Cambium Data Blog

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need every advantage they can get. The Internet of Things (IoT) offers a powerful way to boost efficiency and drive growth. 

Simply put, IoT connects everyday business objects—from machinery and vehicles to thermostats and inventory—to the internet. These connected "things" use sensors to gather data and communicate, often automating actions without human intervention. This creates smarter, more responsive business operations.

Before we even get into small business technology management, it’s worth noting that your typical SMB is already handling a lot. IT isn’t as simple as adding new hardware or downloading a new application; it’s managing an entire technology ecosystem that needs to operate and interact with each other. Let’s examine what goes into small business IT and what you should prioritize as a business owner.

Let's talk about something that might not be the most glamorous topic, but is absolutely vital to the health and survival of your business: data backups.

Think of your business data as the lifeblood of your operations. It includes everything from customer records and financial information to crucial project files and intellectual property. Now, imagine a scenario where this lifeblood suddenly stops flowing. What would happen?

Data centers—off-site locations where you can store your business’ data—are an excellent opportunity to decentralize your data infrastructure and improve accessibility, redundancy, and security. But how do you choose a data center for your business’ needs, anyway?

Today, we’ll explore some of the more critical elements you should consider for your data center needs.

Malware sounds like one of those tech words people throw around, but don’t understand. Still, if you’re running a business or even just using the internet for work, you need to know what it is and how to deal with it. Malware is any kind of software designed to mess with your devices, steal your info, or hold your data hostage. Not fun.

Nowadays, it is especially critical for every business to optimize its operations, boosting productivity while eliminating setbacks and obstacles. The information technology available today can make this process much easier if utilized correctly.

Let's discuss a few ways to take advantage of it for your organization’s benefit.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is easily becoming one of the most transformative technological advancements. While some businesses assume IoT is too costly or complex to implement, a well-planned strategy can make these tools pay for themselves quickly. Let’s explore how organizations are using IoT, the most effective solutions, and the significant return on investment (ROI) these technologies can bring.

Just about all companies collect data, including many you work with. Your business too collects data from customers to aid in its operations. In terms of your own privacy, though, you should take certain measures to protect your personal data. Here are some of the ways you can combat the predatory practices of advertisers and cybercriminals alike.

Artificial intelligence is invading business IT infrastructure around the world, with chatbots being one of the more commonplace solutions out there. When implemented appropriately, chatbots can act as a cheat code for managing customers, handling inquiries, scheduling appointments, and even marketing your services.. Today, we want to help you get set up with chatbots so you can make better use of your time.

New threats emerge each and every day, whether it’s the latest form of ransomware or a simple virus out to make your life miserable. That’s why it’s so important you take steps to protect your business. Here are the threats your business needs to watch out for, as well as what you can do to keep your organization safe.

It’s World Backup Day! It’s the one day where we bring awareness to the essential process of backing up your organizational and personal data. Let’s go through some of the variables that a comprehensive data backup and recovery plan features to commemorate the “holiday.”

Antivirus software is one of those things we all know we need, but have you ever stopped to think about how it actually works? Understanding the basics can help you appreciate why keeping it updated is so important. Today, we took a look at antivirus software.

In keeping with the modern trend of incorporating artificial intelligence into everything we do, Google has been moving full steam ahead with Gemini, the company’s latest AI model. While once available only to those willing to pay the “Advanced” plan’s $20-per-month fee, Google recently announced that many new features would be available for free… including the capability to reference a user’s Search queries and other Google applications to further personalize that user’s results.

Let’s go over how to set this up, but also, why you may want to refrain from doing so.

Another month, another batch of security updates. Google has been busy squashing 43 bugs in Android, and—surprise, surprise—two of them were zero-day vulnerabilities. That means bad actors could’ve been exploiting them before Google even knew what was up. Obviously, this isn’t good and highlights why it’s important to keep your software updated. 

Just about any collaboration platform these days will allow you to share your screen. The functionality works largely the same, regardless of whether you’re using Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or something else, but we want to cover how to use it on these popular platforms. We’ll assume you’ve already joined a meeting for this article, so let’s get started sharing your screen.

Running a business is like managing a bunch of moving parts with relationships with employees, customers, operations, and, of course, vendors. Vendors supply your business with the products and services that keep things running, but if you’re not careful, those relationships can turn into time and money pits. So, how do you make vendor relationships work in your favor? Here are some smart ways to get the most out of them without unnecessary headaches.

By now, you’ve heard us discuss how data backup is extremely important for every organization. We try to spread awareness of the negative impacts to a business that doesn’t have a comprehensive backup plan in place. Fortunately, data backup has come a long way in the past decade, making it easier, faster, and way more reliable. Let’s take a look at how things have changed in data backup.

QR codes are a popular way to direct individuals to specific web pages, like your business’ website. You can make them with relative ease, so there’s no excuse not to use them. Today, we’ll go over how you can make them in Microsoft Excel, a tool your business already probably uses to some extent.

Modern collaboration platforms, like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, have considerably expanded how and where work can be done. Let’s go over how to use the screen-sharing features these three platforms offer. 

There is no shortage of events that can throw a business off track, from severe storms to human error to cybercriminal activity. Fortunately, a little preparation can make them much easier to navigate.

Let’s discuss creating a crisis plan to address these kinds of events.