Cybersecurity For Charities: Why Does It Matter?

Good causes means nothing to hackers

What Is Microsoft SQL Server?

It’s the technology that powers myriad business applications, including Opera 3 SQL SE, but what is Microsoft SQL Server, when did it first appear, and what does it do? Find out in this potted guide.

History

The first version of Microsoft SQL Server was released 30 years ago, in 1989. Rather than Windows, though, it ran on the operating system OS/2, and it was developed in partnership with Sybase. It would go on to be released for Windows NT, with Microsoft later taking lead responsibility for the project. By 1994, Microsoft and Sybase had gone their separate ways, with the former creating SQL Server 6.0 by itself. From SQL Server 2016, only 64-bit processors have been supported, and the last version release was SQL Server 2019.

Windows 7 End Of Life: What Should My Business Do Now?

Launched in October 2009, Windows 7 is now a decade old. In human terms, not that long, but the life expectancy for an operating system is a much shorter one. Windows 7 reached its official end of life on January 14th 2020. What that means is that Microsoft will end all support for Windows 7.

Surveys conducted in recent years have found that at least a third or more businesses are still using Windows 7. Many users are SMEs, but the NHS also reported in July 2019 that they still had one million users using the operating system. Although current users can choose to continue with Windows 7, there are significant risks that should be considered.

Windows 7 And Windows Server 2008 Reach End Of Life In Less Than A Week

What should businesses do to make sure they're covered?

In less than a week, on Tuesday 14th January 2020, Microsoft will end extended support for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Beyond this point, it will no longer issue security updates for any of these operating systems, having already stopped introducing new features when mainstream support ended.

2020 Pegasus Seminars: Reserve Your Free Seats Today!

This year’s Pegasus seminar dates are now available!

As an award-winning Pegasus Software partner, with our own in-house Pegasus support team, TMB has a long history of showing businesses how to use solutions like Opera 3 effectively and efficiently. A major part of that is our Pegasus seminars, which we use to keep our customers up to date with the latest changes to their applications and to discuss relevant legislation. Now, we’re taking registrations for our latest Pegasus seminars, and this year we’re changing things up a bit – including opening up these free events beyond our existing Pegasus customer base.

Why Is It So Hard To Catch Cybercriminals?

Do the crime but never do the time.

The idea of good conquering evil is a staple of Western fiction, from novels and plays to movies and TV shows. In the vast majority of cases, you know the hero of the story is going to win in the end, because that's how it's meant to be. It's a nice thought, but in reality, that’s not the case at all: criminals nearly always get away with it – and nowhere is that more evident than with cybercrime. Although the authorities have succeeded in capturing hackers in the past, the vast majority of cybercriminals never face any consequences for their actions. What makes it so difficult to catch them?

Does Blue Light Keep You Awake Or Not?

Scientists can't seem to agree one way or the other.

Everyone knows that using gadgets like phones and tablets before trying to sleep is a bad idea. The blue light emitted by their screens plays tricks with our brains, we’re told, making it hard to nod off and get a healthy 40 winks. This idea has become accepted wisdom in recent times, with technology companies now including blue-light filtering as standard in many devices. But new evidence has emerged, suggesting that blue light isn’t a problem at all, and that warm colours are, in fact, what’s keeping people up at night. So what’s going on?

3 Telltale Signs Your Legacy Systems Need To Be Replaced

Over the years, a business and its key operations may become reliant on ageing hardware and software systems. Known as legacy systems, the time comes when these systems' operational value is outweighed by the challenges of keeping them running optimally. Many businesses face this situation, including large organisations.

Decision-makers can be reluctant to change legacy systems for many reasons. These include cost and disruption to operations, particularly when a system performs a function that is bespoke to the organisation. Yet the risks involved in continuing to use legacy systems are considerable. Look out for the following indicators, which are warning signals that the time has come to replace them.

3 Tips For Creating Secure Passwords

Passwords are everywhere; many people use several every day. They're usually the main method by which sensitive information is protected from unauthorised access.

For this reason, it's crucial that passwords offer the strongest practicable protection. With the computing power now available to cyber-criminals, a weak password can be cracked in as little as a few seconds – with obvious potential consequences for your business. Managed IT service providers will be able to advise on choosing strong passwords, but here are a few tips to help you out.

6 Social Media Mistakes That Can Damage Your Business's Reputation

Post like everyone's watching.

According to some people, social media is the greatest thing to happen to the business world since the invention of the telephone. Others, meanwhile, think it’s overrated and generally a waste of time. More likely, though, is that it depends on how you use it and who your audience are. But whether it’s beneficial or not, the fact is when you tweet from a business account, you’re putting your reputation on the line, and getting it wrong can cause enormous damage to your organisation. So how do you avoid social media disaster?