Wednesday, June 27, 2018

June Newsletter: Where Office 365 Stands in the Technology Adoption Lifecycle



Monday, June 18, 2018

Cyber Security - Essential Advice for Small Businesses

Small business owners rely on the Internet for everything from ordering stock to keeping in touch with customers. Unfortunately, this brings exposure to the increasing threat of cybercrime. In addition to stealing money by fraud and deception, cybercriminals may set out to damage your reputation or put you out of business altogether. 

A business can never be completely safe from the threat of cybercrime, but most online attacks can be prevented by some basic security practices. Online security should be taken as seriously as the need to lock doors and store cash and valuables in a safe. Customers expect and have a right to the security of their data, and it's essential that steps are taken to prevent it falling into the wrong hands.

The following tips will increase your defense against online attacks. 

1) Use strong passwords. 
Strong passwords are an essential layer of protection. All staff should understand the need to have suitable passwords and the risks of writing them down or sharing them. A mix of at least ten letters, numbers, and other characters should be used to create strong passwords. Familiar words, names, and consecutive numbers are particularly vulnerable to hackers.

2) Use security software. 
A firewall and antivirus software can prevent the majority of cyber attacks. Don't cut corners with these protections as you put your business at risk if you connect to the Internet without them. Antivirus software must be updated on a regular basis to ensure the latest forms of malware identified and deleted.

3) Limit personal use of company IT equipment. 
Accessing personal email accounts and social media on company computers carries a high risk. Staff should be given clear instructions on their role in cybersecurity and the dangers of visiting websites not approved for company business. Viruses and worms can be hidden in online games, apps and attachments sent with emails. 

4) Protect your website. 
A company's website is a valuable resource, and it must be protected. Hackers may attempt to corrupt information on a website or take it down completely. Admin level access should be tightly controlled as this is one of the routes cybercriminals use for attacks. Hackers are continually scanning websites for vulnerabilities, so software and plugins should be updated regularly to make sure they are the latest versions.

5) Take a cautious approach. 
Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Their methods are continually evolving, and security software can't protect against all of the strategies they use. For example, cybercriminals might copy the identity of legitimate businesses and use these to deceive you. Common sense and caution are as valuable as antivirus software when it comes to cybersecurity.

6) Plan for the worst. 
Cybersecurity experts advise that planning and preparing for an attack is essential. Do you have the expertise and resources to deal with a cybercrime within your business? If not, who would you call on after an incident? Having a recovery plan can make the difference between a couple of days loss of business or a long-term impact.

The threats are always changing in the age where the Internet and technology have become part of everyday life. Small businesses are regarded as soft targets by cybercriminals, and steps must be taken to protect against attacks.

Robert Blake
877.860.5831 x190



If you have question or need help securing your technology, please give us a call 877.860.5831 x190 or check out our website.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Just released our 20 signs that your business is ready for managed services e-book




file:///Users/reblake/Downloads/eBook email announcement1.html

Hello,
We know, we know. You've already seen our website, and you know what Bit by Bithas to offer. Well, what we're emailing you about today is something totally new! If you or anyone you know is still curious about whether managed IT services is the way to go, we're releasing a free e-book: 20 Signs That Your Business is Ready for Managed Services.
This no-obligation download takes a tour through the network of an average small-to-medium-sized business to point out every way a managed services provider (MSP) can improve the way things work.
Think of this free PDF as a before-and-after photo for your technology. We've gone one-by-one through the most common pitfalls of underfunded IT departments show you what your technology could look like after switching to a managed IT services model.
  • Do you have a disaster recovery plan? Does it include everything listed in our e-book?
  • Can you select and deploy new technology and services as fast as we can?
  • Is your technology as scalable now as it would be with managed services?
After you've finished reading, if you still don't feel like our model is right for you, no problem! We just wanted to provide some free advice so that when you're ready -- you know whom to call.



Thursday, June 7, 2018

Quote of the Day

" We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."

- Carlos Castaneda

Monday, June 4, 2018

5 Reasons Why You've Chosen the Wrong Passwords (And Need to Change Them Pronto)

You have loads of passwords and are fairly happy they are good enough to keep your personal data safe. Still, a tiny part of you has reservations. You wonder whether you could have made better choices. Then again, who would want to steal your information, anyway? It's not as though you're a prime target, or so you imagine. Maybe it's time to think again. Everyday people lose valuable information to hackers. Here are five reasons your passwords are not as foolproof as you think.

Your password's the name of your pet

Come on, really? Everyone knows it's a bad idea to select your pet's name as a password, or do they? In truth, you're not alone. Plenty of people consider "Mr Fluffy" or whatever else they call their dog, cat, or gerbil an ideal password. After all, no one dodgy will figure it out.

Hang on a minute, though, do you call "Mr Fluffy" in from the garden sometimes or post Tweets about his antics? Enough said.

You chose 123456

Number sequences, especially those that start with one, are easily guessed. A few tries and most hackers with a brain will be able to retrieve your data. People often choose numbers because they are easy to remember. Unsurprisingly, they are also easy to uncover.

Avoid your birthdate too, or the birthday of your spouse or parents, as such data is simple to discover. Also steer clear of dates of other special events like when you purchased your home or got married.

Your password is password

"Password," "apassword4u," or anything remotely similar is a poor quality choice. You might as well use "grabmydata" if you're prepared to give up your privacy so easily. Lots of people make the same mistake and think they are clever. 

Oh, and "drowssap"--see what was done there?--although an improvement is almost as bad. What about adding "abc" to "123?" Is that helpful? Yes, but only for hackers.

Your password's full of sunshine

Don't you just love the sun? Plus, you've got a sunny disposition, so it makes sense to use the word sunshine as part of your password. Just typing it makes you feel good. You'll be upset, however, when hackers cotton on to your not so secret word. You see, sunshine is so popular it's always worth a try when you're a computer hacker making an educated guess.

You think "letmein" is a good idea

"Trustme," "letmein," and "mysafeword" are highly guessable passwords. Even if you add a digit, hackers will not find getting into your data a challenge. Any word relating to safety or data or safety and data is not a great choice.

Millions of passwords are hacked every day. If you don't want yours to be among them, take note of the tips mentioned. Select a unique sequence of letters, words, or characters, something no one else will guess, and keep your data safe. 


Reference: Pcworld.com

Please contact Bit by Bit at 877.860.5831 x190 if you need help with this or other technology solutions.