Computer Tip of the Day – 4 Ways to Reduce Blue Light Emissions

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Do your eyes ever feel strained, watery, and irritated after staring at your computer screen for an extended period of time? Digital screens emit what’s known as blue light. This strains and hurts your eyes. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce blue light emissions from your screen.

Use the Windows 10 Tool

Windows 10 has a built-in tool that limits blue light emissions. To access it, go to Settings and click on the display icon. At the top, toggle Lower Blue Light Automatically to On. Click on the settings option to adjust your blue light filter settings and set hours for it to go on.

Use Flux

Flux, or f.lux, is a popular app for computers that many people use to reduce blue light emissions. It works on Windows, Linux, and Macs. It makes your computer screen appear more like the lighting in your room. This changes based on the time of the day; it lowers your screen’s brightness at night. This helps keep your eyes from being irritated.

Use a Browser Extension

There are many browser extensions that can help reduce your computer’s brightness. Go to the Chrome or Firefox store and look for night light or blue light filter extensions. F.lux has its own extension, called G.lux. You can also just try lowering the brightness of your computer in general.

Limit Exposure

Of course, you can also take some simple steps to reduce your eyes’ exposure to your computer’s blue light. Take frequent breaks when at your computer. Use the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and rest your eyes on an object that is at least 20 feet away.

For more computer tips, contact us today!

Benefits of Data Backup for Small Businesses

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Data Backup

If you’re a small business, you’re operating on a thin margin against larger companies. Delays and losses in information are especially costly as you try to establish a trustworthy, notable brand, and having a network crash is even worse if you’re the CEO, the sales manager, and the reigning IT expert. Bringing in a third-party service that can store and manage your data backup for you is one of the best ways you can both protect and grow your business. Here’s how:

Cloud storage can grow with your business.

Increasing your client base is one of the primary goals of any small business, and one of the best ways to do that is to have secure, bug-free data files for your customers’ records and contact information. Local storage is a risky way to run your business, and there’s a finite amount of space you can secure. Use a storage system that scales with your business instead.

Cloud storage keeps your business mobile.

Renting an office building might not be part of your business plan; if you, your employees, and your partners are all on the go, then secure, cloud-based storage means everyone can work from anywhere without the risk of someone stealing or tampering with your data.

Fixed costs save you money in the long term.

When you’re making forecasts and setting milestones for your business’s growth, having variable costs and trying to anticipate unexpected hardware failures can make your finances uncertain. Organize your books at a low fixed cost so you can focus on revenue instead of expenses.

One of the most important assets any small business has is the unique accumulation of clients and client information. Keeping your data safe and able to grow with Bluwater Technologies data backup plans is the best way to keep that asset safe. Get started here.

What Are the First Steps to Creating a Business Continuity Plan?

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Anything from a regional storm to a power outage can shut down your office when you run a small business. Instead of stressing to contact your employees when your phone’s signal is bad and the power is out or trying to arrange for an alternate delivery when everyone else is trying to do the same thing, start creating a business continuity plan before you need it. Here are two of the first steps for keeping your network up and running during a disaster:

Creating a Business Continuity Plan

  • How much power do you need? If you’ve experienced a hurricane, you might have a backup generator or know who in your neighborhood does. Having a separate generator just for your business is great. Ensuring your business can take care of critical steps or be the first online once a storm blows over. Talk to your landlord or electrician to see what type of generator is best for your business needs and your lease conditions.
  • Make sure your data is backed up starting today. Having your information stored in the cloud shouldn’t just be part of a business continuity plan. It should be part of your everyday plan. Having cloud-based backup means knowing your data is securely offsite in case something happens to your local hardware. It also means that you can access information from a secure laptop. Or even your phone if you can’t make it into the office.

There are many other steps to having a business continuity plan in the event of an emergency. Including planning communications, preparing alternate supply chains, and knowing who is responsible for what aspects of the plan. If you want to create a business continuity plan that will help you keep your business running, contact us at Bluwater Technologies to get started.

IT Support In West Palm Beach: Are You Backing Up Your Data?

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Backing up your data is a critical decision to make, regardless of what type of business you are operating. Running your own company is hard enough. You should not have to worry about any added pressure when it comes to data. If you are having a difficult time making the decision about data backup, we want to give you information. We think it can help you choose the best solution for your business.

Backing Up Your Data

Who Thinks They Will Be Hacked?

When it comes to hacking, we all think that it could never happen to us. If your business stores critical and private information, you are at a serious risk of being hacked. If you are ever in a position where your information is compromised, wouldn’t you feel a little better knowing that your data can be recovered because you have it backed up?

For Your Own Protection

Data backup is not just something you need to consider to protect your data against hackers. Data backup is also important because you cannot predict natural disasters or accidents that will cause physical damage to your equipment. When you take the right steps to ensure that your information is stored properly, you will have your own insurance on the customer and employee data you are responsible for.

If your business were to be hit with a disaster, how much time do you think it would take for you to fully recover? If you do not have the proper data backup, your business may not be able to fully recover. Unfortunately, some businesses never recover. We do not want that to happen to your business.

If you have made a decision regarding backing up your data, contact us today for more information.

Computer Tips: How Can You Get A Better Internet Performance?

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If you are running a small business that does not have a great internet connection, you probably shake your head every day at how long it takes for a website’s page to load. No one likes to wait a significant amount of time for any type of web page to load. Regardless of the speed you have provisioned for by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), there is a chance you can do a variety of things to achieve better internet performance. You may be surprised at how a few small changes can give you a faster internet connection.

Better Internet Performance

Get Rid Of Malware And Viruses

It is very important that you make sure your computer is free of any viruses or malware. One of the reasons many computers are slow when it comes to internet performance and system performance is malware.

Test Different Browsers

Some people prefer one browser over the other because some browsers load websites faster than others. You may be surprised at how using a different browser can make a difference in how long it takes for a website to load.

Check Your Router

Is your router capable of handling the highest speeds that your Internet Service Provider offers with your Internet plan? There are some old routers that were not built to handle many of the download speeds. This is because the technology in the old routers is not up-to-date. It is important to keep your router’s firmware updated so you will not have any issues with your internet connection.

Clear Your Cache

How often do you clear your browser’s cache? If you have files that are corrupted in your browser cache, you can experience a variety of problems, including slow performance.

You should not have to deal with a slow internet experience, especially since technology is constantly being improved. Contact us today for additional computer and internet tips.