by Felicien | May 17, 2018 | Education
Today’s internet has literally changed the way businesses function. It has redrawn the boundaries and changed the rules of competition in today’s business climate. The Internet has allowed business owners to create much closer relationships with their customers. In addition, it has given consumers more power through access to unlimited information.
Regardless of the size of your business, you probably have a website and a pretty decent one at that. In fact, websites are not as costly as they once were to build and manage. Thanks to the increase in the number of web developers and online sites that host websites, almost anyone can have a website if they want it.
For savvy business owners, their website is the key to greater sales and stronger relationships with customers. A successful website is constantly adding new content that offers value to consumers. They update the site regularly with the latest security and technology. A company with an amazing website almost always excels in the marketplace over competitors who don’t. Why? Because they understand that their business website is the voice of their company online.
Websites have become a valuable commodity to business owners. They are the first stop of prospective clients who want to find more information about your business. Current clients also rely on websites to find product information and updates. Your website is the place where all the action takes place each day. Your website can make or break your business. Knowing how important websites are, most business owners are interested in learning how they can get the most out of their site.
Allow your website to communicate your story to clients
With the understanding that websites do speak to your customers, you should ask yourself the question, “What do you want your website to say to customers?”
Each day, you must make sure that the information you provide is important to your customers and that it’s accurate. Does it resonate well with them? Will it make them want to purchase your products or services? Image is everything in a business. Since your website represents the first image that people have concerning your business, it’s important to make a good first impression. As it is commonly said, first impressions matter. What story do you want the website to tell?
The best websites always tell a compelling story. Sometimes your story is all about why you started your business and sometimes it’s more about your roots, your background. Great businesses have a unique reason for their existence. Bill Gates got the idea for Microsoft when a friend, Paul Allen, showed him the 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. This issue featured a story on the Altair 8800, one of the first microcomputers. Both Gates and Allen saw the potential for developing a programming language for the computer. The rest is history.
In putting together the story behind your business, it may be necessary to hire a good writer to help craft the message. This expense is well worth it. Once you create a great story that customers can relate to, your next job is to write professional content for your site. Though your budget may initially be small, you can go back and redo this once you have the time and money to do so. Usually, your website is a work in progress anyway. It is constantly evolving and changing as your business grows.
Good content will make customers feel that they need your goods and services to meet a need in their lives. You should include information about how these goods or services are better than those offered by others in the same industry. Many of today’s most successful brands have become indispensable to their customers. Think about how Prada and Louis Vuitton have changed the handbag industry. Their customers feel a strong urge to own one of these exclusive handbags and many are priced in the thousands of dollars.
Provide contact information
Imagine locating a website online, and the information given therein is attractive. You read through their homepage and look at what they offer. In your mind, you are convinced that this is it. They are exactly what you need. You pick up your phone while scrolling down, looking for the contacts page and you find nothing. No phone number, no email address, no physical address, nothing. This can be frustrating, right? In fact, most people will get disheartened immediately. They will look elsewhere for other products. Consumers feel that if there’s no contact information, then the business must be shady. So it’s important to include your physical location, email address and phone number. This degree of transparency tells consumers that you have nothing to hide.
Collect lead information
If you have been in business long enough, you know that some clients will visit your website more than once before they decide to make a purchase. Do not despair, this does not mean that your website is not fulfilling its mandate. It simply means that many customers enjoy doing lots of shopping before they make a purchase. In the meantime, you can collect lead information using a lead capture form. This will give you the opportunity to send them regular email updates about specials you might have. Often, if a prospective customer gets an email telling them they can get a discount by making a purchase right away, they will do so. Everyone loves to get a great deal.
User friendly navigation
The whole science behind user experience has grown tremendously in the past ten years. A site must be intuitive, responsive and user friendly. You cannot afford to hide things or make it hard for customers to get information. Websites that are difficult to understand end up chasing customers away. Try to get regular feedback from users. Find out what people are saying about your site. Correct any issues you may have right away.
Final thoughts
All in all, if you maximize each component of your website, you will discover the magic that a great site can offer. Customers will visit often. They will tell their friends about your site. An amazing website truly is priceless.
by Felicien | May 16, 2018 | Education
Technology is constantly evolving, and so is its relevance. In the world today, technology is fast-becoming a human being’s best friend. Just think of the number of times that you rely on technology in a day’s time. Everyone, even the self-proclaimed analog dinosaur, depends on technology to some extent.
Of course, this has spawned a major increase in the number of cybercrimes that occur daily across the globe. Cybercriminals are targeting information technology systems that are simply not well-protected from intrusion. The fact that people are so reliant on technology makes it easier for these criminals to achieve their goals. This is where Managed Detection and Response (MDR) comes in.
Information Technology experts face a constant struggle to curb cybercrimes. This crime, which has become deep-rooted in our society today, has led to the loss of time, money and reputation. Cybercriminals target websites with weak security because they’re an easy mark. Then they sell that data on the black market. It’s an ongoing crime and has quickly become a familiar scenario to many.
This is why MDR is so important in our society today. MDR is not a new concept; it has been around for a long time. Like technology, however, MDR continues to evolve with the changing trends in hacking. The main goal of Managed Detection and Response is to ensure that cybercrimes are prevented. It’s not enough to arrest and prosecute these criminals. The crimes need to be stopped before they actually happen.
How can MDR help with this cause? The simple answer to this question is that MDR is a system used to enable organizations to better understand their cybersecurity environment. With this program in play, your organization can more fully understand the IT environment in which you operate. This will provide you with some important advantages that can help prevent hacking.
Environmental threat detection
First, as mentioned above, the main goal of MDR is to aid in detecting cybersecurity threats in a particular environment. To this end, this system performs a series of functions including analyzing the types of risks that your organization may be exposed to. This can enable you to determine exactly what the most critical threats are. Using MDR, companies are able to gauge which threats are more serious. This allows you to take preemptive steps to close those doors to cyber thieves. Preventing just one attack can save you millions of dollars.
Makes threat detention faster
By making the organization aware of the threats they face, MDR makes threat detection simpler. Since MDR enhances threat analysis, your business can fully understand exactly which cybersecurity threats you face. Imagine being able to act before a breach occurs. You can take action today and avoid a nightmare tomorrow. With MDR, your company can quickly assess its level of security and take action right away.
Increases ability to respond to threats
MDR enhances the capabilities of organizations that use it to respond to cybersecurity threats. Preparation is everything when dealing with hackers and cyber thieves. Your organization needs to be prepared for every type of threat, from ransomware and hacking to data leaks. Having greater knowledge of those threats that pose the biggest risk helps you to respond with more precision. Anticipate threats before they happen. Define those weaker areas and eliminate them.
Enhances threat prevention
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, they say. This holds true especially when millions of dollars are at stake. The impact of cybersecurity in our world today is far-reaching. Every year, cyber breaches cost businesses millions of dollars. They damage your reputation and slow your forward progress. With MDR, threat prevention becomes your greatest ally. Proactive security monitoring can apply proven rules to your security system, thus offering a new level of breach management.
Do we really need MDR?
Many business owners feel frustrated by the sheer number of cyber breaches occurring each day. It seems that the criminals have the upper hand and there’s nothing we can do to stop them. MDR allows you to take back control of your data security. It’s a reliable system that focuses on one thing: preventing cyber breaches from occurring.
The threat of cyber-attacks is ever looming. Thieves are constantly finding new ways to get through any crack or hole in your security system. And, their methods are getting more and more sophisticated as the days go by. The whole cyber security industry evolves at such a fast pace that most business owners are unable to keep up with it. This fact leaves you at a distinct disadvantage.
Final thoughts
Though the intricacies of MDR may be somewhat complex, it is important to remember the advantages of this system. With MDR in place, you can avoid being the next victim and sleep much better at night. For business owners, peace of mind is priceless. You can focus on running your company once again and take pride in your accomplishments.
by Felicien | May 16, 2018 | Education
Where Did They Go?
In 2017, Microsoft planned to release a lightweight version of Windows 10. This was their effort to provide a Windows solution that delivered a predictable performance by using only Microsoft-verified applications via the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft also wanted to compete with the Google Chromebook and promote Windows 10 S for use in the K-12 education market. Windows 10 S was initially offered as part of the Surface Laptop which is a premium, and quite expensive product. So, this addition to the education market was quite a leap.
Windows 10 S was going to be offered at a reduced price with the option to pay more to “unlock” the full Windows 10 Operating System. But Microsoft changed their minds. They realized that we don’t want to pay extra for something that should have been included, to begin with.
On March 7, 2018, they said:
Based on customer feedback we are simplifying the experience for our customers. Starting with the next update to Windows 10, coming soon, customers can choose to buy a new Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro PC with S mode enabled, and commercial customers will be able to deploy Windows 10 Enterprise with S mode enabled.
What this means is that the Windows 10 S computer has been retired. Instead, Microsoft has decided to incorporate Windows 10 S as a “mode” for all Windows 10 Operating Systems.
Microsoft hopes this new approach will make it possible for their customers to start using the S mode. They say that it provides a streamlined computing experience that enhances security and performance across all editions.
So, for the foreseeable future, Windows 10 S is now a configuration in the Windows 10 Pro and Windows Home computers. The S Mode will lock down Windows 10, so it can only run applications from the Microsoft Store–essentially, exactly what the dedicated Windows 10 S operating system was intended to do.
Microsoft is letting Windows 10 Home users disable the S Mode free of charge. However, Windows 10 Pro customers with S Mode enabled on their device will have to pay $49 to get access to the full version of Windows 10 Pro.
Should You Consider Using the S Mode? The “S” in Windows 10 S was supposed to stand for “simplicity.” Its intent was to provide a productive and secure Windows experience. Microsoft says that it’s designed for superior performance. Starting up, streaming HD video and switching across applications is much faster than with Windows 10.
Windows 10 S only uses apps from the Microsoft Store and provides a safer browsing capability via Microsoft Edge. Because the applications for Windows 10 S only come from the Microsoft Store, the folks at Microsoft say that it ensures security and integrity. And they say that Microsoft Edge is more secure than using Chrome or Firefox browsers. The Windows Defender Antivirus and other security features in Windows are also included in Windows 10 S.
Windows 10 S comes with built-in apps and new features like Cortana, Windows Ink and Windows Hello so you can sign on without a password. It integrates with OneDrive, so you can easily save your files to the cloud and sync them across your other devices. If you decide you want to run applications that aren’t in the Microsoft Store, you can easily switch to Windows 10 Pro (except you’ll have to pay $49 to do so).
What Do Others Think About Windows 10 S?
Microsoft says that 60% of their users stay with Windows 10 S when using third-party devices. And those who do switch, do so within 24 hours of setting up their device. Those who keep using Windows 10 S for a week or so, end up keeping their device in S mode (83 %). These statistics are for low-end PCs as the only high-end computer running Windows 10 S is the Surface Laptop. These users weren’t included in their survey.
It looks like the Windows S Mode is here to stay. But some experts predict that it poses problems for Microsoft down the line. They believe that it’s going to confuse people. While the Home versions offer a free switch path, the charge for the Pro versions could bother users who want more premium devices.
Here is another issue with this change— Microsoft says that AV/Security apps will come in the Windows 10 S mode. But what about the AV software from third-party providers? Will these applications run in the S mode? If so, this defeats the purpose of what the S mode is supposed to do. Does this mean that using these apps will hamper the promised performance in Windows 10 S? We’ll have to wait to see how Microsoft deals with this. But for now, it seems like a contradiction.
Windows 10 S devices span a price range from $189 to $2,199 (for the top Surface Laptop). It’s not impossible to provide solutions for both low-end and high-end device users, but some feel this will be difficult for people to get their minds around.
Windows 10 Spring Creators Update will probably be released with a different name: Windows 10 April Update. However, it’s been delayed while Microsoft rushes to fix a newly-discovered bug. Between the changes with Windows 10 S and now the next Windows 10 update, it seems there’s a lot of “plate-spinning” going on at Microsoft right now.
by Felicien | May 15, 2018 | Education
Security researchers have discovered a new hacking group that is targeting healthcare organizations and other major international corporations related to this sector all around the world, and especially in United States, Europe, and parts of Asia. The intent of this group is to conduct corporate espionage. Researchers have named this hacker group “Orangeworm”. According to a recent report, this group has been active since early 2015, and its primary focus is the health sector.
How does Orangeworm work?
The healthcare industry has been targeted by Orangeworm to get access to patient’s records and to learn more about imaging devices. The hackers install a Trojan (dubbed by security researchers as “Kwampirs”) in computers used to control high-tech imaging devices like MRI and X-Ray machines. This allows the hackers to steal sensitive data and remotely access equipment by opening a backdoor in these compromised computers. It also infects machines that are used to assist patients in filling consent forms.
Kwampirs then takes some basic information from these compromised computers and sends it to the hackers to a remote command-and-control server. This server then determines if the hacked system is being operated by a high-value target or a researcher. If the server finds the victim to be of interest then the virus spreads itself across network shares and infects all the other computers in the same organization. The malware uses the system’s built-in commands to gather information about the victim’s compromised system and network instead of using enumeration tools and third-party reconnaissance.
Companies infected by Orangeworm
Almost 40% of companies infected by this malware belong to the healthcare sector while the rest of the organizations, although not belonging to the medical sector, are related to healthcare organizations. Other organizations infected with Orangeworm belong to companies in the agriculture, logistics, IT services, and manufacturing sector. According to researchers, hackers attempted a supply-chain attack to penetrate the software of healthcare organizations by infecting a service provider.
Profile of the hackers
According to investigators Orangeworm does not fit the techniques, procedures, and tactics of a classic nation-state APT (advanced persistent actor) but it is still an APT. The most common observation is that Orangeworm is a single hacker or a group of lone hackers working to steal information about patients from healthcare organizations to sell on the black market. This patient information is considered to be more complete than customer data stored in financial or any other institution. Hackers gather as much information as they can about their victims such as network shares and user groups, configuration information, account policy information, list of directories and files, running system process and systems, accounts with admin access and the like.
If the virus detects something of value in the system, Kwampirs will copy itself, propagate across the network and infect other computers. Investigators are of the opinion that the hackers are working on some sort of espionage on the sector as they do not appear to be copying any data from the network.
The hackers are not concerned about being detected as they are using lateral movement methods that are thought to be noisy and antiquated. In spite of this, it took investigators three years to disclose and identify the group’s attacks. According to investigators, the reason why this malware went undetected for so long is that the healthcare organizations usually use computers that are old and have software that is rarely updated, doesn’t have an antivirus, and are therefore easy to hack.
According to experts, hackers employed a similar pattern in all the attacks that were carried out. They infected one computer with Kwampirs, and then proliferate to others. This ensured them remote access to every infected host. The hackers spread the virus to as many systems possible that is why the malware has also infected the computers that control the medical devices.
Security concerns
According to the findings of a detailed report on the group’s method of operation, hackers have made no efforts to update the virus since the first attacks which suggest that the attackers are either stupid or supremely confident about never getting caught.
These attackers are bold as their methods have proved very effective. Security researchers have been stressing for a long time the need to install security measures to safeguard the weakened ports. Medical devices have been targeted before also. Recently, WannaCry ransomware also targeted hospitals all around the globe.
Even though the motives of Orangeworm are unclear and investigators have been unable to find the group’s origins, they are of the opinion that the group is conducting espionage for personal gain and commercial purposes. They have been unable to find any significant evidence suggesting that a nation-state backs it.
Although, Orangeworm is not the first or the last malware to hit the healthcare organizations it is imperative that these organizations routinely search and monitor their computer systems to make sure that their devices are safe from such attacks.
by Felicien | May 14, 2018 | Education
The cost of downtime goes up exponentially when you’re waiting for an unresponsive IT company. So why bother? Try our responsive Help Desk instead.
So much of the IT industry is dependent on time. How quickly an IT firm can respond to a problem, how much downtime their client deals with, how much they’re charged for on-site repair hours, etc. The speed of resolution is a primary factor in how valuable an IT firm’s services really are.
We all know that downtime is bad. It’s bad for business, bad for employees, bad for clients – bad for you. When your systems fail, your employees sit around twiddling their thumbs, waiting for it to come back online. Your customers get more and more frustrated, waiting to get what they were expecting when they came to your office or called you that day.
But the truth is, it’s even worse than that.
Beyond the surface level issues caused by unexpected downtime, there’s the reality that downtime both wastes your money and costs you in revenue. When you really dig into the details, downtime can cost you a lot of money in a relatively small time frame.
That’s why it makes zero sense to put up with unresponsive IT support. Every minute of delay costs you more money in wasted staff hours, lost data, and lowered productivity, all on top of what you’re already paying the IT firm in the first place!
The reality of modern technology is that cybercrime, serious weather, or even human error can quickly take your systems offline. IT is now such a central part of a business that server failure and software crashes will affect every aspect of it.
The computer isn’t just one part of your business anymore. It’s how you process sales, place orders, track inventory, and more. That means that one full day of computer downtime equals one full day of not being in business.
Given that your IT is such a foundational part of your business, you need to invest in support that will make sure it keeps working for you, day after day, regardless of increases in cybercrime, or bad weather, or a careless employee.
{company} is proud to offer high-quality Help Desk support services for your business. Unlike other Lakeland network support companies, we won’t put you on hold when you need our help.
We know when you have problems with your technology, your employees are unable to stay focused and productive, which means time and money are wasted and work doesn’t get done. Our Help Desk professionals are here to give you the quick and reliable support you deserve with:
E-mail applications and Web browsers
Hardware and network troubleshooting
Printer installation and support
User administration
Desktop performance problems
Virus and malware infections
We specialize in proactive management and maintenance of your IT environment. With this type of support, most of the pending issues and possible threats in your system are neutralized before they affect your business. In-house IT staffs often operate on a break/fix model, which only address issues after a problem has occurred. Proactive maintenance keeps your systems running and your employees productive, which ensures a maximum return on your investment in technology and employee wages.
However, when something does go wrong, and you need our help, we won’t keep you waiting!
Technology issues need to be sorted out as quickly as possible, and that’s exactly what we’ll do. Our Help Desk services give you:
Access to knowledgeable technicians that are able to resolve issues remotely or come onsite when needed.
Around the clock availability via our online ticketing system, phone or email, which means you are never left without the help you need.
A thorough explanation of the situation in plain, easy-to-understand terms to help you understand what is happening with your technology.
Comprehensive support solutions for anything you need to stay productive, including remote access, printing, email, phones, connectivity, and more.
Your business can’t afford downtime, slowdowns, and breakdowns. Our proactive approach to IT management and Help Desk Services gives you the answers you need and speedy resolutions to any IT issues that may come up from day to day.
Our responsive Help Desk staff is internal and based right here in our offices.
Your assigned Help Desk technician will even come to meet you at your office – so you know exactly who you are talking to every time you pick up the phone and call.
We won’t make you wait on hold – you can speak with us directly by telephone. If it’s more convenient, you can access our Help Desk through the agent we set up on your computers, online portal, or email.
by Felicien | May 11, 2018 | Education
The legal industry is facing its most challenging obstacle to date and it’s not from judges, court cases, the mafia, felons or any of those things you might guess. Instead, these attacks against law firms are coming from hackers. Once viewed as impenetrable to hackers, today’s law firm is just about as likely to be hacked as any other business.
John Sweeney of LogicForce explains: “Law firms are the subject of targeted attacks for one simple reason,” he recently said. “Their servers hold incredibly valuable information. That includes businesses’ IP, medical records, bank information, even government secrets. For hackers looking for information they can monetize, there is no better place to start.”
His comment highlights a growing problem for the legal industry. Each day, they are faced with new and practically unstoppable cyber-crimes. One of the most startling aspects of this troubling trend is that many times, the law firm doesn’t even know it’s been hacked. A 2016 study done on this topic showed that 40 percent of the law firms that were breached had no idea that a crime had been committed. This is disturbing on several levels.
If you’ve recently done business with a law firm, there is a possibility that your business, personal and/or financial information could already be in the hands of hackers on the other side of the world.
A global problem for law firms
The fourth largest law firm in the world, Mossack Fonseca lost 11.5 million files from its database. The information was eventually shared with journalists, the BBC and newspapers. This offshore law firm specializes in helping wealthy clients hide their money. The documents that were leaked contained highly sensitive information about wealthy clients and their offshore tax schemes.
Mossack Fonseca’s client base also included national leaders and well-known politicians. The documents that were leaked held clear evidence of how and where large amounts of money were hidden by illustrious leaders like Vladimir Putin. Embarrassing revelations were made public such as how British prime minister, David Cameron’s father, had been avoiding paying taxes in Britain for many years. Any law firm would find it difficult to recover from such a devastating breach of security.
Solving the problem
For most companies who are breached by cyber thieves, the recovery process begins with contacting those who were affected while stopping any other data leaks. With law firms, this process usually begins with helping the firm to find out whether they’ve already been a victim of a cyber-crime. This requires experts in cybersecurity who will run a series of tests looking for specific anomalies. Once they find out whether data has been lost, the experts will recommend a course of action. This typically includes securing the data so that no other intrusions will occur, while notifying those who were affected.
Law firm hacking on the rise
In spite of all the hype about hacking and cyber-security, a new report says that 14 million businesses were, in some way, affected by cyber-crimes last year. The experts believe that the reason the number is so high is that most small business owners do not believe they are at risk. This is also true of most law firms. They simply think they are exempt from data breaches. This leaves them even more at risk because they are unprepared.
Senior attorneys don’t fully understand how hacking is done and what types of weaknesses a hacker looks for. The principles at a law firm are often not up to date on the latest techniques that hackers are using. This leaves them defenseless. If you want to defeat an enemy, you must first learn everything you can about that enemy. Very few people including attorneys, understand the science behind hacking.
In addition, lawyers use a wide range of devices from smartphones to laptops and desktop computers. Each device is a potential gateway for cyber-thieves to enter and steal information. With the Internet of Things (IoT) now growing, even appliances in the break room can be hacked.
The recent rise in law firm breaches proves that professionals are still not fully aware of the dangers lurking around us on the internet. Attorneys may be reluctant to spend the money and time on a security team that will come in and create the proper security protocols. But waiting to see will place all customer data at risk. People often tell their attorney sensitive information that could harm their clients in many ways. A data breach is embarrassing and hard to explain to those clients who have entrusted you with personal information.
Preparing for data breaches
A good place to start for a law firm that does not have proper security in place is the American Bar Association’s guide. This comprehensive document includes a great deal of information about preventing cyber-attacks. It also addresses ways to respond once an attack has occurred. Employees should be trained about phishing attacks and this training must be ongoing because the method that hackers use evolves with each new attack.
The managers at a law firm can begin by engaging an outside IT security expert that specializes in legal data. The team of security experts will assess your current level of protection against intruders, then recommend new initiatives. They should institute a regular training program that teaches employees how to spot phishing attacks in emails. Even trained employees may get careless, but continual training helps everyone to remember how important it is not to click on suspicious links or give away passwords.
What a law firm can do today
Many law firms are also writing their own policies about password protection, log-in credentials, and web-surfing. Once you have policies in place that your employees are aware of, you can begin to enforce them and this will help to eliminate threats. Your onsite IT people should be checking weekly for patches and updates to software. New updates should be downloaded as soon as possible.
Regardless of the time and expense of these security initiatives, the alternative could be devastating. One of the most important assets a law firm has is its reputation. Once a data leak has occurred, it’s too late. Legal professionals must do everything possible to prepare and prevent these leaks.
There’s every reason to believe that this digital age will continue to expand across the world. Businesses and the legal industry are facing unprecedented challenges for the future, but there are solid remedies that work. It all begins with realizing how vulnerable you are and how important it is to protect your client’s information. Regardless of the cost, the alternative is just too costly.
