One of the most significant milestones for teenagers is getting a driver’s license. Yet, acquiring their first smartphone is a sought-after achievement for many teens. For parents, this technology introduces children to a new world of freedom and danger. This article provides a few guidelines to consider before giving your teen a smartphone. 1. Learn Their Reasons Why When giving your child a smartphone, have an open and honest conversation about why they want one. Asking your child why they want a smartphone uncovers can help you understand their motivations. For example, your child may want a phone for the status symbol it represents. Others may be interested in social media and the ability to connect with friends and fa…

While the word “audit” or “auditing” can have a negative connotation (hello IRS!), auditing can be a proactive cybersecurity strategy. In fact, system auditing is #13 on Petra Tech’s Cybersecurity Essentials List! (To learn more and see the Cybersecurity Essentials List visit this link here: https://youtu.be/A50vRiJ_QVo ) Chris discusses the 5 most important systems that your business needs to audit and what to do with the information you gather. Are you ready to get started on the Cybersecurity Essentials List for your business? Contact Petra Tech today! This post was first published on petratechit.com. …

Pregnancy is an incredible journey filled with moments of anticipation and excitement. One of the most thrilling experiences is feeling your baby move for the first time. But when can you expect to feel these first movements, and how should you monitor them? Quickening: The First Sensations The first time your baby moves is called “quickening.” Quickening usually occurs between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy, but it can vary from person to person. For example, first-time mothers may only feel these movements closer to 24 weeks, while those who have already been pregnant before might notice them earlier, around 16 to 18 weeks. These initial movements may feel like gentle flutters, bubbles, or gas. Over time, you’ll become m…

As your baby grows and develops, introducing them to new textures becomes essential to their sensory exploration and processing. By keeping these tips in mind, you can ensure that your baby is safe and having fun discovering the new world around them. 1. Start with Familiar Textures When beginning your baby’s journey into exploring new textures, it’s best to start with familiar ones. Offer them foods or objects they are already comfortable with, gradually introducing slight variations. If your baby enjoys pureed bananas, try mashing them with a fork to introduce a slightly different texture. 2. Engage in Sensory Play Sensory play is an excellent way to expose your baby to various textures in a controlled and enjoyable e…

As the world becomes increasingly digital, businesses are relying on more and more digital assets to operate. From website content and social media accounts to customer data and company records, digital assets are a vital and valuable part of any company. However, these assets can also be a liability if they are not properly protected. Chris Cummings, CEO of Petra Technologies, discusses some common methods to keep your digital assets accounted for and protected. (To learn more and see the full Cybersecurity Essentials List, visit this link here: https://youtu.be/A50vRiJ_QVo ) Are you ready to get your digital asset protection plan in place? Contact Petra Technologies today! This post was first published on petratechit.c…

Standing all day can be exhausting and painful. Whether you work in retail, healthcare, or any other profession that requires long periods of standing, it’s essential to take care of your body to avoid discomfort and potential injury. Fortunately, these few tips can help make standing all day easier. 1. Wear Supportive Footwear Wearing supportive footwear is crucial when standing all day. Opt for shoes that provide adequate cushioning and arch support to reduce strain on your feet and lower body. Look for options with shock-absorbing soles and proper heel and arch support. A well-fitted, comfortable pair of shoes can help distribute weight evenly, minimize discomfort, and provide better stability, making your long hours of standing…

Does your place of work have a policy for when visitors arrive? Whether your business deals with walk-ins, vendor deliveries, or client meetings, it is a good idea to keep a record of all visitors. Petra Technologies calls this policy “The Visitor Program” and is (you guessed it!) on the Cybersecurity Essentials checklist. Chris discusses some ideas you can add to your visitor program to help ensure safety and security. (To learn more and see the Cybersecurity Essentials List visit this link here: https://youtu.be/A50vRiJ_QVo ) Do you need help designing your visitor program? We can help! Contact Petra Technologies today. This post was first published on petratechit.com …

You want to ensure your child is always safe and secure as a parent. One of the most basic yet crucial pieces of information for your child to know is their home address and phone number. This information can help them in an emergency or if they ever get lost. Here are some tips to help your child learn and remember their address and phone number. 1. Repetition and Mnemonics The more often you repeat this information to your child, the more likely they will remember it. Make sure to go over it frequently and in a variety of situations. A mnemonic is a memory aid. You can help your child associate their address and phone number with a fun and memorable phrase or rhyme. For example, “555-1234 is a fun number to call Mommy.” …

When it comes to data security, managed IT firms (like Petra Technologies) are typically focused on the security of digital assets and what you might do online to compromise security – actions like emailing files or clicking insecure links. But data security needs to be online and in “real life.” Petra Tech recommends what we call a “Clean Desk Policy.” The clean desk policy can apply to the office, work from home space, or coworking space. Chris discusses three principles to abide by to keep a clean desk, why they are so important, and a quick tip at the end to help keep your desktop secure. Does your business need assistance implementing a clean desk policy? We can help! Contact Petra Technologies today. This …

Your newborn has an entirely different set of rules when it comes to daily behavior. Although he or she is a miniaturized human, their habits won’t be familiar to new parents. Learn what to expect during your newborn’s first week so that it runs smoothly and without any drama. A Regular Feeding Schedule Newborns must eat every few hours because their stomachs just aren’t large enough for longer durations. Ideally, your baby should eat between eight and 12 times a day. This equates to about once every three hours. You might be breastfeeding, offering formula, or a mixture of both. As long as your newborn is feeding a little bit every few hours, their weight should progress at a normal rate. Get to Know the Various Crie…

As technology advances, more private and business data is stored on digital devices and the internet To properly keep those assets secure, it is also important to be aware of the advancements of cybercriminals attempting to steal that data. Phishing attacks continue to be the hacker’s method of choice, regularly landing in your email inbox while appearing more “real” than ever. Knowing this, it should be a top priority to be able to recognize, avoid, and prevent phishing attempts. Chris gives you practical advice about the different types of phishing you need to be aware of and 4 practical steps you can take to prevent a security breach. Here are 4 helpful links to learn more: Proofpoint’s 2021 State of the Phish Re…

Stress is a normal part of daily living. You may experience stress at work, at home, or in certain social situations. But there are some situations that trigger a greater amount of stress. Military combat, child abuse, or being the victim of a violent crime can trigger post-traumatic stress (PTS) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTS and PTSD have many similarities. Both are strong reactions to events or situations that are very frightening. If you’ve faced an extreme situation or event such as being the victim of or witness to a crime or participating in combat, you may face temporary stress. That is known as PTS. Symptoms will typically subside after time, and treatment is optional in this case. Is PTS a Normal Response t…

When your business or organization experiences a breach of security or loss of data, how soon can your business get back up and running? If you are prepared enough to have backups of your data… how recent is that backup? These small details can have a big impact on the effectiveness of your cybersecurity plan. Chris Cummings, CEO of Petra Technologies, introduces the concept of an internal policy for data retention as well as the common features of one. He also outlines the benefits of working with a managed service provider to help you create and maintain your own internal policy for data retention. (To learn more and see the Cybersecurity Essentials List visit this link here: https://youtu.be/A50vRiJ_QVo ) Are…

Swimming is a valuable life skill that can offer your child a range of physical, mental, and social benefits. Read on and get a comprehensive understanding of why early swimming lessons are a wise investment for your child. Improved Water Safety Enrolling your child in swimming classes increases their comfort and confidence around water. This reduces the risk of drowning, which is among the leading causes of accidental death in children. Upon starting swimming lessons, your child will learn basic water safety skills such as floating, treading water, and safely exiting the pool. In addition, early swimming lessons help to ensure children learn to respect and understand the dangers of water at an early age, significantly improving …

Now that you know the importance of having a company internal privacy policy what is the next step? Tell people about it! Specifically, informing employees that the policy exists, and what that means for their job duties at work. This step is crucial to the success of your cybersecurity plan. Many issues can be caused by innocent mistakes or by simply not knowing the appropriate action to take regarding policies and procedures. Chris lays out a sensible approach to training your employees on the privacy policy and gives practical tips for you to implement it successfully. (To learn more and see the Cybersecurity Essentials List visit this link here: https://youtu.be/A50vRiJ_QVo ) Are you ready to implement …

A pregnancy complication can happen to any woman. One potential complication to know about is a molar pregnancy. A molar pregnancy occurs when there is an unusual growth of cells called trophoblasts. Continue reading to learn more about molar pregnancy and its symptoms. Types of Molar Pregnancies There are two types of molar pregnancies: complete molar pregnancy and partial molar pregnancy. When a woman has a complete molar pregnancy, this means that the placental tissue swells and forms fluid-filled cysts. There is no fetus in a complete molar pregnancy. With a partial molar pregnancy, the placenta may have regular and irregular tissue. It’s possible for a fetus to be present, but the fetus is unable to survive. It’s impor…

One of the first things you can do when going into business (and consequently, #1 on our Cybersecurity Essentials Checklist) is to create an internal privacy policy. As the name suggests, the internal privacy policy is a written document to be shared with all employees of the company and is similar to a public privacy policy. This will outline the privacy and user expectations for data, records, communication, use of company property, and other applicable parts of the business. If you don’t have a policy like this and you are not sure where to start, Chris gives a great template you can begin using in your business or organization. Note: Make sure to replace the company name as needed. “All content maintained in Company…

While organized events and outings are crucial for teens, they also need time and space to pursue their interests and other passions. Teenagers benefit in various ways when given the opportunity to have fun. Playfulness aids in their emotional, physical, cognitive, and emotional strength, as well as boosting their creativity, dexterity, healthy brain development, and more. This type of leisure can take numerous forms, like engaging in non-competitive sports, skateboarding, bicycling, fitness pursuits, role-playing, and video games with imaginative plots. Here are ways to encourage playful behavior in teens. Bringing Playfulness to Your Teen Motivating your teen to participate in lighthearted behavior may seem challenging, but …

When you consider the necessary cybersecurity essentials and steps you take to protect your business from ransomware and hackers, how many can you name? Are you thinking about private wifi? Data backup? Knowing what a phishing email is? If you said “yes” to any of the above – you’re on the right track. But what if I told you there are 30 (yes 30!) items you need on your cybersecurity essentials checklist? See how many items on Chris’ list that your company has in your cybersecurity plan. Are you ready to get your business started on the cybersecurity essentials checklist? Contact Petra Tech today! This post was first published on petratechit.com. …

Fibromyalgia is often a mysterious medical condition that is difficult to diagnose but results in widespread pain being felt throughout the body. Regardless of your age, sex or lifestyle, fibromyalgia can affect you at some point in your life. Thankfully, fibromyalgia can often be treated or effectively managed with the right treatment plan. Possible Causes One of the main reasons why fibromyalgia is often considered to be a mysterious condition is because the disorder may arise from different causes that aren’t always easy to pinpoint. Fibromyalgia may develop from a traumatic injury or an infection, but other conditions, such as migraine headaches and chronic fatigue syndrome, have also been linked to the disorder. Some resea…

Around one out of every five women has a tilted uterus, also referred to as a retroverted uterus. If you are one of them, at some point, when you see a gynecologist, you will be informed of it. This is what you need to know about having a tilted uterus and how it can affect your daily life and pregnancy. What Is a Tilted Uterus? If you have a tilted uterus, it means that your uterus tips or tilts in a backward curve toward the spine instead of in a forward arc toward your stomach. The position of your uterus in this manner can cause you to feel discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse and when you have your period. Some women are born with a tilted uterus, while others have normal uteruses that grow into the tipped position la…