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We have often written in our newsletters about the need to improve IT security. Security should be a central consideration for all device users and business owners. Generally we talk about IT security in terms of the nuts and bolts of what good security practices entail in a technical sense. And all of that advice still stands:
But another aspect of IT security to consider is the evolving legal and governmental obligations regarding keeping your own and others data safe. High profile IT security incidents in Australia over the past few years have meant that federal and state governments are looking at this area with a view to tightening and improving IT security regulations and obligations.
One of the changes that seems inevitable is the removal or weakening of exceptions that small businesses have previously had to existing law in this area. These legislative changes are still under consideration, but it seems probable that change will occur, and so it is more vital than ever to make sure that your IT security is best practice.
We are IT providers, not lawyers, so can’t offer you advice about these likely regulatory changes. But the likely solution won’t change, it will still all be about improving your security practices. This is something Mac Aid can help you with.
Areas that seem likely to be legislated include:
A point of contention in discussion of privacy changes is the compliance burden of these changes for small business. A solid IT Security strategy won’t absolve you of these obligations or costs for your business. But it is logical that the best way to avoid expensive problems is by making sure that your IT security is best practice and so minimise the chance of breaches.
Talk to Mac Aid about the IT security stance of your business and what positive steps we can help you with to improve your preparedness.
This article from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce gives a good overview of the current state of affairs.
https://www.victorianchamber.com.au/news/privacy-act-changes-to-impact-business?
When buying a new Mac, many people don’t give enough thought to how much RAM they need. Often the choice is made by the available stock and even just on price. Whilst cost has to be considered, it is worthwhile stopping to analyse how much RAM you really need.
RAM is a crucial component of your computer that impacts its performance and multitasking capabilities. Ultimately it is a big decider in how usable your new Mac will be and for how long. In this article, we’ll look at the factors to consider when deciding how much RAM you really need for your Mac.
Remember that these days RAM is not upgradable after purchase for any new Mac. So it is more important than ever to specify your Mac with sufficient RAM at purchase.
RAM is the temporary working memory of your computer. It stores data and instructions that are actively being used by your Mac. When you start your Mac into macOS, run applications or open files, they are all loaded into RAM – that is the process you see when you start up, launch an app, or open a file.
Several factors determine how much RAM you need in your Mac.
Your typical usage patterns are a major factor: If you primarily use your Mac for very basic tasks like web browsing, email, and word processing, you won’t need as much RAM as someone who uses resource-intensive applications like design, video editing, CAD, 3D rendering, or virtual machines. How much you use your Mac day-to-day should be considered too. Do you use your Mac for an hour or two for emails, web browsing and basic tasks, or do you use it heavily all day?
macOS Version: Different versions of macOS have varying RAM requirements. Newer versions of the operating system and more modern applications demand more RAM for optimal performance.
Future-Proofing: Consider your Mac’s lifespan. If you plan to keep it for several years, you should factor in the growing demands of software and operating systems. More RAM can help future-proof your system. What is “enough” RAM today, likely won’t be enough in future.
Let’s break down RAM recommendations for different types of users:
If you use your Mac for very basic personal tasks, 8GB of RAM could suffice. It will handle web browsing, email, and office document editing comfortably. These days Mac Aid would only recommend 8GB RAM for the most basic home use, on a consumer level Mac like an iMac or MacBook Air. But 8GB of RAM is not a very good strategic choice these days, because although it might be adequate now, it won’t be enough in a couple of years as the macOS and the applications you use become more demanding. So a new Mac with 8GB RAM is not going to be a great investment, if you can stretch to it, 16GB is a much better choice.
Recommended Mac specs for this user: M1 MacBook Air with 8GB RAM. 13 or 15 inch M2 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM. M2 Mac mini with 16GB RAM. M3 iMac with 16GB RAM.
If you use your Mac all day, every day, dealing with lots of email, messaging apps, web-platforms, Dropbox, Microsoft Office apps, and even perhaps work with photo editing or editing small videos, 16GB of RAM is a sensible choice. This will ensure smoother performance when running resource-intensive applications. 16GB RAM is the standard Mac Aid recommendation for most users these days. A Mac with 16GB RAM is going to be productive for years to come.
Recommended Mac specs for this user: 13 or 15 inch M2 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM. M3 14 or 16 inch MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM. M2 Pro Mac mini with 16GB GB RAM. M3 iMac with 16GB RAM.
For users involved in design, photo editing, video editing, architecture, 3D modelling, or who run virtual machines, 32GB or more of RAM is advisable. These applications require substantial memory for efficient editing, scrolling and display rendering. A Mac for this level of user is going to be an expensive purchase anyway, so it is unwise to skimp on RAM. 32GB is a good spec here, although serious heavy-hitters might even get value out of 64GB RAM – or more. Professional level Macs like the 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pros and Mac Studios can be specified with even more RAM. The use cases here are very specialised, so if this is you, talk to Mac Aid so that we can make a proper assessment of your needs.
Recommended Mac specs for this user: M3 Pro or M3 Max 14 or 16 inch MacBook Pro with 36GB RAM or more. M3 iMac with 24GB RAM, M2 Pro Mac mini with 32 GB RAM, M2 Max or M2 Ultra Mac Studio with 32GB RAM or more.
Regardless of how much RAM you have, it also helps if you manage it efficiently.
Quit applications you are not actively using to free up RAM. This means actively quitting apps, not just closing windows.
Consider the size and resolution of photos, videos and other assets you work with. If your final video projects are going to be viewed as HD or 4K, transcode larger formats to a smaller size. Similarly with photos, consider the final resolution you actually need rather than just keeping the original hi-res files. If you create PDFs, make sure that you use the smallest acceptable quality for your use case.
Use Activity Monitor to monitor your RAM use. macOS has a built-in tool called Activity Monitor that allows you to monitor RAM usage. You can identify memory-hungry applications and close them if necessary, or look for less RAM hungry alternatives.
You might be surprised which apps are memory hungry. Web browsers – Google Chrome in particular – can consume huge amounts of RAM, particularly if you tend to have many tabs open. Microsoft Teams tends to use a lot of system resources, including RAM. Dropbox uses more RAM than you might expect. Email clients can also use a lot of RAM, if you work with particularly large mailboxes. Design, video or audio apps are big RAM consumers too. If any of these are in your workflow, they should be considered in assessing how much RAM you need.
Ultimately, specifying your new Mac with the right amount of RAM ensures that it will run smoothly, handle multitasking efficiently, and remain productive and a pleasure to use for years to come. Evaluate your needs, consider your budget, and make an informed decision to get the best performance and value from your Mac. If in doubt about how much RAM you need in a new Mac, give Mac Aid a call.
With the release of the iPhone 15 with its USB-C charging port, Apple have started the final phase of their switch to USB-C. So we thought it was a good time to discuss completing the change to USB-C for all of your devices.
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Apple has been at the forefront of innovation for decades. However, one area where they have been rather slow to fully adapt is the universal adoption of USB-C across their product lineup.
Moving completely to USB-C will simplify your life massively, you won’t need as many cables and adapters, and any device or cable you grab will work with everything.
If you have bought a Mac or iPad in recent years you will already have started the change to USB-C. But you have probably had to deal with adapters to connect USB-A devices you already had, like USB sticks, external drives and printers.
By re-equipping with a few cheap cables, you can unify your IT kit so that is everything is natively USB-C.
Even now, many external hard drives still come with USB-A cables. But some do now come with a USB-C adapter cable in the box. So if you are buying an external drive now, shop carefully and you should be able to find an drive that will natively connect to your USB-C devices. Otherwise, you can often replace the cable that came with your hard drive with an equivalent USB-C cable.
USB sticks that are both USB-A and USB-C are commonly available now, sometimes called “dual flash drives” they are a good way to connect to your USB-C devices, but also maintain compatibility with legacy devices that may still only have USB-A, like televisions or older PCs.
Likewise, any printer cables that are USB-A can probably be replaced with an equivalent USB-C cable.
USB-C, also known as USB Type-C, is a versatile and universally accepted standard for data transfer and charging. Its slim, reversible design has made it a favorite among tech enthusiasts and manufacturers alike. USB-C is an open standard, which means it’s not limited to one company or ecosystem. This universality brings many advantages.
One of the most significant benefits is compatibility. USB-C is found on a vast array of devices, from laptops and smartphones to tablets and accessories. This universality eliminates the need for multiple cables and adapters, simplifying your tech ecosystem and reducing electronic waste.
When it comes to data transfer, USB-C is a clear winner. USB-C ports support blazing-fast data transfer speeds, making file transfers between your devices lightning-fast. Whether you’re transferring photos, videos, or documents, USB-C can handle it all with ease.
While Apple has made strides in adopting USB-C, it’s time for users to take the initiative and fully commit to this versatile and universally accepted standard. Say goodbye to the tangle of cables and adapters and hello to a more streamlined and efficient tech ecosystem. Make the change today, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Amidst the chaos of office design, packing, logistics, and ultimately moving into a new office space, don’t forget to plan for IT. Mac Aid, as your IT provider can play a pivotal role in this process, but we can’t do it alone. To help us make it a smooth process and minimize downtime during an office move, consider these planning steps.
The key to a successful office move is to start planning well in advance. This gives us ample time to prepare and execute a seamless move. 90 days would be ideal, but loop us in as soon as you are deciding to move, even if your new office isn’t definite yet. You would be surprised how many Mac Aid clients phone us for help with their office move on the day of the move, or even afterwards.
Before moving, assess the infrastructure of your new office space to ensure it meets the technical requirements of your IT environment. This may involve checking power outlets, network cabling, and the availability of high-speed internet connections. If any upgrades or installations are needed, arrange for them well in advance.
Allow plenty of time to establish an internet connection at the new site. Be alert to the fact that you may have ongoing contractual agreements with your current internet service provider or hefty relocation fees. If you are connecting with the same provider at your new site, they may be flexible, but some types of internet connection may still have expensive relocation fees. All of this applies to telephone systems too.
Many Mac Aid clients have wifi setups in their offices that have organically grown over the years, as their dependance on them has increased. Moving office is a great time to stop and assess your needs and do wifi properly for your new space. Your staff and visiting clients will thank you for implementing a good spec, modern wifi network. Depending on your workflow, a good wifi network could even replace ethernet in your new office.
Even though you likely have a lot of detail and expense to consider for your move, it is also a sensible time to evaluate the performance of your IT infrastructure for the new office. Discuss your long-term IT strategies with Mac Aid to optimize and upgrade your IT systems for the new environment.
Data loss during an office move can be catastrophic. So this is another time so stop and consider whether your backup strategy is adequate. Your backup strategy should include both on-site and off-site backups to mitigate the risk of data loss during the transition.
If you have a large printer under contract with a provider, it may be stipulated that you have them do the move. Moving printers is a big task, and things can go wrong. Printers generally need recalibration after a move as well. If your printer provider does the move you will have the best chance of your printer arriving at the new office in good working condition.
While we will be aiming to minimize downtime, it’s essential to plan for some disruption during the move. Communicate with your team and clients to manage expectations. Have contingency plans in place for critical functions that may be temporarily impacted.
Label all computers and peripherals like mice, keyboards and monitors meticulously. All mice and keyboards look alike, so don’t make your moving day more chaotic by having to spend hours working out which mouse belonged to who. This will make it much easier to get things up and running in the new office.
During the move, your IT equipment is vulnerable to damage or theft. Ensure that your equipment is securely packed, transported, and protected. Use proper packing materials and consider insuring valuable items. Major IT items like servers and networking switches and the like may be best left to Mac Aid to move, given that they need to be uninstalled at your old office, and reinstalled at your new office, with minimal down time.
Don’t forget to update your contact information with your IT providers and vendors. This ensures that everyone knows how to reach you at your new location and that you receive essential updates and support.
If your new office setup includes changes to the technology infrastructure, provide training and support to your employees. Ensure they are familiar with any new equipment or software to maximize productivity in the new space.
Moving your office can be a complex undertaking, and your IT infrastructure is a vital part of it. By starting early, communicating effectively, and following these planning steps, you can help Mac Aid as your IT provider help to ensure a smooth transition.
It’s common these days for many Mac Aid clients to have internet connections of 1,000Mbps, which was unimaginable in the old ADSL days.
1,000Mbps is often suitable for a general business with a handful of staff, but increasingly in the current “cloud first” world, creative businesses in particular are finding even this a bottleneck that impacts productivity.
They may be needing to transfer large image or video assets, run site-to-site or cloud syncs or backups, or be serving content to clients, the web or other services.
Recently some carriers began to offer 10Gbps connections (10 times the speed) as the next somewhat affordable step up from 1,000Mbps.
Whilst 10Gbps connections are now affordable for many businesses, the hardware requirements to implement them can still be prohibitively expensive.
So we were very excited when our internet partner TPG released their new Fast Fibre product with additional speed tiers of 2Gbps and 5Gbps.
Their 2Gbps, 5Gbps product can be implemented for considerably less than a 10Gbps connection. This will make a considerable impact by improving the ability to move large amounts of data around – fast.
“TPG FAST Fibre product is a new generation TPG Ethernet access service, delivered over the new TPG’s carrier grade Ethernet network (known as HAN) and the NBN Network access types.” Devang Soni from TPG said.
“Multiple data and voice products can be delivered on this new service. TPG Telecom FAST Fibre represents a breakthrough in cost-effective yet flexible fibre-optic connectivity for business.”
“FAST Fibre offers symmetric 250Mbps, 400Mbps, 1000Mbps, 2Gbps, 5Gbps and 10Gbps fibre-optic connectivity across thousands of TPG On-Net and Off-Net buildings nationally over the TPG national business backbone with enterprise-grade capability.”
Talk to Mac Aid if you would like to look at options for faster internet for your business and to assess whether these connections are available for your building.
