Unwrap the gift of knowledge: 5 free AI courses by Microsoft

Happy holidays! With the holiday season in full swing, you should be enjoying some well-deserved downtime. But what if I told you that you could make the most of your few days off from your business and prepare to seize the AI opportunity in 2024?

The world of AI is booming, rapidly transforming industries, and redefining how we do business. In fact, according to PwC, AI could contribute up to $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

Microsoft has released five free courses on AI that you can take advantage of during your time off.

An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Let’s begin with the basics. This course helps you grasp the key concepts in AI. It’s designed for anyone and everyone, regardless of their technical background. By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid understanding of what AI is and how it can benefit your business.

You can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/introduction-to-artificial-intelligence

What is Generative AI?

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, dive into the world of generative AI. This course covers the fundamentals, including what it is, how it works, different models, and future predictions and implications. You’ll learn how generative AI can be used to create new content and ideas, opening exciting possibilities for innovation and creativity in your business.

You can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/what-is-generative-ai

Generative AI: The Evolution of Thoughtful Online Search

This course takes a deeper look at the core concepts of generative AI-driven reasoning engines and how they differ from traditional search engine strategies. With a better understanding of these concepts, you’ll be able to leverage the power of AI to improve your online search capabilities, making your business more efficient and effective.

You can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/generative-ai-the-evolution-of-thoughtful-online-search

Streamlining Your Work with Microsoft Bing Chat

Chatbots are revolutionizing the way businesses interact with their customers. This course helps you discover the power of chatbots and how to use them effectively. Learn how to streamline your customer service, automate routine tasks, and provide a better user experience with the help of AI-powered chatbots.

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/streamlining-your-work-with-microsoft-bing-chat

Ethics in the Age of Generative AI

Finally, this course addresses one of the most pressing issues in AI – ethics. As AI continues to permeate every aspect of our lives, it’s crucial that we consider the ethical implications of using these tools and products. This course will guide you on how to navigate these complex ethical issues, ensuring that your use of AI aligns with your values and principles.

You can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/ethics-in-the-age-of-generative-ai

Make the most of these free courses to help you stay ahead of the curve, enhance efficiency, build trust with your customers, and unlock new opportunities.

I know you want to kick back and relax for the next few days, and you should! But when you hit that no-man’s land between Christmas and New Year and you start to forget what day it is, this is a great investment of your time.

What are you waiting for? Oh, right, the turkey…

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Weak passwords are one of the biggest security risks to your business. Why? Because cyber criminals are getting smarter than ever before. If they manage to crack just one password, they could gain access to your sensitive business data, financial information, or even gain control of your entire system. Cyber criminals use automated tools to guess passwords, allowing them to try out millions of combinations in seconds. So, if you’re using something like “Password123” or “CompanyName2025”, you’re practically handing them the keys to your business. A compromised password can lead to big issues, such as: • Data breaches • Financial losses • Identity theft • Reputation damage But how do you create strong passwords without driving yourself (and your team) mad? Think of your password like a secret recipe, where only you should know the ingredients. It should: • Be at least 14 characters long (the longer, the better) • Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters • Contain a few numbers and symbols (like @, $, %, or &) • Not contain any common words or easily guessable information (like birthdays, names, or the word “password”) Instead of using a single word, you could try a passphrase – a short, random sentence that only you would understand. For example, instead of “Sailing2025”, try something like “Coffee&CloudsAreGreat9!”. This is much harder to crack, yet still easy to remember. You should also steer clear of these common mistakes: • Using personal info (your name, birthday, business name, etc.) • Reusing the same passwords across multiple accounts • Using simple sequences (“123456” or “abcdef”) • Storing passwords in an easily accessible place (like a sticky note on your desk) If remembering unique passwords for every account sounds impossible, there is another option: Password managers. These generate strong passwords, store them securely and autofill them for you. With a password manager, you only need to remember one strong master password for the manager app itself. The rest are encrypted and stored safely, reducing the risk of data breaches. Even the strongest password isn’t foolproof, which is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is also important. MFA requires a second form of verification, like a one-time code sent to your phone or generated from an authentication app. If you have employees accessing your business systems, it’s a good idea to have a password policy in place to explain your rules and why they’re important. This should include: • Unique passwords for each system and account • Regular security training on password best practices • Business-wide use of MFA for critical systems • Scanning for compromised passwords regularly By making password security a priority, you can reduce the chances of a cyber attack creating a nightmare for your business. And if you need help making your business more secure, get in touch.

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Weak passwords are one of the biggest security risks to your business. Why? Because cyber criminals are getting smarter than ever before. If they manage to crack just one password, they could gain access to your sensitive business data, financial information, or even gain control of your entire system. Cyber criminals use automated tools to guess passwords, allowing them to try out millions of combinations in seconds. So, if you’re using something like “Password123” or “CompanyName2025”, you’re practically handing them the keys to your business. A compromised password can lead to big issues, such as: • Data breaches • Financial losses • Identity theft • Reputation damage But how do you create strong passwords without driving yourself (and your team) mad? Think of your password like a secret recipe, where only you should know the ingredients. It should: • Be at least 14 characters long (the longer, the better) • Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters • Contain a few numbers and symbols (like @, $, %, or &) • Not contain any common words or easily guessable information (like birthdays, names, or the word “password”) Instead of using a single word, you could try a passphrase – a short, random sentence that only you would understand. For example, instead of “Sailing2025”, try something like “Coffee&CloudsAreGreat9!”. This is much harder to crack, yet still easy to remember. You should also steer clear of these common mistakes: • Using personal info (your name, birthday, business name, etc.) • Reusing the same passwords across multiple accounts • Using simple sequences (“123456” or “abcdef”) • Storing passwords in an easily accessible place (like a sticky note on your desk) If remembering unique passwords for every account sounds impossible, there is another option: Password managers. These generate strong passwords, store them securely and autofill them for you. With a password manager, you only need to remember one strong master password for the manager app itself. The rest are encrypted and stored safely, reducing the risk of data breaches. Even the strongest password isn’t foolproof, which is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is also important. MFA requires a second form of verification, like a one-time code sent to your phone or generated from an authentication app. If you have employees accessing your business systems, it’s a good idea to have a password policy in place to explain your rules and why they’re important. This should include: • Unique passwords for each system and account • Regular security training on password best practices • Business-wide use of MFA for critical systems • Scanning for compromised passwords regularly By making password security a priority, you can reduce the chances of a cyber attack creating a nightmare for your business. And if you need help making your business more secure, get in touch.
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