Organizations of all sizes and in all industries are eager to exploit emerging technologies, but staff limitations often frustrate attempts to launch high-level initiatives. Even companies with in-house IT staff struggle to keep pace with day-to-day operations much less accelerating technology change.

Email is perhaps the original “killer app,” an application so effective and easy to use that it sparked the rise of the personal computer and the spread of the Internet. Today it is the de facto standard for business communication with more than 4 billion email accounts worldwide generating nearly 200 billion messages every day.

In our last post, we discussed some of the warning signs of IT failures, along with suggestions for identifying and correcting problems. However, there are times when things just can’t be fixed. Servers, printers and PCs have moving parts that wear out.

From sales and marketing to manufacturing and shipping, virtually every aspect of modern business has been fundamentally changed by information technology. IT advances boost productivity, efficiency and collaboration to expand the range of what’s possible for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

In the digital age, myths and misperceptions are difficult to dispel. Bill Gates, Floyd Mayweather and Eminem aren’t giving away large sums of money on Facebook. A dying English boy doesn’t want your business card. A Nigerian prince isn’t going to transfer his family fortune into your bank account.

The “break-fix” approach once was the standard model for acquiring IT support. When a company needed computer repairs, network tuning or any other form of tech-related service, they engaged a solution provider on a straightforward fee-for-service basis and paid the bill once the work was completed.

Yoga is a system of exercises designed to improve well-being through increased strength and flexibility. That is also a pretty good definition of what your managed services provider (MSP) ought to be doing for your business.

MSPs help keep your IT investments in good health so you can focus on your business.

Email is a great business communication tool because it’ss fast, easy to use and inexpensive. However, its evolution into a de facto file-sharing application has also made email a potential liability.

It has become a globally common practice to share information with coworkers, partners and customers by attaching files to email messages.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly, with some analysts predicting the number of connected devices will reach nearly 50 billion in the next couple of years. Such massive connectivity is expected to drive new efficiencies in countless industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, energy and utilities, and more.

Internet risk isn’t limited to malicious websites. Hackers are placing dangerous links and content on popular, legitimate websites. Every time you visit a website, an average of 25 background sites are contacted to serve ads, collect data, and launch videos and other content.