Insights

For small businesses, systems that quietly hum along in the background are the heartbeat of daily work. Invoices go out, payroll gets processed, customer orders are tracked, and emails keep the wheels turning. When those systems falter, even briefly, the ripple effect can throw a whole business off balance. Productivity drops, clients notice, employees scramble, and the costs — both time and money — stack up fast.

Let’s be blunt: if your business still hasn’t made the jump to the cloud, you’re officially behind the curve — and your competitors know it. According to CDW’s 2024 Cloud Computing Research Report, nearly half of all organizations have already moved at least half of their apps to the cloud. And by 2027? Most are expecting to run three-quarters or more of their workloads on cloud platforms. Leveraging the cloud is no longer a thing of the future — it’s the new baseline.

Tipping used to be simple. You got the bill, did some quick math, and left a little extra for good service. But now? Automated kiosks, preset tip suggestions, and confusing calculations have made it harder than ever to know what you’re actually paying. Some diners have started noticing that the numbers don’t always add up — sometimes, a 25% tip option turns out to be 38% when you do the math. Whether it’s an error, a system loophole, or something more deliberate, one thing is clear: if you’re not paying attention, you might be paying way more than you intended.

Smartphone theft has escalated alarmingly. In San Francisco, for instance, a man was arrested for scamming elderly residents by sending fake phone notifications, leading to the theft of at least $64,000. Similarly, Los Angeles has witnessed a surge in property crimes, with reported burglaries and thefts slightly increasing this year. These incidents underscore the importance of being vigilant and proactive in protecting our devices.

You work hard for your money, and you do your best to stay safe online. But scammers? They’re working just as hard — if not harder — to take what’s yours. Every day in California, people fall victim to sophisticated fraud schemes that are more convincing than ever. From AI-powered impersonation scams to fake charity cons, these scammers have refined their tricks to outsmart even the most cautious individuals.

Artificial Intelligence is the business world’s shiny new toy, promising automation, efficiency, and insights at a speed no human could match. But like any powerful tool, AI comes with risks. And not just the kind that make tech teams groan — these risks can disrupt businesses, erode trust, and even lead to legal nightmares. Before your company dives headfirst into AI, let’s talk about the pitfalls lurking beneath the surface.

Small business owners wear too many hats. One minute, you’re handling customer service, and the next, you’re sorting out invoices, juggling emails, and trying to keep up with the latest tech. It’s exhausting. AI promises to ease that burden, tackling tedious tasks, analyzing data, and even predicting customer behavior. But here’s the catch—  AI can’t do everything. When businesses rely too much on automation, they risk losing the very thing that makes them stand out: human connection.

In a significant cybersecurity incident, hackers have compromised at least 35 Google Chrome extensions, potentially affecting over 2.6 million users. This breach underscores the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and highlights the importance of vigilant cybersecurity practices.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and more than love could be in the air. What if your perfect match turned out to be a perfect scam? It’s a question more people should be asking as romance scams surge, with losses skyrocketing and tactics growing more sophisticated.