Even the smallest of small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs) have finally let go of their old-fashioned paper filing systems, and now store most of their data electronically. Many have become more advanced, using sophisticated applications and leveraging data in new ways to support business strategy.

As your organization grows, technology needs grow. Even if you’re reducing your physical infrastructure footprint, you’ve probably added applications, software and services from different vendors.

Plus, new solutions are constantly being introduced and added to your technology mix, while many older tools never really go away.

You would think headlines about major data breaches on an almost daily basis would cause every senior executive to demand stricter cybersecurity measures. According to a new study conducted by MSI-ACI Europe, that’s not the case. More than six in 10 IT security professionals work with C-level executives who expect more lenient security measures for themselves.

According to Gartner, 30 percent to 40 percent of IT spending goes to shadow IT. Everest Group researchers believe shadow IT could be 50 percent or more of IT spending. Because of the uncertainty surrounding shadow IT, these estimates could very well be on the low side.

Much has been written about the evolution of the cybercriminal. Young hackers who attacked websites just for thrills have grown into well-organized, well-funded criminal operations. The dark web has created a marketplace for hacking tools and collaboration.

An employee goes to IT with a special request. Maybe they need an application reconfigured or want to use an entirely new application, device or operating system. IT fulfills the request to make the employee happy and everyone goes about their business.

Remote working no longer conjures images of someone wearing pajamas and sipping the world’s biggest cup of coffee while occasionally making phone calls. More and more employees are working remotely all or part of the time, taking advantage of the flexibility enabled by today’s technologies.

Analysis of about 61 million passwords from more than 28 million users by Virginia Tech University and Dashlane found that 52 percent of users have identical or very similar passwords for multiple accounts. Even when a breach has been reported and users know their passwords have been compromised, more than 70 percent continue to use those passwords for up to a year.

Last fall, Microsoft announced that paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates would be available on a per-device basis through January 2023. Essentially, these are the security patches Windows users receive for free while the operating system is supported.

There’s some good news about the use of unlicensed software, according to last year’s BSA Global Software Survey. The global software piracy rate dropped from 39 percent to 37 percent over the course of two years, and the commercial value of unlicensed software has also declined.