The Smyth Group

Ever shared a spreadsheet with a colleague, thinking it’s no big deal? 😬 In this episode of "Spreadsheet Dumpster Fire," we discuss a real-life data breach that was caused by a seemingly harmless spreadsheet share. The risks: 👀  Hidden columns aren’t really hidden. 📲  Sensitive info can be exposed with one accidental click. 👨🏻💻  Local storage invites data loss and unauthorized access. The solution? Secure, custom software that protects your data and restricts access. Have a spreadsheet disaster story? Comment below or email us at stories@thesmythgroup.com Learn more about the dangers of spreadsheets in our recent whitepaper “Don’t Spread Disaster”: https://lnkd.in/g7PUFfT4

“It’s ok if someone is a jerk on your team, as long as they do brilliant work. If everyone just powers through, the project will be a success.” Sound familiar? This belief suggests that exceptionally talented individuals—despite their toxic behavior—should be tolerated or even celebrated because their skills or intellect are considered indispensable. Well, we completely disagree 🙅🏻 In our latest video, we discuss why having a jerk on the team can actually lead to janky software, and what you can do to create a collaborative and respectful environment. #software #teams #toxic

We think it’s pretty awesome that our client, instantvob®, has won two notable awards from Vega Digital Awards for their instantvob mobile app, which we developed together. 🏆🏆 The app received a gold award for "Best Technical Achievement" in Apps & Softwares category, and the other a Silver award in the "Medical" Apps & Softwares category. The innovative app has been built to verify medical insurance benefits (VOBs) within seconds. Learn more about the background and all the work that went into this app we built together: https://lnkd.in/d3GigwHY 🏆 Gold award: https://lnkd.in/dm59npyY 🏆 Silver award: https://lnkd.in/dQKzhxN8 #software #awards #mobile #healthcare

One of our clients, SKYNAV, has been featured in the KRQE News! The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is utilizing SKYNAV to increase tourism to the area. 🎥 See the news feature: https://lnkd.in/gze45udg 🌎 Check out Albuquerque’s 360 experience via SKYNAV on their website: https://lnkd.in/gi4YdFCQ At our recent webinar, Ty Downing, the COO of SKYNAV, shared his personal experiences with dev team red flags and offered insights on how to address them. 🔓 Access the free webinar:  https://lnkd.in/gkVAbghN

Don't forget to tune in to our free webinar today at 10am PT / 1pm ET: 🚩 5 Red Flags: Exposing Hidden Issues in Your Dev Team 🚩 We'll be covering some great tips for non-technical people who work with highly-technical software teams. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gkVAbghN And if you can't make it, don't worry. You can still register to watch the recording later. 🍿 #software #developers #ceos

Tune in tomorrow to hear insights from our Director of Education Anthony Alicea 💡

Have you ever felt like something was “off” with your software development team? 🤔 Is progress happening more slowly than you expected? 🐢 Does the quality not seem up to par, or is the communication with your team infrequent and unclear? 💬 What can be done? How can you pinpoint the source of your issues? And, more importantly, how can you address the underlying causes? Join us on Wednesday, June 12th, at 10am PT / 1pm ET for our free webinar “5 Red Flags: Exposing Hidden Issues in Your Dev Team.” We will address these concerns and more, identifying five common red flags in software development teams and the best ways to address the issues they represent. For each red flag, we’ll cover three questions: How do you detect it? Why does it matter? What can you do about it? Our CEO Jamie Smyth and Senior Developer Johannes Fahrenkrug will answer these questions. We’ll also interview Ty Downing, Co-founder and COO of SKYNAV—an immersive, 360° virtual tour platform with 3D elements for the travel industry, real estate, and more—for his insights on leading teams of software developers. Register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gkVAbghN #software #development #growth

How do you know if your team structure is actually limiting your software’s potential? Discover how Conway's Law might be silently shaping your software's architecture—for good or for bad. This article reveals the critical link between organizational communication patterns and software design. Why does this matter? The structure of your teams can fundamentally influence the modularity and adaptability of the systems you develop. 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gWQgfTtV #ConwaysLaw #Leadership #Software #Innovation

Our Director of Education, Anthony Alicea, has been featured in yet another podcast 🙌🏻 JavaScript Jabber is a podcast that features top developers and helps listeners to level-up their Javascript skills. In the episode “From Learning New Languages to Learning New Technologies” Tony illustrates the true meaning of having “learned” something and how that relates to actually understanding a new technology as opposed to just copying tutorials. Check it out! 🎧 https://lnkd.in/g9x7fvGZ

As if we needed another reason to feel uneasy when staying in a hotel, Wired just reported that several models of the Saflok-brand RFID-based keycard locks can be opened by hackers with just 2 taps. 🔓 The vulnerability is in the process of being addressed, but since the locks themselves are not online, they must be manually reprogrammed by a technician in-person at each door. As of March 2024, the lock manufacturer stated that only 36% of these locks have been updated. This is just one unsettling example of how security vulnerabilities can expose a business to all kinds of expensive issues. Beyond needing to make physical fixes to the locks, the manufacturer will also likely need to repair a tarnished reputation if it hopes to secure new clients. Situations like this are a sobering reminder of how imperative it is to ensure that your software is as secure as possible—not only for the safety of your clients and customers, but for the sake of your businesses reputation as well. Want to read more horror stories about security vulnerabilities? ☠️ Check out our article on 5 Famous Data Breaches: https://lnkd.in/gQjBuJWa 📖 Read the full story on Wired: https://lnkd.in/dtryiUzJ