The IT Experts

Start with What You Actually Need

It’s easy to get caught up in features and software that sound cool but don’t help you serve your customers or run your business. Focus on tools that solve immediate problems or make you more efficient. Ask yourself:

• Can this help me save time?
• Will it improve how I serve my customers?
• Does it replace a more expensive or slower way of doing something?

If the answer to all three is no, it’s not the right tool for now.

Go Cloud or Go Home

Buying expensive software licenses or servers is a no-go when you're low on funds. The cloud is your best friend. Services like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Zoho offer professional email, file storage, calendars, spreadsheets, and more—often for the cost of a few cups of coffee per month. You don’t need IT staff to run it, and you can scale as you grow.

Use Free Tools that Work

There are tons of free tools out there that are effective at helping teams get started building processes and getting a stable footing underneath them. You will want to make sure they come from reputable companies and have good security practices. Start free, upgrade only when you outgrow it. Some free apps can be of great benefit for years.

Consider Everything on a Contract

Subscription models are your friend when money’s tight. Look for tools that let you pay monthly without long contracts. That way, you can cancel if the tech isn’t pulling its weight; or if your budget takes a hit. Avoid buying things outright unless you have to. Hardware is especially cost-effective in the cloud, as leasing or refurbished options can save you thousands.

Outsource Your IT Management

Hiring a full-time IT person early on usually doesn’t make sense. You still need someone to keep things secure and running, however. Look for a reputable company—like KB Technologies—which is basically an IT department on demand. We can help set up your systems, secure your data, and fix problems when things break, without the full-time salary.

Cybersecurity Isn’t Optional

Even if your business is small, you're still a target. Phishing attacks, ransomware, and data theft don’t care about your budget. The good news is that basic protection doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some strategies that businesses of any level can use to keep their digital resources secure:

• Use two-factor authentication on everything.
• Back up your data, ideally incrementally.
• Install antivirus software. 

The bottom line is that you can’t afford to be hacked.

Literally.

Just Don’t Let Tech Intimidate You

You don’t need a degree in technology management or a six-figure budget to build a strong foundation. Start with the basics, keep your costs lean, and upgrade only when it makes real sense for your business. 

If you would like to learn how the knowledgeable experts at KB Technologies can help you stretch your IT budget, give us a call today at (954) 834-2800.

For more information regarding the Windows OS, make sure you check out the rest of our “Learning Windows” blog articles.

How to Locate and Manage Your Drives

In Windows 11, all of your drives can be found by accessing the File Explorer. You can open it by using the Windows Key + E shortcut, and from there, find all your connected drives in the My PC section. These drives are likely as follows:

• The C: Drive - This drive will be the primary one, hosting the operating system and most software you depend on. 
• Additional Drives and Partitions - Any extra drives or storage partitions (segmented portions of your existing drives) will be lettered alphabetically, starting with C:, as A: and B: are reserved for forms of removable media that are largely unused now. Most work networks will have network drives that are centrally located on the network (as opposed to within your computer) that everyone accesses.
• The Optical Drive - This drive allows you to read discs and similar media. If you have one of these, it is frequently the last one listed that are connected to your device.
• External Drives - These separate devices will be listed in the File Explorer when connected to your computer.

The File Explorer is effectively the Windows version of Finder, and operates similarly to it. You can create new folders and move files around using this interface.

The Big Difference: You Can Add More Storage to a Windows Device

Here’s the thing: Some Macbooks don’t allow for additional drives to be added. A hard drive can be switched out for one with larger storage, or an external hard drive can be hooked up… what you can’t do is simply add additional internal drives to certain Mac models.

Windows, on the other hand, will allow you to add as many drives as your motherboard can connect to and your case can hold. The more ports you have, the more drives your device can utilize. Just pay attention to the form factor of these drives and make sure it matches your PC hardware.

Want Help Managing Your Storage Options? Lean On Us!

Of course, you have more options than just the storage on your individual PCs… there’s local storage in your servers and cloud options for you to consider, too. Regardless of how you approach your business storage needs, KB Technologies is here to help. 

Give us a call at (954) 834-2800 to find out more about what we can do to address your business’ needs.

Let’s Talk About the Main Types of Malware You’ll Probably Face

Here are the three types of malware that your business is likely to contend with:

Viruses

Think of viruses as the digital version of someone crashing your party and trashing the place. They attach themselves to files or programs, and once you click the wrong thing, they spread. Suddenly, your computer slows, files go missing, or worse, everything crashes. They used to be the biggest issue, but now there are more dangerous threats in town.

Ransomware

This is the one that gets the headlines. Ransomware locks you out of your own files and demands money to let you back in. Sometimes hackers even threaten to leak your sensitive info if you don’t pay. It’s basically digital extortion, and paying up doesn’t guarantee you’ll get anything back.

Spyware

Spyware is the sneaky kind. It hides in your system and silently tracks what you do—everything from the sites you visit to the keys you press. That means your passwords, credit card numbers, and private info could be up for grabs without you even realizing it.

My Business Is Small, Why Would Anyone Bother?

It’s a common thought, but unfortunately, it’s wrong. Hackers don’t just go after big corporations. In fact, small businesses are often easier targets because they don’t have the same security in place. Your customer info, employee data, or even your business strategy could be valuable to the wrong people.

Skip the cybersecurity and you’re not just risking your business. You could also face legal trouble for failing to protect sensitive data. And let’s be real: if clients or partners think your systems aren’t safe, they’ll take their business elsewhere.

Here’s What You Can Do Right Now

The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out alone. At KB Technologies, we specialize in keeping businesses like yours safe. We monitor your systems, help train your team to spot red flags, and jump in fast if something goes wrong.

If you want to lock things down and know someone’s got your back, call us at (954) 834-2800. We’re ready to help.