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DECEMBER 2017
Empowering Small Practices To Deliver The Best Care
MEDISOFT
WE DO THE RIGHT THING
Most of our core values here at AZCOMP come with a cool origin story. Often these stories come from the world of surfing, something our owner Lance Foster is passionate about. It gives our values a unique flavor and makes them different from those at every other company. However, the core value I want to write about this month, our seventh, doesn’t require much explanation at all. It states simply, “We Do the Right Thing.” The core value itself may not win any awards for creativity, but I think the way we approach it does. Like all of our core values, it isn’t empty talk, and it’s not limited to what we do at the office. I think that every last person who works here takes the mandate to do the right thing for our customers seriously. In our personal lives, on the other hand, I think we can sometimes forget just how much of a difference it can make when you do the right thing, whether that involves helping out a loved one or a complete stranger. Showing a little empathy and kindness goes a long way, especially during this time of the year. I recently saw a story on “CBS Sunday Morning” where somebody didn’t just do the right thing, they literally went the extra mile to do it. From the second the story was over, I knew I needed to share it. It shows that doing the right thing benefits the person doing the deed as well as the recipient. The story is about two people named Anita Hughes and Jason Wright. Anita, who rarely leaves her house for anything other than errands and church, decided to take a journey from her home in Cleveland to North Carolina for a gospel concert. For her, this was an unprecedented trip. She reached the concert without any problem, but her return trip wasn’t so smooth. She was so lost that she couldn’t even tell what state she was in, let alone how to get
back to Cleveland. In a panic, she decided to stop at a 7-Eleven store and ask for directions. That’s where Jason Wright lived up to his name and did the right thing. “Can somebody please tell me how to get to Cleveland?” Anita remembers asking. Jason, who happened to be a customer when Anita came in, noticed her distress and pointed her in the right direction. After being lost for so long, though, Anita was still scared. She asked that Jason show her the way. And that’s exactly what he did. “I’m going in the complete opposite direction,” Jason says. “I live to the south, and I’m driving north so far out of my way.” In fact, he drove 35 miles just to make sure Anita got back on the right track. It would’ve been easy for him to do what was convenient. After all, he was the only person to offer directions in the first place. Instead, he did what he knew was right. Anita sums it up best. “He was so nice,” she says with a smile a mile wide. “Just a little bit of affection can change your whole situation.” But it wasn’t just Anita who ended up getting something out of their interaction. The two are now good friends who talk on the phone nearly every day. When CBS reunited them for the story, they immediately embraced. “All of us are brothers and sisters,” Jason notes, “and we really do have a responsibility to help one another get home.” The connection that developed from a simple act of kindness proves just how important doing the right thing can be. During the holidays, we’re all busy. Don’t let the chaos distract you from doing the right thing. You never know just what an impact it might have. –Neili Holmes
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WHY YOU NEED TO INSTALL SECURITY PATCHES IMMEDIATELY Prevent Attacks Before They Happen
When your computer prompts you to install a new security patch, you may regard it as a nuisance. Do you really need to stop what you’re doing and spend the time updating every computer
The reason it’s so important to download right away is that, in addition to removing vulnerabilities, a patch broadcasts flaws in previous versions to hackers. Every day you wait, you’re putting your network at increased risk of attack. Imagine if a bank put out a memo that they were installing new ATMs because older versions could be hacked to dispense free cash. People would be hunting down those old ATMs ASAP. The same goes for computers. It’s important to note that every operating system prompts for security patch updates differently. Windows, for example, sends out its updates every Tuesday, with additional hotfixes arriving as needed. Google the specifics of how your operating system installs patches to ensure you don’t miss updates. Remember that you need to install security patches for every machine, as well as for your server. At AZCOMP, we are happy to help you navigate patches like these while you’re busy handling your day-to-day operations. We offer security maintenance plans, along with monitoring and many other important services to keep your company’s data safe.
in your office? In short, yes. Operating system updates are one of the frontlines of defense against malware, viruses, and other exploits hackers use to compromise your information. However long it may take to install an update, it could save you the effort of recovering lost data, which could take a lot more time than installing updates. Security patches keep your operating system up-to-date, removing the latest vulnerabilities hackers use to gain access to private information. The battle between hackers and computer companies is a constant game of cat and mouse. Hackers examine the current patch for weaknesses, and the company then fixes them in an update. If you’re not running the latest security patch, you leave yourself open for attack.
SPOTLIGHT ON SCOTT HIGGINS
NEED MEDISOFT HELP?
Scott Higgins, an IT consultant here at AZCOMP, is quickly approaching his one-year anniversary. Since starting in January 2017, he’s become an integral member of the team. “I love the culture here.” Scott says. “It really feels like we’re more than just co-workers; we’re a family. And we also have family values. When I had my first son this year, everyone was willing to give me time to be home with my wife and newborn.”
At AZCOMP, our goal is to make sure each practice gets the most out of their Medisoft software. If you need guidance, feel free to contact us.
Call our direct support line: (480) 497-7480 Create a support ticket online : azcomp.com/help Don’t have Platinum Support? Plans start at just $99 per month. Call us at (855) 455-5035. Next Medisoft-U Training Webinar: January 11, 10 a.m. Pacific Time Topic: Quick Ledger/Quick Statements Medisoft-U webinars are free for all. Visit azcomp.com/events to register.
Scott’s role includes fielding phone calls, but he also spends a lot of time on-site with our customers. “I love being able to help relieve the stress and headaches of IT off our customers’ plates with our IT solutions,” he notes. “I also enjoy learning about all the different industries we work with to understand what drives their business.” When he’s not working, Scott’s focused on his family. “My family is my life,” he says. “In addition to my wife, Whitney, and 9-month-old boy Barrett, my whole extended family live in the area, which keeps our schedule full. When we can get away, we like to camp in northern Arizona.”
Medisoft Version 22 Presale! Medisoft Version 22 is now on presale! Be sure to call us to learn about the discounts available leading up to launch day.
For details on what’s planned for the new release, visit azcomp.com/medisoft/medisoft-version-22.
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HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST SECURITY ATTACKS Popular Hacking Methods and How to Deter Them It seems that every few weeks, the news is inundated with stories of the latest large-scale cyberattack. FromWannaCry ransomware and the Equifax hack to stories of attacks on celebrities, there’s always a new cybercrime showing up in headlines. While these breaches may garner the lion’s share of press coverage, attacks on small businesses are just as common. You may be thinking that your business is too small to warrant attention from hackers. Think again. Hackers target small businesses precisely because they lack the robust defenses of larger corporations. Unless you stay informed on the latest attack methods, you’ll leave your company’s sensitive data vulnerable. Here are some of the preferred methods hackers use to break into networks. SOCIAL (MEDIA) ENGINEERING HACKS Rather than using code to break into a network, this type of hack exploits human vulnerabilities. By snooping on social media profiles, a criminal will pose as an employee and call a service provider like a cellphone company, seeking to gain personal information. They may ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or other private data. Once gathered, this information can be used to nefarious ends. EMAIL PHISHING Phishing is a favorite of hackers. With these scams, innocuous- looking emails are sent, prompting users to click on a corrupt link that exploits the user’s network. The email may look like it’s from a company seeking to fix a problem or offering a service, but the real intent is to break into your system. Advise all of your employees to avoid clicking on links that come from unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages to avoid getting phished. BRUTE FORCE PASSWORD ATTACKS These attacks aren’t the most sophisticated, but they work all the same. To execute password-based attacks, hackers run software that produces millions of possible password combinations. If they have some of your personal information, they will use it to limit the number of attempts required to break in. The best defense against these attacks is to use complex passwords that are difficult to guess. Even better is to use VPN codes for all network users. FAULT INJECTION Only high-level hackers can use fault injection, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a concern. These attacks target weaknesses in your code itself. Once a hacker gets in, they have free reign over your data and systems. To avoid this fate, you need to regularly update your operating system and software for security patches. You can read more about that elsewhere in this issue. One of the biggest struggles for many small businesses is having enough people to help with smaller but important tasks like network and cybersecurity. Give us a call and we can help you come up with a plan for protecting your data and your network from these cybercriminals.
ALEXA’S NEW FACE The Echo Show’s Touch Screen Creates New Possibilities Since launching in 2015, the Amazon Echo smartspeaker has continued to adapt to the needs of the user. Alexa, the Echo’s voice-controlled, intelligent personal assistant, can now perform over 25,000 skills, from playing “Jeopardy” to controlling your thermostat. Now the Echo Show is adding a whole new dimension to the device’s capabilities. With the addition of both a 7-inch HD touch screen and camera, the Show is far more than a speaker with brains. Now, when you ask Alexa for the weather, she can show you the forecast for the week. Phoning a friend? Make it a hands-free video call. Want to check who’s at the front door? Link your Echo Show to a doorbell cam and see who’s knocking. Ask Alexa to display the lyrics to your new favorite song or the directions for that recipe you’ve always wanted to try. Adding a screen has done little to negatively impact the Echo. Its Dolby processing speakers still have enough oomph to fill a whole room, and the device can seamlessly pair with other speakers to fill your whole house with music. The new design does sacrifice the omnidirectional sound quality offered by other Echo speakers, and you’ll notice some muffling if you face the device away from you. But with thoughtful placement, the Show can compete with any smartspeaker system in its class. With the accessibility offered by a touch screen and camera, brand-new possibilities are opened up for the future. Amazon is constantly adding skills for Alexa, and having a video element provides flexible avenues for future development. The Echo Show is on the cutting edge of technology, combining both aural and touch inputs into a single, smart interface. As our thermostats, doorbells, and TVs continue to grow “smarter,” devices like the Echo will become more and more essential. It’s nice to have a device with the capabilities to both show and tell us what we need to know.
Win a $25 Amazon gift card! Here is the trivia question of the month. The first person to call in and give us the correct answer wins the gift card!
Every Christmas, Coca-Cola includes Santa on their cans. In which decade did this practice originate? First person to call Neili at 888-358-2667 will win the gift card!
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Why We Take Doing the Right Thing Seriously PAGE 1 The Dire Importance of Security Patches PAGE 2 Spotlight on Scott Higgins PAGE 2 Need Medisoft Help? PAGE 2 Defend Yourself Against a Hack! PAGE 3 The Echo Show’s Touch Screen Creates New Possibilities PAGE 3 Healthy Ice Cream? For Real? PAGE 4
HOW HALO TOP CREAMERY MADE A DREAM REALITY REAL HEALTHY ICE CREAM
Finding a healthy pint of ice cream on store shelves has long been a fantasy of American shoppers. Now, we don’t mean frozen yogurt or some other type of pseudo ice cream. We’re talking real ice cream that isn’t loaded with calories, fat, and sugar. Sounds like a pipe dream, right? Well, not anymore. Halo Top Creamery has found the formula — and grown over 20,000 percent in three years as a result.
to 360, is displayed more prominently on the packaging than the company’s name. On their website, Halo Top has an “Us vs. Them,” comparing their products to other major brands. With less than one-quarter of the calories in Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs, the numbers speak for themselves.
As if the excellent product and smart packaging weren’t enough, Halo Top received a viral marketing windfall, without having to invest a dollar. Shane Snow, a writer for GQ, heard about Halo Top from his friend Sameem, a fitness trainer. Snow did some research and wondered what might happen if he ate nothing but healthy ice cream for a week. When he published a diary of the experience, and the result that he lost nearly 10 pounds, the company’s notoriety skyrocketed. Now, you can’t plan to have an article like Snow’s go viral. But when you create a product as revolutionary as Halo Top did, you can bet that word-of-mouth will spread. With 50 million pints and counting sold this year, Halo Top shows no signs of slowing down.
At this point, you’re probably wondering what sort of magic ice cream lives inside the bold packaging of Halo Top pints. Well, the first three ingredients — milk, cream, and eggs — aren’t shocking. Halo Top uses organic cane sugar and organic stevia, a natural, plant-based sweetener, to keep the calorie count low, without skimping on flavor and texture. They also include milk protein concentrate in their recipes for a macronutrient boost. Halo Top isn’t shy about telling you just how rare an achievement they’ve made. The number of calories in a pint, ranging from 240
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