BSSI2 LLC • www.bssi2.com • sbernstein@bssi2.com • 847-551-4626| Support•support@bssi2.com•312-752-4675

Innovations Employee Highlight

We’ve Been Quoted! We work hard to be knowledge experts on all the latest technology and IT

trends so you don’t have to be. Therefore it’s no surprise that our CIO,

Nick Espinosa, is regularly making news.

As an expert in security and

network infrastructure on

every pla$orm, Nick has

consulted with clients

ranging from a few

computers to the Fortune

100 level. He has designed,

built, and implemented

mul)na)onal networks,

encryp)on systems, and

mul)-)ered infrastructures

as well as small business environments. He is passionate about emerging

technology and enjoys keeping current by crea)ng, breaking, and fixing test

environments.

His experience and passion make him an industry thought leader, sought

a-er for his advice on the future of technology and how it will impact every

day businesses and consumers.

Nick has been quoted in Forbes, EnterpriseTech, and other publica)ons

regarding various technology topics. Here is a small sampling of ar)cles he’s

recently been quoted in:

• Comidor, Why do Projects fail?: h�ps://www.comidor.com/cms.php/en/

blog/using-project-management/why-do-projects-fail-1

• GetApp Lab, Windows 10 is great for cloud apps, but don’t upgrade yet:

h�p://lab.getapp.com/windows-10-cloud-apps-microso�-edge/

• Forbes, All Hail Alphabet Overlords, Praise Be To ‘G’: h�p://

www.forbes.com/sites/cur�ssilver/2015/08/11/all-hail-the-alphabet/

Nick will also be quoted in Crain’s Chicago Business in the beginning of

October. You can follow him on Twi7er for a running commentary of IT news

at h�ps://twi�er.com/NickAEsp or check out a list of ar)cles he’s been

quoted in on our website at www.bssi2.com/about-us/bssi2-in-the-news/

Review Twice, Implement Once. Doing IT Right the First Time. • September 2015

The Lighter Side….

Puntastic The dead ba7eries were given out

free of charge.

The lumberjack loved his new

computer. He especially enjoyed

logging in.

I shouldn’t have plugged my

iPhone into the PC at the kitchen.

It’s now in the sync.

Trust your calculator. It’s

something to count on.

When the spammer’s computer

exploded, it blew him to

kingdom.com

Will this computer last ten years?

Obsoletely!

Yesterday I was on the computer, I

couldn’t find the Esc and I lost Ctrl.

The cat took up computer lessons

in hopes of mastering its grip on a

mouse.

I got a deal on a new computer,

and they threw in the opera)ng

system to boot.

I got angry when my cell phone

ba7ery died. My counselor

suggested I find an outlet.

My computer’s mouse wouldn’t

work. Then it clicked.

Sign on the door of an internet

hacker. 'Gone Phishing'.

Local Area Network in Australia:

the LAN down under.

BSSI2 LLC • www.bssi2.com • sbernstein@bssi2.com • 847-551-4626| Support•support@bssi2.com•312-752-4675

The “Begin with the End in Sight” Theory Before creating any communication, know what it should accomplish. That will help you build the

right content and words into it—increasing the chances you’ll get what you want.

Let’s face it: all communica)ons are meant to persuade. The

proposal to get management to accept a new idea or to

choose to work with your company. The invita)on to a

brainstorming session you wish people to a7end. The news

release on a new product or service. You want the people

who read it to do something.

Here’s the irony. The most common failure in communica�on

is that the writer does not include a call to ac�on.

How many )mes have you read an email about a change in

your company, and then asked yourself, “So, what do they

want me to do about it?” Or you see the new strategic plan

and wonder, “How am I supposed to support this?” Or you

get a pitch from a vendor on a new service, which includes all

the features and benefits—and just ends there.

The best piece of compelling copy will be for naught if people

don’t know what to do next. Because what they will do next

is toss it out or hit the delete key.

Here’s what I do to make sure my readers know what’s

expected of them—and that I’ve made it easy for them to

take that next step.

Tip #1: Know What You Want

How many )mes have you fired off an email response or

returned a phone call and not thought about what you hope

will happen? The next )me, spend that extra few seconds

before and actually answer this ques)on: “What do I want

people to do a-er this?” If you believe in visualiza)on,

picture them taking the ac)on you’d like. Then ask yourself

some

simple ques)ons:

1. What problems will my approach solve for them? (Once

again—people run away from pain faster than they run

toward features and benefits.)

2. What will they need to know so they can agree with me?

3. What barriers would prevent them from taking the

ac)ons I want?

4. How can I include informa)on—in this communica)on or

somewhere else—that will overcome objec)ons?

By knowing what you want—and how you can make others

want the same thing—you’ve automa)cally increased the

chances your reader will be persuaded by what you propose.

Tip #2: Write with “Yes” in Mind

Have you ever had to write a memo and thought, “They’ll

never sign off on this!” And, of course, you were right. It’s the

reverse of posi)ve thinking. When you’re sure your ideas will

be rejected, that nega)vity will leak out in a million ways: the

words you choose, the way you organize the informa)on,

and how much )me you spend answering possible objec)ons

in advance.

If you can’t write with the belief that your ideas will be

accepted, then do something else un)l you can. Listen to

Henry Ford: “If you think you can do a thing or you think you

can’t do a thing, you’re right.” Don’t shoot yourself in the

foot before you begin. If this is an important communica)on,

also know when is a good )me to write it. If you’re a morning

person, don’t start at 3:00 in the a-ernoon when you’re at

low energy.

Tip #3: Include the Call to Ac on

Tell your readers what you want them to do—and how to do

it. If it’s a proposal, media “pitch” le7er, or formal

communica)on, the call to ac)on falls at the end. You have

used the rest of the piece to present your case so they will

agree with you, and now you tell them how this should look.

If you’re wri)ng an email, then put the call to ac)on at the

top. You may even want to put it in the subject line. This is a

shorter communica)on, so let your reader know right away

what you want and then provide the (brief) details. Most

people scan their emails. If your request falls at the bo7om,

they may not choose to scroll down several paragraphs to

find out what you want and might miss it.

By the way—don’t make this a “call me if you want to discuss

this further.” You have no idea how important this is to them,

or how many other things are hanging fire on their desks. Let

them know when you will call to discuss the ideas—and then

follow up.

These three easy steps increase the chances you’ll get what

you want—or at least get a fair hearing of your ideas. And

even if you are turned down, you’re likely to know why and

can fix this the next )me out.

Innovations 2

Lynne Franklin is a corporate and marke)ng

communica)ons consultant and speaker.

What she does best is create meaningful

communica)ons to help businesspeople

solve their problems and get what they

want. To learn about how she can help you,

contact Lynne at 847-729-5716 or

lynne@yourwordsmith.com

BSSI2 LLC • www.bssi2.com • sbernstein@bssi2.com • 847-551-4626| Support•support@bssi2.com•312-752-4675

Did Your Web Site Ranking Just Go In The Tank Because It’s Not

Mobile-Friendly? As of last April, mobile-friendly web sites

were given a big leg up on compe)tors.

Known as “responsive” web sites, these

sites instantly adapt to whatever device

you are viewing them on.

As users were turning to smartphones and

other mobile devices to surf the web,

Google realized that most sites didn’t

display well on mobile devices. Therefore,

Google updated the way they list sites,

giving mobile-friendly sites a higher

ranking. Google hasn't removed all

non-responsive pages from its top

smartphone lis)ngs. But it’s quickly

heading in that direc)on. According to

Searchmetrics, many rankings have

suffered as a result.

In addi)on to geNng higher search

rankings, responsive sites are easier for

visitors to use. Happy visitors engage

more, increasing the rate at which they

turn into customers.

There are three ways to make your web

site mobile-friendly:

1. Build a separate mobile edi)on that

fits small screens and loads quickly.

2. Adapt your current web site design to

be more mobile-friendly. In some

cases it may be difficult to make such

a design responsive on all devices.

3. Convert your current web site design

into a responsive one. Going this

route, you won’t need a separate

mobile version, and you avoid

poten)al penal)es from Google for

having the same content on mul)ple

domains.

Find out if your web site is mobile-friendly

at www.google.com/webmasters/tools/

mobile-friendly. BSSi2 went mobile

friendly—check out our new mobile

friendly site design.

Do You Accept Credit Cards? Watch Out For These 5 Pitfalls That Could Lead To Lawsuits

If your company is not fully compliant with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards, you could be at risk of a serious

tangle with a7orneys. Technically, PCI guidelines are not a hard-and-fast set of laws. However, merchants can s)ll face he-y

liabili)es for not mee)ng them. Avoid these mistakes to keep your company out of hot water with a7orneys:

1. Storing Cardholder Data In Noncompliant Programs

Many states have laws regarding data breaches and, depending on where you accept cards, you may be subject to many of

them. For example, Massachuse7s has 201 CMR 17.00, which requires companies keeping any personal data from

Massachuse7s residents to prepare a PCI-compliant plan to protect that data. If a company then fails to maintain that plan,

the business may face state prosecu)on.

2. Fibbing On The Self-Assessment Ques onnaire

If you have considered tampering with the reports from your company’s Approved Scanning Vendor, think again. Time

invested now to fix any holes in your data security system could save you big-)me from the penal)es your company could

suffer if there’s ever a data breach.

The same thing applies to simply “fudging the truth” on self-prepared compliance reports. Even if you think it’s a harmless

stretch of the truth, don’t do it.

3. Not Using The Right Qualified Security Assessor

Many companies use Qualified Security Assessors to help them maintain their PCI compliance. Every QSA does not

necessarily know as much as another, however. It’s important to select someone who both understands your business and

stays up-to-date on the latest version of PCI Security Standards.

4. Trying To Resolve Data Compromises Under The Radar

You may be tempted to fix a customer’s complaint yourself if they inform you of a data compromise. Not informing credit

card companies of data breaches, however small, can lead to you no longer having access to their services. Those credit

card companies can then file suit against your company, cos)ng you big bucks in the end.

5. Not Checking ID For Point-Of-Sale Credit Card Use

Some)mes it seems like no one checks IDs against the credit cards being used, so merchants tend to be lax about doing so.

Unfortunately, running just one unauthorized credit card could cost you a lot in the long run.

Even if the state in which you do business does not have specific laws regarding PCI compliance, a civil suit may come

against your company for any data breaches. The court will not favor you if you have not been PCI-compliant.

All in all, it pays to pay a7en)on to PCI compliance—a li7le )me invested today could save you big-)me tomorrow.

September 2015 3

BSSI2 LLC • www.bssi2.com • sbernstein@bssi2.com • 847-551-4626| Support•support@bssi2.com•312-752-4675

“We make all of your computer problems go away

without the cost of a full-time I.T. staff”

For service, please contact the Service Manager at Phone 312-752-4675 • Email support@bssi2.com

September 2015

35 Aztec Court South Barrington, IL 60010

(847) 551-4626

www.bssi2.com

Review Twice, Implement Once. Doing IT Right the First Time

BSSi2 | (847) 551-4626 | www.bssi2.com

Feel like your computer is out of gas? Having network

issues that are delaying your daily opera)ons? Give our IT

professionals a call today for your FREE Network

Assessment. We will inventory your current technology,

check network security, review your back-up solu)on and

deliver a report including outstanding issues and possible

solu)ons. It’s amazing how a simple review of your cur-

rent opera)ons can reveal cost and )me saving opportuni-

Claim your FREE Network Assessment today!

Shiny New Gadget of the Month

Nest Cam Keeping an Eye on Things

While You’re Away

Have you ever worried about what’s

happening at home when you’re away? The

Nest Cam can keep you informed. This

wide-angle camera streams sound and video

to your smartphone. It will even warn you

about any unusual ac)vity.

If the Nest Cam detects sudden movement or

loud noises, it instantly alerts you by phone.

The video feed lets you see what’s happening

and even scold kids, pets or burglars through

a speaker.

This product integrates with other Nest

equipment. For example, smart smoke alarms

can ac)vate the Nest Cam. It also saves alerts

and footage in a convenient archive. The

camera even makes it easy to share fun video

clips online.

If you already have WiFi, setup is a breeze.

This gadget comes with a stand that lets you

put it on any flat surface. It also s)cks to

metal objects or screws onto a regular camera

tripod.

4