Category: Cyber Security Blog

You may already be using Microsoft Teams for collaboration via video, chat, collaborative Office documents, and so forth. But through Microsoft Teams apps, you can also integrate all sorts of other apps directly into the Teams app. Some of these are first-party Microsoft apps, while others are third-party apps, including major popular applications you may already be using.

Check out 5 apps that can be incredibly helpful when integrated with Microsoft Teams. We’ll explain what each does and how you could potentially improve your workflow by using these Microsoft Teams apps.

1. Polly

Polly is a simple yet powerful survey creation tool. Microsoft has its own MS Teams app called Forms, but the functionality there is hard to use well. Polly is simply a better solution for surveys of all sorts.

These can range from quick, ad-hoc small-group polls to company-wide surveys. Find out what your on-site team wants to grab for lunch or gather anonymous feedback about a major company initiative.

Best of all, because Polly integrates as a Microsoft Teams app, you can run your Polly polls from within Teams, gathering Team-specific data for any Team you administrate in the app.

2. Karma

Karma allows employees to nominate peers or even groups with positive feedback and is something you can use as a part of your employee performance tracking. Sharing accolades and commendations is more challenging when your team is partially or wholly virtual, but Karma helps bring greater authenticity to virtual recognition and awards.

3. Vacation Tracker

Vacation Tracker has been one of the best Microsoft Teams apps for our own internal team because it adds a much-needed function that’s missing from Outlook and Teams default calendars.

It can be a real challenge to track how many vacation days your employees have left, not to mention when they plan to use them. But if you end up with most or all key stakeholders out at the same time, you could be in operational trouble.

Vacation Tracker allows employees to send vacation requests directly to a team lead, who can see in the Teams app who else might be already out that day. The team lead can approve or deny the request right there in Vacation Tracker.

Vacation Tracker can also track sick time, PTO, and any other kind of benefit time/day that your company has.

For smaller businesses who may not have similar functionality built into their timekeeping or payroll systems, Vacation Tracker is one of the most convenient Microsoft Teams add-ons out there.

4. Trello

Trello is a well-known and widely used project management tool that can deliver plenty of functionality on its own. The company has also released a Microsoft Teams app so you can integrate your list-based project management directly into Teams.

Not using Trello? That’s not necessarily a problem. Many modern project management tools already integrate with Microsoft Teams (or will soon). Try searching the Microsoft Teams apps add-on list to see if there’s an MS Teams app from your preferred partner.

5. Health Hero

Wellness programs are gaining traction at many companies today. Health hero allows your employees to add fitness tracking data from their fitness wearables and track their progress toward their fitness goals. Employees can even engage with one another in employee-driven fitness competitions and the like.

Health Hero can be a great Microsoft Teams app for building camaraderie, not to mention increasing overall health within your team.

Bonus Pick: Employee Ideas

Employee Ideas is a first-party Microsoft Teams app that allows your team to generate ideas that can create value for your organization. Team members can vote on and discuss ideas (including photo and file attachments and custom notes), and you can view and manage idea campaigns.

Any lingering questions? Reach out below!

Have you ever encountered a situation where you needed to create impressive screen recordings? Perhaps you’re looking for a way to create video tutorials for business training. Maybe you just want a better way to record Zoom meetings or other videoconference events, or are simply wondering how to screen record Windows 10 content as efficiently as possible.

In the past, you’d have to invest in complicated software to do this well — not to mention, learn how to use the software. But Microsoft has actually provided a powerful and simple way to do this built right into Windows 10.

The steps to begin simple screen recording on Windows 10 are pretty straightforward. Here’s how to screen record Windows 10 content:

1. Open the Xbox Game Bar application.
2. Use the Capture widget to start a screen recording
3. Click the Record button again to stop and save the recording

Let’s look at each of these steps in greater detail.

1. How to Screen Record Windows 10 Content: Open the Game Bar

To get started with simple screen recording in Windows 10, you’ll need to launch the Game Bar. This is an Xbox-branded suite of tools designed primarily with gamers in mind, but it provides plenty of productivity for business users as well.

To launch Game Bar, simply click in the search area of the task bar (next to the main button to open the Start menu) and type in “game bar.” The top result should be Xbox Game Bar, which is what you need to open.

There’s also a handy keyboard shortcut to launch Xbox Game Bar. Hold down the Windows key and press G to quickly launch Xbox Game Bar.

This application is designed to run over the top of whatever else you’re doing (usually, gaming). The app should run well and consume only minimal system resources no matter what’s going on in the background.

2. Use the Capture Widget to Get Started

Once you’ve launched Xbox Game Bar, you should see several widgets overlaying your screen. In the top left is the Capture widget. Simply click the Record button to begin a screen recording session. You’ll see other controls here, too, like a microphone/mute toggle and a webcam toggle.

Lower down, you’ll see an Audio widget, which you can use to manage volume levels if you have multiple audio components to your presentation. On the right side of the screen you’ll see performance info and Xbox social content, neither of which you’ll likely need to worry about.

Your screen recording begins as soon as you click the button, so make sure your desktop is displaying what you want and that you’re ready to begin before you click that button. Understanding how to screen record Windows 10 content is easier than ever with the efficiency of the capture widget.

3. Click the Record Button Again to Stop and Save

When you’ve finished your screen recording, simply click the Record button on the Capture widget a second time to stop the recording. Your video will automatically save, located under “show all captures.” From there, you can upload your screen capture or begin editing it in your favorite video editing application.

Whether you’re looking to create dynamic training videos or simply need a quick and easy way to record videoconference calls, the Xbox Game Bar is a powerful Windows 10 app that’s easy to learn and simple to use. We hope this blog has helped you to understand how to screen record Windows 10 content.

Make sure to follow Data Magic for more valuable tech tips like this one. And if we can assist your business with business IT support, don’t hesitate to reach out below!

It doesn’t matter how many productivity apps, keyboard shortcuts or life hacks you throw at your work. Without enough screen space, your productivity is always going to be hampered. Adding a second monitor to your workspace is a simple, affordable change that can transform your workflow and productivity. Here’s what you need to know.

Advantages of Using a Dual Monitor Setup

There are numerous advantages to using a dual-monitor setup. With more screen real estate, you can increase productivity. When you can see more (and switch between windows less), you can move more quickly through your tasks.

You can also use two (or even three or four) applications simultaneously, no switching required. In Windows, you can quickly drag a window to the side of the screen to automatically enter split-screen view. With two monitors, you can do this twice, for four apps at once — each completely visible.

Best of all, setting up two monitors isn’t complicated and doesn’t require a ton of IT knowledge. Here’s how to setup dual monitors on Windows 10.

How to Set Up Dual Monitors on Your Computer

If you already have your two monitors on hand, all that’s left is to set them up. Here are the four steps you’ll need to follow.

Step 1: Determine Your Computer’s Display Connection Types

This step is the most technical-sounding, but it’s not as hard as it might sound. There are several types of video connections on the market today, so the first step is determining what kinds of display connection ports your computer has.

The most common types are these:

• HDMI
• DisplayPort
• VGA (older, but still in wide use)
• DVI (older, and diminishing in use)

Your PC should have labels (or at least icons) on its display connection ports, which should help you determine what you’re working with.

The easiest way to connect two monitors is to make sure that both monitors can match with at least one video output port on your PC. For example, if your computer has only a DisplayPort and a VGA connection, you’ll have the simplest time if you buy two monitors that have both of those connection types.

What if you’ve already bought your monitors and they don’t match the connection types on your computer? Good news: you can buy adapters that will convert just about any display connection to nearly any other. Simply search for “HDMI to VGA” or whatever configuration you’d need.

Pro tip: to function properly, the adapter should sit between the cable and the PC — not the other way around.

Step 2: Plug in Power and Video Cables

Once you’ve determined that your PC and monitors can connect (or have acquired the necessary adapters), it’s time to plug everything in. Plug in the monitors’ power cables and power on the monitors. You should see some light near the power button (typically), plus the display itself should begin emitting light (and usually displaying some sort of “no input detected” message).

Once you’re sure the monitors are on, connect the video cables to the monitors and then to your computer.

You should see something computer-related on both monitors. If so, on to step 3. If you don’t, skip to step 4.

Step 3: Configure Your Displays

The first time you plug in a second display, there’s no telling which way your PC will decide to orient it. Sometimes you’ll see a mirror image on both screens, even though what you really want to know is how to extend screen on Windows. Sometimes the second display will default to a bad resolution, where everything is way too big or way too small.

Right-click on the desktop and pick “Display settings.” Here you can configure a number of settings, including resolution, turning off screen mirroring, and arranging the displays.

Step 4: Troubleshoot as Necessary

Sometimes nothing will display on the new monitor. Usually, this is because the monitor isn’t displaying the correct input. If this happens, use the button controls on the monitor itself to manually select the right input type.

Sometimes the monitors will seem backward or uneven when you try to move the mouse from one to the other. If so, open up “Display settings.” Click “Identify” to show which display is which, and then click and drag the on-screen rectangles to position them to match real life.

Once you can see appropriately-sized content on both screens and the mouse moves evenly between the two, you know you’ve set up your dual monitors correctly.

Have any questions about setting up dual monitors at your business? Reach out below!

What is NIST?

The world of cybersecurity is often shrouded in mystery, but that doesn’t help your organization stay compliant and safe. The Data Magic team is always looking for ways to help make cybersecurity more approachable for our clients.

We often receive questions around government cybersecurity standards, with one of the key concerns being NIST. What exactly is NIST, and how will it impact your organization?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, is a non-regulatory federal agency that is considered a part of the Department of Commerce. Within NIST’s purview are the methods and standards for promoting U.S. industrial competitiveness and innovation, as well as protecting data and business application standards.

Your organization is considered to be in compliance with NIST standards by following the recommendations set forth in the Special Publications (SP) 800-series. While these standards are controls are generally for information systems at federal agencies, they have been widely adopted in the corporate world as best-practices.

How Does NIST Address Cybersecurity Concerns?

The NIST Special Publication 800-171 is considered the common standard for cybersecurity protocols that govern controlled, unclassified information. This type of information is found in most organizations, and these standards address how to handle and store material that is deemed sensitive, but not classified. This information is sensitive and relevant to the United States, but not strictly regulated by the federal government.

This particular standard was developed after the Federal Information Security Management Act, or FISMA, was passed in 2002. Eventually, the standards were upgraded in 2014 to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, or FISMA 2014. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has full authority over the implementation and administration of policies for organizations throughout the country.

How Does the Federal Data Classification Process Work?

One of the key concerns for corporations around the world is the safety of various data points within an organization. As data is moved between business applications, customers, staff members and vendors, there are multiple points of potential failure for your security. The data classification methodology used by the federal government includes sorting data according to the level of confidentiality, the integrity that needs to be protected within data sets and the availability of data access and how it will need to be used.

The level of security needed for data sets is generally determined based on the most secure data that is being stored. For instance, if you are storing or sending personal health information, you will need a greater level of protection for your data sets than if you were gathering impersonal data points that could not be traced back to an individual.

How Can the Data Magic Team Help Improve My Company’s Security?

As a proactive team of IT and security professionals, the Data Magic team is constantly searching for new ways to maintain a high degree of security for our clients. We work closely with internal IT teams and business partners to ensure our clients gain access to best-practice standards for data and business application security. Contact us at (469) 635-5500 to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.

Mainly falsely assume that being NIST compliant is important in and of itself, and for no other reason. That it’s only important to be compliant so that you avoid the consequences of noncompliance, like fines and audits. The truth is that a failure to stay NIST compliant can also affect your sales and growth as a business, as well as put your data at risk.

It is surprising to think that compliance has considerations other than just compliance, right?

What Is NIST Compliance?

With NIST 800-171, it’s the contractor’s responsibility to safeguard all data and information related to any work performed for the DoD, including:

• Controlled technical information (CTI)
• Information that would be described as controlled unclassified information (CUI)
• Covered defense information (CDI)

If you’re not compliant, you’re technically no longer qualified to contract with the DoD – no matter which contracts you have in place or the professional relationships you’ve built over the years.

What’s The Right Way To Become NIST Compliant?

The best way to get this process started is to work with a third party that knows the ins and outs of NIST 800-171, and how to go about becoming compliant.

Data Magic Computer Services has experience successfully completing NIST 800-171 Assessments, IT Security Audits, and delivering Cyber Security best practices consulting in both private and public sector environments of all sizes.

Why do so many government contractors choose Data Magic Computer Services for their NIST SP 800-171 compliance needs?

Our team is proud to deliver:

• The expertise, experience, and a price even small businesses can afford
• One easy done-for-you consulting package to get you the answers you need quickly, the tools to become compliant, and a company who will be there to help with questions and implementation as needed.
• Continuing compliance assistance as needed to help you stay compliant and be there for you if a compliance issue or breach occurs.

3 Steps To NIST Compliance

1. Compliance Assessment & Strategy

Our compliance services begin with a comprehensive assessment of your IT systems, the findings of which are compared with NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity controls. Our team will then develop a strategy to mitigate any risks of noncompliance, providing detailed documentation that you can show the DoD or your Prime to prove your commitment to NIST compliance.

2. Remediation

Once the assessment is complete and the strategy has been developed, our team gets to work implementing any necessary changes in order to bring you to a state of confident NIST compliance. No matter what aspect of your cybersecurity is lacking, we will match it with a tested and proven solution to make sure it doesn’t put you at risk any longer.

3. Compliance Management

NIST compliance is not a one-time effort. Ongoing compliance requires ongoing management, monitoring your systems for any potential cybersecurity instances, and reporting to the DoD through the DIBNet Portal within 72 hours as required. As your IT systems age, and NIST requirements are updated, our team will make sure you stay compliant, applying necessary changes as need be.

Our streamlined assessment process can guide you through becoming compliant in as little as one day – all you have to do is reach out to our team.

We’ll provide a NIST certification in everything but name – while you may not have a fancy plague or diploma announcing your NIST certification to each and every prime contractor you do business with, you’ll still have the confidence knowing you’re fully compliant – and that you don’t have to worry about it any longer.

A Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy Can Strengthen Your Defenses Against Hackers

Industrialized cultures have implemented wide-reaching infrastructure to seemingly make us safe and secure. If your home or business catches on fire, you can call the local fire department. Someone gets injured, and ambulance can speed to their aid. These and other safeguards make us feel increasingly secure because they are all just three digits away, 9-1-1.

But the unsettling reality about all these protections is that none of them keep us out of harm’s way. They are all support systems we rely on after the fact. The question business leaders may want to consider is whether you want to suffer the damage of a cyber-attack and then call a technician to clean up after a devastating hack.

Or, would you rather work with a managed IT cybersecurity consultant to harden your defenses so that your organization doesn’t suffer a crippling breach in the first place? If you rank among proactive thought leaders, these are three ways a cybersecurity expert can help build your ramparts now.

Understand How Threat Actors Target Your Organization

A common misconception exists that hackers focus their time and energy on big corporations to make big-league thefts. Unfortunately for small and mid-sized businesses, nothing could be further from the truth. According to a Verizon Business 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report, upwards of 28 percent of data breaches were suffered by small businesses. The more prevalent individual threat actions taken include the following.

• Spyware (Malware) 46 percent
• Capture stored data (Malware) 34 percent
• Brute force (Hacking) 34 percent
• Use of stolen creds (Hacking) 30 percent
• Export data (Malware) 29 percent
• Phishing (Social) 22 percent
• Password dumper (Malware) 17 percent

Given the exponential growth in remote workforce business strategies, cybercriminals are using these criminal methods to target unsuspecting employees to gain access to business networks. It many cases, digital thieves simply troll for vulnerabilities and discover the business size and type after the fact. Hackers treat online theft like a business. An easy breach equals easy money.

Secure Your Remote IT Infrastructure

Cybercriminals invest a great deal of time and energy targeting remote workers. They see them as weak links in your company defenses because they too often utilize devices, programs, and networks with subpar cybersecurity. Common deficiencies may include residential-strength routers, unpatched programs, less-than-secure antivirus software, firewalls, and login profiles. Business leaders leveraging the Cloud would be wise to implement proactive measures that include the following.

• Virtual Private Networks
• Enterprise-Level Firewalls & Antivirus Packages
• Improved Endpoint Device Cybersecurity
• Two-Factor Authentication for Worker Login Profiles
• Encrypted Data Transmissions
• Restricted Network Access Privileges

By proactively closing potential security vulnerabilities, you establish a more robust defense. And by limiting network access rather than using open-ended login profiles, a hacker cannot seize control of your entire wealth of digital assets even if they breach the system.

Empower Workforce To Deter Threat Actors

Hackers may view employees — particularly remote workers — as the low-hanging fruit. This does not necessarily have to be the case. A well-informed and trained team member can just as easily form part of a determined frontline defense.

Consider working with a third-party cybersecurity firm to craft a company-wide defense strategy that hones employee knowledge. Cybersecurity awareness and training can include threat recognition tips, webinars, and real-time information about emerging threats, among others. Leaving valued staff members out of the loop or behind in the informational curve means you could be cleaning up after a disastrous data breach or ransomware attack.

It’s true you can dial a cybersecurity firm for emergency services, much you like you would call 911 after your house is already ablaze. On the other hand, you could invest in a sprinkler suppression system that douses the flame before any damage occurs. Proactive cybersecurity can save millions of dollars in losses, downtime, and damage to your industry reputation.

You don’t have to do it alone! For help setting up your cybersecurity strategy, click here to contact our cybersecurity experts or call (469) 635-5500 today!