by Felicien | Nov 17, 2023 | Education
We all rely on our devices and online services to keep us safe and secure. However, many of us might not realize that the default cybersecurity settings on our devices and applications can put us at risk. It’s essential for you to understand why these default settings can be dangerous and what you can do to protect your data.
One might assume that manufacturers and software developers have your best interests in mind when setting up security defaults. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The primary concern for these companies is often ease of use and widespread adoption of their products. As a result, security can take a backseat, with default settings prioritizing user convenience over privacy and protection.
Moreover, cybercriminals are well aware of these standard security settings. With everyone using the same default configurations, it becomes easier for attackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities. By not customizing your security settings, you inadvertently make it simpler for hackers to gain access to your personal information and devices.
Why Isn’t Default Security Enough?
In a nutshell? Because greater security often means less convenience—albeit, in small ways. Regardless, when it comes to products like Windows 10, the priority is usually to enhance the user experience, rather than configure the best security settings possible.
Here’s an example—when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity settings, would you prioritize security or convenience? On one hand, it’s much more convenient to users if the device in question is configured to automatically connect to open and available Wi-Fi hot spots. But that’s not very secure, is it?
That’s why it’s your responsibility to make up the difference if you actually want to maintain a higher level of security.
Understanding Default Cybersecurity Settings
Definition and Purpose
Default cybersecurity settings are the standard, pre-configured security measures that come with a software or device. They are designed to provide a basic level of protection and privacy as soon as it is operational. You put them in place because they are easy to use and require minimal effort from the user.
However, you must recognize that these default settings may not always be sufficient in addressing the different security threats you face on a daily basis. It is your responsibility to assess and adjust your cybersecurity settings to enhance your overall protection.
Common Examples
Here are some common examples of default cybersecurity settings you often encounter:
Passwords: Devices and applications often come with a default username and password (e.g., admin and 1234). These default credentials are widely known and provide an easy target for attackers if not changed immediately.
Privacy Settings: Social media platforms and other online services may enable default privacy settings that expose more information than you desire, making you more vulnerable to social engineering attacks or identity theft.
Firewalls and Antivirus Software: Many operating systems come with built-in firewall and antivirus software that, while helpful, may not be as comprehensive or up-to-date as you need them to be in order to address the evolving threat landscape.
Wi-Fi Networks: Home routers often come with an open or weakly encrypted network, allowing easy access for attackers to compromise your Internet connection or eavesdrop on your online activities.
While keeping the default cybersecurity settings in place is convenient, it is essential for you to take the time to review them and make any necessary adjustments based on your specific security needs. This proactive approach will help you mitigate the risks associated with relying solely on default settings.
Potential Risks of Default Settings
Many times, you don’t realize that the default settings of a cybersecurity system can be a potential risk. Let’s dive into some of these and understand how they can be harmful.
Ease for Hackers
When you use default settings, you provide a comfortable zone for hackers to operate. They are familiar with these settings, making it relatively easier to exploit the system. Moreover, default configurations often leave open ports, creating a gateway for cybercriminals to enter. By customizing your configuration, you can close these loopholes and make it more challenging for unauthorized entities to break in.
Lack of Specific Protection
Default settings are designed to cater to a wide range of users and environments, which means they might not be suitable for your specific needs. When you tailor your cybersecurity measures according to your requirements, it allows you to address potential threats specific to your work or personal use. For instance, some industries may require additional security layers due to sensitive information or strict regulations. Adjusting settings as per your situation delivers a more targeted defense against potential risks.
To summarize, while default cybersecurity configurations may initially seem satisfactory, they can pose serious threats if left unchanged. Customizing settings and creating a robust, personalized cybersecurity strategy are essential steps to protect yourself in an increasingly sophisticated digital landscape.
Why Change is Essential
The importance of updating default cybersecurity settings has never been greater. By making these necessary changes, you can significantly enhance your protection and personalize your security measures to better suit your needs.
Enhanced Protection
There’s no denying that innovations in technology have drastically improved your lives. However, cybercriminals are constantly adapting and finding ways to exploit vulnerabilities in your devices and networks. To protect your data, you must actively stay a step ahead by adjusting default security configurations.
Regular updates: Ensure that you are always using the latest security patches or versions of your software to minimize risks.
Strong password policies: Enforcing robust passwords is vital to safeguard your information and accounts from unauthorized access.
Personalizing Security Measures
Every individual and organization has unique security needs, and it’s important to recognize that default settings may not provide adequate coverage. By taking the time to personalize your cybersecurity measures, you can effectively address the specific risks that you face.
Custom firewall settings: Configure your firewalls to meet the distinct demands of your network traffic and security policies.
Tailored privacy settings: Be mindful of your online privacy settings to control the data you share, thereby reducing potential points of compromise.
Don’t Let Default Cybersecurity Put You At Risk
Using default settings can lull us into a false sense of security, thinking that your systems are safe when in reality, they might be easily exploited by hackers. Attackers are well-aware of these default settings, making it easier for them to target systems and organizations that have not taken the time to implement better security measures.
Recommendations for Change
To improve your cybersecurity, you have a few recommendations:
Review default settings: Familiarize yourself with the default settings and identify any potential vulnerabilities in your systems.
Customize and strengthen security: Update default settings in order to create stronger, unique configurations that are tailored to your specific needs and vulnerabilities.
Stay up-to-date: Regularly update software and firmware, ensuring you have the latest security patches and are aware of any newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Implement multi-layered security: Don’t rely solely on default settings. Implement additional layers of security, such as strong authentication methods, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.
By following these recommendations, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to cyber-attacks. It’s essential to acknowledge and address the dangers of default cybersecurity settings and take proactive steps to safeguard your digital assets and sensitive information.
by Felicien | Oct 13, 2023 | Education
A Chief Information Officer (CIO) provides an invaluable service for your business. It’s their job to understand your organization completely and offer strategic IT planning, analysis, and overall IT management.
They’re dedicated to finding ways to grow your business through new technology and technology-driven processes. By keeping an eye on both your business and the tech industry landscape, your CIO can make sure that you are getting the maximum benefit from all of your technology investments.
However, finding an experienced CIO that is willing to carry out executive-level duties on a small business salary is a near-impossible task. Many businesses can’t even afford to even try to hire someone to fill this position—but just because the resources aren’t there, it doesn’t mean that the need for CIO services isn’t there either.
It can be expensive to hire someone just to take care of their IT and strategy. Payscale estimates the current average salary for a CIO in the US is $324,176. Can you afford that?
More often than not, strategy is left to the leadership in general. It’s everyone’s responsibility to talk about it at meetings, but no one’s specific job. How can you reconcile these two issues: the need for a CIO, and the difficulty that comes with hiring and employing one? By outsourcing the job altogether…
Hire A vCIO From Our Team
A virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) is an experienced IT professional who has an in-depth understanding of business strategy and technology. Could your business benefit from strategic IT planning that aligns your technology strategy and spending with your overall business goals?
A vCIO handles your firm’s IT needs.
As the vCIO, they will advise you on everything from IT security to operations. Their job is to keep your technology running efficiently, and with an eye to the future. A vCIO will also help you cut IT operating costs, confirm that your technology is running securely and that it enables your people to work efficiently each day.
Your vCIO will work closely with your business to make sure that you’re making the right technology investments. Our focus is not just on what is best for your business today, but what will benefit your business down the road.
Ours vCIO services include:
Analysis of business practices and existing technology to understand how YOU use IT.
Understanding how your staff uses IT on a daily basis to help them improve productivity.
Guidance on strategic IT investments and overall budgeting.
Creation of a 3-year IT plan focused on adopting cost-effective technology to streamline business operations.
Planning for technology refreshes and strategies in the long-term to maximize IT’s impact on business operations.
Regular reviews of your IT plan to discover new solutions to improve productivity and streamline operations.
Truly effective strategy can’t come from the occasional meeting. It requires real focus and ongoing effort—investing in a vCIO that will do that for you today.
Your vCIO Is Part Of Our Comprehensive Managed IT Services Suite
While a vCIO is critical to long-term success with your IT environment, they only play a role in the overall approach we deliver. As the strategic leader, the vCIO focuses on high-level strategy and budgeting, ensuring that the organization’s technology aligns with its overall goals and objectives. By understanding your business’s needs and objectives, the vCIO can develop a technology roadmap that supports growth and innovation
While the vCIO handles the strategic aspects, our engineers, support technicians, and managers are responsible for ensuring that daily IT tasks are handled efficiently. These professionals work together to maintain your organization’s IT infrastructure, troubleshoot technical issues, and provide timely support to your end-users. With our dedicated team of experts on your side, you can trust that your IT systems are running smoothly, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.
The collaboration between the vCIO and the technical team is essential for a successful managed IT services arrangement. The vCIO provides guidance and direction to the technical team, ensuring that their efforts are aligned with the organization’s strategic goals. Regular communication and coordination between the vCIO and the technical team help to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day operations, resulting in a well-rounded and efficient IT environment.
We Will Be Your Expert IT Advisor
As your vCIO, we consult on every big decision that involves technology and answer all the other small questions along the way.
Proper planning not only helps you to avoid technological missteps that can often result in IT issues, but it also adds further value to your company as it develops. Having an experienced technology professional in your corner provides you and your organization with a key technology advisor
Get in touch with us to start strategizing your IT today.
by Felicien | Oct 9, 2023 | Education
If your IT budget isn’t going as far as you’d like, then you need to start planning it sooner rather than later. By understanding the value IT offers, you can learn how to better spend your IT budget.
IT planning is a key oversight in today’s law firm world…
Law Firms Are Bad At Technology Planning
Despite the fact that 93% of surveyed law firms recognize that IT is strategically and operationally critical (Wakefield Research), very few are doing anything to properly plan their IT:
66% find that the amount they’re budgeting towards IT isn’t enough to keep up with what they need from it.
77% of those with less than 100 employees have found that their investments in IT are too limited
A third of those surveyed said that less than 10% of their strategic planning was about IT
That’s why you need to ensure you’re planning your budget properly. That means knowing what your priorities should be, and how to invest in them.
3 Key Considerations For Your Next Technology Plan
Keep the following in mind when planning your IT investments:
Cybersecurity
You cannot afford to underinvest in your cybersecurity. Even a single breach can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why you should arrange for a cybersecurity assessment to double-check for any vulnerabilities and remediate them.
Track Tech Lifecycles
Do you know how old your computers are? At a certain point, they will reach End Of Life, which means that you won’t get bug fixes or security updates from the developers any longer.
Over time, the security and reliability of these systems will make your computers vulnerable:
Your computers could be infected by malware
Your antivirus won’t be updated
Your online banking transaction protection may expire, and
Your financial data could be exposed to theft.
That’s why you need to have a detailed schedule of your hardware and operating systems’ lifecycles, so that you can plan ahead of new purchases and upgrades.
Supply Chain Issues
Don’t forget that new technology is in high demand, and the available supply is especially low. Any new technology purchases you will make will likely take much longer to fulfill.
Don’t Put Off Your IT Budget
With IT shifting from just another piece of equipment in the office to the core of operations and a key aspect of how you defend your law firm, you should designate it as a central part of your budget. This also means that you must assess and clearly define how IT aligns with your law firm objectives to decide what you’ll need for the coming years.
Proper IT budgeting will help you lay a foundation for success for the future. Using the right IT solutions can help you:
Accelerate your law firm growth
Increase your operational effectiveness
Ensure optimal productivity from your employees
Overcome operational challenges
Increase collaboration and communication
We Will Help You Plan Your IT
IT budget planning doesn’t have to be a frustrating process.
Our team will develop a strategic plan specifically for your company to make sure you’re investing in the right solutions to truly help you meet your overall objectives and exceed your goals, in order to reach new heights within your law firm.
Effective IT planning should result in a wide range of benefits for any operation in any industry.
Benefits include:
Increased productivity
Minimized downtime and disruptions
Increased and customized security measures
Enhanced time management
More effective communication
The best possible return on your IT investments
Keep in mind, IT strategy isn’t a one-time thing. We can work alongside your team to provide ongoing guidance, support, and services. Get in touch with our team at info@wamsinc.com or (800) 421-7151 to get started on your next technology budget and overall IT plan.
by Felicien | Oct 6, 2023 | Education
If your IT budget isn’t going as far as you’d like, then you need to start planning it sooner rather than later. By understanding the value IT offers, you can learn how to better spend your IT budget.
IT planning is a key oversight in today’s business world…
Businesses Are Bad At Technology Planning
Despite the fact that 93% of surveyed businesses recognize that IT is strategically and operationally critical (Wakefield Research), very few are doing anything to properly plan their IT:
66% find that the amount they’re budgeting towards IT isn’t enough to keep up with what they need from it.
77% of those with less than 100 employees have found that their investments in IT are too limited
A third of those surveyed said that less than 10% of their strategic planning was about IT
That’s why you need to ensure you’re planning your budget properly. That means knowing what your priorities should be, and how to invest in them.
3 Key Considerations For Your Next Technology Plan
Keep the following in mind when planning your IT investments:
Cybersecurity
You cannot afford to underinvest in your cybersecurity. Even a single breach can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why you should arrange for a cybersecurity assessment to double-check for any vulnerabilities and remediate them.
Track Tech Lifecycles
Do you know how old your computers are? At a certain point, they will reach End Of Life, which means that you won’t get bug fixes or security updates from the developers any longer.
Over time, the security and reliability of these systems will make your computers vulnerable:
Your computers could be infected by malware
Your antivirus won’t be updated
Your online banking transaction protection may expire, and
Your financial data could be exposed to theft.
That’s why you need to have a detailed schedule of your hardware and operating systems’ lifecycles so that you can plan ahead of new purchases and upgrades.
Supply Chain Issues
Don’t forget that new technology is in high demand, and the available supply is especially low. Any new technology purchases you will make will likely take much longer to fulfill.
Don’t Put Off Your IT Budget
With IT shifting from just another piece of equipment in the office to the core of operations and a key aspect of how you defend your business, you should designate it as a central part of your budget. This also means that you must assess and clearly define how IT aligns with your business objectives to decide what you’ll need for the coming years.
Proper IT budgeting will help you lay a foundation for success for the future. Using the right IT solutions can help you:
Accelerate your business growth
Increase your operational effectiveness
Ensure optimal productivity from your employees
Overcome operational challenges
Increase collaboration and communication
We Will Help You Plan Your IT
IT budget planning doesn’t have to be a frustrating process.
Our team will develop a strategic plan specifically for your company to make sure you’re investing in the right solutions to truly help you meet your overall objectives and exceed your goals, in order to reach new heights within your business.
Effective IT planning should result in a wide range of benefits for any operation in any industry.
Benefits include:
Increased productivity
Minimized downtime and disruptions
Increased and customized security measures
Enhanced time management
More effective communication
The best possible return on your IT investments
Keep in mind, IT strategy isn’t a one-time thing. We can work alongside your team to provide ongoing guidance, support, and services. Get in touch with our team to get started on your next technology budget and overall IT plan.
by Felicien | Sep 25, 2023 | Education
Are you ready for a disaster? Planning ahead is a critical part of your continuity strategy.
Business emergencies can strike at any time whether it’s a malware attack, natural disaster, or a pandemic.
It’s vital to have a plan in place to make sure your business can continue to accomplish work, maintain compliance, and keep unproductive downtime to a minimum.
BC Networks can help you develop and maintain a plan to protect your data, your productivity, and your business. Set a meeting with our team to get started.
The Necessity Of A Disaster Recovery Plan
Without comprehensive disaster recovery planning, you’re left vulnerable to any and all emergency situations, whether it’s a major meteorological event like a hurricane, common power outages, or the result of malicious or accidental employee actions. Consequences include:
Permanent data loss
Severe downtime
Major financial damages
As with most initiatives, the first step is to create a workable plan. Your business’ plan needs to be carefully constructed and written down for reference and review.
Remember, many companies are required to maintain an Emergency Action Plan by OSHA so this can be considered part of that process.
Top 4 Priorities In Your IT Disaster Recovery Plan
Your plan should put forth policies and procedures regarding employee safety, disaster recovery, and contingencies that can be activated if your business’ facilities are damaged.
The four main priorities of an effective IT Disaster Recovery Plan are:
Protecting Data
Whether it’s your on-site server, in the cloud, or hard copy duplicates stored in the filing cabinets, you need to make sure your business’ data is protected and securely backed up.
Protecting Property
Natural disasters are a legitimate threat to businesses in Florida. Your plan needs to consider how best to protect your property during a disaster event.
Maintaining Continuity
Whether your phone lines go down, or a pandemic keeps your team from coming into the office, you can’t let disaster-related obstacles keep your business from working.
Mitigating Employee Risks
Cybersecurity gimmicks—such as “set it and forget it” firewalls and antivirus software—fail to account for how important the user is:
Accidental Deletion: According to the Shred It Protection Report, 31% of small business owners report that human error or accidental loss by a staff member led to a data breach.
Malicious Insider Threats: Employees acting in bad faith can cause extensive damage as well. According to the Insider Threat Report, of 874 reported incidents, 191 were caused by malicious employees.
What Should Your IT Disaster Recovery Plan Include?
Protection Of Data
Make sure you have a backup of information on important business contacts.
Backup documents that are not easy to reproduce or re-acquire in the event of water damage—insurance and legal contracts, tax files, etc.
Keep as much of your documentation as possible in waterproof containers.
The backup solution you use should provide both local onsite backup for quick recovery in instances of data loss, as well as offsite cloud-based backup for when your business is hit with a critical disaster.
Furthermore, you can’t just assume that your backups will just work when needed. You need to regularly test your backups to verify their effectiveness in the event that something goes wrong with your onsite data.
Conditional Access
The fact is that unnecessary access to sensitive data and misuse of privilege is often one of the most common ways for employees to cause damage to a business.
Cybercriminals can trick a user with administrative privileges to download and run malware, or by elevating privileges on a compromised non-admin account, hackers regularly make use of this highly common unsafe business practice. Furthermore, malicious employees can abuse their privilege to do damage directly.
Limiting administrative privileges to those who actually require it. The fact is that the common business user should not require administrative privileges to do their job—whether that’s for installing software, printing, using common programs, etc.
Protect administrative accounts. Once you’ve limited privileges to only a few members of the organization, make sure their accounts have the right protections in place.
You need complex, long passwords, multi-factor authentication, alerts for unsuccessful log-ins, and limit administrative actions to devices that are air-gapped from unnecessary aspects of your network.
Identification Of Potential Risks
By understanding the risks posed to your business—electrical failure, region-specific weather, human error, etc.—you can more effectively plan to avoid them. Make sure to review your local area on Google Maps to identify nearby risks, including:
Coastlines
Railroads
Easily flooded areas
Definition Of Procedures And Assigning Roles
Determine the critical staff that will need to be on-site or on-call during an emergency. It’s important to define who will be needed to keep your business running, and who should be responsible for any emergency response tasks. Remember that safety comes first and that your plan must focus on keeping your employees out of danger.
Coordination
A comprehensive plan should prepare your business to coordinate with others during an emergency. How are nearby businesses going to operate? How will police, fire, and medical response be affected? These questions are best answered before the storm hits.
Briefing Your Employees
Your plan should not be written and then left on a shelf. Every employee should be familiar with your procedures and plans to handle any future emergencies. Hold a meeting where your plan is reviewed, roles are assigned, and your staff can ask questions.
Review And Update
Changes in your business or the community in which you operate can have a major effect on your disaster plan. Be sure to review your plan at least once a year and make any necessary revisions to keep it current and effective.
Data Continuity Is Your #1 Priority
Data loss can happen without notice.
You could come into work and find that flooding has fried your systems. Or you could download the wrong attachment from a seemingly safe email, and find that your data is being held at ransom. Or you may just accidentally delete it—it happens to all of us.
Why Do You Need A Comprehensive Data Backup Plan?
The unfortunate reality is that without effective data backup capabilities, your business will suffer devastating consequences, including:
Data loss with no chance of recovery, resulting in wasted work hours and employee wages.
Data leaks due to malware attacks and phishing scams, which will threaten the privacy of your business’ data, as well as that of your clients.
Reputational damage, resulting in your clients no longer trusting the security of your business dealings.
5 Reasons To Verify Your Data Backup Capabilities
Natural Disasters
The fact is that mother nature doesn’t care if you backed up your work or not. A server room flood, vital infrastructure being knocked out by winds and even worse during a major weather event can quickly erase both local and offsite data reserves if your backups aren’t far enough away from your offices.
Cybercrime
Data loss is often the result of poor digital security; without the right defenses, cybercriminals can easily infect an IT system with ransomware or other types of malware and compromise company data.
In a ransomware attack, a hacker gains access to an organization’s computer systems.
Typically, an unsuspecting employee clicks on an emailed attachment that appears to be a bill or other official document. In actuality, the attachment installs malware onto the computer system. Once embedded, the malware allows a hacker to access critical systems, often giving complete remote control data and access.
What’s more, in recent years, more advanced forms of ransomware have demonstrated the capability to encrypt backups as well. That means that offsite backups that are connected to onsite systems are just as at risk of data loss as those stored locally.
That’s why you should make an investment in a comprehensive backup data recovery solution (which includes digital air-gapped capabilities) so that you can restore your data at a moment’s notice when necessary.
Maintaining Compliance
When it comes to modern compliance requirements, redundant data backups are critical. You’ll want to make sure you know what’s required of your industry’s compliance regulations, and make sure you have backup methods in place to meet those. The default backup capabilities offered by many applications may not suffice for the most stringent regulations.
Human Error
A majority of cybersecurity services offered today include the best in vital technologies, from firewalls to anti-malware to data encryption and more. However, as important as this technology is, on its own, it simply isn’t enough. The key to truly comprehensive cybersecurity (and therefore, data protection and data backup) is simple, yet often overlooked: the user.
Much of data protection is dependent on the user, and as such it’s vital that you properly educate your employees in safe conduct. The more your workforce knows about the security measures you have in place, the more confidently they can use the technology in a secure manner.
Human error can be detrimental to data integrity. Without a viable backup, all it takes is one accidental click to delete a file, or one spilled coffee to fry a local hard drive.
Data Retention Contingencies
At the rate that technology evolves (and how quickly your standard operations and concerned policies are required to keep up with it), it’s no surprise that some businesses find it difficult to keep up with.
When policy development falls behind the pace of adopted technologies, it can often lead to gaps, which can affect data retention. The fact is that many applications only have limited backup and retention policies, equipped to handle situational data loss—not comprehensive.
What To Look For In A Data Backup Solution
The best way to enhance your data backup capabilities is to work with a capable IT company like BC Networks.
Be sure to work with one that can fulfill the following requirements…
Comprehensive Backups
The backup solution should provide both local onsite backup for quick recovery in instances of data loss, as well as an offsite cloud-based backup for when your business is hit with a critical disaster.
Furthermore, these offsite backups need to be protected by a digital air gap, ensuring they are not at risk of encryption in the event of a ransomware attack.
Regularly Testing
Your IT company shouldn’t expect you to assume that your backups will just work when needed. They should regularly test your backups to verify their effectiveness in the event that something goes wrong with your onsite data.
Convenient Restoration
Don’t settle for clumsy, all-or-nothing backups. You should be able to choose a point in time to restore in the event that the data has been deleted, corrupted, or there has been a malicious intrusion.
Backup Best Practices
Industry leaders agree that backups should follow the “3-2-1” rule; that is, you should have 3 copies of your data (your production data and 2 backup copies) on two different media (disk and tape) with one copy off-site for disaster recovery.
The key is in finding the right third-party backup solution to keep your data protected against hardware failure, ransomware, human error, and whatever else may occur.
Get Expert Data Backup Support From BC Networks
Data continuity is all about prevention. No matter what you do, you cannot start focusing on data backup after your systems have gone down.
At that point, it is too late. Take the necessary steps now to protect your data down the road.
If you are unsure about implementing a reliable and comprehensive data backup, then you need to find an IT partner that can help you out—allow BC Networks to assist.
What’s The Bottom Line Of IT Disaster Recovery?
The question is: will you wait until after you get hit with a disaster to start thinking about how you’ll recover? Or will you do what’s right for your business, and start planning for the worst-case scenario today?
We know that you’d like to keep your business operating no matter what crisis the nation faces. With the right remote work capabilities, you can keep your staff productive and healthy. If you need help, get in touch with the BC Networks team.
