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Ransomware is the worst. It targets devices and systems, rendering them inaccessible until payment is made to the attacker. Once the ransomware is in place, the attacker effectively locks the legitimate user out until the ransom is paid. Historically, the attackers promised to provide a decryption key to unlock the affected device or system once the ransom was paid. In reality, it’s not that simple, and managed IT services in Orlando can help you avoid getting into this situation in the first place.

How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks

Get the Basic Protections In Place

The following are three pretty basic steps. You might already be doing them, but if not, they’re an easy way to put a base layer of protection over your organization.

Scan All Your Emails

Use email scanning tools. These tools are designed to detect malicious software that may be present in email communications. Once malware is detected, the email can be automatically blocked or deleted, ensuring that it never reaches your inbox.

One common method that hackers use to spread malware through email is by embedding it in attachments or files within the body of the email. These files may appear to be harmless images or documents, but when clicked, they can install malware such as ransomware on your device. By regularly scanning email communications for these types of files, you can greatly reduce the risk of your device or network becoming infected.

Get Security Software and Keep It Updated

Having security software is best practice for preventing ransomware. The software works by continuously monitoring files that are coming into your computer from the internet. If it detects a malicious file, it will prevent the file from being executed on your computer.

Security software uses known threat profiles and malicious file types to identify potential dangers to your computer. As these are constantly being updated, it is important to keep your security software updated, so you keep up. Many providers offer free regular updates to their software. These updates include the latest threat profiles, ensuring that your software is always up-to-date, and providing the best protection it can.

Back Up EVERYTHING

Ransomware attackers often target organizations that rely heavily on specific data for their operations. This is because they hope victims may feel compelled to pay the ransom to regain access to data essential for their daily operations. One way to mitigate this risk is by regularly backing up important data.

By backing up your data to a separate device or location that is not connected to your computer, you can easily restore the data in the event of a successful attack. It is important to make sure you are frequently backing up all critical data as, over time, the data you have may become outdated. Regular backups ensure that you have access to the most recent versions of your important data, even in the face of a ransomware attack.

Go to the Next Level

With the basics in place, you can put on the next layer of protection. These involve a little more specialized understanding, some help from your IT professionals, and some training for your people.

Watch Your Clicks

When browsing the web, it’s important to be cautious about clicking on links from unknown sources. If a link seems suspicious, such as in a spam email or on a questionable website, it’s best to avoid it. This is because hackers often use malicious links to spread malware, including ransomware.

It’s crucial to not click on links that haven’t been verified or that come from untrustworthy sources, and not only must you educate yourself on how to avoid this, but you have to train your people not to do it, either.

Watch Your Downloads

Hackers frequently deploy malware on websites and use various tactics, such as manipulating content or using social engineering techniques, to lure users into clicking on a malicious link within a site. Social engineering is a tactic that hackers use to manipulate users into taking a specific action by using psychological tactics, such as fear of missing out.

It is not uncommon for the malicious link to appear legitimate and innocent. Be cautious when visiting a website or clicking on a link, especially if you are not familiar with the site or if the URL looks suspicious. Cybercriminals often create fake websites that mimic legitimate ones to trick users into clicking on the link. Always verify the URL of a website before downloading anything from it, and teach your people the same skills.

Use Firewalls

Firewalls can be an effective solution in protecting against ransomware attacks. By analyzing incoming and outgoing network traffic, a firewall can detect and block malware and other potential threats.

Additionally, next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) can use deep packet inspection (DPI) to inspect the contents of data, identifying and discarding any files that contain ransomware.

Protect Your Endpoints

Endpoint protection is another important aspect of safeguarding against ransomware. By shielding individual devices from certain types of traffic that are more likely to carry threats, endpoint protection can prevent your device from engaging with potentially harmful data.

Furthermore, it can block malicious applications that hackers may use to infect your endpoints with ransomware.

Use VPNs When Out and About

Public Wi-Fi networks are easy to access, so hackers can use them to spread malware like ransomware. To protect yourself, it’s important to use a company virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi and make it available to your people if they’re ever accessing your network from a public hotspot.

VPNs encrypt the data that is sent and received on your device while you’re connected to the internet, creating a secure “tunnel” for your data to pass through. Only someone with an encryption key can access this tunnel, and any data that passes through it can only be read by decrypting it. This makes it much harder for hackers to sneak into your connection and place malware on your device, effectively blocking ransomware.

Don’t Use Unknown USBs

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device may seem harmless, but it can be used to store a malicious file that contains ransomware. Even if the USB only contains an executable file that can infect your computer, or if the file is launched automatically when you insert the USB device, it can take very little time for the USB to compromise your computer.

Cybercriminals sometimes leave USB devices in public places or use a seemingly innocent label on the USB to make it look like a free gift from a reputable company. Even though many modern computers are ditching the USB connections, some older ones still have them, and it’s important your people know never to use any USB device for company work that your company hasn’t provided.

Work With an Experienced Managed IT Company

The best protection you can have against attacks that are constantly evolving is to work with an IT company that keeps up with the latest security threats in cyberspace. This is their bread and butter: they keep up with all the latest malicious software, so you don’t have to.

What To Do If You’re Targeted

Isolate and Shut Down

Isolating the infected devices is crucial. The first step is to shut down the infected system to prevent it from being used by the malware to spread the ransomware further. Next, disconnect all network connections to the infected device, including any cables that connect the device to the network or other devices on the network. Shut down the Wi-Fi that serves the area infected with the ransomware.

Lastly, all storage devices connected to the network should be immediately disconnected to prevent the malware from potentially infecting them. Assume each storage device has been infected and clean them before allowing any devices in your network to attach to them.

Identify and Remove

Some ransomware attacks have known decryption keys, and identifying the malware can help determine if a decryption key is already available and can be used to unlock the infected device, thereby thwarting the attacker’s objective.

Additionally, identifying the malware can also aid in understanding the possible remediation options. To effectively deal with the threat, it is important for your managed IT services in Orlando to know the specific malware they are dealing with. Once they know what’s going on, they can then remove it. The timing of removal is important to preserve data and prevent the spread of malware, so don’t try to remove the malware until your security team know what they’re dealing with and say it’s safe.

Recover (and Never Pay)

You shouldn’t have any issues recovering your data if you regularly back it up. You might have lost a couple hours’ worth of data at most, depending on how frequently you back things up, but under no circumstances should you pay the ransom. Hackers rely on successfully extorting victims, and when victims refuse to pay, it makes it less attractive for attackers to continue their crimes.

Additionally, paying the ransom once may make you a more attractive target for future attacks. Attackers are aware that if you paid once, you may be more likely to pay again in the future. Finally, even if you do pay, you may not actually be given access, or you may find all your data corrupted.

The Best Managed IT Services in Orlando

At Cyber Command, we innovate services to meet the unique needs of every client, and we’re available 24/7 to keep you protected. Contact Cyber Command now and get protected against ransomware and every other cyber threat. 

The NIST cybersecurity framework exists as a set of guidelines and optimum practices that are recognized and aimed at managing and improving cybersecurity operations. This framework has provided organizations with a flexible approach to adapting to security-related situations.

However, what does this framework offer, and how does it achieve these results that put organizations in good security positions? Let’s find out the implementation details to keep you up to speed and enjoy the benefits for your organization.

Purpose and Scope of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

The major purpose of establishing this framework is to provide several functioning organizations with a solid security structure. The structure provided will effectively equip organizations with optimal security to protect from cyber-attacks.

This structure encompasses a set of guidelines, best practices for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity, frameworks for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity, and policies. Improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity, frameworks, and the standards they should adhere to. These various cybersecurity frameworks, policies, frameworks, and standards are essential to help organizations identify and assess security risks and measures for proper mitigation.

Importance of a Standardized Cybersecurity Framework

Several aspects make the cybersecurity framework important, the most important being clarity. It creates an even ground with a common language that several organizations can relate to, regardless of their services and size.

The framework should also work well to match properly with the best practices in the industry while providing scalability features. It also brings about optimal risk management decisions. It can manage cybersecurity risks, risks, and outcomes for small businesses and organizations while matching regulatory and compliance requirements with standards and documents.

Core Components of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Identify

Asset management also is an essential part of the NIST cybersecurity framework that should not be excluded when considering your organizational operations. It concerns identifying every asset in the organization in question and cataloging them through documentation. Some assets that assess asset management also cover software platforms, hardware, data, etc.

Another core component of this framework is the business environment component concerned with the operational atmosphere. It mainly focuses on the internal and external factors that affect an organization’s operations since they affect certain proceedings.

The internal factors focused on identity management are the objectives, goals, and missions the organization is based on for operations. On the other hand, the external factors of identity management span the industry’s threats, legal requirements, security standards, and regulations.

Governance is also essential in the full NIST cybersecurity framework, as there is a need for executive and management teams and a formal structure to exist within an organization. This component of the full NIST and cybersecurity framework involves creating roles in order of hierarchy and assigning personnel to complete operations properly. The personnel assigned to each role will manage the related responsibilities. They will also be held accountable for every occurrence of cybersecurity events and operation progression.

The risk assessment process should remain in the risk management strategy and assessment framework as it greatly benefits organizations. The Risk management framework is the sole component that helps organizations to understand attack targets and detect potential threats and vulnerabilities. It also covers the discovery risk assessment and selection of procedures that will serve the organization in mitigating these threats for optimal protection.

After understanding the concept of supply chain risk management, it is essential to perform the process by creating a well-laid-out strategy. This strategy is important to manage the threatening situations that the organization incurs with several workable measures. The measures that an optimal strategy for the supply chain risks, risk management decisions, and processes should provide must cover ways to mitigate, accept and avoid the vulnerabilities.

Protect

Protection, as determined by the framework, attracts the necessity to control the freedom of access to sensitive data. This is mostly done with personnel in the five functions of the organization within five functions. It’s essential to protect specific information, especially sensitive data, from being stolen or altered. Implementing access control measures like Role Based Access Control and Multi-Factor Authentication serves this purpose.

It’s essential to possess knowledge about security measures in the digital business environment, which counts as a sup component in the framework core. By creating awareness and training employees in cybersecurity frameworks, your organization improves attentiveness to your security policies and procedures. It goes further to improve cybersecurity outcomes and the rate at which your organization reacts to cyber attacks on a national institute general scale.

Securing your data is important, similar to security controls, but differs from the access control subcomponent. Unlike access control, data security involves measures to guarantee information protection from threats and attacks on a general scale. Prioritizing this data security sub-component protects your organizational data from issues that might cause privacy violations.

Implementing information security measures to protect your organizational data and operations requires setting some procedures. These procedures are called information security management systems or protection processes and are activities that help solidify your organizational and information systems. It’s essential to plan the procedures and have them documented to solidify the protection strategies in the framework.

Another sub-factor in the protection component is the maintenance factor, and it is equally essential as the others for optimal protection.

It involves asset management and keeping all security measures, cybersecurity measures, cybersecurity policies, strategies, critical infrastructure services, and assets in check to ensure they are in good condition and functioning properly. Maintenance also attracts consistent updates or advancements of the current cybersecurity policies, measures, and strategies to better solutions depending on the trends.

The protective technology factor in critical infrastructure cybersecurity calls for technology-based solutions to manage cybersecurity risk and solidify security procedures. Technology improves and evolves consistently, improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity posture. This improvement also involves keeping up with regular updates that follow the trends to get the best results. Prioritizing this protective technology factor, critical infrastructure services, and others under the protection component of critical infrastructure cybersecurity helps your organization solidify its cybersecurity defenses.

Detect

Continuous Monitoring, Anomalies, and Events

The detect component in the NIST cybersecurity framework helps to keep organizational cybersecurity activities at their optimal runtime during operations. It involves monitoring the various cybersecurity activities to discover any abnormal pattern that can impede the functionality of operations. Optimal detection procedures for these anomalies allow faster reactions when deviation and abnormalities occur.

Continuous monitoring also falls under the detect component due to its importance in keeping critical infrastructure services in the framework running. It involves consistently paying attention to the runtime of critical infrastructure services in certain organization sections which affect most operations. These aspects include security and continuous monitoring of the application, networking, and information systems essential for seamless operations.

Security Event Logging and Detection Processes

The framework also prioritizes the need to document certain aspects of organizational functions, and one way is security event logging. It involves documenting every security-related event about the security and protection of your organizational data. These cybersecurity event logs are created to capture security-related events like system changes, login sessions, and attempts.

One or more detection processes exist in the framework, the detection process, which helps to factor out every hindrance and obstacle. The detection process works to help the organization identify issues that come up with the operations and service during runtime. Using solutions like event and risk management frameworks, security continuous monitoring, intrusion, and detection systems, and prevention systems work to handle these kinds of situations.

Respond

Response Planning, Mitigation, Communications, and Analysis

Responding to a situation is also essential when managing a cybersecurity incident or risk event, and it needs to be optimally planned out to get the best solution. Response planning involves creating optimal strategies to help mitigate and manage cybersecurity risk events and related incidents. Response plans include certain responsibilities assigned to employees to identify functions that serve as incident responders when managing the situation.

Communication in the response core component is a priority, as the organization must stay current. Information needs to pass across to other resources in every operational role to aid faster responses to situations, and effective communication facilitates this. All communication channels must be well-defined to solidify the authenticity of the information for optimal first-response planning.

It is also essential to analyze the incidents your organization experiences, and the analysis factor under the response component covers it.

The analysis process involves accessing the security event logs you have created to identify the causes and solutions to incidents. The analysis stage is also a phase that concerns intelligence gathering and organizational understanding of how each respondent utilizes the available information for problem resolution.

The next phase after the incident has been analyzed from the available logs is the mitigation of the hindrances to operations. It is a phase that implements the solutions derived based on analysis to ensure the issues are resolved optimally. An example is implementing a containment strategy where a data breach already occurs, eradicating it, and restoring optimal functionalities.

Recover

Recovery Planning, Improvements

The recovery component starts with the recovery planning of areas affected by the last serious cybersecurity event or incident after the contents of response planning. It involves getting all systems back to working conditions and, in turn, making them function better with improved security controls. The phase mostly encompasses restoration and backup strategies to save data and create a condition reversal enabling continual operations.

Working on improvements is prioritized by the framework as it helps to create resistance to issues and comes after the mitigation phase. The improvement phase exists to enhance security by accessing the reasons for the breaches and affected areas. It’s an analysis to get the study pattern to avoid chain risk management having the incident repeat itself for the same reason and in the same way.

Communication for Recovery and Recovery Coordination

Communication is important when responding to incidents and is required when performing recovery activities and operations for the organization. Informing every inside team member, including partners and customers, based on their role is essential to keep them up to speed. It is also a process that aids seamless recovery activities by putting every member on the same page creating a synergy to restore the organizational operations faster.

Recovery coordination creates synergy when restoring organizational operations to optimal working conditions. It involves all members coming together to perform their responsibilities based on their assigned roles for faster and more effective restoration. The recovery coordination continues beyond internal members alone and organizational understanding; it involves external factors like third-party vendors and external stakeholders connected to these processes.

Framework Implementation Tiers

Tier 1 – Partial

Tier 1, also known as the partial tier, shows the initial stage of awareness and approach that an organization currently has towards cybersecurity-related threats. The tier represents a stage of limited awareness where the organization needs more knowledge about these threats and the solutions to implement. It can also represent the phase where an organization only has the basic strategies to resolve the issues but could be more effective or satisfactory.

Tier 2 – Risk Informed

The next stage is tier 2, the cybersecurity risk-informed stage, where an organization has become aware of these threats and understands their cybersecurity risks. It’s also a stage where the organization implements more systematic solutions to resolve and protect cybersecurity risks from threats. The implemented solutions are further improved, prioritizing cybersecurity risk assessments and assessments, creating former policies for cybersecurity outcomes and stronger security, and aligning cybersecurity activities with their objectives.

Tier 3 – Repeatable

Tier 3, also called the repeatable stage, is where an organization finally has a defined set of solutions and processes to implement. These processes are then set in order of a cycle and are repeated to continuously guarantee protection from threats and attacks. The stage also shows the efficiency of the implementation tiers of an organization’s risk management strategy in measuring the performance of the implemented solutions.

Tier 4 – Adaptive

Here is the final stage, the tier 4 or adaptive stage, where an organization has reached the highest possible security sufficiency. It then creates adaptive strategies to respond to new threats and issues to protect critical infrastructure, business environment, and functioning systems as time passes. This is the tier where organizations also proactively implement a predictive approach to secure critical infrastructure and their system from newly trending threats.

Benefits of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

A. Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture

Prioritizing the implementation of the NIST cybersecurity framework gives small businesses the benefit of enjoying enhanced security against potential threats and incidents. The national institute of Standards (NIST) cybersecurity framework gives you the freedom and ability to identify the risks systematically. This shows the threats that your organization is open to with its current security measures that you use. Enhanced National Institute of Standards (NIST) cybersecurity framework posture and the national institute of Standards and posture are a great benefit. Another reason for this is that it doubles up to provide you with sensitive data security and gains your organization more customer trust.

B. Improved Risk Management

The NIST cybersecurity framework’s structure and flexible framework allow government agencies and other private sector companies to enjoy some benefits. It also includes organizations everywhere to enjoy heightened cybersecurity risk management practices to combat predicted issues. Organizations get to prioritize cybersecurity measures and systematically mitigate the issues by managing the risks involved. An improved cybersecurity risk management strategy and process are among the benefits private sector organizations enjoy. It also facilitates a proper understanding of the full NIST cybersecurity framework to increase the effect of these benefits.

C. Better Communication between Stakeholders

NIST cybersecurity framework and cybersecurity policy framework highly encourage effective communication between the national institute. This also includes various internal and external stakeholders and national institute and organization members. Communication channels that keep every section of the national institute international organization up to date to facilitate a seamless and faster operational runtime with all organizational activities. The communication channels benefit service, supply chain risk management, security, and many other aspects of the national institute as it provides great benefits.

D. Scalability and Flexibility for Organizations of all Sizes

Another benefit this framework brings organizations is the advantage of scaling up the security practiced over time to suit the situation. The framework is flexible enough to allow you to tweak your implementations to suit your organization with every change in size and operations. Scaling up is easier to complete, unlike when the framework is not implemented, making it a huge advantage.

E. Alignment with Industry Best Practices

The NIST cybersecurity framework is also designed to stick with the best practices in cybersecurity event your organization is using industry standards. This same Nist cybersecurity framework means you will likely not step on the boundaries outside the framework. The Nist cybersecurity frameworks and regulations keep you in check when conducting organizational operations. It’s a great advantage to protect you from the harsh penalties that your organization might incur when going against the regulations and standards.

The cybersecurity field is developing daily, and we must keep up with the changes. Most people who use cyberspace are not aware of what PII means. PII data is a term in cybersecurity that stands for personally identifiable information. This information is tied to an individual’s identity and identity based on a set of data available on servers and other stored applications in cyberspace. Your personal information contains critical data about you and confidential information that should not just get into any hands.

Cybersecurity is faced with protecting such sensitive private data and information and ensuring that they do not get into the wrong hands. This is done using a sa cybersecurity framework, a series of security measures interconnected to protect personal data and information in the digital space.

A lot can be done when PII is breached by a third party or potential threat on the internet. It is critical to understand protecting PII, how it comes to play, and what you can do to keep it safe and secure. In the rest of this post, we will look critically into protecting PII security, how it pertains to you, and what you can do to keep it safe, secure, and confidential.

What Is Considered Personal Identifiable Information PII Data?

Everyone has specific data and information that pertains to them, and one of the costs of using the digital space is that such data and information are inputted either through services, websites, or applications that need the data to function.

The PII security covers specific details about an individual utilizing the online space. Put the pieces of this information together, and you can easily identify and access an individual maintained individual on the digital space. Some of this information can include one’s birth date, address, telephone number, email address, name, and mailing address.

In some cases, it could also contain means of identification like a driver’s license, national identity number, diverse license, and even billing information like credit card numbers and debit card numbers. This critical information is accessible on the net and is only protected by adequate cyber security measures. Recently, social security numbers and biometric information are also considered identifiable information, making PII security controls all the more critical and essential in cybersecurity.

Why PII CYbersecurity May Depend On Case-By-Case Assessments

Depending on your area and the restrictions on personal information on the net, what is classified as personally identifiable information varies between sites and locations.

However, it all comes down to what is being done digitally. While some identifying information can require as much as your name, address, or social security number to get certain things done, in some cases, your name, id number, or email address is more than enough to suffice.

As a result, certain personally identifiable information is considered a cyber risk; however, this is done on a case-by-case basis. Such information contains critical details such as personal identifiers such as employer information, taxpayer identification number, passport number, and other critical information that could mean bad news when they fall into the wrong hands.

A prevalent situation is when such vital PII security is accessed and sold on the dark web for illegal and criminal activities. There may be times when nonsensitive data is used alongside nonsensitive PII to identify a specific individual accurately and precisely. Depending on the case, even perceived non-sensitive information can also function as a toll in a cybersecurity risk case. As such, you must protect against sensitive PII breaches and theft of this information.

What Is the Difference Between Sensitive PII Data and Non Sensitive PII?

Before we go into the key details, one critical factor to remember is this; when nonsensitive information n gets into the wrong hands, very little can be done with it to put you at a cyber security risk.

However, it is not the case with sensitive personally identifiable information PII, as access to even just one or two of such data can have highly damning consequences for social identity. With that in mind, we can say that sensitive information is a high-level cybersecurity risk. In contrast, no sensitive data falls slightly lower on the scale where personally identifiable information PII and cybersecurity are concerned.

For example, data such as usernames or tribe cannot do much to distinguish or trace down an individual’s specific identity and not cause much damage to them since they cannot accurately be streamlined out of the crowd.

Why Do You Need To Protect PII

However, it is a different ball game when personally identifiable information PII, such as the driver’s license, date of birth, government identification information, or social security number, is involved, as this can, by itself, compromise the identity alongside other very confidential information if an individual.

This is because confidential data and information are usually classified as such since they carry unique identifiers. Such data contain streamlined information that accurately tracks down to a single individual or, at most, a closed group of options that can be easily tracked down to get the accurate identity of the specific individual used. Examples of such data include medical records from healthcare service providers, customer information, insurance details, social security numbers, passport information, and other third-party transactional information.

Should Both Types of Personally Identifiable Information Pii Be Protected?

Cybersecurity largely involves protecting sensitive data and information from potential or possible breaches. Whether sensitive or nonsensitive, every data should be protected against a breach. However, the risk factors differ on a scale; personal identifying information, whether vital or basic, can still cause potential harm to an individual if the right measures are not set in place.

In the same vein, while nonsensitive data is not considered much of a threat, it becomes a high-risk case when combined with certain other sensitive data and information. This is why both types of personal identifiable information should be protected by businesses and other organizations that possess the personal information of employees, clients, and customers.

Cybersecurity: PII and Data Privacy

A data breach rarely ends well, and there is some form of compromise on the part of the individual with the identifiable data being exposed. These breaches can leave the individual’s information at risk and open your company to fines and lawsuits.

In such cases, cybersecurity services come into play in protecting PII with general data protection regulations, electronic documents, and information such as personal identifying information. It becomes even more critical for businesses and third-party agents dealing with such sensitive information to protect it from a data breach.

What cybersecurity experts will do is take additional information and develop a create a framework that will protect it. For example, cybersecurity experts can analyze the specific type of data your business stores to predict what nonsensitive data can be used to increase the likelihood of a sensitive PII breach.

Why Does Personally Identifiable Information PII Need Extra Security?

Here is a simple answer; because personally identifiable information PII sensitive data is, as the name implies, tied to a person’s identity, and identity theft, therefore, ranks on top of the list of potential risks with data breaches of this type. A stolen identity can be used in criminal acts and to carry out certain illegal activities that will implicate the wrong individual due to access to their information.

Identity theft is a cyber threat that uses stolen sensitive data, such as personal information to open accounts for profit, such as new bank or credit card accounts. As a result, protecting PII and security requires an extra level of protection to ensure that privacy is utmost and a breach is close to impossible and personal information about one’s identity is carefully and accurately protected.

Recovering from cyber theft is often a very difficult process that can take several years, and sadly, not all financial institutions offer recovery options for victims of cyber theft, and some victims may need to change their name, social security number, bank accounts, and other major aspects of identifiable information to recover from theft.

In extreme cases, victims of identity theft may need to file for bankruptcy. Where third parties and businesses are concerned, in cases of cyber theft due to information shared with the establishment, they could face a liability suit if proper care is not taken, which could potentially run down the business.

General Data Protection Regulation

Aside from the potential risk of cyber theft, certain regulatory bodies also govern the use of such data and information in the digital space. These regulatory bodies are usually government organizations and federal or state policies to which this information is subject. A good example is how one of the goals of government organization organizations and policies is to protect consumer data from cyber theft in the digital space.

Some government organizations, such as the European Union, have a robust data privacy regulation plan to reduce the risk of cyber theft. Although general data protection regulations began in the EU, they have become a global standard for protecting consumer information. Some of the compliance requirements of these regulations include masking online identification of private IP addresses, protecting health information, and letting users know when location data is being collected.

How Can Your Business Protect PII?

It all comes down to how well a business can effect sustainable and efficient cybersecurity measures to prevent a data breach and effective crisis management in case of an occurrence. At the same time, when a business has access to personally identifiable information of customers as a result of transactional activities, the organization operating the business must protect PII and notify consumers when PII security has been compromised.

With the help of effective cybersecurity services, companies and businesses alike can now develop comprehensive policies to protect PII with the aid of a cybersecurity framework effectively. Measures such as developing a strategy and a framework that will protect personally identifiable information with tools such as predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, secure passwords, two-factor authentication, multi-factor authentication, and other encryption can make all the difference in preventing a data breach.

How Can Individuals Protect PII?

Personally identifiable information contains very critical data, and more than ever before, individuals should be concerned about how much data employment information pertains to them is shared with a third party and on the online space. Most websites and businesses that require such information go the extra mile to include authentication apps and platforms to ensure that all are protected and no aspect of personal privacy is left unguarded. However, ensuring they only share such critical information with trusted websites remains an individual responsibility.

Proper attention should be given to information shared on social security numbers in the digital space, both based on specific factors and requirements or casually while updating your audience via social media. It is also pertinent to be well aware of potential scams and tactics used by these people to gain access to such information in the first place.

Individuals should always remember that the government and federal agencies will never ask for credit card information, especially casually over the Internet, where there is little to no means to verify or authenticate the request.

How Else Can Cybersecurity Services Help Your Business?

When protecting sensitive PII, businesses must be aware that cybersecurity measures should be implemented to protect these critical data. Not just anything will do, and most of the time, measures taken at the individual level are insufficient to protect such critical data for business on a large scale.

As a result, businesses need to adopt expert cybersecurity strategies and techniques from trusted service providers to help enhance the overall data security of the business. To put things in better view, here are some other ways in which you can go about implementing cybersecurity solutions as a business owner:

Create a Framework

Developing or creating a cybersecurity framework that features best practices, strategies, tools, models, and even crisis management plans to manage cases of data breaches is one of the many yet most effective means of protecting data. With the date of birth right service provider, you can find a flexible framework tailored to your business’s precise needs.

Manage Digital IDs and User Access

Effective management user tracking of shared data and information from clients and third-party agents is another effective means of preventing a potential data breach. For example, cybersecurity can help businesses simplify managing certain data privacy, including revoking permissions when employees are offsite or no longer working in a certain department.

By instituting data tracking and access control within an organization, you can mitigate specific risks associated with electronic PHI & personally identifiable information data privacy laws while providing a system to ensure employees can access what they need to do their work.

Install and Manage Cloud Security Features

Since many companies use cloud services to host data storage, software applications, and other types of data, it’s important to use a cybersecurity service that can manage the security features of cloud applications. The goal of managing cloud security is to protect data stored on the cloud from hacking or other data breaches.

Cloud security benefits using tools such as virtual private networks, two-factor authentication, and firewalls. Many breaches come from phishing attacks which too can be mitigated with a combination of employee education, security policies, and IT features installed on the corporate network.

Implement Data Security Measures

Effective cybersecurity service providers will also help your company implement data security measures. For example, as part of your cybersecurity framework, your business can keep data safe from identity theft and corruption. Effective data and security controls will include tools such as end-end encryption for transmitting data, encrypting data storage, and using authentication to restrict access to certain data.

Protect Application Security

The security of applications used by your company is also central, particularly applications that store employee and consumer-sensitive data. For example, health insurance portability and payroll applications must be protected with security measures to secure employee and healthcare information. Many businesses don’t realize it, but the applications used by your business are one of the areas cyber criminals will target during a data attack.

Upgrade Network Security

Finally, hiring cybersecurity services can also help your business upgrade the overall security of your network. Your business’s network can include the software your business uses and the physical servers that may be stored at your home address business headquarters. Network security will manage elements such as system access and other digital prints that can be used to identify cyber threats.

Use Cybersecurity to Protect Sensitive PII

Personally identifiable information is sensitive data and one of the main risks of cybercriminal activity. When cybercriminals have access to PII, it’s much easier to steal an individual’s identity. Businesses must protect a person’s identity from being stolen online. This includes both consumers and employees by using a robust cybersecurity framework. Contact us today to learn more about how managed IT support can benefit your business’s cybersecurity.

In the business world, there are a lot of moving parts. And if you’re in charge of a company, it’s your job to make sure everything is running smoothly. That includes the IT department. But what happens when you don’t have an in-house IT team? Or when your team is stretched too thin? That’s where an IT support company comes in. An IT support company can be a lifesaver for businesses of all sizes. But how do you know which one is right for you? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the things you should look for in an IT support company, so you can make the best decision for your business.

Size of the company

The size of your company is one of the key factors to consider when choosing an IT support company. The larger your company, the more complex your IT needs will be. You’ll need a company that can scale up its services to meet your growing needs.

On the other hand, if you’re a small business, you might not need all the bells and whistles that a larger company offers. A smaller IT support company can be a good fit for your budget and your needs.

Either way, make sure you choose a managed IT support company that can meet your current and future needs.

Type of business

The right IT support company for your business will be one that provides the services you need to keep your business running smoothly. There are many different types of IT support companies, so it’s important to find one that specializes in the type of business you have.

For example, if you own a small business, you’ll want to find an IT support company that specializes in small businesses. They should be able to offer you a range of services, from technical support to data backup and recovery.

If you have a larger business, you’ll need a managed IT support company that can handle more complex issues. They should be able to provide you with enterprise-level support, including server administration and network security.

No matter what size business you have, it’s important to find an IT support company that can meet your specific needs. By finding a company that specializes in your type of business, you can be sure that they’ll be able to provide the best possible service.

Number of employees

The number of employees a company has can be an important factor to consider when trying to find the right IT support company. A company with fewer employees may not have the bandwidth to provide adequate support, while a company with too many employees may be overstretched and unable to provide the level of service you need. The ideal company will have enough employees to meet your needs without being so large that they are unable to give you the attention you deserve.

Geographic location of the business

The geographic location of the business is an important factor to consider when choosing an IT support company. If the company is located in a different country, time zone, or even region, it can be difficult to get support when you need it.

It’s important to choose a company that is close enough to your own business that you can easily get in touch with them when needed. The last thing you want is to have to wait hours or even days for a response from your IT support company.

Make sure to take the time to research the location of the company before making your final decision.

The budget for IT support services

The budget for IT support services can vary depending on the size and needs of your business. However, it is important to find an IT support company that fits within your budget and can provide the services you need. There are a few things to consider when budgeting for IT support services:

-The number of employees who will need support
-The types of services you will need (e.g. help desk, network support, etc.)
-How often you will need support

Once you have a good understanding of your IT support needs, you can begin researching companies that fit within your budget. Be sure to read online reviews and compare pricing before making your final decision.

What to look for in an IT support company

When you’re looking for an IT support company, you want to find one that will be a good fit for your business. Here are some things to look for:

-A company that offers a broad range of services. You want a company that can handle all of your IT needs, from computers and networks to email and website hosting.

-A company with experience in your industry. It’s helpful to find a company that understands the unique challenges you face in your business.

-A company with a proven track record. Look for a company that has been in business for awhile and has happy customers.

-A company that is responsive and easy to work with. You want a company that you can rely on to answer your questions and help solve your problems.

How to find the right IT support company for your business

There are a few key things to keep in mind when searching for the right IT support company for your business. The first is to make sure that the company has experience supporting businesses in your industry. It’s important to find a company that understands the specific challenges and opportunities that come with working in your industry.

The second thing to consider is the size of your business. You’ll want to find an IT support company that has experience working with businesses of a similar size to yours. This way, they’ll be able to better understand your needs and provide tailored solutions.

Finally, you’ll want to make sure that the managed IT support company you choose is a good fit for your culture and values. It’s important to find a company that you can build a relationship with and who shares your commitment to delivering excellent customer service.

Conclusion

When it comes to finding the right IT support company for your business, it’s important to do your research and ask around for recommendations. Once you’ve found a few companies that seem like they would be a good fit, schedule consultations so you can get a better idea of what they offer and how they operate. With the right IT support in place, you’ll be able to focus on running your business without having to worry about technology issues.

IT is
complicated.

It is unrealistic to expect 1-2 people to have a complete understanding of networking, backup & disaster recovery, compliance, cybersecurity, email monitoring, infrastructure, cloud management, and the list goes on.

Why depend on a few when you can have an entire team for a reasonable price?

Get instant technical support.

93% of tech support calls are answered instantly and 100% of messages get a call back in less than 15 minutes!

Why have someone for only 8 hours a day? Except when they’re off to lunch or working on something else — maybe they’re out of the office for personal reasons. Why chance it?

Experience
convenience.

How convenient would it be to have a team of technicians support and troubleshoot your network problems without needing to track anybody down?

Your managed IT department is on standby to tend to your every need, monitor and maintain your entire IT infrastructure and provide you peace of mind.

As companies grow, they need to invest more in their IT departments. Traditionally, this was accomplished by hiring more IT professionals to increase capacity. However, today, other options exist. Managed IT services, for example, bring a third party into the mix. Just as you might hire out building maintenance, you can also outsource IT to a managed services provider. Is there a real difference between traditional, professional IT services, and managed services? There is, but it’s not what you might expect.

What Is the Difference Between Professional and Managed Services?

Managed IT Services Make Getting Professional IT Support Easy

Ultimately, the biggest difference between the classic approach to IT and the modern managed approach is that managed IT services make it much easier to handle your IT needs. Managed service providers bring together the same professionals that you would like to hire for yourself. Therefore, there’s no drop-off in quality when you choose managed services. You’re getting the very professional support that your company needs. However, managed services simplify everything.

Not only do managed services help your company save time, but they also help you save money. In addition, managed services can handle just about every task that your own IT department could. Consider some of the major differences between the traditional IT model and today’s forward-thinking managed services style of IT:

Pricing Differences

Businesses, especially small ones, need to keep their costs down in order to scale up. However, hiring professional IT staff implies a big hit to your budget. This is why many companies often have managers or tech-savvy employees pulling double duty, working on small IT tasks while taking care of their daily business. If you’ve found yourself fixing a printer instead of closing the next big sale, you need more IT support. But how can you afford it?

Pricing is where managed services stand out when compared to the traditional approach. Consider how the two models impact your company’s finances differently.

Traditional Professional IT

An IT professional costs more than the average employee, especially when they have specialized skills that your company needs. Even hires fresh out of college can command strong salaries in IT. The average salary for a relatively low IT position such as a desktop support analyst is over $75,000! And that’s before we even account for benefits and other expenses related to new hires.

More important positions demand even higher pay rates. Cybersecurity, for example, is something that should be a top priority in your company. Nevertheless, your average network security engineer is pulling in over $115,000 a year. High price tags like these lead companies to ignore cybersecurity, potentially leading to a breach that costs even more. What can you do if you cannot afford to hire professionals outright?  

Managed IT Simplifies Pricing

Instead of paying for expensive professionals to work full-time in your company, managed services deliver the same performance for a fraction of the price. With managed IT, you specify the services you need, and the managed services provider will give you a flat monthly rate for their support. This means you get all the predictability of a full-time salary without the massive expense. But how is it possible for a company to offer IT professionals at much lower rates?  

Your average IT worker at a private business does not have a full agenda every day of the week. If someone is wholly dedicated to tech support, there might even be days when nothing goes wrong and they have little to do, though, of course, there are also times when they’re run ragged and charging you overtime.

Managed service providers turn downtime into productivity by working with multiple companies. When your operations are running smoothly, our professionals are out handling others’ problems. When you have an emergency need, you don’t have to overwork one or two people: multiple professionals in managed services are able to fix it while still working reasonable hours. In the end, everyone wins.

Staffing Differences

The high cost of hiring professional IT workers aside, just attracting the right IT talent to your company can be a real problem. Not only do you have to carefully identify the skills that you need in your new hire, but you have to also go through the entire hiring process. Given today’s labor market, you might not even be able to find qualified professionals in your area. Each time you’re near capacity, you have to repeat this tedious process.

Managed service providers take this weight off your shoulders. You won’t have to worry about hiring IT professionals ever again since they’re already under the roof of your managed services provider. Consider some of the other challenges that companies face when hiring IT professionals and how managed services sidestep these issues.

Hiring IT Professionals Is a Challenge

A couple of decades ago, a single systems administrator and support technician could handle most of your IT needs. However, IT skillsets have become much more diversified in the past decade. Nowadays, you need an expert in cloud computing, a network administrator, data analyst, and IT security managers. You’ll also need a technician or two who can handle minor issues that pop up throughout the work week. Finding people with these specific sets of skills can be a challenge.

Competition for these IT professionals is fierce. Large organizations are often willing and able to open their wallets for qualified IT staff, leaving small businesses to struggle. Managed services, in contrast, flips the script.
 

Managed Services Give Your Company a Whole IT Department

Instead of looking for the ideal IT team piece by piece, you can get an entire IT department by switching to managed services. Managed service companies hire specialists in a variety of fields. That means you get your network administrator, cloud specialist, cybersecurity expert, and technicians, all with a single monthly payment. When you need support in a specific area, the right expert will go to work. This means your company has a fully staffed IT department at the ready.

It’s much easier for us to hire talented IT professionals. They love working in an environment where they’re entirely surrounded by their peers. Each addition to the team brings even more contacts to help us provide the best service possible to everyone who needs it. The end result is a well-rounded group of IT pros that can support your company across numerous areas.
 

Skills and Knowledge Differences

Another key difference between the traditional approach and managed services lies in the skills that each group brings to the table. Even if you were able to hire a whole IT department with individual specialists, you might not get the skills you actually need for your company to grow. Who will lead your IT department to make sure they continue to build the skills your company needs for the future?

We’re well aware of the latest trends in IT, and we make sure that our staff stays up to date. In addition, our diverse range of clients helps us provide even better service to you.

Professionals Tend to Lose Their Edge Without Direction

Many IT professionals settle into a specific role, master specific skills, and then they stagnate. Indeed, it’s one of the reasons that many companies have to let go of older IT staff. When IT professionals fail to keep up with the breakneck pace of technological advancement, they can quickly find themselves out of a job. You may be enticed by what appears to be a strong resume only to find your hires lack the skills you were looking for.

Furthermore, your hires might not have much experience in your particular industry. This means you may need to train them on specific skills or programs. Even workers with relevant experience need direction in order to keep their skills sharp. This means you need a forward-thinking CTO, which is yet another expense you might not be able to afford. Managed services solve this problem.

Managed Services Deliver the Latest Essential Skills

Since helping other companies is our business, we have to stay abreast of the latest developments. Our clients are looking into the future to plan their IT expenses, and we have to be ready to provide support for whatever they may need to implement. Our managed services are guided by directors that are constantly looking for ways to work with emerging technologies. Our professionals receive training and are pushed to develop skills in new areas.

In addition, because we work with such a wide variety of clients, our staff has experience in multiple industries. We can bring that experience to your business. Lessons learned from other sectors might lead to useful strategies for you too!

Managed IT Services Provide Everything That Professionals Can

From our perspective, there is no difference between professional IT services and our managed IT services. We hire professionals and hold ourselves to a professional standard. We deliver the level of quality that a company expects from its own internal IT department. But when you look at the difference in price, flexibility, and ease of access, the choice is clear. Managed services are different; they’re better.

Contact Cyber Command to schedule a technology strategy session so that we can customize a plan for your IT needs.  

The cloud has become an essential tool for companies worldwide. Large, multinational corporations leverage cloud services to standardize their operations and synchronize activity across the globe. However, small businesses can benefit greatly from adopting the same technology. Cloud networking for small business is readily available now that the technology has matured to the point where even the leanest startup can afford it. What benefits are there for small businesses specifically?

What Are the Benefits of Cloud Networking for Small Businesses?

Unparalleled Security

Cybersecurity needs to be one of your top priorities. Small businesses are actually more likely to be victims of a cyberattack because criminals are well aware that small businesses rarely have the knowledge necessary to prevent such intrusions. Going to the cloud can actually boost your cybersecurity. There’s an outdated belief that the more you connect to the internet, the more your risk increases. However, when you consolidate your systems into a single cloud networking solution, you minimize risk.

Cloud networking for small business can take advantage of additional security features. For instance, two-factor authentication (2FA) will prevent someone from easily accessing your system if they’ve stolen an employee’s login and password. The second factor will require an additional confirmation, preventing many attacks. By keeping your data in the cloud, you also keep your data safe from physical threats, like fires or earthquakes. In addition, the cloud empowers security software that can protect your entire company.

24/7 Monitoring Software Calls for the Cloud

When your files and systems are connected to the cloud, you can then use cloud-based tools to monitor your company’s cloud network. These security programs constantly monitor your network for potentially suspicious activity. For example, a graphic designer who normally interacts with design files could be flagged when they suddenly access lots of Excel charts. This could be a sign that someone else is using the designer’s computer to steal data. Security software halts this activity until it is verified.  

Similarly, these programs can identify unusual logins from strange locations or prevent an unauthorized installation. If malicious code is detected at any time, it’ll be quarantined and confined so that it doesn’t spread to other computers on your network. If you have a managed IT services provider, they’ll also be given regular reports from security software. Your on-site IT technicians will also get these reports so they can investigate further and keep your company safe.

Smooth Collaboration

One of the best things about the cloud is its ability to facilitate collaboration. Small businesses usually don’t have clearly defined processes with a lot of structure. As a result, data tends to be scattered across multiple computers or accounts. This makes collaboration tedious since files need to be sent manually from person to person, or access needs to be given. When your files are on a centralized cloud network, everyone can access what they need, when they need it.  

Best of all, you never have to worry about working on the “right” file. There’s one file in the cloud that everyone can work on at the same time. You won’t pass a version back and forth ever again. As long as you have internet access, you can collaborate with others in real time. And if you’ll be on a long flight, you can always download files to work offline and your changes will be synchronized next time you connect.

Cloud-Based Programs Facilitate Group Work

You can expand your collaborative capacity with additional cloud-based programs. Most business software has migrated to the cloud. If you’re still using older versions, you’re missing out on a lot of useful features. For instance, Microsoft’s Office Suite is now Microsoft 365, which allows you to connect your files in the cloud to every program Microsoft offers. Users don’t even have to install the programs on their computers! They can open a web browser and use the program right away.

Adobe’s Creative Cloud lets multiple people work together in Photoshop or Illustrator. Cloud-based communication tools like VoIP can give a whole team access to a single company phone number. With the cloud, collaborative possibilities are endless.

No Up-front Costs

Cloud networking for small businesses is a great way to avoid big IT expenses. Cloud services typically have monthly fees according to what you use. For example, if you get a cloud-based VoIP phone system, you’ll pay for each phone line that you need. When it comes to cloud storage, you can pay by the gigabyte. If you need cloud processing, you’ll pay according to how much CPU power your jobs require.

This approach means you won’t have to shell out for extremely expensive solutions. Instead of building your own high-power server to process complex computing tasks, you can use a portion of a massive data center’s power for a fraction of the price. For small businesses, this is a huge benefit. You get access to the best tools without paying the full price. There are no installation costs, either.  

Access to the Latest Features

Cloud-based systems are constantly being updated with new features. You can even opt into experimental features in some cases. Instead of waiting to purchase the latest version of a program at a large cost, you get upgrades delivered to you as part of your subscription. Since this process is automatic, it’s one less job for a busy small business owner to worry about.

You also get a boost to your cybersecurity because program vulnerabilities get patched regularly when you rely on the cloud. When new vulnerabilities are discovered, companies begin fixing the problem and they push the update out to you instantly.

Better Scalability

Small businesses want to grow. Nevertheless, IT can quickly become a bottleneck for growth. The systems that you built yourself to start your company may not scale up smoothly. However, the cloud allows you to scale infinitely without significant upgrades to your infrastructure. When you run out of storage on your hard drive, you need to buy another one and perform a time-consuming data migration. If you hit your cloud storage limit, you buy more space with a quick click.  

Seamless scalability means no downtime and fast solutions. Without the cloud, you’d need to plan out a large purchase, wait for components to arrive, install them, and deploy them. The time you save with the cloud means it pays for itself. You can focus on activities that actually grow your business, instead of worrying about whether scaling up is possible or not with your current equipment.

Greater Flexibility

Businesses of all sizes struggled to adapt to work-at-home orders and sudden changes in workflows. However, small businesses were hit particularly hard as many of them had not yet implemented cloud networking for small business. Those that were already working in the cloud, though, found it easy to transition. Many of them stayed alive. The cloud gives you the flexibility to work in different ways, which means that you can adapt to sudden changes.

Even as workflows return to normal, you may still want to have the freedom to work remotely. Doing so allows you to hire better talent from afar while also making it easier for your staff to take a productive sick day or stay active while traveling. Not only will remote work be easier, but you’ll also have the ability to get remote IT support. Managed service providers can help you out with your technical problems without coming into your office.

How to Move to the Cloud

If your company isn’t already using the cloud, what’s the best way to migrate to a cloud-based environment? First, you need to analyze your processes. You’ll likely have to make some changes to your workflow. Fortunately, the cloud helps you automate and eliminate many steps, so you should find that your processes become more agile. From there, determine what you hope to accomplish with your transition to the cloud. Clear goals will help you prioritize your spending.

The exact set of cloud-based tools you’ll need will depend on your business activities. Oftentimes companies choose the wrong programs, find themselves disappointed with the results, and go back to the traditional way of doing business. A better approach is to bring in outside assistance. Specifically, consider managed services. A managed services provider will help you set up each of your cloud-based tools. They can then handle any maintenance or management tasks that you need.

Managed Services Handle Your Cloud

When you use cloud-based services, a managed service provider can take care of many tasks for you. If you need to expand your storage, for instance, you can just ask your managed services provider to do it for you. Do you want to add another VoIP phone line? Just call managed services. When you keep things in-house, someone from your team has to do these tasks. When you move to the cloud, managed service experts can do it for you.

That is why more small businesses are switching to cloud-based systems with managed services. You save time and money while getting the best technology possible. Contact Cyber Command to schedule a technology strategy session and get your company into the cloud.

One of the best upgrades that a small business can get is VoIP phone service. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it’s fast becoming the default for successful companies. In fact, VoIP has taken over traditional phone services and is only poised to continue to grow. VoIP services for small business customers can help your business grow while also improving customer service, sales, and a lot more. So, how do you get started with VoIP?

Do I Need a Provider for VoIP?

VoIP Providers Deliver an Essential Service

Just as you need the help of a telephone company to get traditional phone service, if you want VoIP services for small business, you will need a VoIP provider. Unless you’re willing to build your own data center, establish your own connections to telephone networks, and start your own VoIP company, a provider is a must. Fortunately, you have an abundance of options. You can also trust managed IT service providers to select the right VoIP provider for you.

VoIP providers will assign you a VoIP phone number for a monthly fee. You can even request multiple numbers, transfer an existing phone number, or get specialty numbers like a toll-free phone number through your provider. Most VoIP providers have tiered service levels so that you can choose which features you need for your company. But what does a VoIP provider do exactly? It helps to understand how VoIP works in the first place.

How Does VoIP Work?

VoIP is one of many internet protocols. Your devices use a variety of protocols to transfer data over the internet. For example, FTP, or file transfer protocol, allows you to send and receive files directly between two devices. The Voice over Internet Protocol is designed to take voice data and transfer it over the internet efficiently. When you consider what a successful phone call requires, it becomes clear that VoIP is quite complex.

If you’ve ever dealt with a bit of lag while on the phone, you know how frustrating it can be. Likewise, static or poor call quality can completely ruin a phone call. Phone calls need to be instantaneous and crystal clear, which is why VoIP establishes a real-time connection between two devices. It uses smart compression algorithms to take voice data and make it easy to transfer over the internet.

How Do VoIP Phones and Regular Phones Communicate?

The most impressive part of VoIP technology is that it allows you to call any phone, even one that doesn’t use VoIP. This is where your provider plays a crucial role. VoIP providers establish connections to telephone lines and cellular towers so that your VoIP call can reach any phone, anywhere. This works both ways, so you don’t have to worry about customers being able to reach your business when you switch to VoIP.

VoIP technology has matured incredibly in the past decade. What was once a niche application has now become the gold standard for businesses of all sizes. As long as you have an internet connection, you have the best phone service possible. So, what makes VoIP better than traditional phone service?

Advantages of Switching to VoIP Services for Small Business

Just as people have begun to abandon cable TV in favor of streaming services, so too have companies found lots of reasons to switch to VoIP in lieu of traditional phones. VoIP services for small businesses are especially advantageous. VoIP scales with your business while delivering better quality service than your local phone company at a much lower cost.

Furthermore, VoIP gives you access to some incredible features that your local phone company will never be able to provide. Analog systems will simply never be able to match the potential of a digital one.  

Scalability

When your company needs a new phone line, you need to call the local phone company and request a visit from a technician. When you need a new VoIP phone line, you simply log into your administrator’s account and add a line. In minutes your line is active. VoIP allows you to expand your phone service as your business grows, which makes it great for startups and small businesses.

You can also control who can access your lines. You can set up a line specifically for customer support and use extensions just as you would a traditional phone system. This makes it easy to scale up phone service in specific departments. Best of all, adding new lines often gets less expensive as you scale up.

Low Cost

VoIP providers offer a wide variety of price points for your needs. Barebones VoIP service that just provides a phone number and unlimited calling can be had for as little as $10 per month. More advanced features come bundled together with higher-tier plans.

VoIP also gives you access to affordable international calling, something phone companies notoriously gouge for. If you do business in multiple locations, VoIP-to-VoIP calls are completely free. If you need to call landlines or mobile phones in other countries, you can set up international VoIP numbers or pay low rates when needed. Overall, VoIP delivers a much more cost-effective solution

Reliable Service

One of the only drawbacks of VoIP is that you need an internet connection to use your VoIP number. A decade ago when internet connections were much slower, it was difficult to get consistent quality calls through VoIP. Some dedicated VoIP providers had better service than others, but none were perfect. However, that has all changed in recent years.

Not only have VoIP compression algorithms gotten better, but our internet connections are now much wider and can handle VoIP calls with ease. Furthermore, VoIP services are increasingly using cloud computing systems like Amazon’s AWS or Microsoft’s Azure, which provide a reliable backbone that never fails. If you do run into any issues, your managed IT services provider can step in and resolve them for you.

Advanced Features

Besides being cheaper, better, and more flexible, VoIP systems come packed with some truly impressive features. Consider some of the advanced features that you can get with VoIP that you won’t be able to get anywhere else.

Everything the Phone Company Does, and More

Basic phone services like call forwarding, voicemail, extensions, and caller ID are practically standard features for VoIP phones. However, VoIP makes them much easier to use. Instead of having to call the phone company or use complicated analog equipment, you can just change your settings in an app on your phone.

Best of all, you can customize these features for each of your lines. Individual users can personalize their experience.

Voicemail to Text and Email

Because VoIP turns audio data into a digital file, your VoIP provider can use voice recognition software to turn that file into text. The full transcription of your voicemail can be forwarded to you via text message or email. It’s much more efficient than having to dial into a voicemail inbox, and it can help you respond to client requests if you’re already on the line with someone else.

Voice Recognition and Analysis

Some VoIP providers are using voice recognition for much more than voicemail-to-text services. What if you could listen to all of your employees’ conversations with customers and gain insight into how they treat clients? That’s exactly what some VoIP providers are doing. Using AI, the VoIP provider’s servers listen to conversations to gauge mood and satisfaction.  

Our voices reflect our emotions, as do the words that we use. The AI could alert you to an employee who’s been overly aggressive with clients so that you can tone them down.
 

Programmable Menus

If you’ve always wanted to have a phone menu for your customers, VoIP makes it easy to set one up. You can upload your own recordings to guide users through the menu or rely on text-to-speech systems. Using a menu gives a professional impression to your customers. In addition, it’s much easier for your customers to get ahold of the right person.

Data Analytics

Businesses grow when they make data-driven decisions. However, your phone activity has always been difficult to quantify. While your phone company may issue a statement that lists your incoming and outgoing calls, feeding that data into analytics software is cumbersome at best. VoIP providers make it easy by outputting records in formats your software can understand.

Better yet, many VoIP providers give you access to analytics dashboards, so you don’t even need additional software. You can track your company’s call activity down to the second. Use this data to find your best CSRs, plan your marketing strategy based on call volume according to geography, or simply cut down on time spent on the phone.

VoIP Phones for Small Businesses 

Even though VoIP can work on a computer or mobile device, you can also buy special VoIP phones that run off of powered Ethernet lines. These phones have lots of convenient features and colorful touchscreens to give your staff even more power.

If you’re not sure what kind of VoIP service for small business you need or what features would be best for you, reach out to managed services experts. Contact Cyber Command to schedule a technology strategy session and ask us about how we can help you upgrade your phone system today.

IT departments have made cybersecurity management their top priority. Cyber attacks continue to increase in frequency, especially since cryptocurrency has made it possible for criminals to extort businesses without leaving a clear trail. Cybersecurity companies worldwide have raced to provide the best cybersecurity services to both businesses and governments. However, their services have become increasingly specialized to address different types of cybersecurity needs and threats.

What Are the Five Types of Cybersecurity?

Five Branches of Cybersecurity Management

Although we commonly think of cybersecurity as a single concept, modern cybersecurity experts have since broken it down into several dimensions. Today, more devices are connected to the internet than ever. Analog systems have faded into obscurity. New technologies likewise call for new cybersecurity strategies. As a result, no single approach can address all of the potential vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity companies have specialized their services into five branches that each focus on a specific scenario.

Some of these branches, including network security or application security, have been around for decades. However, several of these branches are relatively new, including cloud security and IoT security. Some cybersecurity services can provide protection on multiple fronts, while others specialize in a specific branch. Consider which situations apply to your company and how you can best protect your business.

1. Application Security

The field of application security, though not new, has undergone significant transformations in the past decade. Not long ago, applications were limited to personal computers, which meant that most security needs could be addressed by focusing on network security. However, since the advent of the iPhone and other mobile operating systems, our understanding of applications has broadened significantly. Application security now involves protecting data transfers between applications and devices, as well as ensuring applications cannot jeopardize other programs.

Perhaps the clearest example of application security is the prevalence of two-factor authentication (2FA). When 2FA is enabled, applications will ask for confirmation through another device, commonly a mobile phone. If your company uses a proprietary application to handle everyday tasks, consider implementing 2FA to reduce the risk of a data breach. 2FA protects against the most common type of cyber attack: phishing. Stolen credentials won’t grant immediate access to your system with 2FA enabled.

2. Network Security

Every business needs to invest in network security. The proliferation of Wi-Fi has increased companies’ exposure to cyber threats. For instance, many businesses offer free Wi-Fi to their customers. However, if your Wi-Fi network is unsecured, anyone can monitor all the traffic on the Wi-Fi network and potentially capture data such as logins and passwords. Worse yet, if your network is poorly configured, your public Wi-Fi could grant access to private data that should be on a secure network.

Even traditional Ethernet connections can come under attack. DDoS attacks flood your network with connection attempts, which can cripple your network or bring your website to a standstill. In many cases, these attacks are a distraction to divert your attention away from a more serious invasion. With 24/7 network monitoring tools, it’s possible to detect suspicious activity and defend your company’s network.

3. Cloud Security

The cloud was a foreign concept not long ago. Today, however, it’s essential for many businesses. Companies that operate in multiple locations as well as those that allow for remote work depend on cloud-based services for collaboration and seamless operations. Cloud storage gives businesses near-infinite capacity to hold data without up-front costs. Cloud computing can process tasks faster than even the most powerful desktop computers. However, with this convenience comes additional risk.

In the past, company data would be kept safe in a server room. Robust network security would ensure that only authorized administrators could access valuable data. In contrast, the cloud is accessible from anywhere. To protect their data, companies are turning towards software-defined networks and VPNs to access the cloud with greater security. Cloud-based applications can leverage application security techniques, including 2FA, to mitigate risk. Cloud storage can be monitored just as your local network is to spot suspicious activity.

4. IoT Security

IoT, or the Internet of Things, is more than a buzzword. Experts expect the IoT field to expand quickly as 5G networks become more commonplace. These networks allow for more connections, which means more devices will become connected to the internet. Smart home devices are a great example. However, many IoT devices are built with simplicity in mind. This means that cybersecurity is often overlooked. These devices can become vulnerabilities if not properly secured on your network.

If your company uses IoT devices, it’s important to invest more in network security. Since IoT devices will connect directly to your network, it’s possible to monitor their activity with cybersecurity software. Furthermore, IoT devices have repetitive, predictable functions, which means it’s easier to notice when one of them does something out of the ordinary. To strengthen your security, choose IoT devices that link to a secure hub. These devices operate on a secure network within your wider network.

5. Critical Infrastructure Security

We often take basic infrastructure systems for granted. The electrical grid, internet cables, traffic signals, security cameras, and many more public systems have gone digital. While this has made it easier for cities to control these systems, it also opens up vulnerabilities that cyber criminals could exploit. The field of critical infrastructure security has expanded considerably to meet this growing demand. This branch of cybersecurity is also notable for receiving far more government funding than others.

There is a growing concern that critical infrastructure would be targeted in a conflict with another nation. We’ve already seen instances of such attacks in modern times such as the STUXNET attack on Iran’s nuclear processing facilities. However, businesses don’t need to be as concerned with this branch of cybersecurity unless they actively work with local utility companies or produce components or software for governments.

What Are Cybersecurity Companies Focused On?

Cybersecurity companies today are in a constant arms race against cyber criminals. As criminals invent new methods to infiltrate and attack businesses, cybersecurity professionals strive to remain one step ahead. Currently, there is a heavy emphasis on providing 24/7/365 support via software that monitors computers, networks, and cloud connections. However, this software goes far beyond the traditional antivirus software installed on most computers. Older programs rely on a database of known viruses, but they cannot detect new threats easily.

Instead, modern programs are using pattern recognition with the help of AI-driven algorithms. If a program acts in a suspicious manner, the software can detect this behavior and quarantine it to prevent further harm. This method provides better protection than a database which could become useless if users or administrators fail to update their antivirus software. In addition, these modern tools can spot unusual behavior from a user’s account, whether it be due to compromised credentials or a disgruntled worker.

Cybersecurity Services (CSaaS)

Given the complexity of cybersecurity, many businesses are switching to a Cybersecurity-as-a-Service model. Instead of paying for software or hiring a dedicated expert, CSaaS allows companies to get full cybersecurity coverage across all areas for a flat monthly fee. It’s akin to an insurance payment. The CSaaS market is predicted to grow an astounding 16.8% annually. The simplicity of CSaaS and the fact that it scales with your company makes it extremely popular.

Best of all, opting for CSaaS doesn’t require advanced cybersecurity knowledge or complicated installations. Cloud-based tools can monitor your company from a distance. In addition, you get access to professionals who have experience in various cybersecurity fields. Instead of building a whole in-house team, you can quickly get up to speed by hiring a cybersecurity services provider.

Why Businesses Need Cybersecurity Support

Is professional cybersecurity management really necessary? Many small businesses seem to think that cybersecurity support is only for large enterprises. In reality, more small businesses are hit by cyber attacks than large enterprises. This is largely because criminals know that small businesses tend to overlook cybersecurity. However, the costs of a data breach can be overwhelming for SMBs. Prevention is always better than treatment.

Furthermore, many countries have adopted data privacy laws that require companies to protect consumers’ personal information. If your company hopes to do significant business in places like California, Brazil, or the European Union, they have to be compliant with these laws. Data privacy laws impose strict security requirements. Failing to comply could lead to large fines in addition to civil suits from consumers.  

Managed Cybersecurity Solutions

Overall, the best approach for businesses today is to take the guesswork out of cybersecurity. Hire an expert cybersecurity service provider that can manage your cybersecurity for you. You’ll get the proper equipment and software you need, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your company is in good hands.

At Cyber Command, we protect businesses of all sizes from all manner of threats. Contact Cyber Command today to schedule your strategy meeting and learn more about how our cybersecurity management can protect your company.

Almost every company has to include technological solutions in their operations, no matter the industry. Once you get past a few employees, it makes sense to set up a tech department that manages your website, your employees’ IT issues, and your customers’ requests. However, setting up a whole department is very expensive, which is why more and more companies employ a cloud IT service. Cloud services can provide the same benefit at a reduced cost.

Because they are external and serve many small businesses at once, managed IT departments are able to operate 24/7, so your employees and customers never have to wait for help. What’s more, the security is always updated, and your data is safe even in the event of a disaster. Because the infrastructure is already there, you won’t have to pay to set it up. Read on to find out why so many small companies are choosing managed IT services.

9 Benefits of Managed Cloud IT Service

1. You Can Save Money

When you use a managed IT company, you can access a similar type of service at a much lower cost. What’s more, your finance team won’t have any trouble budgeting for your IT services because the fee is fixed. Therefore, you know exactly how much you’ll pay for the next few months or even years, and you don’t have to worry about unexpected maintenance expenses or the increasing cost of employees and equipment.

2. Cloud Services Are Extremely Secure

Cyber attacks have been a problem for businesses for decades. If you store sensitive client information or you have proprietary technology you don’t want to share with the wider community, you have to take measures to safeguard your data. But unfortunately, hackers develop new ways around these safety barriers all the time, and technology that was completely secure a year ago might no longer be adequate today.

When you book a strategy session with an IT professional, they can analyze your current safety measures and let you know whether you’re at risk. If so, you should consider signing up to a cloud service. Here at Cyber Command, we implement a security model that is powered by AI and machine learning and provides several layers of security. Updates are automatic, so you don’t have to worry about whether your business is still protected.

3. Your Employees Can Focus on Their Strengths

4. Everyone Benefits from 24/7 Support

When businesses start using a cloud IT service, they no longer have this problem. At Cyber Command, we offer 24/7 support 365 days a year, so your customers and employees never have to wait to receive help. As a result, your company can benefit from speedier operations, and you’re likely to receive a much better customer service rating.

5. You Are Covered Wherever You Go

That way, you don’t have to switch companies or go through the hassle of setting up an additional IT department at your new location. What’s more, we will already know your business, which saves you a lot of time because you won’t have to explain your company and industry to new people. You can simply inform us about the changes to your company, and we will let you know what kind of remote and onsite support we can offer at your new location.

6. The Onboarding Process Is Simple

Depending on your individual situation, you might prefer an all-virtual service, or you might need some onsite staff to help your employees and customers. In addition to discussing your options, we will also let you know what the cost of our services are. We always aim to be transparent from the start, so you can make the decision that best fits your company.

7. You Can Recover Data after a Disaster

8. No Infrastructure Costs

What’s more, servers can break down, and repairing them represents an additional, unpredictable business cost. A managed, cloud-based IT department is a much safer bet because you won’t have to set up any of your own equipment, and you’ll pay a fixed monthly amount. When your servers have to be repaired, Cyber Command will take on the cost, and you won’t have to pay extra.

9. You Can Compete with Larger Businesses

Because there is 24/7 assistance, your customer service will be just as good as the service offered by larger businesses. What’s more, your managed IT company will monitor your network and make sure it stays up. You’ll experience much less downtime, which further improves your customers’ experience and prevents you from losing a lot of money due to interruptions to your production process.