The Simply Smarter Blog

In today’s digital-first world, securing sensitive information is more than a best practice—it’s a business imperative. As cyber threats evolve and consumer awareness around data protection grows, global security certifications like Common Criteria (CC) have become essential. But what exactly does Common Criteria certification mean, and why should it matter to your organization? Let’s break it down.

With hybrid work now the standard, a modern, hassle-free meeting space isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential for keeping teams connected and productive, but some organizations think it’s financially unattainable. That’s where Conference Room as a Service (CRaaS) steps in—the smart, scalable solution your workplace didn’t even know it was missing.

Choosing the right projector for a golf simulator is crucial for creating a realistic and immersive experience. The projector is responsible for displaying high-quality visuals that mimic real-life courses, ensuring both accuracy and enjoyment. Here’s why selecting the right projector is vital.

With just five years remaining until the target date for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, time is running out. In geological terms, that's just a blink of an eye—making it even more critical for us to do our part for the planet. Office environments and shared workspaces offer many opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint. Here are some impactful ways to make a difference with your office equipment and contribute to a cleaner, greener future.

Even in today’s digital world, printers continue to be unsung heroes in higher education. While screens dominate many aspects of learning, the need for printed materials is stronger than ever. From research papers and lecture notes to creative projects and promotional materials, printers provide students, educators and researchers with tangible, high-quality resources that enhance comprehension, foster collaboration and strengthen campus engagement.

Whether creating materials to support coursework or producing prints to promote campus events, printers play an essential role in enriching the academic environment. Check out these 6 reasons why printers are necessary for universities.

Choosing the right printer for your business can be overwhelming, but if your office is juggling high printing demands in a small space, a compact office multifunction printer (MFP) might be the perfect solution. These devices pack advanced functionality into a small footprint, making them ideal for modern workplaces. Here are five clear signs your organization needs a space-saving MFP—and why it’s a smart investment.

If you haven’t heard the news yet, Sharp’s BP-1200S 6-Color Digital Press, already a powerhouse of innovation, has just raised the bar by including the recently launched Color-Logic S.M.A.R.T Centre Artwork Library as a standard feature. This transformative addition is set to redefine the way printers approach design and marketing, offering unparalleled benefits to licensed Color-Logic printers. By equipping printers with more tools and ready-to-use examples, it opens up new possibilities to showcase the full potential of print embellishments to customers.

If you haven’t already started planning the switch to Windows 11, here’s a wake-up call: Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025. A report from BizTech Magazine highlights that transitioning to Windows 11 can take up to 14 months from start to finish, making this a pretty urgent issue for your organization. Acting now ensures your technology stays secure, efficient, and ahead of evolving cybersecurity threats. Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s discuss WHY making the switch is critical to your continued success.

Copiers and printers have become increasingly crucial technology in small to medium-sized business (SMB) environments, managing everything from invoices and contracts to sensitive client data. The “State of SMB Cybersecurity in 2024” by ConnectWise revealed that 94% of SMBs have experienced at least one cyberattack, with a growing number of incidents traced back to overlooked endpoints—printers included. This data point is just one of many printer security statistics that show why securing printers should be a top priority in 2025.

Multifunction printers (MFPs) play a fundamental role in offices worldwide. However, it is critical to recognize that these devices can pose significant security risks if not correctly protected. With cybercriminals and malicious hackers constantly seeking vulnerabilities to exploit, it is necessary to understand the conventional attack methods they employ and implement robust security measures to mitigate these risks. Below, we address a few common printer vulnerabilities and best practices to identify and avoid them.

Imagine a place where every room is intentionally designed to make your job easier, a place where communication just flows and security is in lockstep with virtually every keystroke, swipe and click. It sounds like a fairy tale, right? While the Fairy Godmother probably doesn’t exist, a dream workplace can be possible with the right technology partner.

You’ll want to have a partner who not only offers a comprehensive range of technology solutions but can also customize and integrate the right tech for every room—from the lobby to the conference room, lunchroom to server room, and beyond!

Sit back and relax as I take you on a journey of what technology for a real-life, dream workplace looks like. Let’s first enter the lobby and travel from room to room.

If you thought projection systems were just for classrooms, movie theaters and big sporting events, you might be surprised to learn how much more powerful and flexible — not to mention affordable — projection technology has become over the past few years. Today’s houses of worship use projectors not only on the walls of large sanctuaries, but also to turn classrooms, meeting spaces, and even floors and ceilings, into colorful canvases of digital images and video.

Let’s take a closer look at how cutting-edge congregations are using projection systems to transform interior spaces throughout their houses of worship. You’ll probably find that many of these ideas spark your own imagination, too.

In the rush to ensure laptops, servers and mobile devices are installed with top level security measures, printers rarely make the cybersecurity highlight reel. After all, they’re just there to spit out paper, right? Think again. In today’s digital age, printers are more like tiny data vaults on your network, and if left unprotected, they can quickly become a hacker’s dream come true. Although SMBs should be on high alert, don’t worry—it’s not all doom and gloom. Protecting your printers can be straightforward if you know where to start. Here are five essential steps to protect your business from unexpected printer vulnerabilities.

Flu and COVID and colds, oh my. Lots of hands touch your copier, so the touchscreens and operation panels should be cleaned and sterilized! But, is it as easy as taking a Clorox wipe to your multifunction printer surfaces, or will that cause more harm than good?

The short answer is – kind of? Although cleaning your copier is easy, there are some things you may not be aware of, so we answered common questions in the following blog.

So, your video projector has been around for a while now.

You’ve properly maintained it, cleaning the filters regularly, changing the lamps before they degrade to the point of exploding or, perhaps not? Either way, at some point it’s worth considering replacing rather than maintaining that aging projector. How can you know when it’s time to consider replacing that important piece of technology?

Just as technology has changed the education and business sectors, it has also transformed the healthcare industry in numerous ways. As the elderly population grows, so do the expectations for modernized care, making technology a key player in providing medical support and enhancing the quality of life. From laptops to displays to MFPs and printers, assisted living facilities can empower their staff to deliver better, faster, and more personalized care.

Over the past decade, video walls have become an increasingly popular digital signage choice. This is because they are particularly effective at engaging people and delivering messages with impact. They present larger, higher resolution images compared to a single display and can be built to almost any configuration to fit a specific space or purpose.

Video walls have found homes in many different types of settings, including corporate offices, retail stores, transportation hubs and sports venues, as well as command and control facilities. When deciding which type of video wall installation is appropriate for your customers’ needs, first determine which of the two basic types of technology – LCD or dvLED – is best suited to the specific application. LCD and dvLED displays have very different features and benefits.

When it comes to projection technology, the journey of innovation is not just about advancing hardware, it's about transforming how businesses and individuals experience visual content. At Sharp, our recent integration marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to pioneering the future of projectors. 

Navigating the world of IT and security can be very overwhelming. With so many facets like software, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure, it’s challenging for small and medium-sized businesses to pinpoint exactly what they need.

While it may be evident that your business requires robust technology, you may be wondering if investing in a Managed IT Services program that involves outsourcing your IT needs to a specialized provider, as so known as a Managed Service Provider (MSP), is worth your while. Here are the top five reasons business owners might hesitate—and why now is the time to reconsider.

Law firms, due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle—ranging from confidential client information to sensitive case details—are at a higher-than-average risk for cyber threats. According to the American Bar Association's 2022 Legal Technology Survey Report, 27% of law firms reported experiencing a security breach, while 25% admitted they aren't sure if their firm has been compromised. The consequences of these breaches are severe, often resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and compromised client trust. Considering these risks, let’s discuss 8 reasons why cybersecurity should be a top priority for the legal sector.

During a campus emergency, time is of the essence. Communication during a crisis needs to be fast and accurate so that people can react quickly and appropriately. While the advent of text message alerts has increased the ability to reach individuals directly, texts and traditional audio announcements don’t allow for any visual components in mass communications. Unlike text messages and emails – which can take several minutes to show up on a device, and require someone to be checking their phone regularly and/or have the sound turned on – emergency alerts on digital signage appear within seconds. Additionally, our brains process graphics faster than text, and motion catches the eye, so bright messages with moving HD graphics reach more people faster.  In this article, we explore how digital signage’s versatility can service a wide variety of needs on campus, including using it as a central element in emergency communications.

At Sharp, our dedication to high-quality Japanese engineering is deep-rooted. With decades of experience in display innovation, we’ve set a standard in the industry. Here’s why our legacy matters and how it benefits our customers.

In the ever-evolving landscape of office technology, A3 multifunctional printers (MFPs) stand out as a beacon of efficiency and versatility. These devices are not just printers; they are comprehensive solutions that cater to myriad business needs, including printing, scanning, and copying. A3 printers are designed to handle larger paper sizes which are essential for businesses that regularly produce ledger-sized documents, posters, marketing materials, blueprints, and architectural plans.

In early June, I, along with fifteen other interns arrived at Sharp Headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey ready to embark on our internship journey.  A mix of emotions raced through me as I stepped into Sharp on my first day as an intern for Sharp’s office technology division. I was eager to learn about the corporate world and gain hands-on experience but anxious to meet new colleagues and prove myself in a professional setting.

Two months later, I can look back at my anxious self and see that my worries were unnecessary. With supportive and welcoming colleagues, along with an HR team that went above and beyond to ensure our success and inclusion, I was able to gain invaluable experiences and feel truly integrated into the Sharp community.

Direct View LED, or dvLED, is a video display technology that uses light emitting diodes to produce bright, vibrant colors. Because LEDs can produce images that are brighter and higher in contrast than traditional displays, dvLEDs are particularly well suited for providing eye-catching content for digital signage applications in almost any indoor or outdoor environment. Deploying a dvLED display solution, however, requires a thoughtful approach when it comes to the content displayed on it. The overall goal when adopting a dvLED display solution is to ensure that it provides the viewing audience with a great experience while also designing the content so that will help boost ROI by reducing energy consumption and extending the life of the display. Here are some additional things to consider.

Despite living in the digital world of AI and social media, print is still alive and well, thanks in no small part to the creative marketers who are using it to stand out. Online content is abundant and ephemeral today, but printed marketing materials can offer a lasting impression and a tangible connection with customers. Today's savvy marketers are looking for unique printing solutions that can showcase their brand identity and deliver their message effectively. Here are a few methods that are trending.

Visualizing projectors may conjure images of the “3 … 2 … 1” film reel countdown seen on movie theater screens of yore, or of clunky classroom equipment wheeled around on a chalk dust-covered cart – but today’s projectors couldn’t be more different from these relics. Advances in technology provide new levels of brightness, image quality and connectivity options, making projectors ideal for unusual or challenging applications, including areas with high ambient light, uneven surfaces or sharp angles, across a multitude of verticals.

It’s no secret that RFPs are time consuming. In fact, according to a 2023 RFP Trends & Benchmarks Report, writing an RFP response takes an average of 32 hours to complete – and writing it is only half the battle. Even those who benefit from their purchasing department's hard work know the laborious hours that go into vetting vendors and getting a piece of technology into their school or office. But if you're a school, government agency, or non-profit, here's some great news: you can buy technology from a national contract with pre-negotiated pricing! One such national contract is Sourcewell, a cooperative purchasing contract for education, government, and non-profits, that streamlines procurement, saving both time and money – and who doesn’t need more of those?

In a technology driven era where customers are raising the bar, businesses are flexing their creative prowess, showing off their personalities and leveraging technology to elevate the customer experience. A decade old study by Cornell University Waiting for Merlot: Anticipatory Consumption of Experiential and Material Purchases, argued that experiential purchases (money spent on doing) tend to provide more enduring happiness than material purchases (money spent on having). The happiness we feel from material goods fades over time, experiences, on the other hand, continue to bring us joy every time we think about them.

Today, nearly 90% of buyers say that the experience a company provides is just as important as the quality of its products or services. Given this shift in customer preferences, here are a few ways businesses are leveraging tech to form memorable encounters to develop and maintain long-term relationships with their customers.

Healthcare workers are real-life superheroes. Their busy days are filled with managing patients, completing critical paperwork and assisting with emergency medical situations. Having updated, modern technology that is reliable and fulfills these frontline workers’ needs is crucial for productivity, efficiency and communication with their team and patients. Tri-Cities Skin and Cancer, a Tennessee-based dermatology center with a full surgical facility and cosmetic laser center, had been working with Sharp over the past few years for its office equipment needs. It turned to Sharp for a strategic technology switch from a popular brand of tablets to Dynabook laptops throughout its practice to support doctors, nurses and staff.