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Tips For National Cyber Security Awareness Month

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Insights From ORAM Corporate Advisors

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Technology is always changing. But if there’s one thing that’s certain in IT today, it’s that all of us must take proactive steps to safeguard our data, both at home and in the office. We’re all connected to the Internet – at home, school, work, and in the marketplace.

To increase awareness and prevent theft, fraud and abuse, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center is sponsoring National Cyber Security Awareness Month this October.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has provided a list of tips that should be used year-round to protect consumers and organizations from data loss and theft. We’re sharing these tips, along with a few best practices of our own. You can take steps to safeguard yourself, your assets and personal information by doing the following —

Be cautious about links, websites and other information you receive online. Anything that sounds too good to be true, most likely is.
Talk to your family, friends, peers, colleagues and employees at the office about Internet safety. Share tips and news when possible to encourage everyone to protect privacy and data.
Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
Set strong passwords, and don’t share them with anyone. Install two-step authentication and password managing programs when needed at home and at the office.
Be sure to password protect all mobile devices, including smartphones, laptops and tablets. Secure anything that is connected to the Internet, including household items.
Install an email management system to filter out spam. You can prevent picking up malware and viruses by avoiding suspect links and attachments that come with suspicious email.
Bonus tip: If you have any questions about how to protect yourself and your office from cyber security threats, be sure to get in touch with us at Oram Corporate Advisors. We’re here to share our tech expertise, and can manage your systems if needed. We look forward to hearing from you!

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    Business Challenges In 2019 and How To Face Them

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    Business-Challenges

    In 2019, the focus is on innovation in business. The business landscape is competitive and overcrowded, and the demand is growing for businesses to utilize their resources wisely. Before we cover which business challenges you should be aware in 2019, let us give you an overview of what we do!.

    IT Consulting firms of Boston, MA believe that no matter your industry, business operations rely heavily upon technology. It is an integral part of every business and, when used correctly, can be a  useful and effective solution. In 2019, the challenge is learning how to efficiently leverage technology for your business.

    Top Business Challenges In 2019

    • Network Security (Data)

    Data is an important part of every business. From business intelligence and trade secret to customer and client information, every MB of data is critical to the success of a business. If your competitors get their hands on any bit of data, you could face severe damages to your financial health and reputation.

    This is why it is important that you make your firewall impregnable and engage in 24/7 monitoring for any signs of theft. From email management to server security, make sure that you have well-placed resources to protect your company against any data breaches..

    • Asset Management

    Many successful businesses struggle to use their resources effectively through Asset Management. 

    If you look around in your company, you’ll probably notice many unused computer systems, printers, CPUs and keyboards. lying around. The ultimate goal of asset management is to ensure that none of your hardware is wasted. In the case of multiple office locations, there is an even greater chance that your resources will be mismanaged or neglected. IT asset management helps you to keep tracks of your IT supplies and allows you to monitor them for their maximum health, safety, and utilization.

    • Website Maintenance

    In today’s digital world, your website must be the primary source of customers and clients for your business; therefore, it is essential that you ensure it is properly functioning at all times.

    This involves maintaining healthy servers, and the maintenance of all software and hardware involved with keeping a site live and running efficiently. From DNS provisioning and server support to website hosting e, make sure to choose a provider who can handle it all!

    • IT Support Services

    Is your company effectively able to protect its IT infrastructure?

    Your business relies on a healthy IT infrastructure. Even a minor glitch can cause slowdowns  in your business operations. In 2019, this is one of the major challenges faced by businesses. Fortunately, IT consulting services can help your business address the issues that you face every day. 

    What Is IT Consulting?

    IT Consulting Firms are experts in their field, offering services like  Monitoring, IT Strategic Consulting, Server Support, and website maintenance. ORAM Corporate Advisors is an IT Consulting Firm in Boston, MA and has years of experience in the field. Want to know more? Call at 1-617-933-5060 or fill out this form to reach out to us immediately!

    This Week in Breach: ResiDex Software

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    Exploit: Unauthorized network access

    ResiDex Software: Software provider for assisted-living, group facilities, and care-giving organizations

    Risk to Small Business:  Severe: When the software company was the victim of a ransomware attack on April 9th, it discovered unauthorized network access starting on April 2nd. ResiDex launched an IT forensics investigation, which determined that no company information was accessed in the attack. However, hackers could have gained access to the personal information of its clients. Not only will ResiDex have to bear the cost of updating its cybersecurity standards, but the unquantifiable reputational damage will have continuing consequences as the company tries to attain new clients or maintain relationships with existing customers.

    Individual Risk: Severe: Since ResiDex serves assisted-living, group facilities, and care-giving organizations, patients at these locations could have their information compromised in the breach. This could include names, social security numbers, and protected health information that was stored with the provider. The software company notified all impacted individuals, but this information can quickly spread on the Dark Web, and those impacted should attain proper identify and financial monitoring services to ensure that their information remains secure.

    Customers Impacted: Unknown

    How it Could Affect Your Business: When sensitive personal information is compromised in a data breach, companies have a responsibility to help their customers regain confidence in their data’s integrity. In addition to providing identity and financial monitoring services to those impacted, understanding if the exposed information is accessible on the Dark Web by hackers is a critical component of a strong breach response.

    Read more

    In Other News: Canadian Companies Unprepared for Cost and Consequences of a Data Breach 

    Shred-it’s annual Data Protection Report, which evaluates the most prescient threats to data security, took aim at Canadian businesses and concluded that they have an overly optimistic outlook of today’s cybersecurity landscape. 

    Consequently, many companies are not prepared to defend against a data breach, which could negatively impact revenue, employee, and customer retention. 

    The survey identified shifting consumer sentiments about data privacy and encouraged Canadian businesses to cater to the changing market dynamics by considering the reputational damage that accompanies a data breach along with other serious consequences.

    Today, the stakes couldn’t be higher. 

    A single data breach can have devastating outcomes for companies of all sizes, and this year’s survey concluded that too many companies need to prioritize cybersecurity as a critical component of overall business success. In many cases, partnering with a qualified security consultant can patch holes in your cybersecurity protocols while bolstering your defenses going forward. 

    Read more

    Scam of the Week: Look Out for Office 365 “File Deletion” Emails

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    The bad guys have crafted emails that spoof Office 365 and warn that your files are being “deleted”. They’re sending these emails to a great majority of Office 365 users.
    If you click any links in the email you’re brought to a realistic-looking Office 365 login page, but the page is certainly not from Microsoft. If you enter your credentials here they’ll be stolen and sold to other criminals, or used to perform more complex attacks on your organization.

    Remember, always hover over links to see where they’re taking you before clicking. Never click on links unless you’re certain the sender is legitimate. Whenever you get an email from an online service you use, log in to your account through your browser. Never click links in emails if you’re not sure whether the message is valid.

    Stop, Look, and Think. Don’t be fooled.

    Scam of the Week: Beware of Voicemail Phishing Scams

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    If your organization uses online voicemail services, you’ve probably used links in notification emails to check your new messages. Lately, scammers are creating look-alike notification messages that trick you into giving up your login credentials.

    The fake voicemail notifications take you through a series of steps. They’ll first prompt you to click a link to listen to your “new message”. Then, you’re directed to a web page containing another link to click on so you can finally listen to your “new message”.

    If you click this link, you’re brought to a realistic-looking Microsoft sign-in page where you’re prompted for your email and password. If you enter your login details here, the bad guys will have full access to your account, where they can steal sensitive data or perform further attacks on your organization.

    Remember the following to stay safe:

    • Before clicking, always hover over links to see where they’re taking you.
    • If you’re already logged into your email account, you shouldn’t be prompted to log in again. When asked to log in to an online service you’re using, type the web address into your browser yourself, rather than using unexpected links.
    • Get familiar with the format of your voicemail notification emails. If you’re ever in doubt, contact the proper department in your organization before you click on any links or download attachments.


    Stop, Look, and Think. Don’t be fooled.

    The Modern Office and Connectivity: Why Access to IT Drives Today’s Businesses

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    As we discuss what makes the modern office function fluidly, we cannot overlook the importance of connectivity. While the end user sees only a portion of internet technology (IT) that actually exists, the fact of the matter is that IT is the driving force behind today’s modern business. Not only does connectivity allow employees the access they need for top productivity, but it provides clients, customers, and business partners the doorway to the information they require as well.

    Connectivity is all about how every one of us gets the information we need every day from email to secure remote access. When it comes to getting your end users access to corporate information securely and consistently, connectivity is key. It is connectivity that allows us to perform the normal, day-to-day operations of our business effectively and efficiently.

    Email Access & Connectivity

    Email access is a necessity in the modern business world whether you are working on your desktop at the office, your iPad on the subway, or your laptop at home. Connectivity allows businesses to provide every employee unified email access. With the latest IT, your business can provide fully synchronized connectivity across all devices at all times with all employee contacts, calendars, and email.

    In today’s modern office, your workforce can access email from their smartphones, smart watches, tablets, laptops, and desktops with certainty. This means higher levels of productivity, ease of use for the end user (i.e. every employee), and flexibility, all protected with the level of security your business requires.

    Not only is email access important for your employees but consider your business partners, subcontractors, and consumers. There are many people clamoring to communicate with your business on a daily basis and email is the lifeline of much of that communication. Without the right connectivity, your business partners may not be able to close the deal without immediate access to all team players; service providers won’t be able to access what they need to get your job done; and consumers may become so frustrated that they seek out other businesses that are connected to fulfill their needs.

    File Access

    Connectivity allows the modern office to have secure access to a variety of systems. For example, you can provide your employees with secure access through a virtual private network (VPN). Connectivity also gives them access to files through cloud-based systems such as OneDrive, SharePoint, Box.com, or Dropbox to name a few.

    In many industries, businesses also require the ability to share access to information with organizational partners. When you need to share proprietary information securely with subcontractors and other business partners, which is the case in many industries, connectivity is there to achieve your goal. The right connectivity also allows this to be done so securely.

    Meeting Customer Expectations

    The modern consumer is incredibly tech savvy and they expect businesses to be the same. This means every business from the small mom and pop to the multinational corporation are expected to provide the same level of connectivity. No longer does the work day run 9 to 5. Customers want access to businesses around the clock and they have the voice to demand it.

    The 2018 Deloitte GLOBAL Human Capital Trends report shows important changes facing business leaders worldwide. One of those is in the strength consumers now have, making business connectivity more important than ever. Deloitte’s global survey of more than 11,000 business and human resource leaders shows the “shift in power to the individual is being propelled by today’s hyper-connected world, which enables people to track information about companies and their products, express their opinions to a wide audience, and sign onto social movements, globally and in real time.”

    Today’s consumers want to be able to connect with businesses instantly, get answers quickly, shop, and more, both day and night. Customers want to connect with your business on all levels. What’s more, they expect your business to provide that connectivity for them on any device they choose to use.

    In order to retain clients and customers, connectivity is an absolute necessity, especially in industries such as retail, education, and finance. Not only will you need the right hardware and software to meet customer demands, you’ll also need business processes and the network infrastructure in place to implement connectivity.  Connectivity can be achieved affordably allowing every business to draw in new customers, meet their expectations, and retain them.

    The Future is Now

    There was a time when businesses simply needed a website, telephone number, and/or email address for people to reach out to them. That is no longer the case. Mobile technology has exploded which has led to the need for businesses to be available 24 hours a day. With the “always on” mentality of the modern business world and the drive to meet customer expectations, connectivity has become the right hand of business. Now is the time to ensure your connectivity is up to par as the future has arrived.

    What You’ll Need

    In order to meet the connectivity expectations of employees, business partners, and consumers, you will need to implement several elements of connectivity. Begin by looking at your hardware. Are your computers, servers, modems, printers and other hardware up to date? If not, or if they are nearing their end of life, don’t wait to upgrade otherwise you may find your business falling behind the times and that can lead to a loss of customers and revenue.

    You’ll also need to look at your software. This is a banner year for software changes. Several companies such as Microsoft will be allowing software programs to pass into their end of life cycle over the next few months. This means companies will be issuing new software programs to replace the old. Be ready in advance for changes because if not, your business could be at risk for breaches since updates to old software will stop being issued. Up-to-date software is a prime element of strong connectivity.

    Cloud applications are also imperative for effective connectivity. A cloud application is a type of software program where local components such as your existing hardware and software function cohesively with cloud-based programs. This means your business will have to rely, at least to some extent, on remote servers and the internet. This piece of connectivity can make file sharing like that mentioned above simple.

    Mobile apps are also becoming mainstream for modern businesses as well. Whether you are a retailer hoping to capture consumers online and allow them to shop anytime or you are a financial institution that wants to promote e-trading directly through your clients’ mobile devices, you can have an app constructed for your business. Whatever your need is to reach your target customer and keep them engaged, there’s an app for that. Many third-party service providers such as ORAM offer mobile app development for businesses at surprisingly affordable rates.

    Social media is another piece of the connectivity puzzle that many businesses fail to recognize or utilize to its full potential. Modern businesses introduce their brand, express their values, and cultivate higher sales through the use of social media from Facebook to Twitter and LinkedIn to YouTube. Such social media platforms offer businesses the opportunity to connect with consumers, praise hard-working employees, tout their products and services, boost their brand recognition, and so much more.

    Changing Connectivity

    Just as your business plan is a living document, your connectivity will need to grow and adapt to the demands of your business and the outside world. Connectivity is never static and your business will have to be ready to change with the times. For example, even small businesses are realizing that they have substantial bandwidth requirements to meet their connectivity needs. Standard broadband is becoming a limitation with today’s high-speed world.

    You may also find that you need to revisit your software licensing or usable hardware to facilitate the growth and speed your business requires. After all, the plan is to grow your business which means more hardware, software, and connectivity. The expectation is that the demands of connectivity will only continue to grow and morph as technology changes and continues to expand.

    Competing in a Competitive Marketplace

    When it comes to business, competition can be fierce whether you are aiming to garner more clients, increase sales, or hire an effective workforce. You need to ensure your connectivity is in top condition to achieve your business goals regardless of what they may be. The truth is that all businesses require connectivity to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in today’s marketplace. Furthermore, it will allow you to raise awareness of your brand, provide you further reach, and allow your employees to achieve more.

    If you want to learn more about how to improve your business connectivity, modernize your office, or talk about your business IT needs, contact ORAM at (617) 933-5060. You can also connect with us online.