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

June 13, 2019 by securewebsite

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.

The Dark Web: What it is, how it impacts your organization, and ways to protect your business

October 19, 2018 by securewebsite

The Dark Web sounds like the name of Hollywood’s latest horror movie. In reality, it is something much scarier. It can rob your business, negatively impact employees, and shutter companies.
While you can’t see it, the Dark Web is a huge threat to the stability and continuity of business. Knowing what it is and why it is threatening is the first step to protecting what you have built with hard work and dedication. Here is what you need to know about the Dark Web, why it’s so dangerous, and ways to best protect your organization.

What is the Dark Web?
The Dark Web is the shady side of the World Wide Web. Digital communities on the Dark Web are accessible with special software that allows users and those operating dark websites to remain anonymous and untraceable. While it offers some legitimate uses, it is estimated that more than 50 percent of all sites on the Dark Web are employed in criminal activities. This can mean everything from the theft of digital credentials to their disclosure through sale.

Your Credentials
Digital credentials such as usernames and passwords keep you and your employees connected to critical business applications, email, and other online services. Criminals know that if they can get those credentials, they can access everything from your business’s list of clients to your trade secrets and funds. This means digital credentials are some of the most valuable pieces of information floating around the Dark Web.

Credential Theft
Criminals steal credentials from login information for social media platforms such as Facebook to dates of birth and credit card numbers. The problem is that many individuals and companies often fail to realize their credentials have been stolen until it’s too late.

In more than 75 percent of cases, it is law enforcement or another third-party that notifies a victim that something is amiss. By then, it’s usually too late to prevent data theft or a serious breach that could stop your company in its tracks, lead to a loss of customers, or even bankrupt your business.

Human Resources and Payroll
Your business relies on its human resources and payroll department(s) but these valuable individuals are some of the biggest risks to your organization’s digital security. When they utilize their work email to access websites and programs such as ADP, Paychex, and Ceridian, it can open the door for criminals who have stolen their credentials.

Cybercriminals can use their stolen information to heist the personally identifiable information (PII) of other employees, access payroll information, and even steal from the company coffers. Such breaches can also lead to other criminal activity such as the identity theft of employees or customers.

Client Relations Management
The client relations management (CRM) tool your business uses allows you to communicate seamlessly with your customers. This is great for your business and it’s great for cybercriminals, too.
Pretend for a moment that you have used the same password for your eBay account as you do for your business’s HubSpot. If a hacker steals your eBay credentials, they can access your business’s HubSpot. They can now send an email to your clients pretending to be you. The hacker can ask your clients for anything they want from money to their PII. This can ruin your name and reputation with your clients and within your industry as well as that of your company.

Communications
Another risk lays in your company’s communications from Verizon to Adobe and T-Mobile. For example, if someone wants to hack your AT&T account, they may be able to reveal your payment information from a bank account or credit card. Now they have access to your accounts and can steal money from you and/or your business. Using your mobile number, they can also spoof text messages, reset your bank account password, and access your cash as well as other websites, social media platforms, and other apps you utilize.

Business tools such as email services can also become hacked with the theft of employee credentials. Whether your company uses Gmail, Yahoo, or Office365, these are all hackable. Once someone has access, they can send spoofed emails to clients pretending to be you or an employee asking for more information or even money.

Collaboration
While collaboration among employees, contractors, and vendors is typically considered a positive attribute in business, it can also put your organization at risk. Many individuals and businesses today use Dropbox as a great method of file sharing and collaboration. Such files often contain a plethora of valuable information including trade secrets, PII, and client data. A hacker can use this information to spoof emails, gather data from clients, and target them as their next victims.

Travel Services
If your business employs a travel service to help them get from point A to point B, this can be another security risk. Companies such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz typically store your credit card information along with other PII that can be devastating in the event they are breached.

Be sure to employ different login credentials for each of these websites to best protect yourself and your business. Use multi-factor authentication if it is offered and don’t store your billing information with these sites if given this as an option.

E-Commerce
Whether your company orders office supplies online from Staples/Office Depot or your business sells products through Amazon/eBay, this is yet another area of risk. Again, stolen credentials can allow for the theft of PII and access to financial information that can drain your bank account before you realize what has happened.

Banking & Finance
Programs such as QuickBooks or Freshdesk or banking apps from financial organizations such as Bank of America or Wells Fargo can also lead to problems when it comes to credentials. If a hacker steals access to your bank accounts, credit cards, or financial programs, it can be truly devastating for your business.

Imagine having all of your accounts wiped out. How will you pay your employees, cover your business mortgage, or pay out contractors? Once the money is gone, the likelihood you will ever see it again is minimal, as hackers can be very difficult to trace and, even if you do get it back, how will you cover your business expenses in the meantime?

Social Media
If your employees or business are on social media, which most are, this can put your business at higher risk for a breach. Pages on social media can be easily spoofed or copied. A cybercriminal can invite your friends and followers, steal their information, and worse. This can ruin your reputation whether the hacker takes an unpopular political stand on the false page or accesses more people to victimize through spoofing of their personal or business pages.

Other Employee Risks
In addition to the threat of employees having their work credentials stolen, their personal credentials can also put your business at risk if they end up in the wrong hands. For example, if an employee uses their LinkedIn credentials such as their username and password for work in QuickBooks, they can expose your company to a breach. Employees should be trained to use unique usernames and passwords for each program, app, and website they use. This is true not just for work but also for their private internet use as well.

While it can be cumbersome to keep track of different usernames and passwords for each website or app they use, there are password management tools such as MyGlue or LastPass that can keep track of them all. While some of these password management programs are free, some do have a minimal cost associated with them. Remember, you get what you pay for in business. Some of the free apps are poorly encrypted locally on your own device so if you get hacked, the bad guys will still have access to your information. We advise working with a larger company so you know they have the manpower and ability to keep your information safe and secure.

Users often have the same password for multiple services such as network logons, social media, and online stores. This greatly increases the potential for a breach. Train and retrain your employees on cybersecurity. It is worth the investment as is paying a small annual fee for a secure password management tool. Consider this well spent money as an operating expense just as you do with your marketing budget.

Combating the Dark Web
At Oram, our experts are able to search the Dark Web so you don’t have to. Using Dark Web ID from ID Agent, our experts search for your personally identifiable Information (PII) on the Dark Web to determine if you are at risk of experiencing a breach. This gives you time to protect your information, notify your bank or lender, and change passwords before you experience a breach.

How Dark Web ID Works
Dark Web ID is a commercial solution to detecting compromised credentials in real time on the Dark Web. It offers the same advanced credential monitoring capabilities that are employed by Fortune 500 companies. This specially designed software connects to multiple Dark Web services including Tor, I2P, and Freenet where it searches for compromised credentials. With this proprietary software, you don’t have to expose your own software, hardware, or network to these high-risk services directly.

By searching the most secretive and covert corners of the internet, Dark Web ID locates compromised credentials associated with your business, contractors, and personnel. If we find credentials that compromise your company, we notify you immediately BEFORE you become the victim of identity theft, data loss, or a breach. The real-time awareness of compromised credentials Dark Web ID provides means you will know if your PII has been stolen so you can safeguard both your personal and business assets before it’s too late.

Be Prepared
The more information you have, the more valuable it is and the more prepared you can be. We employ extensive logging and reporting capabilities that allow us to track your credentials and the credentials of your employees on the Dark Web. As a result, we can triage incidents quickly and create effective policies and procedures to reduce the risk to your business.

How It Helps Businesses
We use the Dark Web ID as a tool to identify compromises throughout your organization that could put your company at risk for a data loss or major breach. With this software, we are able to monitor the Dark Web 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is so effective, it reports more than 80,000 compromised emails daily. In addition to email, the program searches and monitors the following platforms frequented by cybercriminals:

• Hidden chat rooms
• Private websites
• Peer-to-peer networks
• Internet relay chat (IRC) channels
• Social media platforms
• Black market sites
• 640,000+ botnets

Predictable Patterns
While it is good practice to be prepared for a breach, it’s even better to have a warning that one could be coming. Using Dark Web ID, we can identify industry patterns. If we see that your industry is starting to come under attack, we can share that intelligence with you to best protect your employees, your business, and your consultants.

Prevention is the Best Medicine
While a network attack may be inevitable, they can be made less destructive and costly. With proactive monitoring of stolen and compromised credentials, you can be alerted to prevent losses before they happen. With alerts that tell you when your credentials have been stolen, you can respond immediately to prevent a breach.

By employing monitoring services and software such as Dark Web ID, your company can move toward compliance with data breach and privacy laws. Our experts can even help you develop and implement a data breach response plan.

If you would like more information about the Dark Web, Dark Web ID, or reducing cyber risks to your business, please call Oram today at (617) 933-5060 or visit us online.