According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a veteran is a former member of the armed forces.¹ This encompasses individuals from various branches: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force. Yet the essence of a veteran goes beyond a dictionary definition. A veteran is someone who willingly devoted a chapter […]

As students settle back into their academic lives, we know that it’s vital to be equipped with the proper devices and tech accessories that will set students up for success. Having a reliable tech setup can make going back to school a bit less painful. We’ve carefully chosen accessories that can easily work with your […]

Flip phones have made a comeback due to a mix of unique design, nostalgia, and the desire for digital detox; people appreciate the capability of disconnecting from constant notifications. Notable companies have unveiled recent devices that take a modern approach to a classic design. No matter is you’re looking to cut down screen time or […]

Did you know there’s a network of subsea cables draped across the ocean floor transmitting audio and visual connectivity? These bundles of glass fiber that is as thin as hair, thousands of miles long, and as thin as a garden hose are high-tech marvels. Amitie, a newly completed transatlantic cable, funded by Microsoft, Meta, and […]

AI has lately taken the world by storm with new and innovative developments in all industries, including the gaming industry. AI aids in time-consuming technical processes, and with the right applications, more lean and permissive development cycles can be created. It can also majorly and positively impact accessibility for players, permitting developers more options to […]

Twitter has recently introduced many stipulations that adds constraints to users’ experiences. Common user complaints include the 600 tweet read limit, poor algorithm that doesn’t match user preferences, subscription based services, and more. Many have decided to test new waters and inevitably switch from Twitter. For our readers’ convenience, we’ve compounded a list of the […]

In early July, the team at Sierra Experts received the wonderful news that we were named among Pittsburgh’s Fast 50. This is a yearly award held by Pittsburgh Business Times that recognizes the city’s fastest growing, privately held, for-profit regional companies based on revenue growth. To be considered for the program, participants must be a […]

On Wednesday, June 21st, the Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon; the F.T.C. accused it of illegally inducing consumers to sign up for Prime and subsequently hindering them from canceling the subscription. This lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington; it takes aim at a popular Amazon service that […]

Artificial intelligence and virtual assistants have become an integral part of our daily lives in ways we don’t even realize. With ChatGPT recently releasing an app in the App Store, iPhone and iPad users can now integrate this technology onto their personal devices. The ChatGPT app has all the same capabilities of the web version, […]

With the 2023 MLB season now in full swing, we have all noticed new technology updates that impact the flow of the game and audience experience. Chris Marinak, the league’s chief operations and strategy officer, shared the changes prior to the start of the 2023 season; these initiatives are set forth in order to increase […]

SpaceX’s first-ever test flight took place on Thursday, April 20th, 2023, from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. This gigantic Starship was considered the most powerful rocket ever built, stacking 394-feet-tall. The Starship reached its maximum altitude of 24 miles before experiencing several issues that led to the vehicle’s destruction over the Gulf of […]

World Television Day is on November 21. The United Nations in 1996 first declared that this day to be World TV day, and it has been observed every year since.   History of World Television Day the world’s first electronic television was invented in 1927 by a 21-year-old inventor named Philo Taylor Farnsworth. Ever since […]

  There is no surprise that people read the most during the summer months. Nothing is more relaxing than hanging out in the sun and diving into a good book. The only issue is, there are so many options that it sometimes gets overwhelming. We have put together the ultimate summer reading list to help […]

Windows is going to the Cloud. No – we’re not talking about the puffy ones in the sky.   Microsoft just announced a new product that will let you stream Windows 10 or 11 from anywhere. By using Microsoft’s new hybrid “Cloud PCs” you can access your PC through a web browser. The Cloud PCs […]

Did you know…there are over 1 billion Windows-powered PCs in use around the world; and hackers just found a way into all of them.   What is the vulnerability? The security flaw, known as PrintNightmare, affects the print spooler service. It allows attackers to infiltrate a user’s system through the spooler service and install programs; […]

“Hi, Can I Talk to you About your Cars Extended Warranty.”   If you have a cell phone, chances are you have received one of these annoying robocalls. The good news is change came June 30th. Every major voice provider in the US, including phone companies AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and cable provider Comcast, implemented […]

Microsoft is officially confirming the name for the next release of Windows today: Windows 11. After months of teases, hints of the number 11, and a giant Windows 11 leak, Microsoft’s new operating system is official. The big focus for Windows 11 is a simplification of the Windows user interface, a new Windows store, and […]

Last week a ransomware attack knocked the Colonial Pipeline offline, and it’s kind of a big deal. They ended up paying their attackers $5 dollars. Let’s look at what happened and how this might impact cyber security in the future.   The Attack If I asked you where the gas you put in your car […]

Whether you work in tech or not, you may have heard that there is a global computer chip shortage. This week the CEO of Cisco said this problem could persist for another 6 months. These chips aren’t fried and covered in salt, but chances are you love them anyway. Let’s talk about why there is […]

  530 million Facebook user’s information was stolen in a breach. If you live in Pittsburgh like us, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority just had a data breach affecting 21 million users this week. Since Facebook decided not to notify any of the users who information was compromised, this might leave you wondering: how do I […]

  If you have been on the internet recently you have probably heard about NFTs and how they are selling for crazy amounts of money. These NFTs offer a blockchain-created certificate of authenticity for digital assets. However, NFTs and Cryptocurrency are not the only uses of blockchain. Let’s talk about what Blockchain is and how […]

Something is happening in Australia that might seem hard to believe. They are fighting with Big Tech and it has interesting consequences. Let’s look at what has been going on and what it might mean for the future of the internet as we know it.     Facebook Bans News in Australia Facebook has banned Australia […]

It has been almost a year of virtual meetings. While some have been enjoying the casual attire and comfort of their living room, others have encountered some new challenges while working from home.  Regardless, chances are you have been on a video call this year and come across at least one of these people.   […]

MeWe is currently the No.1 downloaded social app and the No. 3 overall downloaded app in the Google Play Store. This new social media site added 2.5 million new users in just the last week! Let’s talk about what MeWe is and if your business needs to be on it. What is MeWe? MeWe is […]

It’s a new year. The new calendar creates a fresh start for a lot of people both personally and in their businesses. In 2020 we spent more time online than any year before! If your business doesn’t have an up-to-date and attractive website, it could really be hurting you. Here are 10 questions to ask […]

An advisory was published by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Sunday that stated hackers had penetrated a US Federal Agency. The method of hacking used was a new and unique form of malware that likely hid in the network monitoring software for months. The full scope of the hack remains unknown, but it […]

Taking over may be an exaggeration, but there will be more robots around the Burgh. Autonomous delivery robots have been legalized and classified as pedestrians in PA. These little guys can weigh up to 550 lbs., even without their cargo! Let’s go over what you need to know before you share the sidewalk.   PA […]

We have all been using video chat this year more than ever before. Here are some of the updates Microsoft Teams has made to improve your virtual meetings. Large Gallery View  You will now be able to see up to 49 participants at a time! Together Mode  It uses AI segmentation technology to basically cut […]

Regardless of your industry, social media is no longer an optional part of your marketing strategy. In the U.S., people spend an average of 2 hours on social media every day. That number will only likely increase as we continue to see a decline in traditional media consumption. Paid vs Organic Your social media will […]

Don’t get us wrong, we love technology. We use it every day! The amazing advancements that have been made over the last decade have changed the way we live. However, over the last few years, people are questioning the lack of regulation and monopolization of “Big Tech” companies. Let’s look at what is currently going […]

94% of cyber-threats start with an email. It is important that everyone in your company is aware of the signs of phishing. Here are 10 warning signs that the email you received may be a phishing email.   It has a public email domain Most organizations, even small businesses, have their own email domain. That […]

Cyberattacks are increasing every year. Your organization’s cyber safety requires a proactive approach. You would not wait until someone walks into your house and steals something to decide to put a lock on your door. Cybersecurity and its prevention tactics, such as Penetration Testing, can be looked at in a similar way. It is better […]

Microsoft has extended its support of Windows 10, version 1803 for 6 more months. To help ease the pressure on IT staff impacted by COVID-19, Microsoft has pushed back the end of service date until May 11, 2021. This means security updates will continue to be released monthly until then. End of services for the […]

What is the “Apple Tax”? In case you weren’t aware, Apple automatically takes a 30% cut of app revenue for all purchases. This “Apple Tax” has added up to nearly $275 billion in annual sales. It was originally introduced in 2011, but has gained a lot more attention lately due to increased scrutiny of “big […]

Your business needs help! Maybe you are growing and can no longer handle your IT needs internally. You currently use a Managed Service Provider (MSP) but don’t feel like it is the right fit, or you are hoping to save money by switching to an MSP. Regardless of the reason, choosing your MSP correctly is […]

What is TikTok? TikTok is a social media platform that started off as a “lip-syncing” app.  It has grown to be one of the most popular social media platforms (especially with teenagers) with an estimated 65 million active U.S. users. With comparisons commonly made to Vine, people can share short videos that are set to […]

These last few months have been crazy for all of us. We are fortunate to be able to continue to grow and serve our customers through this difficult time. Sierra Experts is proud to announce some new faces around the office this month as well as some new positions we are still hoping to fill. […]

Disasters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What’s important is that you have a plan in place prior to them occurring. 46% of users experience data loss every year! This is especially important if you are a small business. 60% of small businesses go out of business within 6 months of a data […]

As more of our life becomes digital it is no surprise that the need for digital forensics increases exponentially every year. However, IT forensics can still be a confusing topic for some. If you find yourself in any one of these 5 situations below, you may want to call a Digital Forensic specialist. 1. Internal […]

You can’t avoid it any longer, you realized that a portion of your advertising dollars need to go to digital ads. Google is so ingrained in our daily routines that it has become a verb. If you don’t prioritize how you show up on Google, you risk not being able to be found by your […]

It can be hard to sort through all of the headlines these days about COVID-19. As the full impact of it continues to unfold, we want to focus on some ways that the Tech industry is making positive strides. Here are some ways different companies have been trying to help. Google They used their data […]

Over 4.7 million people in the U.S. work remote full time. Whether you are permanently working remote or just temporarily working from home, we have compiled some tech tips to help make your remote office more useful. This isn’t going to be a list of tips like, change out of your sweatpants or have a […]

Amongst the spread of COVID-19 many companies are preparing for their employees to work from home. However, if you do not have the proper remote set up, it could cause a serious disruption in your business. Here are some things to consider when preparing your team to work remotely.     VDI – Virtual Desktop […]

Your email is probably open all day at work. You might even be using it during the hours you aren’t at the office. Email is where much of our business takes place now. This makes it a perfect platform for scams. While it is rare to be fired for opening a phishing test email, it […]

We are excited to have so many announcements in February we decided they need their own blog. First off, we have expanded the sales team! Michael and Mark will be working with customers to identify your needs and find the perfect solution. Their respective backgrounds in IT ensure that they understand the challenges you face […]

It seems like every week we hear of another data breach or leak. Some notable past occurrences have been; Marriot exposed information of 383 million guests. 540 million records were exposed from Facebook and Instagram in the spring. 100 million insurance documents were leaked by real estate giant First American Financial Corp. Capital One exposed […]

There are a lot of benefits to outsourcing your IT support. Increase quality and expertise, reduced financial costs, improve efficiency and more.  Here are some indicators that you should explore an outsourced IT department.   There is a Skills Gap Your business is growing! That’s great, but while you try to scale, you may find […]

If you still haven’t upgraded to Windows 10, now is the time! A decade after its release, Windows 7 is still popular. In October, 36% of all active PCs were still running it, which was not far behind the 43.6% running Windows 10. However, as the end of life date quickly approaches, everyone needs to […]

As 2019 comes to an end, we are not only starting a new year, but a new decade! Technology has advanced so much over the last 10 years and we have no reason to believe it will slow down now. In fact, many believe the pace of advancements will continue to speed up. With 2020 […]

There is some debate whether industry 4.0 is just a clever marketing term or an actual industrial revolution, but regardless, technology is advancing, and it is impacting industries like manufacturing now more than ever. However, when surveyed, only 48% of manufactures consider themselves ready for industry 4.0. Let’s go over the things you need to […]

Everyone wants to be on the top of the Google Search Results when someone is looking for businesses similar to theirs. Yet, there are still a lot of misconceptions and mystery when it comes to SEO and PPC. Back in the early years of the internet there were SEO tricks you could use to enhance […]

Your business is unique, and your software might need to be too!  We rely on technology so much to carry out our daily operations. It seems like there must already be a program for what you need. Canned software can be an easier choice but it’s not always a perfect fit and can end up […]

October is known for being a month filled with ghosts and goblins, but did you know October is also dedicated to something that can be as equally scary? This month we recognize National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and to do our part we wanted to remind everyone about the importance of being safe and secure online. […]

ADA compliance and accessibility have long been a confusing issue for businesses when it comes to the thier website and the digital world.