Tag Archive for: data protection

Tips on how to protect your business from data loss

Data loss can lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and legal complications. Therefore, it’s crucial for companies to implement effective strategies to prevent data loss and ensure the safety and integrity of their valuable information. Here are some tips and best practices that businesses can follow to minimize the risk of data loss.

Back up your data regularly

Having robust backup and recovery systems is crucial for data disaster protection. Regularly back up your critical business data to secure off-site locations, such as cloud storage or remote servers. Ensure that backups are automated, encrypted, and regularly tested to guarantee their integrity and accessibility during emergencies.

Implement strong cybersecurity measures

Among the strong cybersecurity measures you should deploy are strong passwords and multifactor authentication for all of your business’s systems. You should also install reliable antivirus and anti-malware software, and regularly scan your network for vulnerabilities.

Physical security and redundancy

Safeguard your physical infrastructure by putting in place measures to prevent or mitigate damage from natural disasters or accidents. This includes installing fire suppression systems and backup power generators, and keeping backups in secure off-site data centers. Redundancy in network infrastructure and data storage helps ensure business continuity even in the face of hardware failures or physical damage to your infrastructure.

Train your employees

One of the most common causes of data loss is human error. This is why you should invest in comprehensive training programs to educate your employees on data protection best practices, including proper handling of sensitive information, recognizing potential threats, and reporting incidents promptly. Conducting training regularly will encourage a culture of cybersecurity awareness, which is key to defending against current and emerging threats.

Create an incident response and business continuity plan

Develop a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in case of a data loss incident. Define roles and responsibilities, establish communication channels, and conduct regular drills to ensure readiness.

Additionally, you should create a business continuity plan to minimize downtime and mitigate the impact on your operations. This plan should include procedures for restoring critical systems, prioritizing essential functions, and communicating with stakeholders during a crisis. Review and revise your disaster recovery plans periodically to account for changes in your business environment or technology infrastructure.

Perform regular audits and updates

Conduct regular audits of your data protection measures to identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement. Also, make sure to roll out the latest security and software patches as soon as they become available to ensure that your systems are fortified against emerging threats.

Use data encryption and access controls

Implement strong data encryption protocols to safeguard sensitive information both in transit and at rest, as well as access controls and user permissions to restrict access to your data and systems.

Conduct third-party risk management:

If your business relies on third-party vendors or service providers, ensure they have robust data protection measures in place. Contractual agreements must be clearly established so both parties understand their obligations when it comes to data protection. You should also regularly assess and monitor your vendors’ compliance with security standards to mitigate any potential risks they may pose to your business.

By prioritizing data loss prevention, businesses can safeguard their operations, maintain customer trust, and mitigate the potentially devastating consequences of data breaches. If you need a reliable data protection solution for your business, call our experts today.

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How to keep your Mac safe

Many users believe that Mac laptops and desktops are more secure than Windows devices. However, Macs are still susceptible to cyberthreats, and they’re becoming more so as cybercriminals continue to search for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in Mac devices. Therefore, you need to implement measures that can keep your Mac device protected.

1. Adjust your privacy settings

Review and manage your privacy settings by going to Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy. From there, you can specify app permissions, such as which apps can access your location, contacts, photos, and music. This gives you greater control over your personal data.

2. Turn on the built-in firewall

Your Mac’s built-in firewall is an integral defense mechanism against unauthorized access. To activate the firewall, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall. If the padlock icon at the bottom left is locked, click it and enter your username and password. Then, click Turn On Firewall to enable the firewall.

You can customize your firewall settings by clicking on Firewall Options. This will show you a list of services and apps that are permitted to receive inbound connections. Avoid adding unnecessary apps to this list to minimize potential vulnerabilities.

It’s also a good idea to enable stealth mode on your Mac. Tick the “Enable stealth mode” box in Firewall Options to make your Mac less visible on public networks, reducing the risk of hackers and malware.

3. Create a firmware password

All new Macs come with FileVault encryption enabled by default. This means that your data is encrypted on your hard drive and can only be accessed by logging in. However, this feature will not protect your data if someone reinstalls the operating system or uses a memory stick to boot your Mac and erase your hard drive.

To add an extra layer of security, set up a firmware password. To do this, restart your Mac and hold down Cmd+R before the Apple logo appears. Once the Utilities window appears, click on Utilities in the menu bar and select Startup Security Utility or Firmware Password Utility. Click on Turn On Firmware Password and follow the instructions.

Once you have set up a firmware password, make sure you never forget it. Otherwise, only Apple technicians can recover it.

4. Keep your software up to date

Apply macOS and application updates right away, as these updates often include important security patches. It’s best to enable automatic updates to ensure your system is always protected.

By implementing these security measures, you can effectively enhance the safety of you Mac and protect your valuable data.

If you require additional assistance or need to establish more advanced defenses, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from our team of experts.

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Information Technology Services
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An I.T. Manager’s New Year’s Resolution

An I.T. Manager’s New Year’s Resolution

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to review your systems maintenance program, tweak your plans and processes and optimize your overall I.T. strategy.

Review, Evaluate and Optimize.
More than likely, your business could live or die based on your IT strategy. We have all become dependent on our technology both in our personal and professional lives, so be sure to give it the TLC it needs. Review your key procedures and plans such as network failure testing, disaster recovery, business continuity, virus protection and data backup (for an integrated, online backup, storage and sharing application, click here). For those of you with an on-site backup solution, now is the perfect time to run those backups with a test recovery. With erratic weather on the rise and winter around the corner, taking the time to be sure you have a tight, foolproof strategy in place to keep both your systems and your information protected from loss or damage.

Be Smart About Your Data.
Inadequate protection or spotty management of critical data can have a profound effect on sustainability. Regularly scheduled testing of your backup strategy and implementing a daily backup routine will help prevent the disasters that prove fatal for many companies.

  • 31% of PC users have lost all of their files due to events beyond their control.
  • 34% of companies fail to test their onsite backup solution, and of those that do, 77% have found back-up failures.
  • 60% of companies that lose their data will shut down within 6 months of the disaster.
  • Every week 140,000 hard drives crash in the United States.
  • Simple drive recovery can cost upwards of $7,500 and success is not guaranteed.

We recommend assessing your existing data protection strategy and learn what data repository and storage medium options are available. It’s important to understand traditional backup methods as well as the benefits of developing an enhanced protection solution that meets the needs of your particular business.

Think of it as a Flu Shot for your Systems.
There are lots of people out there determined to infect your computers with viruses. Optimize your security with new or updated anti-virus, Spyware and Malware software. Be wary of free anti-virus software that sounds too good to be true because it often is.  You get what you pay for, and software that protects your computer needs regular and consistent updating to stay useful because viruses are constantly being generated. This is especially important if you use a networked computer system. Do your homework,  invest in effective software and keep it updated. (For an easy-to-use, simple, and effective anti-malware application, try Malwarebytes)
Give your Computer a Tune Up.
Straight out of the box, computers have often been loaded with unnecessary programs at the factory.  So, from day 1, your computer is accumulating software programs, update reminders, “bonus” software, and random files that you don’t need and over time it will become increasingly sluggish. By taking a few important steps, you can get it running efficiently again, for a lot longer. The first thing you should do is disable the programs that start up when your computer boots.  While there are many places this can occur, the easiest one to check is the Startup menu in your Programs menu. Additionally, simple tasks such as clean out your Windows Registry, remove unneeded files and programs, empty your recycling bin or trash, and perform a disc defragmentation can make a huge difference.  Even if your computer has been performing slowly for some time, beginning this regimen is sure to produce results.

Email – a Blessing or a Burden?
Most of us are guilty of being slaves to our inbox, whether we like to admit it or not. We keep every thing that has ever been sent to us out of some sort of unfounded fear of not having it should we ever need it. And the “reply all” function makes it exponentially worse. Well, each of those emails, particularly the ones with large attachments, take up space on your computer  – and space in your head when you are actually trying to find something. Email is the third largest culprit of workplace interruptions and email mismanagement costs you money.   Take charge and clean up that clutter by creating folders and subfolders to organize your communications. Save the attachments that you will need later onto your hard drive in a logical place, then delete the email if its unnecessary. Set your computer to delete your Trash after 30 days. Anything you can think of to reduce the number of emails in your actual inbox will save you time and money down the road.

GCInfotech can get you started on the path to a leaner, more efficient IT strategy. If you don’t have an IT Manager to make a New Year’s Resolution for you, then give us a call.

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Windows 10 backup
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How to back up your files using Windows 10

Business owners are becoming more aware of the damaging effects of data loss. Companies now realize that without safe and reliable data backup, important business information can fall into the wrong hands or be lost forever. Fortunately, Windows 10 offers easy-to-use tools like File History and OneDrive.

File History in Windows 10

Serving as the main backup utility, File History enables users to regularly schedule backing up of files on their PC and store them on an external drive. That means you can connect your PC to a network or USB drive and make backups as needed.

However, be sure to regularly connect the external drive if you intend to use File History for backups. Otherwise, Windows will prompt you that your files have not been backed up every day. You can ignore this warning at your own risk. If you back up to a mapped network that is unavailable, File History will commence backup in the local disk until the network drive becomes available.

Setting up File History

Anyone can set up File History. After all, it was designed to make data backup and recovery easy for users. By default, File History backs up the main file folders, but you may also pick which folders you want to back up and bring in folders from other parts of the PC to do this.

From the Start menu, click on Settings > Update & Security > Backup.

Once in Backup, you can connect to an external drive. Click on Add a drive to see a list of external hard drives hooked up to your PC and choose one.

When you return to the Backup section, you will see that the Add a drive option has changed to Automatically back up my files (by default). This allows backups to be created at periodic intervals, which you can set to anywhere from every 10 minutes to once a day (the default option is once every hour). You may also set how long to keep the backups.

Restoring files that have already been backed up is just as easy as setting up backups. Simply type “File History” in the search bar. Then, you will see the “Restore your files with File History” folder. Selecting this opens a new window showing the folders backed up onto your external drives.

Setting up OneDrive backup option

If you have access to a network drive or the cloud, back up to it instead of locally. One such cloud option is OneDrive. You can prompt OneDrive to automatically back up your files. Just click on the cloud icon in the Windows notification area, then select More > Settings > Backup > Manage backup.

Not only will selected folders sync in OneDrive, but new and existing files will also be backed up to OneDrive, so they can be accessed using other devices in case something happens to your PC.

Making system image backups

A system image is an exact replica of your entire operating system, along with all the programs, settings, and files. If you created a system image backup using the Windows 7 Backup and Restore tool in Windows 7, it will still work in Windows 10.

To use this feature, access the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option from the Control Panel. Click on Create a system image, choose where to store the backup (i.e., an external hard drive, network drive, or DVD), and which drives or files to back up. You will then be asked to make a system repair disc, which you can use to start a PC and restore the image backup.

Never worry about losing files in Windows 10. For more tips on how to successfully back up and restore data, contact us today.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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How to Protect Your Company from Ransomware Attacks

Data breaches are serious problems with business-crippling results. Some organizations are unaware of the multiple ways cybercriminals can attack and are often unprepared to combat the issues that arise when such activities occur. Others let fear of attack control their response and deploy common solutions that they presume will protect them but may later find themselves compromised because of gaps in their data protection approach.

Cybercriminals thrive on both of these scenarios–using lack of preparation or overconfidence in what was deployed to their advantage.

In this eWEEK Data Points article, Index Engines Vice-President Jim McGann offers valuable industry information about how to thwart the possibility of succumbing to a ransomware attack. Enterprises should implement the following five defensive strategies:

Data Point No. 1: Deploy a real-time malware detector.

Cybercriminals are looking for the path of least resistance when attempting to break into data centers. Whether it is a remittance of old attacks hoping to find an unsecure target or one of the many new threats created each day hoping to infiltrate a system before they’ve been identified, having one of the commercially available anti-malware software protection solutions deployed is an important first line of defense. Ensure that the software is scheduled for frequent system scans, and that updates and patches are installed automatically to minimize protection gaps.

Data Point No. 2: Deploy a backup solution that supports full-content analysis of your data.

Many backup products on the market today have some level of analytics functionality to determine whether any particular data has been corrupted. However, many of these solutions are metadata-only based, only looking at basic information about a file or database. Others use metadata analytics on the first pass and then follow up on suspicious results with content-based analytics. But this approach is flawed and can miss more sophisticated attack vectors, providing a false sense of confidence. A comprehensive content-based analytic scan deployed from the start validates the data’s integrity and delivers the high level of confidence that advanced or hidden attacks are found and neutralized.   

Data Point No. 3: Use forensic analysis that includes machine learning.

Because of the efforts of real-time malware detection providers and content-based analytic backup solutions, most cybercriminals have to consistently change approaches in their efforts to infect and attack business operations. What was once a bunch of loosely affiliated opportunists have turned into well-funded and organized syndicates using advanced technologies to re-engineer their attacks. Forensic analysis software that employs machine learning and artificial intelligence as part of its learning can detect patterns and anticipate changes that human-based intervention cannot. The cybercriminals are using ML to their advantage; so should you!

Data Point No. 4: Don’t pay a ransom.

Because of the swiftness and scale of these cybercriminal activities, it is possible that they may still find a way into your computing and storage infrastructure. Human error, falling for phishing schemes or intentional damage from a disgruntled employee can be the gaps that data thieves need to penetrate organizations that have deployed the proper security defenses. As overwhelming as it may be to find out that your data has been compromised and/or encrypted, don’t play into the hackers’ hands by paying a ransom for a return of your business-critical information. It is possible that you may still not recover your data even after paying. The security exploit that was leveraged may still be intact and cybercriminals may re-target your systems. Criminals may see you as an easy mark for having paid the ransom and have reason to come at you again, knowing that you’re willing to pay to get back up and running.

Data Point No. 5: Focus on best practices for cyber-recovery.

Not paying a ransom does not mean that you cannot get your systems back and operational. Nor does it mean that there has to be an excruciatingly long recovery period. The right protection software can turn a ransomware attack into just another disaster-recovery scenario. It can find the most recent clean backup prior to an attack and help recover any lost or infected data. In addition, the right cyber-recovery tool can launch a post-attack forensic discovery to find the breach and the malware that executed the attack in order to guide the post-attack recovery process and protect against future intrusions.

“Cybercriminals will strike any organization, no matter how big or small, if they feel like there is a good chance of collecting a ransom,” McGann said. “Taking steps to fortify your defenses and ensure fast, efficient recovery in case you do fall victim is paramount for protecting against ransomware in the first place. Criminals want the easy score. Deploying a solution like CyberSense that serves as a safety net against ransomware makes working for a win not worth the time and effort.”

To learn more about how to safeguard your business, or if you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment.

Published with consideration from eweek.com  SOURCE

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Small Business Cybersecurity in a Post-COVID World

COVID-19 has forced companies large and small to rapidly retool the way they do business, with even the smallest businesses making remote work arrangements for employees. But while the pandemic has inspired an unprecedented surge of cyber attacks, including a heap of new security challenges for business, many small companies aren’t rewriting cyber security policies or implementing new security measures at the same rate as larger companies, and it seems the smaller the company, the fewer the changes.

With the economy beginning to contract, many small businesses may be struggling to find the funds or staff to address evolving cybersecurity concerns. Small businesses already make up 43 percent of cyber crime targets in the U.S., and in 2019, data breaches cost small businesses an average of $200,000, with 60 percent of those attacked going out of business within six months.

Improving cyber security might cost some money, but it’ll surely be worth keeping your business afloat — and it might even be cheaper than the cost of a data breach. Protecting yourself is often as simple as implementing a few smart policies, and using the right security tools.

Update Your Policies to Address the Realities of Remote Work

If you have employees working remotely during the crisis, you need to implement some policies that acknowledge the unique security risks of working from home. First of all, employees won’t be behind a company firewall, and might not have company security software running on their systems.

Require that employees access company data over a private network — anyone who doesn’t have access to a home network should be required to work onsite, where they can access a secure connection. Public connections, like those in coffee shops or libraries, might not be available anyway, and if they are, they’re not safe — hackers can jump on them to access your data. Clarify that employees shouldn’t save company data to their personal devices, including storage like flash drives, personal cloud storage, or personal email. All of these are insecure places to store data.

Use the Right Tools

Software solutions are available to give you and your employees the tools you need to stay secure while working in a challenging situation. Employees can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access your company’s internal network and even use a virtual desktop there, which provides both storage solutions and an extra layer of security.

Employees will also need endpoint security, including anti-malware protection and firewall protection. Advanced threat protection will include security for endpoints and other network devices and email, as well as malware protection. The best advanced threat protection offers real-time monitoring to catch breaches and other attacks before they do too much damage.

Train Your Employees

Of course, employees will need regular security check-ins to make sure their security features are optimized. However, they’ll also need additional training in cybersecurity, especially as everyone is on-edge and stressed-out at the moment — in other words, employees are more likely than ever before to be in the perfect state of mind to fall for a phishing email or other social engineering tactic. Regular training, even if it’s just videos and online quizzes, will help keep employees on their toes, and will maybe help you single out individuals who need further attention.

Supply Devices

If you can, it’s safest to supply your employees the devices they need to work from home. It’s more fair to the employees, who may otherwise have to use old or underpowered equipment, or scramble to come up with what they need on their own. But it’s not just about fairness — you have much more control over what happens on company devices, and you can, at least in theory, keep employees from using them for personal stuff. This can help keep hackers from compromising your company data, since you don’t know what emails your employees are answering in their downtime, or which questionable websites they might be visiting. Their personal devices could already be compromised.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been dangerous in all kinds of ways, some more predictable than others. Make sure your company is aware of the dangers COVID-19 poses for your cyber security, so you protect yourself on every front.

To learn more about how to safeguard your business, or if you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment.

Published with consideration from smallbiztechnology.com  SOURCE

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How To Avoid Getting Hacked By Cybercriminals And Protect Everything You’ve Worked So Hard To Achieve

Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to steal data and make a buck at the expense of someone they’ve never met. They don’t care if they ruin someone’s life or destroy a business in the process. This is why it’s so important to stay up-to-date with the latest technology.

Cyber security threats are constantly evolving. If you let your software or hardware – or both – fall behind the times, then you put your business at serious risk. Five years ago, your malware protection might have been the best on the market. If you haven’t updated since then, you need to change that. Here’s what you can do right now to protect everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Stay updated. After a while, developers and manufacturers stop supporting their old hardware and software. Many of them simply don’t have the resources to keep updating older products. They need to make sure their current products are supported and secure. After five years, they may stop sending out security patches for their software. Or they might not offer help-desk support for a seven-year-old router.

If you run into this situation, you may need to invest in new equipment or software. It can be a tough pill to swallow, but it doesn’t compare to the cost of dealing with a hack or data loss. Data loss can be devastating for a business. Some never recover and have to close their doors because the cost is so high – and customers don’t want to give their money to a business that isn’t going to keep their data secure.

At the same time, you need to update your existing equipment and software. Make sure everything has the latest security patches. Most hardware and software come with an option for automatic updates. If you’re concerned that you’ll miss an update, then keep this option on. It is a good idea, however, to check everything periodically to make sure the updates are being applied, just in case.

Say yes to proactive monitoring. Proactive network monitoring can be your best friend in the fight against cyber-attacks. Many IT security firms now offer proactive services. Basically, they watch your network 24/7. If a threat is found, they can stop it before it does any damage. They act immediately to stop those threats.

You can sign up for real-time reports or just get updates once a week to stay informed so you know what’s going on with your network. Proactive monitoring can also make sure your systems are up-to-date (coming back to our first point). If they detect a vulnerability, then they can work to patch it. This means you have so much less to worry about so you can focus on what really matters: growing your business and taking care of customers!

Back up everything. If you don’t have data backups for your business, it’s time to change that. Setting up a data backup system – whether it’s local or cloud-based – can sound like a lot of work. You might have a ton of data, especially if you’ve been in operation for long. But not having a backup system can tear your business apart.

If a piece of hardware fails or a hacker gets into your data, you may have to dig deep into your pocket to recover it or you may just lose it all. There are a lot of scenarios where data can be lost.

Investing in a backup system, like a secure cloud backup, solves this. You can set up a secure system that backs up data daily (or nightly), weekly or whenever you need it. It’s good to keep backups off-site just in case anything happens on-site (electrical surges, flood, fire, theft, etc.). If data is lost or your network falls victim to ransomware, then you can restore your data and continue operations!

These tips can seem like a lot, but when you partner with a dedicated IT services company, you can overcome a lot of hurdles. Working with IT specialists is how to keep your business safe in a world where cybercriminals are actively trying to break in. You want someone with the expertise to secure your network watching over your shoulders.

To learn more about how to safeguard your business, or if you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment.

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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Cybercriminals Are Out In Full Force In Today’s Crazy Times — Here’s How To Stop Them

In the past couple of months, just about everyone has been forced to shift priorities. If you’re like many business owners, you are intently focused on pivoting your business to accommodate today’s “new normal.” In fact, you are probably investing so much of your time in trying to retain your customers and generate new cash flow that you barely have time to even think about cyber security.

The problem is that cybercriminals and hackers know there’s no better time to strike than during a global crisis. In fact, they’re probably working overtime to craft new malware while the rest of us are trying to manage how our lives have been turned upside down. While you are so focused on your business, these cyber thugs are finding new ways into your IT network so they can steal data and passwords, compromise your clients’ private information and even demand large ransoms.

Cybercrime is already on the rise and is expected to cause $6 trillion in damages by 2021! But, if history repeats itself, you can bet hackers are already out in full force right now. We’ve already seen how headlines are changing from stories about COVID-19 to accounts of a frenzy of cyber-attacks on corporations and small businesses.

Here are solutions you can implement during these crazy times to help protect your business data, money and productivity:

  • Be more suspicious of incoming e-mails.

Because people have been scared, confused and not really focused for a while now, it’s the perfect time for hackers to send e-mails with dangerous malware and viruses. You probably have received a bunch of COVID-19-focused emails. Always carefully inspect the e-mail and make sure you know the sender. There has already been a CDC-gov e-mail address out there that’s not legitimate and has spammed inboxes across the country.

Avoid clicking links in the e-mail unless it’s clear where they go. And you should never download an attachment unless you know who sent it and what it is. Communicate these safeguards to everyone on your team, especially if they are working from home.

  • Ensure your work-from-home computers are secure.

Another reason to expect a rise in cyber-attacks during these times is the dramatic increase in employees working from home. Far too many employers won’t think about security as their team starts working at the kitchen table. That’s a dangerous precedent.

First, make sure your employees and contractors are not using their home computers or devices when working. Second, ensure your work-at home computers have a firewall that’s turned on. Finally, your network and data are not truly secure unless your employees utilize a virtual private network (VPN). If you need help in arranging or improving your new work-from-home environment, we would be happy to get your entire team set up. Our goal is always to help your business to thrive with greater cyber security and superior technology that improves efficiency.

  • Improve your password strategy.

During crises like this one, your passwords could mean the difference between spending your time working to grow your business and trying to recoup finances and private data that’s been hacked. Make a point now to reevaluate your passwords and direct your team to create stronger passwords.

Also, while it’s so convenient to save your passwords in your web browser, it also lessens your security. Because web browsers simply require their own password or PIN to access saved passwords, a skilled hacker can bypass this hurdle. Once they access your saved passwords, they can steal as much as they want – credit card information, customers’ private data and more!

Instead, you should consider a password manager to keep all of your passwords in one place. These password managers feature robust security.

You, your team and your family have enough to concern yourselves with at the moment. There’s no need to invite in more problems by letting your computer and network security slide during these times.

While this coronavirus scare has negatively affected countless businesses, we are proud to say we are open and continuously servicing our customers. If you need additional security advice or would like to have a consultation to discuss how to keep your data safe or how we can help you work more effectively, simply connect with us today.

To learn more about how to safeguard your business, or if you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment.

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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