855-455-5035 www.azcomp.com
FEBRUARY 2019
Empowering Small Practices to Deliver the Best Care
The biggest fallacy about cybercrime is the assumption that hackers only target huge corporations. It’s not hard to see why people mistakenly believe this. When Facebook or Equifax get hacked, it’s headline news for days. Smaller breaches don’t garner as much attention, but their effects can be even more disastrous for the business under attack. A company like Target may be able to weather a cybercrime storm, but your average small business can’t. This is why assuming you’re safe from cybercrime is so dangerous. You would hope that small-business owners would be wise to the fact that hackers and criminals feast on vulnerable businesses, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. According to a recent JLT-Harvard Business Analytic Services survey, less than half of all small- IGNORE CYBERSECURITY AT YOUR PERIL Because You’re a Target for Hackers
Part of the reason why business owners prefer to remain blissfully ignorant is because cybersecurity is so overwhelming. The days of being able to protect your network through a single piece of easily installed software are long since passed. Business owners would rather hope they don’t get attacked than proactively face the complex issue of cybersecurity. If you fall into that category, you need to change your thinking before it’s too late. Understand that suffering a breach doesn’t have some slim chance of occurring if you’re extremely unlucky. The odds of it happening to your business are much closer to a coin flip than a lottery ticket. Security isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone in your efforts to stay secure and protected. Managed IT services, like those provided by AZCOMP, monitor your network 24/7, deter hackers, and resolve issues before they cripple your business. Coupled with employee training, an MSP can greatly reduce both the risk of an attack and the consequences if one does occur. At this point, you can’t assume a hack will never come. Instead, you need to be ready for the inevitable. Protect your network now, or risk the consequences later. Cut-rate IT options may seem like a savvy cost-cutting measure now, but should an attack happen,
“While too many small-business owners are unschooled about hackers, the hackers aren’t so misinformed. The National Cyber Security Alliance reports that rather than trying to lure the big fish, 70 percent of hackers prefer to aim their nefarious efforts at small businesses.”
business owners regard cyberattacks and data breaches as a significant threat to their reputation. Given that 50 percent of small businesses experience an attack each year, and that 60 percent of those attacked close within 6 months , ignoring cybersecurity is the equivalent of sticking your head in the sand. While too many small-business owners are unschooled about hackers, the hackers aren’t so misinformed. The National Cyber Security Alliance reports that rather than trying to lure the
big fish, 70 percent of hackers prefer to aim their nefarious efforts at small businesses. Again, it’s not hard to see why. Why battle the massive defense systems of Fortune 500 companies when you can easily penetrate a small business with slapdash security? Criminals have never been opposed to easy pickings, and cybercriminals are no different than your run-of-the-mill burglar.
you’ll rue the day you didn’t take the threat seriously. Your network is the lifeblood of your business. An investment in protecting it is an investment in the long-term success of your business. –Byron Adams
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
855-455-5035 AZCOMP Technologies, Inc. www.azcomp.com • 1
TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION An Easy Way to Bolster Your Cybersecurity
Two-factor authentication (TFA) is one of the simplest ways to increase the security of your network and every account you use online. With such overwhelming benefits, it’s ridiculous that so many people don’t use it. Their reasoning? TFA makes logging in a slightly slower process. That gripe is true, but adding TFA will add only seconds to the process. TFA requires a user to prove their identity using two factors (hence the name), rather than relying on a password alone. The
and vice versa. Creating strong passwords is key, but well-equipped hackers have the computing power to brute force their way through even the toughest of passwords. TFA ensures that your password is just a piece of the login puzzle. When you think about it, we rely on TFA in the real world all the time. If you live in an apartment building, you probably use one key to get into the building and another for your unit. When you use your credit
most common method of TFA is to send a unique PIN code to the user’s cell phone after they have entered their username and password. This PIN must be submitted within a certain window of time for the user to gain access. Other systems use biometric markers, like a fingerprint, in lieu of an object like a cell phone. By creating two barriers to entry, you make a hacker’s job a lot harder. Even if they get your password, they’ll need your physical phone to access your sensitive data,
card, you’ll usually need to provide your signature as well. It only makes sense that we’d use similar failsafes when it comes to our online accounts. Every major account you use — Google, Facebook, Netflix, etc. — can be set up to require TFA. The protection more than outweighs any added inconvenience. At the very least, you should secure your private network using TFA. Honestly, you should use it for every sensitive account you have online.
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 allow you to get the most out of your software. MEDISOFT, LYTEC & NEXTGEN OFFICE SUPPORT PLANS FOR HOSTING, BACKUP, AND MORE
SPOTLIGHT ON HORNING’S ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES We always appreciate kind words from clients, but they carry extra weight when the client has been through a number of IT service providers. That’s the exact experience of the fine folks at Horning’s Accounting & Tax Services — a full-service accounting firm in Mesa. We’ve been working with them for almost two years and have enjoyed every second of it. Here, in Priscilla Horning’s own words, is her take on AZCOMP and our services. We started using AZCOMP as our IT service provider in early 2017, and I can now sleep without the worry of IT issues. We have used different computer companies in the past, and AZCOMP is the first who meets all our needs and has resolved all our problems. Our computers and network work the way they are supposed to, and our network is secure. They are amazing! Thank you, Priscilla, for your kind words. We know how many pretenders there are providing less-than-stellar IT services. We’re honored that you consider us a cut above. To learn more about Horning’s Accounting & Tax Services, visit HorningsAccounting.com. If you’re dreading tax season, they can provide some much-needed relief and peace of mind. I CAN NOW SLEEP AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE WORRY OF IT ISSUES.
Be sure to check our website often at azcomp.com/events to learn about upcoming trainings and other events we host.
2 • 855-455-5035 AZCOMP Technologies, Inc. www.azcomp.com
A STYLISH WAY TO BIKE VISIBLY The Lumos Smart Bike Helmet
With cities becoming increasingly cognizant of sustainable transportation options, it’s easier than ever to leave your car at home
‘DYING FOR A PAYCHECK’ BY JEFFREY PFEFFER An Urgent Plea to Improve Our Workplaces and commute to work on your bike — unless you happen to work after the sun sets. Biking at night requires extra caution, plenty of gear, and doing everything you can to make yourself visible to drivers and pedestrians. The Lumos Smart Bike Helmet elegantly solves many of these problems, making it a must-have for those riding at night. Lumos helmets provide you with increased visibility and make you stand out to drivers. The helmet also comes with a handlebar mount that enables you to activate turn signals on your helmet, just like driving in a car. If you have an Apple Watch, you can also use hand signals to trigger the lighting system. With a Lumos, you’ll never have to worry about the lights on your bike again. Lumos’ inventor, Eu-wen Ding, created a product that TIME magazine deemed one of “The 50 Best Inventions of 2018.” While it’s a tremendous accolade, Ding’s desire in creating the product was simple. “All I wanted to do,” he says, “was get from A to B without dying.”
HOW GENIUS BUILT A MEDIA EMPIRE
For nearly as long as the internet has been around, people have been looking up the lyrics to their favorite songs. Song lyric sites used to be a dime-a-dozen field — each site as janky and ad-filled as the last. But one company, Genius, transformed the way we get our lyrics online and became one of the world’s 500 most-visited websites in the process. It began as Rap Exegesis — the creation of three hip-hop- loving Yale grad students — and took off as Rap Genius, finally becoming Genius. They wanted a place where people wouldn’t just post lyrics but also annotate them to untangle their hidden meanings. Not long after launching in 2009, Rap Genius caught the attention of rappers like Nas and Busta Rhymes, who took to the site to verify the intentions of their rhymes. “People have their own ideas, and they break it down for me — what I’m saying — in even a better way than I even thought,” Nas told Forbes in 2013. Eventually, Rap Genius grew too popular and useful to contain rap lyrics alone. In 2014, the company rebranded as Genius to focus on a wider array of songs. Now their vision is even grander. Genius is the place to go for online annotations on everything from political speeches to avant- garde poetry. Silicon Valley venture capitalist Ben Horowitz, one of Genius’ earliest champions, sees the company’s potential as nearly infinite. “They want to build the interpretation of the Internet … and we’d love to help them do it,” he said. In addition to being a remarkable repository of insightful commentary on all sorts of subjects, Genius is also an emerging media brand with a large YouTube presence. It may have started as a place for hip-hop fans to discuss their favorite bars, but Genius’ ultimate success is a testament to the popularity of the internet as an idea-sharing platform. As a forum for fans and creators to discuss their favorite works, Genius is just getting started. One Rap Lyric at a Time
In the introduction to “Dying for a Paycheck: How Modern Management Harms Employee Health and Company Performance — and What We Can Do About It,” Stanford business professor Jeffrey Pfeffer lays out his thesis in the starkest terms possible. “The workplace profoundly affects human health and mortality,” he writes, “and too many workplaces are harmful to people’s health.”
Pfeffer explores why this trend predominates and what we can do to stop it. He notes that in the 20th century, agencies like the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) did a great job of limiting the physical dangers of work. While that’s an unmitigated success, we haven’t been as diligent about monitoring the psychological and physiological effects of professional stress. We ask our employees to work harder and longer than ever before, but we haven’t provided them the proper resources needed for adequate balance in return. Midway through the book, Pfeffer transitions from diagnosing the problem to offering a solution. He uses examples of companies, like Patagonia, to demonstrate how putting people first isn’t just good for the people; it’s good for the bottom line as well. “Dying for a Paycheck” is an essential investigation into an epidemic plaguing workplaces all over the country. Every manager, executive, and business owner should read it.
855-455-5035 AZCOMP Technologies, Inc. www.azcomp.com • 3
Give us a call! 855-455-5035 www.azcomp.com www.azcomp.com/blog
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2500 S. Power Rd., Ste. 117 Mesa, AZ 85209 i nside this issu e
Why Hackers Prey on Small Businesses PAGE 1 Why You Need Two-Factor Authentication PAGE 2 Our Work With Priscilla Horning PAGE 2 A Genius Idea Becomes Genius, the Brand PAGE 3 The Best High-Tech Bike Helmet PAGE 3 AZCOMP Leadership Library: ‘Dying for a Paycheck’ PAGE 3 From Franklin to Lombardi PAGE 4
By Lance YOU ARE THE SECRET INGREDIENT
I’m not ashamed to admit that I often find inspiration in our very own newsletter. Last month, Byron wrote about a Ben Franklin quotation that states, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” Byron related this quote to our “We Surf Jaws” core value, which inspires us to innovate and improve. As the quote bounced around in my head, along with a few others, I realized we could also apply Franklin’s words to another one of our core values: “We Go Where Eddie Would Go.” The first thing that struck me about Byron’s piece was how much it resonated with an article I had read just prior. That article was a manifesto called “Unforgivable,” written by renowned business author Seth Godin. In it, he writes, “The secret ingredient is your desire to actually do something about it. To take action, to believe that it’s worthwhile, to confront what feels like a risk but really isn’t. The secret ingredient is to ignore excuses, abandon procrastination, and stop looking for proof.” In other words, if you want to succeed, you have to start by changing yourself.
These two rediscovered quotes dovetail with one of my long-time favorites from legendary football coach Vince Lombardi. “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will,” he says. Again, it is the power within us — our ability to grow and change — that unlocks our potential. This brings me back to going where Eddie would go. This core value — named after the legendary surfer Eddie Aikau — is all about being passionate and determined in the pursuit of our goals. The passion to adapt and the determination to grow are essential to us not just as a company but also as people. When you have this mindset — this will, this desire — you find sources of motivation everywhere you turn. Thank you, Byron, for sparking this train of thought.
4 • 855-455-5035 AZCOMP Technologies, Inc. www.azcomp.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker