Wednesday
Jun222016

Eight reasons to download AgExpert Analyst 2016-04 update

Eight reasons to download AgExpert Analyst 2016-04 update

Just eight reasons? Actually, there’s more. But first, an overview:

It’s time for our regular July payroll update. This update is vital for payroll users to ensure their tax tables are current. Of course, this update is not just about payroll – you’ve made requests, and we’ve delivered. We’ve used this opportunity to bundle in some improvements to existing features that users like you have asked us for. And let’s not forget, there are changes to HST in three Maritime provinces, so we’ve included instructions for those.

Now, in no particular order, here are the new features:

 

  1. There’s a new standard file type: .ofx (Open Financial Exchange) for exchanging financial information. Along with the current file types we use to import transactions from online banking, we’ve ensured this new file type will work as well.
  2. Now you can auto-populate the budget screen when entering the budget screen for the first time in any new year (as requested by you).
  3. As requested, you can now auto-populate the fair market value screen when entering the screen for the first time in any new year.
  4. New accounts will be automatically mapped to the cash flow report based on the account type selected when creating the new account (another user request).
  5. Journal entries to Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable can now be done through the General Journal entry screen. This will help when entering year-end adjustments from the accountant.
  6. You wanted more flexibility when sourcing payroll funds from multiple bank accounts – done. Now you can change the bank account on the fly when entering paycheques.
  7. The HST rates in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador will be changing on July 1, 2016. You’ll be ready to modify those rates in AgExpert Analyst.
  8. Some of you told us there a few things not working correctly in the software – now we’ve tweaked those bugs.

 

Want to see a complete list of all the awesome updates? Click here.

 

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Monday
Feb012016

Take a sneak peek at Field Manager PRO and 360 2016-01 update

Take a sneak peek at Field Manager PRO and 360 2016-01 update

Ready for the new year? Download the latest version of Field Manager PRO (2016-01) and you will be. Loaded with new improvements and fixes, you’ll manage your field and crop data better than ever.

Here’s a peek at the just some of the new features and enhancements:

Auto-update

Online Activation

  • Activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disc.
  • Of course, you can choose to not use the online activation tool, or if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you can call us during our normal business hours.

Enhancements

Harvest

GIS

Soil test observation

Reports

FM PRO Mobile

Do you have feedback? We’d love to hear. You can use the Send Anonymous Usage data to FCC (under the help menu) to help us to better understand how you use your software. Secondly, you can always post suggestions for Field Manager PRO on the discussion boards.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus you can always contact our FCC Management Software support staff.

To learn more about all the new features and enhancements click here.

Tuesday
Dec222015

Adding up the numbers with AgExpert Analyst 2016-02

Adding up the numbers with AgExpert Analyst 2016-02

There’s a number of improvements to the release of the latest version of AgExpert Analyst 2016-02, and they add up to better things for you. We don’t have the space to include all the upgrades, but here’s a quick look at some highlights in our latest version:

AgExpert Analyst 2016-03

 

  • Minor technical improvements were added

Auto-update

General enhancements

Setup

Transaction

Payroll

Reports

Management

Enhancements

Support

  • Find out what’s new in your software by using the What’s New button added to the Help menu.
  • The FCC Management Software online community is the place to get answers to your software questions 24-7. Access searchable discussions, blogs and the Knowledge Base. You can connect with other software users and with our support staff.

These are just some of the feature upgrades you can look forward to. When you’re in business for yourself, every little advantage matters and that includes using the latest and best versions of your software. Don’t forget to upgrade yours.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Monday
Nov092015

Download the newest version of AgExpert Analyst now

Download the newest version of AgExpert Analyst now

Update the way you do your accounting with the latest version of AgExpert Analyst. There’s so many improvements and upgrades we can’t cover them all, but here’s a brief glimpse of what you can expect:

Auto-update

Online Activation

  • Activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an Internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disc.
  • Don’t want to use the online activation tool? Or your computer isn’t connected to the Internet? No problem, just call us during our normal business hours. We’ll get you activated.

Setup

Transaction

Payroll

Taxes

Reports

Support

  • Find out what’s new in your software by using the What’s New button added to the Help menu.
  • The FCC Management Software online community is the place to get answers to your software questions 24-7. Access searchable discussions, blogs and the Knowledge Base. You can also connect with other software users and with our support staff.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Monday
Nov022015

Learn what’s new in your online community

Learn what’s new in your online community

Have you met the people in your neighbourhood? Specifically, the FCC Management Software Community?

For the past three years, your online community has grown and helped hundreds of customers with their software questions and sharing advice. Just this year, we hit 500,000 page views.

In case you’re new to the community, here’s a quick overview:

Knowledge Base

Search the Knowledge Base by topic and find answers to your software and mobile app questions.

Multimedia section

  • videos are an easy way to learn when it’s convenient for you
  • with each software release, you’ll be able to view what’s new in our software   

Blogs

Over 50 blogs are waiting for your reading pleasure. Here are some that may interest you:

Discussion Boards

We have an average of 3,000 visitors per month to the community. Join the conversation and ask questions, get answers and share your knowledge with other users.

Click to Chat

If you’re a current Essential or Premium plan subscriber, try out our click to chat functionality. Instantly message to get answers from our support staff. Sound good to you? Then maybe it’s time you switched to an Essential or Premium customer care plan. To upgrade, call 1-800-667-7893.

We’re always open to suggestions

This is your community – so if you have any ideas to share, we’d love to hear your feedback. If there’s something you’d like to see different or added, let us know.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Sunday
Nov012015

Top 10 things you can do to prepare for year-end

Top 10 things you can do to prepare for year-end

Whether you’re an early bird or a procrastinator, we all need to do the same things for year-end, so why wait? Here’s a list of things you can do now to make the annual process easier.

  1. Reconcile all of your accounts.
    • Not just bank accounts – loans, co-operative equity, investments, accounts payable – everything should balance.
    • Be able to back up each number with proof.
  2. Make sure you have a copy of all year-end statements.
    • Bank accounts and credit cards.
    • Vendor statements.
    • Loan statements.
    • Ties in with reconciling – if you reconcile an account, you should have the statement to prove the balance.
  3. Prepare an inventory list for the end of your fiscal year.
    • Quantity in the bin, head that you currently own.
    • Inventory still in the field does not count.
    • Make sure estimates are reasonable.
  4. Have all receipts available for all capital asset transactions.
    • Both purchases and sales need to be available.
    • Will assist the accountant in making sure CCA is calculated correctly.
  5. Enter all of your deferrals.
    • Assists in making sure current inventory is correct.
    • Required for AgriStability.
  6. Review your income tax account for accuracy.
    • Check your books to make sure that all transactions are entered.
    • Balance to what CRA says has been paid or is outstanding – check My Account on the CRA website to reconcile.
  7. Make sure you’re compliant.
    • Has all payroll been entered & payroll remittances been made?
    • Is your GST/HST up to date?
    • Is there any provincial tax filings required?
    • Did you miss any tax installment payments?
  8. Make sure all prior year adjustments have been entered.
    • Will ensure that all accounts are starting in a good position.
    • No sense in paying your accountant to do the same work twice.
  9. Backup your data.
    • If you run a computerized system of books, regular backups are required to ensure your data remains intact.
    • If you run a paper set of books, find a way to duplicate and keep it as safe as possible.
  10. Don’t wait to the last minute.
    • Year-end is stressful enough, completing your work early will ensure enough time to file your tax return and complete your financial statements.
    • Your accountant may not be able to remain compliant on your file if you do not give them enough time to complete the work.

Questions? Get answers about our software and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

 

Tuesday
Oct062015

Get ready for a new AgExpert Analyst update

Get ready for a new AgExpert Analyst update

Our latest AgExpert Analyst update is ready and here’s a quick teaser of what you can expect:

Auto-update

  • Get notified from within your software when an update is available. (You need an internet connection to use this feature.)

Transaction

  • Delete a previously selected Customer or Supplier from the Customer/Supplier field in the transaction entry screen.

Payroll

  • Added accrued vacation to the paystub.

Taxes

  • Fix for Line 101 issue of the GST/HST Report.

Reports

  • Changes to the Earnings and Deductions report to facilitate the foreign workers information reporting.

Tools

  • The Export to Caseware and Accountant’s drill will be brought back to the Tools Menu

Support

  • Find out what’s new in your software by using the What’s New button added to the Help menu.
  • The FCC Management Software online community is the place to get answers to your software questions 24-7. Access searchable discussions, blogs and the Knowledge Base. You can connect with other software users and with our support staff.

Watch for more details on the latest release coming soon. 

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Friday
Jul312015

Upgrade with Field Manager PRO and 360 version 2015-03 

Upgrade with Field Manager PRO and 360 version 2015-03 

It’s new and it’s here – Field Manager PRO and Field Manager PRO 360 2015-03, including updates for FM PRO Mobile.

Here’s a list of just some of the new features you can expect:

Auto-update

Online Activation

  • Activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disk.
  • Of course, you can choose to not use the online activation tool, or if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you can call us during our normal business hours.

Setup

Operation

GIS

FM PRO Mobile

These are just some of the feature upgrades you can look forward to. Give your business every advantage you can and upgrade to the latest version of your software.

To learn more about all the new features and enhancements click here.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Saturday
Jul182015

Celebrating three years with your online community

Celebrating three years with your online community

A big-shout out to all of you who are part of our online community. We’re celebrating three years and we couldn’t do it without you.

So what’s happened over the past three years?

A maturing Knowledge Base 

More than 800 articles have been posted to the online community since the beginning of the website. We’re always posting new content and perfecting our knowledge. There’s over 70 videos posted to help you make the most of your software.

Building the blogisphere 

We’ve posted 50 informative blogs and the list is growing. More testimonials and tutorials are available on YouTube.

Discussion boards 

The online community is alive and well. There are more than 1000 posts on our discussion boards.

Numbers to celebrate 

  • 475,000 page views since the launch of the site
  • average number of visitors per month – 3,000 since the launch of our site
  • peak online traffic season is from January to April

Watch for these new features:

  • click-to-chat will be added for essential customers (coming soon)
  • improvements to the click-to-chat functionality (coming soon)
  • increased searchability so you can find your answer from within the discussion boards (coming soon)

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Friday
Jun192015

New AgExpert Analyst 2015-03, new enhancements for you

New AgExpert Analyst 2015-03, new enhancements for you

The latest AgExpert Analyst update is here. With this new release, you can expect many new features and enhancements:

Auto-update

  • Get notified from within your software when an update is available. (You need an internet connection to use this feature.)

Online Activation

  • Activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disc.
  • No internet connection? No problem. If you can’t use the online activation tool, or if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, call us during our normal business hours. We’ll get you activated.

Transaction

Payroll

Taxes

Reports

Management

Enhancements

Year end

Support

Remember – this is just a glimpse of what you can expect from this new version. To learn more about all the new features and enhancements, click here.

Friday
Jun122015

A new solution for your business – Agriculture More Than Ever

A new solution for your business – Agriculture More Than Ever

As users of our various software products, you understand the direct value these types of tools can have on your operation.

Another way to have a positive impact on your business (that you might not have thought of) is to start talking about all great things going on in your operation and in ag overall. Not only will this help change perceptions the general public has about our industry, it will also go a long way to attract the skilled, energetic workers you’re going to need to keep your business growing.

For example, did you know, that from 2013 to 2022 there will be almost 74,000 projected job openings in Canadian ag, but only 49,000 projected job seekers. That means huge opportunities for workers and young people right across the country. The only problem is most people aren’t aware that a job in an ag-related field is even a possibility – but that’s where you come in.

Tell your story

A great place to start is to check out the resources available through Agriculture More Than Ever, an industry-driven cause to improve perceptions and create positive dialogue about Canadian ag. On the website you’ll find all sorts of tools to build ag awareness and learn about what others across the country are doing. Get in on the conversation – it’s easy, fun and will have long-term benefits for your business.

The impact of ag on Canada’s economy, communities and families is truly remarkable. And it’s time everyone knew about it.

Monday
May042015

Check out what’s new in Field Manager PRO and 360 2015-02 

Check out what’s new in Field Manager PRO and 360 2015-02 

Managing your field data has never been easier thanks to the latest upgrades to Field Manager PRO and Field Manager PRO 360. What’s new for 2015-02? New improvements, features and a few bug fixes. And of course, we’ve included a new FM PRO Mobile app release. Check it out:

Auto-update

Online Activation

  • Activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disk.
  • Choose to use the online activation or simply call us – if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you can call us during our normal business hours and we’ll get you activated.

Preferences

Harvest

GIS

FM PRO Mobile

Learn more about all the new features and enhancements.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Tuesday
Mar312015

Watch and learn with our How-to videos on YouTube

Watch and learn with our How-to videos on YouTube

Watch and learn. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard since childhood, and with good reason – it’s one of the best ways to understand new things.

That’s why YouTube rocks.

Through online resources like YouTube, we’re able to showcase our How-to video series to help you learn different aspects of our software, customer care plans, our apps and any related questions. Best of all, you can watch and see exactly what you’re looking for.

One of our most popular learning tools – our Getting Started webinars – will also be posted to YouTube. It’s a great way to show you how to begin using and navigating your way through our software.

So grab a drink, a snack and subscribe to our YouTube channel, and watch:

  • How-to videos
  • Software release videos
  • Software and application overview videos
  • Recorded webinars

One more thing – if you have a great video idea, let us know. Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post. We love hearing from you. Your feedback gives us ideas for new videos. Check back often as we add more videos throughout the year.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus you can always contact our FCC Management Software support staff.

Monday
Mar162015

A few quick updates for AgExpert Mobile

A few quick updates for AgExpert Mobile

Now that many of you have downloaded and use AgExpert Mobile, you’ve suggested a few tweaks and we’ve listened. As part of this update, you’ll see a few differences to make your experience even better.

Password Recovery

  • Forgot password feature has been added.
  • Reset password capability has been added.

Bug fixes

  • Some Android smartphone users were experiencing the app crashing at startup – but it’s been fixed.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Thursday
Feb262015

How to sync your mobile app and desktop

How to sync your mobile app and desktop

If you’re new to our apps, or just need a little clarification, you’re in luck. We’re talking about the synching process, and demystifying how the cloud works. Whether you use AgExpert Mobile or FM PRO Mobile, the process is similar – check it out:

Sync process

  • In AgExpert Mobile, enter your receipts on the app, and then click the cloud button. This sends the information to the cloud.
  • In FM PRO Mobile, enter your data and click the cloud button on your app. This sends your data to the cloud.

What happens to my data once it’s in the cloud?

  • The information stays in the cloud until you retrieve it on your desktop computer.

How to retrieve your information from the cloud

  • Using AgExpert Mobile? Open AgExpert Analyst and go to the Transaction menu. There you simply click on Import from AgExpert Mobile. For more details about the process, click here.
  • Using FM PRO Mobile? Open Field Manager PRO or 360, and go to the File menu, then click on Sync. For more details about the process, click here.
  • Once you follow through with the synchronization process, your data will be retrieved from the cloud and will appear on your desktop software.

Requirements to retrieve the information from the cloud

  • Be sure you’re running the latest version of the software and the application.
  • You must have on a current service plan subscription to retrieve information from the cloud.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Tuesday
Jan272015

Update your Field Manager PRO, 360 and FM PRO Mobile now

Update your Field Manager PRO, 360 and FM PRO Mobile now

The new updates to Field Manager PRO, 360 and FM PRO Mobile are here.  Take a look:

Online Activation

  • Now you can activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disk.
  • Of course, you can choose to not use the online activation tool, or if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you can call us during our normal business hours.

Reports

GIS

FM PRO Mobile

  • Graphics have been added to the Storage locations to show how full a bin is
  • Weather observation has been added
  • Other observation has been added
  • Irrigation operation has been added

Support

Your Online Community is here to help. The FCC Management Software Online Community is the place to get answers to your software questions 24-7. You can access searchable discussions, blogs and the Knowledge Base. Connect with other software users and our support staff when you need them.

Learn more about all the new features and enhancements.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Friday
Jan092015

More improvements to your online community

More improvements to your online community

FCC Management Software is changing the layout of the Knowledge Base, making it easier to find content. We also added a section where we’ll be archiving our Tip of the Month articles.  

With so many enhancements to the online community, we only have space to share a few with you – check it out:

Knowledge Base

  • We’ve separated our apps from our software in the Knowledge Base. If you have specific questions about our apps, you can search the apps Knowledge Base.
  • We reorganized all the content to make it easier to find.
      Note: Looking for something specific in the page and not quite sure what to find? You can always press CTRL + F on your keyboard and type a keyword. Or you can do a search (in the top right corner).

Tip of the Month

  • Missed the last Tip of the Month article? You’re in luck. Every issue has been archived in the online community and will be updated with every new article.

Click to Chat

  • Click to Chat is a quick and convenient way to get in touch with our support team.
  • Instead of using the phone, simply type your question and one of our support team members will start chatting with you to find your answers.
  • At the beginning of the Click to Chat session, you’ll need to provide your phone number to validate you qualify for this new feature. (i.e. Premium Plan Subscribers)

Watch for a How-to series coming to your online community

  • A new How-to web series is being developed by our Support Analysts to better help you use our Software. If you have any topics you’d like to see in a web series, email your idea to support@fccsoftware.ca. (COMING SOON)

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Monday
Dec222014

Update your software with AgExpert Analyst 2015-02

Update your software with AgExpert Analyst 2015-02

The latest update to AgExpert Analyst, Canada’s #1 selling agricultural accounting software is here. Here are just a few new features you can expect with AgExpert Analyst 2015-02:

Auto-update

  • You’ll receive an automatic notification from your software when an update is available. (You need an internet connection to use this feature.)

Online Activation

  • Now you can activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in, no need to wait for a disk.
  • Of course, you can choose to not use the online activation tool, or if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you can call us during our normal business hours.

Payroll

  • All payroll tables have been updated to reflect the payroll calculations from January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015. However, you’ll still need to manually update the TDI numbers.

Business setup

  • Labelling changes in the business setup – Changed Phone (day) to Phone and Phone (night) to Cell.

Contacts

  • A language preference has been added to the Contact setup window so you can assign your customers and suppliers communication language preferences.

Point of Sale and invoices improvements

Reports

A date range filter has been added to the Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable report.

Bug fixes

  • The Fiscal year on the AgExpert Analyst dashboard will automatically refresh after shortening a fiscal year.
  • Fixed the issue with the Inventory report not hiding some accounts with a zero balance.
  • Fixed the Total Calculation line on the Capital Asset purchase report to remove the capital assets not in possession from the total.

Support

Your Online Community is here to help. The FCC Management Software Online Community is the place to get answers to your software questions 24-7. You can access searchable discussions, blogs and the Knowledge Base. Connect with other software users and our support staff when you need them.

Learn more about all the new features and enhancements.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Monday
Nov172014

Move over 2014, AgExpert Analyst 2015 is here

Move over 2014, AgExpert Analyst 2015 is here

The times are changing, and so is Canada’s #1 selling agricultural accounting software. With so many new features and enhancements, where do we begin?

Based on user feedback and your ongoing suggestions, we’ve made changes to make this version even more intuitive, flexible and convenient. Below, we’ve outlined some subtle changes, and some big ones – check them out: 

Online activation

  • One of the big changes to AgExpert Analyst is online activation. Now you can activate your software as soon as you’re ready. All you need is an internet connection, a serial number and the email address we have on file. Once the information is entered, just press the button to activate the system. It’s the ultimate in convenience: no need to call in.
  • Of course, you can choose to not use the online activation tool, or if your computer isn’t connected to the internet, you can call us during our normal business hours when the time comes.

Budget tool overhaul

  • We’ve overhauled the look and feel of the budgeting tool in AgExpert Analyst 2015, making it more intuitive, based industry best practices and your recommendations.

Reports

  • Now you can add a customizable footer to your reports, meaning you can include your company logo and name.
  • We’ve improved the grid-style reporting, so you can zoom in and out of the report and fit as much as possible on your page.

Transaction

  • You can look forward to faster transaction entries. When you’re changing the transaction type on an existing transaction, the header portion will not clear itself. This allows you to continue without having to restart each time. However, the details section will continue to clear if you change the transaction type.

Payroll

  • The ability to do a quick edit of a Payroll cheque has been added to let you change the cheque number.

Streamlined file creation

  • Now you can select the commodities as soon as you select a business category.

Support

  • The online community is here to help you get answers to your software questions, 24-7. You can access searchable discussions, blogs and the Knowledge Base. Here, you can connect with other software users and with our support staff.

Learn more about all the new features and enhancements.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus, our FCC Management Software support staff is always just a click away.

Thursday
Oct232014

How safe is your computer?

How safe is your computer?

You don’t have to look hard to find news about some sort of online virus or threat to your personal information. Internet threats have been around for a long time. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to protect yourself.

But first, let’s take a look at what you’re up against:

  • malicious threats (viruses and malware)
  • fraud threats such as phishing emails, spyware and troll fraud(the fraudulent use of a company’s telecommunications system by a third party)
  • unauthorized access from hacking, data leakage, botnets, unsecured wireless, and user name/password insecurity
  • operational threats, such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, attacks on VoIP, the failure of cloud computing suppliers to secure your network, or security risks from remote workers
  • newer threats such as social networking insecurity, web application threats, smartphone insecurity and poor security for converged voice/data applications on the network 

Before you unplug your computer and give up on modern technology, consider these options:

Staying up to date

A basic and key way of staying secure is to make sure you quickly take advantage of operation, browser and software updates. Make sure that patches, particularly security patches, are tested and installed as soon as possible.

Don’t open your door to strangers

As a first line of defence, never open unknown attachments. These are a common source of viruses and spyware, and be cautious about clicking on any links. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

Tending to your firewall

Firewalls are now almost universally deployed. All messages entering or leaving the network pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria. It’s important to regularly review the performance of your firewall.

Protecting your data

Backup your precious data (software data, photos, etc.) on an external source, like an external hard drive, memory stick or even on the cloud. This ensures that if your computer goes down, you won’t lose your photos and all that important information. It’s up to you to protect your data, but as long as you have it stored somewhere else, you should be able to retrieve that information.

Authenticate the source

If you receive a random call from someone saying they are calling to service your computer or software – that’s a pretty big red light that’s something off. Always ask to call them back at the company’s phone number, especially if they’re asking you to grant access to your computer. Remote assistance is a growing trend and can be used for malicious reasons.

Remote assistance with FCC Management Software Customer Care – it’s totally legit.

Currently, we’re using a secure, remote assistance tool to provide support, allowing analysts to connect with you online. Also, we offer Click-to-chat services through our Online Community. Only our customer care employees have access to this tool. This session would only be started if the need has been identified over the phone or through Click-to-chat.

Keeping your data and information safe isn’t hard to do. It just requires a little knowledge and some good habits. And if you have any concerns about your internet security, talk with your computer tech and make sure all your bases are covered.

Questions? Get answers and share your comments with other software users on our Discussion Boards or search the Knowledge Base. Plus you can always contact our FCC Management Software support staff.