Author: Stuff Business

So, you know how for the past, oh, fifteen or so years, cloud marketing hype has been making noise about the benefits of cloud (especially cloud providers, bad um tiss – Ed)? How it’s the solution to all of the infrastructure problems that ail businesses, that it can do everything an on-premises datacentre can, but faster and cheaper? That there’s no need to own or operate your own hardware anymore, and that technicians on your payroll are expensive and it’s just easier to pay someone else to manage and operate everything remotely on your behalf? Sound familiar? Well, hold on…

When it comes to accounting software, the choice businesses typically have is between software that’s based in the cloud, and software that’s installed locally on a desktop computer. While desktop software has been widely used in the past, there’s a growing trend of companies switching to cloud-based accounting systems. This is driven by the biggest perceived benefit of cloud accounting: that all you need is a PC connected to the internet and a browser, and you can use it from anywhere. And from an IT perspective, accounting software that’s delivered from the cloud is also much easier to manage than…

Last week in a CNBC interview, we got to hear the thoughts of HP’s CEO, Enrique Lores, on HP’s practice of “bricking” printers with so-called “security” updates when non-genuine HP cartridges are detected. printing When asked about his thoughts on the matter, he said that HP is protecting its IP, which is understandable given how much money is spent developing it. The other reason HP does it, he said, is because apparently, non-genuine cartridges can spread malware. On the surface this sounds feasible – malware bad – but it begs the question, “How bad are HP’s security capabilities if they…

It is very cynical to think that no matter how bad things are, they can always get worse. But in some cases, it’s true: today, in addition to being exposed to misinformation and disinformation, we now have ‘malinformation’ to deal with, and it’s something that not just business, but society at large, needs to be more aware of. For business in particular, though, it can’t just be ignored: businesspeople simply must wrap their heads around this potential threat, especially with the rise of generative AI (GenAI) that can be roped in to create all manner of malicious and convincing campaigns…

Microsoft is working hard on a new version of Windows which could be released in 2024 under the codename “Hudson Valley.” This update marks a change in how Microsoft develops and ships Windows, likely influenced by changes in leadership and the general shake-up happening inside Microsoft this year. While it seems Windows 11 only just arrived on the scene, Microsoft seems very keen to make the most of its recent investments in AI, which may be the reason behind the push to get this next version into consumers’ hands in the next year. Windows releases are always of interest, regardless…

It’s still early days for Microsoft Copilot, and you might be wondering if businesses should trust anyone claiming to have expertise in it. No, says Loryan Strant, product and innovation lead at Dutch IT consultancy Rapid Circle. But why does he say that? Strant, one of Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals, believes it’s because nobody has had enough time with Copilot yet to have learned enough about it to be meaningfully helpful in a business context. In a long rant published online titled “How to Identify Copilot Bullsh*t”, Strant made a pretty strong case for businesses to take any offer of…

As you know, business is extremely competitive: everyone is scrambling to be number one and stay number one, using any and all technological advantages they can get their hands on, but it’s not easy. Technology changes all the time, making it difficult to always be up to date. Nonetheless, emerging technologies are often the key to staying ahead, provided they are used effectively. Generative AI is the latest emerging technology that’s gathering momentum; it is also much more than just a buzzword, and we believe South African business owners would benefit from wrapping their heads around it. In mid-2023, a…

As 2023 winds down and we start to think about 2024, it can help to stay informed about the latest visual trends that could shape marketing strategies and other creative endeavours in the coming year. Being aware of these trends can give your brand an edge when messaging your target audience, whether that’s via social media, your website, or other marketing channels. To help with this, the popular online stock platform Depositphotos has released its annual report on emerging creative trends, offering readers valuable insights into the future of visual communication and design. In the report, Depositphotos delves into the…

As anyone who works with technology knows, change is the only constant (well that, and Patch Tuesday updates breaking things). Microsoft’s most recent updates to Windows 11 and 10, created specifically to align with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Economic Area (EEA), are the latest examples of this. These changes, rolled out in the November 2023 non-security preview update for 11 (with 10 updates to follow soon), represent more than compliance—they symbolise a strategic shift towards what you could call “enhanced user control and interoperability”. What that means for you is “these changes make the operating system…

Businesses need to use every tool at their disposal to fight criminals and criminal activity, like fraud. This is especially true for online businesses that use popular e-commerce platforms – criminal activity can take many forms, and fraud that targets online stores is quite popular. It’s also incredibly damaging to the business’s bottom line, and protection is needed to keep it at bay. Fortunately, there is good news – as the criminals evolve, so too do the tools to defeat them. Today, popular e-commerce platforms offer plugins that use machine learning and AI to detect and prevent fraudulent activity. Businesses…