Don’t panic. Your designs aren’t lost. If you rely on Microsoft Publisher to create brochures, flyers, or newsletters, you might have heard the news: Microsoft announced that Publisher is reaching its official end of life in October 2026. Normally, when…
Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365: An Unbiased Comparison for Your Organization Choosing the core productivity suite for your organization is one of the most consequential IT decisions you will make. Most Managed Service Providers (MSPs) pick a single ecosystem, lock…
In modern cybersecurity, attackers rarely spend time trying to crack complex firewalls or brute-force servers directly. Instead, they focus on the easiest entry point into any organization: people. Roughly 80% of company security breaches originate from email attacks, making your…
Microsoft is retiring SMS and voice verification – here is what’s changing and how we’re making the upgrade smooth and stress-free. If your team relies on a text message code or a phone call to sign into Microsoft 365, big…
Why Unlimited Research and Consulting Should Already Be Part of Your IT Retainer Let’s talk about a scenario that happens every single day in business. You’re considering a new software package to streamline your workflow, looking at upgrade options for…
At Ultrex, we spend a lot of time searching for tools that actually make work better without adding extra overhead. When a new technology comes along that genuinely saves time and helps us serve our clients better, we pay attention.…
In observance of the 4th of July, our IT support team will be closed this Friday, July 3rd.While our team takes this time to unplug, we want to ensure you still have the support you need. If you run into…
Every business wants better cybersecurity. Unfortunately, many organizations approach security as if the answer is always more restrictions, more approvals, and more technology controls. While those tools have their place, some of the biggest security risks today aren’t caused by…
Take Control of Your Subscriptions (and Your Sanity) We’ve all been there. You sign up for a free trial. Maybe it’s a software tool, a streaming service, an AI platform, or a “limited-time” promotion. You fully intend to cancel before…
Let’s start with an uncomfortable question: How many people can honestly say that everything they know should be on their calendar is actually on their calendar? How many people have zero dirty dishes in the sink? Zero laundry waiting to…
When a promising new client turns into a cybersecurity nightmare If you work in real estate, insurance, financial services, consulting, or any business where new clients regularly reach out, you’ve probably received requests to meet online. Maybe they’re moving into…
Why Businesses Are Rethinking Their Communication Systems For years, business phone systems were simple. Phones rang, employees answered, and everything worked in the background. Today, communication is much more than phone calls. Customers expect quick responses. Employees need to work…
One of the most common questions we hear at Ultrex Business Solutions is: “What’s the best copier brand?” It’s a valid question. Your copier is one of the most important pieces of technology in your office. It prints invoices, scans…
Stronger Security. Less Headache. Fully Managed. Passwords are still the front door to your business – and for most companies, that door is… not great. Reused passwords, sticky notes, shared logins, “Password123!” with a slight variation – we see it…
Incredible productivity… with some important guardrails AI is everywhere right now — and for good reason. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI chatbots have quickly gone from “neat trick” to legitimate daily productivity drivers. At Ultrex, we’re big fans…
In the last few days, our team has tracked an increase in a sophisticated phishing tactic targeting Microsoft 365 users. Many of our clients are reporting emails that appear to be sent from their own email address to themselves. Why…
The pace of change just hit a new gear If you’ve been in IT for a while, you already know the rhythm: patch Tuesday, quarterly reviews, maybe a yearly overhaul if something big changes. That rhythm? It’s breaking. A recent…
No surprises. Just dependable, transparent support. At Ultrex, we take pride in making IT support straightforward and predictable. You shouldn’t have to wonder when help will arrive, or whether that help is included in your plan.That’s why we use Service…
At Ultrex, we understand that as your Managed Service Provider, we are entrusted with your most sensitive data. This Privacy Policy outlines our commitment to protecting your privacy and managing your information with the highest level of integrity. 1. Information…
And it’s riskier than you think. Let’s start with a hard truth: 👉 If your photos live on just one device, they’re not safe. Not your phone.Not your laptop.Not that external hard drive sitting in a drawer. If there’s only…
For years, copier service has been reactive. Something breaks. A ticket gets placed. A technician shows up. The problem gets fixed. And then it happens again. At Ultrex Business Solutions, we see it often: your print environment is “working”… but it…
Let’s be honest – text messages feel safe.They’re quick, familiar, and usually from people we know. That’s exactly why scammers love them. Text-based scams (often called “smishing”) are one of the fastest-growing ways attackers try to get your information, your…
Less clicking. More doing. Windows has just as many hidden gems as Mac — maybe more. The problem? Nobody shows you this stuff unless you go looking for it. These are the shortcuts we end up teaching clients over and…
Real shortcuts. Real time saved. Let’s be honest — most people use about five keyboard shortcuts total. Copy, paste… maybe screenshot if they’re feeling adventurous. But macOS is packed with small, ridiculously useful shortcuts that can save you time every…
It’s a sad reminder that even in the top of the IT field, we’re all just working to keep Outlook from ruining your day. 🙂
Less Busywork. More Clarity. Way Less Stress. Let’s be honest – most inbox strategies people were taught 10 to 15 years ago just don’t make sense anymore. Creating folders. Dragging emails around. Trying to remember where you filed something six…
Safer habits. Less clutter. Fewer headaches. Email is still the #1 way attackers get into businesses — and it’s also where a lot of day-to-day frustration lives. Overflowing inboxes, missed messages, weird rules firing off… it adds up. The good…
In-house help when you need it. Expert backup when you really need it. Not every organization needs — or wants — a full internal IT department.And not every issue should require opening a support ticket and paying for someone else…
For many growing businesses, phone systems tend to get overlooked as long as calls are still coming in and going out. Over time, those systems often end up being “nursed along” on legacy services from traditional carriers like Comcast, Spectrum,…
When a company is young, scrappy, and growing, IT usually starts the same way:Someone sets up email… somehow… and everyone just runs with it. A Gmail account here.A personal email there.A couple different laptops.Passwords in people’s heads.And nothing feels “broken”…
Helpful? Yes. A magic fix? Not quite. You’ve probably started seeing prompts that say something like “Sign in with a passkey instead”. Big tech companies are pushing them hard, often describing passkeys as the future of authentication — safer than…
USPS Rate Changes Are Coming January 18th 2026 — Here’s What Operations Leaders Should Plan For Information provided by our friends at Mint Mailing. Operational costs don’t usually spike all at once. They creep up quietly — one rate change…
How Proactive Monitoring Strengthens Preventive Maintenance Preventive maintenance works best when it’s informed by real data—not guesswork.That’s where modern fleet monitoring tools come in. By combining hands-on service with cloud-based visibility, we can spot patterns, predict issues, and intervene earlier—often…
Why It Matters Most businesses don’t think about their phone system until it stops working — or until it clearly can’t keep up anymore. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has become the default choice for modern organizations not because it’s…
Why Cloud-Based Print & Scan Fits the Way Work Actually Happens Today For a long time, printing and scanning were treated as background utilities—something that just existed and was rarely questioned.But the way people work has changed. Documents no longer…
Is Frozen Water Actually Valuable? Ice doesn’t usually come up when people talk about improving the workplace. It’s not something that shows up in strategy meetings or gets highlighted in onboarding materials. But take it away — even for a…
What’s the actual Difference between a Commercial Grade and Consumer Grade Copier and Printer? Most businesses don’t set out to buy the wrong printer. They buy what looks reasonable. Affordable. Familiar. Something that worked fine at home or in a…
Much like the Mac vs. PC debate, the iPhone vs. Android conversation has a tendency to turn into a team sport. People get very passionate very quickly. At Ultrex, we take a different view: 👉 They’re just tools.Good tools —…
At Ultrex, we do things a little differently than the old-school “computer repair guy.” If you’ve ever hesitated to call tech support because you were afraid of receiving a surprise bill for a 5-minute conversation, you know exactly why we…
There’s a big conversation happening right now in Washington about the future of TP-Link hardware in the United States — especially routers and networking gear. It’s not just tech news, it’s something businesses and IT teams should be paying attention…
This question comes up all the time: “So… should I be on a Mac or a PC?” And our answer is almost always the same: 👉 Neither is “better.” They’re just tools.The real question is which tool fits how you…
The “Good Deal” Computer That Wasn’t Last week, one of our clients reached out almost immediately after buying a brand-new computer. On paper, it looked fine.The price was completely reasonable.It was new, sealed, from a reputable retailer. But once they…
If you’ve talked to more than one IT or security vendor, you’ve probably heard a whole alphabet soup of tools thrown around: AV. EDR. MDR. XDR. NGAV.Fun, right? Let’s slow it down and talk about what these tools really do…
Why These Phishing Emails Are Booming — and How to Avoid the Trap If you’ve noticed a spike in emails saying “Someone shared a file with you on SharePoint” — you’re not imagining it. Attackers are increasingly using SharePoint-style phishing…
Tired of scan-to-email breaking with each email provider update? If you’ve ever tried to set up scan-to-email on a copier, a networked printer, or another “smart” device, you may have hit a frustrating wall: “This device doesn’t support MFA or…
When someone leaves your organization, their email account doesn’t just… poof… vanish (unless you want it to!). You actually have a few clean, safe options — and each one has different pros, cons, and best-use scenarios. At Ultrex, we don’t…
An Ultrex IT Guide to Responding — and Recovering — the Right Way Let’s start with the good news: not every scary pop-up or flashing screen means you’ve truly been hacked.But if something feels off — your computer is acting…
If You’d Be Sad If You Lost It — Back It Up. Let’s start simple:If you’d be sad, stressed, or out of business if a file disappeared, it needs to be backed up — automatically, regularly, and reliably. We’ve seen…
Let’s be honest — no two businesses run the same way. Different goals, different workflows, different people — and definitely different budgets. So why do so many IT providers still try to squeeze every client into the same pre-packaged “solution”?…
At Ultrex, we believe technology should empower your people – not confuse them. That’s why we include user training as part of our core service. No extra line item. No “add-on” charge. Just part of what we do. Because when…
The issue is beginning to alleviate and we’re seeing sign ins starting to work again. You can watch the coverage and updates as it wraps up here. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: We are aware of a Microsoft outage, this is not just…
When you go shopping for Microsoft 365, it feels like alphabet soup — Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, E5, and on and on.Let’s simplify things. For most small businesses and nonprofits, the three main licenses you’ll actually be…
Collaboration Without the Chaos If you’ve ever tried to manage a single “info@” or “support@” email address by forwarding messages to multiple people — you know how fast that can get messy. Replies overlap, messages get missed, and suddenly you’re…
Let’s be honest – Outlook the program (what most people think of as the “Outlook app” on Windows) has been a workhorse for decades. But in today’s cloud-first world, that workhorse is starting to limp. At Ultrex IT, we support…
Here’s two links to Sharing Google MFA codes with others, both a donor and a receiver guide. Donor Guide Receiver Guide For both of these guides, you’ll need your phone, and the Google Authenticator app (free from the App Store…
At Ultrex, we don’t just work with nonprofits — we specialize in them. Schools, churches, and community organizations make up the heart of what we do. We know your mission matters more than your margins, and we’ve built our entire…
Downtime costs more than you think. When a computer dies — whether it’s a bad hard drive, Windows update gone wrong, or a coffee spill that “just barely touched it” — it always seems to happen at the worst possible…
Why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Matters Let’s get real – passwords alone don’t cut it anymore. Between phishing, reused passwords, and breaches that spill login data onto the dark web, it’s just too easy for attackers to get in.That’s where multi-factor…
At Ultrex, we spend a lot of time helping people stay secure without making their day-to-day work miserable. Password management is one of those areas where “secure” and “easy” usually don’t get along — but they can. That’s why we…
When it comes to IT infrastructure, we’re not interested in chasing trends or pushing whatever brand is loudest this year. We care about what works, what’s reliable, and what makes life easier for the businesses we support. That’s why, for…
On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 reaches End of Life. That means no more security patches, updates, or official support. In other words—if you’re still running Windows 10 past that date, your computers (and your data) are at risk. At…
When businesses set up devices such as copiers, scanners, or applications to send email, the natural instinct is to point them directly at their company’s Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace environment. After all, that’s where the mailboxes live. But in…
Because “We’ve Never Had a Problem” Isn’t a Security Strategy Every business owner knows how important it is to protect company data — but figuring out how to do that can feel overwhelming. Between compliance requirements, new threats, and just…
You’re running a growing business in Salem. But the more it expands, the more complex your IT needs become. From safeguarding sensitive data to supporting a hybrid workforce, staying on top of tech can feel overwhelming without the right support.…
In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying competitive means leveraging the right technology. However, many business owners struggle with outdated systems, inefficient workflows, and cybersecurity risks that hinder productivity. Without the right tools, businesses waste time on manual processes and lose…
Is Your Business Secure? Cyber threats evolve daily, yet many businesses assume their cybersecurity services are sufficient—until they experience a breach. A single cyberattack can result in data loss, financial damage, and reputational harm. If you’re unsure whether your business…
Choosing the right IT solutions is essential for running a successful business. From office equipment rental to IT support services in Portland, having the right tools and assistance can save time and money. Businesses need reliable technology to stay productive…
Are you concerned about the security of your business’s printing practices? With increasing data breaches and cyber threats, it’s crucial to prioritize the protection of sensitive information. From securing your network to implementing access controls and encrypted printing, these simple…
Looking for ways to optimize your printing processes and increase efficiency? Managed Print Services (MPS) could be the solution you’ve been searching for. With MPS, businesses can entrust their print infrastructure to experts who handle everything from maintenance and supplies…
A school was experiencing difficulties operating their telecommunications across their entire campus. Ultrex was able to configure a custom solution that addressed every need the school had all under their budget. Problem: A private school in Oregon was operating on…
Problem: A small non-profit had a dedicated team of volunteers and staff of around 20 people struggling with information access due to isolated repositories of data. The data silos were not easily accessible or integrable with other systems or departments…
Problem: A local church was operating two multi-function copiers for their printing and copying needs. When Ultrex was reviewing their lease cost, service plan, and overage charges we found a very high cost of operation—$874 / month. A cost that…
Problem: A Salem construction firm had a number of jobs in progress, with separate office trailers operating at each site. When they would start a new job, the project manager would purchase a new copy machine from a box store.…
Problem: A rural school district had a host of copiers and printers spread amongst schools and administrative offices. Management of the equipment fell to the district’s IT department. Monitoring the equipment’s usage, service levels and toner/ink needs was cumbersome and…
Problem: A personal injury law firm came to Ultrex as it was extremely difficult to locate key client files and documents on their network. The firm’s ever-rotating front office staff had never arrived at a consistent methodology for naming files…
