Is registration required to send text messages?

In today’s business world, it is important for organizations to ensure its employees are able to work remotely and be mobile. Businesses also seek to deploy solutions that are flexible and scalable. For these reasons many organizations procure VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) cloud-based phone systems. These systems offer many benefits including the ability for employees to be able to run their phone extensions from either their cell phone or their laptop computer. These systems also allow for texting or SMS (short message service) messaging, however, to use the SMS feature, mobile carriers now require businesses to do what is known as TCR, or The Campaign Registration. SMS registration is the process of registering phone numbers with a wireless carrier to prevent messages from being blocked. It can also refer to a process that allows businesses to manage their SMS registration brand and campaign processes.

Benefits

Not only is TCR registration required, but it’s also good for your business. Here are the top benefits:

1. Better message deliverability

Mobile carriers have message filters to block questionable or fraudulent messages. Registering allows you to pre-verify your business and message content, significantly increasing the likelihood that your messages get delivered to intended recipients.

2. Higher throughput rate

Registered 10DLCs (Digit Long Codes) gain higher messaging throughput. This means you can send more messages per second. The exact rate varies depending on your brand and use case. However, this increased throughput benefits companies who may have a need to send mass text messages.

3. Increased security and trust

Registering increases trust and security around business texting. It helps legitimize an organization and its text messaging use case. It also ensures companies have an opt-in procedure, a key component of SMS compliance. 

Penalties

There are negative consequences for not registering with The Campaign Registry.

• Your organizations’ messages will be filtered, blocked, and not delivered to your contacts. In many cases, the phone system will display “message not allowed” messages when users attempt to send a text.
• Your organization could get banned by the carriers for texting or calling with unregistered numbers.
• Carriers can fine brands up to $10 per message sent by an unregistered 10DLC.
• Other unregistered phone number fees are levied by CSPs (communication service providers), who also must do their part in curbing fraudulent messaging.

Information needed to register campaign

This is where you share information about what you’ll be texting contacts about. You’ll need to provide:

• Texting use case. Your overarching reason for texting. Examples include customer care, marketing, delivery notifications, and two-factor authentication.
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• Message content attributes. Carriers want to know if you plan to use certain messaging attributes, such as SMS links, age-gated content, or embedded phone numbers.  
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• Example messages. You must provide message examples or templates to prove your use case is valid and accurate. You just need to give TCR a sample of the language you will use.
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• Opt-in information. This is how you’re collecting consent to text your contacts. You are required to obtain consent before texting any contact. Get SMS opt-in examples by use case here.

There can be many compelling reasons for a business to use text messaging as a part of their operations. Texting as a form of communication has many proven benefits including speed and automation. Spam via email is a part of our lives now. The TCR seeks to not make text messaging a similar experience. Therefore for all the benefits mentioned above, go ahead and get your organizations’ phone numbers properly registered to send SMS messages.

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For the purpose of this article, a security incident refers to the attempted or successful unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of information or interference with system operations in an information system. A security incidents also means the loss of data through theft or device misplacement, loss or misplacement of hardcopy documents and misrouting of mail, all of which may have the potential to put data at risk of unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction. This definition provides the foundation of a good Incident management program. An incident management program should have the following components.

Defined roles and responsibilities – Defining the roles and responsibilities of everyone on the team that would be involved in responding to an incident is important. Incidents can come in different shapes and sizes, and may sometimes require different responses by different team members. To prepare for the different types of incidents that can occur, teams should conduct tabletop and\or real-world exercises which will allow team members to understand how they should respond to the various incidents that may occur.

Communication – Ensuring an effective plan is a key part of any incident management program. The plan should contain both internal and external contacts. Communicate early. Quickly acknowledge the issue, briefly summarize the known impact, promise further updates and, if you’re able, alleviate any concerns about security or data loss. Team members should remember the following general rules when it comes to communication. Communicate often, Communicate precisely, Stay consistent across channels, and own the problem.

Reporting & Retention – It is important for the end-users of an organization to know and understand how to report an incident to the appropriate individuals responsible for handling incidents. Without this reporting it can be very hard for IT security teams to know certain types of incidents have occurred. Depending on the type of business, there may be timeline requirements to report certain types of security incidents to a client or other governing entity. These kinds of reporting requirements usually specify reporting times once an issue is discovered. Therefore, it is important to always work on your firms ability to detect an issue. Retention of the details of a security incident should be maintained for at least 7 years or longer according to your organization’s retention policy.

Security incident handling is an important aspect of an IT program. It takes work to maintain and can be very detailed. As the world continues to move towards cyber technologies more and more, it is critical that organization’s have an incident management plan.

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Zoho Books

Zoho Books is Zoho’s accounting software. It is comparable to Quickbooks. This software provides several capabilities including invoicing, expense tracking, timesheet, receiving payments and producing financial reports. It also includes a project management capability which can be used to track hours and expenses to specific projects. Every business needs to have a way of tracking income and expenses and Zoho Books is a great tool for doing just that. The user interface for this software is easy to understand and navigate.

Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk is a helpdesk ticket management software. This software allows for the creation of helpdesk type tickets and includes a web portal that end users can login to and establish an account. Zoho Desk has robust reporting and automation features as well which can greatly enhance its functionality and overall experience.

Zoho People

Zoho People is Zoho’s human resource management software. It has a full feature set including the ability to keep up with important dates like employee birthdays, it also has the ability to enter performance ratings, do company announcements and do employee engagement.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is Zoho’s customer relationship management tool. The software allows an organization to keep up with it current and potential customers. It allows for contact registration all the way through closing a deal and onboarding a customer. The software allows for the creation of tasks which can be associated with contacts or customers to perform various activities. 

Zoho Sign and Zoho Social

Zoho Sign is similar to Adobe Sign. It allows for the digital signing of documents. It has a decent feature set and can be a useful tool when digital signatures are needed. Zoho Social is Zoho’s social media posting software. It allows for the posting of content to various social media platforms simultaneously. It is a great platform to be used by marketing teams to post content.

Zoho One

Each of the above mentioned Zoho’s products can be purchased individually or you can purchase a Zoho One license and get access to all Zoho products. The Zoho One suite of products provides both large and small businesses with the critical software needed to run its operations. Zoho’s products are very reasonably priced and are able to be customized to a businesses needs.

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Top 10 Technology Trends of 2023

2023 was a banner year for technology. There were significant advances in certain technology areas that will benefit the world both today and carry us into the future. From increases in electric vehicle manufacturing to advances in artificial intelligence technologies, governments and organizations seem to have made a few technological bets for the future.

1. Cybersecurity

As a managed service provider, I see firsthand the many cybersecurity challenges organizations face today. From phishing attempts that lead to identity theft and data loss to ransomware attacks that lead to inaccessible data and large ransom payments. Advancements in artificial intelligence technologies are poised to help cyber defenders protect their networks.

2. Autonomous Systems & Cars

Studies in autonomous driving report that technology has the potential to prevent approximately 250,000 traffic fatalities over the next three decades. In 2023, seeing robotaxis roaming the streets became a normal sight for citizens in US cities such as Austin, Las Vegas and San Francisco, as BBC reports. Investments in autonomous driving vehicles will continue in 2024 and the coming years.

3. Robotic and Automation

In the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same quarter in 2022, North American companies increased their adoption of robotics by 24%. While initial investments in robotics and automation can be sizeable, the long-term cost savings often pale in comparison. This is because robots can perform tasks that often times require multiple human workers, effectively reducing labor costs and improving overall cost-effectiveness. For these reasons, I foresee businesses continuing to invest in robotics and automation in 2024 and the coming years.

4. Green Technology developments

There are several green technology innovations that are getting societal investments including solar desalination, green architecture, vertical farming and hydroponics, wind power, electric vehicles, plant-based packaging, carbon capture and storage technology, nuclear energy and fuel cells. These areas made significant growth in 2023 and investments in them are expected to continue and increase in 2024 and the future.

5. Quantum computing

In 2023 there were a few advances in Quantum computing and super computers including, fault tolerant computing, quantum vulnerability scanning and risk assessment capabilities,  and increased policy discussions around quantum computing strategies.

6. 3D Printing

In 2023 the 3D printing market reached a significant milestone. It reached 18.8 billion dollars in revenue. This segment is predicted to reach 119 billion dollars by the end of 2032. The ability for businesses to develop small parts that serve many uses has been absolutely amazing. I am excited to see what the future holds for 3D printing.

7. The Metaverse

The Metaverse is a virtual world where billions of people will one day live, work, shop, learn and interact with each other — all from the comfort of their couches in the physical world. In this world, the computer screens we use today will connect to a worldwide web of information that are portals to a 3D virtual realm that’s palpable — like real life, only bigger and better. The Metaverse doesn’t really exist today, but my thoughts are investments in its development will continue in 2024 and the coming years.

8. AI Everywhere

2023 was an awesome year for advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). There is, however, an emerging relationship between AI and employment evidenced by growing automation and shifts in job market dynamics. The use of AI in automating routine tasks across industries led to efficiency gains, but also added concerns about job displacement, particularly in roles involving repetitive tasks. There are a few competitors evolving in the market but leaning more towards the open-source side. Simultaneously, 2023 saw the emergence of advanced generative AI models that revolutionized natural language processing and creative content generation. To say there will be significant future investments would be an understatement.

9. Genetic Engineering

From the discovery of new medical treatment therapies to the optimization of agricultural production, biotechnology is paving the way toward a future where personalized medicine and food insecurity are avoidable. In short, the coming years promise an era in which biotechnology will be a key piece in creating a healthier, more equitable world, with the potential to make the world a better place for future generations.

10. Sustainable Technology

Sustainable technologies like solar, wind and electric vehicles continue to expand in our society. Their adoption by individuals and businesses requires significant investments, some of which appear to be on track by governments and municipalities across the globe. These technologies represent our options for a sustainable planet and humanities continued existence.

There is much to look forward to on the technology front in the coming years. Entrepreneurs should take note of these areas of growth and ensure to position themselves and their businesses to be a part of the different markets supported by these technologies.

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As a part of an organization’s security plan, as well as for personal use cases, the use of complex passwords is of utmost importance. A quick google search on the topic “password cracking tools” yielded the following most popular password cracking tools. Aircrack-ng, Cain & Abel, John the Ripper, Hashcat, Hydra, DaveGrohl, and ElcomSoft. As you can see, there are plenty of tools available to bad actors to try and crack your password. To combat these applications, the use of longer character passwords and more complex passwords is best. A 12-character password that only uses numbers will take just a second to crack, but a 14-character passwords that use numbers, symbols, upper case, and lower-case letters can take millions of years. So longer and more complex is the way to go when it comes to password creation.

If and when possible, another mechanism that can be combined with a complex password is multi-factor authentication, commonly known as MFA. You may ask, what is MFA. MFA is when you have to present a code that is often sent to your cell phone when attempting to login. Codes can be sent to an email address or a code could be given to you in an authenticator app, like Google authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. Once registered for MFA, many services will alert you to the fact that a request to use your account was attempted unsuccessfully.

Here are 5 benefits of implementing an MFA capability:

1.       It assures consumer identity.

2.       It meets regulatory compliance.

3.       It complies with Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions.

4.       It adds next-level security, even remotely.

5.       It is an effective cybersecurity solution.

For most organizations, implementing MFA is single-handedly the most effective network protection capability that can be implemented. Implementing MFA should be combined with a strong password policy because not all network locations and\or resources can be made to accept MFA capabilities.

Attackers will always exist as long as there is a digital world to target, therefore maintain vigilance by implementing strong password policies and MFA solutions in your environment.

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In cyber there is the potential for many types of attacks that can occur against an organization.  A successful social engineering attempt where an attacker gains information from a user to carry out an attack.  An employee who is enticed to click on a link from a malicious email which then downloads and installs malicious software designed to exfiltrate data. A ransomware attack where critical company files are encrypted and can no longer be accessed. All of the above scenarios are potential risks many organizations face. Let’s take a look at how organizations can address them.

Risk Identification – The first step of a risk management program is to identify the risks an organization may be facing. For cyber risk, a cyber professional is needed that can help with where the infrastructure may be vulnerable.

Risk Removal – Some risks can be removed totally. An example of this in cyber is a security vulnerability which allows attackers to gain access to a system’s administrator credentials is remedied by a patch released by the vendor. Applying the security patch to all systems in the company removes that risk entirely.

Risk Mitigation – Some risks may not be able to be removed entirely due to costs or other issues, however there may be mitigations that can be instituted to lessen the chance of being affected by a risk or threat. An example of this is employee training. Training and alerting employees to the potential of not clicking on links in phishing emails can lessen the probability of that particular threat being carried out.

Risk Transfer – Some risks can be transferred to another entity altogether. An example of this in cyber could be the transfer of network management function to an outside entity with more expertise. In many cases this can be a great option to deal with certain risks.

Risk Acceptance – Some risks will need to be accepted and monitored. An example of this could be the use of an older piece of software which contains vulnerabilities that could be exploited. The software may be needed to conduct a critical business function and the funds to upgrade the software won’t be available until next year.

Risk Governance – Performing all of the above items on a periodic basis comprises a risk governance program. Other areas that will be included in governance is deciding a programs risk tolerance level, risk team members and an overall risk strategy. Every organization should at least take a look at IT and other risks facing the business so they can decide how to handle them.

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Many people have considered opening a business, but many may not know what kinds of software is needed to run even a very small business. This article will discuss the minimum software applications needed for startups. These software applications will ensure a healthy start to your business and get you off to a great start. A disclaimer, there are a few areas that may not be covered by my list, but not all areas need to be covered on day one of a startup.

Payroll & Timekeeping Software – Every business will need a way to keep up with the number of hours either yourself or employee works. A good timekeeping software will be able to be used on mobile devices as well as should be able to accommodate multiple projects and clients. Payroll software will allow you to pay your employees via direct deposit, deduct and pay their taxes to the state and federal governments, keep up with vacation hours and provide employees with pay stubs.

Bookkeeping Software – A business will have ongoing financial transactions. Credits in the form of business income and debits in the form of expenses. These transactions need to be tracked, sorted and accounted for every week, month, quarter and year. They will form the basis of the business financial documents from year to year. A good bookkeeping software will be essential to the business in accounting for these transactions.

Email, File Sharing & Project Management – One of the first things a business needs is to secure a domain name and in doing so that name will also serve as their email domain name. File sharing and storage is another need. It is important that business be able to maintain the documents that are created, control permissions to them and be able to access them when needed. Project management is another need; businesses need to be able to start, track and complete projects necessary to the operation of the business.

Website & Social-Media – A business website is an absolute necessity. Websites allow businesses to tell their story on the web which allows potential customers to learn about the business and become potential clients. Social media platforms allow for businesses to capture and hold the attention of potential clients. It also allows businesses to become authorities on various areas and it allows an ongoing conversation to be had with the public.

Communications Software – Many businesses receive interest and sales calls via telephone. It is therefore critical for businesses to secure a telephone number as well as a phone system of some sort to receive those phone calls. Most phone systems now work via mobile devices via apps. These apps allow calls to be received on cell phones, they include meeting software capabilities as well as fax to email capabilities. A good phone system software can really be great for a business that relies on incoming phone calls to generate business.

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An organization’s culture has to be its own;  Organizations need to be loyal to their established culture. One thing to recognize: the organization’s culture won’t fit everyone. Every person will not fit in every organization.

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Choose VPN technologies over cloud technologies if:

1. The organization would like to maintain 100% control over the remote access solution
2. The organization needs to have authentication records
3. Security or other business requirements do not allow data to be hosted elsewhere
4. The organization has the financial means to house and maintain hardware necessary to host data and VPN connections
5. The organization is less concerned with providing mobile device access to it users
6. The organization cannot or is not willing to take on the ongoing costs of cloud-based offerings

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