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TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for just $159.97 (reg. $249), and enjoy enhanced productivity tools on Mac or PC. The latest version of Microsoft Office is here — Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business — and it’s ready to change the way you work. With enhanced performance, smarter AI-powered tools, and advanced collaboration features, Office 2024 has everything you need to succeed, whether running a small business, freelancing, or working from home. This one-time purchase is ideal for both Mac and PC users who want robust productivity tools without the recurring costs of a subscription. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is the ideal choice for anyone seeking an all-in-one productivity suite that features modern tech. From Word’s Focus Mode for distraction-free writing to Excel’s AI-powered data analysis, this version has features that will enhance your work. Features Designed for Mac and PC, Office 2024 lets you collaborate in real time, edit documents offline, and manage your data securely — no matter which platform you use. And with Fluent Design providing a visually cohesive experience, navigating between applications feels smoother than ever. Office 2024 brings so many major upgrades, especially in Excel, with faster processing and improved handling of large datasets. PowerPoint offers advanced tools for creating engaging presentations with live video and voice recording integration, and Outlook now includes an enhanced search functionality to streamline email management. The upgraded co-authoring and collaboration features across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote allow seamless teamwork, even across distances. And for those who rely on data analysis, Excel’s AI-powered tools help you visualize data trends and create interactive reports easier. Whether you’re creating detailed financial reports, managing email campaigns, or putting together visually stunning presentations, Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business has the tools you need to be more productive. Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac and PC for just $159.97 (reg. $249) through November 3. Prices and availability subject to change. source

On Oct. 28, Apple users can begin using Apple Intelligence, the new suite of generative AI features coming to iPhones, iPads, and MacOS. These tools aim to deliver on Siri’s original promise of a humanlike assistant that makes device interactions more intuitive. Additionally, they introduce popular generative AI functions, such as on-device image generation, enhancing the capabilities of Apple’s ecosystem for a more dynamic user experience. What does Apple Intelligence do? Apple Intelligence is an umbrella term for various generative AI features that can operate on Apple devices. It includes: Generative writing tools. Automatic summarization. Smart prioritization of notifications and emails. Photo editing. Automatic photo sorting. The ability to control some of the phone’s settings with voice commands. A more conversational and versatile attitude for Siri. How does Apple Intelligence work? Apple Intelligence is enabled by Apple’s own A17 Pro, A18, A18 Pro, M1, or M2 chips, which include a neural network component that runs on-device generative operations. Some of the more processing-intensive generative AI tasks on iPhones will be offloaded to Private Cloud Compute, a gateway between the phone and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. SEE: Our cheat sheet has everything you need to know about iPhone 16. Which devices have Apple Intelligence? Apple Intelligence runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 18.1 or later. The full list of devices is: iPhone 16 (A18)iPhone 16 Plus (A18)iPhone 16 Pro Max (A18 Pro)iPhone 16 Pro (A18 Pro)iPhone 15 Pro Max (A17 Pro) iPhone 15 Pro (A17 Pro)iPad Pro (M1 and later)iPad Air (M1 and later)MacBook Air (M1 and later)MacBook Pro (M1 and later) iMac (M1 and later)Mac mini (M1 and later)Mac Studio (M1 Max and later)Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) Apple Intelligence is not available in China and may be limited in the EU. Will Apple Intelligence come to older phones? No. Devices with hardware older than the ones listed above don’t have suitable chips to run Apple Intelligence. How much does Apple Intelligence cost? Apple Intelligence is free with a software upgrade on the supported devices. Must-read Apple coverage When did Apple Intelligence launch? Apple Intelligence launched with limited features, including writing tools, typing to Siri, the image Clean Up tool, and natural language search in Photos on Oct. 28. Both Apple Mail and phone notifications will be sorted by priority. AI writing tools work in Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps. Plus, audio transcription will be available in the Notes and Phone apps. In the coming months, Apple will introduce more image-editing features, enhanced personal context and on-screen awareness in Siri interactions, and world knowledge powered by ChatGPT. The upcoming features are: Custom-made “Genmoji” emoji. Image Playground. Image Wand. Expanded writing tools powered by ChatGPT. Improved Priority Notifications. Apple Intelligence will initially roll out in American English. In December, it will gain localized English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Other languages — including Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish — will follow next year. Is Siri artificial intelligence? The definition of AI can vary. Before the recent Apple Intelligence upgrade, Siri could have been considered a form of artificial intelligence but not generative AI, as it performed tasks without creating or remixing content. Instead, Siri primarily executed operations based on preset functions. Some argue that these computing capabilities shouldn’t qualify as AI, as the term suggests a science-fiction level of humanlike intelligence that algorithms, no matter how advanced, can’t achieve. However, “AI” has become a widely accepted term for certain types of computing. Still, it might have been more accurate to call Siri a digital assistant rather than a true AI. After the upgrade to Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1 or the beta, it could now be accurate to call Siri generative AI, as it gains the ability to respond more dynamically and contextually. How to add Apple Intelligence to iPhone? Apple Intelligence will arrive on applicable iPhones as an automatic software update in October. To check for software updates manually, visit Settings > General > Software Update. How do I activate Apple Intelligence? On iPads or Macs, check for the free software update to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1. From the Apple menu, navigate to System Settings > General > Software Update. What are the competitors to Apple Intelligence? Samsung and Google have both integrated generative AI into their newest phones. The Google Pixel 9 series, which came out in August, uses Google Gemini for photo editing, summarization, and conversations. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series, which came out earlier this year, also uses Google Gemini and other Google AI products for similar capabilities. source

A passkey is a specific authentication method that can be used as commonly as a password but to provide additional security. Passkeys differ from passwords as they combine private and public cryptographic keys to authenticate users, whereas a password relies on a specific number of characters. According to Google, the most immediate benefits of passkeys are that they’re phishing-resistant and spare people the headache of remembering numbers and special characters in passwords. As passwordless authentication continues to evolve — in response to phishing-related risks — consider using passkeys to implement an added layer of security to protect your online accounts and data. This article will define passkey technology, explore how it works, and discuss the added security benefits of using a passkey. 1 NordPass Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees) Micro, Medium, Enterprise, Large, Small Features Activity Log, Business Admin Panel for user management, Company-wide settings, and more 2 Dashlane Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees) Micro, Medium, Enterprise, Large, Small Features Automated Provisioning 3 Scalefusion Single Sign-On Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Access Management, Compliance Management, Credential Management, and more What is a passkey? A passkey refers to a code or a series of characters used to gain access to a secured system, device, network, or service. Passkeys are often used in conjunction with usernames or user IDs to create two-factor authentication. SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (TechRepublic Premium) After you’ve established a passkey, all you need to do is log in to complete the authentication process, typically using biometric data such as a fingerprint or facial recognition. For those who utilize a passkey, logging in becomes a simple, nearly automatic process; for malicious actors, it becomes nearly impossible. The implementation of passkeys is highly adaptable since they may be configured to be cloud-synced or hardware-bound, contingent on the user’s choices regarding the particular application, service, or device. How do passkeys work? When logging in for the first time, a user who wants to access an app or website with passkey technology — such as NordPass — will be asked to generate an original passkey. This passkey, which will be required for authentication in the future, can be accessed using either biometrics or personal PINs based on the user’s selection and the capabilities of their preferred device. Figure A NordPass can automatically create a passkey for a website account. Image: Lance Whitney/TechRepublic During this stage, two mathematically linked cryptographic keys are generated: a public key that stays with the website, service, or application but is connected to the account, and a private key that stays on the user’s hardware or cloud account. How do you sign in with a passkey instead of a password? Passkey authentication is done in the background, making login on the user’s end seamless — with just the click of a button. Figure B You can easily log into a site with your associated passkey. Image: Lance Whitney/TechRepublic The service or application will send a randomly generated “challenge” to the user’s device during logins, which the user must react to by signing in with the private key. SEE: Passkey Adoption Is Accelerating in APAC — Except for Australia (TechRepublic) The app or website can confirm the legitimacy of the private key by utilizing the corresponding public key to confirm the response. Access is allowed, and authentication is validated if the user’s verified signature attached to the challenge’s response agrees with the original randomly generated challenge; if not, access is denied. More cloud security coverage How are passkeys different from passwords? The most critical differences between passkeys and passwords include: Passwords can be illicitly obtained through brute-force hacking, social engineering, and data breaches, whereas passkeys are more difficult (though not impossible) to steal. Hackers would need to physically steal your device or breach your cloud account and guess your PIN or find a way to bypass your biometric authenticator. Secure password usage requires users to generate and remember many complex credentials or employ a password manager, which has its own challenges and risks. Passkeys automatically authenticate users with their device’s unlock mechanisms, making them much simpler and more convenient to use. Passwords can be used across any device without any additional setup, but passkeys are usually bound to specific hardware. A cloud-based passkey solution may work across multiple devices, but users should be aware that their private keys will be stored on someone else’s servers instead of locally. What are the benefits of using a passkey? Unique logins: A password is reused every time you log in to a particular account, which means any malicious actor who gets their hands on it will have unfettered access. Passkeys, on the other hand, use cryptographic key pair technology to create unique authentication credentials for every login, giving hackers nothing to “guess” or steal. Passkeys are resistant to brute force attacks and social engineering methods like phishing, plus they can’t be exposed in a data breach. Added security layer: Passkeys use your device’s authenticator, such as a biometric login or PIN code, as a sort of built-in 2FA that protects your account. Whether your private key is stored locally on your device or in the cloud, a would-be hacker would need to authenticate with your device before gaining access to it and compromising your account. User convenience: Passkeys don’t need to be memorized or periodically changed, and logging in with them requires a single button press, providing a much more streamlined experience than passwords. And, as I just mentioned, they include 2FA to better protect accounts, but they don’t require users to provide secondary authentication for each individual login — once you’ve

If you use both Microsoft Outlook and an iPhone, you may have two separate sets of contacts on each platform. That’s a hassle to maintain, especially if the contacts are virtually the same across the board. Instead of trying to juggle each list separately, your best bet is to synchronize the two lists, so any changes you make in one are propagated to the other. To achieve that goal, you can turn to a few different options. What you’ll need An iPhone A Windows computer 1. Exchange synchronization If you or your organization uses Microsoft Exchange for your mail server, you can sync your contacts between Outlook and your iPhone. From your phone, go to Settings, then select Contacts. Tap the entry for Accounts, and then select your Exchange or Microsoft 365 account. Turn on the switch for Contacts. Sync your iPhone contacts with Microsoft 365. Check your contacts in Outlook and on your iPhone to confirm that they’re in sync. 2. iCloud for Windows synchronization A second option is to use iCloud for Windows. On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen. At your Apple ID screen, tap the entry for iCloud. At the iCloud screen, tap Show All and then turn on the switch for Contacts. In your iPhone’s iCloud settings, turn on the switch for Contacts. Next, you’ll need to get iCloud for Windows, which you download and install from the Microsoft Store. After installation, click the Start button. In Windows 10, click the iCloud shortcut in the Apps list. In Windows 11, go to the All Apps screen and then click the iCloud shortcut. After you open the iCloud app, click the Get Started button, then sign in with your Apple ID and password. Proceed through each screen of the setup process. At the fifth and final setup screen for Sync Calendars and Contacts, click the button for Sync Calendars And Contacts. In iCloud for Windows, choose the option to sync calendars and contacts. Click the button for Finish Setup. The iCloud for Windows screen opens to show which content is being synced. Confirm that the setting for Calendars and Contacts is on. You can now close the iCloud for Windows app. When the setup is finished, close iCloud for Windows. Open Outlook and click the Contacts icon. You’ll now find a contact list for iCloud that will remain in sync between Outlook and your iPhone. Open Outlook to view your synced iCloud contacts. 3. iTunes synchronization If you don’t use Exchange, then iTunes is a third option. The downside is that iTunes is a resource-intensive and often buggy program, and your organization may not allow or support its use. Outlook synchronization through iTunes is technically deprecated, with Apple recommending iCloud instead. But this technique may work for some older versions of iTunes, especially for a home or personal computer. SEE: How to use multiple Apple IDs on the same Mac. To download and install iTunes on your Windows PC, browse through Apple’s support document, “Download iTunes for Windows.” From there: Connect your iPhone to your PC. Open iTunes, then click the icon for your phone. Under Settings, select the option for Info. Check the box for Sync Contacts With, and change the source to Outlook. If a message appears confirming that you want to switch the sync provider, click the Switch button. Sync your contacts using iTunes. If you maintain more than one contact group, click the box for Selected Groups and choose a specific group. Otherwise, keep the selection set to All Contacts. Select a specific group or opt to sync all contacts. Click the Apply or Sync button at the bottom to synchronize your contacts. 4. Third-party synchronization If you can’t or don’t want to use any of the above methods to sync your contacts, one other option is to use a third-party program. One such product is Sync2 Cloud from 4Team, which normally costs $49.95 for a single full version license. With this utility, you can sync your contacts among iOS and iPadOS, Exchange, iCloud, Google, and other cloud-based services. 4Team’s Sync2 Cloud is an effective tool for syncing contacts across different services. What is the best method to sync Outlook contacts with an iPhone? The best method is the one that best meets your needs. Try the options above and see which works for your use case. In general, exchange synchronization is likely to be the most straightforward method for most people, as it does not require downloading any new applications or paying for a service. Do I need to use iTunes to sync Outlook contacts? No. There are several other methods we detailed above. In fact, using iTunes is no longer recommended. What should I do if my Outlook contacts are not syncing with my iPhone? If your Outlook contacts are not syncing with your iPhone, Apple recommends checking for service outages or network connection issues first. Next, make sure all devices involved are running the latest version of their operating systems, both Apple and Windows (if you’re using iCloud for Windows). Make sure the iCloud Outlook Add-in is active and that you’re using your default account for Outlook and the same Apple account you use across devices. source

Find out what regulatory changes the U.K. government’s Data (Use and Access) bill has made and how your business can comply. source

TL;DR: This AI WordPress plugin can research, summarize, edit, and publish content for you for $59.99 (reg. $229). Any blogger knows this: There are a million moving parts you need to stay on top of to ensure your site operates properly. Another hard truth is this: You simply don’t have enough time or energy to produce original, engaging content on a regular basis. That’s where AI comes in to help. You may think that using AI means you’re slacking off, but the reality is that it’s the key to achieving a better work-life balance — plus, just about everyone else uses AI. This WordPress writing plugin automatically researches content, writes articles, and posts them to your website so you don’t have to type a single word. Add it to your site for $59.99 (reg. $229). How does this AI writing tool work? This tool uses ChatGPT behind the scenes to save you time and energy producing content. To start, you’ll need an OpenAI account and the premium version if you want GPT-4 (higher quality) responses. Here are the steps, simplified: Install the plugin on your WordPress website. Create a campaign for each type of article you want generated and an end date. Depending on your blog, you could create blog posts every time a new sci-fi movie is reviewed or when Tesla pops up in the news. How the WordPress article plugin works is by creating an RSS. This web feed automatically updates when new content is launched, and it’ll summarize it and rewrite it into a fresh blog post. Since this is made possible through ChatGPT, you can select the voice and personality of your content to fit your brand. Streamline your blog content creation and focus on the clicks Struggling with content ideas can be a thing of the past with this AI writing tool. All it takes is setting up a campaign. Once you eliminate the time you’d normally allocate for content production, you can focus on building engagement and traffic to your blog. Again, don’t feel like you’re slacking off by using AI since everyone else is using it, too. However, we recommend fact-checking and proofreading what this plugin generates for you to ensure you’re not publishing content that’s incorrect or ridiculous. There’s no need to struggle with content production when you add this AI-powered WordPress plugin to your site for $59.99. Prices and availability are subject to change. source

TL;DR: Kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with The Complete Business Start-Up & Development Bundle for only $24.99 (reg. $149). Are you looking to become your own boss and launch the business you’ve always dreamed of? The Complete Business Start-Up & Development Bundle is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs. It features five comprehensive courses with 13 hours of valuable content from Apex Learning, guiding you through everything from business planning to social enterprise development. What you’ll learn One key course, Entrepreneurship & Business Start-Up, will teach you the core traits of successful entrepreneurs and how to identify market opportunities, develop business plans, and secure funding. With comprehensive lessons on idea generation, market research, and strategy development, you’ll feel confident in every step of your entrepreneurial journey. Another standout course is Starting a Business or Social Enterprise: The Stone Soup Way, which gives you hands-on experience with ethical business planning and social impact strategies. Learn how to weave social good into your enterprise while developing your brand and mission. It’s about making a difference, not just profit. Who it’s for Whether you’re a freelancer, startup enthusiast, or someone dreaming of reporting to no one but themselves, this bundle covers everything you need to know. Learn how to grow your business, make informed financial decisions, and scale your venture for long-term success. With 13 hours of content, you can learn on your schedule, revisiting key topics as needed. This means you can learn a little on your lunch break or after work. Plus, lifetime access means that as your business grows, you’ll always have expert guidance at your fingertips. Ready to become your own boss? Grab The Complete Business Start-Up & Development Bundle today and get expert guidance to start, grow, and scale your business — all for just $24.99 (reg. $149) for a limited time. Prices and availability subject to change. source

Imagine a world where your call center operates smoothly around the clock, with customers receiving instant, accurate support the moment they need it. This is the reality AI-powered chatbots are bringing to life, revolutionizing how call centers operate and interact with customers. Yet, for all their efficiency and capabilities, they can’t replicate the human touch required in certain situations. This article reveals five chatbot call center examples that demonstrate their game-changing nature, and three scenarios where human agents are irreplaceable. Five chatbot call center examples 1. Agent assistants Virtual assistant chatbots are invaluable tools for call center agents. They act as an additional support system that simplifies their tasks. As one of many powerful AI capabilities for call centers, agent assistants are engineered to enhance agent workflows, enabling employees to provide exceptional customer service by eliminating the time spent on mundane tasks. What can agent assistant chatbots do? Instant information retrieval: Agent assistant chatbots can quickly access customer data, previous interactions, and details about products or services. Automated data entry: They update customer records automatically, simplifying the data entry process. Suggested responses: These chatbots offer potential responses or solutions based on the customer’s inquiry, streamlining the resolution process. Sentiment analysis: They understand and adapt to the customer’s tone and sentiment through sentiment analysis, providing precise support. Predictive assistance: Utilizing AI, agent assistant chatbots anticipate an agent’s information needs and proactively provide this data. How can agent assistants benefit call centers? Increased efficiency: Agents can handle inquiries faster because they spend less time searching for information and updating records. Enhanced resolution process: Suggestions from chatbots can streamline how agents resolve customer issues. Personalized customer service: Analyzing sentiment allows agents to tailor their approach, improving customer interactions. Proactive support: Predictive assistance ensures agents have the information they need before they even have to ask for it. What are limitations of agent assistants? Data quality dependence: The effectiveness of these chatbots is closely linked to the quality of the data they can access. Poor data quality can make them less helpful to agents. Potential for overreliance: There’s a risk that reliance on chatbots could lead agents to lose their edge in handling inquiries independently. As the adage goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Privacy and security: Allowing chatbots to process sensitive customer information raises important privacy and security concerns. Strict safeguards must be in place to ensure data safety and legal compliance. 2. Customer service chatbots Customer service chatbots are designed to interact directly with customers through text and voice communications. They address common customer issues such as billing questions, order tracking, and basic troubleshooting. What can customer service chatbots do? Automated responses: These chatbots can understand and address simple customer questions independently by using predefined scripts and machine learning algorithms. Natural Language Processing (NLP): Advanced chatbots utilize NLP to mimic human-like conversations, allowing them to respond to customer messages more effectively. Recent advances have also allowed some chatbots to communicate in multiple languages, significantly broadening their reach. Database integration: These chatbots can access company databases to give customers personalized information, including order updates and account specifics. Predictive analytics: Recent advancements in AI and machine learning have taken chatbots to the next level. Advanced bots can now incorporate predictive analytics to address customer needs based on past purchases or interactions. How can customer service chatbots benefit call centers? 24/7 availability: Chatbots can work around the clock so that customers can receive instant responses to their questions day or night. This makes customer service more accessible and convenient. Scalability: Unlike human agents, chatbots can simultaneously manage a high volume of customer queries, which improves efficiency. Cost efficiency: Chatbots offer a cost-effective solution for managing customer service operations by reducing the need for extensive support from human agents. Consistent customer experience: Chatbots deliver standardized responses, ensuring that every customer receives the same quality of service. What are the limitations of customer service chatbots? Handling sarcasm and idiomatic language: Customers might use sarcasm, idioms, or colloquial expressions that chatbots can misinterpret, leading to incorrect responses. Overreliance risk: The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of chatbots may lead businesses to rely on them too much, at the expense of necessary human support. Emotional intelligence: Customer service often involves handling frustrated or upset customers. Chatbots lack the ability to truly understand and empathize with human emotions, which can be crucial in de-escalating tense situations or comforting customers in distress. 3. Lead generation or sales chatbots Lead generation or sales chatbots act as digital sales agents, engaging with potential customers on websites, social media, and messaging apps. These AI-powered assistants kickstart conversations, inquire about visitors’ needs and preferences, and compile critical information, such as contact details, purchase intent, and budget. This process personalizes the interaction and efficiently guides prospects through the sales funnel toward making a purchase. What can lead generation chatbots do? Initiating contact: They proactively greet visitors, offering help or sparking a conversation to engage them right from the start. Qualifying leads: Chatbots assess the likelihood of converting visitors into viable leads by asking targeted questions about their requirements, budget, and preferences. Providing information: They supply detailed information on products or services, answer frequently asked questions, and share pricing details to educate and inform the potential customer. Lead routing: Once a lead is qualified, chatbots direct them to the appropriate sales team member for a more customized follow-up, enhancing the chances of conversion. Voice activation: With the rise of voice search and voice commands, some lead gen chatbots now support voice inputs, making it easier for potential customers to engage with them through spoken language. How can lead-gen chatbots benefit call centers? Increased engagement: With their 24/7 availability, chatbots guarantee immediate interaction with visitors, boosting engagement and potentially increasing conversion rates. Efficient lead qualification: By taking care of the early stages of lead qualification, chatbots enable sales teams to dedicate more time to leads with a higher likelihood of purchase. Scalability: Chatbots can talk to many customers simultaneously, allowing businesses to grow their lead generation efforts

When it comes to antivirus software, small business’ needs often fall in an in-between space:  Personal antivirus tools such as McAfee or Kaspersky may not be robust enough, while enterprise solutions are too complicated and expensive. Fortunately, there are antivirus solutions tailored to the needs of smaller companies, so we’ve rounded up our six top choices of the best antivirus software for small businesses. Top antivirus software for small businesses comparison Besides price, there are many other factors to consider when choosing the best small business antivirus software. A few of them are summarized in the table below: Starting price Free trial Devices covered VPN included Password manager included Bitdefender $104.99 for 5 devices for 1 year Yes macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Windows Server Yes Yes Norton $59.99 a year for 6 devices for 1 year Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Premium plan only Yes Trend Micro Contact for pricing Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android No No ESET $179.99 for 5 devices for 1 year Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux Certain plans only Certain plans only Avira $59.99 for 5 devices for 1 year Yes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Yes Yes Microsoft Defender $33.75 per user per month Yes Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android No No Bitdefender GravityZone: Best overall Image: Bitdefender GravityZone Bitdefender is known for its consumer-facing antivirus software, but it also offers excellent antivirus solutions for small businesses. Bitdefender can protect macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Windows Server systems, making it a good choice for SMBs that use multiple types of devices. The dashboard makes it easy to manage your security even if you don’t have advanced IT training. Some plans also offer unlimited VPN traffic and account breach monitoring for everyone on the plan. SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (TechRepublic Premium) Why I chose Bitdefender GravityZone I chose Bitdefender GravityZone because of its ease of use and excellent reputation. I also appreciate the many pricing options it offers. You can opt to pay per the number of devices or the number of users, so that you aren’t paying for extra slots you’re not using. If and when you’re ready to scale, Bitdefender also offers security solutions and managed services for mid-sized businesses, so you might not even have to switch providers. Pricing Small Business Security: Starts at $104.99 for 5 devices for 1 year. Business Security: Starts at $129.49 for 5 devices for 1 year. Business Security Premium: Starts at $286.99 for 5 devices for 1 year. Ultimate Small Business Security: Starts at $189.99 a year or $18.99 a month for 3 users and 6 devices. Features Risk management capabilities. Scam Copilot feature powered by AI. Fileless attack protection. Built-in password management and digital identity monitoring. Dedicated email protection. The Executive Summary page in the Bitdefender dashboard. Image: Bitwarden Pros and cons Pros Cons Centralized security dashboard. Price plans can be confusing to navigate. Scores well in independent testing. Monthly payment option not available for all plans. User interface is intuitive and relatively easy to navigate. Scales with businesses as they grow. Norton: Best for 24/7 customer support Image: Norton At a small business, you rarely work defined hours, which is why it’s important to choose antivirus software that offers extensive support options. Fortunately, Norton offers online chat support 24/7 for English-speaking customers. There’s also a large knowledge base that you can consult for self-help before reaching out to customer service. Norton’s small business plans bundle together many features, including password management and cloud backup. Why I chose Norton I chose Norton because it offers 24/7 customer support in addition to an all-in-one security platform. It’s not big enough to scale with your business the way some other options on the list can, but it’s a great option if you’re a true small business that needs to protect 20 devices and under. Pricing Norton Small Business: Starts at $59.99 a year for 6 devices. Norton Small Business Premium: Starts at $149.99 a year for 10 devices. Features Secure browser protects internet traffic. Encrypted vault for storing login info. Automatic software update tool. PC cleaner and optimizer. The main dashboard in the Norton Small Business software. Image: Norton Pros and cons Pros Cons Affordable promotional pricing for the first years. Must upgrade to a more expensive plan to get a VPN. Can monitor up to 5 contacts for identity theft and breaches. Cloud storage is limited on both plans. Automatically backs up crucial business data. 24/7 chat support is available in English only. Includes Windows PC cleaning, updating, and optimizing. Trend Micro: Best for endpoint protection Image: Trend Micro Trend Micro is excellent at detecting and defending against cyberattacks, which is why I named it one of the best antivirus software for Windows. Trend Micro offers two tiers of software: Trend Vision One for Small Businesses, and Trend Vision One for larger companies. The small business version can protect not just endpoints but also workloads and cloud apps as well with both endpoint detection response and extended detection response. Why I chose Trend Micro I selected Trend Micro because of its multiple cyber threat tools that promote early detection and elimination. I also appreciate that its many plans can scale with a small business as it becomes a midsize business or even a large enterprise. It also offers managed services through partnerships with third-party providers if you’re interested in outsourcing your IT work. Pricing Trend Micro does not disclose the pricing information for Trend Vision One for Small Businesses or Trend Vision One. Contact the sales team to get a customized quote. Features Attack surface risk management. AI threat intelligence tools. Data protection supports regulatory compliance. Advanced email security and mobile device security. The dashboard view in the Trend Micro security console. Image: Trend Micro Pros and cons Pros Cons Wide variety of apps for threat detection and prevention. Pricing is not transparent. Educational tutorials are available. Number of features can be overwhelming to navigate. Can scale with your business as

Google Cloud will enhance AI cloud infrastructure with new TPUs and NVIDIA GPUs, the tech company announced on Oct. 30 at the App Day & Infrastructure Summit. Now in preview for cloud customers, the sixth-generation of the Trillium NPU powers many of Google Cloud’s most popular services, including Search and Maps. “Through these advancements in AI infrastructure, Google Cloud empowers businesses and researchers to redefine the boundaries of AI innovation,” Mark Lohmeyer, VP and GM of Compute and AI Infrastructure at Google Cloud, wrote in a press release. “We are looking forward to the transformative new AI applications that will emerge from this powerful foundation.” Trillium NPU speeds up generative AI processes As large language models grow, so must the silicon to support them. The sixth generation of the Trillium NPU delivers training, inference, and delivery of large language model applications at 91 exaflops in one TPU cluster. Google Cloud reports that the sixth-generation version offers a 4.7-times increase in peak compute performance per chip compared to the fifth generation. It doubles the High Bandwidth Memory capacity and the Interchip Interconnect bandwidth. Trillium meets the high compute demands of large-scale diffusion models like Stable Diffusion XL. At its peak, Trillium infrastructure can link tens of thousands of chips, creating what Google Cloud describes as “a building-scale supercomputer.” Enterprise customers have been asking for more cost-effective AI acceleration and increased inference performance, said Mohan Pichika, group product manager of AI infrastructure at Google Cloud, in an email to TechRepublic. In the press release, Google Cloud customer Deniz Tuna, head of development at mobile app development company HubX, noted: “We used Trillium TPU for text-to-image creation with MaxDiffusion & FLUX.1 and the results are amazing! We were able to generate four images in 7 seconds — that’s a 35% improvement in response latency and ~45% reduction in cost/image against our current system!” More Google news & tips New Virtual Machines anticipate NVIDIA Blackwell chip delivery In November, Google will add A3 Ultra VMs powered by NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPUs to their cloud services. The A3 Ultra VMs run AI or high-powered computing workloads on Google Cloud’s data center-wide network at 3.2 Tbps of GPU-to-GPU traffic. They also offer customers: Integration with NVIDIA ConnectX-7 hardware. 2x the GPU-to-GPU networking bandwidth compared to the previous benchmark, A3 Mega. Up to 2x higher LLM inferencing performance. Nearly double the memory capacity. 1.4x more memory bandwidth. The new VMs will be available through Google Cloud or Google Kubernetes Engine. SEE: Blackwell GPUs are sold out for the next year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said at an investors’ meeting in October. Additional Google Cloud infrastructure updates support the growing enterprise LLM industry Naturally, Google Cloud’s infrastructure offerings interoperate. For example, the A3 Mega is supported by the Jupiter data center network, which will soon see its own AI-workload-focused enhancement. With its new network adapter, Titanium’s host offload capability now adapts more effectively to the diverse demands of AI workloads. The Titanium ML network adapter uses NVIDIA ConnectX-7 hardware and Google Cloud’s data-center-wide 4-way rail-aligned network to deliver 3.2 Tbps of GPU-to-GPU traffic. The benefits of this combination flow up to Jupiter, Google Cloud’s optical circuit switching network fabric. Another key element of Google Cloud’s AI infrastructure is the processing power required for AI training and inference. Bringing large numbers of AI accelerators together is Hypercompute Cluster, which contains A3 Ultra VMs. Hypercompute Cluster can be configured via an API call, leverages reference libraries like JAX or PyTorch, and supports open AI models like Gemma2 and Llama3 for benchmarking. Google Cloud customers can access Hypercompute Cluster with A3 Ultra VMs and Titanium ML network adapters in November. These products address enterprise customer requests for optimized GPU utilization and simplified access to high-performance AI Infrastructure, said Pichika. “Hypercompute Cluster provides an easy-to-use solution for enterprises to leverage the power of AI Hypercomputer for large-scale AI training and inference,” he said by email. Google Cloud is also preparing racks for NVIDIA’s upcoming Blackwell GB200 NVL72 GPUs, anticipated for adoption by hyperscalers in early 2025. Once available, these GPUs will connect to Google’s Axion-processor-based VM series, leveraging Google’s custom Arm processors. Pichika declined to directly address whether the timing of Hypercompute Cluster or Titanium ML was connected to delays in the delivery of Blackwell GPUs: “We’re excited to continue our work together to bring customers the best of both technologies.” Two more services, the Hyperdisk ML AI/ML focused block storage service and the Parallestore AI/HPC focused parallel file system, are now generally available. Google Cloud services can be reached across numerous international regions. Competitors to Google Cloud for AI hosting Google Cloud competes primarily with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure in cloud hosting of large language models. Alibaba, IBM, Oracle, VMware, and others offer similar stables of large language model resources, although not always at the same scale. According to Statista, Google Cloud held 10% of the cloud infrastructure services market worldwide in Q1 2024. Amazon AWS held 34% and Microsoft Azure held 25%. source