We all could use a little help in remembering our tasks from time to time. In the busy world we live in, it can be challenging to keep up with our day-to-day duties, and many times, emails and tasks out of the ordinary get lost. In a perfect world, we would all have an assistant that briefs us on our day and reminds us of tasks that may have been forgotten. Fortunately, Microsoft understands that most of us are not privileged enough to have a personal assistant, and instead, they created a virtual assistant for all of us. Introducing, Cortana Briefing Emails. 

In March of 2020, work as we knew it instantly changed. We were used to an office environment where physical office space was the norm. Virtual meetings were the exception and were primarily used when clients were distant and travel was impossible. Although more and more companies had made working virtually more acceptable, the trend was merely beginning. The global pandemic of COVID-19 changed all of this. Many will look back on this year and remember it as a disaster. However, because of the challenging world pandemic, technology quickly evolved and was adopted faster than would have ever happened.

Essential Microsoft Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts

At Pendello Solutions, we live by the motto, "do it right the first time and only do it once." Doing it the right way never means cutting corners, although it does mean doing it in the most efficient fashion possible. Many think that the only way to maneuver through Microsoft Outlook is either with a touchscreen or a mouse. If we work this way, we may be missing out on a step towards efficiency. This month, Pendello Solutions will be highlighting the not very well-known keyboard shortcuts to Microsoft Outlook.

This year, more than any other, many of us have wished we could hit the "refresh" button and go back to our original factory settings. Many times, life gets away from us, and we yearn for the way things used to be. This thought process is the emphasis behind Satya Nadella's book, "Hit Refresh." Getting back to how things used to be was the approach Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took to build Microsoft back up to be a true leader in innovation. Pendello President, Mike Jackson, recently read this book, and the takeaways were enlightening. Today, we're taking a look at what this book represents in today's workplace.

In regards to Multifactor Authentication, the question should not be if but instead what kind. Multifactor authentication (MFA) is vital to the security of your network. As Brian Sherman from Valeo was quoted, “Weaker MFA is better than no MFA.” However, if you can protect your data more thoroughly, then why wouldn’t you? Let’s take a look at the forms of MFA and how they will help keep your data safe.

Many of us began our “Work from Home” adventure back in March. Some have trickled back into the office since, although many are still at home adjusting to what may be their new standard way to work. At first, many enjoyed the time saver of not having to commute and the ability to work in sweatpants. Unfortunately, over time we have recognized that the work/life boundaries have been blurred or even completely disappeared. Our days now include more on-screen time with 48% more chats a week with 69% more of those occurring “after hours." Our commute used to define our day with a build-up and wind-down that began and ended our day. Without this designated time, employees feel more burnout and exhaustion as the day never has a true beginning or end. Instead, it feels as if the workday is constant through our “work” hours and “home” hours. These blurred lines of work and home life may offer more time to work, although it has led to less workplace productivity.

The novelty of virtual meetings has worn off, but it is apparent they are our new “normal.” Our current need for distance and safety has made virtual meetings a must, although because they have worked, businesses are signing up to keep them long term. Big companies like Google and Facebook have announced that most of their employees will be working remotely until late 2021, demonstrating that most of us can do our jobs from anywhere. So we are thrilled that Microsoft is giving us as many options to make our virtual meetings even more productive.