We’re here for you during the COVID-19 outbreak with work-from-home tools and other services you need to keep your business running.

As we all are contending with the challenging and unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, it is important to know who and what you can count on. I want to reassure you that Grudi Associates is permitted to continue operations under the Governor’s latest order closing all non-life-sustaining businesses. First, we are able to continue operating because we provide vital support to life-sustaining businesses. Second, our team has moved to a work-from-home model utilizing the technology that can enable you to do the same. 

Please know that we are fully able and capable of providing the services you need to continue doing business, in your facilities, if allowed, and working from home. 

Among the tools and services we can provide are:

• Conferencing Tools – video, audio and web conferencing applications for remote meetings and business activities.
• Presentation Tools – for larger, more complex needs.
• Cloud-Based (VoIP) Phone Systems – Voice over IP phone systems residing in the Cloud are accessible from anywhere on any phone or enabled device with an Internet connection.
• Cloud-Based File Systems – virtual desktop or desktop as a service (DaaS), with files and applications securely in the Cloud, enable at-home employees to continue work.
• Bandwidth – adequate Internet bandwidth enables efficient, uninterrupted work.
• Mobility – for work-from-home employees.

To read more about our work-from-home support, please click here.

Everyone at Grudi Associates is committed to helping you and all our clients and partners function as well as possible during this time. Please call us at 717-838-5022 or email at BeWell@grudiassociates.com if you have questions or if we can help. We hope that you, your coworkers, your friends and family stay well.

The New Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Note 10+ and Galaxy Note 10+ 5G are now available for pre-order. Please contact us at 717-838-5022, and select “option 1” for details.

Verizon 5G ultra broadband service has rolled out in 4 more cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis and Washington, DC. They join Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Providence and St. Paul, which previously launched. Verizon’s true 5G offer major speed increases and other benefits. Read more about 5G.

The Ideal Solution for Wireless Last-Mile & Point-to-Point Connections

Fixed wireless connections can provide faster, more reliable, enterprise-grade connections that can improve your business performance and virtually eliminate downtime. Internet and point-to-point connections are made through line-of-sight microwave broadcasts between an antenna on your facility and the carrier tower. There are no fiber, copper or coax connections in the last mile that can be broken. That means more dependable primary, backup or supplementary connections and business continuity. Read more.

If you’ve ever received a call from someone using a fake or borrowed phone number, you’ve been “spoofed.”

“Spoofing” has become an epidemic in the business world and nearly everyone has received these calls on their cell phones. Spoofing is when the caller ID shows a name or number that isn’t truly connected with the caller. In other words, the caller is lying about their identity.

Spoofing can affect any wireless carrier, service type or device. While there is no surefire way to stop receiving these calls this, there are ways to reduce their frequency and be educated about them. Here is a list of steps you can take to maximize your protection:

• Add your cell phone number to the Do Not Call registry https://www.donotcall.gov/
• Block that particular number, either through your device or cellular carrier
• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. If you accidentally answer a spoofed call or robocall, hang up immediately and do not answer any questions
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), visit https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and find the appropriate device and harassment type
• File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us
• As a last resort, if the number you have is relatively new and not many clients have it, you may want to consider changing it. Even though there is no phone number that is completely safe from spoofed calls, it may decrease the amount of them you get

There are apps available for preventing spoofed or other spam/robocalls. Some carriers have their own apps to prevent unsolicited and spoofed calls as much as possible:

• Verizon Wireless – Call Filter app has spam filters and detection, and the ability to report numbers directly to the carrier. There is a free version and $2.99/month paid version that gives more robust features: https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/call-filter-faqs/ 
• AT&T Wireless – AT&T Call Protect lets you customize block lists, has spam warnings and filter, and a reverse number lookup. There is a free version and a $3.99/month paid version which offers more in-depth filters and controls: https://about.att.com/sites/cyberaware/ni/blog/caller-id-spoofing
• Sprint – Premium Caller ID only offers a paid version, which detects spam calls, implements spam filters and advises spam risk from callers. You can also set it to automatically block high risk calls. The service is $2.99/month: https://www.att.com/features/security-apps.html#faqs

It’s important to know that even with the most diligent efforts, no app or carrier is currently able to offer 100% spoof protection. It’s incredibly difficult for systems to tell which numbers are legitimate and which are being faked. You can adequately protect yourself by never giving out any personal information unless you absolutely verify the agency, and by not engaging with any automated call system.

Grudi Associates is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the Lancaster Chamber’s presentation of the 2019 Leadercast Live. If you’re attending, come see us at our booth! This year’s theme . . .

Leadercast Live is the largest one-day leadership event in the world, broadcast live around the globe each year from Atlanta. This year, Leadercast Live will bring together experts in leadership and organizational health to help attendees master the art and science of developing and leading healthy teams.

When & Where

Friday, May 10, 2019, from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Worship Center, 2384 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601

Not Registered? There still may be room. To register, visit the Lancaster Chamber website registration page.

Are You Ready for the Next Big Thing?

Grudi Associates is hosting the Lancaster Chamber Mixer on November 14, 2018, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Lancaster Chamber Offices, 115 E King St, Lancaster, PA.

Network – meet, mingle & find out what’s new and exciting in telecom & IT. Chat will colleagues and network with new connections. Meet the Grudi Associates team.

Refresh – There will be beer, wine, soft drink and delicious hor d’oeuvres by Thyme & Seasons Catering.

Great Prizes – with drawings every 15 minutes! Check back to learn more.

Free Admittance. Register online – www.lancasterchamber.com.

For more information, contact us at anytime.

Grudi Associates is joining with Neema Hospitality to support brain cancer research. Neema Hospitality, a leading hospitality group with properties in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, is donating $5 per night per occupied room between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Grudi Associates is an ongoing provider of telecom and IT services to Neema Hospitality.

Funds raised in this campaign will go to ABC² (Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure), a non-profit research organization. ABC² is focused on speeding the discovery of a cure for brain cancer by applying an aggressive, venture funding approach not typically seen in the nonprofit sector. ABC² has awarded more than 100 grants totaling $21 million in brain tumor research funding to highly qualified investigators and physician-scientists from 54 institutions and companies. Since its founding in 2001, ABC² has helped bring 30 different treatments into the clinic.

Read more about Neema

Read more about ABC²

For more information, contact us at anytime.