Summer is Coming… Fast!
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With apologies to the Game of Thrones fans out there for co-opting the show’s “Winter is coming” refrain. Spring is in full effect; spring cleaning cannot be far behind. And of course getting ready for summer fun. But how much fun can you have if you have to worry about your organization’s technology readiness and strength? In this issue, we talk about some of the solutions that can help allay those fears.
Plan and Protect
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While the year is now in full swing, the amount of time you spend worrying about the protection of your organization is anything but swinging. More and more we’re hearing about ransomware attacks locking up critical data, applications crashing and watching critical information trickle away into cyberspace, and more.
Critical planning sessions and discussions are just not happening often enough in the small to mid-sized business space. Heed the old saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
Here is a recap of our TechTips from this month. Following these life hacks will help you get that tedious task done and over with in just a short amount of time – while having fun! Check them out below:

Thank you for your continued feedback on our content and keep sending your input on what YOU would like to see more of! Thanks for reading, see you next month!
Product Spotlight – Microsoft Surface
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Laptop nearing the end?

As you have probably heard, Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualifying operating systems. The deadline to take advantage of the free upgrade is July 2016!

The upgrade is available for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices. Windows 10 offers excellent ease of use, as well as performance and security features which we have outlined below.
  • The return of the start menu – gives you quick access to your favorite things
  • Enhanced search capabilities – search your PC and the Web simultaneously from the task bar
  • Fast Boot Up – PCs start up and resume 28% faster than Windows 7
  • Security – More and diverse features than ever
  • Cortana – Microsoft’s answer to Siri, but more robust as your truly personal digital assistant
  • Microsoft Edge – the all-new browser with integrated security and more
  • The familiar Windows 7 desktop, paired with modern Windows Store apps, Live Tiles, and Snap
  • Consistent look and feel across all Windows 10 devices, making for an intuitive user experience
  • Helps make existing devices better – with improved battery life and faster performance

Keep in mind: planning ahead is critical to make the transition smooth and seamless.
Upcoming Events & Announcements
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If you missed our Free Office 365 Workshop sessions in April, we’re committed to bring them back in May! All workshop sessions will be held from May 24 to May 27 in our Training Center. We’ll be mailing invites for that event soon. If you’d like to sign up right away, click here and let us know!
These sessions are not for training; this is a dip of the toes into the waters of just what it is like to use Office 365 as the centerpiece of your business technology platform. We are showing you the most powerful and affordable cloud business suite out there!