By adopting digital tools to provide to your customers and citizens, your business is taking "The Incredible Hulk"-sized-strides in its Digital Transformation pilgrimage. September 17, 2020
It's easy to take Security too far. It's even easier not to take it far enough. Do not assume the electronics in a location are secure, simply because you've taken some steps to keep people off the premises. September 14, 2020
Digital Transformation; Modernizing your business model, products, and services, as well as your corporate culture, by integrating current digital technologies and tools in an ongoing process. September 10, 2020
As a person with plenty of knowledge into their inner workings and machinations, I can tell you without a pinch of hesitation, that computers are very complicated indeed... September 08, 2020
TRINUS has not spent the Spring and Summer of COVID-19 sitting idly by, waiting for the phone to ring. We've taken this opportunity to examine and enhance our operations and product offerings with one goal in mind - to increase client satisfaction... September 03, 2020
Back in the day when servers were quite expensive and required special skills to manage, file servers were a bit of a rarity. Today, you can find file servers anywhere, even in people’s home networks... August 31, 2020
Logan is an outgoing 17-year-old who is passionate about sports, video games, and graphic design. He loves his dog Daisy, his family, and is a big fan of Camaros. He is also fighting a brain tumour... August 28, 2020
While some have returned to their office and removed their visiting restrictions, others persist in isolating themselves or continue working from their homes, which can take its toll on people's mental health. August 27, 2020
Cyber Fraud is something that every organization should be mindful of. Exactly how you protect yourself against it really depends on the nature of your business and how you interact with your clients. August 24, 2020
With a rise in employees working from home, we are guaranteed to see an increase in new and unique Security Attacks. Talk to your co-workers and employees about the severity of breaches and set clear and precise procedures on how to deal with these threats and attacks. August 20, 2020
There are all types of Malware that could infect your phone. Some of it is designed to provide advertising revenue. Other is created to steal information from your phone. There is also software targeting banking apps... August 17, 2020
TRINUS and Make-A-Wish Northern Alberta worked together to grant Logan his Dream Wish to own the ultimate Graphic Design & Digital Arts Computer equipment. August 14, 2020
In this video, TRINUS Account Manager Damin Massicotte tells us that preparing a detailed plan to keep you on track and efficient with your work, is just one of many great tips on how to balance work life and personal life. August 12, 2020
Security is a moving target and it is tough to guess which new thing is going to turn into a standard tool for cyber criminals. Cyber crooks have now also started to steal your data, additionally to locking you out of it. August 10, 2020
Subpar Internet connections can spoil a meeting's productivity, between dropped video and watching as a co-worker’s audio does not match their mouth's movements. We must be respectful of others’ personal atmospheres, as well as gracious and patient with technical challenges. August 06, 2020
Your staff needs to be aware of what is "normal" for them to be able to do with their computers. Then make sure they also know who to report things to if anything "outside the norm" occurs. Many situations that occur, happen because Security settings on computers are lax. If that is the root cause, then the fault lies with the organization. August 04, 2020
Microsoft Teams is only one of many tools offered by Microsoft, to empower your employees to work seamlessly together on projects. July 30, 2020
This is a tricky topic to try and keep simple, but I will certainly do my best. The easiest way to explain the difference between a Local Admin and a Domain Admin is to summarize the purpose of both types of accounts. July 28, 2020
All office workers know how important our posture is, and your office chair is your trusty sidekick in maintaining it. But what happens when you work from home? July 23, 2020
The more access an employee has, the more their activity needs to be monitored. In terms of computers and networks, this means any and all administrative activity needs to be heavily supervised... July 20, 2020
What is your own Go-To Video Meeting tool? At TRINUS, we feel most secure by using Microsoft Teams... July 16, 2020
Everyone wants good Security on their computers. That's a no-brainer. The big issue with that is how do you go about getting it? July 13, 2020
Starting today, I'll be presenting an 8-part series of short videos (one per each during the next 8 weeks) featuring TRINUS staffers teaching on Best Practices you need for the Work From Home environment. July 09, 2020
It's important to understand the potential scope of this sort of attack and become aware that any of the tools you make use of, have web-based interfaces (like any firewall or switch in your network) which could be hiding something like this. July 06, 2020
It's good practice to restart your phone on a regular schedule; once a day is great, every other day is good, but every week at a minimum. Restarting the phone guarantees that ALL APP's are closed, and tracking is disabled, until the APP is re-started. July 02, 2020
Splitting up your network, so that only certain devices can talk to each other, is an uncomplicated and highly effective method of increasing your Security. Think of it like an organization in an office building... June 27, 2020
We've grown complacent and are being seduced by the convenience of small APPS, while ignoring the growing mass of data being gathered; it's just trendy to have the latest APP to show off to your friends. June 25, 2020
In order to defend against Ransomware, it is no longer good enough to perform backups, monitor them, and install some software to detect their encryption... June 22, 2020
TRINUS staff returned to the office this week, as the province relaxed some Pandemic restrictions. It was great to see people in person rather than at the end of a webcam in a Teams meeting... June 19, 2020
Here for your viewing pleasure is TRINUS Technologies' Video Presentation, "No Place Like (Working Remotely From) Home", broadcast live during last week's Virtual Conference sessions, organized and hosted by the GFOA... June 17, 2020
TRINUS Account Manager Jon Harmon was recently interviewed by Jean L. Eaton, BA Admin (Healthcare), CHIM, CC, Privacy Coach and Practice Management Mentor with Information Managers Ltd, on the following topic: “What Healthcare Providers Need To Know About Computer Security And Standards.” Here’s the Podcast, in the shape of a YouTube video: June 15, 2020
Scammers and Phishers will use any means they can to exploit you and get what they want. The easiest way to do so is to make use of big, important events that are happening in the world. This gives them that hint of legitimacy. June 15, 2020
With the rush to implement Work From Home (WFH) for many businesses and government agencies during the Pandemic, the urgency to replace or upgrade old computers and laptops running the Windows 7 operating system was pushed to the side. June 10, 2020
Email must be one of my biggest peeves, when it comes to dealing with problems. Email is not really that complicated, since there are only three kinds of snags: configuration issues, hardware failure, and Spam. Configuration issues do not happen very often, since email systems are not the sort of thing that get repeatedly tinkered […] June 05, 2020
This week, I want to continue with a few more lessons learned, and share some direct feedback I have received from my co-workers on their experiences. June 03, 2020
At TRINUS, we've had most staff members working from home for several weeks. As an informal study in Business Management, we've been keeping a close eye on how this has been working... May 27, 2020
Despite all the Security Advice out there, most of it is being ignored. This has become the accepted standard. A computer is no different than a car engine. If you leave it alone long enough, something will go wrong... May 22, 2020
The reason Logan endeared himself to us was his quiet, unassuming, everyday demeanor; he was just a regular teenager - one of the guys who loved gaming and pizza. May 20, 2020
We never could have guessed that 2020 would force us out from our workplaces, leaving us to work from our homes. Working remotely comes with its challenges and we have adjusted as best as possible, considering the situation. May 14, 2020
This is a key question to ask, because in too many situations, the answer is: "Probably not." I've talked to several people who seem to think that Privacy Laws like PIPA and PIPEDA don't apply to them, or that the Anti-Spam Regulations are not pertinent. May 11, 2020
During unprecedented times such as these, Team TRINUS has been testing by putting the full potential of Microsoft tools to use... May 08, 2020
The term ‘Firewall’ is similar to the word ‘Vehicle.’ It’s an umbrella term given to network devices that sit at the edge of your network. Their purpose is to keep unwanted traffic from getting past them... May 06, 2020
Many are under the impression that their IT company can fly in and clean up the mess, with no repercussions to the victim. This is almost 100% never the case... April 30, 2020
Working from home is a real thing for so many of us and not something we can just grumble about by the water cooler from time to time... April 27, 2020
There are so many different types of vulnerabilities which exist within all sorts of software, that it's impossible to keep track of them all. April 17, 2020
We're now into week 5 of stay-at-home enjoyment thanks to COVID-19. But it's hardly a circus act. The sudden rush of home-office setup and Remote Access technology deployments has given way to this new reality... April 15, 2020
After ten years of uninterrupted service to the local community, TRINUS has closed its Computer Centre storefront's doors for good. April 06, 2020
IoT Security is a topic that makes my blood pressure spike. I wrote a few newsletters about this and looking back, most of them have had nothing good to say about the whole mess. April 06, 2020
As we enter our third week of the new COVID-19 Work Paradigm for many of us, I want to make you aware of some limitations and pitfalls of Video Conferencing, as well as some tips for making remote conference calls more pleasant and productive. April 01, 2020
Phishing scams can come in any medium: Mail, telephone, E-mail, etc. You name it, someone has probably tried to use it to defraud people. March 30, 2020
As the province continues to announce ever-increasing restrictions, in an effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, I wanted to make you aware of TRINUS’ changes to our HelpDesk Service and Support Procedures March 27, 2020
With our nation in a state of emergency, many organizations are allowing their employees to work from home. But that doesn't come without its challenges, and not every company is adequately prepared. March 25, 2020
The need for enhanced remote connectivity tools exploded in recent days, as most organizations relegate their staff to work-from-home status in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. March 19, 2020
TRINUS is aware of the ongoing and escalating concern over the COVID-19 virus and the measures being taken to contain its spread. I want to make you aware of our stance on this important issue and how we intend to help you. March 17, 2020
Ransomware Attacks continue to change and evolve, which means that the defenses against them need to adjust and expand, in order to keep up with their criminal techniques. Thus, please allow me to go over Ransomware Attacks and how they have changed over time... March 13, 2020
Windows 7 has been with us for a long time. Now it has been supplanted by Windows 10. At the same time, no it hasn't. March 06, 2020
It's now possible to replace the traditional business phone system with a completely Cloud-hosted one and using a wide variety of handset devices... March 04, 2020
"IoT Security" is a topic that makes my blood pressure spike. I've done a couple of newsletters about this and looking back, most of them had really nothing good to say about the whole mess. It's about time I tried to give actual useful advice regarding consumer grade IoT devices. February 26, 2020
Porting fraud is something the entire wireless industry in Canada has seen an increase during recent months, and a strong reminder that people need to take serious precautions when they're dealing with their own personal information. February 20, 2020
If you currently do any kind of backup for your phone, you have any sort of financial, banking or sensitive software on it, and you haven't explicitly set things up to not back-up your applications or financial software, DELETE ALL YOUR BACKUPS!! February 14, 2020
Nothing raises my hackles more than the term: For Your Safety and Convenience. It's used as a pervasive excuse to get you to do something that is anything but convenient, and usually has little to do with safety... February 12, 2020
There are challenges unrelated to technology, that are equally important to consider in the future SMART City. These were discussed during CES forums and it's worth sharing some ideas... February 05, 2020
Like many other tech buzzwords, SMART City is not clearly defined, and so it's used to tag just about any product or service, as an effort to increase market appeal. January 29, 2020
There is a mind-boggling vast amount of computer terms out there. Some of it is in references to very technical things; some of it has nothing to do with anything technical (like what's a "meme"?) January 28, 2020
Defense Against Ransomware NEEDS to be one of the main focuses for the IT department, in any Government, Healthcare or Education organization. Rather than an afterthought, protecting the environment from Ransomware, needs to be in the forefront of people’s thinking. January 24, 2020
The 2020 show comprised about 4,500 vendor booths and just under 150,000 attendees. There are representatives from every corner of the globe, showing an unimaginable array of products and services January 22, 2020
Technology moves faster than people. A week doesn’t go by that we don’t hear of a new threat or vulnerability that affects not just a business, but practically anyone connected to the web. January 15, 2020
It’s a new year. So, what does that mean advice-wise coming from me? “Update your equipment!” But haven’t I said this often times before? (Hint: Yes I have!) This is the mantra that all Security Specialists sing (and many IT people too.) Does that mean that updates should be applied as soon as they become […] January 14, 2020
Cyber Security Attacks have now become a part of our tech-infused life. Not a day goes by when we don't read about a devastating attack on the private information held by corporations and government agencies. January 09, 2020
Just thought I'd share with you the fun we had on Thursday, December 19th, while on location at Abbey Glen Park and Commerce Place in downtown Edmonton, for the opening and unveiling of Doors #19 on the 2 Make-A-Wish Calendar of Wishes, both of which were sponsored by TRINUS. December 24, 2019
In the spirit of a new year, I figured I should share some good news for a change. Maybe to put a bit of a smile on your face, or maybe just to keep you guessing... December 21, 2019
One of our favourite corporate events is the staff-only Christmas party. It's a pot-luck lunch we hold on a Thursday before Christmas. Besides the awesome food from a variety of different cultures and backgrounds, we always have some games and a gift-card exchange. December 18, 2019
Another year has almost come and gone, so now it's time for another round of Christmas shopping. At the same time, many people also travel during this season. So, how about some advice for both parties? December 13, 2019
It all started late last year when we were contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Alberta. They had a young fellow - Logan - who was undergoing treatment for cancer. December 11, 2019
Microsoft have jumped into the collaboration arena by introducing and including several tools in their Office 365 platform. Technically, Microsoft list these as "Services"; not Applications, because they need Cloud storage to operate. This might seem like a small point, but it is important. December 04, 2019
Many of you have likely heard about Black Friday; you know, the day after the American Thanksgiving. It’s that time of year for those looking to get the best deal, so they wait outside a Walmart or Best Buy in the early hours of the morning. November 29, 2019
Three recent events in the last week have coalesced into some thoughts about the software we use - and I'd like to share some insights on how this affects us. November 27, 2019
In the past year, 28 million Canadian identities have been impacted by one breach or another. The total population of Canada is 37.5 million; 28 million is 75% of that. There have been enough identities breached to impact 3 out of every 4 Canadians (regardless of being an adult or child, age, etc.)!! November 26, 2019
One of the biggest challenges that small outfits face is answering the question: “How do you protect yourselves?." This is something that ALL types of organizations should be asking themselves today. November 19, 2019
As I grow older, I'm all for having better and more accurate Health information available and it's inevitable that more systems will move online. I just hope the Security Protocols keep up. November 13, 2019
Upgrading Windows 7-enabled computers in your organization before January 14th, 2020, is not just a trivial annoyance. Ignoring the problem could place your entire operations at risk. November 06, 2019
Today, I would like to write about a piece of Malware you don't hear referred to that often, called “Crypto-Miners.” These are a family of Malware that steal the CPU resources of a computer, in order to mine an electronic currency. November 02, 2019
The Security Controls put down in this Certification are incredibly useful. Even if your organization isn't intending to pursue it, making use of some of these controls they mention would be a good thing to help improve the Security of your outfit. October 30, 2019
Unfortunately, most of us don't hold - or have access to - the vast array of medical data in our personal profile. It's left to clinics, hospitals, doctors, pharmacists, and the rest of the health care system to be custodians of this sacred trust. October 23, 2019
In this newsletter I will conclude the in-depth look into this new Business Certification, by covering Security Controls numbers 10 through 13. The next newsletter will have some of my final thoughts and analysis of the Certification as a whole. October 09, 2019
In the last two newsletters, I covered plenty of information regarding the CYBERSECURE CANADA Certification. In this newsletter, I'll explain numbers 7, 8 and 9 of the Security Controls, in detail. There’s only three this time, not due to their complexity, but because of the sub-points for these controls. October 02, 2019
By now, most people are aware that Windows 7 End-of-Life is on January 14, 2020. Continuing to use it after this date invites an attack from Cyber Criminals, as they will be poised to unleash a series of strikes targeting Windows 7 computers; you can count on it. September 25, 2019
The biggest recurring issue with breaches, is human error. Assuming employees have appropriate, or even basic skills when it comes to things like email or Social Media, can prove to be a costly mistake. Organizations should take an active role and invest in Cyber Security Awareness Training for their staff. September 19, 2019
The Federal Government has recently come out with something to help organizations secure their computers. As a bonus, it comes with a nice little logo that you can include in your Marketing and such. September 11, 2019
Ransomware is a thing. The truth of the matter is that it is not going to go away anytime soon. The reason being that for relatively little effort, a criminal can be reasonably sure to expect a payout. September 09, 2019 This is a BIG DEAL. It has the potential to disrupt IT systems world-wide, and unlike previous retirements of popular desktop operating systems (such as XP), the ramifications of delaying an upgrade - or worse, NOT upgrading - could be catastrophic. September 04, 2019
There is no shortage of Social Media, lifestyle, games, news, and entertainment apps available to integrate into your daily life. August 28, 2019
News broke late last week that the City of Saskatoon had fallen prey to a Phishing SCAM and deposited a little over $1 million into a bogus bank account. August 21, 2019
The breach is being hailed as one of the third largest in the financial sector (so far.) An estimated 100 million Americans and 6 million Canadians are impacted. August 14, 2019 At TRINUS, we’re dedicated to keeping all your digital needs painless and out of mind. That’s why our slogan is “stress-free IT.” August 11, 2019
We tend to think of our Information Technology in the same way as our modern cars - as black box commodities that don't need cleaning, maintenance, or adjustment. August 08, 2019
There's an operating system that is used by billions of devices around the world, and you have probably never heard of it. August 01, 2019
Do you remember the old days? Back when there were rotary phones in your home. A cellular phone was something new and weighed about 5 lbs (more than some laptops these days?) July 26, 2019
Recent news articles about Cyber Attacks on municipalities in Canada and the U.S. reveal a depressing reality about the information systems and practices of many municipal governments. July 24, 2019
You want to hear something that could sound a bit odd? The new Samsung Smart TVs have Anti Virus software installed in them. Yes, they're now starting to come with Virus-detecting software! July 17, 2019
Connecting to WiFi is usually a priority for employees at their place of work. On the other hand, protecting their WiFi should be a priority for the employer. Your smart phone is a port-of-entry for viruses, Malware, and Ransomware. July 10, 2019
The recent announcement that Microsoft are retiring Windows 7 and a host of server operating systems and applications, have spawned more than one WHY question. July 06, 2019
When a contractor performs work for any type of organization, they're acting as an extension of that outfit. This means that they are required to conform to all the very same regulatory restrictions that you're under (within reason of course.) July 06, 2019
For Microsoft, it's déjà vu all over again. They've just announced that the official retirement of Windows 7 will be January, 2020, and Windows 10 will be the only viable alternative. June 26, 2019
It's important to have a plan for what to do, in case you get infected with Ransomware. First off, assume you will be infected. Second, assume everything will be infected, then simply proceed from there. It's really not too hard... June 19, 2019
On the hundreds of Emails that pass through your inbox every week, it's worthwhile paying attention to the details and train yourself to look for tiny mistakes and anomalies. Don't be That Person in your organization who clicks on anything. June 12, 2019
Instead of approaching Cyber Security as an expense, look at is as an investment. The payoff is hopefully you will never face a massive bill that you'll be forced to pay (such as EQUIFAX.) June 07, 2019
As a Boomer, I (and our readers in this category) need to encourage and accommodate our co-worker and client Millennials by understanding their views on technology and providing them with the tools and means to embrace it in the workforce. Otherwise, we risk losing them. May 29, 2019
Proper setup and design of your network traffic flow will increase your Security, without the need to install additional software. It won't even increase the cost of your equipment by much. In some cases, it won't increase costs at all. May 24, 2019
There's a new vulnerability that targets Intel chips. It's similar to the 'Spectre' and 'Meltdown' attacks, which made massive headlines last year, as you may remember. What's interesting is that while this one is in the news, it's not being talked about nearly as much. May 16, 2019
The IoT Insecurity Dumpster Fire is currently burning happily, but it looks like there finally could be some hope of rain coming soon. Hopefully, this will improve things down the road. May 07, 2019
It's hard to believe that TRINUS is celebrating 21 years of IT Service and Support to Alberta municipalities, as well as small & mid-size businesses. We marked the occasion with the official Grand Opening of our new expanded facilities in Stony Plain. May 02, 2019
First, consider your own corporate network. The only limitations you have when it comes to making changes within it, is to make sure it still works. You can rearrange it however you like/need, whenever you want, as long as you have the money and time. April 25, 2019
Being that Firefox (which had its' roots in the once-famous Netscape Navigator), is a browser developed and maintained in the Public Domain, it has no vested interest in tracking our web browsing activities. It also has several Privacy settings that can enhance your ability to browse anonymously. April 18, 2019
Considering the colossal blunder EQUIFAX made, it seems likely it’s not the last that will be heard about this. We've already seen multiple countries update (and sometimes implement) Breach and Privacy-related laws/legislation. Some fines have been levied and several Class Action lawsuits have been filed. April 17, 2019
So, how to protect your privacy is the question of the day. Certainly, if you use Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, your ability to keep private information private is greatly diminished. But there's another villain in the privacy wars that most people are unaware of; your web browser. April 12, 2019
Setting up proper monitoring isn't difficult, or expensive. If you're an expert, you can do it for free. For the rest of us (I include myself in this group), there's software that can easily take care of it, and it's cheap. Once the software is in place, it will send emails notifying your people of any activity that takes place. April 11, 2019
There is no positive spin to put on these statistics. One fact remains: no one is immune to Cyber Security Threats. The REAL risk is ignoring these threats and falling prey to an attack. April 03, 2019
No one wants to work on weekends, but in order to keep your company cyber-protected, this is an unfortunate reality. March 22, 2019
Last February February 27th, TRINUS volunteered to prepare and serve Dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Alberta, in Edmonton. March 15, 2019
We were honoured to be part of a special event that we held at our office in January with Make-A-Wish and Logan. We decided to record the event and put together a little video. January 23, 2019
Besides some Accountant friends, I can't think of anyone who enjoys the process of completing the annual reconciliation of incomes and expenses - and forwarding the inevitable payment to the government. The grumbling is universal. March 14, 2019
Having a Windows Update server is great for managing the updates to your operating system. It even allows for a certain level of control, when it comes to Windows 10 Updates. It's all the other 3rd party software that can't be forgotten about. Having a similar system in place to manage updates to all that different software, will help reduce the amount of work that goes into keeping your corporate network protected. February 25, 2019
One of my (many) pet peeves is how I am made to endure bureaucratic processes that are excused away as being for my benefit. Airport Security lines, renewing my Driver's License, and completing lengthy application forms come to mind (I recently applied for government pension benefits.) February 23, 2019
This year, LG - known for their appliances and TVs - devoted several hundred square feet of their costly display to an integrated home environment, complete with 2 millennials pretending to do common household tasks. February 06, 2019
Something that people may not be aware of is that if you accept plastic as a form of payment, there are certain rules you need to follow. These rules are called "Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards" (PCI-DSS for short.) February 04, 2019
CES had thousands of Smart-controllable devices; one for every conceivable home or business function. I'll entice you with more examples in future articles, but for now let's stick with the Smart Pet Home. January 18, 2019
I delayed sending an article this week, so that I could report on some of the magic from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. With thousands of Vendors and over 175,000 Attendees, this is one big Tech Party. January 12, 2019
It's important for any organization to get a proper level of Insurance to cover their potential losses. Some Insurance companies post information about what sorts of things you can do, in order to reduce your premiums. January 10, 2019
Unfortunate, isolated, human error, optimize processes - these are corporate press-release terms designed to calm the fears that many of us would have, given the nature of the Data Breach. But the cold reality is that devices such as Alexa, Echo, and Google Home ARE recording conversations in your home - all of them. January 06, 2019
The assumption in the design of a Printer is that the environment they are being placed in, is perfectly secure. In case you were wondering, it isn't. December 20, 2018
AI also conjures up images of Robots from Sci-Fi movies; R2D2 and C3PO are the obvious ones. Somewhat darker is the iRobot movie, and all the way to the dark side, is the Terminator series. December 19, 2018
Today I need to talk about something. Something near and dear to all our hearts. A most horrible event has occurred. It's so terrible, it pains me to even speak of it. But I MUST! December 14, 2018
We have this notion that hackers are all-knowing and powerful; the image of a Geeky Evil Emperor comes to mind for many people. With a wave of their programming hand, they wreak havoc on unsuspecting millions. Not so! They're as lazy and disorganized as the rest of us, maybe more so. December 13, 2018
It seems that Data Breaches are happening more and more often. These days when I go through the news it's hard for a week to go by without someone reporting they've lost data. December 06, 2018
I can't begin to imagine how massive some of the Microsoft Server Farms are. They must have acres and acres of servers humming away to handle all of the demands for Services and Data Storage. Windows, Office 365, Azure Cloud Hosting, Exchange Online; it must be a colossal undertaking. November 28, 2018
Ransomware has simply changed targets. In the past, it seemed that companies and organizations were the major target for this form of Malware. Now it seems the primary target has become the Government realm... October 16, 2019
Often, USB sticks are treated as something that a company can purchase and forget about. They're so cheap, it's hardly worth the effort to keep track of them (less then $10.00 each, depending on the size.) November 21, 2018
This is part 10 of a 9-part series that will look at selected areas of interest to Municipalities, pertaining to IT Budget Planning; we added a final article in the series - and I am going to try and bring it all together in one comprehensive Budget. November 15, 2018
Two weeks ago, I wrote that Lenovo were moving aggressively into the Internet of Things (IoT) arena, with the release of new products designed for smart automation of the home. It's also expected that many more products will be released in the near future. With Lenovo entering this market, it adds legitimacy and clout; November 14, 2018
Having good, solid passwords that are changed on a regular basis and supported by a robust Password Policy, will not prevent you from ever being hacked. However, it is a simple and easy step in the right direction that will make it a lot less likely that you will get compromised. November 06, 2018
Good news everybody! Just for a change, I figured I'd stop with all the doom and gloom. Today I'll be giving people a bit of actual, real good news. Someone, somewhere finally figured out that WIFI needs version numbers, rather than the abbreviations it's had up till now. October 29, 2018
I find it's always good to start off a Newsletter by asking a question. This helps focus peoples' attention, as well as my own writing. It gives the Newsletter an immediate sense of direction. October 22, 2018
Some of us with more grey hairs and less hair in general will remember the Friendly Giant. It was a TV program for young Preschoolers. The adult was dressed in a ridiculous Giant costume and dominated his environment of small puppets; Rusty the Rooster, Jerome the Giraffe, and a few others that escape my memory. October 19, 2018
This article will explore the services that Municipalities will need, in order to keep their IT systems running correctly; both Managed Services and Break-Fix. The terms can be misleading, so we'll define them for our purposes: October 19, 2018
In previous articles from this series, we've touched on Subscriptions and related Services for various software components, so some of this will be reviewed. But we will look more closely at some options, and why they are critical to your overall IT Budget Plan. October 12, 2018
Karl Buckley, our Cyber Security Supervisor, recently wrote a very interesting article about the Cultural Phenomenon that is Social Networking and the Official Company Policies (or actually, the almost total lack thereof) governing Social Media. October 10, 2018
The topic of Workstations and Laptops for Municipal Budget Planning should be straight-forward, and for the most, it is. But there are a few wrinkles that need to be considered, when making them go the distance of 5 years. For our purposes, we're going to use the term Workstation to mean a Desktop Computer; be it desktop, tower or compact-case design. October 04, 2018
Karl Buckley - our Cyber Security Supervisor - wrote an interesting article on Network Segregation that I thought I would share with you. It speaks about the separation needed between parts of your network, to enhance Security. October 04, 2018
Firewalls, switches and WiFi are three critical elements of any corporate network, but their functions are rarely understood. So, to help understand, allow me to provide a simple (albeit strange) analogy: September 28, 2018
It's reported that the town's IT systems were "dark" for 48 hours - in other words, unusable. As of September 10th, systems were still not restored to normal and "negotiations with the Hackers were ongoing.” September 26, 2018
We've arrived! After more than three months, I have just moved into our newly-renovated offices. At the beginning of May we started our Renovation project and - as my office was gutted to make way for the new layout, I was forced to work from my home office. September 21, 2018
Servers - every Municipality has them; in some cases 15 or 20 (or even more.) Most of them cost more than a new car and generate a lot of noise, heat and headaches. They never get to rest and hardly ever get cleaned. Most Users don't know and don't care what they do, except when they stop working, and then there's plenty of scorn heaped on them. Servers have a tough life! September 19, 2018
Email is rapidly becoming one of the primary methods for Attackers to initially infiltrate an organization. They can send infected attachments, conduct Phishing campaigns to gain login credentials, and more. It's simple to use and doesn't require a lot of specialized or expensive resources to setup (like designing a piece of custom malware.) September 19, 2018
Cyber Criminals are usually highly-educated members of organized crime or nation-states - at least that's the conventional wisdom. We rarely get a glimpse into the true workings of the Hacker-mill, as very few of them are caught - and even fewer ever come to justice. September 13, 2018
If your Municipality hasn't been hit with Ransomware or some other system-crippling virus, chances are you know of a neighbouring Municipality that has. TRINUS has written almost weekly about the exploits of organized Cyber-Criminals. It's big business - reportedly estimated at $600 Billion annually, and so is the burgeoning fight against it. September 13, 2018
Since their introduction into modern business environments, IT Systems have required maintenance to provide the functionality and performance they claim to have. They are incredibly complex systems that process hundreds of millions - sometimes billions - of pieces of information every day. Maintenance is usually divided into 2 segments; Hardware - ensuring the physical components are operating correctly, and Software - ensuring the operating instructions don't corrupt the processed data. September 07, 2018
Well, it's Back to School for the kids this week. They aren't the only ones who need to keep on learning. The major reason I got into computers in the first place, was because there's always something new to find out. For anyone who pursues a career in computers, this is one of the major draws. September 05, 2018
It seems we're starting at the end of the series, when we talk about Backups and Disaster Recovery. But of all of the possible topics, it's our experience that is the least understood and most ignored aspect of all IT areas. Most Municipalities are doing a LOUSY job of Backups and Disaster Recovery (BDR for our purposes.) August 30, 2018
Technical Support scams often claim to be from Microsoft or Windows. This happens so often, that Microsoft has a website that you can use to report a Microsoft support scam. August 30, 2018
We love to watch British dramas and the crime genre is among our favourites. Midsummer Murders follows the exploits of Inspector Barnaby and his colleagues, as they investigate murders in the quaint English countryside. It's a wonder they have any people left at the rate the writers kill people off. August 29, 2018
This is part 1 of a 9-part series that will look at selected areas of interest to Municipalities, pertaining to IT Budget Planning. Please contact me if you would like copies of other articles. August 24, 2018
There's a new attack targeting WiFi networks. Researchers found it by accident, while doing investigations into the new WPA3 Authentication Standard (published in January this year.) This is NOT a virus or malware, but rather a method through which a potential Hacker could gain access to Private and Public WiFi networks. From there, data could be stolen or corrupted by Ransomware or another virus. August 21, 2018
No WiFi is better than poor WiFi. Like politics and the weather, there is always something to complain about with Public WiFi. It's slow, it drops out frequently, you can't connect, you don't know the password, you can't watch videos; the grumblings are almost endless. A lot of the criticism is justified, as much of the service is genuinely poor. August 16, 2018
Google recently released an update for Chrome that marks all HTTP websites as being Unsecured. This is entirely accurate, as the information flowing between your computer and the server is unencrypted. This means someone could be in the middle, monitoring the traffic, and reading everything that's going on. August 10, 2018
A good friend of ours recently gave me a small plaque intended for my new office. Made from heavy black cast iron, it displays Oh No, Not You Again. I'm not sure this is appropriate for someone who spends most of their day meeting and communicating with Clients. Most likely, I'll mount it on a desk-stand and bring it out on special occasions. August 08, 2018
It should come as no surprise that I am a committed Star Wars fan. I remember watching the first Star Wars movie at a drive-in located in West Edmonton. The sound coming from the tin-cup speaker hung on the window frame was abysmal, but no one cared; in 1977 this was epic! Of course, Star Wars was the proverbial game-changer - and we all knew that Luke could never turn to the Dark Side. August 01, 2018
Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick any Two - is a common business Axiom that's been around for ages. While you won't find this in any Business Administration textbooks, all Business Owners - and most Consumers know this pithy saying has its' roots in truth. You Get What You Pay For and There's No Free Lunch are Maxims centered around the same idea; there is a constant tension between quality, price, and speed-of-delivery for most - if not all products. July 26, 2018
It was bound to happen sooner or later - the Cyber Criminals are now threatening public exposure of Ransomware data if the Ransom is not paid. Earlier this June, CarePartners - an Ontario-based Home-Care Medical Services provider was hit with a Ransomware Attack on it's server. This is nothing new; it happens thousands of times a day in many countries. What is new is the demand: pay up or risk having your Patient records exposed to the Public. This used to be the cry of a WikiLeaks Whistle Blower. July 18, 2018
It is common for companies to set up Outside Access to their internal resources. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a simple method that is commonly used, to allow employees to connect from home and abroad. July 17, 2018
Data Breaches are a fairly common thing these days. Part of my own routine is to keep tabs on the news. A lot of what I watch for are high profile vulnerabilities and issues that may affect the TRINUS Customer base. At the same time, I look out for things that are less obvious, but may be of interest to our IT Support Technicians. July 05, 2018
There has been a lot of SCAMMER news lately. The boldest was the report of a 58-year-old Vancouver woman who was arrested by FAKE RCMP officers and forced to withdraw $6,000 from her bank, in order to pay a fictitious Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) outstanding tax balance. June 27, 2018
Of the roughly 500 Emails I send and receive each week, I see a significant number that could use some work. I'll be the first to admit that many of my own compositions would not stand up to careful scrutiny, but perhaps a few thoughts from a Technical and Business perspective would be in order. June 25, 2018
Ah, the good old days. When you didn't have to worry about buying toys for your kids. Well the truth is... that was never true. Toy manufacturers have always been pushing the limits of what was acceptable. June 20, 2018
My colleague Kevin and I just returned from a conference in Kananaskis, Alberta. For those who have not visited before, it's a stunning mountain resort area in the Rocky Mountains, southeast of Banff. The area was hit with severe flooding a few years ago and they have just re-opened the golf course. However, this was a working trip for us. June 13, 2018
There's a new bit of Malware out there that you may have heard of: it's called VPNFilter. What it does is take over your router (and some NAS devices), in order to monitor your traffic and steal information (login credentials, etc.) June 04, 2018
Cyber events - both good and bad - don't rest for anyone. The one that caught my eye recently was the story that broke about the unidentified couple in the US having their private conversation on hardwood floors sent to a person in their contact list by their Amazon Echo. May 31, 2018
It's always better to make sure things are as simple as possible. What this means is that the less software and less hardware you use, the fewer ways there are for someone to attack you. By reducing the number of tools in your company, you reduce your "Attack Surface" and make it harder for someone to compromise your network. May 30, 2018
Sometimes it has to do with self-driving cars or some Facebook method to police its' content. Every day there seems to be a new report saying something about AI. May 25, 2018
Join us for this day filled with thrilling events reminiscent of good hometown family fun. This year's event will feature a variety of activities and entertainment for guests of all ages! May 09, 2018
Chances are the Prince Edward Island government wasn't aware that the website had been compromised, until someone complained about it. Most methods of monitoring a website simply confirm that a URL is responding. May 07, 2018
Not too long ago, our IT Cyber-Security Technician, Karl Buckley, wrote a Newsletter in which he contributed some advice on how to properly manage and deploy your Internet of Things (IoT) devices April 26, 2018
The 2018 ABA Spring Luncheon featured Guest Speakers Stony Plain MLA Erin Babcock, Alberta Finance Minister Joe CeCi and Keynote speaker Herb Holmes. April 23, 2018
It's always nice to receive feedback on our newsletters. It doesn't matter if it is good, bad, or indifferent. Any way you slice it, we're either getting information on something to improve, or something we're doing well. Obviously, we like to hear about how great we're doing, as who doesn't like to find out that they are performing a good job!? April 18, 2018
TRINUS attended the LGAA (Local Government Administration Association of Alberta) Conference & Trade Show this week at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer. April 06, 2018
Have you ever watched a TV show about Bunker People - the people who build underground bomb-proof survival shelters? Most of these shows are highly entertaining and are worth a few minutes of your time. March 28, 2018
I remember growing up in a big house in Vancouver. Two stories plus a walk-out basement and lots of room for a young family grow up in. My Dad worked for TCA (now Air Canada) and in 1964 he was transferred to Edmonton to open a fledgling air-freight office. March 21, 2018
I was speaking to our Retail Store Manager Mike Jettkant a few days ago. Mike has been managing the TRINUS Computer Center for a number of years. From the store, we service and support home users, home-based small businesses and selected small businesses in the Parkland County region; March 15, 2018
TRINUS was the Gold Sponsor and IT Sponsor for the Annual Mayors’ Regional Address, Thursday, March 8th, at the Stony Plain Heritage Pavilion in Stony Plain. March 09, 2018
As a small child growing up in the Vancouver area, I can remember our 2-story house. It had a large full-size walk-out basement with 2 storage rooms. Upstairs storage rooms were also full of our family treasures. Mom ran a tight ship; there wasn't a lot of clutter in the living areas - except in my room. March 07, 2018
Something you may have heard of when it comes to computers and Security, is a Principle called "Least Privilege." It describes an approach to improving your Security.
When you think about it, there are really two possible approaches you can use, in order to limit the access that people may have to your system: March 07, 2018
A fabulous time was enjoyed by Everyone who attended our grand Client Appreciation & Family Day Celebration last week. Thank you to every single one of our 300 Guests, who contributed their fun and laughter to such a happy occasion, and making it all worthwhile!! February 26, 2018
TRINUS is pleased to announce our selection as a finalist for the 2018 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction in the Marketing category. January 18, 2018
At TRINUS, our year-end is December 31st, so our Administration area is very busy in January; closing-off year-end files, starting new file folders, and lots of shredding. February 23, 2018
Something that gets thrown around IT circles a bit is the concept of "Network Segregation.” From a Security standpoint, this idea is great; however from an administrative perspective, it does make the design of things more complicated. February 22, 2018
You can join Linda & Team TRINUS, by signing-up to walk, volunteer, or donate and show your love to the hungry, homeless and hurting of Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County! February 22, 2018
There have recently been many articles released about how the Olympics have been hit with a Malware attack that brought down the network and disrupted communications: February 16, 2018
I must say that our family enjoys our privacy; we don't Tweet, Facebook, FaceTime, Instagram, or Pinterest - at least we try not to. Email and Text are about as adventurous as we get, and we don't like intruding telemarketers calling at supper time. February 09, 2018
Have you ever gotten a scam phone call? Sure you have; everyone has. There are so many different kinds of phone scams! Is there anything at all you can do to try and protect yourself? Yes there is, actually. Not surprisingly, a lot of it boils down to awareness. February 05, 2018
Last week, I wrote about some of the advantages and disadvantages to Smart devices that were shown at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES.) From Smart socks and underwear to Smart toilets and showers, there was something for everyone. This time, I want to focus on some ways you can mitigate the risk associated with these devices, as they come into your home and offices. But, before I do, one last product tidbit from CES: February 02, 2018
Last week, I wrote about some of the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Show-stoppers and Duds. We saw an explosion of Smart devices for personal and home use. I promised this week to explore some of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of these devices. But first, one more bizarre Smart device. January 26, 2018
Intel released an Advisory, telling people not to install the current patches for Meltdown & Specter. January 24, 2018
Each year, we have a small contingent that attends the Consumer Electronics Show ( CES) in Las Vegas. It's a 4-day event, with over 4,000 vendors and upwards of 175,000 attendees; by far the world's biggest showcase for all things related to consumer electronics. The show encompasses over 2.6 million square feet of display space. If you don't stop to talk with many vendors, you can walk the entire show in 4 days. With all of these participants, the event is anything but stress-free. January 18, 2018
A new vulnerability has been discovered by a team of researchers that affect ALL servers, computers and devices that use Intel processors (CPUs). It affects server systems that are cloud based. The vulnerability is common to all CPUs ... January 05, 2018
Cyber-squatting is something many people may not be aware of. It's when someone goes and purchases a vacant domain name. They can then setup their own website or even try to sell it back to the original owners (if someone let their domain name rental lapse). January 03, 2018
I can remember the days when the average office cubical had the following technology: desk phone and a calculator. Managers had a multi-line phone and a calculator with a paper tape. December 20, 2017
Weak encryption is being used all around you. So much so that security researchers have recently pointed light to this. Following suit, Public Safety Canada has issued a warning about RSA encryption. December 15, 2017
As promised, here is Part 2 of our tips for safe browsing and online shopping this holiday season. December 13, 2017
OK, ok; I have succumbed! I started playing Christmas music on the car radio and even programmed the home audio system to play my wife's favourite Christmas channels. December 06, 2017
Ah… the Internet of Things, or IoT for short. There are many things you can talk to Cyber-Security professionals about that will make their blood pressure rise, and this is one of them. December 04, 2017
I mentioned that it would likely be a very long time before the EQUIFAX Breach really went to bed. Well, here's a situation update on something that most likely got a lot of traction, thanks to that occurrence. November 27, 2017
The other day I saw a news article about a school in Red Deer, Alberta, that got shut down for a little while by an "Online Threat" made via Social Media. November 24, 2017
The Stony Plain & District Chamber of Commerce held their annual Business Awards Gala at the local Best Western Hotel, on November 4th November 17, 2017
Much to my wife's chagrin, I do like to drive nice vehicles. Her encouragement to drive more sensible cars falls on deaf ears. I am currently in my English phase, which usually means more cost and more difficult repairs. October 31, 2017
I was searching around for a suitable topic for this week's newsletter when our Cyber Security Supervisor Karl Buckley forwarded a timely article to me that he wrote about Online Shopping. October 20, 2017
The role of IT in your organization is not just to help make sure your computers are up & running. Making sure your devices are secure, is an important job for them too. October 20, 2017
One of our techs went on a lengthy road trip last week. It took him just over 10 hours to drive to the Client's location with a van-full of tech gear; essentially a complete network. He worked for two days and then drove home. He was gone the better part of a week. Thankfully, it's not a common occurrence. October 05, 2017
TRINUS is excited to announce the launch of our new website. We’ve restructured and reorganized our marketing presence to better reflect the passion of our team and the services we provide. October 02, 2017TRINUS is proud to partner with Industry Leaders for both hardware and software who reflect our values of reliability, professionalism and Client-focused service.
