersecurity in the cloud with m365

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the perfect solution for your business needs. Not only does it provide the latest version of Office applications, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but with individual user cloud-based storage via OneDrive, and organization-wide cloud storage through SharePoint and Outlook email, you can access all your documents from anywhere. This platform also includes mobile device management and cyberthreat protection, which provides a secure virtual environment to keep data safe and protected from online threats. Furthermore, Microsoft 365 Business Premium gives you 60 minutes of Skype calling monthly to stay in touch with colleagues or clients. Every feature of this comprehensive suite helps simplify people's lives, making businesses more efficient and effective.

 

Cyber Security overview with Business Premium

Microsoft 365 Business Premium provides businesses with robust, intelligent security to help protect business data from cyber threats. It features built-in advanced threat protection, which allows companies to detect, investigate and respond to advanced attacks more quickly (Defender for Office 365 Plan 1) and solid identity and access management tools (Azure Active Directory Plan 1). It also offers data loss prevention solutions through Litigation Hold, Content Searching, Data-loss-prevention (DLP), and Azure Information Protection Plan 1, allowing businesses to limit the risk of sharing confidential business information or sharing or accessed without authorization. Microsoft 365 Business Premium also gives companies a unified view of their organization’s devices through Intune, helping them better secure the security posture of their assets. With this intelligent combination of modern solutions for cyber security protection, businesses can be sure that their data is protected from potential cyber threats.

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