Feb 13, 2014 | SMB Technology
It seems a majority of companies are adopting Cloud Computing as a significant portion of their IT infrastructure. According the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) 4th Annual Trends in Cloud Computing, sixty percent of companies surveyed, reported they rely on Cloud Computing for at least thirty percent of their IT infrastructure. Transitioning to Cloud Computing? Here’s How to Avoid the Turbulence. There are number of implementation challenges to cloud computing deployment. As a result, it is important that your cloud computing deployments are carefully planned and part of a holistic information technology roadmap. According to CompTIA, integration with existing technologies, changes required to IT policy and the learning curve of the cloud model top the list. Less than half of those surveyed cited, cost overruns, justifying the return on investment and transitioning from legacy systems as issues. In fact, the majority of business reported performance and availability levels were as expected from their cloud provider. What can a Business do to Avoid the Pitfalls When Transitioning to the Cloud? Cloud Integration There are a number of issues that can impact the success of your cloud computing deployment. Software as a Service applications (SaaS) rely on Application Program Interfaces (APIs) for integration. It is important to ensure your SaaS suppliers use common APIs so they can easily integrate with one another Understanding your requirements is key to identifying when integration can become an issue. IT Policies and Cloud Computing Keeping your IT policies and procedures up to date is also an important component of a successful Cloud Computing Deployment. Cloud Computing solutions can be rapidly deployed so it is easy...
Jan 23, 2014 | SMB Technology
Mobile security is top of mind when it comes to concerns for IT Managers. According to the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) risk of loss is the number one concern related to Mobile security. For the first time last year, more smart phones and tablets shipped than PC desktops. It is no surprise that mobile devices are the target of mobile security threats. Chances are most people in your company have a smartphone, tablet or both. In some cases these devices connect to your company network using WiFi. It is equally likely that these devices access company information via email, mobile applications or file synch to company data. Now that these devices are universal, it is important to have a plan if they are lost or stolen. Keep in mind, your four digit password may be the only thing between an intruder and your data. Here are some additional considerations for mobile security. Mobile Security Policy While you can remotely wipe a Mobile devices when it is lost or stolen, this may not be enough. That four digit passcode can be easily hacked in minutes. It is important that employees know how to report a lost or stolen device immediately. Also consider, there may be personal information on the device that is property of your employee. This data may not be backed up and could be impossible to recover. There may be local laws that prevent you from wiping this type of data from personal devices. If your employees access your corporate systems, be sure they sign and acknowledge your company policy for acceptable use, including policy for reporting...
Jan 10, 2014 | SMB Technology
Target Retailers were just involved in the second largest credit card data breach in United States history. Today Target announced the data breach that occurred over Thanksgiving weekend now exposes upwards of 70 million credit and debit cards. Target also disclosed the privacy data breach compromised names, addresses, phone numbers or email addresses, in addition to credit card information. When businesses are victims of a security breach, loss of revenue is often highlighted in the news. What the media often overlooks is the internal costs of remediation, exposure to privacy breach laws and loss of reputation with their customers. Any Business can be the Target of a Privacy Data Breach While large companies make the news, many small business owners believe their company is too small to be targeted by cyber criminals resulting in privacy data breach. According to Verizon Wireless’s 2012 Data Breach Investigation Study, 71% of data breaches occur in companies with fewer than 100 employees. A privacy data breach can be devastating to a small business. Malware or software used to interrupt a computer’s processing, is a common way of perpetrating these attacks. Small businesses are often unprepared when it comes to these attacks. What a Business Owner do to Avoid a Privacy Breach Action can be taken to protect your small business and your customer’s sensitive information. First, audit your network regularly. Periodically scan your network for unauthorized computers and devices connected to your network directly or via Wi-Fi. Also, update any antivirus or malware software regularly. Check your firewall and security settings. Make sure all your defense mechanisms are up to date and working...
Dec 26, 2013 | SMB Technology
Target Retailers were just involved in the second largest credit card breach in United States history. A cyber security attack occurred over Thanksgiving weekend, which exposed upwards of 40 million credit and debit cards users. Compromised information included credit and debit card information, as well as customer names. When large businesses are victims of a security breach, it often is highlighted in the news. What the media fails to recognize, is the susceptibility of small businesses to cyber attacks. Small Business are Susceptible to Cyber Attacks Many small business owners believe their company is too small to be targeted by cyber crime. According to Verizon Wireless’s 2012 Data Breach Investigation Study, 71% of data breaches occur in companies with fewer than 100 employees. An information breach can be devastating to a small business. Malware, or software used to interrupt a computer’s processing, is the most common way of perpetrating these attacks. Small businesses are often unprepared when it comes to these sorts of attacks. Protecting Data from Cyber Attacks Action should be taken to protect your small business and your customer’s sensitive information. First, audit your network regularly. Periodically scan your network for unauthorized computers and devices connected to your network directly or via Wi-Fi. Also, update any antivirus or malware software regularly. Also check your firewall and security settings. Make sure all your defense mechanisms are up to date and working properly. It is also important that all employee are trained on your policies and procedures for avoiding malware and identifying phishing schemes. It is important to keep a secure network to ensure your customers trust. By keeping...
Dec 11, 2013 | SMB Technology
As always, a lot has changed in the Technology world in the past year. Systems are updating, while new technologies are becoming more prevalent. Windows XP, the operating system that 33 percent of personal computers rely on, is on the way out. Windows 8.1 has become the standard. Also, personal computers are leaving the scene. Small businesses are moving to the compact and portable Tablet. Business On the Go has never been easier. During the past year most companies adopted cloud computing. While many advances have been made in these technological areas, Cyber security threats and related losses are reportedly on the rise. Why You Should Care About Windows 8 Now that Windows 8 is on the market, it is important to consider the switch. Although it is difficult to change from Windows XP or Vista to 8, having the latest operating system is an important security issue. One option is to do a Clean Install of Windows 8. The other option is to replace XP machines with Windows 8 for potential tax incentives. Mobile Computing Hits Main Street Technology companies continue to release a wide array of Touch Devices and there popularity continues to increase. 2014 will be the first year that tablet sales surpass personal computer sales. This shift to touch devices in the workplace will lead to increased mobility, functionality, and profitability in the work place. Cloud Computing Adoption on the Rise A research report by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) 90 % of companies surveyed adopted cloud architectures as part of the IT infrastructure during 2013. In some cases, Cloud Computing deployments occur without...
Nov 25, 2013 | SMB Technology
This time of year most organizations are looking at 2014. Analyzing IT trends allows you to budget for the upcoming year, as well as, keep up with the competition. Reviewing 2014 IT Trends can help ensure your core systems stay up to date and help you grow your business. There are a number of important trends that many companies will take advantage of to reduce risks, gain more customers and reduce costs. Here is What to Watch for 2014 IT Trends: IT Security IT Security will continue as one of the top areas of concern for most business owners when they think about technology in 2014. IT Security tops the short list of 2014 IT Trends and is driven by cyber security threat, concerns over privacy data issues and security risks related to mobile computing (e.g. Mobile Device theft/loss, virus and malware infection). Cloud Computing Most companies have adopted some form of cloud based technologies within their business. File sharing/cloud sharing services, remote backup and disaster recovery all fuel the need for robust networking and highly available Internet connectivity. With the retirement of Windows XP anticipated in April of 2014, many companies will turn to the cloud for modernized office productivity solutions, including virtual desktops and hosted email. Mobile Applications & Touch Technologies The latest release of Windows 8.1 relies heavily on a Touch user interface. Many technology consumers are familiar with touch technologies on their smartphones and tablet computers. Demand for these devices is expected to be strong. Many manufacturers are launching an array of touch enabled laptops, convertible computers and tablet computers that are touch enabled. This...
