In today’s integrated technology world, synergy is king. If systems in the office — servers, computers, networks, printers — don’t work in harmony, IT efficiency is impossible, which means employee productivity takes a nosedive. Similarly, if devices outside the office — laptops, tablets, smartphones — don’t seamlessly sync with information in the office, on-the-go employees might be taking one step back for every two steps forward as they try to work remotely.

In early February, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would shift to “Recommended” update status in a “phased approach” meant to encourage upgrades. This means that those computer users still on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1-powered machines could be automatically and regularly prompted to download the new operating system.

Another week, another data breach — at least that’s what it felt like when the federal government revealed last week that the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security had employee information hacked.

Initial reports indicate that no sensitive information was stolen; apparently, the majority of the data breach concerned email addresses, phone numbers, and job titles for nearly 30,000 federal employees.

Internet-enabled connectivity has enhanced nearly every aspect of our daily lives. And one area that’s enjoyed undeniable improvement is telephone communications, which have been revolutionized in recent years by VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol.

Microsoft Office highlighted several technology news reports last week, when the world’s most popular productivity suite announced enhanced cloud storage integration, more online-co-authoring and editing options, and an expanded palette of apps available to Mac users.

Smartphone use shows no sign of slowing down — last April, the Pew Research Center estimated that 64% of American adults now own a smartphone, up from just 35% in 2011. And 10% of Americans own a smartphone but don’t have any other method of high-speed Internet access at home beyond their smartphone’s data plan.

After lying relatively low for a few months, malware and ransomware have once again reared their ugly heads. Last week, Google removed more than a dozen malware-infected apps from its Google Play store. And variations of the CryptoLocker and CryptoWall viruses, which plagued the IT world in 2014 and 2015, have started appearing as well, in email attachments and through fake Java and Adobe Flash updates.

The email inbox — everybody uses it, everybody relies on it, and chances are most of us dread it. Especially after the New Year, when the holidays may have sapped our motivation to stay on top of incoming messages, and when the first week of January has everyone working hard to make up for lost time.

The New Year provides the perfect opportunity to take stock of what’s important in your work life. In the small to medium-sized business world, technology routinely tops that list — you can’t work well without technology, and technology that doesn’t work well will only hold you back.

2015 is almost a wrap. But before we dive in to the promising opportunities of 2016 and put the last 12 months behind us, let’s revisit the most popular QuickTips topics of 2015. CMIT Solutions hopes you have enjoyed a happy, safe, and productive holiday season, hopefully with love and laughter in the company of family and friends.