Intelligent Automation Blog

Introduction:  In today's fast-paced digital world, data security is no laughing matter. However, that doesn't mean we can't infuse a little humor into the serious topic of complying with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Safeguards. So, put on your cyber-capes and get ready for a witty exploration of why your business needs to pay attention to these critical regulations.

Click Here to download  FTC Safeguards Download

1. Avoiding the "Oops, We Lost Your Data" Dance:

   • Picture this: you're at a party, the music is pumping, and suddenly someone yells, "Oops, we lost your data!" Not the kind of dance you want to be part of, right? Compliance with the FTC Safeguards ensures that your business doesn't end up on the wrong side of the data breach boogie.

2. Fines Are Not Fun Tickets:

   • Forget about tickets to your favorite concert; non-compliance with the FTC Safeguards can land you front-row seats to some hefty fines and penalties. Let's invest in compliance and keep those hard-earned dollars where they belong – in our pockets!

3. Trust Us, We're the Data Guardians:

   • Imagine your business as the knight in shining armor, guarding the sacred data treasure chest. Compliance with the FTC Safeguards shows your customers that you take their privacy seriously and that they can trust you with their secrets (and credit card numbers).

4. Outshining the Competition:

   • In the wild world of business, it's survival of the fittest. By embracing these safeguards, you're not just keeping up; you're leapfrogging ahead of competitors stuck in the digital Stone Age.

Embrace the Adventure:

• Compliance with the FTC Safeguards isn't just about following rules; it's about embarking on a data security adventure. It's about assessing, protecting, training, and upgrading like never before. It's about making data breaches a thing of the past!

Conclusion:  Compliance with the FTC Safeguards might be a serious endeavor, but that doesn't mean it can't be infused with a touch of humor and wit. So, let's put on our cyber-capes, protect our data like the digital superheroes we are, and, most importantly, let's have some fun doing it. Stay secure and sassy!

Remember, if you have any questions or want to discuss your action plan, don't hesitate to reach out. It's time to rock the cybersecurity world with a smile on our faces!

Sick of computer problems?

In today's fast-paced and technology-driven business landscape, small businesses rely heavily on their IT infrastructure to stay competitive and meet customer expectations. Choosing the right IT service provider is crucial for the success of any small business. However, there are times when businesses feel the need to switch to a new IT service provider. In this blog post, we will explore the top ten reasons why small businesses often seek a fresh start with a new IT service provider.

1. Lack of Responsiveness: One of the primary reasons small businesses look for a new IT service provider is the lack of responsiveness. If the current provider fails to address issues promptly or provide timely support, it can disrupt business operations and lead to significant downtime. Small businesses need a partner who understands the urgency of their IT needs and responds quickly to minimize disruptions.
2. Limited Technical Expertise: Technology is constantly evolving, and small businesses need IT service providers who stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and possess the necessary technical expertise. If the current provider lacks the knowledge or experience to handle complex IT challenges or fails to offer innovative solutions, businesses may feel the need to find a more knowledgeable partner.
3. Inadequate Security Measures: Data breaches and cyberattacks are on the rise, making robust security measures a top priority for small businesses. If the current IT service provider falls short in implementing effective security protocols or fails to proactively address vulnerabilities, businesses may seek a new provider to ensure their sensitive data is protected.
4. Limited Scalability: As small businesses grow, their IT needs evolve too. Outgrowing the capabilities of an existing IT service provider can hinder expansion plans and limit technological advancements. Small businesses require scalable IT solutions and providers who can accommodate their changing needs without compromising performance or efficiency.
5. Cost Inefficiencies: Budget constraints are a common concern for small businesses. If the current IT service provider is unable to offer cost-effective solutions, businesses may seek alternatives that provide better value for money. A new provider with transparent pricing, flexible packages, and proactive cost-saving strategies can significantly benefit small businesses.
6. Communication Challenges: Effective communication between a business and its IT service provider is essential for smooth collaboration. If there are frequent misunderstandings, misaligned expectations, or a lack of clear communication channels, businesses may feel frustrated and seek a provider with better communication practices.
7. Lack of Proactive Monitoring: Proactive monitoring and maintenance are critical to prevent IT issues before they become major problems. Small businesses require IT service providers who offer proactive monitoring, regular system health checks, and continuous improvement recommendations. If the current provider lacks these capabilities, businesses may seek a new partner who can better ensure system stability and reliability.
8. Poor Backup and Disaster Recovery: Data loss can have severe consequences for any business. Small businesses must have reliable backup and disaster recovery plans in place. If the current IT service provider doesn't offer robust data backup solutions or fails to provide a solid disaster recovery strategy, businesses may look for a provider with stronger data protection measures.
9. Limited Training and Support: Small businesses rely on their IT service provider for ongoing training and support to maximize the efficiency of their systems and empower their employees. If the current provider fails to offer adequate training opportunities or timely support, businesses may seek a provider who can equip their teams with the necessary knowledge and skills.
10. Cultural Alignment: Lastly, small businesses value strong partnerships built on shared values and a compatible company culture. If the current IT service provider's values, work ethic, or approach to customer service do not align with the small business's vision and culture, it may prompt businesses to search for a provider that better aligns with their core values.

In summary, partnering with an IT support company provides your business with the expertise, proactive maintenance, cost-effective solutions, and the ability to focus on your core competencies. It helps ensure that your technology infrastructure runs smoothly, enabling you to stay competitive in today's fast-paced business environment. To find out more please contact Intelligent Automation, LLC at 888-711-4521 or

When you replace old computers or external drives, do you delete data and then just… get rid of them?

You could be putting your sensitive data at risk. 

A new study by a data recovery specialist shows that millions of deleted files can be recovered from improperly wiped hard drives that are sold online.

It’s not just buyers who can access your old files. Cyber criminals often buy used hard drives and attempt to recover data from them. This could include anything from confidential business information to client details.

It’s easy to forget about old data when you’re excited about shiny new technology. However, it’s important to consider what’s on that old drive before selling it or disposing of it.

Even if the drive is encrypted, it’s still possible for data to be recovered. And if the drive is damaged, there’s a chance that some of the data is still salvageable. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to sensitive information.

Think about it this way: Would you leave important documents lying around for anyone to see? Of course not! Your digital information deserves the same level of protection.

So what can you do to protect yourself? 

Don’t let your old hard drives become a liability. Take the time to have them properly wiped or destroyed before disposal. If you’re upgrading hardware, consider hiring a professional to handle the data transfer and ensure that your old devices are wiped clean.

This isn’t just about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting your employees, clients, and anyone else whose personal information you may have stored on that old drive. 

It’s a small investment to make for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe from prying eyes.

Don’t take chances with your data – take action to protect it:

• Properly wipe or destroy old hard drives
• Bring in a professional for your hardware upgrades
• Upgrade your overall security practices

In today's digital age, technology plays a crucial role in the success of businesses across all industries. Whether you run a small startup or a large enterprise, having a reliable IT support company by your side is essential. Here are a few reasons why your business needs an IT support company:

1. Expertise and Knowledge: IT support companies specialize in providing technical expertise and knowledge. They stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in technology, ensuring that your business has access to the best solutions and strategies to address your IT needs. Their experience and skills enable them to efficiently troubleshoot and resolve any technical issues that may arise.
2. Proactive Maintenance and Monitoring: An IT support company not only responds to problems when they occur but also takes a proactive approach to prevent potential issues. They can implement systems and processes to monitor your IT infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities, and perform regular maintenance tasks. This proactive approach helps minimize downtime, maximize productivity, and ensure the security of your systems.
3. Cost-Effective Solution: Outsourcing your IT support to a specialized company can be cost-effective compared to maintaining an in-house IT department. By partnering with an IT support company, you can access a team of professionals without the expense of hiring, training, and retaining an in-house team. Additionally, you can choose a pricing model that suits your business, such as fixed monthly fees or pay-as-you-go options.
4. Focus on Core Competencies: By delegating your IT support to a trusted partner, you free up valuable time and resources that can be redirected toward your core business activities. Instead of getting bogged down by IT-related tasks, you can concentrate on strategic initiatives, improving operations, and delivering exceptional products or services to your customers.

In summary, partnering with an IT support company provides your business with the expertise, proactive maintenance, cost-effective solutions, and the ability to focus on your core competencies. It helps ensure that your technology infrastructure runs smoothly, enabling you to stay competitive in today's fast-paced business environment. To find out more please contact Intelligent Automation, LLC at 888-711-4521 or

There is no question that a small business can benefit from technology, as has been proven time and time again. However, an issue can arise if a business bites off more than it can chew, so to speak, and ultimately creates a spike in costs. A responsible business owner will resist this temptation and prioritize the solutions they need over the ones they want - building profitability and generating capital needed to make other improvements.

In this blog, we’ll examine some of the implementations that can deliver a good return on investment to a small business.

The cloud has proven to be an extremely useful tool for the modern business. Not only does it provide anywhere-anytime access to applications, processing, storage, et al; it also delivers those products as a service, allowing you to budget for recurring costs rather than major upfront ones. This provides your organization with functional, supported, and secure computing environments that eliminate a lot of the support costs that traditional computing environments require. It sounds like a perfect scenario for small and large businesses alike, but things aren’t always what they seem, as a lot of cloud users have found that they have incurred several hidden costs by using cloud platforms. Today, we take a look at these hidden costs.

Data security isn’t a matter to be taken lightly, as too many businesses have found out the hard way. Unfortunately, there are far too many simple ways to correct common security issues - enough that it’s foolish not to do so. We’ll review a few ways to fix security issues, after discussing one of, if not the, most egregious security failings in modern history.

The password isn’t nearly as secure as it used to be. Hackers have begun to take advantage of extremely powerful solutions designed to brute force their way into accounts by using software to rapidly guessing thousands of passwords per second, making it extraordinarily difficult to prepare yourself for them.

What’s the best way to guarantee that passwords aren’t going to be the downfall of your company? A great start is by taking a close look at password best practices and two-factor authentication.

How much does your business rely on technology to keep your organization running forward? As business technology becomes more complex, it’s becoming increasingly popular for organizations to have their own internal IT departments to manage and maintain it. Yet, small businesses don’t often have the necessary funds for such a feat. How can your company afford quality IT service? You can start by pursuing managed IT solutions from a managed service provider.

Despite what detractors say, regulations are in place for good reason. They typically protect individuals from organizational malfeasance. Many of these regulations are actual laws passed by a governing body and cover the entire spectrum of the issue, not just the data involved. The ones that have data protection regulations written into them mostly deal with the handling and protection of sensitive information. For organizations that work in industries covered by these regulations there are very visible costs that go into compliance. Today, we look at the costs incurred by these organizations as a result of these regulations, and how to ascertain how they affect your business.

Profitability is less the measure of being able to turn a profit, and more the measure of how much profit you can make. For the successful small business, the integration of technology can dictate what kind of annual margins you are looking at. For the new company, however, it can be something even more critical: the difference between setting a course for success, or wallowing in failure. Today we analyze the cost difference between hosting your IT in-house, or choosing to host it in the cloud.

The late American author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.” Written in the 20th century, it has been put in practice by 21st century businesses. As the Internet has grown, the amount of companies expanded, and the amount of data that those companies collect has grown exponentially, especially now that there is a market for such data.