Blog & Updates

Modern online learning event focused on keeping students safe and engaged in a virtual classroom environment.

TSTS Virtual Event: Keeping Students Safe and Engaged in a Modern World

March 31, 2021

Learn how to keep students safe and engaged in any learning environment with Securly. Receive a free lunch gift card for attending.  Event Description School leaders, teachers, and parents look to admins to provide students with a safe, high-quality education experience—even as many schools continue to shift between in-person, 100% remote, or hybrid learning. As an admin, knowing how to move forward with confidence is a challenge, especially if your prime directive is, “Get it done!” That’s where Securly and Twin State Technical Services can help. Join us on Thursday April 22 at 1:30pm CDT as Mike Jolley, Securly’s Director of K-12 Safety, discusses everything from optimizing classrooms of all kinds to round-the-clock safety for students. Lunch gift cards will be

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Efficient password change tips suggested by Twin State Technical Services for enhanced cybersecurity and best practices in IT management.

What is the Best Way to Change Your Passwords?

March 30, 2021

You change your clothes. You change your oil. Make sure you also change your passwords. An alert pops up on your computer: It is time to change your password again. Sigh. Fine. You will just change from password4! to password5! and― Not so fast. Regular password changes are meant to make sure that even if someone gets your login credentials, they will not be able to use them forever. But if you just make a tiny change or add a digit to a sequence, it is easy for a hacker with the old password to crack the new one using a “brute force” attack. So what’s the best way to keep your passwords strong? Here are some tips: 1. Establish

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Strong password security tips for protecting your online accounts and avoiding weak passwords. Learn best practices for creating and managing secure passwords.

How Strong Are Your Passwords?

March 30, 2021

  Strong Security Starts with Strong Passwords If you use the same password for multiple systems―online shopping, email, your company’s cloud bookkeeping solution, etc.―you are not alone. Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg is guilty of this. In 2016 his LinkedIn credentials were compromised in a major breach, giving hackers access to his Twitter account, too, because the passwords were the same. The fact is, with just one user password, hackers can often break into multiple applications and systems. Your whole business can very quickly be put at risk. That is why a good security practice is to have a different, strong password for every account. A breach will be isolated to that account, and the fallout will be much smaller

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Microsoft Exchange On-Premise Server Exploit

March 4, 2021

Twin State Technical Services received notification on the morning of Wednesday, March 3, regarding four (4) unique 0-day vulnerabilities that were discovered and affecting Microsoft Exchange Server versions 2013, 2016, and 2019. The notification also disclosed that threat actors were known to be actively exploiting these vulnerabilities in the wild.   The response from the Microsoft Exchange Team can be found here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/released-march-2021-exchange-server-security-updates/ba-p/2175901   Additional details, along with the Indicators of Compromise (IOC’s), can be found here: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/02/hafnium-targeting-exchange-servers/   US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency Alert: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa21-062a     Your Twin State Engineer should have reached out to you regarding patching for these vulnerabilities. If you have not heard from us or have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at helpdesk@tsts.com or via phone at 563-441-1504. 

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Twin State Technical Services offers expert cybersecurity and IT solutions for businesses, including Microsoft 365 security configurations and network protection services.

5 Microsoft 365 Security Configurations You Should Make Right Now

February 26, 2021

Is your Microsoft 365 business account suffering from misconfiguration? This is when your security settings aren’t where they should be. There are many Quad-Cities area business owners that use their cloud platforms “out of the box.” They never explore additional security settings that could provide better protection for their data and accounts. Did you know misconfiguration is the #1 cause of cloud security breaches? You may be wondering, “But, Microsoft 365 has so many great security features…how could my data be insecure?” Yes, the platform has great security options. Many options, however, are up to the user to configure. If this is new territory for you or you don’t use a business cloud services provider to help them customize Microsoft

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Innovative virtual event hosted by Twin State Technical Services featuring expert insights on survival and success strategies.

TSTS Virtual Event: Survival or Success: You Choose!

February 26, 2021

  Learn 7 steps to consistently winning in a changing world and how to stay motivated and on track to getting what you really want. Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/138472573 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (646) 749-3112 Access Code: 138-472-573 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/138472573   Our Presenter Lauren Weibert is a mindset coach who helps people create the life and business they want. Trained by Master Thinker Bob Proctor, Lauren understands how to help others get the results they want most in life. She is intensely growth- and goal-oriented, and helps individuals, teams, and companies discover their deepest

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Virtual event promoting video conferencing skills by Twin State Technical Services, focused on professional virtual communication for businesses.

TSTS Virtual Event: Video Conferencing: Look Like a Pro – 02/25/21

January 28, 2021

  Safety precautions have driven our meetings from fancy conference rooms to online. This event will teach you how to bring a professional video experience to your online meetings giving you the power to enhance the quality of your online video conferencing meetings. Click here to join our live streaming event. Our Presenter Evan Furniss, Network Engineer at TSTS, has eight years of experience setting up live and online studio productions on a budget. Tying in a passion for technology with videography, editing, and photography has allowed him to create stunning experiences for millions worldwide. Who Should Attend Leadership, marketing, sales, and owners who want to improve their online meeting presence. Agenda 45-minute live-streamed YouTube presentation 1. Lighting and video

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What Business Insights Can I Find from Website Analytics?

January 28, 2021

So, you’ve got your website built, online, and receiving visitors… now what? Getting started with your website as your online storefront is just the first step. Your business site doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s gathering data 24/7 about which pages are most popular, which buttons are getting the most clicks, and which pages are turning people off. It’s important to understand which website analytics to look for so you can improve your site, which improves your business. 47% of people visit a company’s website for research before deciding to make a purchase. If your online presence isn’t optimized, you can be losing leads and sales conversions. How Do You Get Started With Web Analytics? Website analytics tracking is as simple as

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High-quality virtual event promotion for Twin State Technical Services focusing on Google My Business optimization and digital marketing.

TSTS Virtual Event: Google My Business: Drive Sales & Improve Leads – 01/20/21

December 21, 2020

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/553157605 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (786) 535-3211 Access Code: 553-157-605 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/553157605 How you have your Google My Business account set up has a direct impact on how your organization shows up in Google results. A well-configured profile gives you the ability to differentiate yourself in Google and drive more traffic to your site. The proper setup of your Google My Business account is a vital part of your national and local SEO strategy. AGENDA: 45-minute presentation1. Why Google My Business?2. How it affects local search. 3. How to

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Modern digital shopping cart illustration emphasizing technology and innovation in retail solutions.

Year-End Technology Purchases That You Can Use for Tax Write-Offs

November 20, 2020

2020 has been an unpredictable year for many companies. But one thing that has not changed is that businesses will be paying their annual taxes in the not too distant future. One of the standard year-end activities accountants will often recommend is to make business equipment investments by December 31 that can be written off as tax deductions. The overall limit on deductions for equipment and technology infrastructure has been raised for the 2020 tax year. Additionally, there is a 100% bonus depreciation that can be used to reduce the tax burden further. If you are planning to make any hardware or software investments to improve productivity, support remote teams, or strengthen cybersecurity, now is the time! Which Technology Purchases Can

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