855-455-5035 www.azcomp.com
APRIL 2019
Empowering Small Practices to Deliver the Best Care
4 DEADLY IT SECURITY MISTAKES That You May Be Making RIGHT NOW
No.2 You’re Leaving Holes in Your Defenses constantly monitor every machine on your network for threats or ensure that every employee is regularly updating their applications. Even if you could, that would be a colossal waste of your time. A good MSP will help monitor the health of your network at all times. They’ll pinpoint potential issues before they lead to a breach. And if the worst does happen, they’ll be stepping in as soon as possible to remedy it. No.3 You’re Opening Yourself up to Costly Server Downtime Let’s look at the worst-case scenario. You suffer an attack and your system goes down. Would you rather call somebody who has no idea who you are or what your network looks like to solve the problem, OR would you want somebody who already knows what’s happening and has already started fixing the problem? Even if you’re the most tech-savvy business owner out there, you don’t have the time to It’s a pretty clear choice, especially since every minute counts when your network is down. A quick fix could be the difference between a minor headache and a company-closing catastrophe. No.4 You’re Not Operating at Peak Efficiency A lack of efficiency is the most invisible cost associated with a cheap IT approach, but it’s also one of the most damning. Even if you never suffer an attack, you’re losing money in productivity if your tech isn’t up to snuff. A proactive eye and active consultation with an MSP will keep you ahead of the curve. In times of sickness and health, an MSP like AZCOMP, will be right there by your side. In a world where tech and business are inseparable, who wouldn’t want that? –Byron Adams
For most businesses, technology is essential and confusing in equal measure. The necessity of leveraging tech for business success is self-evident at this point. Without the latest tech tools, you’ll struggle to compete. It’s just that simple. The question then becomes how to best utilize and protect that technology. The nature of cybercrime is constantly changing, as are the best methods of deterring hackers from breaking into your private networks and accessing your data. That’s why so many businesses are making the wise decision to enroll in managed IT services for their security needs. Managed services providers (MSPs) like AZCOMP monitor a company’s network 24/7, consult them on their tech needs, and help them avoid potentially crippling attacks before they become issues. In short, MSPs are partners with the businesses they serve. They help businesses grow and thrive by ensuring their tech is rock solid. Managed services stand in contrast to the old “break-fix” approach. These cut-rate companies only show up when there’s a problem to report (i.e. when it’s too late). Far too many companies rely on these services, only to find them wanting when trouble arises. Here are four reasons why the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” should never be applied to your precious digital resources. No.1 You’re Just Praying Nothing Ever Goes Wrong You may think that break-fix services are a failsafe against something going totally haywire in your system. That’s true in theory, but not in practice. Because break-fix companies only show up to resolve a problem, they don’t know the ins-and-outs of your system. As such, they may not be able to resolve a problem quickly enough to save your bottom line. Investing in break-fix services is basically the same thing as getting the bare minimum in auto coverage. You’re not actually paying for the coverage; you’re betting against something happening to you. In both cases, that’s a very silly move.
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EASTER EGGS ON THE WEB The Fun & Secretive World of Digital Easter Eggs
This time of year, when you hear the words “Easter egg” you probably think of either dyed chicken eggs, Cadbury Creme Eggs, or those hard plastic eggs with goodies on the inside. In recent years, however, the phrase “Easter egg” has taken on an additional meaning. We now use the term to describe hidden messages left in media or technology for eagle-eyed viewers and users. These Easter eggs may not be as brightly colored or packed with sugar as their namesakes, but they can be just as delightful. The use of “Easter egg” to describe these hidden messages originates with the Atari 2600 game “Adventure,” which was released in 1979. Programmer Warren Robinett hid a message within the game. It would only appear if a player stepped on a certain pixel during the right moment. When they did, the words “Created by Warren Robinett” would appear. After a player discovered the message and wrote to Atari about it, company executives weren’t upset with their devious employee. Instead, they suggested implementing the strategy in more of their titles.
From their origin in video games, Easter eggs have spread to other media. For example, they’re a regular fixture of Marvel movies, so much so that dedicated fans meticulously comb over shots for carefully placed clues about future movies. In the “Toy Story” movies, there are many references to Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Don’t believe us? The next time you watch the Pixar classic, check out the carpet in Sid’s family home. When it comes to online Easter eggs, Google is the undisputed champion. You can search for “Google in 1998” to take a look at the search engine two decades into the past. It’s shocking how much the simple design has morphed over the years. You’ll find another great Easter egg if you Google Image search for “Atari Breakout.” The photos will transform into a completely playable version of the game. A fitting tribute, considering it was Atari that made Easter eggs a thing in the first place. MEDISOFT, LYTEC & NEXTGEN OFFICE SUPPORT PLANS FOR HOSTING, BACKUP, AND MORE Need Support? Call 480-497-7480 if you have a support contract. Don’t Have Support? Plans start at just $99/month. Call us at 855-455-5035 to get started with support, training, electronic claims, electronic health records (EHR), hosting, backup, and more. We have so many tools and services to help your practice be more efficient, keep its network protected, and remain a thriving independent practice. We want to help your practice perform at the highest possible level by providing services that help you get the most out of your software. Be sure to check our website often at Azcomp.com/events to learn about upcoming trainings and other events we host. DON’T FORGET TO UPGRADE YOUR SOFTWARE!
SPOTLIGHT ON LIZ NYLIN
Liz Nylin joined AZCOMP as our marketing manager in January. Prior to accepting her new role, Liz worked for us a couple of years ago, so she’s already an old friend. What drew her back? “The two main factors are the incredible people and the integrity of the company,” she says. “Everyone here genuinely cares about the customers and one another. That’s rare to find.”
As marketing manager, Liz spends her time creating a lot of our killer content. She’s excited to get to know our customers better over the coming months and years. When she’s not working, Liz spends her time with her husband, Josh, her two children, Lydia and Jack, and the family’s three rescue dogs. Ironically, Josh and Liz moved to Arizona from Massachusetts in order to open an ice carving business. That’s right — they moved to the desert to work with ice. Regardless of how funny that sounds, we’re sure glad they did. Otherwise, we’d never get to work with Liz!
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A HASSLE-FREE HOT SHAVE AT HOME Over the past decade, male grooming standards have undergone a revolution. During the 1990s and early 2000s, most men used the bare minimum in terms of skin care products, got their haircut at dime-a-dozen chains, and shaved without giving it a second thought. That’s far from today’s reality, with boutique barbershops and mens-specific beauty products proliferating at a rate like never before. It was only a matter of time before a company Gillette’s New Heated Razor Last year, GilletteLabs, a Gillette team devoted to cutting-edge products, launched an Indiegogo campaign for their new heated razor, simply named the “Heated Razor.” The product promised to heat to 122 degrees F in under a second and provide all the pleasures of a hot shave without any of the hassle. It was a huge funding success, exceeding its goal by nearly five times. Those who funded the project have received their razors and are submitting feedback to Gillette ahead of a full launch. When it hits store shelves, expect the Heated Razor to be one of the most requested gifts of the year. brought the hot-shave experience home. Surprisingly, it was the biggest name in razors, Gillette, who tackled this problem before a scrappy upstart beat them to it.
Imagine walking through a bazaar of artisans from around the world. In one stall, you find blankets from Argentina; the next contains baskets from Indonesia. Each is masterfully crafted by artisans who are fairly compensated for their work. While this scenario may not yet exist in real life, it is exactly what the online home decor brand The Citizenry offers. The company sells goods from artisan partners around the world directly to consumers, cutting out middlemen and offering fair-trade goods at significantly lower prices than you’ll find at the average boutique. “The Citizenry is a socially conscious home decor brand that goes above and beyond just donating proceeds to a charity,” says co-founder Rachel Bentley. “We are setting new standards for ethical business practices, creating an entire model that implements long-term social change for artisan communities around the world.” Ensuring that artisans are paid fairly for their beautiful wares may seem like a given, but in a world where only 1 percent of textiles meet fair-trade standards, that is not the case. Of course, peddling goods in this ethical, grassroots way isn’t without its difficulties. When an item on The Citizenry sells out, there’s no ordering another shipment from a factory. Eager customers will have to be patient until the artisan can make another batch by hand. To help remedy this issue, The Citizenry invites customers to join waiting lists for items that are not yet restocked. It’s never going to work like Amazon, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s no secret that consumers want to support brands whose values mirror their own. Doing so in a way that doesn’t require an arm and a leg puts ethical goods into more homes than ever before. The Citizenry is playing their part in creating a better marketplace for all, and the world is starting to listen. How The Citizenry Is Disrupting the Way We Decorate A WORLD TOUR OF HOME DECOR
JEAN CASE’S ‘BE FEARLESS’ A Guide to Unlocking Your Leadership Potential
“This book is a call to action for those who seek to live extraordinary lives,” writes Jean Case at the outset of her new book, “Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose.” We’re happy to report that her description is absolutely correct. As a former AOL executive and the first woman to lead the National Geographic Society, Case knows a thing or two about living an extraordinary life.
Given her insane level of success, you might think Case would say that talent or
intelligence was the key, but she believes just the opposite. Instead, she credits passion and fearlessness as the traits that unite innovators and high-achievers from all walks of life. And that makes sense, right? If we think of an adjective ascribed to great leaders, “fearless” is surely the first word that comes to mind. Can fearlessness be taught? Case believes so, and she lays out a five- point program for doing just that. To be fearless, she notes, you need to make a big bet, be bold and take risks, make failure matter, reach beyond your own bubble, and let urgency conquer fear. “Be Fearless” is compelling, actionable, and a book you’ll struggle to put down. If you’ve ever wanted to be described as a “fearless leader,” it should be the next title on your reading list.
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2500 S. Power Rd., Ste. 117 Mesa, AZ 85209 i nside this issu e Fatal IT Security Flaws PAGE 1 Let’s Go Egg Hunting! PAGE 2 Meet Liz Nylin PAGE 2 A Home Decor Brand Worth Believing In PAGE 3 An Innovation in Shaving Technology PAGE 3 AZCOMP Leadership Library: ‘Be Fearless’ PAGE 3 One Man’s Quest for Greatness PAGE 4
A ‘FREE SOLO’ CLIMB TO PHENOMENAL
By Benson
I’m just going to get this out of the way at the start, lest anyone assume I’m advocating dangerous or deadly behavior: This article is in no way telling you to go out and climb a massive rock without ropes. In fact, you should never, ever do that. Alex Honnold understands full well what he’s getting into and has trained his entire life to be able to do what he does. I’m simply celebrating his determination in his quest for greatness. That’s something we can all appreciate, whether you think the nature of his endeavor is breathtaking or breathtakingly stupid.
I recently watched “Free Solo,” the documentary about rock climber Alex Honnold’s historic
One of our core values is “We deliver phenomenal.” That means never settling for just good enough. There’s always another obstacle to overcome, or another wall to climb, in our quest to be the best. That’s exactly how Alex Honnold viewed his challenge — a chance to do something truly phenomenal. He never relented in his pursuit, resulting in a feat of human spirit unlike any that’s come before. Climbing isn’t what we do here at AZCOMP, but we are all professionals. If we work hard enough and long enough; take similar measures of preparation; persevere through the hard times; and strive for “perfection;” then we can also be world class in our own craft.
journey to free solo the rock known as
El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Free soloing is a type of rock climbing where you tackle a wall on your own without any harnesses or other safety gear. It is both the purest form of climbing and the least comprehensible. “Everyone knows that if I make one mistake while free soloing a wall the result will be death,” Alex says matter-of-factly in the film. “So, if I’m able to complete a free solo climb, that is as close to perfection as one can get.”
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