LEVEL UP: NEWS & VIEWS FROM RED LEVEL

How to Choose the Right Managed IT Company

When looking for an IT company to manage your firm's technology, reading reviews is an excellent first step. We often choose our lawyers, healthcare providers, and even phone carriers based on word of mouth or reviews. Choosing an IT provider is no different. Start with reviews. Just don't stop with reviews. A company may have dozens of 5-star reviews yet be unable to service your firm. Some IT companies are specialized while others may lack critical experience in your industry. We've compiled a list of IT-specific questions for you. These aren't questions you will get answers to out of a Google review. Some of them may not apply to your situation, but most will. You should be familiar with these [...]

2021-03-30T15:42:31+00:00By Dave Linabury|Managed IT Services, Managed Services, Managed Services Provider|

Tech Stack Showdown — Top Five Stacks Compared

Why might you want to read about tech stacks? We can think of two primary reasons: You're a developer. You want to keep current. Skip right to the comparison. You're not a developer. You have a digital project and want to understand what you're getting into. Stick with us a bit. We'll explain this in plain terms first. Section 1. Explanation What the heck is a tech stack? A tech stack is a set of tools, programming languages, and technologies that work together to build digital products or solutions like websites, and mobile or web apps. Some people call them Solutions Stacks, but it's the same thing. Netflix is built on a tech stack. So are Airbnb, Facebook, WebMD, Wikipedia, [...]

2021-03-03T20:32:32+00:00By Red Level|Digital transformation, IT Detroit, IT Solutions, Microsoft Partner, productivity, scalability, Technology partner|

Language and Artificial Intelligence Challenges

What article on artificial intelligence is complete without a linguistics joke? An esteemed professor of linguistics addresses his 101 class. "In English, a double negative is a positive. In Russian, a double negative is still a negative. But there are no languages we know of, where a double positive can be a negative." A kid in the back row scoffs, "Yeah, right." As machine learning becomes more commonplace every day, we encounter more obstacles. This article will explain some of the issues faced by companies analyzing Big Data sets, and the unusual challenges endemic to training machines to understand language, the written word, and how we communicate with each other. First, you need data Finding the right data is the [...]

2021-03-03T20:31:31+00:00By Red Level|artificial intelligence|

MS Power BI Hacks: The Ultimate Guide

Power BI. It's … well powerful. And there's a ton of power hidden under the hood that you should know. These aren't fun hacks. They are serious workflow improvements you can take advantage of right now. Don't have Power BI? Get the latest version here. If you're not even proficient at BI, may we first recommend some videos? From Edureka: Power BI Full Course - Learn Power BI in 4 Hours From Naresh i Technologies: PowerBI Online Training Session 1 From Zebra BI: 7 Worst Power BI Dashboard Mistakes & How to Avoid Them From Guys in a Cube: 5 things you didn't know about Power BI Desktop From softlanding: All You Need to Know About Microsoft Power BI From Red Level Group: What’s The “Power” in Microsoft’s Power BI Making a Well-Designed [...]

2021-01-27T14:46:07+00:00By Red Level|Power BI|

How to Reduce Background Noise in Teams Meetings

How to reduce background noise in Teams meetings Microsoft announced that you now have the ability to remove unwelcome background noise during calls and meetings with a new AI-based noise suppression option in Microsoft Teams. Whether it's shuffling papers, slamming doors, or barking dogs teams offers three levels of noise suppression to help keep distractions at a minimum. You can enable this new feature by adjusting your device settings before your call or meeting and selecting "High" in the "Noise suppression" drop-down. Note: This setting is currently available only in the Teams Windows desktop app. From the main Teams window Select your profile picture at the top right of Teams and then select Settings. Select Devices on the left and then, under Noise suppression, select [...]

2021-01-12T15:09:07+00:00By Red Level|Collaboration Solutions|

Digital Transformation: New Study Shows How to Grow Your Business in 2021

It's often said that change equals growth. But while that may be true, it doesn't take into account the fact that changing how we do something – and adapting to new technologies and systems – can be hard. If you own or run a company, where a change in process means tens or even hundreds of people learning a new way of working, just the thought of mixing it up can be extremely daunting. However, with new digital technologies making businesses more efficient, more secure, and more successful, it's hard to ignore the positives of digital transformation. Research this year by OneAffiniti took a closer look at how the last tumultuous 12 months might have affected the outlook of IT [...]

2021-01-05T19:13:23+00:00By Red Level|Digital transformation|

5 Long-Term Tech Changes Set in Motion This Year

Another year, another technology roundup. However, this list, much like the past few months, is anything but ordinary. We’ve all had to work against the clock to develop new processes and protocols to keep our companies on track, even as the virus shut down offices and halted business travel. The disruptions have been numerous, but so have the technology solutions. This recap of 2020’s fastest-changing technology offers a look at how we’ve stayed nimble and productive this past year. Remote collaboration tools thrived Working from home can make collaborating and maintaining company culture challenging. Thankfully, remote work tools have stepped up to that challenge, creating more efficient and spontaneous work environments in the process. These WFH collaboration tools empower employees to go [...]

2020-12-28T16:11:02+00:00By Red Level|Collaboration Solutions|

Red Level Named to 2020 Managed Service Provider 501 by Channel Futures

Red Level has been named as one of the world’s premier managed service providers on the prestigious 2020 annual Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. For the 13th year running, MSPs from around the globe completed an exhaustive survey and application this spring to self-report product offerings, annual total and recurring revenues, profits, revenue mix, growth opportunities, and company and customer demographic information. Applicants are ranked on a unique methodology that weights revenue figures according to long-term health and viability; commitment to recurring revenue; and operational efficiency. Channel Futures is pleased to name Red Level to the 2020 MSP 501. "We are honored to represent the Channel Futures MSP 501 list. Red Level continually strives to refine our knowledge and skillsets [...]

2020-08-04T15:34:57+00:00By Kristy Mossoian|Awards|

Nine Ways to Ensure Your Company is Protecting its Employees

We all know the basics like hand-washing and social distancing, so let’s cut to the chase and talk about some topics (and solutions) you might not have considered. 1. You can’t change human behavior, but you can nudge it. The employee who was a germaphobe before quarantine began will likely continue to be the safest employee. The employee who throws dishes in the sink without washing them, and leaves empty containers everywhere will not likely change their behavior. Nothing will change here. Solution: That doesn’t mean you can make it easier for employee safety. Many companies are putting touchless hand sanitizer stations (like this one) at all entrances and in the shared dining areas. Others are requiring temperature checks upon entering. This [...]

2020-07-24T19:21:08+00:00By Red Level|Application Development|

Ransomware Attack at MSU: Keep your company safe

While we're all focused on working through COVID in the real world, hackers are working their nefarious scams in the virtual world. Their latest target is close to home – Michigan State University. A ransomware attack infected MSU yesterday stealing student data, files, and financial information. Red Level has solutions to protect your clients, data, and reputation, but there are also several simple things you can do to stay safe: Apply patches and updates. Ensure that systems are up to date and that all software updates are installed. Double-check email addresses. Watch for unfamiliar names and domains, as well as ‘spoofed’ accounts pretending to be trusted contacts. Think before clicking. Don’t click or download suspicious or unexpected attachments, or visit [...]

2020-05-29T16:10:44+00:00By Red Level|Ransomware, Security|