As we welcome in the new year of 2023, we at SofTouch Systems wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your continued support and trust in our managed IT services. We are grateful to have the opportunity to serve you and your businesses over the past 30 years. We look forward to 2023 and another 30 years of success!!
This year, we will be implementing a number of changes and improvements to better serve you. These include a new web page, a dedicated sales department, new package pricing, affiliate options, more IT solutions, and even discounted trips and tours to destinations such as Mexico and Thailand. We are confident that these changes will help to make your experience with SofTouch even more productive, profitable, and enjoyable. In addition to the improvements, we are proud to report that SofTouch Systems has not had a security breach in over 30 years. While we don’t like to toot our own horn, in 2022 we saw the highest number of cyber attacks per year than we had in all of the previous years. We take the security of your data and systems very seriously, and are committed to maintaining the highest levels of security and protection.
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STS is also committed to providing you with the highest level of service and support no matter where you or your business is located. We know it’s our support that has kept you here all this time, for that, thank you for choosing SofTouch Systems as your managed IT partner. As we grow as a family we also grow as a company and have many exciting plans in store for the coming years. We are excited to continue working with you in the new year and to continue to grow our businesses together.
Here’s to a successful and productive 2023! Cheers!!
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”
Hellen Keller
This will be our inaugural address of the importance of using a password management app/software. If there is one thing that drives any and all IT professionals crazy is the “password” problem. When I say crazy, I need you to go a little deeper and think Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde if you will. When we are asked to help with a problem and we have to spend X amount of time getting the password it’s already too much. A basic sense of security should explain how important a password is, right? If it is important then why would a person use one that anyone that knows them could figure out? Birthdays, lucky numbers, favorite phrase, I mean it’s impressive that you think these things are all unique. Passwords need a little more thought. Remember passwords give access to our future and the current financial situation. Who would you trust with that?
So before things get heated, lets explain what PM “password management” software is. Password management software is software you download on your phone, tablet, or computer. This software stores your passwords so you don’t need to remember them. Log in once with a ‘master’ password and it will generate and remember your passwords for all your online accounts. You WILL need to remember that one master password (or passphrase) which means you only need to memorize one thing. Use the “one password to rule them all” more efficiently so to speak.
PM apps are great because you can use secure passwords of 12, 18, or 20+ characters long. You already know longer passwords are more secure. The more variables involved in the password the better and PM apps give you the ability to add several. They also give you the ability to save, auto fill, track the history of and more of your passwords. Just think of them as your password vault that not even they have access to.
So in no particular order the Best Password Management Apps to use in 2023 are:
Dashlane
Bitwarden
Password Boss
KeePassXC
Last Pass
We here at SofTouch Systems don’t believe in one way being the “only” or “best” way. So we will just highlight one or two things that makes each one special or different from others. As with most things, it boils down to which one checks all the marks you and your business needs. You can’t go wrong with any of the afore mentioned applications. Not having one is far worse than having one that doesn’t do EVERYTHING you want.
Dashlane is one of the more recognizable names in the PM software industry and for good reason. To stay in business in the tech industry for this long says something about your client base and product. According to Crunchbase New York USA based Dashlane has between 251 and 500 employees with more than 210mil funding. With nearly 3 million visits and 77 thousand downloads per month, it’s safe to say they are an industry leader. The company boasts services such as dark web monitoring, wifi VPN, password generation, personal storage. On their paid individual accounts they offer free friends and family. They offer on-demand phone support for business accounts.
If you haven’t heard of BitWarden then keep reading because this app is loaded and best part, it’s open source! By CRUNCHBASE’s count the California based company has between 101 and 250 employees and 100mil in funding. In the last 30 days they have seen close to 4mil visits and 170 thousand downloads. For most of their client base, the fact they are open source is it’s biggest appeal. They also offer unlimited devices and free sharing for 2 users across all plans. They are worth a look. As a bonus, they offer free trials, even for business accounts.
Our next entry is a small company but don’t doubt the size of the company. We all know that size doesn’t mean the same when it comes to technology. You ultimately want to pay for an unbreakable code and for that all you need is well written code. Enter Password Boss, CRUNCHBASE has them at a modest 11 and 50 employees and not enough funding to post. They opened in 2014 and have built their product to be used along side a businesses suite of products. Their product is open source so it is easy to integrate but it is also available to individual usage. They boast a remote control tool integration, multi-devices access with mobile synchronization, centralized management portal and dashboard.
Our next entry is a relatively ancient to the scene and another that boasts open source programming. But unlike most it also has offline access and is seamlessly cross-platform and is based in Metzingen Germany. KeePassXC is one of the smaller companies on the list but only in terms of personnel. Their size doesn’t stop them from being super integrated. No matter the OS or browser you use, they have an extension. Also for those that know open source products will find KeePassXC works on all their platforms. Another feature is that the app will work with all of your platforms concurrently.
Our next entry in the Password Management applications is one of the biggest in the industry. Based out of Boston Massachusetts, LastPass, is one that we have tested. (we are not being paid for this review.) As per CRUNCHBASE, Last Pass has between 1001 and 5000 employees and they are a publicly traded company. Founded in 2003, aka 3am Labs, aka Logmein, is the giant in the PM industry. Last Pass is super easy to use, very user friendly and they have apps for all of your devices. They have won every award you can win, they deserve a lot of praise.
So if you’ve made it to the end of our list you’ll notice that we like them all. It’s much like ice cream one may be best for you but that’s just from your view right? The truth is, they are all so good at what they do. The important take away from this article is that there is no excuse for losing a password. There is no reason your business, organization, or group should ever spend any time on passwords. The sheer cost alone for searching for, unlocking, resetting, or anything having to do with a password is astronomical. Don’t spend company funds on internal liabilities created by you or your employees. Instead create a culture of progressive thought and preventive planning to minimize your security costs.
The time for change is now for Windows 8.1 users. As previously scheduled, the time has come for Microsoft to drop it’s support. As happens, once programs are no longer updated, they become a liability and problematic to say the least. I know the Windows XP lovers of old know your pain but rest assured, you’ll fall in love again and yes, Windows lovers, Microsoft has even simplified the process of upgrading. So as of January 10, 2023, Microsoft will be calling it quits on all security, software updates, and technical support for Windows 8.1. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your PC will stop working, it only means that your PC will become vulnerable to new security breaches, which can leave you and your network at risk for malware, ransomware and other baddie created “ware.” Many baddies like to exploit un-patched systems due to their Swiss cheese style security. The longer your computer remains un-patched, the more vulnerabilities will be found.
Windows 8.1 born 2013 died 2023 (fortune tellers we are)
It’s not just the massive amounts of holes an unsupported OS creates, it’s also the other programs and applications you use on the OS that can begin to malfunction as well. Once developers see there is no support for an OS they no longer update their programs, either, which means your Google Chrome, MS Office and other programs may have adverse effects, or you may not get the newest updates and features for them. This is what it means to have supported software.
Additionally, if a person chooses to stay with an unsupported OS, when they do have any problems they will have to get help from a third party support company and it is our understanding that these types of companies will charge a premium for their services.
Microsoft released Windows 8.1 in October of 2013 and it was an upgraded version of the lackluster Windows 8. Back in the early 2000’s, software companies started the trend of numbering their newest generations 1.0, 2.1, 2.372 and so on instead of creating and marketing a new OS name. OS maker Microsoft had released a very, very buggy version the prior year and to keep from sinking the proverbial ship, they quickly responded to feedback and 8.1 was born just 12 months later.
The problems with Windows 8 were challenging in that Microsoft was figuring out how to create a cross-platform operating system. The product was built with user experience in mind because in the early 2010’s, mobile phone and tablet markets were gaining much more traction than previous years. So Microsoft wanted the end user to instinctively understand how the product would work on any given device. This is why there was no start button, no reboot, and a strange UI. Chalk it up to growing pains.
Now that we know the why, let’s get to the how. Microsoft was running an offer for a free upgrade to the next available OS which is Windows 10, but that offer has long since expired. You CAN however, still get a free upgrade from Windows 8.1 to 10 by using your Windows 8.1 product key. But in the event you aren’t a fan of change, you may want to explore your options to download Windows 11 which is currently available if your PC meets the standards. The reason you might as well skip Windows 10 is because Microsoft has already set a date for stopping support for Windows 10 in October 2025. Speaking of PC’s meeting the standards, Microsoft suggests that customers that are currently running Windows 8.1 should upgrade their computer to one with Windows 10/11 already installed because their PC requirements are extremely strict. Contact us if you need any help finding a solution that fits your business needs.
For nearly 30 years SofTouch Systems has worked with clients to create the total IT security package together. We are able to offer the full gambit of IT services at a fraction of the cost of an “in-house” IT. We are partnered with schools, churches, and private firms alike and privacy and security are one and the same for us. If you don’t have one, you won’t have the other.
