Spyware: The Silent Threat to Your Business

Are you the first line of defense for your business? Do you know what’s going on with your systems at all times? If not, you could be at risk for a silent attack that can incapacitate your business. Spyware is designed to stay hidden and collect information without the user knowing. It can access passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data, all without raising any red flags. According to a study done by Symantec, the number of detected malware variants rose by 62% in 2020 alone, so you need to ensure you’re properly protected against it.

So how do you protect yourself against it? To answer this question, we need to start at the beginning.

 

What Is Spyware and What Does it Do?

Spyware is a type of malware that is designed to steal information from your computer or mobile device. Spyware can be used to track your activities, collect your passwords and credit card numbers, or even spy on you through your webcam.  It can be dangerous to individuals, but it can also be very dangerous for your business, as it can lead to data breaches and loss of confidential information. This is why it’s critical to have a cybersecurity strategy in place to protect your business from these types of threats.

Types of Spyware?

There are many different types, but some of the most common include:

Adware

This type of spyware displays unwanted advertisements on your computer, which can be annoying and intrusive, but is not generally considered to be dangerous, though it can slow down your browser, crash your device, and sell your data to third parties to create targeted advertisements.

 

Stalkerware

This is a monitoring type of spyware often used to track your location, spy on your activities, and collect other information about you without your knowledge. This type of spyware has been widely criticized due to its use by stalkers, abusers, and employers.

 

Browser Hijackers

This type of spyware changes your browser’s settings, such as your home page or search engine. It can also redirect you to malicious websites that try to install more spyware on your device.

 

Zero-Click

This can infect your device without any interaction from you and works by trying to find weaknesses in a system and then breaking into the device without any input from the user. It uses a trial-and-error approach – it keeps trying to enter until it finds a security vulnerability in a program, operating system, or app.

 

Trojans

These are malicious programs that masquerade as legitimate software in order to trick you into installing them. Once installed, they can be used to steal information or take control of your computer.

 

Keyloggers

These programs record everything you type on your keyboard, which can be used to steal passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information.

 

How To Protect Your Business

There are several measures you can take to protect your business:

  • Keep your software up to date: Make sure that all of your software is up to date, including your operating system, web browser, and anti-virus software. Spyware often exploits vulnerabilities in outdated software to infect your system.
  • Install an antivirus program: This is a must-have for any business, as it can help to detect and remove spyware from your system. Make sure to keep the virus definitions up to date to ensure maximum protection.
  • Use caution online: Be careful about the emails you open and the websites you visit. Do not click on links or attachments from unknown sources, and be careful about downloading free software from the internet. Spyware can be spread through email attachments or by visiting malicious websites.
  • Install a spyware removal tool: Install an anti-spyware program that can detect and remove spyware from your system.
  • Use strong passwords and change them regularly: Spyware can often collect passwords that are stored on your system. Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts to help protect your information and remember to change them regularly.
  • Use a firewall: A firewall can help to block spyware and other malware from infecting your system. It is important to configure your firewall correctly to ensure it is effective.
  • Work with an MSP: Consider working with a Managed Service Provider who can help you implement spyware protection measures and keep your systems up to date.

 

How to Remove Spyware

If it does manage to infect your system, there are a few steps you can take to remove it:

  1. Run a scan with an anti-spyware program like Spybot Search & Destroy or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. These programs can often find and remove spyware that other anti-virus programs miss. If the spyware is not found by these programs, you may need to manually remove it.
  2. Change any passwords that may have been compromised by the spyware.
  3. Run a scan with your anti-virus software to make sure that the spyware has been completely removed from your system.
  4. If this all seems overwhelming, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can take care of all this for you.

 

How a Managed Service Provider Can Help

If you’re concerned about cybersecurity threats like this, consider working with an experienced Managed Service Provider (MSP). An MSP can help relieve the pressure of managing your IT systems by providing expert guidance and support. MSPs can help you protect your business in several ways.

  • MSPs can help keep your software up to date and patch any vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
  • Second, they can perform regular security audits to identify any potential vulnerabilities in your system.
  • Third of all, they can provide you with anti-spyware software and spyware protection and help you configure it properly.
  • Finally, a Managed Service Provider can help you develop a plan for what to do if your system does become infected with spyware.

Spyware is a silent threat that can have serious consequences for your business. By taking steps to protect your business and remove it if it does infect your system, you can help keep your business safe from this threat. A Managed Service Provider can be a valuable partner in helping you protect your business from spyware and other cybersecurity threats.

If you have any questions on how to protect your business, please schedule a call with us. We would be happy to help you keep your business safe from this threat.

The Importance of Protecting Your Sensitive Information in 2022

As more and more people get on the internet and start sharing information, data breaches are becoming more common. In 2021, a report found that 45% of US companies suffered a data breach in the past year.

This is alarming news for any business owner trying to protect sensitive information from prying eyes. Are you worried about your sensitive data and wondering what you can do to secure business information? Keep reading to find out more about this cybersecurity issue.

 

What is Sensitive Information?

Sensitive data is confidential information that must be kept from the eyes of outsiders because its loss, misuse, modification, or unauthorized access could negatively impact an organization’s or individual’s welfare or security. Usually, organizations and individuals will use passwords and other means to protect their information from threats.

There are three different kinds of sensitive information:

  1. Personal information like social security number, home address info, etc
  2. Business information like patent information, new product strategy, and more
  3. Government classified information

The problem is that too many folks are complacent about data loss, thinking they are safe because they use a strong password. Cybercriminals are becoming quite savvy about accessing sensitive information, despite strong passwords. So you need to do a lot more than this to protect sensitive information.

 

How to Protect Sensitive Information?

A lot of sensitive data is lost due to the following issues:

  • Lost or stolen equipment
  • Weak passwords
  • Lost or stolen credentials
  • Social engineering attacks
  • Targeted attacks
  • Data encryption deficiencies
  • Partner vulnerabilities

The way to fill in security gaps is by taking care of each of these vulnerable spots one by one. Having your employees change their passwords every six months is not enough. They need regular training to know what not to do to lose sensitive information to exploitative forces.

Layers upon layers of security must also be added to ensure that you are ready to face hacking attempts when they happen (as they will).

 

Who is a Target?

Unfortunately, too many business owners believe they are safe from cyberattacks. You might wrongly believe that only enterprise businesses and big brands are vulnerable to data breaches, but that’s not the case.

Everyone is vulnerable to sensitive information loss, no matter how big their organization is. You probably process tons of sensitive information about your customers daily, like credit card information, phone numbers, customer addresses, and more. All that information is vulnerable to threat.

Every week, you hear of some company that wasn’t careful enough with their customer information and came under fire in the media for losing valuable customer data. Not only is a data breach a terrible hit against your sales, but your reputation among customers will also suffer. It could take months or years to recover from such a downfall.

 

What Steps to Take if Your Sensitive Information Has Been Exploited?

The problem is that cyber attackers are constantly coming up with new ways to bypass your defenses. That is what they do best.

That’s why it’s important not to sit on your laurels once you have done one security update. Being safe in this world from cyberattacks means constantly taking action to protect your company’s sensitive information from hackers.

Nowadays, employees have begun working from home more frequently, and on top of that, they freely use their personal devices to access sensitive business data. These two points make businesses more vulnerable than ever to losing valuable information.

There are certain things you can do to protect yourself.

 

Have a Solid Strategy for BYOD

The minute your employees start taking your sensitive information off-site into their homes, cafes, and abroad while travelling, they become most vulnerable to attacks. You don’t want to start micromanaging your employees because that won’t be conducive to boosting productivity.

But you can build a strategy on how BYOD (bring your own devices) will work in your company. Also, remote work will need to have a security strategy wrapped around it.

 

Implement Policies about Digitized Files

Going paperless is great for the environment. But is it good for your sensitive information? If you are going to digitize all your sensitive data, have policies on how this will take place.

Think about how the digitized files will be stored and where on your network. Also, have strict delineations on who can access these digitized files and who can alter and delete these files.

 

Educate Your Employees

According to Proofpoint’s 2022 Human Factor report, 55% of employees admitted to taking a risky action, like clicking an email link that led to a suspicious website or not knowing what phishing is.

Humans are definitely the weakest link when it comes to compromising your IT security. That’s why your employees need to be constantly trained and educated on the latest cybersecurity threats.

 

Assess Risks From All Sources Regularly

Just like cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new ways to access your sensitive information, the same applies to you as well. You need to constantly be accessing your security network and strategies to identify holes and fill in those gaps as soon as possible.

You can’t sit still for even a second in a world where information is king, and everyone wants a piece of your information, legally or illegally.

 

Set Controls on Who Can Access Sensitive Information

These are some considerations for setting effective controls on sensitive data:

  1. What data is collected from all sources, customers, employees, partners, etc.?
  2. What data is collected internally?
  3. Set levels of sensitivity for all data collected
  4. Figure out who needs access to the data and don’t give access to those who don’t need it

It might create extra work for your security team if you have one or for your employees. But all this red tape will ensure that no unscrupulous person gets access to your sensitive data to do with it as they will.

 

Decide How Long Data Needs to Get Stored

In this fast-paced world, data doesn’t need to get stored forever. You will have to figure out how long you need to store data and then have measures in place to delete stored data appropriately. This way, you are not leaving yourself vulnerable to attacks due to old unused data.

You won’t have to worry too much about public data like company brochures, press releases, and employees’ first and last names (and bios on LinkedIn). But everything else, like internal data, classified data, and other more sensitive data, needs to get guarded with care.

 

Know Your Data

Do you know what kind of data your company deals with daily? There are probably hundreds of pieces of data that come through your employees’ devices and through your IT network.

There’s no way you can keep an eye on each piece of data yourself, nor can your cybersecurity team do so if you have one. That’s why you need to have security infrastructure in place that will keep an eye on your data for you, even when you are not around.

Through processes and technology in place, this monumental task of protecting your sensitive information can get simplified and efficiently executed without unencumbering your employees’ workflow.

 

Hire a Security Company to Protect You From Data Loss

Feeling overwhelmed and fearful at the thought of your sensitive data getting breached by someone who wants to take advantage of it is normal. Many business owners believe they aren’t vulnerable or have done enough when they do a few security updates, which leaves them in danger of losing sensitive data. If you cannot keep your sensitive information safe from the threat, you should hire a security company to take care of this for you.

There is a level of expertise and knowledge required to protect sensitive information, and it can be the difference between your company going bankrupt because it lost valuable customer information and customer trust or staying in business for a long time.

 

Schedule Your IT Assessment Today to Ensure Your Sensitive Information is Safe

Each business and industry has to look at security and sensitive data protection in a different manner.  If you need help figuring out where to begin,  contact us today, The IT and cybersecurity experts at Edge Networks have years of experience behind them. 

We will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your overall IT infrastructure to determine where the gaps lie and where you are vulnerable to data loss, so we can help protect sensitive information. We will even perform real-time cyberattacks to assess your IT network and identify immediate vulnerabilities.

Schedule an assessment today, and our experts will be in touch with you.

Human Error in Cybersecurity Breaches

Running a business is difficult work. There are so many factors you need to consider. One area of business that’s become increasingly more important is cybersecurity. Cyber-attacks are on the rise, so you’ll need to do everything you can to protect your company.

Cybercriminals are always looking for ways they can exploit organizations. One of the main ways they like to manipulate people is by taking advantage of human error. So, what exactly is human error in cybersecurity, and how can you protect your company?

This article explains some of the different kinds of human error that affect cybersecurity and offers security tips to help keep your company safe.

 

Physical Security Errors

Many people don’t consider physical security a part of cybersecurity. However, cybercriminals often resort to “real-world tactics” as companies are increasingly paying attention to things like firewalls, antivirus software, and data backups. If a criminal can physically get into your company property, they can damage your digital infrastructure. For example, they could install new keyboards that log keystrokes, insert malicious USB sticks into workstations, or simply walk out with sensitive hardware.

Letting unauthorized people into your company offices is a significant human error that can compromise your organization’s security. Given that this type of error could lead to a significant security breach, you’ll need to take measures to minimize this threat. For example, you might require employee swipe cards or use specific keys or access codes to enter the premises. You also need to ensure your employees know that letting unauthorized people into the offices poses a risk to the organization.

Another physical security error is when employees don’t properly secure the site. For example, they might go home without locking doors properly. This could allow unauthorized people to get in and access the computer systems. You can mitigate these kinds of problems by having clear expectations and responsibilities laid out. Everyone should know basic security rules and know who is responsible for locking up the property at the end of the workday.

 

Skill-Based Errors

In small-to-medium-sized businesses, people often make skill-based errors. This is when someone performs a task incorrectly, potentially causing a security risk. For example, a worker might fail to correctly set up antivirus software on their workstation. Or they might turn off the antivirus protection entirely. You can minimize these skill-based errors by reducing the control workers have over their workstations. You should have clear administrator privileges set up. This means people won’t be able to tamper with the antivirus software unless they work for the IT department.

Skill-based errors don’t necessarily happen because an employee is incompetent. These errors often occur because an employee is tired or distracted. This means you can reduce skill-based mistakes by making sure your workers are not fatigued or overworked.

This type of error can also occur when employees don’t have the correct training or if they’ve been dishonest about their level of experience. As an employer, you must always ensure your workers have the skills they need to do the job. If your employees’ IT skills are lacking, you should consider training seminars or training courses. Not only will this help protect your company against cyber-attacks, but it will also help your workers develop their skills and become better professionals.

 

Decision-Based Errors

Decision-based errors are another kind of error that could impact business protection. This is when an employee makes a decision that leads to a security issue. For example, someone might open a file that installs ransomware on the company network. Someone could also plug in a USB stick that was infected with a virus.

If you want to reduce decision-based errors in your workplace, you need to prevent people from making poor security decisions. This means your staff will need to understand security risks well. You can do this by having security seminars and a clear security policy in your employee handbook.

Another solution is to have systems in place that prevent risky behavior. For example, you might prevent people from being able to plug in USB sticks or open EXE files.

 

Misdelivery

Misdelivery is a form of human error where someone sends files, documents, or information to the wrong person. This can be a significant problem if your company deals with confidential data.  If misdelivery occurs, you’ll need to disclose the data breach to your customers, which could impact your company’s reputation and lead to less business in the future.

 

You can combat this by ensuring there are clear procedures for working with confidential information and ensuring you are compliant with security standards.

 

Password Problems

Another form of human error relates to passwords. Everyone knows that you need to have unique, strong passwords, but few people put this into practice. In fact, around 56% of people reuse the same password across multiple services.

When people do this with their work account, it introduces a problem. You can’t control what your workers do in their personal lives. If someone is using the same password at home and on their personal accounts, it’s a significant risk. If hackers get into their personal account using their password, it’s possible they will try the password across other services. This will enable hackers to breach your systems.

One of the best ways to deal with this is by having a good password policy. Having mandatory password changes every few months makes it much less likely that people will use the same passwords they use in their personal life.

Another potential solution is using multi-factor authentication. This is when you need both your password and a verification code to log on. When you input your password, a verification code is sent to a second device or service. For example, you might receive the code as a cell phone text message.

This is a great policy as it eliminates a lot of the risk of human error. Even if hackers have an employee’s password, they still can’t break in without the code.

 

Social Engineering

Another way hackers use human error to their advantage is through social engineering. Social engineering is when hackers use clever psychological tricks to manipulate people into compromising their security.

For example, someone might call an employee pretending to be the CEO. If the employee falls for this technique, it’s a serious human error. Social engineering is very prevalent because it exploits well-known weaknesses in human psychology. These attacks often convey a sense of critical urgency. If a situation feels urgent, people are much more likely to make a mistake and compromise on security.

In the last decade, most companies have stepped up their game in terms of cybersecurity. Most companies run robust firewalls and antivirus software, but none of this matters if a hacker uses social engineering techniques. Social engineering techniques are so prevalent in cybercrime that some statistics suggest hackers use social engineering in around 98% of attacks. The only way to protect your company is to make sure your employees understand how these attacks work.

The only real solution here is to have frequent security training. Your employees need to recognize social engineering and have someone they can report suspicious behavior to.

Human error is much more likely if people feel their reports won’t be taken seriously or if they’ll get in trouble for reporting a false positive. Creating a strong security culture in your organization is the best way to reduce human errors.

 

Take the Necessary Steps to Reduce Human Error

To conclude, you need to understand that some level of human error is inevitable. With that said, this article has shown there are many measures you can take to reduce the risk. You can have strong security policies, set up permissions systems, and create a strong security culture.

 

Of course, setting up strong cyber defenses is a very complex task. The world of cybersecurity is constantly changing, and it’s a full-time job in itself to monitor emerging threats.

With this in mind, working with a managed IT services company makes a lot of sense to help safeguard your company. If you want to work with such a company, contact us today and take the first steps in protecting against human error and securing your business.

4 Ways Penetration Testing Can Improve Your IT

You’ve probably heard of penetration testing, but you may not be entirely sure what it is or why your business needs it. Penetration testing is a type of security assessment that simulates a real-world attack on your systems to identify vulnerabilities. It’s one of the best ways to identify potential weaknesses in your system.

This may apply to a local service, a cloud database, or any other type of technology you use. Your system needs to be able to reveal vulnerabilities to be as secure as it can be. You risk intrusion if you haven’t examined your system design for any weak spots. Therefore, the first key advantage of a penetration test is that it makes your system more secure against hackers.

In this blog post, we’ll give you a brief overview of penetration testing and explain why it’s so important for businesses of all sizes. 

 

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as pen-testing or white-hat hacking, is a type of security assessment in which auditors attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in a system. The goal of penetration testing is to identify weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious attackers. 

A penetration test helps improve your organization’s cybersecurity posture by performing real attacks to simulate what an attacker could do. These attacks will assess the risk of a potential security breach and see how far an attacker could go within your environment.

Good penetration testing should do the following: perform real attacks to test cybersecurity posture, exploit vulnerabilities, report and present findings, and offer guidance and prioritization on items that need to be addressed.

Finding a reputable company to perform these tests is extremely critical. Learn more about how Edge Networks can get you started.

 

How Can Penetration Testing Improve Your IT?

1. Making Vulnerabilities Visible

A penetration test is one of the best ways to identify potential weaknesses in your system.

This may apply to a local service, a cloud database, or any other type of technology you use. Your system needs to be able to reveal vulnerabilities to be as secure as it can be.

 

You risk intrusion if you haven’t examined your system design for any weak spots. Therefore, the first key advantage of a penetration test is that it makes your system more secure against hackers.

 

2. A Genuine Simulation

A penetration test mimics the steps a real hacker might take to access your system.

As a result, it becomes a very realistic test in its construction. Penetration tests have this important advantage because it’s a real way to gauge how secure your system is.

 

The parameters are the same as what a real hacker would use to try to break into your system.

 

3. Improve Compliance and Protect Your Data

Data protection is one of the most crucial security components for modern businesses. You risk future serious breaches if your company and customer data are not secure. This is a vital step in your cybersecurity strategy.

An expert hacker shouldn’t be able to access any of your data, according to a penetration test!

Penetration tests can also help your business with data compliance and regulation.

You can use a pen-test to ensure your system’s design complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Penetration testers will highlight these issues if it isn’t.

Then, you’re able to address these issues to guarantee that your company continues to operate in full compliance with all applicable laws.

 

4. Fortifies Trust In Your Business

Customers will feel more comfortable doing business with you when you demonstrate your integrity in this manner. They’ll think you’re acting more professionally because of your penetration tests. 

 

As a result, customers are likelier to stick with your business or brand because they will feel your processes and systems are rigid and secure.

This is where penetration tests come in handy, as they can help you get more clients. All you need to do is show your customers that you’re working hard to fix any problems and provide the best service possible.

 

Success With Penetration Testing

Penetration tests can benefit your business and your IT department or team. Whether you use an internal resource or managed IT solutions externally, both need to be made aware of the results of your penetration test. This way, you can ensure that your IT improves as a result of anything your vulnerability tests show. 

We hope this blog post has given you a better understanding of what penetration testing is and why it’s so important for businesses. If you have any questions about penetration testing or would like to schedule a test for your business, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

How to Choose the Right VPN Service For Your Business

Your location, IP address, browsing history, and device type are some of the things you leave while browsing the world wide web. A VPN can help encrypt your internet connection, preventing anyone from eavesdropping on the data you share online or which website you visit every day. VPNs are an invaluable tool for everyone, especially business owners. You can securely access sensitive business information even when connected to public Wi-Fi—no need to worry about cyber criminals when connected to the VPN service.

In this article, we’ll talk about what a VPN is, how to use it, what the benefits are, and how to choose the right VPN service for you. Feel free to reach out to us anytime if you have questions or clarifications.

 

What is a VPN?

Virtual private networks or VPNs are a service that protects your privacy and internet connection. It protects your data by hiding your IP address, allowing you to access hotspots and public Wi-Fi safely. When browsing through a VPN service, no one can see which website you visited or what else you are doing online.

You need a VPN when you regularly use public Wi-Fi or when you view sensitive business information. When connected to the VPN service, you can browse in full privacy without worrying about cybercriminals. 

No one wants to be tracked or watched online. With a VPN, you get full security. There’s no need to worry about data breaches because your traffic is encrypted. 

 

How Does a VPN Service Work?

When you visit a website, the internet service provider receives this request and takes you to your website destination. With a VPN service, instead of being taken directly to the website, it redirects your traffic to the VPN server first and secures your connection before sending you to your destination. 

With a client-based VPN, you only need to log in and connect. Connecting to the service authenticates your computer or mobile device, and the server applies an encryption protocol to protect all data you send and receive.

The VPN service will create an encrypted tunnel to fully secure the data traveling in this “tunnel”. It secures your data by wrapping it in an outer container, which is encrypted through encapsulation. The outer container is removed through the decryption process when the data arrives. 

 

What are the Benefits of Using a VPN Service?

Secures Your Network

Without a VPN, a website or an application can track your online activity and target you with ads using the data they collect from your activities. You may notice several ads popping up when you don’t use a VPN. The most effective way to hide your online activities and secure your network is through a VPN. 

A VPN can stop a software or a website from accessing online information and using this to their advantage. It keeps the online information you send and receive anonymous and secure. 

 

Prevents Data and Bandwidth Throttling

Because using a VPN secures your network, internet service providers cannot track how much data you are using when browsing or downloading applications on the internet. This comes in handy if your data is limited each month. You don’t have to worry about slow internet services when you consume a specific amount of data.

With a VPN, you can avoid a data cap, helping you work faster and save money. This tool is especially useful to small business owners on the road that use smart devices to access business-related activities online.

When you’re using Wi-Fi, the internet service providers can’t track the data used by your device, preventing them from slowing down your connection when you reach the cap.

 

Hides Private Information

The last thing you want is to have your private information exposed online. Without protection, hackers can gain access to this sensitive information and use them to gain access to your bank accounts or credit card information. Some hackers may attempt to impersonate you. 

It’s possible to hide your private information online with a VPN. This encrypts all your online communication, making them unreadable to cyber criminals. 

 

Allows Access to Restricted Websites

Some websites don’t allow visitors from certain countries or let them use all of their services. It’s usually common to streaming devices that only serve specific locations. They can block your access with your IP address that indicates your location. With a VPN, you will have another IP address, allowing you to access any website. 

If some of your employees need full access to websites with restrictions, it’s entirely possible with VPN. 

 

Saves You Money on Long-Distance Phone Fees

If you make several phone calls overseas, having a VPN can help you save money. There is no need to connect to the remote access servers when you have the VPN. Simply connect it to your local ISP access point to save more money. 

 

Affordable

Compared to the cost of expanding your cybersecurity department, using a VPN service is more cost-effective. If you’re a business owner, you can significantly reduce your cost by using a VPN. On average, they can cost you $50 – $100 per year. The exact amount depends on what is offered by the VPN service. 

To maximize the benefits of having a VPN, consider investing in a good VPN router. With the router installed, your employees can easily use the VPN service. If you’re looking for the cheapest option for expanding your IT department, we suggest buying a VPN service. 

 

Low Maintenance

One of the good things about having a VPN service is that it’s not difficult to set up, and no high maintenance costs are involved. All you need is a VPN subscription, and you can use the service immediately. 

 

Are There Disadvantages to Using a VPN Service?

Nothing is perfect, not even the VPN. While they are extremely beneficial to businesses, especially when privacy is concerned, it does have their cons. 

Reduced Internet Speed

The encryption process in securing your data may take time and could affect your online experience. It’s important to choose the right VPN service, to ensure that it doesn’t slow down your internet connection. 

 

It Can Be Complex

Depending on who is providing the VPN service, it can be difficult to understand, especially for those who haven’t used the service in the past. Look for a VPN service that offers easy to use tool for connecting to the network. 

 

How to Choose the Right VPN Service

Privacy

When choosing a VPN service, look for one that offers the most private VPN. One feature you need to look out for is the encryption protocol. Remember, every protocol defines how the app and server connect with the devices when encrypting data. Choose a service that offers the best privacy.

 

Compatibility

If you use a computer, a tablet, and your mobile phone with the VPN, make sure that the service supports all of your devices. Also, make sure that it offers a good connection as that can affect your online experience. Before choosing a VPN, check all of its features first before purchasing. Make sure that it’s suitable to what your business needs. 

When you’re a small business owner without experience choosing a VPN service, we suggest hiring a professional to help you make an informed decision. One thing to keep in mind: always prioritize your privacy first.

 

Customer Support

Not all business owners have an IT department that can help resolve technical issues. So it would help to have a VPN service provider that offers 24/7 support. Check their websites for FAQs or live chat sections, as these indicate how dedicated they are to providing exceptional service to their clients. 

 

Ease of Use

The last thing you want in a VPN service is complex configurations. You can avoid this by choosing a provider that offers an easy-to-use tool for encrypting your sensitive business data. Look for a user-friendly VPN service, especially when you are not tech-savvy. 

 

Accessibility and Speed

A slow connection is frustrating. While a VPN usually slows down your connection, some providers have a resolution to help you enjoy faster and more reliable internet connectivity. 

In addition to speed, make sure that you can access your VPN service from anywhere. Check which country the VPN is based and how the regulation might impact privacy.

 

Do You Need More Help?

Edge Networks is an IT company dedicated to helping your business with cybersecurity. Let us know if your business needs help with Cloud Management, Data Recovery, IT Risk Assessment, or Server and Network Management. We are more than happy to help. Get in touch with us today!

Everything You Should Know About Password Managers

47% of American adults have had their personal information exposed by cybercriminals. 44% of them have been victims of online crime in the last year. Even worse is, 31% of millennials share passwords. You might not think that sharing passwords with your trusted circle is a big deal. But without good password management, you’re putting your personal data at risk. In addition to creating strong passwords, you also need to keep them secret and secure, which you can do by using a password manager. Read on to find out about creating strong passwords, what password managers are, the benefits that come with one, and more.

 

How to Create a Strong Password

Hackers will use brute force attacks to try and guess your credentials. As the name suggests, it’s a relentless attack that tries countless combinations of words and letters to try and get lucky.

As a faster way to get into accounts, brute force attacks will start with dictionary words and/or commonly known passwords. For instance, many people use “password123”, so this is likely one of the first guesses.

If you’re being specifically targeted, then the cybercriminal might try a combination of your birthdate, significant dates, pet names, significant other’s name, etc. This is why it’s important that you don’t use dictionary words as your password, and certainly not words of significance.

The more random your password, the better. And the longer your password is, the better as well, since it’ll be much harder to make a random guess and get it right.

 

Use Unique Passwords for Every Account

Not only should you create a secure password, but you need to use different ones for every account. On the off chance that a hacker guesses your password correctly, you want to minimize the potential damage. If you’ve used the same password across all online accounts, then it’s very possible that they’ll be able to access several or all of them.

This also means that you need to change your passwords often too. It’s harder to hit a moving target, after all. This, in addition to multi-factor authentication (MFA) can make it practically impossible for your accounts to be hacked.

 

How to Manage Your Passwords

Understandably, it can be difficult to keep track of which password goes with what account. We strongly advise you to avoid saving passwords in online documents, as these can be easily accessed by cybercriminals.

Writing down your passwords can be an option since it’s completely offline. However, you should take precautions to store the written passwords behind a lock or in a secret place. Even if you don’t store them at an office, this information can be stolen if your house is broken into.

A better option is to store your passwords on a password manager. Because you need to access it on a device, you might be skeptical about its security. But the fact is, this software comes with many benefits. Download our free password best practice e-book for password management tips and tricks.

 

Benefits of Using a Password Manager

The main advantage of using a password manager is it’s secure. This software will encrypt and store your passwords so they’re unreachable to cybercriminals.

That’s not it though; your life will be much easier and more efficient with a password manager. Here are the other benefits you can enjoy.

 

It Can Generate Random Passwords

Not only do password managers help with management and storage, but they can also generate random passwords for you. So if you’re having issues thinking ones up on your own, then let the program do the work for you.

Because the tool generates a truly random password for you, the chances are low of a brute force attack working on it.

 

You Don’t Need to Fill Out Login Details Anymore

Because the password manager stores the passwords, it can then pull them out of storage and autofill your username and password when you go to a website. This means you don’t need to go through any extra steps to log on, so you won’t miss your browser’s autofill function at all.

 

You Can Share Your Accounts Safely

Do you share accounts with family members or coworkers? Then they’ll need to know the passwords.

Texting or emailing credentials isn’t safe, as you never know if someone’s hacked your device. But if you use a password manager, you can grant access to others and allow them to log on, all without giving them the actual passwords.

 

You Can Save Other Things

While there’s the name “password manager,” this software can do so much more. It’s more of an encryption tool, which means if you need to store something securely, you can use your password manager. For example, if you have trouble remembering the answers to your security questions, then you can store the answers here. 

 

You Can Reset Passwords Easily

If you suspect that an account’s been hacked or the password’s been compromised, then it’s no hassle to reset your password. Use the password generator feature to get a new password, and some tools allow you to attach it to an account straightaway.

 

You Can Use It Across Multiple Devices

Don’t worry about copying/pasting passwords from your computer to your phone, as you can use password managers across devices. Even better is, many of them can even save app passwords in addition to browser ones. All you’ll have to do is install the password manager on your mobile devices, and you can then access your saved passwords.

 

The Top Password Managers to Use

If you’re now convinced about the effectiveness of password managers for your cybersecurity, then you’re probably interested in finding out the best programs to use. Here are the top contenders.

 

LastPass

If you’re looking for a free program, then LastPass is the best option. It’s a browser-based password manager, which means you’ll have to install it as an extension.

In addition to storing unlimited passwords, LastPass also has a digital wallet. This allows you to store and autofill credit card information. Also, it has AES 256-bit encryption and MFA capabilities.

If you need more features, then you can pay $3 a month for a personal plan or $4 a month for a family plan. You can take advantage of a free 30-day trial beforehand for both plans.

 

Dashlane

Dashlane is another free password manager but only allows 50 stored passwords. Also, you can only use Dashlane on 1 device and share up to 5 accounts.

However, where this password manager shines is its paid premium account. Although it costs $60 a year, you can store unlimited passwords across unlimited devices. But its main selling point is dark web monitoring and a secure virtual private network (VPN) that’s built into the program.

You can also purchase a premium family account that costs $90 a year, which can be shared between 5 people.

 

1Password

Unfortunately, there’s no free version available for 1Password. However, you do get a free 14-day trial, and afterward, it costs just $3 a month for the basic plan and $5 a month for a family plan (shared with 5 people). You can add more people to the family plan for $1 for each person.

With 1Password, you can store unlimited passwords and sync across unlimited devices. You’ll also get a digital wallet and 1GB of space to store your documents securely.

1Password is great for people who travel a lot because there’s a travel mode. You can use it to wipe your devices of sensitive information while you travel, then restore it once you get back home.

You can also get 1Password Watchtower with both plans. This is a scanner for potential data breaches.

 

RememBear

RememBear is a fantastic password manager for those who aren’t technical and need an intuitive tool. It was specifically created for people without tech knowledge, plus it’s free to use.

This password manager lets you store unlimited passwords and other data, but you can only do it on 1 device. The upside is, you can import your account from 1Password if you find it too confusing to use.

The paid version of RememBear costs $6 a month and gives you priority customer service.

If you’re dealing with many passwords, you should store them in one place and take steps to keep that place secure. Limit access and never share where you’re keeping all your passwords.

Keep Your Data Safe

Often, there are just a few layers of security between you and cyber criminals. But by creating strong passwords and using a password manager, you’ll be able to make it more difficult for these hackers to gain valuable information.

So change your passwords, research your password managers, and practice good password management. Taking these extra precautions can mean the difference between keeping your accounts safe and having them compromised.

Using a password manager is just one step in upgrading your cybersecurity. Get in touch with us now to discuss IT services that are efficient and cost-effective too.

Cybersecurity: What Is It And Why It’s Important For Your Small Business

Cybersecurity: What Is It And Why It’s Important For Your Small Business

In the past year, the cost of data breaches in the United States rose 10 percent to reach an all-time high of $4.24 million. In today’s technological business world, the importance of cybersecurity can’t be overestimated. Cybersecurity is essential for small and medium business owners. Think about how much your business relies on technology. How much of your company’s data gets stored on computers, personal devices, and other systems?

Digital business networks are practically universal. At the same time, cybercriminals are growing more innovative by the day. A data breach can be especially devastating for small business owners. There is no way to guarantee these things won’t happen to your business, but there are many precautions you can take to minimize your risk. Keep reading to find out what steps you can take to improve cybersecurity for your small business.

 

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of fortifying digital networks, devices, and data against attacks. But the cybersecurity definition goes further than that. The art of cybersecurity involves taking enhanced measures to combat any threat to your network security whether that threat comes from an external organization or inside your own company. Cybersecurity ensures integrity and confidentiality. It limits the availability of sensitive information and prevents unauthorized access.

 

What Are the Risks of Weak Cybersecurity?

The risks of weak cybersecurity vary in severity. There is the possibility of a malware attack that could erase the contents of your entire system. Similarly, hackers could break into your system to change or alter data and information. A cybercriminal could also use your business’s system to attack others. They could steal your financial information. They could even use your business accounts to make unauthorized purchases.

Cybercriminals target personally identifiable information (PII). This includes names, addresses, social security numbers, bank accounts, and credit card information. Once they have this information, they can sell it in underground digital markets. When your business’s PII gets compromised, it can lead to major problems. Customers may lose trust in your business. You could be forced to pay regulatory fines and even face legal action.

If you have a complex system but lack IT experience managing it, the cost of a data breach could be even higher for your SMB. Small and medium business owners with comprehensive cybersecurity strategies are better protected. They can minimize the frequency and impact of cybersecurity breaches.

 

What Are the Essential Domains of Effective Cybersecurity?

The more layers there are to your cybersecurity strategy, the better your system gets protected. Here are some of the countermeasures an effective cybersecurity strategy should include.

 

Critical Infrastructure Security

Your SMB needs critical infrastructure security to protect its systems, networks, and assets. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a cybersecurity organizational framework.

 

Network Security

Network security refers to measures taken to protect computer networks from cyber attacks. This security applies to both wired and wireless network connections.

 

Application Security

Application security processes protect the apps your business operates on-site or in the cloud. Incorporating this type of security during the application design stage is vital. That’s when you can take data handling and user authentication into consideration. 

 

Cloud Security

It is important to use encryption data to protect the information your company stores in the cloud. This supports customer privacy and compliance standards. It encrypts all types of cloud data, whether at rest, in motion, or in use.

 

End-User Education

Cybersecurity training is essential across an organization. Promoting security awareness among employees strengthens cybersecurity.

 

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity

When an unplanned event does occur, it is important to have procedures for handling and minimizing the impact. This planning will enable your business to continue as usual despite a power outage, natural disaster, or cyber attack.

 

Benefits of Cybersecurity for Small Business Owners

Cybersecurity management services use a combination of these domains and more. For this reason, the benefits of cybersecurity for small business owners are far-ranging. Cybersecurity protects data from getting lost, deleted, or accessed by unauthorized parties. It also prevents financial fraud, embezzlement, and financial loss. Protection from viruses and malware attacks as well. That way, your business’s productivity doesn’t get interrupted by damaged hardware. Cybersecurity also protects your intellectual property and data from exposure. Combined, the benefits of cybersecurity will increase your customer’s confidence in your company.

 

How To Improve Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Business Owners

Sometimes, the purpose of a cyber attack is to gain access to sensitive information. Sometimes the goal is to change or destroy it. Other times, cybercriminals attack with the intention of interrupting business processes for extortion. Here are some of the steps corporations are taking to strengthen cybersecurity protocols.

 

Complex Passwords

Using robust and complicated passwords is an essential first step in cybersecurity. It might seem obvious, but over half of internet users recycle passwords between accounts. This makes it exceptionally easy for hackers to access multiple accounts with a single password breach.

When choosing a password, include a variety of letters, numbers, and special characters. It will be more difficult for cybercriminals to hack into your accounts and systems. Always avoid using any easily identifiable information in your passwords. This type of information includes names, dates of birth, addresses, etc. Even more importantly, do not store your passwords in easy-to-access locations.

In offices, it is common to write passwords on post-it notes and stick them in highly visible locations. Avoid doing this as it provides an easy invitation for hackers. Finally, make sure to change your passwords often. This is just one more way you can improve your password security throughout your network.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an extra layer of security that goes beyond passwords. It is an essential tool all small and medium business owners should use. Instead of relying on passwords alone, multifactor authentication creates an extra access barrier. To get into the account, you will need to provide added proof of your identity.

When you have multifactor authentication, having a password stolen isn’t as big of a deal. It will still be very difficult for an unauthorized entity to get into your account. Multifactor authentication can rely on personal knowledge only the account holder would know. It can also be a physical token like a key fob, mobile phone, or USB device.

The most secure multifactor authentication relies on biometrics. This might include fingerprints, retina scanning, or facial and voice recognition. In addition, MFA alerts users to unauthorized attempts to log into their accounts. That way, you and your IT management team can handle it immediately.

 

Email Security

The majority of cyberattacks occur via email. Switch to an email program that will limit your exposure to attacks by reducing email spam.

 

Employee Education

It is essential to educate your employees about the dangers of cyberattacks. Cybersecurity training should be part of every employee’s onboarding process. Many businesses use social media to attract customers. Make sure to inform your employees on how to handle social media posts. That way, they won’t disclose sensitive information to a competing business.

 

Network Security

Using firewalls and encryption is important for any SMB. It is especially important when working remotely or in public. Say you want to take a working lunch at a coffee shop. Connecting to free wifi can put your data at risk. Invest in a portable hotspot with a secure network instead.

 

Personal Computer & Device Monitoring

Do your employees use personal devices to do work? Your network administrator should have access to these devices. You don’t need to worry about invading your employees’ privacy. Your network administrator only needs to install security updates and track software.

 

Back-Up Your Files

Every month, make it a habit to back up all your data. This will prevent the possibility of data loss. Remember to back up your local data and what you have stored in the cloud.

Hire an IT Management Service

None of these precautions alone will completely protect your business. The best way to get comprehensive cybersecurity is to use an IT management service. A cybersecurity analyst will begin by performing a security assessment. This allows them to see how well your current security system is working. They will then make the necessary enhancements to protect your data better.

 

Cybersecurity Services For Your SMB

Minimizing costs is important to small and medium business owners. But if there is one area where you shouldn’t pinch pennies, it is IT support and cybersecurity. One cyber attack could be enough to destroy your business. As a small business owner, you stand to lose time, money, and the trust of your customers. Find out how Edge Networks can improve cybersecurity for your SMB. Contact us today to learn more.

Why You Should Be Using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Data breaches are at an all-time high. If you’re one of the 56 percent of internet users who use the same password for multiple accounts, you could be putting your digital assets at risk. When you recycle passwords between accounts, it increases your chance of a data breach significantly. You’ve given potential hackers an incredibly valuable tool. Instead of needing to hack into multiple accounts, they only need to crack a single password. This results in a domino effect giving them unlimited access to your most sensitive information. Multi-factor authentication is the cybersecurity solution you need. MFA is a simple, effective way to protect all of your assets from the threat of a data breach.

In this article, you’ll learn the importance of using MFA to protect your business.

What Is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, is a method of proving identity. This type of authentication requires the user to present at least two pieces of evidence.

These pieces of evidence are used to verify that the user is who they say they are. Multi-factor authentication aims to increase security, but that’s not all.

Verifying your identity through authentication systems can be a tiresome obstacle. This is especially true for those who need to log in and out of accounts throughout the business day.

That’s why multi-factor authentication aims to find the balance between security and convenience. 

SSO secured phone

How Does MFA Work?

Typically, when you log into an account, you get prompted to type in a username and a password. That’s it. The problem is that anyone who gets a hold of your username and password can log in pretending to be you.

Multi-factor authentication adds a few more steps that strategically fend off would-be hackers. After you put in your username and password, you’ll get an additional set of prompts asking for further identity verification.

The method of multi-factor authentication relies on three types of personal information. Businesses can use one or a combination of all of these methods depending on what suits their budget and priorities.

Knowledge (Things You Know)

This type of information generally includes information that only you would know. It could be in the form of security questions like, “What was the make and model of your first car?” or “What high school did you attend?” Passwords also fall into this category.

Another common type of knowledge authentication is the combination of a username, password, and PIN.

Possesions (Things You Have)

This type of authentication is useful for anyone with a specific type of identifiable item in their possession. This item could be a USB device, key fob, mobile phone, or another type of physical token.

Possession authentication has a high success rate of thwarting hackers. It is highly unlikely that a hacker who stole your password was also able to steal your physical belongings.

When you use this type of authentication, it might look like a pop-up notification on your phone. It could also be a prompt to insert a security card.

The least effective form of possession authentication is the one-time password (OTP).

With this method, you submit an authentication request. Then you get a code sent to you via text or email. The code only works once and it has a limited window for use.

Since it is very easy to request this type of code, OTPs are generally less secure than the other types of authentication.

Inherence (Things You Are)

Inherence authentication uses your behavior and biological analysis to verify your identity. This could be in the form of fingerprints, facial or voice recognition, retina scanning, or some other form of biometrics.

This type of authentication is especially secure. It is extremely difficult for someone who isn’t you to imitate your biology and behavior. It’s also the most convenient form of authentication to use.

Why Do I Need Multi-Factor Authentication?

Data breaches have increased by a record-breaking 68 percent in the past year. Changing your password regularly might seem like a good approach to cybersecurity, but that alone won’t keep your data safe. Multi-factor authentication is the most effective method to prevent a data breach. That’s why cybersecurity insurance providers are required by law to use multi-factor authentication. Different businesses and organizations use MFA for a variety of purposes. However, the three primary reasons to use MFA to protect your information are security, usability, and compliance.

 

 

Security

The main purpose of MFA is to enhance security so your business can operate safely. How well your information gets secured depends on how many layers of authentication you use. You’ll get the highest level of security with a system that uses two factors of authentication or more.

 

Usability

Another reason businesses prefer to use MFA is that it offers them the chance to stop relying on passwords. Trying to remember a complicated, unique password for every account, app, or document is a lot. Resetting passwords when you forget them is a nightmare in itself sometimes. MFA can allow users to eliminate passwords by relying on biometrics and physical tokens.

 

Compliance

For those who work in industries that regulate the handling of sensitive information, MFA is often a requirement. Failing to adhere to these state and local regulations can result in fines, audits, and potential lawsuits.

What Are the Cybersecurity Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication?

Multi-factor authentication is one of the top three cybersecurity methods. In fact, 95 percent of American companies use multi-factor authentication in some manner already. An additional 85 percent of executives plan to adopt or expand their use of multi-factor authentication.

 

Here are a few top ways your business will benefit from multi-factor authentication:

Stronger Authentication

The majority of data breaches occur as the result of a weak or stolen password. MFA uses multiple layers of authentication to prevent this from happening. By doing this, multi-factor authentication reduces the risk of an account getting hacked and taken over. With MFA, getting your password stolen isn’t an issue. The hacker who stole it won’t be able to penetrate the added layers of authentication MFA provides.

 

 

Increased Security

If you run a large business, there are likely third parties who need to access your system regularly. Perhaps there are dozens of outside individuals using your system, or hundreds, or thousands. The larger your business grows, the more impossible it is to keep track of all the people moving in and out of your system. The added layers of authentication MFA provides increase your security significantly. 

 

 

Control Who Accesses Your Files

MFA allows you greater control over who can and cannot access specific files and data. Using only passwords is dangerous. It’s easy for someone to duplicate or share a password with someone who shouldn’t have it. Using two or more authentication factors limits access to certain files to specific individuals.

 

 

Tailored Security to Suit Your Specific Needs

When you work with MFA, you get to select which combination of authentication forms is best suited to your business. Using at least two factors, you will determine every aspect of your company’s security strategy. To get the most tailored MFA experience, entrust your cybersecurity to a professional IT management service.

 

Comply with Regulatory Requirements

Multi-factor authentication is a requirement in the health care industry. These businesses are required to maintain HIPAA compliance. MFA safeguards individually identifiable health information by preventing unauthorized access. Some governmental agencies and organizations also require adherence to multi-factor authentication security policies.

 

 

Minimize Password Risks

We can’t emphasize enough the danger of relying on passwords as a sole form of protection. The high rate of duplicate password use almost ensures the inevitability of a data breach. If you do use passwords, make them unique, complex, and difficult to guess. Avoid using passwords that involve birthdays, addresses, and phone numbers.

 

frustrated girl in front of laptop

Additional Cybersecurity Options To Protect Your Business

The best way to protect your data is to be proactive. To ensure your business and information remain under your control, IT management services offer additional security implementations. A risk assessment battery of tests is an effective place to start. Through rigorous testing, an IT management team can identify your existing vulnerabilities. That way they can design an individualized strategy to protect your digital assets. This assessment also involves implementing specific technologies to do surveillance on your systems. They are designed to look out for any sign you may be getting hacked. For an extra layer of protection against cyberattacks, you can implement a penetration test. A penetration test involves the performance of simulated attacks on your digital information. By doing this, an IT management team can determine the best methods of protecting your data from a real attack. It also demonstrates how vulnerable your current system is and where it needs fortification.

 

Protect Your Business With IT Management Services

In our technologically dependent era, with data breaches at a record high, using multi-factor authentication is an essential form of data protection every business needs. In addition to providing unmatched cybersecurity, MFA makes accessing your data easier by eliminating the need for passwords. But you don’t have to figure out your multi-factor authentication strategy on your own. Let the IT management professionals at Edge Networks create the ideal service program so you can focus on running your business. Fill out a quick contact form to learn about our convenient flat-rate management services today.

 

How a Managed IT Service Provider Can Help You Avoid Social Engineering Attacks

A cyber attack on your company could cost you millions of dollars and cause you to lose customers. There’s no surprise that companies are doing everything they can to protect against cyber criminals. With that said, most companies’ cybersecurity strategy focuses on things like firewalls and antivirus solutions. While these apps are essential, they can’t protect you against one of the cybercriminal’s favored methods. Social engineering attacks can bypass your cyber defenses and do massive damage to your company. So what is social engineering, and how can you protect your company against it? Read on to find out more.

 

What is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is when cyber criminals use sophisticated social trickery to access systems. The trouble with a social engineering attack is that it involves deceiving people rather than computer systems. This means that your cybersecurity software probably won’t be able to prevent social engineering attacks.

If a social engineering attacker tricks one of your employees into giving up their password, your cybersecurity setup simply won’t recognize them as an intruder. Social engineering attacks are, therefore, a significant problem for businesses that rely on IT systems. 

Firewalls and antivirus software are becoming more powerful. So criminals are turning to social engineering techniques to commit crimes.

According to some statistics, hackers use social engineering in 98% of their cyber attacks. The following social engineering tactics could cause security problems for your business. 

Whaling Attacks

A whaling attack is when cyber criminals target a specific person or group of people with a social engineering attack. For example, the attackers might send an email to a particular person hoping to scam them. 

Generally, the victims have access to some kind of computer system that the criminals want to break into. They may attempt to trick the victim into giving up their password. They might also try to convince the victim to transfer money to the attacker’s account. 

One of the defining features of a whaling attack is the sense of urgency the hackers convey. The hackers will always try to convince the victim to take action as quickly as possible. The hackers know they stand the best chance of success if they don’t give the victim much time to think. 

Successful whaling attacks use carefully crafted language tailored to the targets to make the attack seem as convincing as possible. These attacks often target C-level executives, but cybercriminals will target almost anyone they think has enough authority. 

In a whaling attack, the criminals might also try to impersonate C-level executives. For example, in 2016, hackers tricked an employee at Snapchat into giving up payroll information by pretending to be the Snapchat CEO in an email. 

 

How Managed IT Services Can Protect You Against Whaling Attacks

Protecting against whaling attacks using technological solutions can be challenging, but some potential safeguards exist.

Managed IT services could help you set up a permissions system on your network. This means that you can restrict the level of information that certain employees have access to. 

You can then only grant workers permission to access the files they need to do their job. While this doesn’t completely mitigate the risk of a whaling attack, it does help minimize the number of people criminals can target. 

Your permissions system can help you to identify employees who criminals may target. You can then train these at-risk employees to identify whaling attacks. 

 

Watering Hole Attacks

A watering hole attack is when criminals put malicious code on a site or program they know their targets will use. For example, they might compromise an industry-specific website in the hope of infecting computers on your company network. 

This kind of attack can be challenging to recognize. If the attackers execute a watering hole attack well, the victim won’t even notice. An example of a successful watering hole attack was when attackers managed to sneak malicious code into the app Ccleaner.

Thankfully, you can take some basic precautions to protect your company. 

 

How Managed IT Services Can Protect You Against Watering Hole Attacks

One of the main ways that managed IT services can protect your company against watering hole attacks is by ensuring all your apps are up to date. These kinds of attacks often only work because the hackers exploit vulnerabilities in software. 

Software developers usually quickly identify these issues and push out a security patch. As long as you constantly update to the latest version, you should be protected. Of course, keeping everything updated on an extensive company network can be difficult, but managed IT services can ensure everything stays updated.

 

Pretexting Attack

A pretexting attack is when a cybercriminal creates a social situation where the victim gives out personal information. In normal circumstances, the victim would never give up this information, but the hackers create a scenario where the victim feels like they need to. 

Criminals using this type of attack try to exploit human psychology. For example, they might present themselves as someone in a leadership position. They may also try to present themselves as someone the victim can trust. 

 

How Managed IT Services Can Protect You Against Pretexting Attacks

The best way to protect against this kind of attack is to make it more difficult to access your systems with just one piece of information. For example, you could use multi-factor authentication.

This is when you need to confirm your login from a second device. Typically, this involves logging in and providing a code you receive on your phone. 

This makes it much more difficult for an attacker to use pretexting. With multi-factor security at play, an attacker must gain access to your password and verification code. 

A managed IT services company can quickly implement this kind of security system for your company. 

 

Baiting Attacks

A baiting attack is when criminals leave some kind of digital bait for a victim to find. Once the victim takes the bait, the USB stick will execute malicious code on their system. A popular way of making a baiting attack is by leaving a USB stick lying around somewhere a victim will find it. 

Most people would be curious about what’s on the device. They might then plug the USB stick into a work computer. At this point, the malicious code executes, and the network is compromised. 

For example, in 2022, the hacking group FIN7 sent USB drives laced with malicious software to various organizations. 

 

How Managed IT Services Can Protect You Against Baiting Attacks

There are several ways managed IT services could protect your company from this kind of attack. They could make it impossible for workers to plug in their USB sticks. If you have workers who don’t need to do this to do their job, this solution makes a lot of sense. 

If this solution isn’t viable, they can also install robust antivirus software on your computer network. In many cases, good antivirus software detects and refuses to open the malicious code. 

Managed IT services will also back up all your essential data. If the antivirus fails, they can simply shut down the network and revert to an old backup. When done correctly, it will be like the baiting attack never happened. 

 

Phishing Attacks

A phishing attack is when cyber criminals set up a fake website. They make this site look authentic, but when the victim inputs their information, it sends it straight to the hackers. A phishing attack might also involve sending fake invoices to a company to try and get victims to pay. 

Cybercriminals might target your company by setting up a fake login portal for your company’s website. This could trick your workers into providing their passwords. In some cases, the criminals can even spoof the URL to appear to be a legitimate site. 

Even big tech companies like Google and Facebook are targeted. In 2016 a phishing scammer earned $100 million by sending these companies fake invoices. 

 

How Managed IT Services Can Protect You Against Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are often made through email. Managed IT services can install a filtering system to block phishing emails. They can also protect your company from malicious websites by setting up a proxy server.

Again, a two-factor password system also helps because attackers need more than one password to access your company.

 

Protect Your Company Against Social Engineering

As you can see, social engineering attacks pose a massive threat to your company. The good news is that managed IT services can help you implement security solutions to protect you. Working with a good managed IT solutions company and having a solid security culture will help keep your company safe.

If you want to work with an experienced managed IT services company, contact us today. 

Server and Network Management Basics

When you set up your own business, the details of the network and servers might not be something you even begin to think about. However, it can make or break small businesses, especially if they have their own websites and online services. An MSP can help you manage with network management and server management so that you don’t have to worry about losing customers due to security issues or slow networks. Keep reading to learn more about what server and network managements are, as well as what an MSP is and how they can help you.

 

What is Server Management?

Server management is the way that servers are handled to have ideal optimization. This means that it helps prevent slow loading times, ensures the site is safe and secure, and that it can grow and expand as needed. So essentially, server management should handle four main things on a fundamental level.

  • Hardware. Monitor CPUs and RAM for good performance from the server.
  • Software. Keep track of software, firmware, and operating systems and make sure they are regularly updated.
  • Security. Make sure antivirus software, firewalls, encryption, and access control are available and up-to-date.
  • Backups. Make sure your data is constantly backed up, no matter if you use physical or cloud storage as your preferred method.

There are many different kinds of servers out there, and you may end up using a few of them at once while setting up your business. Some examples of various servers include:

  • Web servers. As the name suggests, this server is what helps web content get to clients. A slow server could cause the website to load slowly or even only partially. Also, personal information like addresses and passwords are at risk of being stolen without proper protection.
  • Email servers. Email servers allow mail to be sent. Usually, they can be paired with websites.
  • Database servers. These servers rarely work alone, as their primary job is to store data. Data also must be carefully protected, so having server management handle that is very important.
  • Proxy servers. Web proxy servers are pretty variable and can do a lot. However, they all take in requests by users and process movements for the user themselves.

Your business depends on critical IT infrastructure in order to keep it running every day. Edge Networks has been managing and maintaining IT systems for over a decade, and we’re meticulous about failure prevention.

Our support team is here for you 24/7/365 to help keep your systems performing optimally. We can also help you decide whether choosing a virtualized or cloud-based infrastructure would make the most sense for your individual business’ needs. 

 

What is Network Management?

Unlike server management, which is mostly handled on one computer, network management handles a whole set of data on the same network. Like with server management, you can store network data either in a physical server or via a cloud system.No matter which way you decide to store it, however, you still need proper network management. Good network management handles a few different steps for you.

  • Automation. A proper network management system sets up the network to handle configuration, management, testing, deployment, and operation of both the physical and virtual devices.
  • Assurance. Your management system’s assurance measures will help you track and enhance performance, user experience, and security. This keeps your data safe and makes your clients happy with a smooth network. This is done by working with the analytics.
  • Analytics. Network analytics measures data coming in against the models that are set up and help make decisions about network performance. It usually works with the assurance feature to make sure the system is working securely and smoothly. Some analytics include policy, application, and analytics.

By having network management, you can make your network better in a variety of ways. Some of the main benefits include:

  • Reduce network disruptions
  • Improve security
  • Increase productivity

However, you may find that you get even more benefits from a well-managed network.

When it comes to Network Management, let Edge Networks relieve the burden. We’ll keep your IT environment safe and secure, and we’ll ensure that it’s fast, efficient, and reliable. Whether you need help choosing new hardware, software, or cloud-based solutions, we can offer guidance and personalized support, or help you maximize the lifespan and usability of the IT investments you’ve already made.

 

What Is an MSP?

MSP stands for Managed Service Provider. Their job is to manage information technology (IT) infrastructure and end-user systems. Many different companies hire MSPs, whether large or small businesses. Those that don’t hire MSPs tend to have their own in-house instead of using a third-party group. MSPs are tasked to handle jobs such as management of networks and infrastructure, security, and monitoring. Some Managed Service Providers will do broad jobs, while others handle more specialized sections.

Some examples of specific segments include:

  • Remote firewall administration
  • Security-as-a-service
  • Financial services
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Vertical markets
  • Data storage

There are three main types of MSP. There are the pure-play MSPs, who are smaller and focus on networks and applications and how those both perform. Sometimes, they may even offer their services to improve security and reports. Next is the staffing legacy MSP. These work for larger companies usually, though they may go down to more of the more mid-level groups. They do a lot of different services at once, which can include things like reporting, software upgrades, and monitoring. Finally, there are high-level MSPs. These providers outsource a lot of their client’s IT processes and offer a wide range of services.

Sometimes, MSPs can additionally be categorized by which services they offer. There are six general categories you may find an MSP falling into.

  1. Monitoring
  2. Remote support
  3. Proactive support
  4. Simplified billing
  5. Scheduled maintenance
  6. Centralized management

 

Why is it beneficial to hire an MSP?

There are many benefits to hiring an MSP. Six of the most important ones are:

  1. Lower technology costs
  2. Efficient service delivery
  3. Experienced people helping
  4. Can scale up or down quickly
  5. Application of emerging technology
  6. An idea of future trends

Simply put, it is beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses to hire an MSP because that way, you can focus primarily on your business growth. The security benefits alone are well worth it. With a good MSP, you don’t have to worry about server or network security. This is incredibly important for small businesses as over half of all small businesses targeted and attacked by cybercrimes go out of business from that attack.

Also, since many small businesses don’t have security measures, and that knowledge is well-known, many cyber attacks target smaller businesses. An MSP can help you with security measures, 24-hour monitoring services, and other management and monitoring tools.

However, you get a lot more than just security with a Managed Service Provider. They are people and companies that are knowledgeable in areas that might be a bit murky to you, and they are there to provide their expertise. Not only are they experienced in their work, but they have access to expert resources to help you out.

MSPs can also provide you with data loss security measures. Things happen, and data gets lost. Even though you can have preventative plans and take steps to reduce issues, they can’t plan for everything. Thankfully, MSPs can help ensure you have up-to-date backups when something goes wrong, so you still have everything recorded somewhere.

In the long run, a service MSP can also help you save money. If something does go wrong and you need a lot of repairs or updates, then you can pay a fixed monthly income to your MSP instead of hiring another organization hourly wages to do the same work.

However, the most significant benefit of an MSP is that it allows you to focus on what’s important. You don’t have to stress and monitor parts of your business you don’t understand and constantly worry about your network and server safety.

Instead, you can keep moving forward with your business and focus on the things that matter the most to you, such as keeping up-to-date with your customers and creating new and exciting products.

 

How to Choose a Managed Service Provider

After looking at all of the benefits of an MSP, you may want to just spring on an MSP so that you and your organization can take advantage of these benefits as soon as possible. But not all MSPs are created equally, and some can do just as much harm to your organization as the benefits they could and should be providing.

Below are some of the most important aspects of an MSP and how they operate that you should look for before beginning any business relationships. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, and you should always perform proper research into any potential business partners.

 

1.   Request and use references

If you’ve already shortlisted a couple of MSP candidates, you might be able to learn about some of their current clients and business partners. Reach out to these clients to better understand the MSP’s expertise with organizations of your size, as well as the type of industry you work in. If an MSP has a great reputation, it should also have a track record across the years it has been operating.

 

2.   Look for MSPs with experience in many different work environments

We’ve seen a lot of change in how we think about work in recent years, mostly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote work, whether from home or a separate office, has exploded in popularity across many industries. An organization that needs an MSP will have to meet these technological demands with an appropriate MSP. MSPs that understand the unique challenges of getting a remote computer onto a managed network or server and the potential for new cybersecurity breaches are vital in our new work paradigm from 2022 and onwards.

 

3.    Can the MSP feasibly scale with the growth of your organization?

As businesses ebb and flow, so should their needs from an MSP. You need to find an MSP that can keep up with your organization’s growth, otherwise, you’ll soon find the IT department to be your limiting factor. If an MSP has the right toolset for your needs, scaling up and down appropriately will be easy.

 

Keep Your Server and Network Running Smoothly

Choosing an MSP can take a lot of time, but it is well worth it. Not only can they keep your network and server running smoothly, but they can help protect your data and allow you to focus on your business’ growth and brand.

While it may not seem like a necessary expense at a glance, it is a security measure and safety net you don’t want to be without. So start looking for a Managed Service Provider as soon as possible to have peace of mind! Want to find out if Managed IT Services is right for your business? Contact us today for a free, 30-minute consultation or get started with a free, self-guided IT Security Risk Assessment.