The workforce has changed. In 2016, Millennials (born 1981-1996) passed Gen-Xers (1965-1980) and Baby Boomers (1946-1964) to become the largest generation in the U.S. labour force with 56 million Millennials working or looking for work, according to the Pew Research Centre. Employers hoping to attract Millennials to their organizations need to be aware that the Millennial employee is much different than their older counterparts. Having grown up with technology, Millennials multitask and collaborate like no other generation before. They are diverse, optimistic and the most educated workers in history. Born in the era of fast-developing technology along with the births of the PC and Mac, our Millennial workers have always had the internet and social media. As socially conscious team players, they seek out careers that are socially fulfilling, achievement-oriented and provide flexible work schedules. How Technology Leads to Employee Satisfaction Your company’s ability to attract the best and brightest employees – especially Millennials – is greatly increased by having current technology in place along with flexible schedules. Up-to-date technology Older PCs operating with Windows XP and Office 2003 are obsolete. Support for both XP and Office 2003 officially ended in 2014. If your business still runs on this operating system and software, tech-savvy job candidates may not be interested in working for you, not to mention that your business is at greater risk of cyberattacks when running outdated and unsupported computing resources. Today’s employees are accustomed to fast processors, sharp graphics, and interactive integrated software. They may become worn down and frustrated with slow computers and ongoing compatibility issues, leading to their departure from your organization. Work from anywhere Allowing your employees flexibility, such as working from home or modifying the traditional 8-to-5 schedule, leads to happier, more productive employees. Cloud computing provides businesses with the best opportunity to adopt flexible work parameters for employees. Shifting even a few software applications like Microsoft Office and other line of business applications to a cloud environment frees up your staff to work from anywhere. Staff can easily collaborate and still securely access the current information they need to do their job with cloud-based solutions. Cloud computing also empowers mobile staff members to accomplish more in the field without having to backtrack to the office. Your staff members are most likely already using cloud apps on their smartphones and are accustomed to cloud-based environments. Your team already recognizes the benefits of even the simplest cloud conversion, i.e., Office 365, and will embrace the cloud’s ease of use and flexibility. Cloud provides another benefit your staff will appreciate: you’re never out of date. Working with cloud applications means you always have the most current features and tools, which almost always means increased productivity, effectiveness, and collaboration capabilities. Free cloud software like Google apps and Dropbox are not always secure so make sure you take advantage of the cloud’s more secure options. Multi IT & Telephony Solutions can educate and recommend affordable and secure cloud applications to keep your files safe  and give your employees the mobile, advanced technology they desire. Contact us now to discuss cloud benefits for your organisation or call your local branch, Johannesburg 011 435 0450, Cape Town 021 879 1950 or Durban 031 331 0735

5G is the next generation follow up to 4G and like all previous generations, promises to make mobile communication faster and more reliable as more and more devices go online.  Although we have not yet fully maxed out the speed limits of 4G, networks are congested and stretched thin. 5G not only increases the speed and the bandwidth, it also increases the possibilities. Gartner Group estimates that by 2020 there will be over 26 billion connected devices (some even estimate this number to be closer to 100 billion).  Each device is part of the Internet of Things (IoT), a giant network of connected “things” (including people). This network will be made up of connections between people and people, people and things, and things and things. As billions more devices connect to the web, the digital infrastructure needs to support faster connections as well as more exacting handling of simultaneous connections while also providing broader coverage for these devices. This is where 5G really shines. 5G is an exponentially faster way to deliver internet traffic than the current 4G technology.  According to Speedtest.net, the average mobile download speed across South Africa as reported by Speedtest.net in the first half of 2018 was around 27 Mbps.  5G is expected to be over 3.5 times faster. This will not only improve mobile phone service, the ultra-fast connections with minimal delays will pave the way for smoother connectivity driving improvements in: GamingMaking video callsStreaming moviesDownloading large filesSharing HD and 4K mediaReceiving real-time traffic updates The positive implications are endless since 5G will power applications that touch everything from transportation to healthcare.  Autonomous cars can not only be prevented from colliding, they can also be remotely controlled to better understand proper turn-by-turn directions.  The same is true for managing and directing robotic systems that learn or abide by remote controllers for surgeries in cases where the doctor and patient may be miles apart. These applications require a tremendous amount of bandwidth and need to communicate over the Internet as quickly as possible to provide their intended results. And the slightest bit of latency (AKA “delay”) can drastically impact outcomes in both scenarios. Another big speed benefit of 5G is that it won’t just be available for mobile devices; it has the potential to replace your cable through fixed wireless access. Equipment is still being tested but engineers are already experimenting with customer-based receivers that will surpass cable and fibre speeds without pulling any new cable or digging any fresh trenches.  The positive implications for primary and backup (failover) Internet are abundant. The timeframe for 5G service availability depends not only on where you live but also which service providers are available in your area. There is a strong possibility that North Americans will see 5G networks in test markets pop up as early as 2019, but it won’t take off until 2021. As with any new technology, actual delivery dates, coverage areas and capabilities will change over the next couple of years as we get closer to release. Multi IT & Telephony Solutions will keep you updated on all new 5G related developments - in this newsletter, through broadcast email alerts and of course through your regular Quarterly Business Reviews (“QBRs”). Get in touch with us today for any connectivity requirements you have or call us on 011 435 0450.

The upcoming holidays are like the Christmas of cyber-crime. Many of us our experiencing the joys of the season and may be less inclined to keep our guards up. Crooks know this and respond by bringing their A game. Here are some key areas of concerns as well as a few tips to avoid getting hacked: Public Wi-Fi Use public Wi-Fi networks sparingly and certainly not for viewing personal or financial information. These open and free networks are very low hanging fruit for cyber thieves who are known for frequenting malls, airports, train stations, bus terminals, coffee shops and bars. You’ve already seen these people and had no idea what they were scheming to do. They are among us, and they’re eavesdropping. Home Wi-Fi Yes, this isn’t always your safest option. Ethernet cable connections are best for doing online transactions. For many, ethernet is not an option since many devices only provide Wi-Fi and cellular connections. In these instances, use a secure Wi-Fi (one which is password protected). If you are unsure if your Wi-Fi connection is secure, use your carrier’s personal hotspot provided; it’s 4G or LTE. Fake credit card readers Also known as scanners and often referred to as “skimmers” – these devices grab data off your card's magnetic stripe. Criminals then use the data to create cloned cards or gain access to your bank account. This usually happens a lot at places that look shady – independently owned gas stations and food marts, public ATMs, laundromats and vending machines in transitional neighbourhoods. Flimsy construction, poorly painted panels, oversized or bulging materials, any type of exposed wiring, and other outliers that look out of the ordinary are dead giveaways. However, card readers are also showing up at mainstream establishments in nicer neighbourhoods. And these devices may be more difficult to spot as criminal technology and ingenuity advance. Plus, you aren’t typically expecting to get ripped off at a nice petrol station in Sandton or Cape Town. You should also beware aware of nearby cameras when using any type of card reader. A well-placed camera can capture your PIN. Malvertising Malvertising is a fancy word for bogus ads that usually lead to sites that are not secure or have already been breached. The ads can also bear a 100% likeness to well-established companies. If you hover over the ad with your mouse, you can verify the URL. Misspellings and odd characters, sometimes in another language should tip you off not to go any further. For example, make sure you are on “amazon.com” not “amazonn.com” (a fake site). You should also beware of ads with offers that sound too good to be true. Most of us have seen these on Facebook and should apply the same healthy level of scepticism to other websites, unknown links and unexpected pop ups. Look for “https://” and avoid “http://”. Another way to check is to look for a lock icon, on the left, next to the URL in the address bar. If you get an alert from your browser that this site may not be safe, close the browser immediately. Charity scams Charity scams are rampant around the holiday season. Be wary of requests for donations received via email and phone. Always contact the organization directly to explore how you can help. Never take the word of someone who blindly reaches out to you via email or phone. Especially since phone numbers can be so easily spoofed. You should also make your elderly parents get a reminder on this. (My mom is strictly forbidden to make any pledges over the phone.) Imitation products When hot products sell out at brick and mortar stores, finding them online may be your only option. Criminals know this and set up fake web sites or sell imitation products. Make sure to buy from reputable sellers. Look for seller ratings on eBay, Amazon, etc. Do searches on the seller to see if no ratings exist. Look at the seller’s country of origin. If the price is too high or too low, these are bright red flags you cannot afford to ignore. Baseline your finances and audit them frequently Make sure you take inventory of credit card charges, balances, special accounts, retirement accounts and mortgages. This will be your baseline or a current snapshot of your authorized charges and balances. Once the holidays are over, gather the same financial information again and review it for unauthorised changes and charges. And, be sure to hone in on your credit cards; many of which have multiple protection features. If a fraudulent purchase is made, you have zero liability if you report it on time. Monitor your credit card charges frequently instead of waiting for the statement that will arrive after the holidays. If alerting and locking your cards is not enough, a credit freeze is always the ultimate safeguard. Cybercriminals love establishing credit in your name and this holiday season is no exception. If you have not frozen your credit with the major bureaus, now is a great time to make a move. You can always unfreeze it before making a major credit purchase. Multi IT & Telephony Solutions are experts in IT security with decades of experience. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us online or call us in Johannesburg on 011 435 0450 or in Cape Town on 021 879 1950. Happy holidays from all at Multi IT & Telephony Solutions and keep safe.