2 JUNE 2024 PANORA OFFICE Main Office: 641.755.2424 Technical Support: 641.755.TECH (8324) Request a Service Call: 641.755.2424 Request a Locate: 800.292.8989 Mailing: 114 East Main, PO Box 189 Panora, IA 50216 GUTHRIE CENTER OFFICE Main Office: 641.332.2000 Technical Support: 641.332.2225 Request a Service Call: 641.332.2000 Request a Locate: 800.292.8989 Mailing: 403 State Street Guthrie Center, IA 50115 Solutions for Business is a publication of Panora Fiber, located at 114 East Main, PO Box 189, Panora, IA 50216 and 403 State Street, Guthrie Center, IA 50115. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without the prior written permission of Panora Fiber. All rights are reserved. Editorial and Circulation – Contact Jaime Waddle, 114 East Main St., P.O. Box 189, Panora, IA 50216, 641.755.2424 Trademarks – All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Additional Issues – Extra issues are available to business customers on a limited basis while supplies last. Contact Jaime Waddle, 114 East Main St., P.O. Box 189, Panora, IA 50216, 641.755.2424 Copyright © 2024 by Panora Fiber and Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. POSTMASTER Send changes to: Jaime Waddle, 114 East Main St., P.O. Box 189, Panora, IA 50216 JUN 24 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER FOR BUSINESS Longstanding priorities are aided by new technology. Your company’s mission and values, perhaps established many years ago, can go further with the use of today’s communications solutions. For example, you can enhance the customer service experience through QR codes, as you’ll learn in page 3’s 8 Ways to Use QR Codes. This technology makes it easier for customers to take advantage of special offers, learn about your products, and more. On pages 4 and 5, check out the Business Spotlight on Bump & Bump, LLP. Brothers Jeffrey and William Bump formed this general practice law firm in 1991. Its priorities include helping clients with their legal needs promptly, efficiently, and skillfully, and having current technology—such as Panora Fiber’s fiber internet, phone service, and IT support—helps them achieve these goals. Even if cybersecurity wasn’t a priority back when your company was founded, it should definitely be now. Panora Fiber wants to help protect you from cybersecurity threats, and we back this goal with employee training. Find out more in the page 6 article, Zach Davis Earns CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification. Then on page 7, discover how Technology Helps Small Businesses Grow Anywhere. Many success stories are the result of blending old with new, traditional with innovative, and simple with powerful. Contact the Panora Fiber team for advice on your next chapter. Sincerely, Andrew M. Randol General Manager Panora Fiber
JUNE 2024 3 SOLUTIONS Before 2020, QR code usage was on the decline in the U.S. The initial novelty had worn off with customers, and many marketers all but abandoned the technology. Then the pandemic arrived, and businesses needed creative solutions to cater to a newly touch-free society. QR codes fit the bill, and now they’re back in a big way with no signs of waning. 8 Ways to Use QR Codes If you’d like to get started with QR codes—or expand your use of them—check out these ideas: 1. Offer incentives and coupons via QR codes. Link a QR code directly to an online coupon or special offer and then track engagement to determine the offer’s effectiveness. 2. Use QR codes to encourage reviews. A QR code that links directly to a review site like Google or Yelp makes it quicker and easier for customers to leave a review. If you own a store or restaurant, consider putting QR codes on sales receipts. 3. Enhance the customer experience with QR codes. For example, museums and attractions often place QR codes throughout their venues that link to audio and video files, maps, and more. 4. Have customers scan a QR code to access Wi-Fi. This can eliminate the need for them to enter a password. 5. Place QR codes on giveaways like T-shirts. It’s an impactful way to help spread the word about your business. 6. Simplify app downloads with QR codes. Once a customer scans the QR code, it directs them to the download page of the app to start the download. 7. Link QR codes to videos and photo galleries. Your business can direct customers to how-to videos about using your products or show video tours or photos of properties for sale. 8. Take QR codes outside. Put a poster with a QR code on the front door or exterior wall of your business, so even after hours, passersby can check out your website to learn about your products and services. To maximize the effectiveness of your QR codes, make sure you give people a clear and compelling reason to scan them. It’s also important to pay attention to positioning. A QR code that’s placed too high up in a store display, for example, may not be usable. They’re a cost-effective way to connect, inform, and engage
4 JUNE 2024 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Years later, the brothers merged the law practices of two attorneys into Bump & Bump: John Donahey, who had been practicing in Panora since his return from active duty in WWII in 1945; and W. Dean Moore, whose law firm in Stuart had been in the same downtown Stuart location since 1890. John Twillmann joined the firm in 2022 after several years as Assistant Guthrie County Attorney, where he represented Guthrie County and the State of Iowa in civil and criminal matters. Bump & Bump now serves Central Iowa from its Panora office at 222 East Market Street and Stuart office at 211 SW 7th Street. Practice areas of the firm include: • Litigation – Commercial matters, probate estates, real estate, personal injury, banking, family law, and others • Real Estate – Representation of individual and commercial clients in real estate transactions, disputes, and related matters as well as assistance with commercial and residential leasing, foreclosures, and matters involving agricultural law • Criminal Defense – Strategic defense for all types of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases • Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate, and Tax Law – Preparation of wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and the administration of probate estates, conservatorships, and guardianships • Business and Corporate Law – Comprehensive services to individuals, small businesses, and other business entities that need assistance with the proper formation of the appropriate type of business entity or with the purchase and sale of businesses or the drafting of contracts and agreements Many Connections to Panora Fiber The relationship between Bump & Bump and Panora Fiber goes way back. Jeffrey Bump said, “We have been a customer of Panora Fiber since Bump & Bump got started. In the early years, the most critical piece of technology for our firm was to have a reliable dedicated fax line and a separate phone line. In 1991 we were one of the few businesses on Main Street to have a fax machine, putting us on the cutting edge of technology. In fact, people frequently came into our office for the sole purpose of sending a fax.” Brothers Jeffrey and William Bump formed the general practice law firm of Bump & Bump, LLP in 1991 in their first location on Main Street in downtown Panora. Prior to then, William had been practicing law with their father Wilbur Bump in West Des Moines since 1984, and Jeffrey had been practicing law with an 85-lawyer law firm in Dallas, Texas since 1988. Bump & Bump, LLP Two brothers, two offices, and one experienced law firm
JUNE 2024 5 SOLUTIONS We trust all of our technology needs to Panora Fiber, and their team keeps everything working seamlessly here. What they do and what they know is far beyond the skill set we have as attorneys, and it’s comforting to know help is only a phone call away.” — JEFFREY BUMP, PARTNER, BUMP & BUMP See What a Difference Broadband Speed Makes Broadband is an essential component of modern life and a requirement for economic growth, education, health care, and public safety. The Broadband- USA program, housed within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), serves state, local, and tribal governments, industry, and nonprofits that seek to expand broadband connectivity and promote digital inclusion. To help businesses of varying sizes and types make smart decisions about their data needs, BroadbandUSA offers a speed demonstration tool on its website. This tool visually demonstrates how long it takes for different amounts of data to move at speeds ranging from 1 Mbps to 1 Gbps: • Video Chat - 4 MB • Remote Education Streaming - 5 MB • 10 Restaurant Card Processors - 10MB • MRI - 30 MB • Download Medical Records - 39 MB • 20 Customers on Wi-Fi - 50 MB • 8K Video Streaming - 80 MB • Download Data Files - 100 MB • Download Large Health Care Datasets - 10,737,418,240 MB You can check out the speed demonstration tool at broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/ about/speed-simulator. Are you considering faster speeds? Panora Fiber has new internet packages available. Visit panorafiber.com or call your local office for details. Bump continued, “Technology obviously changed rapidly and dramatically after the ‘fax machine years,’ which required significant updates to our operations. Panora Fiber has assisted us through each new phase of technology and helped our practice keep pace with everything and remain efficient.” Panora Fiber currently provides a broad range of services to the Panora office of Bump & Bump: fiber internet, phone service, and IT support including email hosting, VPN configuration for file sharing, troubleshooting of hardware and software issues, and hardware purchasing and installation. Panora Fiber also provides IT support to the Stuart office. Working Seamlessly “We trust all of our technology needs to Panora Fiber, and their team keeps everything working seamlessly here. What they do and what they know is far beyond the skill set we have as attorneys, and it’s comforting to know help is only a phone call away. We rarely have trouble with our email, internet, or phone service, but if we do, we contact the Panora Fiber office and the issue is addressed promptly,” said Bump. The fact that Panora Fiber is a local cooperative is also valuable to Bump. He explained, “We are fortunate that Panora Fiber is a cooperative association, meaning that every customer has a stake in the success of the company. We also appreciate that the employees of Panora Fiber are members of our community whom we know personally and trust explicitly with our needs. We pride ourselves on being able to help our clients with their legal needs promptly, efficiently, and skillfully, and having the most current technology functioning at all times is critical to our being able to accomplish that.” 0 bits per second 2M 3M 5M 10M 15M 25M 100M 50M 1M
6 JUNE 2024 Zach Davis Earns CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification Security Reminders for Wi-Fi Networks It’s important to stay on top of Wi-Fi security, since unsecured Wi-Fi connections can allow hackers to steal identities, passwords, and other sensitive data. Small businesses with limited IT resources are particularly vulnerable. Be sure to do the following: 1. Replace a router’s default login credentials. Most routers come with a default username or password that can easily be found online by hackers. Always change the login credentials of a new router to something complex and random. 2. Create a strong, long password and change it regularly. We know you might prefer to come up with a short, easy-to-remember Wi-Fi password and use it for years. But that makes things easier for hackers as well. The strongest passwords have at least 15 characters with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. 3. Update firmware. Firmware is software that gives the router or wireless access point its functionality. Like any software, firmware sometimes has bugs or security vulnerabilities that require security patches and upgrades. 4. Set up private and public access. Having both employees and customers on the same Wi-Fi network increases your security risk. Use a Service Set Identifier (SSID) to create two separate access points for your network. You may not want to take a deep dive into the latest advancements in cybersecurity technology, but aren’t you glad there are people at Panora Fiber who do? As the lead in Panora Fiber’s cybersecurity department, IT Technician Zach Davis is keenly aware of the many cybersecurity threats out there and the importance of knowing what precautions to take to help protect our customers. In 2023, Davis earned the CompTIA Security+ certification, which validates that IT professionals have the skills required to recommend and implement security solutions. More recently, Davis spent about six months studying and doing practice tests for the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+). He passed the qualifying test at Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge on April 4, 2024, and earned his CySA+. This certification indicates that Davis is trained in skills including: • Security Operations - Improve processes in security operations, differentiate between threat intelligence and threat hunting concepts, and identify and analyze malicious activity using the appropriate tools and techniques. • Vulnerability Management - Implement and analyze vulnerability assessments, prioritize vulnerabilities, and make recommendations on mitigating attacks and vulnerability response. • Incident Response and Management - Apply updated concepts of attack methodology frameworks, perform incident response activities, and understand the incident management lifecycle. • Reporting and Communication - Apply communication best practices in vulnerability management and incident response as it relates to stakeholders, action plans, escalation, and metrics. How do Panora Fiber’s customers benefit from employee training such as the CySA+ program that Davis went through? Curt Thornberry, Technology Development Director, replied, “By staying up on the latest technology, we can be sure to meet the needs of our customers. We see education as foundational to the customer experience and to providing secure and reliable broadband service.”
JUNE 2024 7 SOLUTIONS SCORE, a source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs and small businesses, suggests employing these strategies: • Use technology to connect with new markets, collaborators, and customers. Cloud-based communication tools such as VoIP, Hosted PBX, online portals, and social networks help small businesses build stronger relationships and more satisfied customers. They also support the rise of the virtual workforce, allowing employees to work from home (or anywhere with an internet connection). • Capitalize on technology’s scalability and flexibility. A small business that experiences a surge of orders, for example, can use pay-as-you-go cloud services to quickly scale to handle the traffic and prevent the website from crashing. Cloud services can also be easily downscaled when IT requirements change. The use of on-premise software and hardware is becoming less popular due to the availability of cloud-based solutions such as Microsoft Office 365. These solutions offer greater scalability, security, efficiency, and flexibility than their on-premise counterparts. • Store data in the cloud. The cloud is a safer, more secure place to store business data than on-premise servers. It also keeps small business owners and their computer networks from getting bogged down with files. The massive growth of mobile payment is another important technology factor for small businesses to consider. Accepting mobile payments can allow for faster, smoother, and more convenient customer transactions. Plus, with fewer people carrying cash or checks these days, starting to offer mobile payments can help small businesses reach a wider audience and increase sales. All that’s needed is a smartphone, a mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) app and card reader, and a wireless internet connection. Panora Fiber can provide the broadband technology that small businesses in our rural service areas require. To discuss your specific needs, call us at 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center. Technology Helps Small Businesses Grow Anywhere Just because a small business is located in a rural area, it doesn’t mean it can’t reach customers and resources from all over the world. Today’s technology—from high-speed internet over fiber to cloudbased solutions—offers the opportunity for the owners of these businesses to enjoy the best of both worlds. They can live and work in the small communities of their choice and still have access to the “big city” communications services required to work efficiently and remain competitive. A big city isn’t required to access big solutions
Cornerstone Group © 2024 OUR IT TECHNICIANS HAVE ANSWERS. To schedule a free tech assessment, call us at 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center.
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