Microsoft Bookings – A Good Meeting Scheduling Tool

Published April 14, 2023

Have you ever tried to schedule a meeting between more than two individuals? It’s difficult with just 2 people and becomes exponentially harder with each additional person. At times, it seems like more time is spent trying to find a common meeting time than in the actual meeting. But the time spent scheduling meetings — the back and forth between people trying to figure out the best day and time @mdash; can be avoided using meeting scheduling tools. Microsoft Bookings is one such tool and makes scheduling/managing appointments easier.

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, then you should consider using Microsoft Bookings. Bookings has a web-based appointment calendar and integrates with Microsoft Outlook allowing customers and clients the flexibility to book a time that works best for them. Email and SMS text notifications that are a part of the Bookings app can reduce missed meetings and improve customer satisfaction. Just think of the time that can be saved with a reduction in repetitive scheduling tasks. An added bonus is that Bookings has a built-in ability to be customized to meet multiple needs of any organization.

Bookings also has features included to allow virtual meetings to be scheduled. Appointments booked as online meetings have unique meeting links included so attendees can join via Teams app, phone dial-in, or web browser. Bookings works effortlessly with Teams which allows users to create Bookings calendars, assign staff and schedule both new and manage existing appointments without ever leaving Teams.

Bookings is made up of these key features:

• A booking page where your customers and clients can schedule appointments with the staff member who should provide the service or run the appointment. This web-based scheduling page can be shared via a direct link, your Facebook page, and even through link embedding within your website.
• A web app that contains a set of web-based, business-facing pages where Bookings calendar owners and administrators within an organization can define appointment types and details, manage staff schedules and availability, set business hours, and customize how appointments are scheduled. These pages allow for versatility and the ability to customize a Bookings calendar to fit the diverse needs of the person or organization.

If you haven't already, check out the short introduction video from Microsoft above.

How Ready Is Your Company for a Cyberattack?

Published March 02, 2023

That may not be a fair question…can any business really be ready for a cyberattack? Let’s think about it this way: Your business may not be ready, but it can take steps to be prepared and limit damage from these attacks.

If your company is not already prepared for a cyberattack, first understand the dangers and risks of an attack. When you think about how many millions of attacks happen each day, how much that threat could cost you, you start to feel the importance of having a quality cybersecurity posture. Bad actors are attacking from all angles, ready to take corporate and personal information Your business needs to be ready and we strongly encourage you to make necessary adjustments as soon as possible.

A cyberattack can be disastrous for a company, resulting in financial losses, damages to reputation, and legal responsibilities. Therefore, it is imperative for businesses to be ready for an attack by implementing strong cybersecurity measures. Here are a few key steps to get your company moving in the right direction.

• Develop a Cybersecurity Plan.
• Implement Strong Password Policies and Multifactor Authentication.
• Regularly Update and Patch Software.
• Backup Data Regularly.
• Develop a Response Plan.
• Conduct Regular Security Audits.

Develop a Cybersecurity Plan

Having a comprehensive cybersecurity plan in place is the first step in being prepared for a cyberattack. The plan should outline policies and procedures for preventing cyberattacks, identify potential threats and vulnerabilities, and define roles and responsibilities for employees. A good cybersecurity plan also includes regular training for employees to help them identify and respond to possible threats. Topics such as password security, email phishing, and social engineering tactics should be covered in the training.

Implement Strong Password Policies and Multifactor Authentication

Did you know that one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to a company’s systems is via weak or short passwords? Companies should implement strong, long password policies and require employees to use complex and unique passwords. New River Computing strongly recommends use of multi-factor authentication, which requires a second form of identification to access systems or data.

Update and Patch Software Regularly

Vulnerabilities in software is another common way cybercriminals gain access to a business’s systems. Therefore, it is crucial for companies to regularly update and patch their software to address known vulnerabilities. Using antivirus and anti-malware software to protect systems from potential threats is also recommended.

Regularly Back Up Data

Having regular reliable backups of data can be critical to recover should a cyberattack occur. It is suggested that data is backed up regularly to a secure, off-site location to ensure systems can be quickly restored if necessary.

Develop a Response Plan

Despite the best efforts to prevent a cyberattack, it is still possible that a company may be successfully targeted. Therefore, having a response plan in place that outlines the steps to take in the event of an attack is important. The response plan should include steps for identifying and containing the attack, notifying appropriate parties, and recovering data and systems.

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Regular security audits can help companies identify potential vulnerabilities in their systems and policies. These audits should include testing for potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities and reviewing access controls and user permissions.

In conclusion, companies must be prepared for a cyberattack by implementing strong cybersecurity measures. By developing a comprehensive cybersecurity plan, implementing strong password policies, regularly updating and patching software, backing up data regularly, developing a response plan, and conducting regular security audits, companies can significantly reduce the risk of a successful cyberattack. In today's digital age, being prepared for a cyberattack is not an option but a necessity for businesses of all sizes.

Security and cyber liability panel discussion

Published January 20, 2023

New River Computing recently hosted a panel discussion on security and cyber liability featuring the following panelists:

• Jeff Wynn - President, New River Computing
• Jessica Swann - Cyber, Professional and Liability Broker, Risk Placement Services, Inc.
• Natalie Suarez - Principal Solutions Advisor, ConnectWise

The panel was moderated by Jeff Nosenzo - Vice President of Brown Insurance.

If you missed out on the panel or want to revisit it, you can check it out in the video above!