Our "old" news page

January 2026

Microsoft will increase the prices for M365 licenses on July 1, 2026. More information here...

RAM prices have already risen sharply in the last year, and there is no end in sight; gloomy forecasts predict high prices until 2028!

More information here...

October 2025

Home users can receive free Windows 10 updates for one year by using the official Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. To receive these free updates, you need to register in Settings under "Update & Security" -> "Windows Update" and select the "Register now" option. This is free until October 2026. Signing in with a Microsoft account is required to receive the free updates.

Free upgrade process for Windows 10

• Preparation: Make sure your Windows 10 version is 22H2 and that the latest updates are installed.
• Registration: Sign in with your Microsoft account, as this is required for free registration.
• Registration:
• Open Settings and navigate to "Update & Security"
• Click on "Windows Update".
• If your device meets the requirements, you will see an option called "Register now".
• Click this option to start the ESU registration process.
• Validity: This free version of the ESU program is available to private users in the European Economic Area until October 14, 2026. More information here...

Serious security flaws in Entra ID.

Following the Master Key disaster of 2023, CVE-2025-55241 is another very serious flaw in the Microsoft ecosystem. Mistakes can happen – no question – but such catastrophic errors should surely have been caught during development, or at the very latest, during quality testing. It's not just any tool; it's the PKI and authentication platform. One would expect more... More on this here...

September 2025

Windows 10 support is ending.

You will therefore no longer receive updates, especially security updates!

The Windows 11 upgrade from Windows 10 remains free. The minimum requirements are essentially a TPM 2.0 module and Intel processors, typically from generation 8 onwards, or AMD processors (see link).

Compatible Intel processors Compatible AMD processors All requirements

As an in-place upgrade, you will retain all your data and programs. However, it is still recommended to create a backup beforehand and to deactivate any third-party antivirus software immediately before the upgrade.

After the upgrade, you should check if all your drivers are up to date and reactivate the antivirus if necessary.

We are happy to help you.

Microsoft Legacy Multi-Factor Authentication is being discontinued.

On September 30, 2025, Microsoft will permanently discontinue older login models. You should ensure that any legacy policies still existing in your Microsoft Entra ID tenant have been migrated in a timely manner.

Go to the migration guide

We are happy to help you.

Office 2016 and 2019 support is ending.

Support will end on October 14, 2025. There will be no further updates or security patches. It is feared that this could result in the loss of access to Exchange Online mailboxes at any time.

Office 2024 or an M365 subscription with apps are good options for switching.

We are happy to help you.

July 2024

CrowdStrike Disaster

Such a widespread infrastructure outage caused by updates to the CrowdStrike security app is impossible for us with Checkpoint Harmony Endpoint Security! With Checkpoint Harmony, we have the ability to control the rollout of different versions and test all releases in-house on multiple systems for several days before releasing them to customers. Such a serious error has never occurred with Checkpoint before.

Spear Phinshing

Spear phishing is a phishing method specifically targeting certain individuals or groups. Cybercriminals, known as spear phishers, impersonate trusted sources to trick targets into revealing confidential data, personal information, or other sensitive details. With Hornet Security, the only provider with a patented spear phishing engine, you are optimally protected.

Also new is that the Next Gen Security Awareness Service is now also available with Austrian language and specific features.

June 2024

Very interesting, the SolarWinds hack from about 3 years ago appears to have been based on a known but ignored Microsoft Azure AD bug! More here

April 2024

CheckPoint's collaboration with NVIDIA on Securing the AI Cloud reinforces the belief that the right decision was made years ago regarding endpoint security.

And yet another Microsoft hack.

In IT these days, you have to be incredibly fast. Checkpoint warns Magnet Goblin Group.

https://www.borncity.com/blog/2024/04/01/check-point-warnt-vor-magnet-goblin-group/#more-293850März 2024

Embarrassing for Microsoft: "Microsoft confirms Russian spies stole source code while accessing systems." This once again demonstrates the shortcomings of their Defender solutions. For ourselves and our clients, we rely on Hornet Security for email security, Check Point Harmony for endpoint security, and Fortigate for network security. Since virtually no one can function without an internet connection, security is more relevant and crucial than ever, as the threat level has never been higher, and we believe it will increase even further with AI technologies. Even though security costs already represent a significant portion of an IT budget, every security incident would cost a company far more.

February 2024

In addition to SPF, DKIM and DMARC, we are now also using AI Recipient Validation from Hornet Security as spam protection!

IMPORTANT! For all AnyDesk users with an AnyDesk account: Change your password URGENTLY! More information here

January 2024

The new blue office logo is being introduced in blue office 4.1.

And warnings about serious security vulnerabilities in Synology NAS systems:

https://www.heise.de/news/Synology-warnt-vor-Sicherheitsluecke-im-DSM-Betriebssystem-9591871.html

If the automatic upgrade to version 7.2 from 6.2 or 7.1 fails, you will need to perform a manual upgrade. This is usually due to an installed app that is incompatible with version 7.2.

Important updates on the first Microsoft Patch Tuesday!

Updates should be made as soon as they become available, as always.

https://www.heise.de/news/Patchday-Microsoft-Kerberos-Authentifizierung-unter-Windows-verwundbar-9592648.html

December 2023

NIS-2 is a new security directive expected to come into effect in the EU on October 18, 2024. Whether your company is affected is clearly shown on the WKO website (link below)...

November 2023

The new Outlook raises suspicions that Microsoft is releasing its product to customers completely untested, operating under the motto "you customer, do the testing work for free".

And now this: Outlook is accessing other connected mailboxes. (See the Heise article and the Standard article.)

And now for something more cheerful,

We have been using Checkpoint Harmony Endpoint for three years now, both in-house and at our clients' sites, and we have been enthusiastic about the product from the very beginning. To this day, we can confidently say it is our first line of choice for the "last line of defense"!

August 2023

Attention: In October 2023, support for purchased Office versions on the Microsoft 365 cloud will partially end. Access should continue for the time being, but if problems arise with the applications in question during the ongoing development of the cloud, access may be terminated. See here: https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/deployoffice/endofsupport/microsoft-365-services-connectivity

With the latest Office update, Microsoft has reset the browser setting for clicking links to Edge. To revert to your default browser, go to File / Options / Advanced in Outlook and in the "File and browser settings" section, under "Open links...", select Default browser.

CVE-2023-40477 - The very popular tool WinRAR offers attackers the opportunity to inject malicious code. Install the latest version immediately.

Version 6.23

7-Zip also has similar flaws. Therefore, please update it as well.

July 2023

AI is on everyone's lips, so we should know what the AI (ChatGPT) is saying about us. The first paragraph doesn't sound bad, but the texts shouldn't be used without revision!

Figuli Consulting is a dynamic and forward-thinking management consulting firm that assists organizations in achieving their strategic objectives and driving sustainable growth. With a focus on delivering impactful results, Figuli Consulting offers a range of comprehensive services tailored to the unique needs of its clients.

The firm's expert consultants bring a wealth of experience and diverse skill sets to the table, enabling them to tackle complex business challenges across various industries. From startups to established corporations, Figuli Consulting collaborates closely with clients to understand their goals, identify areas of improvement, and develop innovative strategies that optimize performance.

Figuli Consulting specializes in a wide range of areas, including strategic planning, operational efficiency, organizational design, financial management, marketing and sales, digital transformation, and technology implementation. The firm combines analytical rigor, data-driven insights, and industry best practices to deliver tailored solutions that address specific client needs and generate tangible results.

One of Figuli Consulting's key strengths is its collaborative approach. The firm actively engages with clients at all levels of the organization, fostering open communication and teamwork to ensure that strategies are effectively implemented and aligned with the client's vision. Through this partnership, Figuli Consulting helps businesses navigate challenges, adapt to market shifts, and seize new opportunities for growth.

In an ever-evolving business landscape, Figuli Consulting remains at the forefront of emerging trends and technologies. The firm leverages its deep industry knowledge and research capabilities to provide clients with cutting-edge insights and innovative solutions. Whether it's harnessing the power of digital tools, optimizing operational processes, or developing customer-centric strategies, Figuli Consulting equips organizations with the tools and expertise they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Figuli Consulting is committed to professionalism, integrity, and excellence in all aspects of its work. The firm's client-centric approach, combined with its dedication to delivering measurable outcomes, has earned it a reputation as a trusted advisor and partner. By empowering organizations to overcome challenges, embrace opportunities, and unlock their full potential, Figuli Consulting plays a pivotal role in shaping the success of its clients in the competitive global market.

April 2022: We were the target of a spear phishing attack, but thanks to our email and spam protection from Hornet Security, nothing happened. Read more here. March 2022: We offer Amazon S3-compatible storage for your backups. This makes it easy and cost-effective to implement off-site backups for your company or home office. Your data remains secure and encrypted at a secondary location within your company or with us, and therefore within the EU. For more information, please call us. February 2022: Time for a review. Over the past few years, we have continuously supported approximately 45 regular customers with around 300 IT workstations, 20 virtualized host systems, and 50 Windows servers, both native and virtualized. In addition, we support over a dozen ERP systems. Nenad and I have processed over 3,000 tickets with our SpiceWorks ticketing system in the last five years. SpiceWorks has made a valuable contribution to customer communication, traceability, and, last but not least, the invoicing of our services. January 2022: At the beginning of the year, Microsoft is switching its cloud licensing program from CSP to NCE (New Commerce Experience). Existing customers are forced to take action in the first half of the year. Regarding COVID-19: If you need to come to our store, please call us beforehand. Many things can be resolved by phone and remotely. Until further notice, visits are only possible with a 2G and FFP2 mask! December 2021, over the holidays: Even during the holidays, important Windows security updates, Log4J, and Printernightmare are keeping us busy. April 2021, Locked but not down: During the lockdown, pickups (Click & Collect) are permitted. Please schedule an appointment in advance! December 2020, SolarWinds Hack: Cyberattacks on FireEye and Microsoft have occurred via the SolarWinds Orion platform. Thousands of government agencies and companies are affected. We use the SolarWinds RMM product for monitoring. SolarWinds RMM is not part of the SolarWinds Orion platform and is therefore not affected. Furthermore, all RMM agents have already been updated to the latest version and are using a newly issued certificate. November 2020, CheckPoint Endpoint Security with SandBlast Agent: Endpoint Protection and Threat Prevention. Today's borderless networks are redefining endpoint protection. With a multitude of endpoints freely accessing networks, they store sensitive corporate data. Since 70 percent of successful data breaches originate on endpoints, a proactive approach to endpoint security can help stop cyberattacks. SandBlast Agent is the advanced endpoint protection and threat defense solution to safeguard your business. October 2020, All-In-One Team Collaboration Solution: We are migrating our documentation and knowledge base solution to Samepage's All-In-One Team Collaboration solution. June 2020, Email Robot: Our in-house developed email robot is already hard at work, processing incoming emails from suppliers, and especially those from our monitoring system, according to freely configurable rules.

• a large handful of blueberries
• a small handful of raspberries
• half an avocado or a small banana
• 1/4 liter of water, warm water for frozen berries
• 1/8 liter of milk
• or a large handful of blueberries
• a small handful of raspberries
• a kiwi
• an orange
• a banana
• 1/4 liter of water, warm water for frozen berries
• Cinnamon and turmeric to taste

And #stayhome, #stayhome, we beat the virus, because we don't want to have to play - Long live the Central Cemetery! October 2018, Homepage for acsol.at: Extensive homepage created for www.acsol.at. September 2018, Network Management and Monitoring with SolarWinds MSP: The SolarWinds remote management and monitoring platform has convinced us and is already in use at our company and with our first customers. August 2018, Mobile Order Management with Pocket BLUE: Sending orders directly to the technician's/service technician's mobile phone, having the customer sign them – no problem with Pocket BLUE for blue office! March 2018, EU GDPR – the deadline is approaching: The GDPR requires you to thoroughly examine all business processes that process personal data. We have developed ISO-compliant documentation and a system that, together with our accompanying consulting services, will enable you to efficiently, quickly, and securely implement the legal requirements.

February 2018, OneClick Partnership: We are a OneClick partner, an innovative solution for the requirements of modern application deployment. November 2017, GDPR Ready? Do you feel GDPR-compliant or do you need external support? We are happy to help! October 2017, General Data Protection Regulation: We attended the General Data Protection Regulation Convention on October 30, 2017, an information event on the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into effect on May 25, 2018. We demonstrated the possibilities offered by the blue office ERP system for easier handling of the new regulations in everyday practice. October 2017, blue office 4.0 Standard: blue office 4.0 is now available in the Standard edition. The product impresses with its new, flexible customization options. Since the database and interface are almost identical to the previous version, a simple switchover is possible with minimal training and only minor adjustments to any existing custom document templates. October 2017, Important Information: On our ticket portal's entry page, we publish current information and tips on updates, security vulnerabilities, and more. September 2017, Best of Austria: We're in! August 2017, CSP: We are now a Microsoft Cloud Solution Partner. Together with the Ingram Cloud Marketplace, we offer not only Microsoft solutions but also a wide range of cloud solutions, including license management. July 2017, Ticket System: A few weeks ago, we started tracking all quotes and orders in the ticket system and are managing the invoicing for our inventory management system. This allows for even better mobile and team-based processing of all transactions. June 2017, Homepage: The Figuli Consulting homepage has been given a lighter, more modern look with a background image of the Breitenbrunn sailing harbor. warenwirtschaft.blue now showcases the new order processing system, blue office® 4.0, highlighting the differences from the previous version. May 2017, 100 days, 100 tickets. After exactly 100 tickets and approximately 100 days of operation, we can confirm that the SpiceWorks ticket system, with its inventory and network monitoring, provides efficient support and is very well received by our customers. If you haven't used it yet, please remember that in addition to phone and personal email, you can contact us even more effectively and transparently by emailing ticket@figuli.com or directly through the ticket portal. Live image from the ticket system dashboard.

April 2017, in daily operations: The SpiceWorks ticket system has proven its worth in a short time. It has been very well received by our customers. It helps us maintain an overview and track processes, as well as bill for services rendered and materials used, thus preparing for invoicing from the blue office ERP system. The SpiceWorks developers have perfectly implemented the simple and flexible way to customize the ticket system, create reports, and equip it with additional modules. In addition to the inventory and network monitoring modules, it has become an indispensable tool for us, just like blue office. March 2017, Ticket system for IT support: We want to further improve our IT support and are now providing all our customers with a modern ticket system! This allows us to respond to their requests faster and better than before via telephone and email. March 2017, New location in Burgenland: At the beginning of March, the new premises for management and sales at the Breitenbrunn location were occupied. Technology and infrastructure will remain at the Vienna location. December 2016, Outlook 2017: We expect the new version 4.0 of the blue office inventory management system to be released later this year. We were able to try out the pre-release version and are very excited about the new features. We can't wait for the launch date. blue office will give us even more options than before to customize the inventory management system to user needs. With the new ability to seamlessly integrate our own applications, it will be possible to perfectly adapt entire workflows. December 2016, Sales Partners: We are looking for specialist retail partners for the blue office® inventory management system. Would you like to expand your portfolio, increase customer loyalty, and build a solid new business? We support you in sales and project planning. Contact us today!