Category Archives: Tech

Understanding the Technology behind Virtual Data Rooms

Virtual Data Rooms

In recent years, there have been a lot of talks about “virtual” terms such as virtual reality and virtual assistance. One of the newest virtual terms is “virtual data room”. Whether you are familiar with this term or not, this article will describe what virtual data room refers to as well as the technology behind the use of this concept.

What does a virtual data room mean?

A virtual data room is defined as an online location various organizations and companies can keep their sensitive and classified data in a secure environment. Apart from storing information securely, the platform can also be used for sharing a vital document or information with various stakeholders such as investors and attorneys. While performing all these activities, virtual data rooms ensure the confidentiality of the information and documents are not compromised. Hence, they put the minds of people in charge of the businesses at peace.

Generally, there are tons of platforms, such as www.firmex.com, that provide virtual data rooms that businesses can use for an array of purposes. A few of these purposes include initial public offerings (IPOs), fundraising, and audits.

What is the technology behind virtual data rooms?

If you are planning to use virtual data rooms for any purpose, you must understand how the system works. Therefore, we will shed more light on the technology behind virtual data rooms.

  • Data encryption

Although this technology is a cloud-based storage system, it involves an additional security measure known as data encryption. This measure is targeted at boosting the security and efficiency of virtual data rooms. When storing or sharing any document or information via virtual data rooms, it is encrypted whether it has an existing data transfer line encryption system or not. As a result of this encryption, no third-party can have access to the information in the document.

  • Multifactor authentication

Another important technology behind virtual data rooms is multifactor authentication. This technology prevents any unauthorized party from accessing the document or information of a business or organization. Generally, it requires that every party must take two steps before they can access the stored or shared data.

The first step of the multifactor authentication is the decryption of the document or data that you want to get. After you have decrypted the document, you still have to input a passcode or other forms of information that are regarded as the secondary process of authentication. In some cases, this secondary authentication may be RSA tokens and biometrics. With all these authentication processes, you rest assured that the document or file is securely protected from any unauthorized parties.

  • Digital watermarking

The third technology behind virtual data rooms is regarded as digital watermarking. Like the standard watermarking, digital watermarking adds watermarks to any documents, files, or data that you are sharing or storing in the virtual data rooms. The digital watermark is unique to each document or file; hence, it eases the process of tracing the source where anyone has got the information if there should be any leak. It should be noted machine learning and artificial intelligence are used for digital watermarking.

In summary, the fundamental technological elements behind virtual data rooms are data encryption, multifactor authentication, and digital watermarking. However, some virtual data rooms don’t have all these elements. The absence of one of these elements doesn’t necessarily mean that the virtual data rooms cannot offer the security that your data needs. Nevertheless, if your business needs any of these technological elements are important to securing the document and information, make sure you go for a virtual data room that offers the elements.

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How Much Should You Spend on SEO Services?

Do you want to how much it would cost you to boost your online presence and reach more customers? Are you thinking of hiring an SEO company and want to know how much you should pay for SEO services? Then, this post is just for you. Search engine optimization or SEO for short helps you increase conversions, reach your target audience, and boost website traffic. If you want to hire an SEO company to implement SEO strategies, you will want to know about SEO pricing and how much it would cost you. The following are some of the typical SEO costs which you are expected to pay when you work with an SEO company.

seo campany online

Typical SEO Costs

  • Hourly Consultancy Rate: SEO companies charge anywhere from $100 to $300 for consulting businesses about the best SEO practices.
  • Project-Based Rate: Although the cost for projects is entirely variable, most projects would cost you anywhere from $,1000 up to $30,000.
  • Contract Services: When you seek contract services, you will be expected to pay a fixed price. But, the cost varies from organization to organization. Most businesses consider contract services in the beginning. Some of the most common services include social media setup ($400 to $2500), link profile audit ($400 to $7,000), site content audit ($400 to $7,000), and SEO copywriting ($0.10 to $0.45 per word).
  • Monthly Retainer: A monthly retainer is very common. It will cost you anywhere from $750 to $5,000. Thus, you will pay the SEO company depending on the services you seek and the size of the business/ project. Many SEO companies cater exclusively to small businesses.

SEO Strategy

The cost of SEO services depends on the SEO strategy of the business. Start small to find out the quality of service offered by the company. However, keep in mind that price should not be the deciding factor. You need to pay attention to the quality of work provided. Moreover, the SEO strategy should be flexible and open to suggestions from the SEO company.

One Size Does Not Apply To All

When you search for an SEO company, you need to keep in mind that one size does not apply to all. Choose an SEO service which reviews the SEO costs for the SEO campaign of your business. Following are some of the SEO campaigns.

  1. National SEO

If you want to rank at the top for your desired search engine, then, you will need to opt for a national SEO campaign.

  1. Local SEO

A local SEO campaign will help ensure that you beat your local competitors. By opting for local SEO, your business will appear for your area.

  1. Ecommerce SEO

If you are running an online store, your best option is an eCommerce SEO campaign. It is a long-term strategy which aims to keep the warehouse busy.

Conclusion

The cost of SEO services depends on the services you choose. Most SEO services tend to cost $400 to $10,000 a month, depending on the size of the business, project, and services required. Make sure to consult with a few SEO companies before opting for one.

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5 Skills You Need to Be a Creative Graphic Designer

If you want to become a successful graphic designer in 2020, it’s crucial that you possess certain skills with a positive learning attitude. The scope of graphic designing is vast in a number of industries, from mobile app development companies in Dallas to clothing and food industries. If you are willing to learn and grow with the advancement in technology, tools, and approaches to design, you can surely move ahead to your destination. These are the skills that you most essentially require to become a creative graphic designer.

Graphic Designer

Source: Designs Desk

In-Depth Software Knowledge

To become a successful graphic designer, first and foremost, you need to get your hands on extensive graphic designer software knowledge. Software like sketch, adobe illustrator, adobe Photoshop, procreate, InDesign, and Affinity is helpful in turning your design imagination into reality. Along with these, you need to keep an eye on the latest design tools and approaches. Designers, failing to realize how many different software tools are available for them, may be left behind in a strong competition of opportunities. Therefore, failing to take advantage of existing and upcoming technology can lead you to produce outdated or glitch designs.

Increased Business Knowledge

A graphic designer is required to deal with different businesses on a frequent basis. To deal appropriately, you need to have a general understanding of business trends and principles. You should know how to talk to entrapreneurs and how to convince them through the right explanations.

At the beginning of your meetings with them, take your time to address their objectievs and concers. You should know how to let other accept your demands in the appropriate way. You can also do a short course on business communication to improve your skills and appear as a professional graphic designer.

Being Creative Is Essential

A graphic designer is supposed to be creative. Your main job is to make your design look interesting and appealing to the viewers. Yo can do this job perfectly by eing creative at your most. Keep learning and studying to expand your arena of knowledge and exposure. Ideally, you rae required to come up with a unique idea for the project your clients want you to do

Learn Typography

A graphic designer should be good at the understanding of fonts and how to play with them to come up with professional typography skills.  Fonts are one of the most promiment elemnt of a website and contribute to the aesthetics of a website. So, to design appealing elemnets for website design, you should be good at designing typography. Typography is also important in making banners, packaging, and advertisments.

Its crucial for a designer to have a good knowledge of fonts and typography because failing to choose the right font may endup in making a website less-engaging. Moreover, misuse of fonts too can lead to the finished result being an ugly sight.

Project Management Skills

What else you need to know to become a successful graphic designer is project management skills. Particularly, if you work on your own, you need to deal with different types of clients. You should know how to manage their projects skillfully as a graphic designer. The more successful you will be at dealing with clients successfully, the more clients you acquire. And, with having more clients, you should know how to make them loyal to you. Delivering good work in an organized way is the key to clients’ loyalty with you.

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Top reasons your business should use the term of the first and second electronic signature

No business can go by without having signatures involved. While most of the documents surrounding our personal and professional lives are in electronic form; we must adapt to an online electronic signature for signing those data.

In the past we used paper; paper checks, paper agreements and paper reports of anything. The problems with the paper- written data were it was perishable easily and time-consuming for its transfer. We do still use the paper documentation but innovation has not left paper documentation unaffected. As technology grew its roots in our lives, we adopted a faster and more efficient replacement. E-signature eradicates the need for a physical signature. While a business uses technology a lot. Without this tool, an electronic page must be printed, physically signed and scanned again. If you own a business, you need to update the electronic aspects of your work. Here is a closer look at what is e-signature and why you should use it;

What is an E-signature?

E-signature

E-signature in effect is software. It permits you to sign a document electronically through a gadget. It completely eradicates the need for a physical signature. you will be able to sign a document completely digitally and without any papers. Government entities have adapted the digitalize shift of signature; it makes the E-signature legally practical.

Why you should use e-signature?

If you run a business, you probably deal with a lot of signatures and documents on a daily basis. You are entitled to put your name at the bottom of many documents as well as your suppliers, coworkers, employees, and customers. Everyone requires to sign. Here are some main reasons you should use an E-signature in 2020;

Time efficiency and workflow

It is most likely that you have started to use digitalize documents either fully or partially. Using an electronic signature eliminates a lot of time wastage. The time to transport, copy, print and redo the documents will be completely taken off your hands.

Higher security

Levels of security e-signature provide are higher, Why? The reason lies within the artificial intelligence backing up your signature. There is the exact information that comes along the signature. It includes; the place of a signature, traceability of the signatory and exact time of putting down the e-signature. this information could be compared with claims of the actual signatory.

Safer online banking

The strong security e-signature provides makes it a secure option for safe online banking and transactions. It helps the bank portals to be able to authenticate the actual user. Through the same mechanism, they will be able to block any unidentified user and prevent online banking theft.

Ability to re-sign without hindering your document

Traditional signatures held a limitation, if you do it wrong, you had to do it all over. This was even worse when filling up long forms for sensitive associations such as government-based activities or tax purposes. E-signatures, on the other hand, habilitate the re-do. Before submitting the signature, the application requests you to go ahead if only your signature is not faulty.

Encryption algorithm

The software used for writing these documents is much similar to what secure online systems such as online payment gateways use. Through an encryption algorithm, your documents are secured and confidential. This decreases the chance for interception and against any online theft.

  • Optimizing communication

Most of the documents in an office used to be protected in an office wall to maintain their confidentiality. Using a signature, you can take your whole documentation to a digital level. All you need to secure them is a safe gadget with secure pass locks. It saves your office space while keeping your documents readily available for your use. This form of document maintenance facilitates the following features;

Facilitates ease of document exchange with clients, contract holders, and business partners.

Ease of suiting regular documents to government offices; tax documents, monthly employment payments, and routine insurance company renewals.

Renewal of contracts with suppliers, employment boards and VAT registrations

Electronic billing and issuance of invoices for both outgoing and incoming services and products.

  • Unique electronic signature

Some companies have taken the use of digital signatures a step ahead. They use a specified signature designed to serve all or some of the following purposes;

  • Data authentication

A company can use its own signature for internal use and external use. This helps them to secure their data from internet theft pitfalls.

  • Email

A specific signature is placed at the bottom of every email sent. While it protects the original email from the company, it also provides a trademark. The company’s known trademark is used for professional outlook and trademark awareness.

  • Encryption and decrypt

Companies use e-signature for data encryption and decryption; To protect, store and remove data and documents from their secured database. As well as data transfer increase surety. Sometimes companies use several signatures for different purposes; this is to increase this security for both inside and outside documentation.

Eco-friendly option

We all have the conception of how our planet’s nature is endangered. Most of the people, businesses, and government organizations are limiting the use of paper in order to save more trees. The reason is complex bureaucracy forms and documentation require high consumption of paper. Considering how many business associations are there, we could cut a huge amount of paper use.

Many businesses integrate this factor in their slogan; eco-friendliness is a feature that many clients seek in a product or service they use.

Conclusion

An e-signature is a safer and innovative replacement for physical signatures together with many more benefits. Since most of the business and corporations, as well as government organs, are adopted to the signature, you as a business owner must follow the stream to avoid retrograde setbacks.

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A study on the application of digital signature technology

In today’s world, it is really common to share your personal or impersonal documents. These documents can therefore sometimes contain sensitive information for example financial statements, legal contracts, and even financial transactions. So for the better safety of your document, it is necessary to encrypt them to ensure that they are saved from prying eyes. There are a lot of hackers these days that are just waiting to find a weak prey and steal their credentials. So if you do want to send your documents via the e-space and also keep your e-commerce documents safe then use a digital signature. A digital signature provides the surety that the customer had agreed to the terms of the seller and cannot deny it afterward. When a customer digitally sings an online purchase or order then the seller can be sure of who the buyer is, when was the order generated and can verify if there were any problems with his terms or transits.

The digital signature was introduced back in 1976 as a method of public-key cryptography. However, it was not until recently that the government and companies started using it for electronic sale and buy, more commonly known as e-commerce.

What Is a Digital Signature?

digital signature technology

A digital signature is a technology that was made as a secure pathway for digital shops using public-key cryptography. In this, you have two keys that are a private key and a public key. The Digital signature technology provides you with a private key that is used to sign the document on your behalf and the public key is send to the receiver. This way receivers can use the public key sent to them to authenticate the document. It is also used with an electronic signature software to make things more secure.

However, you basically use your private key to generate a Hash encryption message. This hash goes through your document and keep track of the content inside. This way when the sender receives the document and uses the public key sent by you to reverse the encryption. The sender observes the original hash he then combines them both and if the hashes match then it means that there was no tempering in the document. Although, if it does not match then it means that the document was corrupted in the transfer.

HASH:

What is a hash? Well, it is an encryption method that works like a one-way street. This algorithm generates a message that can’t be used to derive the original message. So it is very much safe and secure to use it. There is also zero chances of a hash algorithm to generate the same hash for two different documents.

Message Digest 5 (MD5) that can produce a 128-bit hash and Secure Hash Algorithm 1 (SHA-1) that can produce a 160-bit hash are the most commonly used hash algorithms.

Trust Modes of Public key:

    A public key that is generated with your document’s private key needs to be published by you. This publication implies that either the public key is placed on an organization’s network so that all your employees can access it. Or you will have to send your public key directly to the user. You can not keep your public key hidden and secure like you must keep your private key. Your private key is only to be seen by your eyes but the public key needs to be shared so therefore it is very essential that there is some kind of trust about the public key between the two parties. It is a crucial part as there are hackers that can impose as you and send a fake public key and document. So in simple terms, a public key trust mode can’t be ignored.

There are two methods of this i.e. direct trust and third party trust. These modes are pretty easy to understand and much is implied by their names.

Direct Method:

In this method, you will pass the public key to the receiver directly as you two know each other and can do so privately or securely. This way there will be no more threats.

Third-Party Method:

In the third party method, you and the receiver don’t know each other and can’t exchange keys securely yourself. So you use a middle man to exchange the keys.

Usually, the direct method is used in a small group of companies whereas the third party method is used by large companies.

Certification:

Certification of public keys is necessary when working with a third party. This is called Certificate Authority (CA) and is a trustworthy organization that certifies your public keys. And if there is any sort of issue with the public key then these CAs can be contacted to solve the issue.

Time Stamp:

Under particular circumstances, it is mandatory to timestamp the document. FO example if you send a contract that was supposed to be sent before a contract expires then your document will be rejected. So it is always the best option to send a timestamp with your document.

Digital Signature Software:

These products are not really hard to use in fact they are pretty easy. There are three ways to classify the digital signature function in any such software i.e. email only, Solo for files only and Entrust/ Entelligence for both email and files.

Interoperability:

There is no real concept of interoperability in between this software for now except for one i.e. standard Secure MIME (S/MIME) email. SO don’t use someone else’s software to verify and someone else’s software for the signature. Use the same software as your business partner.

government regulation:

There are different regulations for different governments throughout the world. For example, if you look at the government of the united states then you can observe that they do no regulate the signatures but they do forbid the export of encryption larger than 56-bit.

So be smart and always use a digital signature or better yet an electronic signature software for your documents.

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