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Human cloud: The workforce of the futureCompanies are increasingly tapping into a virtual, on-demand workforce. The human cloud offers a competitive advantage for startups and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by letting them outsource specialized skills and expertise globally. Let’s take a look at what the human cloud is and how it enhances remote team collaboration. What is the human cloud? […]

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Human cloud: The workforce of the future

Companies are increasingly tapping into a virtual, on-demand workforce. The human cloud offers a competitive advantage for startups and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by letting them outsource specialized skills and expertise globally. Let’s take a look at what the human cloud is and how it enhances remote team collaboration.

What is the human cloud?

The human cloud is a working platform where staff perform white-collar tasks from any location and on any device. Collaboration, file sharing, or discussions on projects are done in a flexible and productive manner, rewarding team members solely for their output.

Benefits of hiring on the human cloud

Companies looking to take advantage of the human cloud are entitled to the following benefits:

  1. Low cost
    The human cloud helps save time and money spent on traditional employment processes. Hiring is fast and easy, and you pay for the skills you need on a transactional basis.
  2. No overhead
    Hiring through the human cloud requires no overhead for office space, thereby enabling firms to stay lean and profit-focused. By becoming virtual, teams can work independently from anywhere. Remote collaboration via the human cloud is a game-changer that benefits companies, such as startups, that are inclined to spend fewer resources to build their business infrastructure.
  3. Get skills on demand
    Employers can contract for micro-tasks, such as copying text from business cards, to larger tasks, like selling products for a fee, to even more complex projects such as software design and programming.
  4. Global talent pool
    Even startups can be multinational today, so they are no longer limited by geography in finding key talent with specialized skills. Business can leverage overseas creative, administrative, engineering, and other high-level talent to build a well-rounded team. A good idea can come and be executed from just about anywhere.For instance, Foundr Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Nathan Chan started a passion project that enabled him to interview some of the most influential entrepreneurs around the world, which he shared through his monthly digital publication.

    For Chan, the launch of this successful project would not have been possible if it wasn’t for human cloud service and freelancing platform Elance. Elance allowed him to leverage overseas talent and build a solid team of graphic designers, audio/video editors, and writers. All tasks and projects for each issue of his magazine run through the platform, which also conveniently processes payments for his contractors.

  5. Easy collaboration
    Using an online platform gives SMBs the ability to manage projects through virtual workrooms. Collaboration software can be extremely important and even mission-critical for remote teams to work efficiently.

As more startups and SMBs become familiar (and comfortable) with the advantages of the human cloud, the future of work means that location is not the most important factor in determining who will contribute to your business’s success. A worldwide network of online contractors is now ready to serve you with the qualifications, skill sets, and shared enthusiasm you seek to turn ideas into valuable products or services.

For more information on how to leverage cloud technologies or collaboration software, get in touch with any of our cloud specialists.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Improve your productivity with these Chrome extensionsGoogle Chrome is the most popular and most used browser in the world. And because of its unparalleled speed, user-friendly interface, and powerful performance, it’s also touted as the best. But did you know that the Chrome Web Store is full of extensions you can install to add extra features to your browser? If you’re […]

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Improve your productivity with these Chrome extensions

Google Chrome is the most popular and most used browser in the world. And because of its unparalleled speed, user-friendly interface, and powerful performance, it’s also touted as the best. But did you know that the Chrome Web Store is full of extensions you can install to add extra features to your browser? If you’re a Chrome user looking to improve your productivity, here are some extensions you should definitely try.

BlockSite

BlockSite helps you stay focused by blocking any distracting or harmful websites. If you’re in front of the computer all day, it’s the perfect solution to stop getting sidetracked by the many wonderful things on the internet. Essentially, BlockSite restricts access to websites that can cause your productivity to dip, particularly social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. If you don’t want to completely block these sites, you can schedule limited access to them; for instance, during your breaks.

AdBlock

AdBlock claims to be the most popular extension for Chrome. It has over 10 million active users — and for good reason. In a virtual world full of advertisements, AdBlock offers a break by blocking most ads from showing up on the screen. It also prevents shady, malware-ridden advertisements from popping up, which helps keep your browser speeds at optimal levels and improve your overall experience.

LastPass

Remembering passwords can be quite a headache; good thing there’s LastPass. It’s a great alternative to Chrome’s integrated password manager, and it generates new and secure passwords every time you log in to a website. It can also sync your passwords across devices, enabling you to easily access your accounts, enter credit card details, and fill out online forms with just a few clicks.

Evernote Web Clipper

Never lose anything on the internet again with Evernote Web Clipper. While you can mark sites using Chrome’s bookmark feature, Evernote is an even more powerful option: it allows you to quickly and easily save web content from Chrome and transfer it straight into your Evernote account. With the press of a button, you can grab an image from any web page, make annotations, create summary links, and save a distraction-free version of that page for later use.

Pocket

Pocket is another way to keep track of your favorite web content. With this extension, you can save articles, videos, and web pages for later viewing. Simply hit the Pocket extension button when you come across something interesting and that page will automatically be synced across all your devices, so you can view it at any time, even without an internet connection. If you come across something interesting but can’t waste time because of a pressing task, keep the web page in your Pocket for later.

Momentum

Momentum is a custom page that replaces the default Chrome landing page. Equipped with a personalized dashboard that features a beautiful scenic background, a daily inspirational quote, a weather report, a to-do list, and widgets for your favorite sites, Momentum could just be the dose of inspiration you’re looking for.

Learn more about the different productivity apps the Chrome Web Store has to offer. Get in touch with our experts today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Firefox is a versatile and feature-rich browser, and there are worthwhile improvements with every new version. If you’re among those who prefer Firefox over other popular browsers like Google Chrome, use the following features to make your browsing experience even better. Customizable Firefox toolbar Choose which tools you want to see on your Firefox toolbar […]

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Firefox is a versatile and feature-rich browser, and there are worthwhile improvements with every new version. If you’re among those who prefer Firefox over other popular browsers like Google Chrome, use the following features to make your browsing experience even better.

Customizable Firefox toolbar

Choose which tools you want to see on your Firefox toolbar and maybe even discover new ones you haven’t heard of. Click on the menu button on the top-right corner and then click Customize. Drag and drop desired items onto the toolbar, which is located along the address bar near the top of the browser page.

Secret tweak interface

Catering to more tech-savvy users, Firefox’s secret interface gives you a peek behind the curtain into the world of coding. This helps you make adjustments to improve browser performance.

Primary password setup

If you want greater privacy over your Firefox browser, set up a primary password, pronto. The primary password (formerly called Master Password) acts as a key that unlocks all your passwords and information that could be detrimental if left exposed. To enable this function, click on Menu > Preferences > Privacy & Security, or type about:preferences#privacy directly in the address bar. Then check the box next to “Use a Primary Password” and follow the directions in the pop-up window.

Custom shortcuts

Mozilla has plenty of keyboard shortcuts, but you may prefer using shortkeys you’re already familiar with or ones that you use for other browsers. To create your own shortcuts, click on Menu > Add-ons and install the Shortkeys add-on.

URL autocomplete

Firefox’s URL autocomplete feature lets you type the name of a website without having to type in URL prefixes and suffixes (https://www, .com, etc.) in the address bar. If you’re logging on to Facebook, for example, just type in “facebook” in the address bar, press Ctrl + Enter (Mac: Command + Enter), and you’ll be redirected to Facebook.com.

Hardware acceleration

If your computer’s speed is fine but Firefox is slowing down (especially after comparing it to other browsers’ speed), it could be a problem with Firefox. To fix this problem, turn on hardware acceleration. Go to Menu > Preferences > General, scroll down to Performance, and untick “Use recommended performance settings”. Then, tick “Use hardware acceleration when available” and you’ll observe a noticeable difference in performance.

With every new version of Firefox, its features become smarter and more useful for business users. If you want to discover more ways to work more efficiently with better technologies, chat with our computer experts today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Secure your data in the cloudData breaches are a common occurrence in today’s business environment. While many businesses have turned to cloud applications for better productivity, scalability, and savings, some business owners worry that the cloud is more vulnerable to data breaches than an on-premises data center. The truth is that any computing environment is vulnerable if you don’t take […]

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Secure your data in the cloud

Data breaches are a common occurrence in today’s business environment. While many businesses have turned to cloud applications for better productivity, scalability, and savings, some business owners worry that the cloud is more vulnerable to data breaches than an on-premises data center. The truth is that any computing environment is vulnerable if you don’t take steps to prevent a data security breach. Here are simple steps to protect your data in the cloud.

Know your cloud apps:

Get a comprehensive view of the specific threats that business apps pose. Ask questions like: Which ones render you more or less prone to a breach? Does an app encrypt data stored on the service? Does it separate your data from that of others to limit exposure when another tenant has a breach?

Migrate users to high-quality apps:

Cloud-switching costs are low, which means that you can always switch to another application that best suits your needs. Take the time to consult with your vendor before switching to another app to make sure the new app is secure and compatible with your systems. Now more than ever, you have choices.

Find out where your data is going:

Take a look at your data in the cloud. Review uploads, downloads, and data at rest in apps to determine whether you have potential personally identifiable information (PII), or whether you simply have unencrypted confidential data. If you do have PII stored in the cloud, you need to make sure there are additional layers of security measures in place such as encryption. This is to avoid violating compliance regulations and paying hefty fines.

Look at user activities:

It’s important to understand not only what apps you use but also how these apps use your data. Determine what apps employees are using to share content and whether such apps have a sharing functionality. Knowing who’s sharing what and with whom will help you understand what policies to best employ.

Mitigate risk through granular policy:

Start with your business-critical apps and enforce policies that matter to your organization in the context of a breach. For example, block the upload of information covered by certain privacy acts, block the download of PII from HR apps, or temporarily block access to vulnerable apps.


The key to preventing a data security breach in the cloud lies in careful attention to your cloud applications and user activity. Analyzing your apps and looking into user activities might be time-consuming, but minimizing cloud and data security breaches makes this task worthwhile. Looking to learn more about today’s security? Contact us and let us manage and minimize your risks.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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