by Felicien | Oct 11, 2017 | Education
If you’ve purchased a Mac expecting to never have to be concerned with malware or hacking, think again! A recent exploit is targeting Mac users. The good news? It’s preventable.
Mac users have long touted the fact that Apple computers are much less likely than computers running Microsoft Windows to be hacked, but that era may be coming to an end. With four times as many Windows 10 computers currently in the marketplace than Macs, it’s not surprising that hackers choose to attack the system that is much more prevalent in the marketplace overall. A recent ransomware attack may be cause for Mac users to stop their taunts of the platform being hacker-proof, however. The good news is that by taking a few simple precautionary steps, you may be able to stop cybercriminals from locking you out of your expensive Mac.
Are Apple Products ‘Hacker Proof’?
For more than a decade, there’s been a rumor that Apple products are hacker proof, but the reality is that no operating system or data structure is completely airtight. Historically speaking, there are fewer viruses and malware that are targeted to Macs than to PCs, but that doesn’t mean that any Apple OS is immune from threats. There have been more attacks in recent years as ransomware has leaked to the dark web. While Android and Windows will likely always receive a higher percentage of malware than Apple devices, the threats continue to multiply as Apple becomes ever more popular in the marketplace. It’s only a matter of time until specific devices are targeted with browser-specific hacks that bypass some of the security that is baked into OS X.
Mac Attacks
Phishing emails and third-party exploits of software such as Java or Adobe are also some of the current crops of attacks against Macs, but they’re not the only ones. Macs have been plagued by adware and bloatware — whether malicious or just annoying — that can float pop-up ads on your system to tempt users to download non-essential software tools. These problem spots can slow down the system overall or spawn additional pop-ups, and generally aren’t dangerous. Malicious iOS apps are another form of malware that is likely to be found on a Mac. It’s important to stick with only downloading apps from the official App Store, as others could potentially include subsets of code that can steal user information or infect the device in a much more widespread fashion. While buying from within the App Store helps combat nearly all malicious software, the ever-diligent app reviewers don’t catch everything. In the last 24 months, XcodeGhost was able to introduce a framework into legitimate apps that hijacked back-end servers and ultimately infecting the third-party advertising network.
Rise of Ransomware
Hackers are always looking for new ways to hold your device hostage, essentially locking you out of your device until you pay a ransom which is generally requested in nearly-untraceable Bitcoin currency. With ransomware up nearly 250 percent in 2017, cybercriminals have discovered that there is significant money to be made in locking down computers both for individuals and for businesses. Ransomware has often targeted PCs in the past, but mobile devices and Macs are a growing part of the threat landscape. The U.S. has been hit particularly hard, most likely due to the high number of available computers and relatively high per capita income — which translates into funds available to pay for ransom demands. Ransomware often completely disables the boot-up process for your computer, a crippling effect on any system.
Find My Mac
This recent risk is related to the Find My Mac application, or FMM, which is being targeted by hackers who then request Bitcoin payments in order to provide renewed access to the system. This particular app makes it simple to pinpoint the current location of your device and is helpful in the case of a lost phone or stolen Mac computer. Apparently, hackers have illegally obtained a large quantity of iCloud passwords and usernames, and are leveraging these assets to lock people out of their Macs and mobile devices. The good news is that there’s a relatively easy fix that doesn’t involve paying the ransom, but only if you’re willing to lose all of the data on your device by doing a hard reset. This can also be accomplished by bringing your Mac to an Apple store and verifying your identity.
Reducing the Risk of Loss
Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can reduce the risk of being hit by these cyber criminals. Creating a password that is highly secure is the first step, as is turning off the Find My Mac or Find My iPhone in your device’s Settings. Turn on two-factor authentication on your Apple account to ensure your password cannot be reset without your knowledge, and consider utilizing a password vault app that provides additional levels of security. There’s a further step that you should take before selling or loaning your computer that may help keep your Apple ID information safe, as iCloud information is stored on the nvram of your computer. Disabling FMM at the command line can be accomplished by entering:
$ nvram -d fmm-computer-name
$ nvram -d fmm-mobileme-token-FMM
If your IT admins are struggling to keep security under control, let the professionals at {company} support your {city} organization. We work to ensure that all risks are addressed in a timely manner throughout your fleet of devices and computers.
Contact us today at {phone} or via email to {email} for more information or to take advantage of your free initial consultation.
by Felicien | Oct 10, 2017 | Education
While some feel more isn’t always better, it actually is when it comes to monitors. Some feel that paying for multiple monitors for employees is just a waste of space and money. That’s a myth. According to the report in the NY Times by a Jon Peddie Research survey, multiple monitors can increase productivity by 20 to 30 percent.
A Closer Look at the How
So, how do multiple monitors actually increase productivity? The answer is quite simple. It takes less time to complete tasks with multiple monitors. Typically, computer tasks entail, drafting emails, data entry, leaving a chat box open while working, comparing products side-by-side, comparing images and spreading spreadsheets across monitors to view a report. This all takes time. Just with drafting weekly reports and data entry, you have to open the report template, open all related documents, switch back to the report template, double-check accurate information and repeat the process again until the report is finished.
It takes a lot of time to switch between documents. With multiple monitors, employees can leave the first source document open, pull up the report template and switch between documents in less time, even when there are only three documents to compare. It’s just less clicks.
What It Adds Up To
“According to the University of Utah, multiple monitors can save each employee 2.5 hours each day if they use it for all of their tasks. If you have 30 employees, a second monitor saves you 75 hours a day, 375 hours a week, 1650 hours a month, and 18,825 hours a year. Even if you’re paying these employees a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which you’re most likely not, you’re still saving at least $136,481.25 a year. Investing in multiple monitors can significantly increase your employees’ productivity, increase their value and decrease your costs. When you can cut costs, you increase your profit margin.” If you can save money, why wouldn’t you?
More Studies on Multiple Monitors
A Utah study discovered that employees had a 44 percent increase in productivity for text tasks and a whopping 29 percent rise for spreadsheet tasks when using multiple monitors. It also showed a $1.5 million in cost saving in one year with a business of 250 employees. And in a Georgia study, employees were able to complete tasks 2 ½ minutes faster using a multiple monitor setup.
“According to University of California Irvine professor Gloria Mark, switching attention between different tasks is where a huge amount of time is lost at work. The more people switch their attention, the higher the frequency or the less duration percent on any computer screen, the less productive they are at the end of the day, Mark told Mic. We know from many years of work there is a cost to re-orienting to a new task.”
Ideal Candidates for Multiple Monitors
Multiple monitors work best for employees who multitask. Workers who read financial reports, manage inventory levels, respond to email, review time sheets, check the Internet for the latest news and prepare summary information for executives are ideal candidates for multiple monitors. If you’re considering multiple monitors, it’s wise to ensure that your computer system has an adequate system to support it. Things like RAM, power supply, motherboards and other computer system resources also need to be in check. Simply put, you need to make sure that your system can handle it. Here’s a tip. Make sure that all of your monitors are the same size and positioned at the same height, or else your eyes will have to work harder to adjust from one monitor to the next as you go back and forth.
Just as a farmer needs a tractor, most businesses need technology tools, and the main tool is a computer. The computer has emerged as a needed tool for businesses. Adding multiple monitors to your computer is a bit complicated, and a managed service provider can assist with the addition. Today, multiple monitors are no longer just the norm with Silicon Valley companies and trading desks on Wall Street. It’s common for all businesses. Three or more screens have taken over due to its affordability and decreasing bulkiness of displays. It enhances the computer experience for employees and adds to efficiency. And instead of toggling between second screens in their laps and palms, employees prefer to toggle with just a glance using a third or fourth screen sitting side by side on their desks.
{company} in {city} can help your company realize the benefits of display technology with multiple monitor configuration. {company} provides complete solutions and world-class support. Set up quickly and efficiently. Give a call at {phone}or email them at {email}. The IT experts at {company} are always happy to answer any questions. Make {company} your technology partner today.
by Felicien | Oct 10, 2017 | Education
Video collaboration, online training, and productivity are some big gains to be had with two monitors, while disadvantages include the cost, additional resources required and the potential for distractions. Here’s how to determine if dual monitors will be effective for your business needs.
Business leaders are always looking for ways for their staff to be more productive, but at what cost? The technology time required to install and operate dual monitors, plus the cost of the monitors themselves and the hardware required to run them, may not add up to the productivity savings that businesses expect. However, there may be some benefits that are more difficult to measure, such as employee satisfaction, reduced error rates, and significantly improved overall process efficiency. If you’re on the fence, here’s a quick rundown of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing more than one monitor in a business setting.
ADVANTAGES
Smoother Data Sharing
Switching back and forth between windows on your computer can be a big pain, as well as a pretty massive productivity drain. This is especially true if you’re working on a complex financial analysis or taking a deep dive into some code — or even simply attempting to correlate customer data and provide a quick answer to a question while you’re on the phone. Having multiple monitors allows you to open several projects or aspects of a single project essentially side-by-side for comparison, making it much easier to keep an eagle eye on emails on one screen while updating your financial reports on another, for instance. The ability to use programs simultaneously allows for much smoother data sharing when you’re adding images from a separate window or viewing the live updates to a website you’re updating.
Superior Online Training
Online training has become increasingly popular in recent years. Having a second screen allows you to view training videos or tutorials on one side of your workspace, while the other side is available for completing training exercises or testing out your new skills. Flipping between instructions and project from a single screen would lead to increases in error rate and a much longer timeline for completing the course.
Un-Dock and Go
Laptops are utilized in a wide variety of business settings. While they are fantastic for portability between meetings, home, and the office, laptops have notoriously small monitors. When you add a dock with two monitors to your laptop setup, you truly get the best of both worlds: the portability of a laptop when you need it and the value-add of additional workspace when you need to hunker down and crunch some numbers or code. The quick one-button docking and un-docking procedure makes this setup convenient for users and easy for technology teams to maintain.
Video Collaboration
Similar to online training, video collaboration has continued to grow in importance and usage throughout the business world. Many organizations are looking for ways to cut costs by scheduling video meetings instead of traveling for face-to-face conversations, but Skype and other video programs provide a high level of interaction without time-consuming and expensive travel. Having a second monitor available allows you to share one of your screens while continuing to work in the other screen — an invaluable option for anyone who is invited to a large number of meetings.
DISADVANTAGES
The Time Sink
We all know that person who seems to spend more time on social media than on their daily tasks. How can dual monitors improve this problem? Honestly, it will probably make the issue worse. Having a second monitor may provide some individuals with the digital space that they need to keep social media accounts or email open at all times instead of having to flip back and forth between personal accounts and a business focus. While many organizations have blocked instant messaging, this is another potential time sink to keep in mind as you’re considering going with more than one monitor for your staff.
Empty Pixels
There are some advocates who believe that a single widescreen monitor is more effective than dual screens, simply because the “dead air” between the monitors’ visible zones can be distracting to the eye. If the monitors are not implemented correctly, there’s a potential mismatch in resolution and colors that can be troubling to view, especially if you need to stretch a particular program across both displays, such as a large and complex spreadsheet. Some individuals prefer a primary and secondary screen of different sizes, as a distinct mismatch may be less distracting than a subtle one.
Too Much Space
Believe it or not, too much space can be every bit as much of a problem as not enough space! With two monitors, especially if you have two widescreen monitors, you may find that you’re spending a lot of time resizing the viewing windows to optimize your display. Oddly enough, users with a smaller screen may find that everything fits well within the windows in a much more natural and usable way.
Making the decision to move your business from single monitor configurations to a dual-monitor environment can be daunting — especially due to the financial implications involved with the shift. Keep in mind the potential productivity gains and whether or not your teams are likely to take full advantage of the additional space when you’re making your final decision. Ready to learn more about the possibilities for docked laptops, additional monitors or other technology questions? Contact {company} today at {phone} or via email to {email}. We will work with your {city} organization to determine the right fit for your office.
by Felicien | Oct 10, 2017 | Education
Negative SEO is real, and it can have a serious impact on the overall search ranking of your business. Learn what this means and how you can prevent damaging attacks.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is still the stuff of legend for many business leaders and marketers. Even though the term is familiar and you know that it has to do with your ranking on search engines, exactly how it happens and the various factors that impact your ranking may feel as though they’re a bit cloudy. Unfortunately, not only do you have to be concerned with SEO rankings, but there are ways that your competitors could unleash a devastating negative SEO attack that has the potential to cause long-term damage to your search unless you catch the problem quickly and take steps to reduce the impact. Protect your business and make your competitors play fair when you steer clear of these negative SEO practices.
Importance of SEO
One of the most important things to know about SEO is that it’s a great leveler: a small business who has a laser focus on SEO could easily rank above a much larger competitor in search results. The higher you are in search results, the more likely it is that you’ll get that customer, deal or offer. Plus, a higher rank in major search engines often equates to credibility in the eyes of consumers. Good SEO starts with a solid plan for keywords that are important to your customers, which can easily be discovered through a little work, brainstorming ideas and using tools such as the Google AdWords Keyword Planner to see the types of terms customers use naturally when searching for your business. When you incorporate these keywords into the content produced either via a blog or on social media and your website, you’ll see your organic traffic begin to grow.
What is Negative SEO?
Negative SEO is often considered an attack by an unfriendly competitor or other organization and can be used to describe a variety of different tactics. These include spammy links and forceful crawling, both of which can cause long-term damage to your site’s traffic and overall search results ranking. Plagiarism is another potential cause of negative SEO. If a site happens to grab your content, publish it, and have it indexed by Google before your site is crawled, there’s a possibility that you can be penalized for duplicate content. While this doesn’t happen as often as some other causes of negative SEO, it does happen. Forceful crawling is when a cybercriminal causes a heavy server load on your website, which can lead to slow loading times and reduce your SEO ranking and user experience overall. Spam farms are the most likely cause of negative SEO and are also the easiest for outsiders to perpetrate against your website.
Shutting Down Spam Farms
Poor quality backlinks are the bane of Google, and it penalizes sites swiftly and harshly for this practice. Unfortunately, that makes this an excellent tool for negative SEO practitioners who are looking for ways to reduce the ability to discover your website. This manipulation of search engine rankings has led to an excellent tool that can be utilized to help shut down spam farms, the Google and Bing Disavow Links tool. At it’s simplest, anyone can go to a bulk link-building service and generate tens of thousands of spammy links in a very short period of time. While previously this practice was difficult to protect against, the Disavow Links tool from the two major search engines allows webmasters to take back some power by submitting links that appear to be spam back to Google and Bing. By reporting these links, you can reduce or eliminate the impact of any negative SEO practices that include spam links.
Fighting the Fire
Perhaps one of the best ways to guard against any type of cyber attack is to ensure that your security procedures are in full effect. This includes applying patches in a timely manner and only utilizing CMS (Content Management System) software that has top-notch encryption capabilities. Security protocols are especially important as they can protect against potential hacks to your website that could tamper with your robots.txt file — which could lead to a massive drop in rankings should your entire site be de-indexed. Staying vigilant involves keeping track of your site’s overall search ranking and taking immediate action to remediate should your ranking fall dramatically.
Negative Reviews
Finally, negative Google reviews for your business can be nearly invisible unless you’re looking for them — yet they are a strong indicator of whether or not your site will show up well in search rankings. If your competitors suddenly submit a large number of negative reviews against your brand, you may find that your search ranking is falling fast, and for no reason that you can quickly identify. This is why it’s important to Google your business often and ensure that you stay on top of any reviews that are suspicious.
The ways that negative SEO can be leveraged against your business can be subtle, but the impact to your business can be significant over time in terms of lost traffic to your website and even lost business. Protect your organization by ensuring you have the latest security patches in place, checking your ranking often and staying aware of incoming links on your sites. Want to learn more about best-practices for security on the internet? Contact our {city} professionals by contacting {company} at {phone} or via email to {email}.
by Felicien | Oct 9, 2017 | Education
Wondering what the HITRUST/AMA workshop partnership means for your business? Here’s a brief primer on the new workshops being rolled out, and what you can do to increase cybersecurity.
Cyber risk is everywhere. While we all know it’s real, it’s hard to conceptualize in real-world terms. Instead, we remember that one time that Target got hacked. Or we imagine some sort of cartoon supervillain with a mask and cape, and a black uniform covered in green 1’s and 0’s.
Okay, so that’s a little extreme. It is true, however, that many people are so overwhelmed by the nebulous idea of cybercrime that they aren’t really sure what to do about it. That’s where we come in, with a stated mission of providing insurance, retirement and investment organizations with cutting-edge, trustworthy and secure software. Here at {company} we take the utmost caution to ensure our clients’ information is safe, and that the vital information they safeguard for others – health and financial documents – is always secure.
Naturally, when we heard that the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) was partnering with the American Medical Association (AMA) to provide physicians and their staff with information risk management training, we just had to tune in. We’re guessing, if you’re in a profession that exposes you to sensitive client information, you’re pretty curious too.
So just what exactly is going on with this partnership, and what can we learn from it?
The HITRUST/AMA Cyber Risk Management Education Partnership
If you started to get a little drowsy while reading the words “cyber risk management education partnership,” that’s okay. You’re only human, and the fundamentals of managing risk in our increasingly digital world are pretty nebulous.
HITRUST and the AMA recognize that too few businesses – even larger ones – have adequate cyber protection and risk management plans in place, often because the requirements are unclear and companies have little to no budget dedicated to these endeavors. Even when they do, it’s not always obvious how to proceed with a plan that will address not only short-term risks but longer-term issues as they develop.
In response, the two organizations are teaming up to provide a series of workshops around the country. The first and most important point to understand is that in the last few years, cyber attackers have set their sights increasingly on the healthcare industry. While it might seem counterintuitive to steal healthcare information – is Grandpa Jim’s asthma record really worth hacking into a system for? – there actually exist compelling reasons for hackers to do so.
Much of the data that exists in electronic health records (EHRs) can be monetized, including social security numbers, financial information, and insurance policy data. The results? Identity theft, false insurance claims and in some cases, severe monetary consequences. The motivation to hack investment accounts is even more obvious, with many of the same results. (In a phrase: It’s not good.)
Cleanliness Is Next to … Financial Security?
They say cleanliness is next to godliness, but HITRUST and the AMA are taking a slightly different tack: Cleanliness is next to fiscal safety. As a healthcare or financial institution in {city}, there is much you can do to ensure impeccable “cyber hygiene.” The workshop teaches actionable steps to take, such as:
How to perform a cyber risk assessment
How to assess HIPAA protocols to ensure you stay in compliance when it comes to safeguarding medical information
The basics of good cyber hygiene, including daily risk management routines, safe online behaviors, and periodic risk assessments
How to implement effective cyber risk management strategies on a budget
Case studies from a variety of medical practices
One of the main purposes of the workshop is to address the options for smaller businesses, which don’t have the major risk management departments larger organizations can afford. Even without the larger budgets and staffing, however, smaller practices can do a lot to mitigate risk. If you’re a larger business, never fear: You can learn plenty from this workshop as well. Whether or not you go, speaking with an administration software provider can help you learn even more.
How Can You Implement Principles of Good Cyber Hygiene in Your Business?
So how can you meaningfully address this risk when receiving managed IT services in {city}? Your approach must encompass more than information technology solutions; you must also take care to incorporate the highest level of financial and medical data security.
What you need are meaningful ways to address this risk that don’t break the bank. Here’s where we once again look to the HITRUST/AMA partnership for guidance on how to move forward with a safe, repeatable and flexible cyber hygiene plan that will keep your clients’ information safe and your business in good standing.
First and foremost, you do have the option of attending the workshops. The first American Medical Association Cyber Clinic, hosted by Children’s Health will be held in Dallas, with workshops to follow in at least 50 cities across the nation over the following year. If you don’t want to wait for the workshops to roll out in your area, you can book a ticket to the event now.
Whether or not you opt to participate, it’s a very good idea to get in touch with your managed IT provider and ask about cyber hygiene right away. A good administration services company will have the fundamentals of cyber risk management down to a science (like we do) and have the ability to further customize your IT plan to meet your organization’s specific requirements. Moreover, they should specialize in your field – in this case, medical – to ensure they’re up-to-date on the current risks and best solutions with which to help mitigate them.
If you’re curious to learn more about how you can make your systems watertight, as well as increase the security of your EHR and general online behavior, it’s time to get in touch with a professional today. Whether you already work with us here at {company} (hi!) or are looking for a new provider (welcome!) we can help. Get in touch via {email} or {phone} to safeguard your client data, provide for the long-term safety of your business and get the peace of mind you deserve today.
by Felicien | Oct 9, 2017 | Education
Technology is ever-changing, and law firms need it to run a business. But, a lot of things can go wrong, such as security breaches and forgotten passwords. Some law firms have a small IT staff, but there may be signs that it’s time to hire outside managed services. At what point is it time to partner up with a managed service provider? Here’s a list of some red flags that its time.
Inefficient Integration of Line of Business Applications (LOB)
With LOB applications constantly growing, so do the challenges to these tools. Cost recovery systems, document management systems and more are vital to law firms. These applications need to work synergistically with Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office Suite, and other standard tools. When LOB applications seem like they are resulting in less efficiency than expected, it’s time that a managed service provider is in order.
Substantial Downtime
A red flag is waving if there’s a critical software application or server failure that’s not responding. Users can’t access the needed data. The industry of law is time-sensitive, and law firms can’t afford to have significant downtime. Time equals money in the law industry.
Underperforming Applications
If attorneys are sitting there tapping on their desk with a sluggish application, work is put on hold. Law firms need technology that works fast every day of the week. When things aren’t working fast enough, it’s time to consider hiring a managed service provider. If it’s broke, it needs to be fixed.
Lagging Behind the IT Security Curve
Protecting the sensitive information of clients and cases is paramount to law firms. IT security cannot lag. Today, law firms often find themselves trailing behind the IT security curve. And with new threats every day, law firms can best implement the best security practices. Plus, compliance issues can cause a lot of headaches for law firms.
Access to Needed IT Support
Some law firms have in-house IT managers and staff. Yet, these employees are often overwhelmed by the complexity of the changing IT landscape. Too much time is spent on tactical things instead of what really needs to be done. In-house IT teams cannot provide the 24/7/365 IT support to provide support for the challenges law firms face with technology. With a managed service provider, law firms get IT support for the entire IT infrastructure at all times and when it’s needed most.
IT Costs Too High
Both small and large law firms need to keep a very close eye on operating expenses. The cost to employ IT support can easily exceed $100,000 per year. Not only can that team be available 24/7, it’s likely they won’t have the depth and knowledge required to support different technologies. In the long run, it’s more cost-effective to hire a managed service provider because the cost to implement and maintain an in-house solution is cost-prohibitive for most law firms. Law firms are beginning to realize that a managed service provider has invested the time and money to provide expert IT support, and they can leverage their expertise at a fraction of the cost with an in-house IT team. Let these professionals save your law firm money. Like any other industry, the bottom line for law firms is turning a profit.
Not Getting What Your Firm Needs
Most law firms cannot get everything they need from in-house IT staff. Case calendars, document management, billing contacts, email encryption and case management software have created more of a need for reliability, infrastructure security, and performance. And with mobile devices, document collaboration and video conferencing, law firms just need more from their own IT internal staff. If you’re an attorney and not getting everything you need from your own in-house IT team, it’s time to turn to a managed service provider. Their expertise and knowledge of the law industry can serve your firm well.
Seeking a Holistic Approach
If your law firm is seeking a holistic approach to the deployment and operation of an IT legal environment, this is a wake-up call that a managed service provider is in order. A managed service provider can handle everything. These IT professionals offer:
A flat-fee structure, so there’s no worries with costly billable hours
A highly predictable cost structure{email}
Better ROI on IT costs{email}
Privacy, compliance, and security
A scalable IT infrastructure
Inefficient integration of LOB apps, substantial downtime, underperforming systems, IT security curve, IT support, IT costs and getting your IT needs to be met are all indicators that it may be time to consult with a professional and experienced IT managed provider. With a managed service provider, law firms can operate more efficiently, avoid security breaches and better serve their clients. The {company} in {city} understands the technology challenges law firms face on a daily basis. Call {company} at {phone} or email at {email} to learn how they can help your law firm stay focused on the legal work that matters most.
