The overwhelming theme of this year’s virtual Microsoft Inspire 2021 conference was that Microsoft is fully committed to being the very best partner they can be to their partners. Satya Nadella started the conference with a powerful keynote acknowledging that Microsoft has gotten where it is today solely because of its partners and that it will only continue to grow if its partners are also growing. Every major takeaway from the conference carried along this theme, yet concepts ranged from security to reduced costs to higher functionality. Below are what we believe to be the most impactful takeaways from Microsoft Inspire 2021.

The three largest network morning news shows are often what Americans have on in the background as we get ready for work or school. You’ll find the headlines, pop culture, and maybe some shopping bargains from time to time. They generally cover the top stories of the day but are not known for their likelihood to consistently address the hard-hitting stories in detail. If cybersecurity is on the docket, it typically is in reference to a retailer being breached or something that would affect the public like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware story – and only because we saw people filling plastic bags full of gasoline as a result of the breach. That part was more newsworthy than the breach itself. You’ll get the general story, but it’s the fallout that is usually more interesting. Rather than a headline of “RANSOMWARE PAID,” you’ll instead see “LONG LINES AT THE STATION AS PEOPLE FILL MILK JUGS WITH GASOLINE!”

Working from home, for many of us, it was fun while it lasted. For others, we couldn't wait to see it end. Now that we are reopening life as we knew it, people are scrambling to get back to the office. Many are eager to escape makeshift dining room desks that compete with family life and chaos or crave the social interaction and other structures that office environments provide. You might be in a combination situation, where you put in hours both at home and in the office. Either way, we are all going back, whether you are ready or not.

Just as it seemed we might be seeing clear skies ahead in terms of the pandemic; another dark cloud began to rise on the horizon. The Colonial Pipeline breach hit the news, and many people started to panic. We were all too familiar with the uncertainty of the future, and last year’s toilet paper rush was replaced with people filling gasoline in plastic containers of all sorts and sizes.

An Interview with Pendello Solutions President, Mike Jackson

These past twelve months, we have seen a massive change in the way we work. These changes were forced upon us by a global pandemic. For the most part, most of us could continue doing business largely because of the drastic changes in technology. I was able to sit down with Pendello Solutions President, Mike Jackson, and get his take on the changes in technology year over year.

Verizon recently released their 2021 Mobile Security Index report, and in it, they summarized their research findings by looking at 856 IT professionals. These people buy, secure, and manage the mobile and internet of things (IoT) devices for their companies.

In a year of firsts and unexpected experiences, what did they find?

The majority of us aren't doing what needs to be done to secure our personal and professional information. 45% of people believe that their companies were rushed to mobilize remotely, and therefore have had to sacrifice security to "get the job done." And while remote working was at one point a necessity, now it is being evaluated as a permanent solution for many companies.

Internet browsers are typically a desire due to habit. Once you become comfortable with one, selecting another seems like an unfathomable choice. Chances are you are currently satisfied with Google Chrome and use it unquestionably. Up until recently, Chrome was by far the best and most intuitive choice. Fortunately, with some recent updates, Microsoft Edge is the new browser in town, and it appears to be showing Chrome some real competition. Let’s look at what each browser option offers and what option may be best for your browsing needs.