Innovative Technology, Ltd. | Blog Archives

Windows 10 End of Life: What Small Businesses and Healthcare Providers Need to Know

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:47:52 GMT

How to Stay Secure, Compliant, and Operational Beyond October 14, 2025

Windows 10 has been a dependable workhorse for businesses since its launch in 2015. But all good things come to an end—and for Windows 10, that date is October 14, 2025 . Microsoft has officially announced this as the end-of-life (EOL) date, meaning no more security updates, bug fixes, or technical support.

If you're a small business owner or healthcare provider, this change has significant implications—especially when it comes to security , compliance , and business continuity . Here’s what you need to know and how to prepare.

Why This Matters

Once Windows 10 reaches end of life:

No Security Updates : Any new vulnerabilities discovered after EOL won’t be patched, leaving your systems open to malware, ransomware, and data breaches.
Compliance Risks : For healthcare entities, using unsupported software could mean violating HIPAA or other industry regulations.
Software Compatibility : Vendors may stop supporting Windows 10, meaning key apps might not run properly.
Increased IT Costs : Operating outdated systems often leads to higher maintenance costs and emergency support needs.

Special Considerations for Healthcare Providers

In regulated environments like healthcare, unsupported operating systems are a red flag for auditors. Running outdated software can expose electronic protected health information (ePHI) and trigger penalties or audits. If you’re in the healthcare space, this isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a compliance liability .

Your Options Moving Forward

Upgrade to Windows 11
The best long-term solution is migrating your systems to Windows 11. It offers enhanced security, modern features, and ongoing support through at least 2031. But before upgrading:
Check hardware compatibility (Windows 11 has specific CPU and TPM requirements).
Test mission-critical applications for compatibility.
Plan for training and onboarding.
Replace Legacy Hardware
Many older systems won’t support Windows 11. If your PCs are more than 4–5 years old, consider replacing them with modern, secure devices that are Windows 11-ready.
Consider Virtualization or Cloud Desktops
In some cases, hosted desktop environments (like Azure Virtual Desktop) can provide Windows 11 access even on older hardware.

How We Can Help

As your managed IT partner, we’re here to:

Assess your current systems and identify machines that need upgrades or replacements.
Develop a migration roadmap that minimizes downtime and disruption.
Ensure compliance with industry regulations.
Provide support before, during, and after the transition.

Why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Is Essential for Your Security

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:53:01 GMT

In a world where data breaches, phishing attacks, and identity theft are increasingly common, simply having a strong password is no longer enough to protect your online accounts. This is where Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) comes in—a critical layer of security that everyone should be using.

What Is Multi-Factor Authentication?

MFA is a security process that requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to an account or system. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA adds one or more of the following:

Something you know (e.g., a password or PIN)
Something you have (e.g., a smartphone or hardware token)
Something you are (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition)

By combining these factors, MFA makes it significantly harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access—even if your password is compromised.

Why Is MFA So Important?

1. Passwords Are Not Enough

Even the strongest passwords can be stolen through phishing attacks, data breaches, or malware. MFA provides a second line of defense that protects you even if your password is leaked.

2. Reduces the Risk of Identity Theft

With MFA, attackers can’t access your accounts just by guessing or stealing your password. This reduces the risk of identity theft and fraud across your personal and professional life.

3. Protects Sensitive Information

Whether it’s your personal email, banking account, or work applications, many accounts contain sensitive information. MFA helps ensure that only you can access them.

4. Supports Regulatory Compliance

For businesses, MFA is often required to comply with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. Implementing MFA can help avoid legal issues and costly fines.

5. Builds Trust

Users, clients, and stakeholders are more likely to trust a system that takes security seriously. MFA demonstrates that you’re proactive about protecting user data.

Common Forms of MFA

SMS codes sent to your phone
Authentication apps like Google Authenticator or Authy
Push notifications via services like Duo or Microsoft Authenticator
Biometrics , such as fingerprints or facial recognition
Hardware tokens , like YubiKey

Is MFA Inconvenient?

A common concern is that MFA adds friction. But most modern MFA solutions are fast, seamless, and designed with user experience in mind. A few extra seconds of verification is a small price to pay for the added security.

Final Thoughts

Cyberattacks aren’t just a problem for big corporations—they affect individuals and small businesses too. Enabling MFA is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your accounts.

If you haven’t set it up already, start today. Your future self will thank you.

Connect with us

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:22:00 GMT

You can now connect with us @itlpros on Facebook, Instagram, and now Threads!

Facebook

Instagram

Threads

The post Connect with us appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

LibreOffice Getting Started Guide

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:03:00 GMT

A brand new Getting Started Guide for LibreOffice 7.4 is now available at the LibreOffice Bookshelf .

LibreOffice is a freely-available, full-featured office suite. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS computers.

The post LibreOffice Getting Started Guide appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

Even Santa Needs Tech Support

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The post Even Santa Needs Tech Support appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

Social Media Scams

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 14:27:00 GMT

The Elk City, Oklahoma Police Department has issued this warning about social media scams:

The Elk City Police Department have taken many reports of social media scams. A lot of these cases have been investigated by the Criminal Investigations Division and the results are showing suspects to be from overseas and not even operating in the United States.

Please do not send any personal information or personal photographs to anyone over electronics especially people that you do not know or have not met in person. Most people are impostors or have hacked other accounts.

It is a sad world when you have people that try to take advantage of others for no reason at all and cause grief in their lives. We strive in the commitment to provide you with the best investigations and best information to prevent any crime from happening.

Taking these steps and advice could prevent embarrassment or being harassed by subjects trying to extort money from you.

Thank you,

Chief Eddie Holland

Elk City Police Department

Elk City, Oklahoma Police Department Press Release.

The post Social Media Scams appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

A History of IT Service and Support

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 19:40:00 GMT

We’ve been servicing computers and serving our community ever since we first opened our doors in 1981. Information technologies have rapidly changed and evolved since then, and we’ve been changing along with them to help our community with these innovative technologies. We’ve done it all, from then connecting heavy copper coax to large desktop PCs to today’s fiber-optics, wireless, and cloud technologies.

Please give us a call at {{content_library.global.phone.office}}, email us at {{content_library.global.email.email}}, or stop by our office to learn how our forty plus years of service can help you with your IT service and support needs.

The post A History of IT Service and Support appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

Watch out for email scammers

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:50:00 GMT

Watch out for email scammers. Use the SLAM method:

S ender:

Analyze the sender’s email address carefully.

L inks:

Hover over links without clicking to see their true path.

A ttachments:

Use caution when opening unsolicited or unexpected attachments.

M essage:

Watch for misspellings and out-of-character phrasing in the body of an email.

Are your employees cybersecurity aware? Ask about our PII Protect cybersecurity training program.

Innovative Technology, Ltd.

Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Call: {{content_library.global.phone.office}}

Email: {{content_library.global.email.email}}

The post Watch out for email scammers appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

In The Elk City News

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:45:00 GMT

Our newspaper article in the September 25, 2021, Elk City News.

Innovative Technology, Ltd. Celebrates 40 years

Chamber holds ribbon cutting

Innovative Technology opened their doors 40 years ago and the Elk City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting in celebration. Owner and President Dennis Teel says that when the company first got started, their main business was mail-order custom built computers, explaining that they had a staff of salespeople that would answer phone calls from all over the United States and even the world, recalling that some orders had been shipped to Russia. Teel continued that at one point the company had a sister company, ITLnet, which brought dial-up internet to Western Oklahoma. He says that since dial-up has become obsolete, that “sort of fell by the way side.”

As for Teel’s own history with the company, he says that he started with ITL right out of high school in 1988. Several years back, the founders made him a partner and when they retired in 2016, he became the owner and president.

The services that ITL provides now days are vastly different than those of the past, but are essential for many other companies. Teel explained that they are primarily a managed service provider (MSP), which he described as basically a sort of remote information technology so that companies don’t have to hire their own IT person. He called MSP a proactive approach, saying that instead of waiting for a company to call when they have a broken computer (he says that’s known as a break-fix model), the company pays ITL a fixed cost each month (which depends on how many devices they have), and ITL is able to monitor the computers and predict if they are about to fail. Should the need for servicing arrive, ITL is able to remotely access the device.

Teel says that along with MSP, ITL also offers automated updates and patching, managed antivirus programs that help prevent issues like ransomware, cybersecurity training, HIPAA training and even digital phone systems. Tel explained that they’ve worked with many different types of organizations such as schools, hospitals and oilfield companies. Their service area is primarily Western Oklahoma but they’ve gone as far as Woodward and Frederick and have even done some business in nearby Texas towns such as Shamrock and Wheeler.

As for ITL’s future, Teel says that the MSP model is something that they will continue to pursue. They will also continue focusing on keeping customers informed about cybersecurity and ransomware as cybersecurity is a major concern with the increasing number of cyberattacks.

Teel says that he really feels blessed to have worked at ITL for as long as he has because he has always considered it to be like a second family. He also says that he appreciates the founders and his former partners and guidance throughout the years. Teel further explained that it’s been a great place to work at and that he looks forward to work every day, unlike the many people that dread it.

You can call ITL at {{content_library.global.phone.office}} or stop by {{content_library.global}}.

The post In The Elk City News appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .

40th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 21:41:00 GMT

The Elk City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at Innovative Technology to help celebrate our 40th Anniversary!

Pictured cutting the ribbon is President, Dennis Teel and wife Terrie along with the Innovative Technology staff and Chamber ambassadors. The second picture was Innovative’s first Chamber ribbon cutting 40 years ago.

The post 40th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting appeared first on Innovative Technology, Ltd. .