TPM BLOG
How to Use Section 179 Deductions
When running a small business, it is critical to get your taxes right. Many small business owners look for ways to maximize deductions to minimize how much tax they pay – and for a good reason. One thing that not everyone knows about that could help is the tax code...
Section 179 – A gift from the IRS
No one is a big fan of the IRS. They come around each year with their hand out to take a portion of your hard-earned money. We all know that business growth and scalability can be an uphill battle when you have tax season looming. Cut them a little slack! They did...
Section 179 Tax Deductions: Is It Time For a Server Upgrade?
While many of us may not see our servers as often as we see our personal computers, we interact with them directly or indirectly all day long. Within our office, servers are the heartbeat of the entire network. Since we rely on them without directly interacting with...
Tax Section 179: Writing Off Major Purchases for 2021
Managing a business is a lot like managing your weight - if you take in more than you put out, you'll have major gains at the end of the year. And with both business and personal weight, those gains can have negative consequences. Let's learn about how Tax Section 179...
Can Businesses Be Denied Cyber Insurance?
In our world of constantly evolving and varied cyber threats, many organizations consider cyber insurance to help them get back on their feet should they fall victim to a cyber event. Data breaches and ransomware attacks can also require specialized expertise and...
Cybersecurity Insurance – 5 Reasons Why You Need It
Cybersecurity insurance, also referred to as cyber insurance or cyber liability insurance, is insurance that your business can buy to reduce risks to data loss. A cybersecurity insurance policy will transfer some risk to the insurance company for a fee....
Who Should Handle Your IT?
In our evolving COVID-19 world, we've had to re-learn the way we act and think. What worked for our businesses in the past might no longer help us in the future. The pandemic caused a seismic shift for many small businesses. Those who learned to adapt to the changes...
Are Cybersecurity and Internet Safety The Same?
We use it, but we don't think about it. Modern society is dependent on technology. Whether it’s your TV, the Internet, a laptop, or a phone, there's no denying how much life has changed over the last two decades. This online access means that individuals and...
Social Engineering is Everywhere!
This month, we've been discussing how hackers use Social Engineering to steal personal data. We're attacked in various ways by these threats, day and night, 24/7. The hackers are busy because they're playing the odds: the more socially engineered threats they send...
3 Ways Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering to Steal Your Info
Cybercriminals use social engineering every day to attempt to hack into people's personal information. Social engineering preys on the human condition to gain trust, manipulate people, and get them to give up personal information. In general, there are three ways...
Social Engineering: Why are you so popular?
Most people are aware of the many scams that exist on the internet now. But not many are aware of social engineering. It’s tough to look at your emails without noticing several phishing emails sitting in your inbox, and those are just the obvious ones. Then, there're,...
Breaking Down Social Engineering
Most people have heard terms like phishing and malware. But did you know those are only part of a larger scheme called social engineering? This cyberthreat is not a new kind of fraud. It has been used for many years to manipulate a wide range of people into giving up...
Are you at Risk of Losing Data?
In past blogs, we've talked about some of the more common cybersecurity threats. But how dangerous is the web, and how much risk of losing data do you have? Today we'll talk about a few of the most widespread threats that need your full attention. Windows 7...
8 Biggest Security Threats to Small Businesses
We still see the same scene in horror movies: the main character runs into the house, slams the door, locks the deadbolt, and sighs in relief — but the killer still sneaks up and attacks them from behind! If you own a small business, you might find yourself in a...
Data Breach- Are you on a Hackers Watchlist?
As we know, multiple businesses log, record, and save our personal information in their databases. They tell us the data is safe. However, technology is constantly expanding, and with new technology comes new ways of hacking into seemingly secure data. Outdated...
Fixing Your Weakest Link: Your Employees
We have some bad news for you. Currently, many businesses fail to realize that network security is more than just protecting the path to valuable data. Business owners don’t realize that an important factor in protecting their network resides with human involvement...
How To Spot A Phishing Attack
Would you know if you were the subject of a phishing attack? Many people claim that they’d be able to tell right away if they received an email from an illegitimate source. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be 1.5 million new phishing websites every month. A 65%...
What is Phishing & How do Hackers use it?
What exactly is Phishing? It’s one of the biggest threats from hackers, yet most people still aren’t sure how phishing works. Hackers mimic the emails, forms, and websites of legitimate companies to lure people into providing their private, personal, and business...
Why Vendor Management?
As you have read in our previous blog posts, the vendors we use and our relationships with them are critical to our success as a company. Vendors can drive new growth and help us achieve profit goals and revenue gains. They are central to many activities and processes...
Develop Your Vendor Relationships
For SMBs that want to take their business to the next level, you need help from your vendor partners. Unless you have this help, your business might not reach its potential. We all know vendor partnerships are key to strategic growth and longevity. Therefore, we need...
Are You Getting Nickel-And-Dimed By Your Vendors?
Are you getting ‘nickel-and-dimed’ by your vendors? This is a great phrase that you’ll hear concerning charges for extra services within a larger service or purchase. According to Grammarist.com, the phrase ‘nickel-and-dimed’ has been around since the 19th century....
Your Vendors: How To Manage Them
When a Business relationship with vendors is good, it can form a strong and strategic partnership that strengthens and develops your business. Many businesses don't have the capability or skills that are needed to build marketing and sales in their business plans....
Remote Working in Today’s World
This is the final blog post in our series of four on the topic of remote and hybrid working. In it, we’ll summarize what we’ve talked about in the previous three blogs and finish with a quiz so you can see how much you’ve taken in. The start of the Covid-19 crisis...
Solving the Challenges of the Hybrid Workforce
In our last blog, we mentioned how companies have adapted their workflow amid the pandemic. We now expect that this new hybrid practice, where employees mix home working with office working, is here to stay. To put a figure on it, the Institute of Directors carried...
Hybrid Workforce: Understanding Nuances and Pitfalls
Since Coronavirus turned things on their head, businesses across the globe have responded well to enforcing remote working. And now, things are on the move again. Businesses are trying to decide how things will look in a post-Covid world. Many workers and businesses...
The Benefits of Using an MSP
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a majority of companies have had to make the switch to working remotely to protect employees. This happened quickly when the pandemic was new, and we were told to enforce social distancing. We had to adapt to the...
Understanding Cloud Technology: A Summary
When it comes to using cloud technology and solutions, it’s good to know how the cloud works. Today, we'll look at a summary of what cloud computing services are and how cloud computing could be the right solution for your needs! What are Cloud Computing Services? ...
The Cloud and Big Data
Cloud infrastructure is one of the fastest-growing forms of online technology. As a result, it is vitally important for you to understand how cloud computing services work and the benefits that the cloud can offer. We’ll take a look at ‘big data’ and how the cloud can...
Cloud and Virtual Office
The cloud has become hugely important in our lives. One notable way the cloud is used these days is for virtual (remote) work. This has escalated with the recent Covid-19 lockdowns. Many of us have experienced a disruption in our normal workflow, making virtual...
Cloud: Its Definition
When you hear talk about the cloud, it can be a little overwhelming to understand this unique technology. Cloud architecture offers a huge number of solutions, and cloud technology’s rapid development has ensured that it is a field with huge potential. However, many...
Can Hackers fool AI?
Hackers – the word alone can send fear down the spine of anyone who owns an internet enabled device. And for good reasons, too! Yet many people assume that hackers are only an issue for their business computers, desktops, laptops, and portable tablets. This isn’t...
Microsoft Exchange Server Vulnerabilities
As business owners, we are all keenly aware of how integral technology is in every industry these days. We have heard countless times how technology helps drive innovation and growth, improves communication in the organization, and increases your advantage over the...
The Hidden Heart of Artificial Intelligence Technology
The futuristic views of artificial intelligence (AI) as synthetic consciousness has been spread in Hollywood and science-fiction novels for generations. However, fantasy-aside, artificial intelligence is simply a process or system that performs tasks that ordinarily...
AI – What It Is and Isn’t
AI has been rapidly evolving in recent years with the IT industry placing demand on this innovative technology solution. It began life with humble origins compared to the immense potential that modern AI software can offer for business networks. This blog will be...
Meet AI: Your Newest Co-Worker
When it comes to hiring new staff, it’s important that you choose the right person for the job. But what if the right person for the job isn’t a person at all, but instead, an IT solution? Artificial intelligence offers many benefits for businesses, now, and into the...
Cloud Workforce Security
When it comes to working remotely, making use of the most up-to-date and high-quality cloud infrastructure and cloud computing services is very important. Cloud computing offers a number of options for business profitability, and a huge improvement for the ability to...
Computing in the Cloud
Keeping your business network safe and secure is essential. Virtual offices and cloud services can be smart ways to keep your data safe. However, many people do not understand the benefits that investing in virtual offices can have. Today we will be looking at what...
Password Theft – How Protected Is Your Business?
Security has been a concern with the internet since its inception. Anyone who remembers the early days of the internet will remember how easy it was to cause fairly significant trouble. Employees left passwords in plain sight. There wasn't anything in the way of...
Biggest Hacks in 2020
Worldwide losses from cybercrime skyrocketed to nearly $1 trillion in 2020. That’s more than the net worth of most countries. Run a quick search and you’ll be surprised at how many hacks occur every week. Modern security is the best it has ever been. Unfortunately,...
Artificial Intelligence: Better Living (and Working) through Automation
Artificial intelligence, also referred to by the simpler term AI, has long been the holy grail of futurists, science fiction authors, and fantasists alike. Even before we established the concept of computer science, the notion of mechanized entities capable of...
Touchless Business: A New Era
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected individuals and businesses across the globe in a manner that rings with permanence. Many businesses that were previously successful are now left baffled as to how they should adjust their business models. To work effectively in this...
Automating Business Processes – How Can You Be Better?
If last year taught us anything, it was that small to medium businesses need to adapt with the times if they want to stay open. Social distancing and crowd restrictions drove all of us to figure out ways to retain our clientele without dealing with them face-to-face....
Are Your Apps Dangerous?
Apps make the modern technology world go ‘round. If it weren't for apps, smartphones and other mobile devices wouldn't be nearly as useful. Of course, there are many factors to consider before using an app. You should ask yourself, could this be a potentially...
SSL & Security Concerns for 2021
Anyone with a computer is well aware of security concerns on the Internet. As time goes on, security and internet safety becomes more and more of an issue. It’s clear that hackers are becoming more advanced and will continue to find ways to steal our data....
Mobile vs Virtual Office – What’s the Difference?
Being mobile has never been easier. Technology makes it so you literally have your entire office within your pocket these days. The idea of being virtual and mobile might seem like one and the same. However, these ideas are a little different, and more than the...
Are Your Cookies Safe?
The holiday season is upon us and we have many things to look forward to — even if this year will be a little bit different than others. This time of year the things that come to mind include: family, holiday festivities, and of course cookies! As a Managed Service...
Upgrading Servers Can Save You Money
Unless you're running a one-man operation, there's a high possibility that your entire business runs on a server or two. If you’ve been thinking about replacing or upgrading servers or wondering how you can improve your network performance, overall, you'll want to...
Prepare for 2021
We think we're safe when we say that 2020 has been…less than ideal. After the first quarter, we quickly found ourselves — both professionally and personally — in uncharted waters. But, 2021 is just around the corner and we want to be optimistically prepared. The...
Writing Off Technology Purchases for 2020
Regardless of your line of work, all businesses have one common goal in mind: to generate revenue. Of course, we all want to make a difference in the world and have satisfaction from hard work. However, if you're not earning more than your spending, you need to make...
The Shrieks and Chills of Working from Home
This year has been…interesting, to say the least. One minute businesses were running normally. Seemingly overnight, many of us got the work-from-home position we always wanted. Within and beyond the pandemic, many companies have been transitioning portions of their...
VPN Security: Trick or Treat?
If you’ve been on the internet lately, you’ve probably seen pretty aggressive advertising for VPN services. On paper, they seem like something that can give you anything you would want in your online browsing in terms of security and access. Continuing our Cyber...
Password Security: Don’t let your Password Haunt You
October is National Cybersecurity Month and password security is a big part of that! Cybersecurity is so important and appropriate to discuss considering how scary it is out there! As we regularly cover, hackers are getting more advanced by the day, despite security...
Be Cyber Aware: If You Connect It, Protect It
In today's age, we all must be cyber aware. The average American today has access to more than 10 Internet Connected Devices in their household. Most have at least 2 computers and 2 smartphones. Across the world, an estimated 30 billion+ devices connect to the...
TPM BY UNITED SYSTEMS DONATES SUPPLIES AND PPE TO AREA SCHOOLS
As teachers and students return to the classroom, uncertainty remains. Going back to school looks a little different this year and requires more than ever before. The National Retail Federation Back-to-School 2020 survey found that parents are spending more on school...
What is Network Continuity?
Network downtime is a revenue nightmare. We'll ensure your network is always connected to keep your business running. Technologies like cloud-based business applications, VoIP, and mobile give business leaders a leg up… provided those technologies work properly. At...
TPM by United Systems Achieves Enterprise Partner Status with Datto
Benton, KY (06/05/2020)– TPM by United Systems today announced it has achieved the exclusive Enterprise partner status with Datto, the world’s leading provider of IT solutions delivered through managed service providers (MSPs). Datto’s Enterprise status represents the...
Returning to the Office COVID-19 Technology Checklist
Many businesses are slowly returning to the office. However, returning to the office doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be abandoning all of your Work from Home set-ups. In fact, your workforce will likely consist of remote worker for some time to come. In...
Working from Home
Working from home can have some challenges. Over the last few weeks, many people have had to adjust to working from home, and the team at TPM is no different. We wanted to share some best practices that we’ve developed over the last weeks to ensure that we remain...
Tech Trends for Business
As technology continues to advance, it can be challenging to keep up. We’ve done some digging and gathered up our top 8 technology trends of 2020 for small businesses! AI as a service We’re all familiar with Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service...
TPM Provides Internet Service To Tornado Damaged Utility
During the early morning hours of March 3rd, storms ripped through Middle Tennessee devastating homes and destroying businesses. Among those affected was Double Springs Utility District in Cookeville, TN. Double Springs sustained severe damage to their office and has...
HIPAA Has Rules?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a series of national standards that health care organizations must have in place to safeguard the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). PHI is any demographic,...
Common HIPAA Terms & Definitions
HIPAA regulations are filled with obscure terms and acronyms. Understanding them can be difficult. Below we outline some common HIPAA terms and definitions to help you understand these regulations and what they mean for your organization.
The Threat of Ransomware
Ransomware is a form of malicious software that denies the end-user access to their system or data requiring payment of “ransom” to gain access back to the system or data. More sophisticated cybercriminals can breach a network and place this type of software in the...
Combining Technology Solutions & HIPAA Compliance
Most small business owners are spending more resources than necessary on IT solutions. Outsourcing the management of your IT systems can fix that. Managed Service Providers can remotely handle your company’s IT systems. Saving you precious time to focus on your...
What is Dark Web Monitoring? Why do you need it?
If you haven’t heard of the Dark Web, you’ve most likely been living under a rock. With the insurgence of large-scale hacks against corporate and government entities, the news has been flooded with stories about cyberattacks and the threat they pose to corporations...
Why do we have HIPAA laws?
There are some interesting rumors surrounding the origin of HIPAA laws. Rumor has it that HIPAA laws were created because a senator wanted to cover up his wife’s plastic surgery. Crazy, right?! "My boss is convinced that the reason that HIPAA laws came into existence...
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
During the month of October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds us of a category of crime that continues to inflict taxpayers and companies with damages amounting to billions of dollars annually. Staying updated on the latest attack types and prevention techniques...
Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 End of Support
Windows 7, now more than a decade old, is one of Microsoft’s most loved operating systems to date. Due to its popularity and ease of use, consumers and businesses are still widely using Windows 7. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that they will be ending...
EPA Cybersecurity Exam for Utilities
EPA Cybersecurity Exam for Utilities Recently, the EPA was mandated with the implementation of cybersecurity best practices for water & wastewater utilities with a focus on small systems. Can your utility pass their 10-question cybersecurity exam? Does your...
Protecting SaaS Applications
More and more small businesses are transitioning to cloud applications such as Office 365 and G-Suite. These applications are referred to as Software as a Service (SaaS). SaaS applications are affordable, scalable, and offer businesses easy to use solutions that...
Is Vacation Planning Putting Your Personal Data At Risk?
With vacation season right around the corner, many people are making lists of things to pack, organizing activities, prepping for a week at the beach and making last minute reservations at a hotel or resort online. There are now an array of different websites that...
The Best Computer for Productivity
Desktop or Mobile Computer In today’s ever-changing professional world, we are seeing more and more businesses transition from desktop-based computers to mobile PCs. This is predominately due to the culture and workforce change set in motion by the mass introduction...
Technology Council of West Kentucky Tech Mania
Jeff and Jacob with our Technology Process Management team and Shawn, our development team manager had the privilege of attending the Technology Council of West Kentucky’s Tech Mania event on Thursday, February 28th. This event brings together students...
Efficient
Efficient What does the word efficient mean to you? According to the dictionary it means “(especially of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.” So with this in mind is your business or utility efficient? My guess...
True IT Partner
One of the major challenges in maintaining a computer network is trying to predict what will fail and when. With our TPM Platform, we can prevent many network failures from ever happening. By combining regular and comprehensive preventative maintenance and robust...
Business Continuity
Data The lifeblood of your business lies in your data and access to that data is vital to the operation of any business. Unfortunately many times companies fail to adequately protect that data. Over 90% of companies will experience downtime at some point in time....
TPM Blog: Your Goals are Our Goals
What are your business’ top goals? If you sat down with pen and paper right now what would that list look like? I bet if we were to share our lists we would see many similarities. Below are some of ours: Increase productivity Increase functionality Enhance...
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