by Felicien | Mar 4, 2019 | Education
Your employee innocently clicks a link within an email or visits a sketchy website and the next thing you know your digital assets are being held hostage by a cyber attacker. It only takes a few keystrokes to cause potentially irrevocable damage to your systems, and hackers are always looking for new victims. With ransomware, you may be able to regain full access to your files and other digital assets — but at what cost to your business? No size of business is immune to cybersecurity assaults, and ransomware is on the rise in small businesses. In this Ultimate Small Business Owner’s Guide to Ransomware, you’ll learn more about the threat, tips to protect your business and suggestions on how to recover after your business has been infiltrated.
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a specific type of malware that results in you losing access to your digital assets until a ransom is paid to the attacker. The assumption is that as soon as you have paid the cybercriminal, you’ll regain access to your information — but there is no guarantee that hackers will unlock your files after payment. The loss of access to your information and business systems can be crippling for your business, sending productivity into a downward spiral and frustrating customers and vendors alike. The faster you or your IT security provider are able to react, the more you will be able to limit the damage done to your organization and reputation due to ransomware. The three primary types of ransomware are:
Data encryption or fundamentally changing the format of your files
Programs that hijack your desktop files and require payment to unlock them
Mobile ransomware that prompts you with payment instructions
Each type of ransomware presents particular challenges for your organization.
Dangers of Ransomware
Aside from losing access to your files, your business may effectively be at a standstill with a widespread ransomware attack. Computer and phone systems, your website, your email servers — all are interconnected and can be vulnerable to this type of aggressive malware. Today’s data and technology platforms are often tied tightly together which expands the reach of a particularly malevolent attack. The effects can be far-reaching, from an inability of customers to place orders or check order status to causing your automated production lines to grind to a halt. Until you are able to regain access to your data and files, your business may be relying only on printed information. This is particularly damaging when you consider how many of today’s offices are going paperless.
How is Ransomware Spread?
Ransomware is spread in a variety of ways, but the most common is through someone clicking a link within an email or visiting an infected website. These back doors to your systems provide hackers with easy access to business-critical systems and information, allowing them to virtually lock the door to your digital assets. Social engineering is another way that unsuspecting staff members are tempted to provide the keys to the virtual kingdom. Hackers are becoming extremely deft at using information stored on social networks to create ads or messages that seem to be from trusted colleagues — yet lead to malware.
Are Small Businesses Vulnerable to Ransomware?
You may think that only larger businesses with deep coffers would be tempting to cybercriminals, but small businesses are considered quite vulnerable and may be ideal targets for a quick attack. Small business owners are often lulled into having a false sense of security thinking that they are too small to be a target. A 2018 data security report by Verizon shows that 58% of malware attack victims were small businesses. Stealing your customer information can be the work of a few hours for a hacker, and these data points are extremely valuable on the dark web. It’s relatively easy for individuals to gain access to the tools that are required to break through basic security measures. It’s crucial for small businesses to stay informed and enhance their security profile in order to protect sensitive competitive and customer information.
How Can I Protect My Small Business from Cyber Attacks?
Protecting your small business from cyber attacks begins with assuming a more aggressive security posture. It’s no longer a matter of simply scanning emails for viruses and adding a firewall. The increasing scope of data breaches means you will need to either invest in internal security infrastructure or work with qualified professionals who specialize in cybersecurity. Protecting your business from ransomware and other cyber attacks requires a range of protective measures, including:
Staff training on creating adequate passwords and the importance of never sharing passwords
Limiting data and systems access for unauthorized users
Thorough review of endpoints, including secure employee and guest WiFi access
Close monitoring and review of when and how contractors are allowed access to systems
Maintenance of government regulations and compliance mandates
Advanced antivirus software, preferably with active monitoring
Regularly reviewing and enhancing backup and recovery strategies
Applying software patches and updates in a timely manner
Each of these strategies will take time and effort to implement, and they all work together to help protect your organization from being the target of a ransomware or other type of malware attack.
Recovering After a Ransomware Attack
Understanding the type of ransomware that has been added to your system is the first step in recovery. This will help you or your technology service provider determine the next steps for restoring full system usage. If you planned ahead and have a solid backup and recovery program, this is likely when you’ll begin taking those steps. IT security professionals recommend taking these steps to recover from a ransomware attack:
Disconnect everything to limit infiltration to unaffected systems
Take pictures or screen captures of the ransomware screen, including the payment requirements and information
Begin taking steps for recovery
Learn more about the specific type of ransomware that is affecting your system
Determine whether you are able to completely restore your systems from backups
Finally, create a crisis communication strategy that will allow you to provide customers and employees with the information they need to continue working after the attack.
The best option for your business to survive a ransomware attack is to avoid it — but that’s not always possible. Become educated on the dangers of this particular type of malware and how you can prevent it, or you risk becoming yet another statistic in the ongoing fight against cybercriminals.
by Felicien | Mar 4, 2019 | Education
Many companies password protect their files and applications and for good reason. There are hackers trying every day to break into a system and obtain files and information. Most businesses are smart about applying passwords to protect their information. However, many of them fail to think about sharing them within the organization. Anything can happen at any time and if one person holds the passwords, that can result in unforeseen problems and delay within an organization.
QuadrigaCX exchange did not expect anything to happen to the owner and chief executive who held the password to a digital wallet which fueled their entire organization. He was the only one with the password and when he died unexpectedly, their business came to a screeching halt. Not only was the company not able to do business by paying money to their customers, it left them open to rumors and theories as to why the company wasn’t honoring their commitment to their customers. People were and still are upset, and the company’s reputation was on the line simply because one man held the key to unlocking the digital vault. Weeks after his death, the company still could not unlock the virtual vault to pay their customers. No organization should find themselves in this predicament because it is a simple one to fix.
Why Do Businesses Need Passwords?
Simply put, passwords are the best and easiest way to protect information. Passwords can prove identity when logging into accounts, including email, various websites and even into the computer itself. Most companies require employees to enter a user name and password to log into their work computers. The stronger the password, the better protection it provides against hackers. Strong passwords are ones that are not easy to break. They contain a series of numbers and letters, upper and lower case, and often a symbol.
Why Do Businesses Need a Plan to Share Passwords?
In many organizations, employees are sharing passwords. Even when the company forbids it, employees share anyway. It makes the job easier and companies do not find themselves stuck when one person isn’t available. Sharing passwords enables employees to get work done more efficiently. Sharing passwords is not a bad thing as long as it is done with proper guidance and parameters.
Password managers are an excellent way to enable password sharing without any one employee knowing the password. All employees store their credentials in a secure virtual vault. The password manager allows them to share credentials with each other. These managers provide ultimate encryption because it provides a unique key, which protects them from those who shouldn’t have access. A manager should control the sharing process. A manager should put rules in place as to how the passwords are shared. The passwords should stay within the organization and only authorized individuals should have access. The password manager controls who can access which passwords, so each employee won’t have to make the decision to share, or not. It will ensure all employees have access to the most up-to-date passwords, which allows everyone to be in synch.
A password manager also allows an administrator to see who is sharing passwords with whom. These applications leave a trail to show when passwords are being shared. Administrators can also revoke someone’s rights to password sharing, or change the passwords as needed. Businesses should always have a backup plan, even when using a password manager. There should be a plan in place for emergencies, or in some cases, natural disasters. There should be a plan in place for when someone leaves the business. Backing up data is always a smart move. Accessing the data should also be easy. The password manager makes sure that there isn’t one person that can access the passwords, and data.
by Felicien | Mar 4, 2019 | Education
Sadly, hackers are something that many companies have to deal with on a daily basis. What might seem like a fairly uncommon problem is actually more widespread than you might imagine. Hackers are a skilled set of individuals but at the same time, they cause widespread issues with companies across the globe.
Building a Hack-Proof Network is a Priority, and an Essential
The top national security officials in Australia are now actively working to create a mobile network that is essentially non-hackable. The project is not only to protect mobile networks, but also to protect entire power grids, hospitals, and universities from potential shutdown as the result of state-sponsored cyber attacks.
The home affairs department is currently working to determine what needs to be done to create these networks that would essentially be impenetrable and impossible for hackers to breach. The Home Affairs Department is also looking to find industry support programs from Australian technology companies to help improve the overall cyber defences of the nation.
The issue lies with potential cyberattacks that have been aimed at the government and at Australian businesses that seem to have originated from China and Russia directly following the blocking of Chinese company, Huawei, when they tried to provide equipment for 5G networks that were in the process of being created.
It was recently revealed that computer systems that are used for the Australian parliament and various other political parties were attacked by a foreign government. The government currently is seeking stricter email security as Beijing and Moscow are being blamed for cyber attacks that were previously discovered.
What Does a Hacker-Proof Network Mean?
The new network is set to be built in the private sector, but top cyber experts and spies would ultimately be in charge of securing and protecting the network once it is completed, making it safer than current networks that are largely commercial.
The proposal is currently for two different options: either multiple networks or one network that spans the entire country and that is then administered and kept up by the government. So what does this mean? Well for starters, it means that all sensitive data is going to be monitored within the network. This means that records from hospitals, airports, dams or power grids would all be housed within this new network. It is even rumored that banks may be able to use the network for their transactions as well.
The fear and necessity for this type of solution are very real. In 2015, a hacker group attacked a power grid in the Ukraine by using malware to take down the grid. The grid was providing electricity to nearly 250,000 people who lost power during the attack. Australia is concerned that this type of attack may be closer to home than they know. On top of that, they are also worried about sensitive military information and research being attacked and taken as well.
Last year, it was reported that the Australian National University’s computer systems were attacked by hackers based out of China. Developing an environment where data can be securely accessed and used is highly necessary. Creating a network where data cannot be accessed by those that are not authorised is essential and the Australian government realises this.
Hacker-Proof Networks are Needed Worldwide
Though the focus to this point has been on Australian hacker-proof networks, any country and any company can benefit from a secure network that cannot be hacked, or that at the very least, is difficult to hack. IT companies all over the world are now working in an attempt to create networks that are harder and harder to access for those that are not authorised.
With the right IT company, you can have a network that is secure and that is not easily accessed and changed. Hackers are becoming more and more bold and are far more likely to try and attack high profile networks like those hosted by the government in an effort to do the most damage possible.
Technology is changing and improving and there is now more chance that a secure network is in the future than ever before. Australia hopes to foster a deeper relationship with the information technology industry and hopes that their symbiotic relationship will create a network that is secure, safe, and free of hackers.
by Felicien | Mar 1, 2019 | Education
Depending on their scope and impact on your workday, tech issues can take hours to resolve, if not days. In some cases, you may spend far too much time tracking down a problem, only to come up empty-handed in the end. In others, such as security breaches, you may not even know there is an issue until the damage has been done. If you and your team have been handling any tech issues that arise on your own, you could greatly benefit from partnering with a managed IT service provider. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from this partnership.
Increases Speed of IT Repairs
When you acquire managed IT services for your company, you can report any and all tech issues as they arise and receive a prompt response. Upon receiving your call, your managed service provider will immediately look into the problem and find the most effective solution. With their years of experience in this realm, their IT experts have likely come across the problem before and already know how to fix it. This makes for very speedy service that helps keep your business operations moving forward without disruption.
Prevents Tech Issues
Managed IT services prove extremely valuable in the prevention of tech issues of all kinds. From malware attacks to hardware failure, your IT service professionals can stay ahead of the leading issues and potentially keep them from cropping up at all. Through these preventative actions, you can avoid unnecessary downtime that could otherwise derail the work efforts of your entire staff.
Improves Employee Productivity
When your employees can hand off tech issues to a dedicated, outsourced team, they can remain on task in fulfilling their daily work duties. This keeps their productivity high, so you can meet your daily business goals and continue to push the annual growth of the company. With your employees on task, rather than dealing with IT issues, your business operations can continue running smoothly day after day.
Boosts Data Security
Computer software and hardware issues can have a detrimental impact on the security of your business data. Especially since most of these problems remain hidden from view until a catastrophic loss of data occurs. Therefore, your company and client information likely remain at risk without help from a skilled IT expert. These professionals specialize in optimizing security at the network, server and workstation levels, so you can focus on running your business without worry.
Ensures Regulatory Compliance
With improved data security, you can rest assured that you are not breaching regulatory compliance rules for your industry. Your managed IT service professionals stay on the cutting edge of security to ensure their clients always remain in compliance. You can customize your service plan with the right level of protection for your company and its associated industry regulations.
Decreases Equipment Upkeep and Repair Expenses
You can decrease the amount you spend on upkeep and repair of your equipment with oversight from skilled IT professionals. These pros will only perform the necessary tasks that are required to maintain your daily business operations. Their ability to track down the problem and fix it the first time around will likely prove invaluable as you work on minimizing downtime and boosting employee productivity. These professionals can also help you time and plan your equipment upgrades perfectly to avoid wasting money on unnecessary items or overspending on parts.
Works Well for Any Budget
With your managed service partnership, you can build your custom IT plan around the exact needs of your company. You can select the items that will benefit you the most and leave the rest. If you only need computer and cloud support, for example, you can leave all server-related services off your plan. You are not locked into the services you select in the beginning either. You can also make adjustments to the scope of your managed IT service plan as you expand your operations.
Ability to Easily Expand
As your business achieves phenomenal growth, you will likely need to add computer equipment and make other key adjustments to accommodate your team and their needs. Your managed IT service provider can help you develop a plan that supports your current and future levels of growth. You can build a stronger network, upgrade your software and add computers to your workplace, for example, in support of your company’s continued success.
Peace of Mind
When you sign up for managed services, you will give yourself true peace of mind in knowing that all your IT needs are handled. You can call for service any time that your computer equipment acts up or software programs fail to operate as expected. You will receive support and oversight in the prevention of problems that would otherwise cause much downtime for your employees. Through all the managed IT service benefits, peace of mind comes out on top as it allows you to focus on what really matters –accelerating the success of your company.
Setting Up Your Managed IT Service Plan
With a look at these managed IT service benefits, it is clear that there are many ways this arrangement can boost the success of your business. You can get started in building this partnership by calling your preferred managed service provider. With this call, you can share the network, equipment and other IT needs of your company to start building your plan.
If you are uncertain of your company’s IT needs, that is okay. Using their skills and expertise, your service provider will assist in identifying the areas that will help your business grow and thrive. Your IT pros will also take a close look at your industry, including all regulations, to help you find the appropriate level of service for your company’s success through the years.
by Felicien | Feb 28, 2019 | Education
Reviews, testimonials and referrals are important to growing a contracting business. In fact, reviews are the backbone upon which a business can establish a working relationship with their local community. In today’s world, people can come to know you, like you and trust you (or not) via the reviews they read about your business. This makes reviews a tremendous tool to use in expanding your contracting business.
The Internet has added a new dimension to the importance of business reviews and testimonials. The more people use the Internet as their main source of reference for selecting a particular business or service provider, the more impact online reviews will have on your firm. In fact, recent studies show that most homeowners today use online reviews and recommendations as their main criteria for evaluating a contractor before they hire him.
Importance of Google Reviews
Google reviews play a key role in how your company website is ranked in search engines online. A high ranking will attract more visitors to your site. The more traffic your site receives, the greater your chances of getting new customers and increasing sales. Good reviews will prompt consumers to research your business online. A professional website that clearly explains your portfolio, is responsive to mobile devices and has excellent reviews is sure to attract new clients.
By soliciting Google reviews from customers, colleagues and clients, you can boost your online presence and optimize your marketing strategy. Ongoing positive reviews will give your contracting business greater visibility and credibility with consumers in your area. Online reviews can build trust between you and consumers; people are more likely to hire a contractor they feel they can trust.
The Effect of Positive Reviews on a Contracting Business
As consumers place so much weight on reviews and testimonials, online reviews have the potential to make or break a contracting business. Here are some recent statistics to back this claim. Studies show that:
Approximately 90% of consumers looking for a contractor check online reviews before giving them a call. Of these, 92% will contact you if you have a 4-star rating or above.
Consumers will spend up to 30% more for contracting work if your company has excellent reviews.
Good reviews can generate up to 18% more sales for your business and increase your conversions by as much as 11%.
Even negative reviews can have a positive impact on your business if handled right. Studies reveal that approximately 86% of consumers will bypass your contracting firm if it has received negative reviews. By responding positively to these reviews, however, you could turn these stats around. Rather than criticize individuals for giving bad reviews, offer solutions to the problem. Consumers respect contractors who try to make things right.
In addition to reviewing the quality of your services, reviews and testimonials, provide a forum to add valued content to your website. The more reviews you get, the more content you generate for your site. This can help boost your site’s SEO. Local reviews are particularly important for your contracting business as they reveal the opinions of customers in your local community.
The Benefits of Soliciting Google Reviews
There are various ways Google reviews can benefit a contracting business. Positive reviews and testimonials can be used as a marketing tool to promote your business. At the same time, reviews can reveal areas in your business structure that need to be improved. Reviews can also increase your company’s online presence to attract more traffic to your site.
Having said this, however, it’s imperative you use Google reviews correctly to benefit from what they have to offer. Genuine reviews from customers who have used your services is what you’re after – not fabricated reviews or reviews that were “bought” by offering a reward in exchange for people’s opinions and thoughts. It never pays to offer an incentive such as a free product or service in exchange for a review. This practice goes against the terms Google has laid out for this service and will hurt your rating. It can also undermine customer trust.
Importance of Testimonials and Reviews to SEO Strategy
In addition to what your company does, Google uses how others perceive your business to deliver relevant search results to people looking for information in your line of work. This is where testimonials and reviews come in. Google uses the number of reviews and testimonials you have on your site along with customer rating to determine how you rank in local searches. Reviews and testimonials also add valued content to your site which will contribute to a higher rating.
If you have a fair number of positive reviews and a high customer rating, you’re more likely to show up on top of local Google searches for your line of work. A high rating will give your business greater credibility to consumers in your community.
As a contractor, you have much to gain by soliciting Google reviews for your website. At the same time, Google reviews aren’t the end-all in getting the recognition you desire. Business reviews can be found on such sites as YouTube, Trip Advisor, Yelp, Facebook and numerous others. When you solicit Google reviews for your website, however, you have greater control over the reviews you post. This allows you to maximize the effect these reviews have on your target audience.
How Do You Solicit Google Reviews for Your Site?
The best way to encourage your customers to write a testimonial or review is to provide them with excellent service. Satisfied customers will be more than happy to provide you with a positive review.
Additionally, you can incorporate a way to solicit reviews in your marketing strategy. You can start by asking family, friends and colleagues to write a review of services your company rendered. Then create ways to make it easy for customers to post reviews on your site, such as putting a link where they can easily see it. Encourage your customers to use this link to post a review of completed contracting services or projects. This keeps your reviews fresh and current.
It takes time and effort to obtain positive Google business reviews. Your first step is doing great work so customers will be motivated to write up a positive review of your business. Positive reviews are worth their weight in gold. They improve your standing in Google, generate customer trust and help you build a loyal customer base. In short, Google reviews are a foundational building block that can help your business succeed both now and in the future.
