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Out of file space? 8 space saving tips for your PC or laptop

Nothing is worse than going to download a file and realizing you don’t have the space on your computer, prompting the need to go through and delete files you don’t need any more or uninstalling programs you don’t use any more. It can be a big hassle.

That’s why today we have 8 space saving tips that will help you clean up some additional extra space on your computer so you can proceed with saving files unimpeded:

Uninstall Unused Programs
As we mentioned above, step one is to go through installed apps and remove software you no longer use—especially large programs or trial software that came pre-installed.
Empty the Recycle Bin
Files in the Recycle Bin still occupy storage. Make sure to permanently delete them by right clicking on your recycle bin to “empty” it.
Clear Temporary Files and Cache
Use built-in tools like Disk Cleanup (Windows) or Storage Management (macOS) to remove temp files, browser cache, and system logs.
Delete Duplicate Files
Use duplicate file finder software to scan and remove unnecessary duplicates—photos, documents, and downloads often pile up.
Move Files to External or Cloud Storage
Offload large files like videos, photos, and archives to an external hard drive or cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive.
Clean Up Downloads and Desktop Folders
These folders often become cluttered with large or forgotten files. Organize or delete items you no longer need.
Compress Large Files
For files you need to keep but don’t use often, compress them into ZIP or RAR formats to save space.
Disable Hibernation (Windows only)
Hibernation can take up gigabytes of space. If you don’t use it, disable it via Command Prompt to reclaim disk space. To disable hibernation in Windows 11, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type powercfg.exe /hibernate off. Press Enter, and hibernation will be disabled. This will also delete the hiberfil.sys file.

Followed these tips but computer space is still an issue? It might be time to upgrade your devices’ storage, or if you have an older device replace it entirely. Many older laptops/desktops have hard drives that were typical for the time but much smaller than the capacity of newer devices. We recommend (at minimum) 1 Terabyte of storage space for modern devices in 2025.

Valley Techlogic offers procurement assistance to our clients, we can address your file storage needs (including backups which are included in all of our service plans). Learn more about how Valley Techlogic can assist your business with your technology needs today.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

April 25, 2025

Received a Facebook copyright infringement email or message? You’re not alone, the evolution of the Facebook copyright scam and how to avoid falling for it

If you have a public facing Facebook page, such as a fan account page or business page, then you’ve probably been inundated with messages that look something like this:

Of course, this contains all the hallmarks of a phishing scam. The false sense of urgency, the request for personal information, the legitimate looking branding, and the link that leads anywhere but an actual legitimate Facebook page.

As Facebook has tried to crack down on the bots, users are now receiving emails with the same messaging. Whether the emails are pretending to be Facebook support or a law firm trying to collect on a copyright claim, the format is the same. You’re in violation and you must act now to avoid any issues.

These emails and messages may even contain real information from your page, such as a real post they’re claiming is in violation or your Facebooks account ID (which is public information).

This is also a self-feeding scam; the same users that fall for it are also being used to conduct the scam via the accounts that are compromised (sometimes the scammer does not even bother to change the username or profile picture to something Meta/Facebook related).

The best course of action if you receive one of these messages is to report it to your email provider or Facebook themselves.

As to the heart of why these messages have been so ubiquitous, you need only look to Facebooks userbase. At 3.1 billion active users as of writing across the world (outpacing its other platform Instagram with 2 billion users and its competitors such as Tiktok, WhatsApp, and X by a large margin). They are the largest social media platform, which unfortunately puts a bigger target on their back for scammers.

Here are four other ways you can avoid phishing scams (including the one we’re talking about here):

Multi-Factor Authentication: It goes without saying, the number one way to protect most of your accounts from intrusion is the multi-pronged approach you receive from multi-factor authentication (MFA). Intruders who have your password will hit a wall when they realize they also need your phone and/or access to your email to login.
Don’t Ignore Red Flags: Sense of urgency? Check. Asking for personal information? Check. Generic greetings (think Dear Sir/Madam)? Check. Always pause and look for red flags when it comes to emails/messages you receive.
Don’t click on links, period. If you aren’t sure if the email is legitimate, NEVER click on the links. Need more evidence? Hover over links you receive, even if a link says Facebook.com it may really be directing you to the scammers own website to try and collect your personal information or install malware on your device.
Verify the Sender: Would a Facebook email originate from @gmail.com account? No. Same with Facebook messages, legitimate messages from Facebook/Message will arrive in a distinct way that makes it easy to tell they’re legitimately from Meta support. If the message you’ve received just looks like any regular Facebook message aside from the content, it’s a scam.

At Valley Techlogic, we offer coverage that helps prevent these type of phishing scams from causing an intrusion into your business, including advanced protection for email spam and best in class cybersecurity solutions that stop attackers in their tracks. Learn more today with a consultation.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

April 17, 2025

Make the Most of Your Microsoft 365 Subscriptions: 7 Productivity Hacks You Might Be Missing

Microsoft 365 is packed with powerful tools designed to help businesses stay productive, collaborative, and organized—but many users barely scratch the surface of what’s available. If you’re only using Microsoft 365 for email and basic file storage, you’re likely leaving a lot of value on the table.

Here are 7 productivity hacks to help you get the most out of your Microsoft 365 subscription:

Use Microsoft Search to Navigate Faster

Microsoft Search is a powerful, built-in tool across Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams that helps you quickly find emails, files, conversations, and even people in your organization. Instead of digging through folders or threads, type a keyword into the search bar—Microsoft Search will pull relevant results instantly from across all connected apps.

Pro Tip: You can even search using natural language—like “files shared by John last week”—to find what you need faster.

Streamline Repetitive Tasks with Power Automate

Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) lets you create custom workflows between apps to save time and reduce manual work. You can automate common tasks like saving email attachments to OneDrive, posting Teams alerts when a SharePoint list is updated, or sending approval requests.

Example: Set up a flow to automatically notify your team in Teams when a new file is uploaded to a project folder.

Collaborate in Real-Time with Co-Authoring

Microsoft 365 makes real-time collaboration seamless. Whether you’re in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, multiple users can work on a document at the same time. Changes are saved automatically and version history lets you review or restore earlier versions with ease.

Bonus: Use @mentions in comments to get a colleague’s attention instantly.

Organize Your Thoughts with OneNote

OneNote is the hidden gem of Microsoft 365. Use it to capture meeting notes, brainstorming ideas, project plans, and more. Notebooks are searchable, can be shared across your team, and sync across all your devices.

Use Case: Create a shared notebook for your team to store agendas, meeting recaps, and to-do lists in one central place.

Turn Emails into Tasks with Microsoft To Do and Outlook Integration

If your inbox is your to-do list, Microsoft To Do can help bring order to the chaos. With seamless integration into Outlook, you can flag emails to automatically turn them into actionable tasks.

Tip: Use the My Day feature in To Do to focus only on what you need to accomplish today.

Secure Your Data with Built-In Tools

Microsoft 365 comes with strong security features that are often underused. Data Loss Prevention (DLP), sensitivity labels, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) can all help keep your data protected without requiring advanced setup.

Security Tip: Admins should regularly review security and compliance reports in the Microsoft 365 Security Center to stay ahead of potential issues.

Integrate Third-Party Apps into Teams

Microsoft Teams isn’t just for chat and video calls—it’s a hub for productivity. You can integrate hundreds of apps directly into your Teams channels, from project management tools like Trello and Asana to CRM systems and custom Power Apps.

Efficiency Hack: Pin your most-used apps to the sidebar for easy access during daily work.

Whether you’re a power user or just getting started, Microsoft 365 has tools to help you work smarter—not harder. With a little exploration and some setup, you can automate workflows, improve collaboration, and protect your data—all within the apps you already use.

Need help unlocking Microsoft 365’s full potential for your team? Contact Valley Techlogic today and let’s optimize your digital workspace together.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

April 11, 2025

Viral video showcases AI theft detection in real time, everything you need to know about AI enhanced security cameras

In a recent video posted to TikTok, AI surveillance software vendor Veesion showcased their AI theft detection in real time. The video shows someone in an aisle of a store pocketing items while the camera accurately detects the movement as “item in pocket”. You can see another person in the background and it accurately detects that they’re walking while it’s simultaneously monitoring the first individual highlighting the systems ability to focus on multiple activities at the same time.

Deterring theft has been a primary concern for those who make investments in physical security like security cameras (it’s estimated visible cameras decrease theft by 25%), but reviewing footage is usually something that occurs after the fact and is a time-consuming process for employees and law enforcement. With recent AI enhancements to cameras, suspicious activities can be monitored in real time and acted upon in the moment.

Here at Valley Techlogic we work with a number of camera vendors who have also touted the benefits of their AI solutions. One of our primary security camera solution partners, Avigilon, showcases cameras that can detect certain movements, look for suspicious objects or even integrate with sensors that detect smoke or water intrusions. If you’re in the market for a new system here are some AI-centric features, you should be asking about in 2025:

Real-time Threat Detection and Alerting: AI algorithms can analyze video footage in real-time to detect unusual activities, such as a person loitering, trespassing, or engaging in suspicious behavior. This allows for immediate alerts to security personnel, who can respond more quickly to potential threats.
Facial Recognition: AI can enable facial recognition technology, which can identify individuals in real-time. This is especially useful for verifying authorized personnel or spotting persons of interest in high-security areas, providing an additional layer of protection.
Object Detection: AI can help detect specific objects or vehicles, like unattended bags, weapons, or parked cars in no-parking zones. This can help prevent criminal activity, such as theft or vandalism, by detecting potentially dangerous situations early on.
Smart Motion Detection: Traditional motion sensors may generate false alarms due to animals or environmental changes. AI-powered systems can distinguish between human movement and irrelevant motion, significantly reducing false positives and improving the accuracy of alerts.
Behavioral Analysis: AI can track and analyze behavior patterns over time, learning normal activities and flagging deviations. For example, if someone is walking in an area they shouldn’t be or exhibiting aggressive behavior, the system can trigger an alert to inform security about potential risks.

We provide installation services as well as offering our new security camera maintenance plan to protect your investment for the long term. If you are in the market for a new security camera solution or are looking to maintain the cameras you already have, Valley Techlogic is able to provide a complementary walkthrough and proposal (no cost to you even if you decide not to go with our solution). Schedule your consultation today to learn more.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

April 4, 2025

23andMe just filed for bankruptcy and if you’ve ever used their service you need to delete your data right now (we tell you how)

23andMe was one of the earliest providers of genetic and genealogy testing services, if you were curious about what your genetic makeup was or wanted more insight into possible genetic predispositions it was as easy as providing a saliva sample and shipping it off to the company for testing.

Now however, it’s been announced that the company is planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, what this means for its consumers is that the company assets could be sold – including your DNA data.

We’ve written about data brokers and how they use your data to customize ads to specifically target you, what could be more prime data about you then your literal genetic makeup? We are urging you to go and delete your data right now before the choice of doing so is outside of your control. Here’s how you can request they delete your data (including destroying your DNA sample):

First, ask them to destroy your DNA sample:

-> Go to “Settings” > “Preferences”

-> Withdraw any previous consent for your sample to be stored or used in research

-> You can also revoke consent for future research participation under “Research and Product Consents”

Note: If you ask them to destroy your DNA sample, be sure and do that before you delete your account.

Second, delete your account and all its data:

Log into your account
Go to your profile > “Settings”
Navigate to “23andMe Data” > click “View”
Select “Delete Data”
Click “Permanently delete data”
Follow the prompts to confirm

The company also has instructions for deleting your data that differ from the above (and we recommend you attempt this path first) but they can be found at: https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212170688-Requesting-23andMe-Account-Closure

It’s also important to note that 23andMe is still being investigated for a data breach that exposed the personal data of 7 million of their customers. The privacy concerns surrounding these companies and the extremely personal data they house is an ongoing concern.

Data protection is also a serious concern for businesses, on a scale that’s many times multiplied from consumer applications. If you are looking to avoid the pitfalls many companies have fallen into, including 23andme, in protecting customer data and securing your system, Valley Techlogic can be your partner. We have cybersecurity solutions aimed at providing the highest level of protection and utilizing industry best practices and it’s included by default in all of our technology support plans. Reach out today for more information.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

March 28, 2025

If you’re an Outlook or Gmail user, you’ll want to be aware of this ransomware warning just issued by the FBI

A new ransomware targeting Gmail, Outlook and other popular email providers has made enough waves for the FBI to issue a warning about it. In addition to targeting these email providers bad actors have narrowed their search to those in specific fields like medical and tech.

The ransomware is called “Medusa” and it first came on the scene in 2021, emerging as part of a new group of ransomware found under the “Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) umbrella. This means the hacker are not necessarily the creator of the ransomware but are instead utilizing scripting created by others as a means to profit from ransoms paid in lieu of getting your data back.

The creators of Medusa have been linked back to a group called Spearwing, which are particularly ruthless in that they try to extort victims twice. First, they steal your data and extort payment to not expose it and they also encrypt it and will not provide victims with a method to decrypt it until they receive a second payment. Spearwings ransom demands have ranged from $100,000 all the way up to $15 million.

There hasn’t been a definitive answer as to how the latest breaches were conducted, so it’s uncertain at this time whether the attacks were accomplished due to user error or through another method of breach. As such the FBI and CISA have recommendations as to how users can protect themselves from the Medusa ransomware that include:

Mitigate known vulnerabilities by ensuring operating systems, software, and firmware are patched and up to date within a risk-informed span of time.
Segment networks to restrict lateral movement from initial infected devices and other devices in the same organization.
Filter network traffic by preventing unknown or untrusted origins from accessing remote services on internal systems.

Proactive services (including cyber security) are a keystone offering for Valley Techlogic. With ransomware threats becoming more sophisticated and lucrative year over year, you need a team behind you to protect against outside threats. Below are five ways Valley Techlogic approaches cybersecurity protection for our clients:

24/7 Threat Monitoring & Incident Response – We provide continuous monitoring of networks, endpoints, and cloud environments to detect and respond to threats in real time.
Advanced Endpoint Protection (EPP) & Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) – We deploy antivirus, anti-malware, and behavioral analytics tools on all endpoints and use EDR solutions to detect, analyze, and remediate suspicious activities on client devices.
Security Awareness Training & Phishing Simulations – Our security awareness training educates employees on cybersecurity best practices and how to recognize social engineering attacks. We also run weekly phishing simulations to assess and improve employee readiness against cyber threats.
Regular Security Audits & Compliance Management – We can conduct penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and risk audits to identify security gaps at the client’s request. We also offer specialized support for compliance with industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, NIST, or CMMC to avoid penalties and data breaches.
Consistent and Layered Approach to Backups – Our backup program TechVault is our multifaceted approach to backups, which includes separate backups for Microsoft (including Outlook), daily backups for servers, and an immutable copy that is write once read only. This approach gives us a wider array of options should a breach or data loss event occur.

Interested in learning more? Schedule a consultation with us today.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

March 21, 2025

8 Tips for Practicing Good Cybersecurity Hygiene in your Business

We all know about good hygiene practices for ourselves and our homes, but what about practicing good cybersecurity hygiene? What does the word hygiene mean when applied to a digital context?

When we think of hygiene for cybersecurity it’s the essential items needed to practice the bare minimum in cyber threat prevention, we’re strong advocates for advanced cybersecurity threat prevention and believe you can never be too protected – however these 8 items will in many cases prevent the vast majority of outside threats. As a bonus? The only thing you’ll need to spend to enact these in your business today is a little time.

Use Strong and Unique Passwords
Implement complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. We have a guide for what a strong password looks like and how to utilize MFA here.
Regularly Update Software and Systems
Keep your operating systems, applications, and antivirus software up to date to patch vulnerabilities.
Educate Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices
Train staff on recognizing phishing scams, suspicious emails, and safe browsing habits. Interested in cybersecurity training for your business? Valley Techlogic includes it (at no additional cost) in all of our plans.
Limit Access to Sensitive Data
Implement role-based access controls and grant permissions only to those who need them.
Enable Firewalls and Antivirus Protection
Use firewalls, antivirus programs, and other security tools to prevent unauthorized access.
Backup Data Regularly
Perform frequent backups and store them in secure, off-site locations to prevent data loss from ransomware attacks.
Monitor Network Activity
Use intrusion detection systems and regularly review logs for unusual activity.
Implement Secure Wi-Fi and VPN Usage
Use encrypted Wi-Fi networks and require VPN usage for remote employees to protect data transmission.

Implementing these 8 cybersecurity threat preventions will protect your business from most attacks, but if you’re looking to go a little further below are 4 cybersecurity benefits included with all Valley Techlogic service plans:

Want to learn more? Schedule a consultation with us today.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

March 14, 2025

Is your older computer holding you back? We have a year-by-year breakdown on how your computer can breakdown with age

Computers and laptops are a significant investment, especially for business owners who need to supply staff with devices to work on (hardware costs typically represents a significant portion of many business owners technology budgets). You may be wondering how long that investment will last?

Computers degrade in performance over time due to both hardware aging and software advancements that demand more resources. Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of how a computer can become less effective with age:

Year 1

The computer performs optimally, handling tasks efficiently.
Software updates run smoothly, and the latest applications are fully compatible.
Cooling systems and thermal paste are fresh, keeping temperatures stable.

Year 2

Newer software and OS updates begin requiring more RAM and processing power.
Dust accumulation in cooling fans may lead to slightly higher temperatures.
Battery capacity (for laptops) starts to degrade, reducing overall battery life.

Year 3

CPU and GPU thermal paste may start to dry out, slightly increasing temperatures.
Hard drives (HDDs) may experience minor slowdowns due to wear and fragmentation.
Newer software and updates may introduce features that run slower on older hardware.
RAM usage increases, causing occasional lag in multitasking.

Year 4

SSDs may start to show signs of wear (if heavily used), and HDDs may begin failing.
Newer graphics-intensive software and games may struggle to run efficiently.
The latest OS updates might no longer be fully optimized for the older hardware.
More frequent crashes or errors may occur due to aging components.

Year 5

The cooling system may degrade, causing overheating issues and possible thermal throttling.
Some critical software may no longer support the aging hardware.
Motherboard capacitors may start to degrade, leading to instability.
More frequent hardware failures (e.g., failing RAM, storage corruption).

Year 6+

The system may struggle with basic tasks, especially if newer web technologies or software updates demand higher specs.
The risk of complete hardware failure (motherboard, power supply, storage) increases.
Finding compatible hardware upgrades (RAM, CPU, GPU) becomes difficult.
Some online services and applications may no longer support the system.

Beyond Year 7+

The computer may only be viable for very light tasks (e.g., basic web browsing, document editing).
Certain hardware components may have reached end-of-life and might not function reliably.
Many newer peripherals (e.g., printers, webcams) may no longer have drivers for the aging system.
Major security vulnerabilities arise due to the inability to install the latest OS updates.

Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the cooling system, replacing thermal paste, upgrading RAM or storage, and switching to lightweight software, can extend the usability of an aging computer. However, at some point, upgrading to a new system becomes the more cost-effective solution.

That’s where Valley Techlogic can help, we have offer procurement services exclusively for our customers. We can help you pick out the best devices for yourself and staff to make the most of your technology investments. Learn more about our procurement services here or reach out today for a consultation.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

March 7, 2025

Once the king of voice chat on the web, Skype is shutting down May 5th, 2025

Microsoft is no stranger to acquiring programs only to later shut them down (though they pale in comparison to Google’s own graveyard of acquisitions) and now Skype will be the latest casualty with a shutdown date of May 5^th, 2025 being officially set.

Skype, once the leader of online telecommunications and one of the original online video chat programs, began operating in 2022. Skype, which was a shortening of the original project name “Sky peer-to-peer” skyrocketed into popularity in the early 2000’s reaching 100 million users in 2006.

After a tumultuous fall out with the early founders and buy outs that included eBay, Skype was sold to Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion. Microsoft quickly integrated Skype into their Office platform but with the release of Microsoft Teams in 2017 the writing was on the wall for Skype as to which Microsoft based communications platform would succeed in the long run.

Skype failed to keep up with competitors during the pandemic when video chat use was at an all time high due to restrictions on in-person activities. Zoom, WhatsApp, Facetime and even Teams itself performed better in the same space – it’s been reported in 2023 just 36 million people still used Skype daily compared to it’s peak of 300 million users which mirrors Teams current daily active users.

So it makes sense that Microsoft is shuttering Skype in favor of Teams here in 2025, but for those that are new to Microsoft Teams or even those that have already made the switch, what benefits are available that puts it above other communications programs still competing in the space?

Integration with Microsoft 365: Teams naturally integrates very well with Microsoft 365, from booking a Teams meeting right from your Outlook client to creating groups that have a shared SharePoint folder that allows users to share files while they’re chatting about them in real time. If you’re a Microsoft 365 subscriber you’re leaving features on the table if Team is not your communications platform of choice.
Robust Team Collaboration Features: Unlike competitors like Zoom, which is mainly a video conferencing tool, Teams offers extensive team collaboration features like persistent chat, threaded conversations, shared workspaces, and built-in task management with Microsoft Planner and To-Do.
Better Security and Compliance: Teams benefits from Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security, including end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with industry standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001.
Unified Communication Hub: Microsoft Teams combines chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and project collaboration in one platform which will not be found in the competition which are largely standalone programs.
Better Pricing for Enterprises: For businesses already using Microsoft 365, Teams is included at no extra cost, making it a more cost-effective solution. Other platforms may charge an arm and a leg for enterprise features such as longer meetings or hosting larger groups.

Unifying communication in your company can be a game changer when it comes to making sure everyone is on the same page. Whether you’re looking to implement Microsoft Teams or optimize your existing communication tools, Valley Techlogic’s expert IT solutions can help you streamline collaboration, enhance productivity, and keep your business connected—anytime, anywhere. Reach out today for a consultation.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

February 28, 2025

6 AI Do’s and Don’t’s Including ways you may be jeopardizing your workplace data with your AI use (and how to avoid)

AI or Artificial Intelligence is becoming more and more common place in our daily lives, including in our places of work. You may even be using it daily without realizing it, most search engines for example have an AI response to queries baked in at the top of the page and if that’s the farthest you look then all of your searches are currently being powered by AI.

Other tools like weather apps, navigation and even the spam filter in your inbox is using AI to train and collect data that is then given back to you as answers to your questions or provide solutions you are looking for. Drive a Tesla? All of your driving data is collected and used to train their autonomous car algorithms.

Which brings us to the topic of today’s article, AI in general is powered by give and take. The models collect our data and turn that data into answers, it’s a common misconception that AI is producing the answers all by itself. Machine learning operates on a rule of 10, basically for every query you need 10 ways to respond, and those responses are collected by unfathomable amounts of data fed into it. Think of the breadth of knowledge an AI program like ChatGPT seems to have and you can begin to see that it would take a lot of data for it to provide to answers to millions of different questions it’s asked each day.

So that data comes from you, and me, and everyone who’s ever interacted on the internet in a meaningful way. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, after all humanity tends to accomplish its greatest achievements when we all work in unison towards a goal. Although the way that the data is collected and how to approach things like copyright are still being determined.

So, with all that said you might be wondering, what’s the problem? What should I be worried about when using AI in my workplace? As a technology company, we believe in using the tools available to streamline and strengthen our productivity, but we have determined that companies should be aware of these three things when using a burgeoning technology like AI in their workplace:

Data Risks: As we hinted at above, AI systems tend to syphon as much information as they can to strengthen their machine learning algorithms. This includes potentially sensitive data. Any AI strategy should include how to protect and segment data you don’t want leaked to the outside world.
Errors and Reliability: There are risks to trusting AI completely when looking for answers, AI data sets are fed by a wide range of sources and not all of them are trustworthy. You should always vet any answers you receive, especially if the question you’re asking is an important one.
Bias, Discrimination and Transparency: Most of the AI tools currently on the market are being created by private companies and the processes used are hidden from outside view, so we should keep in mind that it’s possible the answers we’re receiving have been manipulated to reflect a certain outcome. Again, always vet the answers you receive from AI.

Now that we’ve touched on the things to look out for, what are three things that you can safely use AI for in your workplace?

Use a local AI model: Most people are not aware you can actually have a local in-house AI model, these may be more limited in scope but will not present the security risk of public facing AI and can be built on your own data.
Automating repetitive tasks: Certain tasks won’t carry any risk of data exposure, such as scheduling or creating reports without PII (Personal Identifying Information).
Use it to interact with customers: One of the best use cases of AI currently for businesses is automated chatbots, chatbots can be available 24 hours a day and field simple questions and answers which free up your staff for other activities.

If you’re looking for the most practical and safest way to begin using AI in your business, Valley Techlogic can help. We are experienced in creating customized technology solutions for our clients and can advise on the way to implement an AI plan that doesn’t compromise on cybersecurity best practices. Reach out today for a consultation.

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February 21, 2025

Author: rory-admin