Monday, July 25, 2016

Cool Printing Trends You'll Want to Know About

When it comes to printing technologies, innovation never stops. The casual observer might not think much has changed in the printing industry in recent years, but many new print technologies have emerged that will soon revolutionize the way documents—and even objects—are produced. 




Being in the know about upcoming and transformative printing technologies gives you a competitive advantage and ensures you’ll have access to the latest advancements when the timing is right for your business.

Here are some of the emerging printing trends to look out for:

Diversity of Media Types
 

Many industries and companies need to print specialized items, such as product packaging or on-demand banners. By expanding the various media types and paper weight (gsm) that printers can accommodate, businesses have more flexibility to produce the documents and printed materials they need. 

Ricoh Pro C7110X: Media Handling Video


 White & Clear Toner 
This is cool stuff! White and clear toner gives you the ability to really add value and flare to your printed documents. With clear ink, you can flood coat a document to enhance its appearance, or you can spot coat only the headline text, so the words seem to jump off the page. Using white or clear toner also allows businesses to produce eye-catching effects—such as creating metallic designs, applying custom clear-coat watermarks, or highlighting photos or objects on marketing collateral. More and more print manufacturers are offering white or clear toner options, expanding this new technology across many different industries and applications. 

Ricoh Pro C7110X: WHITE & CLEAR Toner Video

3D Printing 
You’ve probably heard about 3D printing already, but the technology itself is quickly becoming more advanced and more attainable at the same time. The latest 3D printers are now smaller, faster, and cheaper than previous versions, which means this technology will likely find its way into more industries and businesses sooner than many experts previously thought. 3D printers will likely be integrated into many healthcare and manufacturing settings in the very near future, but with nearly endless applications, the technology will soon expand to many other industries.

The print industry is constantly changing and evolving to meet consumer needs and demands. Contact us today to learn more about these emerging printing trends and check out the Production Print page on our website for more videos and information!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Common IT Mistakes Small Businesses Should Avoid

In the modern business world everyone depends on technology in the office, no matter how small your business is. As such, the decisions you make regarding the technology you depend on to do business are more important than you may think. Not being smart when it comes to your company’s IT situation can create pitfalls that prevent you from being as successful as you could be.

Knowing which IT missteps are commonly made by small businesses can help you avoid making these same blunders. Here are some of the most frequently made IT mistakes to avoid:

• Failing to Protect Your Data – Your company’s data is invaluable, so there is no excuse for not keeping that information safe and sound. Is your confidential data safeguarded against potential security breaches? Are you prepared for an emergency, such as theft, fire, flood, or server failure? Are your files and records backed up for disaster recovery purposes? Adequately protecting your data includes physical security (a firewall), network security (anti-virus/spyware), and backing up your information. In addition, regularly educate and update your employees about Internet and mobile security and safety.

• Not Changing with the Times – Technology is always changing, and businesses must keep up on the latest innovations and products to stay ahead of the competition. Keeping current with the latest technologies can help prevent your company from ending up with outdated, inefficient equipment and software.

• Choosing the Wrong IT Provider – The right IT provider doesn’t just sell you equipment; they manage that equipment, as well. They have the goals of your company in mind and proactively provide solutions to help you achieve those goals.

• Employing Unreasonable Password Requirements – Passwords are essential, but your password policy must be reasonable to be effective. While weak or non-existent passwords are unacceptable, making your requirements so strict that employees must resort to writing passwords on sticky notes undermines your policy.

• Leaving Everything in One Employee’s Hands – You might be impressed that a single person in your office knows all of your passwords and how everything works, but you could be setting yourself up for an enormous problem. What would you do if that employee decided to leave, or became incapacitated due to illness or injury? As the saying goes, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

Don’t fall into the same traps that many small businesses do when it comes to managing their IT. Avoid these common mistakes to help keep your company up and running as efficiently as possible. For more information about MOM's IT Services, visit our website at www.momnet.com/Managed-Network-Services.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Avoiding Threats in the Cloud

The cloud’s potential for storage and service options has created countless opportunities for businesses to expand or improve their offerings, without requiring costly changes to local networks. But, the cloud is not perfect, and it poses some security challenges.

Cloud-based applications can be very convenient, especially for accessing or sharing information when working remotely. However, precautions must be taken to protect sensitive information.

Here are a few steps you can take to protect your cloud assets:

Educate the masses. Cloud services are often adopted at the top levels of a business or within specific workgroups, without consulting individual department managers or IT staff. But, it’s critical that end-users understand how to safely use cloud applications before they are adopted to avoid any potential threats. Proper employee training and frequent email reminders regarding secure use of cloud-based applications or files helps to ensure the safety and security of your network and your business.

Know your cloud use. Many companies are unaware of the cloud services their employees are using. According to cloud security firm Netskope, 90 percent of all cloud applications are not sanctioned by IT. This opens the door for data breaches, data loss, and account hijacking—which, are generally regarded as the top three threats to cloud computing. Organizations and employees should be aware that simple Internet registration systems, phishing, and fraud schemes can allow a hacker to take control of your account. Thankfully, keeping firewalls updated and teaching employees about best practices regarding cloud usage can easily prevent most of these threats.

Protect your files, wherever they are. You can lock down access on mobile devices, but this won’t protect your information if it’s synced to the cloud. Instead, focus on protecting the files themselves with consistent security encryption policies to ensure control. You decide who can view, modify, or print your files, whether they are on a laptop, mobile device, or desktop computer.

As hackers continue to experiment with new ways to attack, it's important for all businesses to mitigate the risks associated with cloud computing by educating stakeholders, investing in data protection, and using encryption safeguards when possible. Cloud security is serious business, so make sure you take the time to get it right.

Contact us today at info@momnet.com to learn about cloud-based applications that can help grow your business, and the security solutions that can keep them secure.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Are Your Passwords Strong Enough?


Modern technology has made many aspects of life more

convenient. However, as with anything else, along with the pros there are inevitably cons. With so much of our lives conducted online, hackers are waging a non-stop war in attempt to gain access to your personal information. Strong passwords are your first line of defense against troublemakers, so make sure yours are up to par.

Strong passwords include:
• At least eight characters
• Both uppercase and lowercase letters
• One or more special characters (such as $, *, !)


To create a strong password, be sure to leave out:
• Names of any kind (your name, your pet’s name, your child’s name)
• Accessible personal information like your date of birth, social security number, etc.
• Numerical sequences, such as 12345
• Words that exist in dictionaries
• The word ‘password’

Finally, protect yourself even further by changing your passwords periodically, and by creating strong login names, as well. For more information regarding IT Security visit MOM at 
www.momnet.com/Managed-Network-Services.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Are You Protected Against Hackers?

With so much of our personal data out there thanks to ecommerce and social networking, it’s no wonder hackers and cyber criminals are able to help themselves to our information, which can have catastrophic results. Hacking can lead to such quagmires as identity theft, scams, theft, and file destruction. Is your personal and business data safe?


What can you do to protect your personal and company data against hackers and cyber crime?


Make it Strong – The first step to protect your data is having strong passwords. Use as many characters as possible, both capital and lowercase letters, and at least one number and one symbol. Leave out obvious details such as your name or date of birth. Avoid easy-to-answer security questions, ones to which the answer can be easily found online (your high school, pet’s name, favorite team, etc.). Also, don’t use the same password for all of your accounts. Having unique passwords will limit the potential damage if one of your accounts is compromised.

Back it Up – Regularly back up your files locally, making multiple copies of them to prevent against hard drive failure. This is especially important for your business, because lost business data usually adds up to lost time and money. So, make sure your backup system is fail-proof. Or, get even more backup protection by utilizing Managed IT Services, offered by many business solution providers, which will securely backup and store your data to protect against hackers and other disasters.

Secure Your Network Devices - An often overlooked area that’s vulnerable to hacking is your printing and imaging hardware. Threats aren’t just limited to outside attacks from cyberspace. People both inside and outside your organization can actually hack your devices and steal information from document images that are saved on the hard drives of your imaging devices. Your office equipment provider can help you take measures to secure these devices.

Browse Facebook Securely – Facebook accounts are frequent targets of hackers, so if you use Facebook, take advantage of the security measures provided to you. In your account settings enable ‘secure browsing’ to use an encrypted connection (https://) instead of a standard connection (http://).

Watch Where You Click – Never, ever click on a link in an e-mail from someone you don’t know. Phishing creates bogus e-mails attempting to lure you to a phony website and have you enter your username and password.

In the information age your personal data is out there; however, employing these methods will make it more difficult for hackers to get their hands on it.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

How Secure is Your Data?

Your Confidential Data Could be at Risk


Think confidential information and documents are protected by your company’s IT security policies? Think again.


A recent survey by Harris Interactive revealed that 51 percent of survey respondents said they process confidential information through printers, copiers, and multi-function devices.

Additionally, 39 percent of employees who print, scan, or copy confidential information at work are concerned whether the information on their printing and imaging devices will remain secure.

These are valid concerns considering there is a very close link between the security of your business and your printing environments. Copiers, printers, fax machines, scanners, and multi-function devices pose a serious risk to your business’ overall security. These devices retain latent document images and text, leaving sensitive information and proprietary data extremely vulnerable to a security breach.

But, securing your print environment is easy with a Managed Print Services (MPS) Program that’s designed to assess all of your devices, provide a detailed security report, and develop a highly secure strategy for your future. Your customized plan can also include usage controls that ensure private information is only accessed by authorized users, and will also help you achieve regulatory compliance. Shrewd business owners know that security breaches damage your brand and can result in heavy fines, so this is protection that pays dividends in the long run. 



Here’s the bottom line:


An MPS solution will not only optimize your output fleet to cut costs and increase efficiency, but will also provide you with the peace of mind that your entire printing and imaging environment is safe and secure.

Contact us today, and you’ll understand why we place the highest priority on your company’s data and are committed to helping you protect your valuable information. 

To learn more about how MOM can help you with your managed print services needs, visit our website at http://www.momnet.com/Managed-Print-Services1 or click here try out our FREE PRINT SAVINGS CALCULATOR.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT: Jump START Your Nonprofit 2016



As summer approaches, so does our 7th year of our Jump START Your Nonprofit contest! We are pleased to announce the Contest Timeline for this year. Please mark your calendars and pass this along to all of your nonprofit friends!

 Monday, July 11 - 
 Wednesday, September 14, 2016 

Registration begins on Monday, July 11, 2016. Nonprofit organizations have approximately 10 weeks to register to win an office technology makeover. Go to www.momnet.com to register online.

Online registration ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.

 Week of September 19, 2016 

Finalists announced. MOM’s contest review committee will select 10 finalists from each market (Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton) to compete in Jump START Your Nonprofit. Finalists will be posted online at www.momnet.com.

Marketing materials distributed. MOM will send jump drives of downloadable marketing material to each finalist to assist in spreading the word to encourage supporters to vote.

 Monday, September 26 - Friday, October 7, 2016 
Online voting opens. Voting will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 26, 2016, and close at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2016. Nonprofit employees and their friends, families and supporters are encouraged to vote once a day at www.momnet.com.

 Week of October 10, 2016 

Winners announced. The top vote-getter in each market (Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton) will be named a Jump START Your Nonprofit winner. The top vote-getter in each market will receive $10,000 and will be presented with their check on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at The Rusty Ball in Cincinnati, OH.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Five Easy Benefits that Enhance Business

Concepts such as total cost of ownership (TCO) or cost per copy (CPP) do not tell the whole story about a system’s efficiency – that is if the system incurs increased costs within different areas in the company. Even technically highly productive machines become inefficient if they are no longer used as designated, as in cases caused by company reorganization or when human resources are squandered when employees carry out tasks unsuited to their qualifications.

TCO and CPP do not tell the whole story about a system’s efficiency. The key to this problem is change management, or simply a refocus from product to customer. A vendor’s refocusing answer is increasingly becoming MPS. Vendors know that a customer is no longer satisfied with just a state-of- the-art product – they also want constant and all-around support before they are willing to undergo a long-term relationship with a vendor for their fleet. A number of manufacturers are offering MPS already to their customers. The offers include status analysis, priority identification, implementation, management and constant monitoring in the areas of consumables management, process optimization and sometimes refinancing.

Benefits to you:


  1. It is estimated that the cost of print can be as much as three percent of a company’s revenue and has even been called “the last great area of uncontrolled costs”
  2. Improved work routines alone save 20 to 30 percent of printing costs.
  3. Enhance business/work processes by adding new capabilities to this hard copy fleet.
  4. Grasp control of the fleet, identify all costs and centralize decision making.
  5. Optimize the fleet by installing the right devices in each work environment.
To learn more about how MOM can help you with your managed print services needs, visit our website at http://www.momnet.com/Managed-Print-Services1 or click here try out our FREE PRINT SAVINGS CALCULATOR.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Ensure MPS Success with These Tips



Managed Print Services (MPS) is catching on—fast. In the never-ending attempt to gain a competitive edge and maximize profits, small- to medium-sized businesses understand the value that MPS adds to their companies.

Those who have employed MPS have seen a tremendous return on their investment, with the latest data showing that the service can cut document-related costs by up to 30 percent. Moreover, businesses can rely on their MPS provider to take care of streamlining print fleets, monitoring networks for use and performance, finding solutions to issues that may arise, and providing replacement consumables on time.

If you’ve recently introduced MPS to your business, or are considering doing so in the future, it’s important to ensure you are making the most of your services. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

State Clear Objectives – Whether you want to cut printing costs in the first six months or get your dedicated IT staff back on task this quarter, make sure that you delineate specific benchmarks with your MPS provider. These goals will allow you to measure your progress along the way and evaluate the effectiveness of your services.

Consider Scalability – Is your MPS provider concerned with the future of your business as much as you are? They should be. Taking future growth into account, and understanding its impact on your business’s print infrastructure, is something that should be discussed with your provider throughout your MPS contract. As your company grows, your vendor should take the lead to manage the scaling of your print environment.

Leverage Your MFPs – Multifunction printers (MFPs) can be found in most modern offices and offer outstanding workflow tools to help with important daily tasks—particularly for HR, legal, and accounting departments. Your MPS provider should take a thorough look at your workflow processes to gain a deeper understanding of your business’s unique needs and functions, and can recommend software tools to help you maximize productivity straight from your MFP devices.

Keep in Touch – One of the functions of MPS is to make it easier to manage your print environment. By staying in touch with your MPS provider, you can ensure you’re always getting the full value out of your services. Make sure to return your provider’s calls or emails regarding the status of your MPS goals, current outputs, hardware maintenance, and consumable supplies. Regularly speaking with your provider helps to keep benchmarks on track.

To learn more about how MOM can help you with your managed print services needs, visit our website at http://www.momnet.com/Managed-Print-Services1 or click here try out our FREE PRINT SAVINGS CALCULATOR.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Top 5 Ways Scanning Solves Business Problems




Many businesses find it difficult to strike a balance between physical documents and the often elusive dream of going paperless. Although both physical documents and digital documents offer their own benefits and drawbacks, one of the primary concerns for businesses is how to bridge the two worlds.
By utilizing scanning solutions, your business can save time and money while closing the gap between paper and digital files. But, many businesses only use scanning as an occasional supplement to business processes, when in fact document scanning can help solve business problems altogether. Here are five practical ways scanning can improve your document processes.
  1. Simplify records management. When digital documents are stored in a central location, it makes records management easy. You’ll never waste time searching for a file again. You will be able to access any document with a few clicks and rest assured that everything is protected and secure.
  2. Prepare for a disaster. What would happen if your building caught fire, or if a hurricane flooded your storage facility? Are you confident your paper documents would survive? Paper is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and theft, but digital documents can be backed up and protected with safeguards like passwords and user authentications. 
  3. Stop losing documents. Stop wasting time running around your office trying to track down a years-old file, or having to recreate it when you throw in the towel. By scanning your documents to digital files with easy-to-use indexing features, you ensure that you’ll always find the documents you’re looking for in a matter of seconds.
  4. Get your office space back. Imagine if you could get rid of all those filing cabinets or repurpose the storage room to include more work stations. Document scanning allows you to maximize usable office space. By converting paper documents to digital ones, you can make your workspace feel bigger and more organized. This will ultimately help with workflow and departmental organization. 
  5. Save time and money. Many businesses are put off by the initial investment it takes to scan years of paper documents and files. But savings is recouped quickly by increased office efficiency and employee productivity. You also won’t need to pay for expensive storage space any longer.
For more information on our Document Management solutions, visit our website at: