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This Week's News is Sponsored by Better Branches ~
Prodigy & OMNICOMMANDER Partner
Prodigy, a Core and Cloud Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), and OMNICOMMANDER announced a new partnership. Effective immediately, all of OMNICOMMANDER’s services such as website design, marketing, and cybersecurity are available to Prodigy core credit unions directly through Prodigy.
Safe Systems Introduces New Security Solution for CUs
Safe Systems announced the availability of CloudInsight M365 Security Basics. The solution helps provide CUs greater visibility into their security settings for Azure Active Directory and O365/M365 tenants.
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Samsung Launches New Laptops for Business Users
Samsung has expanded its laptop lineup with two new laptops aimed at business users. Both laptops offer customizable options for screen size, processor and other features. Equipped with Windows 10 Pro, the new laptops feature Intel Evo-certified 11th gen core processors, Super AMOLED displays, Wi-Fi 6 and a rated 20 or 21 hours of battery life.
5 Steps to Improve Security on Network PCs That Can’t Run Windows 11
Many networked systems will not be compatible with Windows 11 and its advanced security features. This article recommends 5 ways to help keep Windows 10 devices from being a weak link: 1) Review default browser and web application dependencies; 2) Review how you deploy Windows 10; 3) Review Active Directory forest level; 4) Review macro use; and 5) Review two-factor authentication for internal processes and external applications.
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Microsoft Announces Passwordless Authentication Option for Consumers
After offering the passwordless authentication option to enterprise customers in March 2021, Microsoft has now started rolling it out to its consumer segment of users. Users are able to switch on the feature by visiting their Microsoft account’s Advanced Security Options, then Additional Security. Before choosing to turn of the Passwordless account option, they need to download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app.
New Microsoft Features to Address Hybrid Work Shift
This article examines the updates Microsoft is introducing to help hybrid work employees. For example, upcoming features in Microsoft Teams and Teams Rooms will allow all personnel, whether in-person or remote, to be on equal footing when it comes to collaborating with their fellow employees in hybrid meeting scenarios. Microsoft is also adding new options to meeting details in the Outlook client and these will share whether people are working on-site or remotely, and what their working hours are.
IDrive 360 Enables Entire Machine Backups for Organizations
IDrive 360, an enterprise-scale endpoint cloud backup solution from IDrive, is now enabling organizations to backup entire machines with the addition of cloud-based disk-image backups. This new feature allows users to backup single/multiple partitions, or run a full image backup of the hard drive including the operating system (OS), system settings, installed applications, application configurations, and associated VMs, directly to the IDrive Cloud. This allows for full point-in-time restores of the backed up system data without requiring any operating system installation.
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U.S. Cash Payment Kiosks Rise Despite Digital Age
Somewhat surprisingly in the age of digital solutions, cash options generally are proliferating. A host of companies, such as PayNearMe and Green Dot, are seeking to offer more cash pay options, including at stores such as Walmart and Family Dollar. Plus, cities and utilities are making more use of cash accepting kiosks provided by vendors like CityBase to give consumers additional no-fee options for paying their bills in cash.
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Here is a chance to learn about real life credit union success stories from various technology vendors through the words of their clients. This week's vendor is:
and their client is:
NorthEast Alliance Federal Credit Union
Credit Unions - if you have a vendor that you are happy with then please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
Vendors - if you have a credit union that is happy with your solutions then please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will give you a $100 discount on your Case Study!
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Verizon’s Current Fiber Rollouts Are All Connected to 5G
Verizon and AT&T vie for the most fiber in the United States with each having more than 800,000 route miles. Verizon is currently deploying lots of fiber as part of its 5G roll-outs. A company spokesperson said, “All the 5G nodes need fiber. We are very aggressive in laying out fiber and 5G in the right places. It [fiber] is always associated with 5G. We believe 5G is the future of bandwidth connectivity.”
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Your Voiceprint Could Be Your New Password
Nuance Communications uses a voiceprint algorithm powered by a deep neural network to analyze 1,000 parameters of an individual's voice, including tone, pitch, pacing and fluctuations in the sound. The engine determines which parameters are most relevant for each individual and weights the appropriate elements accordingly. Some online bankers are using the security check within an app to verify banking transactions, such as wire transfers of large amounts of money, but many analysts see a bright future for voiceprints in many industries.
Hornetsecurity Launches Security and Data Loss Prevention Solution for Microsoft 365
Hornetsecurity released a new solution to provide Microsoft 365 business users with security and data loss prevention. Their 365 Total Protection Enterprise Backup covers many aspects of email and data security for Microsoft 365. Additionally, it enables automatic backup and recovery of an organization’s Microsoft 365 mailboxes, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive, as well as backing up the data in users’ Windows-based endpoints such as laptops or Windows workstations.
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Optimizing Your Core System
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CUProdigy - http://www.cuprodigy.com
Read Amber Harsin's comments: https://www.cunews.com/CUProdigy.pdf |
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Enhanced Software Products - https://www.espsolution.net
Read Matt Lefler's comments: https://www.cunews.com/ESP.pdf |
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Member Driven Technologies - http://www.mdtmi.com
Read Matt Baaki's comments: https://www.cunews.com/MDT.pdf |
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Symitar - http://www.symitar.com
Read Shanon McLachlan's comments: https://www.cunews.com/Symitar.pdf |
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TCS - http://www.tcs.com
Read TCS BaNCS Global Banking Team's comments: https://www.cunews.com/TCS.pdf |
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Technology and Marketing
The Rise of Climate-Conscious Consumers
While many FIs are implementing environmentally friendly policies regarding their carbon impact and energy usage, a new study from Cornerstone Advisors and Meniga demonstrates that there is a significant opportunity for FIs to gain a competitive advantage by serving climate-conscious consumers. According to Cornerstone’s survey of 3,150 US adults, nearly one in four Americans consider climate change to be the most important social challenge facing the country. At least a third of all consumers are very interested in checking accounts with the following 4 items: 1) Rewards for purchases made from environmental-friends; 2) Debit cards made from renewable or upcycled materials; 3) Policies that prevent deposits from funding fossil fuel exploration or production; and 4) An option to plant a tree with every roundup.
How to Use Video in Content Marketing
This article states that although every business has its unique set of marketing challenges, all those challenges seem to stem from one root cause: the changing behaviors and expectations of today's buyers. It adds that video offers new ways to show, rather than tell, how your product or service can help, and it can create more meaningful connections and earn the trust of buyers. It goes to layout the 4Es of video: 1. Education; 2. Engagement; 3. Emotion; and 4. Empathy.
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Paystand Wants to Make B2B Payments Cashless and with No Fees
Paystand is using cloud technology and the Ethereum blockchain as the engine for its Paystand Bank Network that enables business-to-business payments with zero fees. The company estimates that almost half of enterprise payments still involve a paper check, while fintech bets heavily on cards that come with 2% to 3% transaction fees, which they state is simply untenable when a business is routinely sending $100,000 invoices. Paystand is charging a flat monthly rate rather than a fee per transaction.
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Cloudflare Grows Its Network by 25 Percent to Speed up and Help Secure the Internet
Cloudflare announced that it has grown its network to span more than 250 cities in over 100 countries, more than tripling its overall network capacity to 100Tbps and increasing the cities in its network by 25% in the last two years. Today Cloudflare’s network interconnects with over 9,800 networks globally, including major ISPs, cloud services, and enterprises to help reduce the unpredictability and speed blocks of traffic flowing across multiple networks.
Palo Alto Networks Introduces Prisma SASE
Palo Alto Networks introduced Prisma SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), bringing together Prisma Access and Prisma SD-WAN into an integrated cloud-delivered service. The company is also introducing further innovations for Prisma SASE, including SD-WAN with integrated 5G to accelerate SASE deployments to branch offices and ADEM (Autonomous Digital Experience Management) to provide an enhanced digital experience for users regardless of location.
9 Tips to Avoid Cloud Configuration Conundrums
Configuration-related errors continue to result in avoidable losses of consumer data. Fortunately, there are tactics one can deploy to avoid cloud configuration breaches and prevent error from both technology and humans. The author goes on to cover 9 of them in this article.
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Four Suggestions for How Tech Can Improve Contact Center Performance
The author is convinced that managed IT services may be a difference-maker in boosting contact center performance. He offers these 4 recommendations: 1) Use well designed IVR system; 2) Merge databases to simplify research; 3) Empower your agents with the best technology; and 4) Utilize skills-based routing.
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