Jul 23, 2013 | SMB Technology
Cyber Attacks are in the news again. Last week domain registrar Network Solutions suffered a denial of service attempt impacting the websites of their customers. Cyber attacks like this are high profile and always in the news. This raises the questions, are small business vulnerable to cyber attacks? Small business are Targets of Cyber Attacks Cyber Attacks are as likely, or more likely to occur on small businesses. Cyber attackers know small businesses may have less protection, thus making them easier targets for cyber attacks. Larger companies may have entire departments dedicated to cyber security. Harder to hack and quicker to detect, larger organizations may be tougher to penetrate and exploit with a cyber attack. Meanwhile, small businesses may have less protection against a cyber attack, leaving them more exposed and less likely to detect a cyber attack. Small Businesses may be Less Resilient from Cyber Threats Larger organizations not only are likely to respond quicker to a cyber attack, but have stronger brands and deeper pockets to withstand the impact of a cyber attack. When a cyber attack occurs there may be financial penalties for non compliance with industry regulations (e.g. PCI regulations). What’s more, the impact of a cyber attack may also cause loss of brand equity as a result of the negative publicity related to a cyber threat. In most cases a cyber attack may be too much for a small business to recover. How do I Protect my Business from a Cyber Attack? Consider contacting your IT Service & Support specialist to conduct an IT security assessment. By performing an IT Security assessment you will...
Jul 10, 2013 | SMB Technology
Business continuity and disaster recovery come to mind as hurricane and fire season is upon us. This week meteorologists are reporting that Tropical Storm Chantal is looming over the East Coast and will potentially flood the southern United States. Last year we all saw the terrible devastation of Hurricane Sandy. We are also reminded of the destruction of Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Earthquakes, which can not be predicted, can also pose a threat to your business continuity. If you’re not worried about Hurricanes, keep in mind there are wildfires raging throughout the West this fire season. If you are fortunate enough to live in a part of the world outside this business continuity and disaster recovery window, be thankful. Either way you should ask yourself if your business continuity and disaster recovery plans are in place. Here are a few considerations for your business continuity and disaster recovery plans: Business Continuity and Application Data Assess what data is mission critical to your business. Focusing on the most important assets to protect and provide rapid restore capability will aid you in getting your business up and running quickly. It is not practical or cost effective to have all of your data available immediatly following a disaster recovery scenario, therefore prioritizing is key. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policies and Procedures Review your policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date with your current needs. In addition to data backup and recovery policies, review your emergency response policies as well. In a disaster recovery scenario it is important to know who to call to get your data backup online...
