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Windows 10 Fall Creators Update: What’s new?

Microsoft is releasing the Fall Creators Update in September that promises an even better array of features. Windows 10 users can expect improvements to OneDrive file management, battery usage, ransomware protection, and more. We have rounded up some of the new and noteworthy features for business users.

The post Windows 10 Fall Creators Update: What’s new? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update: What’s new?

Microsoft is releasing the Fall Creators Update in September that promises an even better array of features. Windows 10 users can expect improvements to OneDrive file management, battery usage, ransomware protection, and more. We have rounded up some of the new and noteworthy features for business users.

Files on-demand in OneDrive

‘OneDrive Files On-Demand’ solves syncing problems often encountered by those who don’t want all their files synced to all their devices. This feature will give users the option to choose the folders that will be downloaded to the device they’re using, which helps save storage space and bandwidth, and gives users more flexibility.

Greater protection from ransomware

Microsoft beefs up Windows 10 security by introducing ‘Controlled folder access,’ a welcome feature in an era of rampant ransomware outbreaks such as WannaCry and Petya. This security enhancement enables users to assign a ‘switch’ to applications. When the switch is turned on, users are alerted any time unauthorized applications attempt to access or modify files in protected Desktop, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos folders.

Enterprise-level threat prevention

The Fall Creators update will also feature ‘Windows Defender Exploit Guard,’ a threat prevention system that, in Microsoft’s own words, ‘helps make vulnerabilities dramatically more difficult to exploit.’ The platform is primarily intended to recognize and safeguard against brand new malware that has not been cataloged or analyzed by security professionals.

Microsoft will also introduce ‘Windows Defender Application Guard,’ a program that protects Windows 10 users by isolating and containing threats and malware within the Edge browser. For now, it will be available only to Windows 10 Enterprise Edition and Hyper-V users.

Both ‘guards’ will complement firewalls and antivirus software to provide comprehensive protection to data, programs, devices, and networks.

Easier to reach contacts

Windows 10 subscribers will also benefit from the ‘My People’ feature, which will enhance collaboration. This new feature will let users pin contacts from their contact list to the Start Bar for quick access to email, instant messaging, or video calling. To activate, launch the People program and click on the icon found in the taskbar’s notifications area. Contacts can be pinned only if they have the Windows 10 App open in their system.

Other essential enhancements

The Fall Creators Update will also introduce small yet essential enhancements that will prove highly advantageous to businesses, one of which is a bandwidth limiting capability. Using this feature, network administrators can limit the amount of bandwidth allocated for Windows updates, allowing them to manage the updates for all devices across an entire network.

To do this:

  • Go to Deliver Optimization > Advanced options
  • Tick any of the three sliders
  • Adjust download and upload settings: limiting bandwidth for downloading updates; uploading updates to other PCS on the internet; and adjusting monthly upload limit

A battery-saving function will also be introduced to the new Windows 10 via ‘Power Throttling,’ which determines the activities that the system should prioritize based on a user’s activity. For example, if a user has multiple apps open but is actively using only a photo-editing tool, the system will allot greater power resources to the most actively used app and minimal resources to inactive ones.

Are you maximizing your Windows-powered computers’ features and capabilities? Get in touch with our experts to explore what Microsoft products can do for your business.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Microsoft 365 unveiled

Microsoft has sold Office 365 and Windows 10 to businesses in various ways. While some business owners don’t mind purchasing the two solutions separately, others prefer one bundle that offers both. And that’s now possible with Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 combines Office 365 and Windows 10 into one solution, which will be available in two plans: Microsoft 365 Business and Microsoft 365 Enterprise.

The post Microsoft 365 unveiled appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Microsoft 365 unveiled

Microsoft has sold Office 365 and Windows 10 to businesses in various ways. While some business owners don’t mind purchasing the two solutions separately, others prefer one bundle that offers both. And that’s now possible with Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 combines Office 365 and Windows 10 into one solution, which will be available in two plans: Microsoft 365 Business and Microsoft 365 Enterprise.

Microsoft 365 Business

Designed for small- to medium-sized companies, this bundle includes Office 365 Business Premium and selected features from Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security. Simply put, you’ll get cloud versions of Office applications, business class email, Windows 10, and cyber security controls, among many other user-friendly features.

The main difference between the new Microsoft 365 Business and the current Office 365 Business Premium is that the former includes Windows 10, plus a single console to manage settings, automatic Offices apps to Windows 10 PC deployment, and robust security applications like Windows Defender.

Microsoft 365 Business will be available on August 2nd, 2017 for $20 per user per month.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise

Capable of supporting up to 300 users, Microsoft 365 Enterprise is designed for medium-to-large businesses. It combines Office 365 Enterprise, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility + Security features into one solution. You can expect all the features of Office 365 including cloud versions of Office applications, access across mobile devices, business-class email, document and email access controls, and Skype for Business.

The inclusion of Windows 10 Enterprise means you’ll get more advanced capabilities than from the basic version such as Credential Guard and Device Guard, extensive manageability and a broad range of options for application management and operating system deployment.

Last but not least, Enterprise Mobility + Security offers comprehensive identity-driven protection, mobile devices and applications management, risk-based conditional access to threat analysis, and single sign-on capabilities across devices to keep things secure.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise is now available with a pricing structure based on your subscription plan.

By choosing the right subscription model, you’ll be able to make the most out of Microsoft’s growing number of service offerings. If you’re looking to upgrade to Windows 10 and have any questions about the operating system, or are wondering which of the two plans to choose, give us a call today.

 

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Ransomware protection for Windows 10

The development of global ransomware attacks like WannaCry is a worrying trend for many computer users, especially for those with outdated Windows PCs. Fortunately, Microsoft is adding some much needed security features in Windows 10 to help keep users safe.

The post Ransomware protection for Windows 10 appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Ransomware protection for Windows 10

The development of global ransomware attacks like WannaCry is a worrying trend for many computer users, especially for those with outdated Windows PCs. Fortunately, Microsoft is adding some much needed security features in Windows 10 to help keep users safe. If you are a Windows user, here’s why you can’t afford to miss this critical update.

Controlled folders
With Microsoft’s new Controlled folders access feature, you can list certain documents and folders as “protected.” Only whitelisted apps can access and edit these folders, while any attempted changes by malicious apps are simply blocked by Windows Defender.

In theory, this should slow down a ransomware’s ability to encrypt critical information. Some reports suggest that other threats like malicious file macros and viruses can be prevented by this feature.

So far, only Windows Insider users have access to controlled folders. But if you’ve already signed up, you can access the feature by going to Windows Defender Security Center and then enabling Controlled folder access. From here, you can choose which folders will be protected and what apps are allowed to access them. To save you time, common Microsoft applications are trusted automatically, but you can remove them from your whitelist whenever you want.

Application Guard
Apart from folder protection, Microsoft also made security enhancements for web browsers. The Windows Defender Application Guard is designed to prevent intrusions, using Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtual machine technology to detect and isolate compromised applications from the rest of your system. So if someone accidentally downloads a virus from their web browser, Application Guard will contain the threat before it infiltrates the rest of your company’s devices, apps, data, and network.

Device Guard
In a similar vein, the Device Guard feature, which is also found in the Windows Defender Security Center, minimizes computer exposure to malware by using advanced threat detection policies to make sure only approved code is running throughout the system. This is meant to add an extra layer of defense in between your firewall and antivirus software.

As mentioned, Windows Insider users can get early access to these security features, but if you want to make sure that these security features are as strong as they can be, we suggest you wait for their public release around September for the Fall Creators update.

Want to stay on top of the latest technologies that can help you beat ransomware, viruses, and other nasty cyberattacks? Contact us today for any security updates and advice.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Microsoft issues security patch for XP

When a Microsoft product reaches its “end-of-life,” the tech developer no longer provides feature updates, technical assistance, and automatic fixes for that product. Support for Windows XP, for instance, ended in April 2014. That said, recent malware attacks have caused Microsoft to continue support for their outdated operating system.

The post Microsoft issues security patch for XP appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Microsoft issues security patch for XP

When a Microsoft product reaches its “end-of-life,” the tech developer no longer provides feature updates, technical assistance, and automatic fixes for that product. Support for Windows XP, for instance, ended in April 2014. That said, recent malware attacks have caused Microsoft to continue support for their outdated operating system. Read on to find out more.

More WannaCry copycats
The primary reason why Microsoft reassessed their update policy for Windows XP was due to the success of WannaCry, a ransomware worm that encrypted hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. Even though the attack did not affect XP computers, Microsoft anticipates increased risk of similar attacks for the outdated OS being developed in the near future.

According to Microsoft’s Head of Cyber Defense Operations Center Adrienne Hall, cyberattacks by government organizations and copycat hacking groups are imminent; and this time, they’ll improve upon WannaCry’s shortcomings. In fact, shortly after WannaCry was stopped on May 12th, other strains with more sophisticated code popped up seeking to exploit the same weaknesses.

NSA leaks
Many security experts also suspect that Microsoft is releasing security fixes for outdated systems because of leaked NSA hacking tools. Over the years, the NSA’s ‘hacking’ department, Equation Group, has been storing cyber exploits in its arsenal. But a group known as the Shadow Brokers found these exploits and publicly disclosed them, which led to the WannaCry outbreak.

Right now, the Shadow Brokers are promising to leak more NSA exploit tools to hackers in the Dark Web who are willing to pay $10,000.

The update
Since a significant portion of businesses are still working with XP, Microsoft believes that their recent security update is the best way to protect all Windows users. The new patch fixes 16 critical vulnerabilities, many of which seem to defend against the exploits leaked by the Shadow Brokers.

Windows 10 users can find the critical update in the Microsoft Download Center. Alternatively, they can simply check for updates in Windows Update, which can be found in the Settings menu. But to install the update for unsupported operating systems, users should visit Microsoft’s security advisory page for tips and download links.

Although Microsoft has extended support for Windows XP, don’t expect regular fixes for outdated systems. As always, the best protection is to use an up-to-date system that’s equipped with the latest security patches.

“Older systems, even if fully updated, lack the latest security features,” said Hall.

If you’re unsure about your Windows security, what operating system you’re running, or how to protect your company workstations, give us a call. Our certified and experienced experts will help keep your business safe from WannaCry and future malware attacks.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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