What is the Dark Web, and why is it a concern during this unprecedented time of COVID-19? The Dark Web is a way to search anonymously on the web through dark web software like TOR. The Dark web was initially created to allow our military spies to communicate anonymously. There was and still is a positive need for the Dark Web as it enables reporters and refugees to search and communicate without the fear of revealing their identity. Although, the Dark Web has grown to be a breeding ground for illegal activity, including the selling of illicit goods and cybercrimes.

Last month, we announced, with elated excitement, that Microsoft Teams would be releasing an update that will include an even more interactive virtual meeting experience. With our love for all things Teams, this was the news we were waiting to hear. With the ability to view nine participants on a Teams call, this enabled even more secure and efficient collaboration during our “Work from Home” stent. We were and still are jumping with joy over this announcement. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the announcement to be fulfilled.

Age-old questions are a dime a dozen. Did the egg come first or the chicken? If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make any noise? And a most pressing one, should we put one or two spaces in between sentences? Well, thankfully, Microsoft is answering one of these questions for us. They are taking the stance; less is more. In a time where space is being enforced wherever we go, it feels good to allow our sentences to get close and comfy.

As states start to reopen, we are positive that we will never forget these “Stay at Home” times we are experiencing. We were almost instantly thrust into this unknown situation where our work and home are entirely intertwined. With "Stay at Home" orders in place, we are experiencing more enforced restrictions than we have ever known in the United States. It is an interesting time to reflect on how work has changed and learn from these changes. It is essential to understand how these adaptations allowed us to continue to collaborate and what seemed to keep our teams positive and efficient.

Virtual meetings are our new ordinary. Most of us are spending our entire days in front of our computers with colleagues, vendors, and clients. To keep these meetings fresh and exciting, some of us have tried changing our backgrounds or even invited a llama. Virtual meetings are helping us manage our business with face-to-face experiences without health risks. Unfortunately, the meeting experiences are still leaving a bit to be desired, with security issues and functionality not what we hoped. This is why we are pumped about the upcoming updates from Microsoft Teams and news from Zoom.

We have spent a significant portion of this year breaking down the differences between Office 365 and Microsoft 365. The similar names are confusing, and it is challenging to decipher the differences between the applications. Thankfully, Microsoft was aware of the confusion and is gearing up for a grand rebrand on April 21st. Now, these products will have the same encompassing Microsoft 365 umbrella. The hope is that this rebrand will ease the confusion and simplify the choice of which application is right for you. Active with this rebrand are not just name changes, but additional tools. These tools will be brought to you by Microsoft’s smart and intuitive Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Congratulations to everyone out there. You have most likely been working remotely for three weeks and hopefully settling into a new “normal” workday. Part of that new “normal” workday for most of us has been a plethora of video conferences. We have made a drastic change from audio-only conference calls to now getting to regularly see what people wear when they work from home. Also with this change, we are finding out that these applications may not have been as secure as we expected. While Zoom works on these issues fervently, here are a few tips to keep your meetings safer.