Washington Works Blog

Using a computer can be frustrating when things go wrong, but you’re not alone. Everyone has dealt with annoying tech issues at some point. Let’s look at three super common tech problems and how you can handle them.

Have you ever used Google to look up something, played a game that remembers your high scores, or checked your messages on Instagram? All these apps work smoothly because they have something called a Database Management System, or DBMS, working behind the scenes. In this month’s newsletter, we take a look at the DBMS and how it works to improve user experiences. 

Taking care of your computer isn’t just about software updates and backups—it’s also about keeping it physically clean. A dust-free and tidy workspace helps your devices last longer and run smoothly. This month, we look at five straightforward tips anyone can follow to maintain a clean workstation.

Look around and you’ll see that almost everyone is scrolling through social media. Whether it’s checking out funny memes, following the latest trends, or staying updated with friends, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X have become part of everyday life. It has also become a very important part of small business marketing efforts. This month, we take a look at how social media is a great and useful tool for small businesses. 

If your business works with a Managed Service Provider (MSP)—an IT company that handles things like computers, networks, and security—it’s worth knowing how to get the most out of that relationship. MSPs like us can help keep your tech working smoothly, but to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth, here are three simple ways to work with us most effectively.

Nowadays, we use technology for almost everything. Whether we're talking to friends, watching videos, or shopping, technology makes it easier and faster. With phones, computers, and other devices, we can do so much more than ever before. This has made people expect things to be quick and simple. Let’s see how tech has changed the way we shop!

Imagine losing your phone or having it break. Now, think about all the stuff on it: photos, texts, contacts, apps, and settings. Losing that can not only be super frustrating, it could be damaging to your reputation, your career, or even your safety. Let’s just focus on the data for the time being. If you have your mobile data backed up, the situation becomes a little bit easier to navigate. Backing up your phone is easy, and it’s one of the smartest things you can do to keep your stuff safe.

If you have the guts to start a business, having it succeed is a massive reward, especially considering how much work you’ve had to do to make that a reality. Unfortunately, for businesses worldwide, all that hard work and dedication could be destroyed after a cyberattack. This month, we'll discuss how exactly cyberattacks ruin an otherwise successful business.

Keeping track of your business’ technology is very important for smooth operations and long-term success. You need to monitor every piece of your technology to avoid wasting money and facing security issues. A good inventory system helps you know what technology you have, where it's being used, and when it needs maintenance or replacement. This ensures your team has the right tools when they need them, which helps boost productivity and growth.

If you are a subscriber and frequent reader of this newsletter, you’re probably familiar with our campaign to educate business owners, managers, and even your average worker on the importance of backing up data. In this month’s newsletter we’ll describe incremental backup and how it works as the best scenario for small business data redundancy.

Sitting at a desk all day, five or more days a week can be hard on a person's body (and often their mind). Even though there isn’t much that can be done about the type of work people in these positions have, there are some things you can do to prioritize their physical and mental health. This month, we give you four tips that will help.

Computer problems aren’t just annoying, they are a major impediment to a business’ overall productivity. There are several common problems that can slow down your computer, each with its own signs, causes, and fixes. This month we’re going to look at some of these problems and what the solutions are for them.

Professional services include a lot of the “experts” people depend on. Today’s professional services firms rely heavily on technology to enhance efficiency, client service, and overall operations. This month, we thought we’d go through four technologies professional services firms depend on. Let’s get into it.

Cybersecurity is a major part of business computing today, mainly because there are so many threats. Cybersecurity professionals and network administrators must innovate to confront these threats. This month, we thought we would review three of these innovations to give you an idea of what is being done to help businesses handle the rough-and-tumble cybersecurity landscape. 

Whether you like it or not, the password is the most important part of your cybersecurity policy. That’s saying something with all the tools and strategies out there designed to keep unauthorized users from accessing your accounts. Maybe they aren't the most comprehensive security solution, but they are by far the most frequently used and there are some things every user should know to help them build successful passwords. This month, we’ll go into four things every computer user should know about building strong and reliable passwords

Cutting costs on IT while maintaining the security you depend on requires a fair amount of consideration. One of the most effective ways to maintain security and manage IT costs is through the use of cloud services. The problem is that there are horror stories surrounding data security in the cloud that persist even as a larger and larger percentage of people and businesses use the cloud for their computing needs. This month, we take a brief look at how the cloud serves to cut down their computing costs. 

Many organizations have become reliant on cloud computing, which provides many benefits like cost savings and access to computing resources. However, they do run into complications with data security. One way to gain control and maintain accessibility is to use a private cloud. We’ll discuss why a business would consider using the private cloud over the more affordable public cloud platforms available today.

You've likely encountered the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), though its full implications might still be unclear. This is understandable, given the broad array of devices that fall under the IoT umbrella. Here, we aim to explore how the average business can harness the power of IoT to its advantage.

Your organization’s technology doesn’t do you any good if it is inaccessible. That’s why having a thoroughly thought-out and carefully implemented plan to proactively keep ahead of technology issues is so important. This month, we want to talk a little bit about technology-related downtime and how to keep it from being a royal pain in your business’ rear.

We live in an era of constant upgrades. How often do you upgrade your smartphone? Do you give the same attention to your business’ technology? Many users ignore clear signs that it’s time for an upgrade, telling themselves, “I’ll manage just fine.” This mindset can be a problem. Knowing when old devices are slowing you down and upgrading to newer, stronger ones is very important.