November 2025

Hi Chris!

Introducing Trendz³ — a new monthly newsletter designed specifically for TekTrendz clients and small businesses of Northwest Arkansas. As a small business ourselves, we know you're pressed for time and may be thinking, "Another email is all I need." But that's exactly why you'll want this newsletter.

Trendz³ will keep you and your business in-the-know about crucial developments in technology and IT with important ramifications for your business. And we'll respect your time while doing it. No essays here; just quick in-and-out blurbs. We'll also pass along helpful resources, must-read articles, and information about newsworthy events. 

Just hit reply to this email if you ever have feedback; we'd love to hear it. 

Welcome to Trendz³,

Trend¹ — Hooray for new smartphones! But here's what to know...

Whether you're upgrading to a new iPhone 17 or expecting a new device from Santa this year (lucky), it's new smartphone season. But, shucks, a new phone (if used for work) can lead to downtime, data loss, and even cyberattacks. By taking these steps, you and your team can minimize frustration and cyber risks later:

• Back up photos, contacts, messages, files, etc. from your old phone to a company-approved cloud storage service
• Re-enroll your new phone in your company's mobile security system (MSM) and set up multi-factor authentication on the new device — it's critical
• Reinstall business apps; they often work better with a fresh install
• Review privacy settings, as new phones usually reset permissions
• Set up security features (e.g., biometrics, "Find My Device," auto updates)
• Wipe the old phone: remove SIM/memory cards, sign out of Google/iCloud/etc., and factory reset it

Sound like a lot? No sweat — just give us a call. We can navigate you through upgrades to work devices, so you can spend more time on that rad new phone.

Trend² — Adiós Windows 10 support, and why it matters...

Windows 10 had a good, long run of it — but it's now officially the Windows 11 era, and Microsoft is no longer offering technical support or security updates for Windows 10. That's a big deal for businesses still using Windows 10. Here's what to know if your office hasn't upgraded to Windows 11 yet:

• Cybercriminals target outdated software, because they know your system — and all the data on it — won't be patched and is permanently exposed
• You may be out of compliance with industry standards (e.g., HIPAA), and your cyber insurance coverage could be invalidated
• Software compatibility issues will arise as vendors update their apps 
• Windows 11 is better than Windows 10, with faster boot times, memory management, etc., and you can't benefit from what you don't have

Note: If you need more time to transition a device to Windows 11, for $30 you can purchase extended security updates through Microsoft until October 2026.

In short, it's time for an upgrade. Lean on us to make it a smooth transition. 

Trend³ — 'Tis the Season for, er, IT Shopping?

When you think of holiday shopping, you probably don't think about IT upgrades. But as an MSP for almost two decades, we've noticed many IT upgrades by many businesses occur at year's end. For a few reasons:

1. To reduce taxable income through legitimate business purchases
2. Because fewer people are in the office and productivity is already lighter
3. Because businesses want to hit the ground running in the new year

So if it's time to upgrade or update IT systems, there are definite advantages to knocking them out now. Common year-end IT priorities often include...

• Upgrading aging computers, servers, etc.
• Migrating to new operating systems and software applications
• Cybersecurity enhancements (e.g., endpoint protection, threat monitoring)
• Data backup and disaster recovery upgrades
• VoiP phone system upgrade
• Network or WiFi redesign to enhance new-year productivity

We can help you to determine the most pressing IT priorities for your business and even develop a year-end upgrade plan within your budget. Just reach out. 

Tip Sheet: How to Avoid a $255K Cyberattack

Fully one-third of SMBs were hit by a phishing, ransomware, or other cyberattack in 2024, according to Microsoft Security. Even scarier, the average cost of these cyberattacks tallied at $255K! 

It's time to fight back — starting with this tip sheet. We recommend sitting down with your team to make sure every member is following this basic protocol.

Click to Download the Tip Sheet

Launched: New IT Success Kit for Small Business

IT can be intimidating for small businesses. So TekTrendz launched a new IT Success Kit designed just for SMBs. There you'll find tip sheets, podcasts, even YouTube shorts to help small businesses navigate the seemingly endless maze of business IT and technology. We have big plans for the kit, so check back occasionally for new resources.  

Here's four articles we've read recently with important implications for small business — and their technology, productivity, and/or cybersecurity.

www.tektrendz.com | 479.696.8268 | info@tektrendz.com