Datalyst Blog

Running a small or medium-sized business is difficult enough without having to worry about cyber threats all the time. If you haven’t updated your security systems in a while, your infrastructure could be at risk. In fact, when considering IT security, we recommend adopting zero trust as a security measure, and we’ll explain why.

It's the quiet of the early hours, long after the workday should have ended, but for many non-technical business owners, this is prime time for a different kind of work: worrying.

If you've found yourself staring at the ceiling, anxieties about technology swirling in your head, you're not alone. Welcome to the "2 AM Club"—a place no business owner wants to be, yet many find themselves regulars.

There are countless web pages offering a wealth of resources, utilities, and references that can greatly assist businesses of all kinds in achieving their goals. What’s even more amazing, these web pages can be turned into applications for simpler, more convenient access, provided you’re using Google Chrome.

Let’s go over how to do so!

A new and formidable predator is stalking the digital waters of the Android ecosystem. Dubbed Crocodilus, this sophisticated Trojan is rapidly evolving, expanding its reach, and demonstrating that it’s likely going to be a major problem. Today, we’ll tell you about the dangerous new strain and what you can do to avoid contact with it, because you will want to.

All around the world, fathers and father figures are celebrated this weekend for what they provide to those who call them “Dad.” One of their gifts is the advice they offer to help us all navigate life more safely and successfully—something we strive to provide to all the businesses we work with to support their essential technology.

In light of Father’s Day being this Sunday, we wanted to emulate fathers everywhere and present some IT best practices phrased as the kind of advice these role models so often provide.

Modern technology practically revolves around USB, but what do you really know about what goes on inside the cables and connectors? Let’s explore some of these minute details and see if we can achieve a new appreciation for this technology.

Businesses are constantly seeking ways to build agility. Like many things, it’s not as easy as just saying it.  If your current technology feels more like a roadblock than a launchpad, it might be time to explore some different strategies. Let's talk about MACH architecture, the powerful framework designed to build a flexible, scalable, and future-ready digital workplace.

The cloud is one of those solutions that you’re either taking full advantage of or you have yet to experience the true benefits it can provide. If you’re still on the fence about cloud migration, we have news for you; this decision is actually costing you in the long term. We recommend you explore the possibility of cloud migration by considering why you’re so worried about it in the first place (and why that doesn’t make sense).

Your IT strategy shouldn’t just be an afterthought; it's a critical component of your success. But can generic IT advice genuinely address your specific business demands in Plymouth County and beyond?

We believe in a new approach. We're more than just another IT provider; we're a local, expert partner who understands your sector and the Southern New England business landscape.

Is your business data hard to get to, like it's locked away and only a few people have the key? That can really hold your business back. Imagine if everyone on your team could easily use all the data you create and collect to make better decisions, faster. That's what data democratization is all about, and it’s a powerful tool. In today’s blog we briefly discuss how it works. 

Cybercriminals are in the business of ripping you off, make no mistake about it. They’ll do what they can to trick you and steal your hard-earned cash. Thankfully, there are common and recurring trends you can look for that expose these fraudsters for what they really are.

If you’re like most professionals today, you know that writing emails can be a surprisingly time-consuming task. You want to sound professional but not stiff, friendly but not casual, clear but not robotic. What’s more, when your inbox is already overflowing, the last thing you want is to stare at a blinking cursor trying to craft the perfect response.

Entertainment has changed a lot over the past several decades. When not too long ago teams of trained professionals were using ultra sensitive film stock to shoot your favorite movies, flatbed editors in dark rooms to edit them, and elaborate film projectors to show them, today there are digital cameras that rely on digital storage, digital editing that you can do from a phone, and OLED screens that use thousands of pixels to provide the clearest picture possible.

Is the steady hum of your office printer the soundtrack to shrinking profits? For many businesses, the hidden costs associated with printing—paper, ink, toner, maintenance, and even the time employees spend managing physical documents—add up to a significant expense.

At Datalyst, we specialize in proactive business technology support, and we often see companies bleeding money through unnecessary printing. There is a powerful solution: a Document Management System (DMS).

The cloud is an essential piece of technology for any modern business, but how much do you actually know about the cloud in 2025? Any business can leverage the cloud, from small businesses to large enterprises. Let’s discuss what the cloud is, what it does, and how it can help your business reimagine its operations.

Cyberattacks aren't just something that happens to other people, they’re a real-world threat to businesses, individuals, and even governments. Hackers are smart, sneaky, and persistent. The good news is that with a little strategic effort, you don't have to be helpless. Employing the right habits and strategies can help make it very hard for hackers to mess with you. In this month’s newsletter, we talk about how to get better at keeping hackers out of your network.

The way many businesses handle their IT budgets is fundamentally broken. With global IT spending projected to hit $5.61 trillion in 2025, its importance is undeniable. Yet, too often, IT is treated as a mere "cost center"—a necessary evil whose budget needs constant trimming. This isn't just outdated accounting; it's a strategic blunder that stifles innovation, increases risk, and holds your business back.

It's time to shift perspective. Your IT budget isn't just an expense; it's a powerful investment that can drive growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage. The problem isn't just how much you spend, but how you spend it.

Here’s how to fix your approach:

Nothing is more frustrating than when technology should work, but doesn’t for any number of reasons. Of course, it’s also expensive when your technology doesn’t work, which means you’re incurring costs during this downtime period. Today, we want to address the consequences of downtime and what you can do about it to minimize its impact on your business.

Support for the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system is coming to an end, so let's talk about something crucial for your business technology: upgrading as soon as possible. Microsoft has officially set the date: October 14, 2025. After this day, mainstream support for Windows 10 concludes. While that might seem like a comfortable distance away, in terms of IT planning and business operations, it's practically tomorrow. Waiting is not a strategy; planning is.

There are a lot of regulations out there that businesses need to follow, both for their own good and that of their clients, customers, and associates. Many of these regulations—like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)—are relatively well known and critical to follow.

That said, these regulations dictate many basic practices that, to be completely frank, should already be a priority for every business that cares about its security and efficiency.