technology - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

The Great Hardware Squeeze: What Rising Tech Costs Mean for Your Business (And Your Budget)

Remember when you could order a new laptop and have it show up in a week without breaking a sweat—or your budget? Those days are feeling increasingly like a distant memory.

If you’ve tried to purchase computers, upgrade servers, or even just buy some additional RAM for your business lately, you’ve probably noticed something: prices are climbing. Fast. And unlike past tech price fluctuations, this one has some staying power behind it. Let’s unpack what’s happening, why it matters to your business, and what you can actually do about it.

What’s Driving the Price Surge?

Two major forces have collided to create what industry analysts are calling a “Component Cost Super-Cycle.” Think of it as the perfect storm, except instead of rain, it’s dollar signs pouring out of your IT budget.

The AI Appetite is Insatiable

Here’s the twist nobody saw coming: artificial intelligence isn’t just changing how we work—it’s fundamentally reshaping the hardware supply chain. The massive data centers powering AI models like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and countless enterprise tools […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2026-01-27T15:08:31+00:00January 27th, 2026|AI, business, Tech, technology|0 Comments

The Rise of AI Assistants: Your New Favorite (Digital) Coworker?

Remember the old days when work was just… work? You’d dig through spreadsheets, manually enter data, and try to remember which folder contained that one file from last quarter (spoiler: it was always in the wrong one). Remember when digital assistants were limited to setting timers and telling dad jokes? Thanks to emerging AI and automation, those days are fading faster than your New Year’s resolutions. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a sci-fi buzzword—it’s quickly becoming the most efficient, low-maintenance, and judgment-free coworker you’ve ever had. And unlike Steve from accounting, AI won’t eat your lunch from the office fridge.

Draft emails, reports, and proposals with a few prompts
Analyze spreadsheet data and extract meaningful insights
Transcribe and summarize meetings, highlighting action items
Help brainstorm ideas and overcome creative blocks
Automate repetitive tasks that once consumed hours of your day

The best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to reap these benefits. Modern AI tools are designed with user-friendliness in mind. If you can order takeout online or navigate social […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2025-03-18T20:16:32+00:00March 18th, 2025|Tech, technology|0 Comments

Tech Tuesday: Secure Your Data in a Remote Work Environment

As businesses transition to remote or hybrid work models, securing sensitive information becomes a paramount concern. The nature of remote work, often conducted over home Wi-Fi networks or in public spaces, introduces vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Here are detailed strategies and tools to protect your organization’s data:

Use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is essential for securing internet connections, especially when employees access company resources from home or public Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts data transmission, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or eavesdrop on your internet activity. Encourage employees to always use a VPN when conducting work-related tasks online. Popular VPN services include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Cisco AnyConnect, all offering robust encryption and security features.

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. It requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource, such as a code sent to a mobile device or a fingerprint scan. Implementing MFA across all your business applications and platforms significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Services like Duo Security, Microsoft Authenticator, or Google Authenticator can easily integrate […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-02-06T16:43:45+00:00February 6th, 2024|IT, Tech, technology|0 Comments

Office 365 Tips and Tricks to Elevate Your Communication and Efficiency

In today’s fast-paced business environment, Office 365 stands out as a cornerstone for communication and efficiency. Beyond its well-known features, there are numerous hidden gems within Office 365 that can significantly enhance your productivity. This article explores some of these lesser-known tips and tricks.

Section 1: Mastering Efficient Email Management with Outlook

Focused Inbox: To activate Focused Inbox in Outlook, go to the ‘View’ tab, and click on ‘Show Focused Inbox’. This feature sorts your emails into two tabs, focusing on the most important ones.
Scheduling Emails: Compose your email as usual, then instead of clicking ‘Send’, select the dropdown arrow next to it and choose ‘Send later’ to specify the desired send time.
Email Templates: For creating a template, draft an email, then go to ‘File’ > ‘Save as’ > ‘Outlook Template’. To use it, go to ‘New Items’ > ‘More Items’ > ‘Choose Form’ and select ‘User Templates in File System’.

Section 2: Enhancing Team Collaboration with Microsoft Teams

Background Blur and Custom Backgrounds: During a video call, click on the ‘…’ (more options) and select ‘Show background effects’ to blur or change your background.
Using @mentions: Type ‘@’ followed by the […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-01-23T16:50:34+00:00January 23rd, 2024|IT, Tech, technology|0 Comments

AI for Small to Midsize Businesses Isn’t Going Away

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made great inroads into certain sectors of the U.S. economy. However, it hasn’t reached many small to midsize businesses (SMBs) in a major way … yet.

In 2021, AI analysis firm Unsupervised published a survey of 520 SMB owners that found 48% of them still found AI too cost prohibitive. Forty percent said their businesses lacked the staff expertise to use it. But the survey also found that one in five owners were implementing some form of AI, and 20% of respondents already using AI believed it had increased their profitability.

Defining the term

People sometimes confuse AI with data analytics or the application of intense mathematics. It’s so much more. AI generally refers to using computers to perform complex tasks typically thought to require human intelligence — for example, image perception, voice recognition, decision-making and problem solving.

Several types of technologies fall under the AI umbrella. One is machine […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2022-04-08T21:02:09+00:00April 8th, 2022|technology|0 Comments