The Datamax Thinking Blog

Educating, collaborating, and sparking ideas for maximizing the technology that matters.


Datto Report: Ransomware Remains Major Cyber Menace in 2020

Top-to-bottom business awareness, employee education, multi-layered security protection, and proper business continuity planning continue to be a much needed prescription for avoiding the number one malware threat to SMBs.

As one menace to business livelihood (the COVID-19 pandemic) dominates headlines, another continues to lurk in the shadows as a significant threat to businesses of all sizes — ransomware.

Topics: Network Management Network Security Business Continuity Ransomware

Section 179 Deduction: A Big Incentive for Office Technology Acquisition

Essentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income.

Small-to-medium sized businesses looking to bolster their workflow environment can now utilize technology addition by deduction — the Section 179 Deduction.

Topics: Office Equipment Productivity Tips and Tools Multifunction Copier Technology Procurement

COVID-19: 5 Benefits of Body Temperature Measurement Kiosks

With body temperature measurement kiosks, the human to human contact is eliminated completely by simply walking up to the device and getting temperature read via facial recognition.

As COVID-19 cases linger in Texas, businesses continue to try to stay ahead of the spread and ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

Topics: Office Equipment Coronavirus Body Surface Temperature Screening

How the CARES Act Relief Fund Can Help Local Governments Solidify their Remote Workforce

What is the CARES Act and how can you benefit from the resources available from it? And what technology tools are available for helping your employees work securely and succinctly in a remote environment?

While the novel coronavirus caught us all by surprise in March, it should come as no surprise to any entity today that a resulting remote workforce isn’t going away in the months — or even years — to come.

Topics: Unified Communications Coronavirus Work From Home

How to Choose the Right Managed IT Service Provider For Your Business

When evaluating potential managed service providers, it’s important to look at both the hard metrics as well as the humanistic qualities of the company you will entrust with your technology landscape.

As security concerns take center stage and IT becomes increasingly complex, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) continue to seek the help of a managed IT services provider.

Topics: Network Management Managed Services Network Security Managed Services Provider

Remote Control: 6 Communication Tools for COVID-19 and Beyond

Keeping control of a remote environment, along with possessing the optimal tools for communication/collaboration, become paramount for businesses through the pandemic and beyond.

The COVID-19 virus has created many more questions than answers for businesses in 2020. From work from home strategies, to reopening plans, to employee safety, chief among these questions is simply, "what's next?"

Topics: Unified Communications Coronavirus Remote Workforce Planning Work From Home

5 Signs Your Old Copier Could Be Creating Security Vulnerabilities

Many SMBs fail to recognize the copier for what it is today — just another device on the network, as susceptible to cyber attack as an email inbox or web browser.

"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

I see this old, tired adage at play frequently when I visit offices and learn more about their printing environment. Whether it’s due to low volumes, reluctance to incur new costs, or just flat-out comfort factor, many businesses run their decade-plus-old copiers into the ground, much like one would an older vehicle that’s been paid for.

Topics: Office Equipment Print Management Security Cybersecurity MFP Security

COVID-19: 5 Office Technology Resources for the Cloudy Business Climate Ahead

Moving forward, as a business, what resources do you need to successfully traverse the cloudy, undetermined skies surrounding COVID-19?

There’s an old Texas saying … “there is nothing between Amarillo and the North Pole but a barbed wire fence.” Another? “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, just wait a minute.”

Topics: Network Management Unified Communications Coronavirus

Plug-and-Play: Canon uniFLOW Hybrid Technology Increases User Flexibility, Functionality

With built-in hybrid technology, uniFLOW now combines on-premise facilities and cloud resources, to allow organizations to blend a solution that satisfies a particular technology landscape.

A hybrid model poses many potential advantages to an end user, with an ability to mix and match elements according to customized needs.

Topics: Office Equipment Document Workflow Print Management Canon

They've Gone Phishing: Avoid Getting Reeled in by COVID-19-Related Scams

As businesses navigate the rough seas of the ongoing pandemic, one thing’s for certain: Cybercriminals have gone phishing. Organizations must take the necessary precautions and remain vigilantly aware to avoid getting reeled in to these attacks.

Phishing attacks are nothing new. Neither is the propensity to attack during a time of crisis. Online scams like phishing, malware, and the various forms of social engineering become increasingly more effective when individuals are vulnerable, desperate, or just looking for answers.

Global concern over COVID-19 is the perfect bait.

Topics: Network Management Network Security Cybersecurity Ransomware Coronavirus