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...
Nov 12, 2013 | SMB Technology
Technology has become an integral part of most small businesses. Email has replaced the fax machine. An onslaught of mobile devices have replaced cash registers, binders and note pads. Pencil and paper no longer keep up with the velocity of business today. In order to attract new customers and deliver products and services at competitive prices, small business technology is the cornerstone to automation and profitability. Cloud computing, mobility and consumerization of IT make it affordable for small businesses to deploy systems that were once reserved for large scale enterprise. With ready access to small businesses technology, there is also more reliance on these core systems. Small businesses are also targets of cyber attack because they may be perceived as more vulnerable and less vigilant. Also, small businesses may be less resilient to business disruption related to systems failure. Accordingly, Small Businesses should take every precaution to protect applications and their data. They should also properly assess their risks and exposure to ensure they get the most from their small business IT Budgets. What can small businesses do to make sure these systems support the ongoing operations with minimal interruption? Small Business Technology Inventory A good place to start is to take inventory of your systems and data. It is good policy to document all of your IT assets including hardware, networking devices, application software and data so you can have a complete view of your IT Systems. Make sure you include mobile devices, cloud computing or software as a service (SaaS) systems, as well as, custom applications and legacy systems. Small Business Technology Risk Assessment Once you have...
Oct 24, 2013 | SMB Technology
Did you know October is Cyber Security Awareness month? This tradition was established ten years ago in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. This is a great opportunity for the public and private sectors to establish secure and vigilant infrastructure and to protect IT Assets from Cyber Security Threats. This initiative places emphasis on the following areas of Cyber Security throughout the month: Mobile Security The importance of cyber security in a mobile setting is highly important, no matter where you are or what device you are using. Business owners should take time to evaluate Mobile Security Policies including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Acceptable Use Policies for access to corporate systems and their data from a mobile device. Mobile data protection including Antivirus, Anti Malware and Mobile Device Management to track, monitor, protect and enforce IT security policy on a Mobile Device. Cyber Security Workforce Cyber Security in the workforce highlights the importance of fostering the next generation of workers through education and training. Cyber attack can come from anywhere in the world, at any time. As a result, the Cybersecurity workforce is on the defense against elusive Cyber Criminals. Having a well staffed, well trained Cybersecurity workforce is critical to the fight against Cyber Crime. Cyber Crime Cyber Crime prevention focuses on national and local efforts to prevent traditional crimes like theft, fraud, and abuse that can also take place online. Many of these attacks go unnoticed and unreported. Malicious software or Malware may be downloaded and undetected. Phishing schemes...
Oct 11, 2013 | SMB Technology
Online Backup is one of the more popular deployments of cloud computing. Online backup can be a cost effective part of your data protection strategy. Many businesses have achieved benefits by leveraging cloud computing for secure and affordable remote data storage and cloud file sharing technologies. In some cases, business owners do not even realize they are using Cloud Based Online Backup services. For business owners there are a number of important considerations for your Online backup strategy. Industry and Regulatory Compliance Some industries, such as health services, have strict regulations on how data is managed and protected. Some online backup vendors comply with these strict requirements, while others do not. It is important to carefully select your online backup supplier and ensure their Service Level Agreements (SLA) meets your business needs and comply with your industry regulations. Online Backup Recovery Time Online backup can be a secure and affordable option for offsite data storage and cloud sharing capability. If you are considering remote backup for your business continuity and disaster recovery plans, it is important to consider recovery times in the event you need to to restore your data. Some online backup services provide great value for easy access to data, while other services are optimized for rapid recovery of your most critical information. You should weigh costs and risks when deploying online backup for your disaster recovery scenarios. How Secure is Your Online Backup There are many online backup vendors providing a secure solution that is equally or more reliable that tape storage or other data vaulting solutions. In fact, the cloud infrastructure for your data may...
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...
