Canon Capital Computer Solutions | Canon Capital Management Group, LLC

We’ll Soon be One Source, Many Services, the Right Decision — All Under One Roof at our New Harleysville Location

We are excited to inform you that later this year, we are looking forward to moving from our Souderton and Hatfield offices to combine under one roof at our newly-acquired Harleysville location.

We’ll keep you posted on our progress with the building renovations as we work to make it our own before settling in. Until then, we are happy to continue to serve you at our Souderton and Hatfield locations.

One Source. Many Services. The Right Decision. This is our motto, which we strive to embody each and every day as our four business units work to serve your Accounting, Computer Solutions, Payroll, and Wealth Management needs.

Canon Capital Computer Solutions Named Calyptix Security Corp. 2018 Premier Partner

Phishing attacks, ransomware, and cloud storage are just a few of the cybersecurity concerns facing small business owners as we enter the new year. Hackers work tirelessly to outwit and infiltrate online protections. It is our job to stay steps ahead of these criminals to ensure that your information is protected and that your business continues to run smoothly.

That is why we are proud to announce our continued designation as a Premier Partner by Calyptix Security Corp. This designation is based on the criteria of Canon Capital Computer Solutions meeting the Calyptix standard of commitment to superior IT support and services to our customers and for accelerating growth in network security services for the small and medium businesses we serve.

This partnership with Calyptix gives us the advantage as we protect the key components of your business – payment systems, payroll, workstations – anything residing on your network, allowing Canon Capital Computer Solutions to give you even greater peace of mind and flexibility in your business operations.

If you have questions or would like to schedule an assessment of your network, we are always available to you. Call 215-723-4881 or contact us online.

Beware Bad Rabbit Ransomware

We have been researching the latest ransomware threat, “Bad Rabbit.” According to cybersecurity experts, this malware is being distributed through compromised websites and is executed when the user clicks on a prompt to install the latest Adobe Flash update.

According to Wired.com:

If a person does click on the malicious installer – and given the number of Flash updates issued this is highly probable – their computer locks. The ransom note and payment page demands around $280 in Bitcoin and gives a 40-hour deadline for payments to be made. The DiskCryptor software is being used to encrypt hard-drives.

While this threat has primarily affected users in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and Germany, please be very careful if prompted to install an Adobe Flash update you did not initiate. Close your browser immediately without clicking on any other prompts. As always, contact us for assistance by calling 215-723-4881.

Microsoft Windows 10 Makes Its Debut

Microsoft is releasing a new version of their Windows operating system – Windows 10 – on July 29, 2015. Already being called “the most significant overhaul of its operating system in years,” by Business Insider, here are the reasons we feel it’s a good idea to consider this upgrade:

– It is faster than Windows 7 and Windows 8
– Windows 10 is more secure than Windows 7 and Windows 8
– It contains features making it far easier to use on both tablet and desktop.

DigitalTrends.com has even more reasons in this preview article as to why an upgrade to Windows 10 should be seriously considered.

Even better, the upgrade to Windows 10 will be FREE to most users of Windows 7 and 8 for one year. After a year, users who have not already downloaded Windows 10 will need to purchase it.

If you have Windows XP on your computer you may still be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, if your system came with a Windows 7 license that was “downgraded” to Windows XP. If you’re not sure whether this pertains to your current set-up, contact us. We’ll be glad to help.

We recommend that our Canon Capital Computer Solutions customers plan on upgrading to Windows 10. However – as with all major operating system upgrades – some planning is required PRIOR to installing the upgrade to be sure that your existing hardware and software will work with Windows 10. Failure to do so can cause unexpected costs in replacing peripherals (printers, scanners, etc.) and software packages in order to get them to work with Windows 10.

We will be reaching out to our customers over the next few months to discuss Windows 10, and help determine if upgrading is in your best interest. In the meantime, we are always available to you at 215-723-4881 or www.canoncapital.com.

Ransomware Phishing Attack

Our Computer Solutions group has seen an increase in ransomware phishing attacks. This recent attack uses email attachments with fake resumes to infect computers and lock you out of all your computers locally and in shared locations. In order to protect your company, we recommend that you DO NOT open attachments that look anything like a resume being sent as a zipped (.zip file extension) file.

The attackers are getting very creative and make the emails appear rather legitimate. Therefore, if you are in the process of hiring at this time, we recommend that you request all resumes be submitted in pdf format. Along with that, have all applicants include the job listing they are submitting the resume for and their contact phone number in the body of the email they send. This extra information will enable you to determine the validity of the resume submission.

These days it is wise to take the time to consider the source and content of any email you receive, especially those with attachments or links to websites. Always remember to “think before you click.”

If you think you might already have an issue as a result of this latest attack, please contact us at 215-723-4881.

Ring in the New, Shred Out the Old: Join Our Cyber Security & Shredding Event January 7, 2016

Ring in the “New” by shredding the “Old.” Join us for a Cyber Security presentation and on-site document shredding event Thursday, January 7, 2016 at our Canon Capital Wealth Management and Family Office Center (2936 Funks Road, Hatfield, PA).

Please join us for refreshments and a presentation on Cyber Security by our industry expert, Kent Gerhart, director of Canon Capital Computer Solutions. Richter’s Shredding will also be on site to safely shred those old, unwanted documents and help you clean out for the New Year.

Presentations will take place at 3:45pm and 5:30pm; please attend as your schedule allows.

Richter’s Shredding will be available 4:15-5:15pm.

In addition, we will be accepting unwrapped donations of any size diapers, wipes, and toys for infants and toddlers to benefit local charities.

RSVPs are appreciated – email Jennifer Norman or call her at 215-723-4881.

Canon Capital Management Group Kicks Off 2016 with Cyber Security Seminar and Document Shredding Event

With the arrival of the new year, thoughts turn toward clearing out clutter and developing good habits. We were happy to lead the way with our Cyber Security Seminar and Document Shredding event, held Wednesday, January 7 at our Wealth Management & Family Office Services location in Hatfield.

Dr. Peter Roland, Canon Capital Management Group founder and managing director, delivers one of the first containers of documents to be shred.

While Richter’s Mobile Shredding provided the document shredding services, our Computer Solutions owner and director, Kent Gerhart, presented two seminars on the latest news and best practices in cyber security safeguards.

This event was free of charge, with attendees encouraged to bring donations to be distributed to local charities, including diapers, baby wipes and new, unwrapped toys for infants and toddlers. Many thanks to everyone who participated.

Join Our Computer Solutions Webinar: 5 Keys to Creating a Disaster Recovery Plan for Your Business

Every year, disasters strike small businesses all over the world. These disasters come in many forms, from natural (hurricanes, blizzards) to virtual (hackers, CryptoLocker) to unavoidable (human error, hardware failure).

So what can you do to prepare your business for the inevitable?

Canon Capital Computer Solutions has partnered with Datto and disaster recovery expert, Donna R. Childs, for a free webinar covering the Five Key Elements of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning.

Secure your spot today and learn from the experts how to prepare your business.

Date: Thursday, February 4, 2016

Time: 2:00-3:00PM ET

The Microsoft Windows 10 Free Upgrade Offer Ends July 29 – Should You Do It?

It’s hard to believe it’s almost a year since Microsoft released Windows 10, the latest version of their Windows operating system. Existing Windows users have the opportunity to access a free upgrade through July 29, 2016. So, should you upgrade? If you have already upgraded and things are going well, then by all means stay with it. If you have not upgraded yet, we do not recommend a rush to do so.

The features of Windows 10 are mostly cosmetic, and we’ve yet to see the major software suppliers release new products not compatible with Windows 7 and 8. Even QuickBooks 2016 – the only version of QuickBooks compatible with Windows 10 – is also compatible with Windows 7 and 8. So as long as your primary software continues to support Windows 7 and 8, we don’t recommend upgrading to Windows 10 on an existing computer.

An operating system upgrade is never as easy as just pushing a button. You need to make sure all of your hardware, software and peripheral equipment is compatible with the new operating system. Will your QuickBooks work? Will you still be able to print? Multiply this by the number and variety of computers in your workplace and what seemed a simple task can be a daunting project.

Be prepared by being proactive.

What we do recommend is that you start preparing now for the day you’ll need to replace your computers, s since Windows 10 will be the standard on any new machines. This includes staying up to date with all software packages and apps while using Windows 7 or 8. Doing so provides better support and more security.

We also suggest scheduling our Computer Solutions’ upfront analysis service which reviews your hardware, software, and equipment to determine what, if any, work is needed before a transition to Windows 10. This allows you to take your time and know what to expect when you eventually move on from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10. It’s part of our due diligence and saves you the inconvenience and cost of future unknowns.

We’ve conducted this upfront analysis for a number of clients who have chosen to upgrade to Windows 10 and found that even with no predetermined issues, there were some hiccups once the transition to Windows 10 was complete.

There’s another element to the free Windows 10 upgrade. Some users have experienced an automatic update. Others have made the upgrade accidentally due to the way Windows has presented the option in pop-up messages. If this is the case in your situation, Windows 10 does have an uninstall option allowing you to revert to your previous operating system as long as you do so within 30 days of the Windows 10 installation.

If you have questions or would like to schedule an upfront analysis to be prepared for Windows 10, we are always available to you at 215-723-4881 or www.canoncapital.com.