 Microsoft solutions addressing cybersecurity concernsEach year, hundreds of K-12 schools in the U.S. alone experience cyberattacks, including 408 schools that publicly disclosed them in 2020, up 18% from the previous year, according to the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center1. Fulton County Schools, the fourth-largest school system in Georgia, has learned just how valuable it is to put a top-notch security system in place. To defend against threats, Dr. Emily Bell, Fulton County Schools’ Chief Information Officer (CIO), implemented robust planning that involved educating and communicating with school leaders and staff about cybersecurity. Microsoft resources were a part of their well-rounded cybersecurity strategy. “As a Chief Information Officer, it is incumbent upon me to make sure that my leadership is aware of our cybersecurity incident response process,” said Dr. Bell. “I also want to educate district leaders on our cyber insurance coverage and what that means.” Fulton County Schools relied on Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to keep all its devices and technology safe and secure, and to help prevent disruptions to student learning. Continue reading article. Simplified Communications can audit your company's technology and recommend security measures to keep your business lines safe.  Starlink offers options for remote workers in remote places.Starlink has made it possible for your office to open a new location high in the mountains, on an island, or even deep in the woods. Remote working can now truly occur in the most remote places imaginable. Even with the many business internet options available, 66% of rural small businesses say poor internet or cell phone connectivity negatively impacts their business. Starlink internet works by sending information through the vacuum of space, where it travels much faster than in fiber-optic cable and can reach far more people and places.Now seen as “old school,” geostationary satellite technology has been around for over 20 years, and provides broadband connectivity to most places where the sky is visible. It has been considered a lifeline for rural areas that have no other options for internet providers Starlink satellite internet is currently available in parts of the US and Canada to people who live between 44 and 53 degrees latitude. Starlink plans to be available worldwide by the end of 2022.Having a connection anywhere you can see the sky sounds great, but there are some major drawbacks to the service. GEO satellite technology can be expensive, and lacks in performance compared to the landline options available in less rural areas. Overall, this can mean slower downloads and VPNs, spotty streaming, and poor video conferencing quality. Latency is a major issue with GEO satellite technology, given that the satellites in orbit are about 22,000 miles away. Every bit of traffic is traveling twice that distance (there and back), resulting in a delay of over half a second. Starlink, however, uses thousands (over 2,000) of smaller and cheaper satellites. They are less than 1/20th the size, and are only about 200 miles away as they orbit. That is about 1/100th the distance of the GEO, and results in low latency of around 40-60 milliseconds – much closer to the speed available with wired broadband in urban areas. Connect with us today to see how Starlink can work for you and your business! Believe it or not, people still order takeout using the phone. Applebee’s doesn’t want to take those calls anymore. It wants to outsource those orders to call centers, where a person or automated system will take your orders and also try to upsell you a little. More than half of Applebee’s roughly 1,575 US locations already use call centers for phone orders, according to the company. By the end of the year, Applebee’s wants most of its restaurants to get on board. Ready to let someone else handle your business's telecommunications? Call us!
Sending a physical card means that they can carry these Mother's Day wishes with them always.  We have simplified your Mother's Day message. Use one of these:
Find more messages for mothers and mothers-in-law!  We are excited to announce that Simplified Communications has gone through a branding change!Change can be hard, but in technological industries it is imperative to constantly learn, innovate and grow! We hope you enjoy our rebranding and agree that it reflects our commitment to innovation and simplifying business communications. We changed up our fonts, colors, logo and website to something simpler and easier to read. Communicating clearly is important to us! Logo: Simplified
Website: Simplified We are ready to assist in any big changes that are coming for your business! Top Ten Tips to enjoy Thanksgiving: SimplifiedWe love finding ways to simplify your business, and sometimes that means finding ways to simplify your life! We hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving tips and tricks, and look forward to hearing your ideas and favorite recipes!
We are thankful for the inspiration from Wholefully. 1. Craft a MenuWe've included a Traditional, Contemporary, Unconventional and Outlier Menu to consider. Get inspired and start fresh, or mix and match these menus!
2. Review Menu and Cut ItemsIt's possible that you over-planned. Remember that while the food of Thanksgiving is a delight, being thankful should be in the spotlight. Cut a few of the items on the menu to make room for more love and thanks at your table! 3. Plan Two Shopping TripsDo an early shopping trip to get shelf-stable and frozen items. Be prepared for supply chain disruption by doing your Thanksgiving shopping right away. Plan for a second trip to get any forgotten items, or to satiate any last-minute whimsy! 4. Audit your Serving Dishes, Fridge + PantryPull all those big platters and serving bowls off the top shelf of the cupboard. Identify which bowls will be best for the winning items on your menu. Organize items in the Fridge and Pantry by Menu Item, to make for easy preparation and grocery shopping. Sticky Notes are your friend. 5. Pre-CookMany of your menu items will allow for pre-cooking. Even the Turkey can be cooked and carved on Wednesday, and then heated in the oven and smothered in gravy an hour before it's time to eat! That solves a lot of the Turkey Day chaos! Casserole dishes with lids are great for storing, reheating and serving. If an item can't be cooked or baked beforehand, prepare it as much as possible (chopping, slicing, dicing, peeling). 6. Set the Table (and Yourself)Set the table right after a quick breakfast or quiet cup of coffee. This is a key step to enjoying a fulfilling Thanksgiving dinner. Having the table set with a tablecloth, plates, bowls, glasses, silverware, napkins and centerpieces will minimize traffic in your kitchen right when hot pots and pans are moving about. It will also quickly identify which plates, forks and spoons are available for serving and stirring! The final steps in getting a beautiful dinner on the table always take longer than expected. Hit the shower and get dressed for the event before diving into the final cooking, so that you can continue managing the meal as guests arrive. 7. Create Distractions away from the KitchenSet out small bowls of nuts, pickles, olives, or snacks that fit your menu, far from the kitchen to keep guests moving and mingling without interrupting the final steps of dinner preparation. Consider non-food distractions, as well, like:
8. DelegateOur favorite tool for simplifying is delegating to others who can do the job better! Your sticky notes can help guide eager helpers. Have a few tasks or menu items in mind that can be stirred or frosted or finalized by someone who prefers to stay busy. Don't be shy about delegating desserts and sides, and even the main item to your favorite local restaurant or grocery store. Show your thankfulness for local business owners! 9. Take NotesSometimes you figure out just the perfect way to make a magical moment. Take notes! We recommend putting the notes in a place where you'll be sure to see them, like somewhere in October or early November in your Google Calendar or Microsoft Office Calendar. Make it an annually recurring event, and continue to add to your notes each year! 10. Be ThankfulWe like to encourage every guest at the table to share what they're most thankful for about from the last year. This is a wonderful way to give everyone an opportunity to talk, and to keep the focus on gratitude and thankfulness. If you want to delegate your Note-Taking process, also ask your guests what their favorite menu item was! Have a Happy and Simplified Thanksgiving!
Simplifying Communications
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Reed has been working from home for over a month, and he is ready to get out of the house to go out to eat, see a movie, or go to a concert. He has high hopes for kayaking and camping in the future.
Reed's love for challenges and the outdoors makes the extreme Minnesota weather a delight. From hot to cold and back again, the landscape and wildlife are a beautiful backdrop for playing sports, writing music and spending time with his family. You can imagine that a Minnesota guy who appreciates the extreme climate also enjoys the freedom and challenge that comes with being an independent telecom broker. Reed works fearlessly to find the best carrier and solutions for his clients. Reed and his wife have 4 kids and 2 naughty rabbits, which keep them pretty busy most of the time, but Reed has been spending more time on his many hobbies and passions during quarantine. Reed is a musicphile, and after some extensive organization of his record collection, carefully compiled two imaginary Beatles double albums after “Let it Be,” using the best of their solo work from 1970-71. Music definitely helps relax the mind and energize the soul. Listen with us: |
Reed's Smokey Quarantine Chicken Legs
Serve with Crispy Asparagus with olive oil and garlic. |
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Reed's Imagine Life After Quarantine Playlist
All Things Must Pass - The Beatles (1970) on Spotify Imagine - The Beatles (1971) on Spotify All Things Must Pass - The Beatles (1970) on Pandora Imagine - The Beatles (1971) on Pandora |
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When life is anything but simple, we thank you for choosing Simplified Communications.
Ryan has worked in customer service and support for more than twenty years. He has worked with Best Buy and Comcast, assisting the local Twin Cities Business Sales Team. His enjoyment of typical "geeky" things such as Sci-Fi, comic books, computers and technology give him an edge in the ever-changing and innovating telecom industry. Let's face it--much of what we do on our phones today looks like something from an episode of Star Trek!
After a long morning of supporting customers, Ryan likes to order from either of his favorite restaurants: Teresa's or La Casita's. He recommends the Fajita Quesadilla.
When Ryan is not "geeking out" or enjoying amazing Mexican food, he likes to vacation to St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and son, Lucas. They cheer on the Cardinals baseball team and visit downtown.
Ryan has secrets! The best kept one is his hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota. It has your typical "small town" feel to it, with antique stores, a variety of restaurants and bars, and a local tattoo parlor. Hopkins has many great activities to participate in all within 10 minutes of the town. This small town background is part of Ryan's charm and care with Simplified Communications clients.
After a long morning of supporting customers, Ryan likes to order from either of his favorite restaurants: Teresa's or La Casita's. He recommends the Fajita Quesadilla.
When Ryan is not "geeking out" or enjoying amazing Mexican food, he likes to vacation to St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and son, Lucas. They cheer on the Cardinals baseball team and visit downtown.
Ryan has secrets! The best kept one is his hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota. It has your typical "small town" feel to it, with antique stores, a variety of restaurants and bars, and a local tattoo parlor. Hopkins has many great activities to participate in all within 10 minutes of the town. This small town background is part of Ryan's charm and care with Simplified Communications clients.
Right to Left: Ivan, CED (chief executive dog), Patrick, Murphy, Executive Assistant to the CED
Patrick Keane - Owner/Broker
Patrick brings enthusiasm and experience to both the clients and staff of Simplified Communications. Keane started working in the telecom industry almost a decade ago, when he was recruited to work for Comcast. It was a challenging job for him, but he worked his way up to sales manager, with a decision to learn something new every day and focus on helping his customers.
This attitude served as a necessary foundation for starting Simplified Communications in 2014. The fast pace and ever-changing needs of telecom technology demand a desire to learn and evolve. Patrick is positioned to grow with customers’ needs and prepare them for success.
Is Patrick human?
While Patrick brings many superhuman traits to Simplified Communications, he still eats and has hobbies, too! His favorite burrito in Minneapolis is from Burrito Loco, but if he could only eat one food for the rest of his life it would be sushi. Part of his superhuman strength comes from breaking his leg as a baby when his dad forgot to close the baby gate (oops!). Patrick had to learn how to overcome (or avoid) obstacles from the beginning!
Patrick refuels by brainstorming at the office with the office dogs, saltwater spearfishing, and enjoying Minnesota life with his wife.
The entire team at Simplified Communications is excited to meet you and assist with your telecommunications needs.
Patrick brings enthusiasm and experience to both the clients and staff of Simplified Communications. Keane started working in the telecom industry almost a decade ago, when he was recruited to work for Comcast. It was a challenging job for him, but he worked his way up to sales manager, with a decision to learn something new every day and focus on helping his customers.
This attitude served as a necessary foundation for starting Simplified Communications in 2014. The fast pace and ever-changing needs of telecom technology demand a desire to learn and evolve. Patrick is positioned to grow with customers’ needs and prepare them for success.
Is Patrick human?
While Patrick brings many superhuman traits to Simplified Communications, he still eats and has hobbies, too! His favorite burrito in Minneapolis is from Burrito Loco, but if he could only eat one food for the rest of his life it would be sushi. Part of his superhuman strength comes from breaking his leg as a baby when his dad forgot to close the baby gate (oops!). Patrick had to learn how to overcome (or avoid) obstacles from the beginning!
Patrick refuels by brainstorming at the office with the office dogs, saltwater spearfishing, and enjoying Minnesota life with his wife.
The entire team at Simplified Communications is excited to meet you and assist with your telecommunications needs.
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