Can Your Business Afford A Cybersecurity Breach

Each day, more of our activities are digitalized and bring with them large amounts of personal data that can be easily exploited for profit or influence by those who have the desire and the inclination to go against ethical norms. Cybersecurity refers to the protection of personal data stored digitally.

Your business might not need to worry about data security. What are the chances that your site will be targeted? Your website is unlikely to be among the most important companies in the world so anonymity is not an option.

Even though the likelihood of your company being the target of a data breach is low, there is still the possibility. And the potential consequences can be very dire.

Can you afford to take the chance?

Cyber security should be at the top of your priority list.

Customer Data is Very Sensitive

A website that tracks and collects data on regular customers will give the business an unprecedented view of the person’s daily life. This includes their eating habits, allergies, viewing habits, engagement, divorce, vulnerability, etc.

This data is often used to increase sales in the ecommerce industry. Promoting diapers for new parents and expensive gifts for couples celebrating their anniversaries is a good idea. Although it may seem intrusive and creepy, it is easy to ignore. Persuasion is not the worst thing in this world.

However, customer data that is exposed via a security flaw can be made even more dangerous. Blackmailers could threaten to release the data to the public if the business doesn’t pay them extortion money or use it directly to extract payments from the customers affected.

The fact that the data was leaked will do great damage to the company’s reputation. It is unlikely that anyone will continue to buy goods and services from businesses that have requested their data only for them to not keep it safe. The affected company will lose the trust of their clients.

Regulators are getting more strict

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was implemented in the European Union (EU) on May 25, 2018, sets a high standard for EU businesses. Although there isn’t any such broad legislation in the USA, there are still a few reasons to be cautious.

First, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is empowered under Section 5(a), Federal Trade Commission Act, has the power to ban “unfair or deceptive acts and practices in or affecting Commerce”. Their resources allow them to be the de facto protector for customer data.

Second, computer security issues will not be going away, no matter what is in the pipeline. The law will catch up eventually, even though it may seem slow at first. It’s impossible to predict when it will happen, and what retroactively might apply because that possibility cannot be eliminated. Therefore, it is important to act immediately.

Cybersecurity Attacks Encouraged by Exposed Vulnerability

There are two basic types of security vulnerability. The first is the architectural type. This involves the software and protocols used. It includes compliance with the PCI standard for credit card transactions and use of SSL certificates (Secure Sockets Layer). These certificates verify website authenticity. Two-factor authentication protects user accounts.

You can work with a cybersecurity company to increase security. This option can be used to reduce the risk of architectural or outdated software.

There’s also the procedural type, which involves the steps taken by the business to ensure security on a daily and ongoing basis. This includes the use secure passwords, vetting employees, physical protection of data storage solutions and protection against bots, malware and other network intrusions.

A security-compliant web hosting solution is a good choice for businesses. Top platforms are known to invest in security. To combat open-source vulnerabilities, WordPress users should invest in a strong security system. Plugins are particularly susceptible to attacks. However, a strong platform will not make it less likely that weak passwords can be cracked.

Sharks can smell blood in the water and will move in for the easy catches. Although the business world is not as violent, the same principle applies. If people see that your security was breached they will quite sensibly ask if it can again be done.

Operation are becoming more cloud-based

The internet opened up new opportunities for businesses and created hybrid operational modes. Physical premises were linked to digital ones. A typical business would have offices or multiple offices and a website to encourage people to visit.

This helped to minimize the impact of cyberattacks. An online attack cannot compromise the security of physical stores with on-site locks or guards. This has all changed in recent years, both at the legal and operational levels, largely due to the enormous growth of e-commerce. It’s possible to operate a business without a physical presence.

Everything can be compromised by the internet, even entire businesses that exist (for all practical purposes) in the cloud. An entire company’s infrastructure could be destroyed by a malicious attack in seconds and then disappear forever. Although your business may be still office-based, it is important to know how things are moving.

It’s not rational to make your business vulnerable online for the reasons we have discussed. No matter how small or unknown your business may be, the risks are greater than the cost of creating safeguards.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you’re looking for an IT company that can help protect your business against online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

The Many Faces of Malware: Real-World Samples

There’s a good chance that you haven’t seen malware in person. Even if your antivirus software detected malware on a site you visited or clicked on a link that could be dangerous, it will have stopped the infection. You might be wondering what malware looks like. What would I recognize as a malware program?

What You Need To Know About Malware

Many malicious programs, to be honest, don’t even look like they are. For example, a virus may try to hide while infecting other files or computers. A bot is silently sitting on your computer, waiting for orders from the command center to send spam or take part in a DDoS attack against a major website. Trojans on the other hand, look legitimate and useful programs. They hide behind a pretentious facade to steal your personal information. Ransomware is a nasty threat that tries to get your attention.

All of these variants have been encountered as I am gathering and analysing new samples for my hands on malware protection tests. I begin with thousands of malware-hosting URLs. Then, I download their malicious payloads and run them through their paces. I am a fool in the testing process, opening unknown files, clicking through to allow them to install, and giving them permissions if they ask. Here are some of the strange things I encountered while searching for the best samples.

Another thing: You might not expect malware-like features from some of the items below. They have all been verified by the VirusTotal website. Each sample was submitted with its unique fingerprint to the VirusTotal Database. It listed the 70 antivirus engines that had identified the file as malware in return. At least 40 antivirus engines flagged all of the programs in this list.

Ransomware: The Horror of Ransomware

You won’t notice a ransomware attack on your computer until it is too late. Ransomware quietly encrypts your files, hidden from your view. The ransom note of the malware demands your attention after the ransomware has done its dirty work. The ransom note promises that you will get your files back if you pay the ransom, usually in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. However, if they run away with your money, there is no recourse. Ransomware is something you don’t want to come across.

Maze, a ransomware that demands you pay a ransom to see its ransom note. It takes control of your entire desktop to grab your attention. To prove that it is possible, this ransomware offers to decrypt one file for you, in order to get you to pay.

Screen locker malware does not encrypt your files.

It simply covers up the desktop and all program, so that you can’t use it. These attacks often claim come from law enforcement and demand that you pay a penalty in untraceable money. Sometimes, it is possible to call the ransomware’s bluff using basic recovery methods. This example is more difficult and much more ugly. Even though I used Yandex Translate to translate the image, there wasn’t a demand for ransom. It’s not easy to escape its clutches.

It’s not worth the pain of having your computer access blocked. Maybe it’s more pleasant to have it done well. Although the screen locker is just as ineffective as the ugly, it does give you flowers and an anime girl. This one was easy for me, as the perpetrators might have expected. The filename is ForNowLock.exe and not ForeverLock.exe.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you’re interested in getting managed IT services to protect your systems against malware and other types of threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

Cybersecurity Professionals In Today’s Modern Day Society

The cybersecurity industry has been around for more than three decades. There has been a lot of changes during these years in terms of the industry dynamics as well as the technological innovations.

These days, there’s an exponential growth happening in the cybersecurity industry. The latter continues to define itself with the development and evolution of new and diverse online threats. Even though there’s a tendency to put the charge on technology, online threats have become extremely diversified. In order to deal with such online threats, companies need cybersecurity professionals who also possess diversified skill sets.

Cybersecurity Experts In Transition

According to the incident’s nature, cybersecurity professionals, which almost always include network security experts and computer engineers, also include investigators with varying expertise, lawyers, communicators, and writers. In case the attack comes with a political agenda, human rights activists, business activists, as well as journalists may also be involved. In case a critical and confidential business email is believed to have been compromised, an internal employee communication specialist may be involved.

These days, a bug in a specific application software may include up to 100 IT experts working to deal with that bug. Each one of them contributes to lower the risk and to guarantee immunity from future threat. This goes to show the extent of the diversity of the cybersecurity industry.

Hiring Reliable Cybersecurity Experts

There are to primary aspects in finding the best candidate. The first one is the skill set, which includes legal analysis and coding. The second aspect includes strategic and instinctive sensibilities that come naturally to people. Additionally, expanding the needed pool of expertise while hiring is going to cover a bigger area in identifying and fighting cyber threats. Whatever your hiring strategy is, it’s crucial to make sure that you have a diversified team of cybersecurity experts or may also consider IT outsourcing.

The Skills Gap

There’s a shortage of IT support expert today. They’re difficult to find and demand a higher salary. On the other hand, there’s a growing number of cybercriminals and their attacks are becoming more complicated by the minute. Most companies these days have a cybersecurity department that is understaffed, which makes the job easier for cybercriminals. Most enterprises, particularly SMEs, can only do little or even nothing to detect, prevent, and respond to cyberattacks. If the gap continues to widen, there will come a time when companies will suffer massive information compromise and data breach that will be costly and time consuming to recover from.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our team of IT experts take care of all your company’s cybersecurity needs.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

Cloud Computing: The Basics

Cloud computing refers to an on-demand delivery of computing services. This includes storage, software, database, networking and intelligence. It is also known as “the cloud”, or more commonly the internet. The cloud offers flexible resources, faster innovation and economies of scale. Cloud computing generally means that you only pay for what you use. This results in lower operational costs. You can scale your infrastructure and operate it efficiently, while your business needs change.

Cloud Computing Types

There are many types of clouds, and not one type that is right for everyone. There are many types of cloud models and services that can be used to find the best solution for your needs.

There are three main types of cloud deployment: public, private, and hybrid. You must first determine the type of cloud deployment, or the cloud computing architecture on which your cloud services will run. Three different methods can be used to deploy your cloud service. These can be performed on a public, private, or hybrid cloud.

Public Cloud

Public clouds are owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers. They offer their computing resources, such as storage, and services over the Internet. Microsoft Azure is a good example of a cloud that is public. This option allows the cloud provider to own and manage the software, hardware and support infrastructure. If you want to access these services or manage your account, all you have to do is to use a web browser.

Private Cloud

A private cloud is a computing resource that is only used by one business or organization. It can be located at a company’s onsite data center. Private networks are used to manage the services and infrastructure of private clouds. A few companies also hire third-party groups to host their private clouds.

Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid clouds are a mix of public and private cloud. These two clouds can be connected by technology, so applications and data can be shared among them. A hybrid cloud allows these two clouds to move between private and public clouds. This offers many benefits for businesses. These benefits include flexibility, security, compliance, and flexibility. Hybrid clouds could offer additional deployment options and optimize your existing infrastructure.

Are you interested in learning more about cloud services? SpartanTec Inc. in Florence SC is here to assist small businesses with cloud migration. Give us a call today to discuss your specific needs.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

How To Prevent and Detect Ransomware

Ransomware has become a lucrative business. All businesses are at risk of suffering from ransomware. If your system come under attack, you will be in a situation that is challenging and frightening to manage. You have to be proactive in preventing ransomware attacks if you don’t want to find yourself in this awful predicament.

How Does Ransomware Work?

All kinds of ransomware have a goal to lock their target’s hard drive or encrypt their files and force them to pay a certain amount if they want to regain access to their data. A ransomware is just one of the many kinds of malicious software or malware that encrypts data for ransom.

This kind of malware targets both technical and human weaknesses by trying to deny a company the availability and access to its systems and confidential data. Such attacks on cybersecurity may involve locking systems and even full encryption of resources and files until the victim pays a ransom.

A cybercriminal uses a phishing attack or a different hacking method to gain access into a computer system. One of the most common methods for a ransomware to get into a system is by downloading an infected email attachment. If it is infected with a ransomware, your files will be encrypted and you will not be able to access it. The hacker will inform you that they stole your data and you can only access it if you pay a ransom. The ransom is usually paid in the form of Bitcoins. If the victim decides to pay up, the cybercriminals might unlock the data or send out a key to decrypt the files. But it’s also possible that even after paying the ransom, the cybercriminals won’t unlock anything.

Preventing and Avoiding Ransomware

Ransomware is insidious. Although it’s known to invade your system through email, it can also take advantage of your system’s vulnerabilities. Listed below are some tips to help you avoid and prevent ransomware attacks.

1. Back Up Your System (Local and Cloud Backups)

You should always back up your system both offsite and locally. Make sure that all your data is backed up in a place that cannot be accessed by hackers easily. If you don’t backup your system, a ransomware attack may lead to irreparable damage.

1. Segment Network Access

Network segmentation security will help limit the information that a hacker will have access to. You can make sure that your whole network security isn’t compromised in a single attack if you have set in place dynamic control access. You should segregate your entire network into zones, with each zone requiring different unique credentials.

1. Early Threat Detection

Install a ransomware protection software that can identify possible threats. Most of these programs come with gateway antivirus software. You should also use a firewall and another program that can filter web content from sites that could introduce malware. It’s also suggested to use best practices for email security as well as spam filtering so that unwanted attachments are kept away from your inbox.

1. Install Anti-Ransomware/Malware Software

It’s never good to assume that you’ve got the most recent antivirus program to protect your network against ransomware. IT professionals suggest a security software that contains anti-ransomware, anti-malware, and anti-virus protection. You should also update them regularly.

1. Run Security Scans Frequently

A security software will be rendered useless if you are not running scans on your mobile devices or computers on a regular basis. These scans are capable of detecting potential threats, which your real time checker may have not identified.

1. Create and Restore Recovery Points

If you are using windows, head to the control panel and search for System restore. Once you’ve found that specific function, you can turn it on and create restore points regularly.

1. Educate Yourself and Train Your Employees

In most cases, a ransomware Florence SC attack can be attributed to poor cybersecurity practices by the staff. Lack of education and training are some of the reasons why companies fall prey to ransomware attacks. Hackers prey on the inattentiveness of the user and that’s why they bet on their ransomware software to get the job done. Human vigilance is one of those things that can protect your against cyberattacks.

1. Use Strong Passwords

Use a password management approach that involves the utilization of enterprise password manager as well as password security best practices. Avoid using the same password for different sites and don’t use weak passwords.

1. Think Before You Click

In case you get an email with attachments .scr, .vbs., or .exe from a “trusted” source, don’t open it. These attachments are most likely not from a legitimate site which they pretend to be. These executables may probably be a virus or a ransomware.

1. Apply Patches ASAP

Malware will take advantage of bugs and security loopholes within a software or operating system. That is why it is important to install the latest patches and updates on your mobile devices and computers.

Call SpartanTec, Inc now and our IT professionals will help you develop the most suitable and effective cybersecurity practices to protect your business and network from ransomware and other online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Firewall Management and Its Challenges

Sometimes referred to as network security devices, firewalls are the central component of a company’s cybersecurity strategy. A robust set of perimeter as well as internal firewalls on a certain network could assist in keeping malicious traffic out and decrease the breakout speed of cyberattacks that are coming from within the network. However, in order to get only the best results, effective firewall management is required.

However, there are certain challenges faced by effective firewall management, which they need to overcome in order to truly have strong network security.

Challenges of Firewall Management

Selecting the appropriate firewall for your needs

It may come as a surprise to you that there different kinds of firewall architectures that you can choose from. Most of these architectures come about after adding on existing firewalls in order to boost the security they offer. Here’s the basic progression of firewalls Florence SC based on security and complexity.

1. Packet filtering firewalls – the most basic and oldest type of firewall, which only performs shallow checks.
2. Circuit level gateways – simple type of firewalls that offer low impact fast data packet verification.
3. Stateful inspection firewalls – functions as a both packet filtering as well as circuit level gateway technology.
4. Application level gateways – also referred to as proxy firewalls. They stop data packet from interconnecting with the network directly.
5. Next Gen Firewalls – may have some or all of the functions of other kinds of firewalls.

So, why choose only one kind of firewall? A lot of companies use different kinds of firewalls and varying management procedures for different areas of their network in order to develop a strong network security and segmentation. Additionally, your decision will also depend on your company’s specific goals. It’s better to consult with an IT expert before making a choice.

Creating Strong Network Segmentation

One important strategy for create defense-in-depth against cybercriminals is network segmentation. The advantages of using robust network segmentation are the following:

• Cut back the damage that’s caused by a network breach
• Make the implementation of a policy easier
• Boost overall data security
• Slow down cybercriminals

It’s because of these benefits that a company needs to configure firewall deployment so that a robust network segmentation is created. If attackers take longer to break out from one network to another, your IT professionals will have more time to check and contain the cybersecurity breach. It will also reduce the assets and data that are accessed at once, which limits the damage.

Blocking Hostile Traffic Without Affecting Legitimate Requests

Although firewalls have to block possible hostile traffic, they also have to avoid impeding traffic requests that are legitimate. If not, the user experience of the network will surely suffer, which will reduce productivity and create inconveniences.

In order to deal with this, it’s important to develop customized configurations for the firewall settings so that specific traffic types are allowed while others are blocked. With a managed firewall service can help in providing the expertise required to modify the firewall for minimum interference and maximum cybersecurity.

Managing Firewall Program Updates

Several firewall solutions are known to be software based and will, therefore, require periodic updates in order to close possible vulnerabilities as well as update what is considered as hostile traffic. Making sure that the firewall is updated is among the most basic management procedures that companies need to focus on but such updates are can still be easily missed especially when the IT departments are overworked and they have other priorities to deal with.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you want to know more about firewall management. Our team of IT experts are always ready to assist you and help improve your company’s cybersecurity.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Why Small Businesses Need To Have Managed IT Services

Small company proprietors know that their firms rely on technology. In case you have problems with computer system software and also hardware, inner databases, internet connections, everything will come to a full stop. Even if you have actually thought about having an internal IT department to aid you with your technology problems, there are several advantages to obtaining expert managed IT services.

Below are a few points you’ll take advantage of managed IT services Florence SC, particularly if a few of your personnel are working from home.

Managed IT services are an in-depth way of IT outsourcing. Managed IT services will help maximize your routine so you can focus your time on more vital tasks and sustain your business’s growth and also development.

A managed service provider can aid your in-house IT department. They might even become your firm’s IT department on their own. It all boils down to your company objectives.

What are managed IT services?

Although many individuals are familiar with the duty of an IT department within a firm, a whole lot are still aware of exactly how an outside IT services team might assist their organizations.

An in-house IT department has at the very least one staff member who understands the network admin well, software as well as hardware installation, as well as taking care of technical troubles.

Managed IT services could provide your company with the IT help it needs. A managed IT company is comprised of numerous IT experts as well as is generally bigger than what you’ll have in house.

They have various expertise and also a vast array of understanding related to various elements of IT. If you obtain a handled IT solution, you’ll have a team of IT professionals that you can depend on whenever you require them.

What can Managed IT services supply your small company?

An MSP such as SpartanTec, Inc. can use high-quality innovation solutions at a cost that fits your budget. It enables your service to be proactive rather than waiting for a problem to emerge before you employ a person to troubleshoot it. Given that you’re paying an affordable rate for the services you get, your company could quickly budget for the IT services you need. It will make it less complicated for you to set aside a specific quantity for your IT solutions expenditures in the coming months or years. With managed IT services, you can aid your staff members to do their tasks efficiently as well as remain linked without needing to go past your assigned expenses. It also means you can concentrate extra on various other vital tasks as well as much less on technological troubles.

What are the advantages of managed IT services for your workers?

With managed IT services, you’ll get access to a database that otherwise will not be available if you have an in-house IT team. An MSP has accessibility to a team of IT experts with comprehensive experience, specialization, as well as background.
Managed IT services provide a variety of IT solutions, which could be excellent if you’re still growing your company. You may just need necessary IT solutions at first yet as you scale your company, you can easily add in various other vital IT options.
Managed IT services might help your company prevent IT issues also before they take place. You’ll have an IT team to aid you to see to it that every one of the software applications as well as hardware facilities is established and set up correctly. Plus, they can spot IT security issues before they become a problem.

SpartanTec, Inc. uses a vast array of managed IT services to assist your business accomplish its business objectives. Call us currently and discover exactly how we can take your business to the next level.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence