Happenings May 24, 2024

    In this issue:

• National Day Spotlight
• Acumatica User Tips
• Cybersecurity User Tips
• Leadership 101
• Events, Blogs, Movies
• Webinars, Community
• Points to Ponder

The purpose of a newsletter is an opportunity for the ASWi team to provide you and the rest of our clients with information on all the new ASWi an Acumatica related things (or “happenings”) that you may not otherwise be aware of.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with any/ all of your team. Pease let me know if anyone on your team who would like to be added to the mailing list for the next issue and removed.

You can always have a look at back issues of Happenings on ASWi’s web- site at: https://aswiblog.wpengine.com/category/customer-newsletters/

“In valor there is hope.” Tacitus

Memorial Day honors and remembers all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day is also a day to remember all loved ones who have passed away.

Traditionally on Memorial Day, the flag of the United States of America is raised briskly to the top of the staff then solemnly lowered to the half -staff position where it remains until noon. At noon, it is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

When the flag is at half-staff, the position is in remembrance of the more than one million men and women who gave their lives for their country. Raising the flag at noon signifies the nation lives, that the country is resolved not to let their sacrifice be in vain but to rise up in their honor and continue to fight for liberty and justice for all.

We can observe Memorial Day by attending Memorial Day services in our local community, visit a veterans’ cemetery to honor those who’ve impacted our lives, use #MemorialDay to post on social media and/or, in our own personal way, pay tribute in remembrance of service members who have died while serving.

By Tim Rodman, AUGForums.com

To add search capabilities to a column, go into the screen editor and find the Vendor field #Acumatica.

Set FilterByAllFIelds to True #Acumatica

Now the search works on the Address Line 1 field.

It also searches the Phone 1 Field

In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is a critical concern for businesses of all sizes. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face unique challenges when it comes to protecting their sensitive data and digital assets from cyber threats. To help you fortify your defenses and safeguard your business against potential risks, we’ve compiled tailored cybersecurity advice specifically for SMEs.

1. Educate Your Employees
Your employees are your first line of defense against cyber threats. Provide comprehensive cybersecurity training to raise awareness about common phishing scams, social engineering tactics, and best practices for maintaining strong passwords. Encourage a culture of security awareness and empower your team to recognize and report suspicious activities promptly.

2. Implement Robust Endpoint Security
Endpoint devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, represent vulnerable entry points into your network. Deploy endpoint protection solutions, such as antivirus software, endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, and mobile device management (MDM) solutions, to defend against malware, ransomware, and other malicious threats targeting your endpoints.

3. Secure Your Network Infrastructure
Strengthen the security of your network infrastructure by implementing essential security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and virtual private networks (VPNs). Regularly update firmware and security patches to mitigate known vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorized access to your network resources.

4. Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning
Data loss can have devastating consequences for SMEs, affecting productivity, revenue, and reputation. Implement a robust backup and disaster recovery strategy to ensure the resilience of your business operations in the event of a cyber incident or natural disaster. Regularly backup critical data to secure, off-site locations and test your backup systems regularly to verify their effectiveness.

Stay Informed and Stay Vigilant
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends, emerging threats, and best practices. Subscribe to reputable cybersecurity newsletters, follow industry experts on social media, and participate in cybersecurity forums and webinars to stay ahead of the curve.

Remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and addressing potential security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.

By implementing these cybersecurity best practices tailored to the needs of SMEs, you can enhance your organization’s resilience against cyber threats and protect your valuable assets and reputation.

If you would like to learn more about how ASWi’s IT Managed Services team can assist you in securing your organization’s devices, please let our Customer Success Manager Keith Wood know via email at keithw@aswius.com or phone at (717) 581-1226.

By Cotter Cunningham

What are three things a CEO should do every day?

Great question. And one where there is probably no “right” answer. That said, I certainly have an opinion on this. So, here are the three things I try to do every day.

1. Check your numbers.
In some ways, a business is like your body. There are a million pieces of data you could track, but I suspect that most businesses have a few numbers that are super critical and worth tracking daily.

Most tech startups have fairly fixed expenses (mostly people), so the business expenses don’t move much. I tend to focus on checking revenue and, as I only work in e-commerce companies, traffic. It is hard at first, but after a while, you pick up the rhythm and you can usually tell a bad day versus a problem. And when you think you have a problem, work it. Don’t wait.

2. Connect.
I like to have at least one one-on-one meeting with a colleague every day. I think it helps me keep track of the business on a personal level. I know some people don’t like one-on-ones, but I have found them to be incredibly useful. I think you need a goal for every meeting. It can be as complex as “convince this person that we need to hire a new X” or as simple as building a connection with them. But have a goal.

3. Think about the future.
I think it is incredibly easy to fall into a rut. Mondays you meet with your team, Tuesday is client day, Wednesday is all-hands meeting, Friday you review the budget. Weeks become months become years, and it is so easy to just work the stuff in front of you.

Force yourself to take a few minutes and think about what’s next. What’s your next big hire—and do you have a candidate or, better, two? Do you need to raise money? When? What’s your product look like in five years? Ten? I’ll spend a few minutes every day on something.

What are your three?

Nearly every weekday, a motivational quote is posted on X/Twitter by @ASWiDelivered and on LinkedIn by @ASWi.

• “ Trust is built with consistency.” Lincoln Chafee

• “Knowledge must be shared in the moment to be relevant.” Bram Billiet

• “How have your improved the lives of your customers’ customers today? How will you tomorrow?” Rob Kirkey

• “Leadership’s not complicated, it’s just hard.” Michael Slaby

• “Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.” Vivian Komori