Archives for March 2015

The recent Sony and Anthem security breaches serve as a stark reminders that no one is truly invulnerable to cyber attacks.

A Google search of “hackers for hire” will garner in excess of 850,000 results with more than 63.3 million professional hackers claiming to be ‘very reputable’ in their trade. With our growing dependence on technology, the likelihood of being hit with a cyber attack at some point is growing exponentially.

In fact, each year these professional hackers are hitting millions of machines nationwide.

Unfortunately, it’s not always immediately evident that a breach has occurred. Cyber security experts estimate that attackers can sit unseen in a network for an average of 229 days before they are detected or reveal themselves. They can get away with thousands of files containing personal data. With those files, they now have complete access to emails, bank accounts, credit cards, SSN’s, and other sensitive information.

It’s a scary fact that businesses are prime targets. Hackers slip through firewalls, generally using malicious links or emails, and study employee keystrokes to gain access to these personal files. One small business didn’t learn about a breach until after $46,570 went missing from its bank account.

While there’s no way to stop hackers from hacking, there are measures you can take to protect your data.

For optimum protection, it’s critical to purchase and install a reliable anti-virus program. Don’t just go with the cheapest product on the market. Do some research, or (even better) ask the experts. You usually get what you pay for.

Set complicated passwords. Have your employees do the same. The strongest passwords are 6-8 digits and include numbers, letters, and special characters. Be sure to change them on a regular basis and be aware of the most common password mistakes. Consider using a password manager to track the login info for all of your accounts.

Understand that hacking tools are constantly evolving. It may be beneficial to consider alternative methods of protection that analyze network activity to detect suspicious patterns rather than simply scanning for known threats.

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of requiring employees to protect their smartphones if they are used for business purposes. The minor inconvenience of an access password is worth the added security.

Hackers, like other predators, will attack the weakest prey. Strengthen your security measures today to prevent your business from becoming the next victim tomorrow.

Is your organization ready to be competitive in the marketplace? Increasingly, tech expertise and management is essential to stay connected – and maintain a good reputation in all industries. If you don’t know where to begin to update or manage your tech systems, we’ve put together a list that will help you prioritize.

More organizations are adopting the following best tech practices (and outsourcing for IT support) in the following areas to stay competitive:

1) Big Data: Making use of the correct methods to gather and use tech data can give companies a competitive edge. Data storage has become inexpensive enough that it’s becoming a part of normal business operations to store, collect, and interpret the information that can help you make better decisions.

2) Online Customer Interfacing: No matter the size of your organization, it’s essential to have a user-friendly website available. In fact, right now most small and mid-size organizations are scrambling to increase their online presence, as consumers demand greater availability. For example, this startup is capitalizing off of the demand to bring scheduling services online for small businesses.

3) Cloud Migration: You can no longer afford to ignore the cloud. Beyond the obvious benefits of increased storage and mobility, migrating to the cloud provides you with a data backup plan in case of system glitches, hacks, or hardware trouble.

4) Emphasis on Increased Security: Did you read about the recent GitHub goof? They stored a sensitive database key on a public page, and are now suffering a hit to their reputation. Privacy, security, and data management is a central issue with consumers and savvy business folks aware of the increased danger of data theft. You must have solid IT security policies and practices in place to protect yourself and the reputation of your organization.

5) Hardware Management: Do you have someone on staff with the expertise to manage your servers? What about your computers and other mobile devices? At the very least, do you know how to properly dispose of older equipment? As times change, you need to expertise to keep up with local laws, best practices, and more to manage your daily operations.

6) VoIP: It’s likely that very soon, most people will be migrating to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for their telephone service. There are so many benefits to your budget, mobility, and availability.

Bonus Tip: If you don’t have someone on staff to handle these upgrades, or just need to ask questions and learn more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Outsourced IT is a great way to support your existing tech systems, and manage new projects. Let us know if there’s anything we can do for you!