July 12, 2024 - This week’s notables

Infrastructure & Support  

Perhaps the most important update this week is the discovery of an Outlook security hole. In this case, a ‘zero-click remote code execution (RCE)’ vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to a system without a single click. This is particularly concerning because there’s no authentication needed for bad actors to gain access. Fortunately, Microsoft has released a patch to address the vulnerability in this week’s round of updates, so please make sure that all of your Outlook and Office applications are up to date. If you need assistance or have any questions about this, please let us know!

This week our support queue was mostly quiet. We did encounter an issue with SMTP authentication on a Xerox Multi-Function Device (MFD) that prevented users from using the scan to email feature. This issue was an unintended consequence of changes made during the previous week to enhance the client’s security posture. After some troubleshooting, we determined the issue to be an invalidated SMTP server configuration on the Xerox device. Once the changes were applied, functionality was restored!

In our downtime this week, we revisited the license management solution that we began several weeks ago. Progress there is coming along nicely, and we should have all customer subscriptions loaded as assets in Dynamics soon!

We also took a time to participate in webinars to look at Microsoft Purview and the new features that are being released to support Data Lifecycle Management and Records Management. While this week’s webinars were a topical overview of the tools, we’ll be exploring this in more depth as to expand our capabilities in secure data management.

Devices 

 We took another look at the newly released AI-enabled PCs and checked in on our partnership with Poly, recently acquired by HP.

We were initially thrilled by the potential of AI PCs and their neural processing capabilities. However, the first generation has received mixed reviews. Despite the additional processing power, these devices fall short in areas where graphics performance is crucial. This unexpected outcome seems to be a result of a power resource trade-off, with graphics taking the hit. Another area of concern is the performance of the integrated Copilot features on these PCs, which reviewers have found to be less powerful than those on standard laptops. We’re hopeful that as more users interact with these devices, the software will evolve to match the hardware’s capabilities.

One notable setback was the retraction of the Copilot’s Recall feature due to security concerns. Recall, designed to assist users in retrieving past information viewed on their computer, relies on analyzing millions of keystrokes and screenshots. While this feature is undoubtedly useful, it poses a significant risk, especially considering the unencrypted database where this information is stored on your PC. To uphold Microsoft’s security standards, the decision was made to halt its deployment on new machines.

Lastly, we revisit our partnership with HP Poly. They have introduced new training courses for devices and Poly Lens certification. The content is more streamlined and focuses on the key features of devices.

Operations & Growth

Longview Gallery was buzzing with activity this week as we welcomed our newest installation, ‘Casting Nets, Chasing Squirrels,’ by artist Andrew Snyder. After an exciting opening reception on Saturday, we’re thrilled to be amongst the inspiration and greenery that fill the space! Join us for Open Gallery on Sundays from 12-3. We would be remiss without thanking Birchrun Hills Farm and Le Garage Winery for their delicious (and very generous) contributions to our opening receptions.

We’re also getting very excited about initiatives that are moving forward at Longview Farm! The team is making connections with organizations and folks in the Ag community that will help us fine-tune the future for LVF and help us make the best use of the land. A heartfelt ‘Thank you!’ to our friends at Lundale Farm for helping us align our vision with resources to see it through!

With these developments in mind, and in line with our re-branding efforts, we’re getting communication channels set up for LVF and will start sharing more curated updates there soon.