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Get a front-row seat for AWS re:Invent to hear real stories from AWS leaders and customers about navigating pressing topics, learn about new product launches, watch demos, and get behind-the-scenes insights. Don’t miss all of the excitement on the AWS Partner Network YouTube channel, where we’ll be sharing breaking news and exclusive insights alongside our competency partners. Day 3: Industries LIVE!Thursday, December 5th | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. PT Day 1: GenAI LIVE!Tuesday, December 3rd | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT Day 2: Security LIVE!Wednesday, December 4th | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT Check out TechRepublic’s YouTube channel Be sure to also watch TechRepublic’s YouTube channel on event days because our host will provide real-time reaction content. source

You may already be using Microsoft Teams on your computer to remotely join meetings and collaborate on projects with colleagues. But Teams is also available as a mobile app for on-the-go work. Available for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, the Teams app lets you set up or join a video or audio call, chat with people, and share files. SEE: Video teleconferencing do’s and don’ts (free PDF) (TechRepublic) If you don’t already have the Teams app for your phone or tablet, download it from Apple’s App Store for an iPhone or iPad, or from Google Play for an Android device. The iOS/iPadOS and Android versions have the same basic functionality, though there are some minor layout differences. If you already have an account and access to Teams, either through your organization or individually, sign into the app. How to chat on Microsoft Teams on your mobile device One task you’ll likely want to perform is to chat with an individual team member. Tap the “Chat” icon on the bottom toolbar and then type the name or email address of the person with whom you want to chat. Select the person’s name and type your message. You can then carry on a back-and-forth conversation. Press the “+” icon to the left of the message field to attach an image, GIF, or document. You can also tap the smiley face icon to send an emoji, the camera icon to send an image, or the microphone icon to record and send a voice note. Image: Microsoft Can I create a team on Microsoft Teams mobile? Yes! Navigate to the Chat or Teams page in the app and select “More options” in the upper-right corner. A screen will appear at the bottom that includes a “Create new team +” button. Tap that and choose a name, description, privacy level, and data type for the team. You can then invite people or contact groups to join the team. If you cannot do this, your IT admin may have disabled team creation for you. Contact them to have it enabled. Mobility must-reads How to call via Teams on your mobile device You can place a call to one or more Teams contacts, either via audio or video. From the “Chat” tab, select the chat or the person you want to call or start a new chat with them. Then, tap either the video camera or phone icon to make a video or audio-only call, respectively. If you start the call from a group chat, you will also be asked if you intend to call everyone in the group. On an iPhone or iPad, you can also use the “Calls” tab in the bottom panel to make a call. If the person you wish to call already appears in call history, tap the “Call” icon in the “Details” section on the right side of the screen. Otherwise, type their name into the dialing pad and tap the phone icon to place an audio-only call or the camera icon to place a video call. From the in-call toolbar, you can enable or disable the video, microphone, or speaker. You can also put the call on hold or transfer it to someone else. For a video call, you can blur the background or add a background image from the “Background effects” option under the “More” menu. Image: Microsoft How to schedule a meeting in Teams on your mobile device To schedule a meeting, tap the “Calendar” tab, followed by the plus icon at the bottom right and the “Schedule a meeting” button. You can then add your meeting details like the title, participants, data and time, location, and description. You can also tap “Share to a channel” to make it a channel meeting and adjust the privacy settings. Tap “Done” to schedule the meeting and send out invites to the chosen participants. How to share files in Teams on your mobile device Next, you can upload and share files with the team to enable quick review and real-time document collaboration. Go to the Teams tab and open the channel where you want to share the file, Tap the “Files” tab at the top of the channel and then the paperclip icon. Choose the file from your phone or cloud storage to upload, and the file will be shared in the “Files” section, visible to all members of the channel. You can also share files in a chat, as described in this article’s “How to chat” section. Another way to share files is by using the “Files” button in the “More” tab on an iOS device and in the navigation bar on an Android. Locate the file you want to share from the correct cloud-based service, tap the ellipsis, and tap “Share.” Choose the “Chats” or “Channels” tab depending on how you want to share the file, then type in the name of the desired Chat or Channel. If desired, you can add a message before hitting the send arrow to share. Image: Microsoft Other features to check out when using Microsoft Teams on your phone Screen sharing: Share your screen during calls or meetings by tapping the three dots and selecting “Share.” This is ideal for presentations or demonstrating steps. Push notifications: Receive alerts on your phone for messages, mentions, and calls. Customise these via Settings and stay updated on the go. Search and Command bar: Use the search bar at the top to quickly find messages, files, or people. You can also use commands like “/call” or “/files” for instant actions. Dark mode: Enable Dark Mode from “Settings” for better visibility in low-light conditions and reduced eye strain. Offline mode: You can view chats and access files even when you’re offline. This is great for working in areas with limited connectivity. Though the mobile app doesn’t offer the full functionality of the desktop app, it should be a handy resource when you’re out and about. source

The advent of 5G technology promises faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections. With 5G now widely available across many countries and delivering better internet connections than 4G, consumers want to upgrade to 5G devices to take advantage of these benefits. SEE: Made by Google 2024: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold Revealed Many are wary of the high prices associated with high-end 5G devices. Fortunately, several budget-friendly 5G devices are available that offer excellent value for money. Here are the six best cheap 5G phones for 2025. Best cheap 5G smartphones comparison table Device Storage options Chipset Battery capacity Charging time Price Samsung Galaxy A53 5G 128 GB, 256 GB Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G 5,000 mAh 1 hr 43 min $161.80 Apple iPhone 14 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB A15 Bionic 3,279 mAh 1 hr 56 min $599 Google Pixel 8A 128 GB, 256 GB Google Tensor G3 4.492 mAh 2 hr 9 min $399 Motorola moto g Power 5G 128 GB MediaTex Dimensity 7020 5,000 mAh 1 hr 58 min $199.99 HMD XR21 128 GB Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G 4,800 mAh 2 hr 15 min $439.99 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Image: Amazon If you’re on a budget but still looking for a smartphone that can take advantage of 5G capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G can be a great buy. In addition to the 5G feature, the device comes with a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 2400×1080 pixel resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. SEE: 5G networks: A comprehensive cheat sheet In addition, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset with 8GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, which can be expanded to 1 TB using a removable microSD card. The Galaxy A53 5G is also compatible with 4G and other previous generations of cellular networks for greater flexibility and broader network coverage when you’re out of the 5G network range. This device runs on Android 11 and has a 4500 mAh battery capacity with fast charging to support intensive use. The Samsung Galaxy A53 is available on Amazon for $161.80. Apple iPhone 14 Image: Apple The Apple iPhone 14 may not be nearly as budget-friendly as the iPhone SE, but having only been released in 2022, it is likely to remain relevant for much longer. Apple’s A15 Bionic chip powers the device and comes with a 12 MP camera, 6.1-inch display, 4K video recording, and, of course, 5G support. Sadly, it does not support Apple Intelligence and is still only compatible with the Lightning cable rather than USB-C, but it is still a solid choice for those who aren’t after the top-of-the-range iPhone. You can acquire this device on the Apple Store for $599. However, if that still breaks the budget and you’re set on an iPhone, you may want to wait for the imminent release of the iPhone SE 4. Google Pixel 8A Image: Amazon Google Pixel 8A is another affordable device with 5G connectivity. Released in May 2024, it is equipped with Google Tensor G3, meaning it matches the standard  Pixel 8 in performance. The mobile 5G connectivity comes unlocked, so you can choose the data plan and network carrier that suits you. SEE: 5G vs 6G: What’s the Difference? With Google’s Gemini assistant included, 4,492 mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, 4K video quality, dual camera setup, 128 GB of storage as a minimum, and flexible 5G connectivity, the Google Pixel 8A is a great deal for someone looking for a cheap 5G phone in 2025. You can get this device on Amazon for $399. Motorola moto g Power 5G Image: Motorola Motorola is another brand that has endured in the phone manufacturing industry. This time, they reminded us of their Motorola Moto G Power 5G capabilities. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor, the device offers a smooth experience for everyday tasks and 5G speed for quick downloads and streaming. Other notable features include a 5,000 mAh battery capacity, which provides up to two days of use on a single charge, a 120 Hz refresh rate, a 6.7-inch display, a 50 MP camera sensor, wireless charging, 128 GB minimum storage, and 8 GB of RAM. While not the most impressive 5G handset on the market, it is a solid offering for one that comes in at well under $200 from some retailers. You can get your hands on one for $199.99 from the Motorola store. HMD XR21 Image: Amazon In addition to being 5G-enabled, the HMD XR21 is designed to be extremely durable. It’s drop-resistant, water-resistant, and dust-resistant with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, but it doesn’t look like a rugged phone with its sleek design. It will also receive security updates until July 2027 and comes with a one-year screen replacement guarantee. Features-wise, the handset has a Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G chip, a 4,800 mAh battery, 6 GB of RAM, and a minimum of 128 GB of storage. The dual rear camera setup is average, with a 64 MP sensor and an 8 MP ultra-wide sensor, but the XR21 is primarily intended for business use anyway. The HMD XR21 5G is available on Amazon for $439.99. What is a 5G phone, and do you need one in 2025? A 5G phone is a smartphone equipped to connect to 5G networks, offering faster data speeds and lower latency than older networks like 4G. 5G connections are expected to represent over half of mobile connections by 2029, according to the GSMA. So, if you’re considering buying a new device, you will probably want one that can leverage this infrastructure. A 5G connection will mean the handset performs better in more data-intensive activities, such as streaming, gaming, and using artificial intelligence tools. However, if those features aren’t important to you, you know your local area will not have 5G for the foreseeable future, or 5G-readiness takes devices out of your budget, there are still plenty of reliable 4G smartphones on the market. SEE:

Best business phone service overall: RingCentral Best for customer experience management: Nextiva Best for teams that prefer traditional desk phones: Ooma Best for global contact centers: 8×8 Best for sales teams: Dialpad Best for low-volume calling: Zoom Phone Best for custom in-app calling solutions: Vonage Best for startups: OpenPhone The best business phone services are packed with communication features that go beyond basic calling capabilities. From video conferencing to team chat, texting and automation, teams get everything they need, plus the flexibility to support remote and hybrid work environments. For this buyer’s guide, I picked RingCentral as the overall top business phone service because it’s the best value for features and reliability. It’s versatile enough to support teams of all sizes in any work environment, and it delivers all the phone and communication tools you need under one roof. 1 RingCentral RingEx Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Hosted PBX, Managed PBX, Remote User Ability, and more Top business phone services comparison It’s really hard to compare vendors in an apples-to-apples way, but every buyer will have to think about how a phone system handles calls and the other software that must integrate with it. I’ve rated each service’s call management features and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) capabilities for the provider’s entry level business phone service plan, along with its starting monthly price per user. Best for Starting price Call management IVR Integrations RingCentral Best business phone service overall $20 per user per month Advanced Advanced 300+ Nextiva Customer experience management $30 per user per month Average Basic 20+ Ooma Traditional desk phones $19.95 per user per month Average Basic 10+ 8×8 Global call centers Custom quote Advanced Advanced 65+ Dialpad Sales teams $15 per user per month Advanced Advanced 70+ Zoom Phone Low-volume users $10 per user per month Average Basic 120+ Vonage Customized in-app calling $19.99 per user per month Basic Basic 20+ OpenPhone Startups $15 per user per month Basic Basic 6+ RingCentral: Best business phone service overall Image: RingCentral RingCentral is the best all-around option for businesses looking for a modern phone service to support operations moving forward. There are lighter and less expensive options out there for companies with strong in-house telecom and IT teams, sure, but not everyone wants to manage a VoIP server and I don’t blame them. RingCentral can accommodate whatever technology your organization is working with already, and is investing heavily in the technology of tomorrow. Whether you need VoIP phone systems or UCaaS, RingCentral excels at delivering capable solutions to a broad range of businesses. Why I chose RingCentral It’s the best value for most people. Say you are a small business that needs a few dozen employees to be reachable — RingCentral is fine. You’ll never need to switch. Say you are a business with a few different locations and 24/7 customer service — RingCentral is still fine. The entry-level phone system comes with a multi-level auto attendant and IVR to help you improve call flows. There’s also call queues, call recording, visual voicemail and shared lines — all on the entry-level plan. Plus, each user gets their own dedicated number, and you can choose between a local or toll-free option. When you look at other vendors, many of those features are add-ons or only available upon upgrade. This feature-depth extends to the team collaboration tools. You’re getting unlimited video conferencing, AI meeting insights, live transcriptions, whiteboarding, collaborative notes and breakout rooms. If you move up beyond the basic tier, you’ll unlock even more advanced capabilities, including live call monitoring, whisper and barge. There are plenty of add-ons and options to support advanced sales needs, like RingSense for Sales, which is the platform’s AI-powered sales intelligence suite. Take a look at our full RingCentral review for more details. Pricing Core: Starts at $20 per user per month billed annually. Advanced: Starts at $35 per user per month billed annually. Ultra: Starts at $45 per user per month billed annually. Free trial available? Yes, a 14-days free trial is available. Annual billing saves you up to 33% compared to RingCentral’s month-to-month prices. Also, volume discounts are available for teams with at least 100 users. Features Unlimited domestic calling. AI meeting insights and live transcription. Call recording. Multi-level IVR. Real-time QoS analytics. Team messaging and file sharing. Video conferencing and breakout rooms. Customer support: 24/7 phone and live chat. Virtual fax: On select plans. Single Sign-On (SSO). Business SMS and MMS. Never miss a call with RingCentral. Image: RingCentral Pros and cons Pros Cons All plans include key business phone service features. Centralizes all channels within a single platform. Offers SIP trunking for legacy equipment. Useful AI tools included for free. Secure network, reliable company, and long-time player in the communications space. Excellent team collaboration features. 99.999% uptime SLA. Some businesses will pay for features they don’t use. Deployment may be slower than other options. Need to upgrade for multicenter management portal and CRM integrations. Only 100 toll-free minutes included with the entry-level plan. Need to upgrade or purchase add-ons to access the most advanced features. Nextiva: Best for customer experience management Image: Nextiva Nextiva is another good all-around option that’s malleable enough to work for just about any business — but where it steps above the competition is customer engagement. Yes, they offer business phone and call center services, but Nextiva has been reshaping the foundation of their platform to help companies meet their customers where they are most active today. Why I chose Nextiva From an admin standpoint, the initial setup and deployment of Nextiva is about as easy as it gets. You can onboard users in just a few clicks, and they can start using Nextiva from their existing computers and smartphones, so there’s no need to buy new or expensive phones. As a user, you’ll have access to all the necessities plus powerful extras available

In networking, “state” refers to the context or session data of a current network connection. A stateful firewall, therefore, keeps track of the state of each connection passing through it, while a stateless firewall does not. Although they may sound less restrictive, stateless firewalls are incredibly useful for securing home and business networks. They use ACLs (Access Control Lists) to determine which traffic to allow through and which traffic to block. Of course, not tracking the state of network connections means that stateless firewalls can’t tell you as much about the traffic on your network as stateful firewalls. The benefits of stateless firewalls come with tradeoffs. Businesses often balance these trade-offs by using both types in tandem, with stateless firewalls handling bulk traffic filtering at the perimeter and stateful firewalls offering deeper inspection behind them. By the end of this post, you’ll know when stateless firewalls work really well, and when another solution might work much better. 1 RingCentral RingEx Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Hosted PBX, Managed PBX, Remote User Ability, and more Five reasons to use a stateless firewall 1. They’re efficient The biggest advantage of using a stateless firewall is efficiency. Since they only check for individual packets (rather than tracking the state of connections like their bulky stateful counterparts), stateless firewalls are like lean, mean, security machines. This makes them far more useful when handling high volumes of traffic. For instance, since they don’t have to keep up with the specific details of every connection passing through, stateless firewalls won’t chew up as much memory and processing power. If you’re running a large-scale website that receives tons of traffic, for example, you won’t want your firewall to slow things down. With a stateless firewall, you can set up strong network security protections without jeopardizing a website’s performance. SEE: Avoid these mistakes when configuring network security.  2. Stateless firewalls are simple to set up and maintain Setting up a stateless firewall is a breeze compared to stateful firewalls. Stateful firewalls dynamically maintain state tables to track ongoing connections, ensuring traffic flows are legitimate by monitoring session information. In contrast, stateless firewalls rely on a fixed set of filtering rules, such as allowing or blocking packets based on IP addresses, ports, or protocols. This makes stateless firewalls simpler to configure and less resource-intensive, though it also makes them less adaptable to dynamic or context-dependent traffic than stateful firewalls. 3. Stateless excels on the network perimeter Stateless firewalls are often used as a first line of defense in network security due to their simplicity and effectiveness at blocking unwanted traffic. They are particularly useful in scenarios where only basic access control is needed, such as filtering traffic between trusted and untrusted networks. This protects specific services from common attacks like port scans, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, or VoIP fraud. While they may not offer the deep inspection or session awareness of stateful firewalls, they can serve as an effective initial barrier, reducing the load on more advanced systems by blocking simple, high-volume threats before they reach more sensitive parts of the network. 4. They’re inherently less vulnerable Stateless firewalls don’t keep track of past traffic or active connections, which makes them less prone to certain types of attacks that target the firewall’s memory or stored data. Instead, stateless firewalls simply compare incoming packets to their pre-defined “allow” and “deny” rules, ensuring that traffic is only allowed into the network if it meets specific criteria. This straightforward approach ensures that only authorized traffic enters the network. Since they don’t need to manage the details of each connection, stateless firewalls avoid some of the vulnerabilities that can arise when a firewall tries to remember everything, like becoming overloaded during different types of DDoS attacks, where attackers flood the system with too many requests. Stateful firewalls offer deeper inspection and more thorough security, but that introduces additional complexity, which can be exploited by attackers. Stateless firewalls, with their simpler design, avoid this risk altogether. 5. Stateless firewalls are cost-effective and affordable Because they don’t require the advanced features of stateful firewalls, such as session tracking or deep packet inspection, their hardware and maintenance costs are significantly lower. This makes them an accessible choice for organizations with limited IT budgets or smaller networks. Stateful firewalls are more expensive due to their advanced features, such as integrated intrusion detection and prevention systems. These firewalls also require more processing power, memory, and specialized hardware to manage real-time traffic analysis and maintain security. Key downsides of a stateless firewall While stateless firewalls have their advantages, they also come with some downsides. 1. Minimal packet inspection capabilities Since it doesn’t keep track of connections, a stateless firewall won’t maintain a table of all the previous connections that have gone through the firewall. This makes it faster and easier to handle high volumes of traffic, but it comes with minimal packet inspection capabilities. For example, stateless firewalls can only inspect individual packets based on headers and protocols, meaning they cannot look at the contents of the packets themselves. This makes them less effective at detecting and preventing more sophisticated attacks that can bypass simple packet inspection, such as ones that use encrypted traffic. Moreover, due to the lack of connection tracking, a stateless firewall cannot always distinguish between legitimate and malicious traffic. This can result in unnecessary blockages of legitimate traffic, which can disrupt business operations. It also makes it more difficult to modify the firewall, as stateless firewalls cannot recognize connection states — so they can’t allow and deny traffic dynamically based on them. Learn more about how stateful inspection works. 2. Harder to scale One of the biggest downsides to stateless firewalls is that they can be an absolute nightmare to scale in certain scenarios. The problem lies in the fact that a stateless firewall only examines individual packets to determine whether to allow

No matter how many years of experience you have in your current role or wider industry, it’s never a bad idea to stay on top of emerging trends and any new skills that go along with them. For discovering additional capabilities or enhancing your current proficiencies, online courses are a convenient option. Even better? A “class pass” to unlimited courses, such as this StackSkills lifetime deal, that lets you learn on your terms. Thanks to a limited-time Cyber Week price drop, enrolling in StackSkills as a lifetime student will cost you only $19.97, which is a heck of a lot less than many single-course offerings out there. With over 1,000 programs to choose from (and growing), you can focus on expanding skills in a subject matter you’re already familiar with or launch into something new that will help you keep your resume updated. Current availability includes professional development classes on topics such as growth hacking, game design, blockchain, AI, digital marketing, cybersecurity, copywriting, big data, running a web development business, and candlestick trading (to name a few). Looking for something for your off-the-clock hours? Try photography, Portuguese lessons, memory training, mindfulness meditation, or the intriguing 27 Life-Changing Lessons from the Smartest People in History. All of these courses and more — new content is added monthly — are available with just a few clicks once you’re a StackSkills member. Individual classes and bundles are self-paced, so you can hop in and hop out as needed or start over any lessons you want to review again. StackSkills (rated 4.6 stars on Trustpilot) works with hundreds of top-rated instructors to provide hands-on training in addition to video and e-book lessons for beginners, advanced learners, and everyone in between. Secure a lifetime membership to StackSkills today for $19.97 (reg. $600) and access online courses whenever suits your schedule. Cyber Week sale ends at 11:59 pm on December 15. Prices and availability are subject to change. source

Introducing a new product or service to the market requires meticulous preparation. A go to market strategy template helps streamline the planning process and reduce risk while helping you develop a clear plan of action. After launching dozens of services, products, and businesses over the years, these are my top recommendations for anyone who needs help getting started. monday.com: A versatile template for any go to market strategy monday.com is one of the most flexible project management tools I’ve used. It works for personal use, small teams, and even big brands working on cross-departmental initiatives or managing an entire business. The free plan includes two seats, unlimited documents, and over 200+ other templates. It’s not the best free plan out there, but it works to try it out. Alternatively, try any premium plan for free with a 14-day trial to see if it’s right for your team. More on monday.com: monday.com review | monday.com vs Wrike | monday.com vs Airtable. monday.com makes it easy to prioritize your most important tasks while tracking costs and completion status along the way. Image: monday.com This is actually just a generic marketing strategy template from monday.com. But it can easily be adapted for go-to-market planning and execution. It works best for long-term planning that requires team collaboration. If just you and one other person are launching a new product in two weeks, then this template is probably overkill. But if you’re working with a complete team and rolling out a new product or service over the next three to six months, it’s the right level of detail. I like how it takes you through the process of turning a big-picture goal — like a new product or business idea — into smaller, more attainable tasks. At that point, you can assign work to your team and keep an eye of the overall progress at a high level in real time. Users can easily switch between Gantt chart views, tables, and other custom visualizations based on what you’re working on. A product owner, for example, may just want to review the Gantt chart to ensure their launch is on track. Someone on the marketing team, however, may prefer to see a weekly view of all upcoming tasks assigned to them. One drawback of this template is that it doesn’t come pre-loaded with specific tasks for go-to-market planning. You’ll have to add those in yourself, which can take some time depending on the complexity of your strategy. But it’s a great place to start if you have a general idea of what you want to do. ClickUp: Go to market strategy templates ClickUp is also a complete project management solution for teams of all sizes. While the free forever plan is designed for individual use, you can use it to unlock hundreds of templates, including two excellent go to market templates. The first template provides everything you need to develop your concept and bring your new product or service to life. The second is better for team alignment in the early planning stages. You could potentially use both, starting with the second template and adding in the first whenever you’re ready to start assigning work. More on ClickUp: ClickUp Review | ClickUp vs monday.com | ClickUp vs Notion. Template 1: An advanced option for complex product launches This template works best if you want to plan and execute your go-to-market strategy from the same platform. ClickUp makes it really easy to start with an idea and validate it before defining all the steps required to launch it. It works just as well for B2C and B2B, including physical products, services, moving into new markets, or coming up with business ideas. ClickUp helps you define months of planning into a roadmap that your entire team can follow. Image: Clickup.com To start, the template helps you fine-tune product positioning in a way that resonates with your customers and stands out from your competition. From there, you can break down a six or 12-month plan into simpler, more attainable steps. Complex launches don’t feel quite as intimidating when you segment everything into stages and clearly defined steps like this. ClickUp has a built-in goal-setting feature that’s included for free with this template. You can set clear objectives and timelines for every stage, and ClickUp will automatically track your team’s progress along the way. You’ll benefit from advanced features like dependency warnings and the ability to adjust assignments on the fly. ClickUp also lets you identify KPIs to measure success, like customer acquisition costs and CLV, so you can track key data even after your product hits the market. Template 2: A simpler choice to ensure high-level team alignment This ClickUp template is designed to take an idea and put it on paper. It’s a simple way for business leaders and project managers to clearly communicate goals while assigning ownership to different team members. You can use it for new product launches, new service offerings, and even overhauls of your existing products. This is a straightforward strategy template that can be completed by one person in less than two hours. Image: Clickup.com While you have the option to take this template and turn it into a full project within ClickUp, it’s not necessary. It’s more of a one or two-page resource that anyone on your team can reference any time they feel lost or like they’re missing necessary context. This template can also work well for quick pitches and proposals. For example, a department head or product manager could use it to present an idea to company executives and other decision-makers. It’s worth noting that this lacks a competitive analysis section that you’ll find with similar templates. You won’t be able to define major tasks and break everything up into distinct project phases, either. But you don’t necessarily need both of those things for simpler product rollouts. Plus, you can start with this template to get your ideas out and ensure everyone involved understands what you’re trying to accomplish

Ringing up sales is an essential part of daily retail operations. Small businesses will be better off using cash registers with a built-in card reader to support multiple payment types and serve various functions in addition to accepting payments, such as inventory management, tax calculations, and more advanced reporting. It is also worth mentioning that most manufacturers of electronic cash registers (ECRs) have stopped production of their products, so finding support, repair, and replacement parts can be a challenge. If you prefer going with ECRs, ensure to get from a manufacturer that is still producing your preferred ECR model and has warranties and support in place. Top cash register comparison The best cash register for a small business should be affordable and have peripheral support, preferably built-in without an added cost. Being able to function and accept payments, even while not connected online, is an important feature. The table below compares my top recommendation based on costs, peripheral hardware options, and offline capabilities. Square Register: Best overall Square Register is affordable, comes with several low-cost hardware peripheral options, and even gives a full set of sales, payment, inventory, and business management tools for free through its built-in POS software Square. Square Register also has excellent user reviews and performed well in our own tests of the software. Upfront spending can challenge small business owners, but interest-free financing options are available. Its all-in-one solution can’t be beat, making it my top choice as the best POS-driven cash register for small businesses. Why I chose Square Register I like Square Register’s slick iPad-like POS display. Its well-thought-out minimalist design looks great on counters and even comes with a customer-facing card reader and display, meeting both merchant and customer needs. Square has been a consistent and popular top choice among small business owners and experts alike for POS, payment processing, and hardware, so it is unsurprising that its primary retail POS kit, Square Register, is a top choice. Not only can you accept EMV, NFC, and traditional magstripe payments, but you can also accept gift card payments and create and send invoices from within Square’s software. Square Register has an offline mode, so you’ll still be able to accept payments without an internet connection as long as you sync transactions made within 24 hours. Pricing Hardware: $799 ($39 per month under financing). Optional accessories: Starts at $129 for a printer-driven cash drawer. Starts at $299 for receipt Printers. Starts at $34 for receipt printer paper. Starts at $119 for a barcode scanner Hardware comes with a two-year limited warranty. Features Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and offline mode are available (offline transactions must be uploaded online within 24 hours). Power supply: Power adapter included in kit; no battery included, so it needs to be connected to a power source at all times to operate. Payment types accepted: Chip cards (EMV), NFC cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Afterpay, Cash App Pay (QR code), and magstripe cards. Accessories: Cash drawer, receipt printer, bar code scanner, kitchen printer, kitchen countertop display, countertop mount (purchased separately). Number of products (PLUs & SKUs, plus departments or categories): Unlimited products; ideal for retail, appointments, and restaurants. Display screen size: Square Register is 13.5 inches (337mm); Customer display is 7 inches (178 mm). Overall dimensions: Square Register–12.5 x 10 x 5 inches (317.5 x 245 x 127 mm), 3.9 lbs.; Customer display–6.85 x 6.85 x 1.7 inches (174 x 174 x 44mm), 1.2 lbs. Local or cloud: Cloud installation, storage, and backup. Square Register comes with two screens: one for cashiers and one for customers. Image: Square Pros and cons Pros Cons All-in-one POS system. Dual display. Flat rate payment processing. Add-on costs for accessories such as cash drawers. Locked into Square payment processing. Payment processing rates are not well-suited for high-volume sales. Square Terminal: Best for portability Square’s all-in-one mobile POS terminal, Square Terminal, can work as a standalone, portable business cash register or as a second screen to the Square Register and function as a built-in card reader for tap, dip, and swipe payments. The Square Terminal has a built-in battery designed to last all day. It is compact enough to carry handheld, making it ideal for accepting payments wherever — at table-side, pop-up activations, farmer’s markets, and more. Why I chose Square Terminal As part of the hardware exclusively offered by Square, the Square Terminal has built-in industry-specific POS software that can be easily installed at no cost, similar to the Square Register. I like that it is the most affordable POS hardware I feature in this list, making it perfect for small businesses on a budget. You can accept payments using the hardware easily and expand accessories as needed. Pricing Hardware: $299 ($27 for 12 months under financing). Optional accessories: $49 for Hub for Square Terminal Starts at $129 for a printer-driven cash drawer Starts at $299 for a receipt printer Starts at $34 for receipt paper Starts at $119 for a barcode scanner Hardware comes with a one-year limited warranty and 30-day free returns. Features Connectivity: Wi-Fi, ethernet (requires Hub for Square Terminal), offline mode available (offline transactions must be uploaded online within 24 hours). Power supply: Power adapter included in kit with built-in battery designed to last all day. Payment types accepted: Chip cards (EMV), NFC cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Afterpay, Cash App Pay (QR code), Magnetic-stripe cards with free magstripe reader plug-in Accessories: USB hub, cash drawer, receipt printer, bar code scanner, touchscreen display, belt clip, countertop mount (purchased separately). Number of products (PLUs & SKUs, plus departments or categories): Unlimited products; ideal for retail, appointments, and restaurants. Display screen size: 5.5 inches (139.7 mm). Overall dimensions: 5.6 x 3.4 x 2.5 inches (142.2 x 86.4 x 63.55 mm); 417 g. Local or cloud: Cloud installation, storage, and backup. Square Terminal has a built-in thermal printer. Image: Square Pros and cons Pros Cons Supports multiple payment methods. Free POS software (Square). Offline mode. Add-on costs for accessories, such

Let’s say you’ve written a bash script that scans all of your Linux servers in your data center for uptime. Such a file could contain the following contents: ssh $1 “uptime” When you run your script, it may get foiled by an issue where it is stopped by a server that has yet to have its SSH key fingerprint added to the known_hosts file. When this happens, your script is rendered useless. SEE: How to View Your SSH Keys in Linux, macOS, and Windows (TechRepublic) SSH key fingerprint What is an SSH key fingerprint? Simple: The key’s fingerprint is verified when you try to log in to a remote computer using SSH. When you log into an SSH server for the first time, you’ll see something like that shown below. Logging into an SSH server for the first time. Image: Jack Wallen If you don’t accept the fingerprint, the connection will be immediately broken. So what happens when you’re working with a bash script that cannot accept input in order to okay the addition of the remote SSH fingerprint? Fortunately, the developers of SSH thought of this and added a command that allows you to easily add SSH fingerprints to the known_hosts file. SEE: How to Create and Copy SSH Keys with 2 Simple Commands (TechRepublic) Open source: Must-read coverage Adding the fingerprint I’ll demonstrate adding the fingerprint from a remote server to a local machine. Let’s say the remote server is at 192.168.1.162. To add that fingerprint, the command would be: ssh-keyscan -H 192.168.1.162 >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts The command will run and add the remote SSH fingerprint to the local machine without your input, as shown below. How to run and add the remote SSH fingerprint to the local machine. Image: Jack Wallen So an addition to the bash script could look like: ssh-keyscan $1 >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts The above addition would take the argument from the command (say, for example, ./script 192.168.1.118) and add the fingerprint to ~/.ssh/known_hosts before it then moves to the next line — thereby avoiding the missing SSH fingerprint issue. Of course the above would only work properly if you have ssh key authentication setup. Otherwise, you’d have to enter the remote machine’s password. SEE: How to Mount Remote Directories with SSH (TechRepublic) The simple things Sometimes, it’s the simple things that trip up our bash scripts. If that key fingerprint issue has been causing you headaches with your scripts, you can now avoid the issue. source

AWS subscribers now have access to generative AI models that rival GPT-4o. On Dec. 3, during the AWS re:Invent event held in Las Vegas and online, AWS announced six new model sizes for different use cases in the new Amazon Nova family. “Inside Amazon, we have about 1,000 generative AI applications in motion, and we’ve had a bird’s-eye view of what application builders are still grappling with,” Rohit Prasad, SVP of Amazon Artificial General Intelligence, said in the press release. “Our new Amazon Nova models are intended to help with these challenges for internal and external builders and provide compelling intelligence and content generation while also delivering meaningful progress on latency, cost-effectiveness, customization, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and agentic capabilities.” More about Innovation What is Amazon Nova? Amazon Nova is a line of generative AI foundation models available on AWS’s Amazon Bedrock AI hosting service. Organizations can experiment with three size options today: Amazon Nova Micro is a text-only model with a quick response time of 210 output tokens per second. Amazon claims it outperforms Meta’s Llama 3.1 8B and Google’s Gemini 1.5 Flash-8B. Nova Micro is intended for applications requiring quick responses at a relatively low cost. Amazon Nova Lite is another small model in the Nova family. Unlike Micro, it can analyze either image, video, or text inputs. Comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini, Nova Lite is intended for quick summarization and interpretation of charts or video presentations. Because it can understand images on computer screens and perform function calling, Amazon Nova Lite is appropriate for some quasi-autonomous chained behaviors used for “AI agent” tasks. Amazon Nova Pro is the mid-range model. Amazon said it performs faster, more accurately, and costs less than OpenAI’s GPT-4o or Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro. Nova Pro can interpret text or images and supports agentic workflows. Once customers have a Nova model, they can fine-tune it based on their proprietary data. In addition to the size options, organizations can also select from an image generation model (Amazon Nova Canvas) and a video model (Amazon Nova Reels). Both of these are intended to create “studio-quality” content. Nova Canvas creates images based on text or image prompts. Amazon notes it includes safety features such as watermarking and content guardrails. Nova Reels creates six-second videos, with Amazon planning to extend the possible video length to two minutes in “the coming months.” SEE: AI regulation is ongoing in Australia, with a committee calling for large models from OpenAI, Meta, and Google to count as “high-risk.” What’s next? The fourth model in the Nova line, Nova Premier, will not be available until the first quarter of 2025. Amazon expects Nova Premier to bring multimodal (video, image, or text-to-text) interpretation and a hefty data library that organizations can use to train other models. Also, Amazon plans to add a model that can respond naturally to spoken conversation. They are also working on a multimodal-to-multimodal model to interpret and output text, images, video, or audio. While it’s yet too early to see how Nova will compete with rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Meta, Amazon scored one major partner in SAP, which offers the models on its AI Core platform. TechRepublic is covering AWS re:Invent remotely. source