Ascend Technology Group

Browser extensions can be useful, but from an IT perspective, they’re like houseguests—some are great, others snoop through your fridge and steal your data. Check out our recent blog post for more.

Microsoft will increase the price of Microsoft 365 licenses for annual commits paid monthly by 5%, effective April 1, 2025 ?? Key Details: -The price increase will be rolled out gradually across various license types. - **No increase applies if you switch to annual prepaid billing.** -If your licenses were renewed before the change date, the new pricing won’t affect you until your next renewal—so plan to budget an additional 5% for licensing next year. Silver Lining: CoPilot is now available on a month-to-month basis, meaning no annual commitment is required if you want to test the waters. Interested in a review of your organization’s current licensing levels and spend? Send us a message to book a free consultation. #Microsoft365 #Licensing #BusinessSoftware #Consulting

?? Say Goodbye to Passwords? Microsoft’s Passkey Update Explained Microsoft is making moves to replace traditional passwords with secure passkeys, offering users a safer, more seamless login experience. While this change won’t happen overnight, the update marks a significant step forward in online security for Windows 11 users. ???? Ready to learn more? Our latest blog breaks it all down, from the benefits of passkeys to why you may want to consider this upgrade. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gNhhvpq7 #CyberSecurity #Passkeys #Microsoft #ITServices #DataProtection

Important Changes to OneDrive Retention Policies Coming in 2025! Microsoft is making major updates to how unlicensed OneDrive accounts are handled and there are a few things you need to know to avoid unexpected costs or data loss. ? Starting January 27, 2025 Unlicensed accounts older than 93 days will either be archived (if under a retention policy) or permanently deleted. ?? Accessing archived data will come with reactivation fees ($0.60/GB) and ongoing storage costs ($0.05/GB/month) for all archived accounts. ?? Without action, unlicensed accounts not under a retention policy will be deleted after 93 days in the recycle bin. We break it all down—and share actionable steps to prepare—in our latest blog: ?? https://lnkd.in/g52_mWAM Have questions or need help? We’re here to guide you!

Scam of the week: Apple ID Disabled Clients and friends, there is a phishing email that has been gaining traction over the holiday weekend we want you to be aware of. It is designed to steal your Apple ID credentials. The email claims your Apple ID is disabled and has a big blue button directing you to a phishing site to enter your credentials. Remember to pause and double-check the sending email address when a notification like this comes. If it ends with anything different than apple.com, its a fake. Also when you get a notification prompting you to sign into any platform, it's best to not use a link from the email but to open another tab and navigate to the site yourself. Why does this stuff work? Because smart people get in a hurry. Stay vigilant out there.

This Thanksgiving we're grateful for our incredible team, our wonderful clients, and our valued partners! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! John, Russell, Jeremy, Patrick, Ken, Ted, Laura, Seth, Bjorn, Cody, Jared, William, Nathanael, Roy, Michael, Garrett, Cathy, and Gabe - Best Team Ever!

Why is Cyber Security a more prudent investment now more than ever? Because the costs are rising at astronomical rates! Global cybercrime costs have exceeded 9 trillion dollars in 2024 and are predicted to nearly double in the next five years. Data would indicate we can pay for prevention or remediation; we'd advocate for a proactive investment now.

Thanks to the NE CPA Society for having us at the state convention this week. Lots of great conversations with accounting/CPA firms from across the state on data security and IT solutions.

M365 Tip of the Week: Microsoft 365 has so many different tools and features built-in, and a lot of organizations miss out on many of the benefits of M365 subscriptions. One of the hidden gems is the Microsoft Approvals app in Teams. If you've never heard of Approvals, learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eRshWmb

2025 Technology Budgets | As we move into Q4, many businesses are starting to evaluate their IT budgets for 2025. With evolving technology needs, changing security landscapes, and potential price increases, it’s crucial to plan ahead. Here are several key considerations to keep in mind as you build your IT budget for the coming year: https://lnkd.in/gBi6ZnVh