Sneaky Cybersecurity threats you need to know about

by Felicien | Oct 10, 2019 | Education

Clever Cybersecurity Threats That Will Make Your Skin Crawl
Do you know these clever cybersecurity threats? Learn their sneaky methods and how to create a comprehensive strategy to manage the risks to your company.  

Norton Security, the online security company, estimates that the average major cybersecurity data breach costs a single US company nearly eight million dollars. Although you’d prefer to invest that eight million in growing your company, you could be spending it to regain access to customer data, reputation management, fines and the like.
Cybersecurity threats are costly. But they’re also sneaky, making protecting yourself seem elusive and out of your control. But the truth is that a business of any size can take comprehensive steps to reduce their risk and it all starts with understanding what those threats are.
The Four Types of Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity experts break threats down into four primary categories. While there is some overlap in these methods, ultimately cybercriminals are trying to find innovative ways to get past your defenses. These four corners must be considered in any cybersecurity strategy.
Ransomware
A cybercriminal gains access to your systems often through a downloaded malware file. They lock down your customer and/or company data with encryption. The only way to unlock it is to pay a ransom to the criminal.
The ransom amount is typically scaled to the size of the business to increase the likelihood you’ll pay them. But paying makes this type of sneaky cyberattack profitable, perpetuating the exploitation of more victims. Cities, health systems, financial institutions, public transit and more have all fallen victim to these attacks.
Malware
Trojan horses, viruses, spyware and worms all fall into this category. This type of threat may be used to steal proprietary, financial, or other private information. In other cases, its role may simply be to disrupt business operations. The latter may seem like an attack from a competitor. But, more often, it’s for no other reason than the power-trip and bragging rights that some people get when they take advantage of others.
Social Engineering
These attacks trick employees into breaking security protocols. Someone may pretend to be your boss’ boss, a government agency, client, student, patient, etc. in an attempt to get your employees to relay private information they can then use to steal identities/money or otherwise wreak havoc.
Phishing
Phishing usually comes in through email but could also be a text or phone call. Similar to social engineering, it makes statements to build trust as it encourages someone to take any action that will compromise security. This may be to something like:

Download a file (malware)
Enter login information on a spoofed site
Send money

The Six Pillars of Cybersecurity
Just like there are four types of threats, there must also be several solutions that target these threats from different angles. Just having virus protection or a firewall is not enough. Let’s look at these six pillars.

Operational security – This is a process of identifying protected assets, classifying them, considering who has access to what, evaluating the risks posed to each and then developing an action plan to manage those risks.
Application security – This involves deploying software, hardware and protocols to protect your applications from corruption. This might include anti-virus, firewall, rules about use of 3rd party software and similar measures.
Information security – These are the steps you take to protect customer and company data. It may include things like encryption, passwords, levels of access and policies on how information is accessed, who can access it, etc.
Network security – This is online security, locking down your network so that no one can use it without authorization or intercept information transferred on the network.
Disaster recovery/business continuity planning – This comprehensive written plan details how you’ll recover in the event of an attack. It will include things like secure cloud backup as well as an operations plan during and after an event. That event could be virtual or a physical disaster. It’s important to plan for both.
Employee education – Cybercriminals are clever and the methods of deceit are ever-changing. These people are professional scammers who know exactly what to say. So all employees must know about these tricks and understand their role in managing security risks.

Cybercriminals deploy many sneaky methods to steal or ransom your data. Because of this, it’s important to tackle security from all angles using a comprehensive strategy.

The Startling Reason You Need to Upgrade Windows Now

by Felicien | Sep 19, 2019 | Education

Delaying Windows 10 Upgrade: What Could Happen?
Are your departments still working on Windows 7, which came out over 10 years ago? Find out the pressing reasons to upgrade to Windows 10 now and wait no longer.

Launched in 2015, the latest iteration of the Windows operating system, Windows 10, offers some sensational productivity features that the modern workplace needs to perform in a competitive marketplace. If you’re still running Windows 7, you may not know what you’re missing out on. We could talk all day about the advantages of upgrading now. But increased productivity aside, there are other very important reasons you shouldn’t put this off any longer.
You’ll find not one, but 4 impactful reasons not to delay your Windows 10 upgrade for another year. Here’s what business leaders like you need to know.
1. Windows 7 Soon Won’t be Supported
Windows 7 transformed office operations in leaps and bounds with intuitive new features built around the practical and often complex needs of the 21st Century workplace. Chances are that when Windows 8 came out, you decided to wait on upgrading for some smart reasons:

Rolling out upgrades can interrupt business operations
Upgrades cost money
Training on new features may be necessary

Upgrading obviously isn’t without disruption. You probably made the right decision at the time. But something big is about to change the paradigm.
Microsoft has announced that they will no longer support Windows 7, their 2009 software.
This means no more updates, patches or fixes. And while that may not seem like much, it could spell disaster in the office, which leads us to the second reason to upgrade to Windows 10 now.
2. Lost Business Operations
Lack of upgrades means that over a short period, the 3rd-party applications and programs your employees use with the operating system may stop working. This may include everything from CRMs to phone systems to inventory to logistics to data analytics.
A strategically-planned upgrade rollout will cause minimal business operations disruptions, no doubt. But it’s nothing like the crisis businesses experience when they come into the office to find out a major application no longer works.
Being proactive by upgrading to Windows 10 before these critical systems stop keeps your workplace running smoothly.
3. Trouble Accessing Data
Imagine getting a call in the middle of the night. Your teams can no longer access the essential data they need to do their jobs. Customers are waiting. Chaos ensues.
It sounds like Y2K-level fear-mongering. But this isn’t an unlikely scenario when Microsoft stops supporting an operating system. The updates you get from the company now keep complex systems working together optimally. When that support is cut off, any number of challenges may arise, and they won’t be fixed by Microsoft.
A major loss of data would bring just about any company to its knees. But in some industries like retail, wholesale, healthcare and financial this could threaten the very existence of a company.
Fortunately, there’s a very easy fix and that’s not continuing to work on a 10-year-old operating system and upgrading to Windows 10.
4. Increased Risk of Cyberattacks
We saved this one for last. It’s huge. And because some cyber attackers cast such a broad net, it’s likely one of the first things that will happen, although it may be months before you know.
Cyberattackers are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities that they can exploit in operating systems. Each time they find a new one, Microsoft jumps into action, creating a patch and pushing it out to users in the form of an update. When Microsoft says it will no longer support 7, that means it’s no longer monitoring for these attacks or pushing out patches.
The longer you wait to upgrade, the more attacks you become vulnerable to. You might have the best firewall and antivirus on the market, but if your operating system–the foundation of all of your systems–is vulnerable, everything is vulnerable.
Did you know?

Over 42 cybercriminals are on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, taking their place among organized crime bosses, major drug traffickers and serial murders. Cybercriminals aren’t some lone wolves in a dark basement. They’re organized criminals who work together to exploit businesses.
Cybercrime is a $1.5B industry
Nearly half of all cyber attackers choose to attack the US.
43% of cyberattack victims are small businesses, yet, on average, a small business invests less than $500/year to protect themselves.
It takes a business an average of 49.6 days to discover that they’ve been breached. During that time, everything from payment information to sensitive communications are being stolen by criminals.
Some attacks are instantaneous. While Ransomware is declining as cryptocurrency loses value and improved security creates a diminishing returns scenario, criminals still encrypt customer data and demand a ransom for its release, devastating businesses large and small.

There are many productivity-related reasons to upgrade to Windows 10. But there are also some very pressing reasons that the time is now. Start planning your upgrade today.

To Lease or Buy a Copier?

by Felicien | Sep 19, 2019 | Education

Should You Buy a Copier or Lease It?
Trying to decide whether to lease a copier or buy a copier? Find out the pros and cons. See when buying or leasing may be the best option for your business.  

No single piece of equipment in the office takes more of a beating than the floor-standing copier.
Day in and day out it endures transitions between high heat and frigid office temps, paper jam tug-of-war, lid slamming and endless pieces of paper traveling at lightning speed across its rollers. All of this demanding work takes a toll on the device, giving it an average lifespan of just five years in a busy office.
Eventually, you’ll find yourself needing to find a replacement and the question arises: should you lease or buy a copier? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. These pros and cons will help you make the right choice for you and your business.
Why Buy a Copier?
When you’re playing the long game, buying a copier is usually the less expensive option–when it comes to the cost of the copier. You’ll avoid finance charges and other fees. You’ll also avoid a hard credit check, which may impact your credit score. If you’re a smaller or growing business, you like to keep your credit as clean as possible.
And even if you did have to put it on credit, the printer is yours after you finish paying for it. Some high-quality floor copiers can last up to 10 years, especially if you’re not a high-volume office. So that may be a very good deal.
Okay. So it sounds like buying is the way to go. But wait! There are some cons to consider.
When Buying a Copier Isn’t Your Best Option
Since the dawn of time, technology has never stood still. And the rate of change is only getting faster. A bought printer may have everything you need today. But no one really knows what businesses may need in 10 years. That could put you at a competitive disadvantage against newer companies in the future with the latest technology.
If you needed to resell that printer because you weren’t using it like you thought or needed to free up cash, you might recoup 50% if you sold it immediately, but in 5 years, it would probably cost more for someone to move it than they’d pay for the copier.
Not unlike a car, it’s not going to hold its value.
If your rainy day fund is tapped out and you’d have to put buying a copier on credit, interest charges may make the copier cost a lot more than you think you’re saving by buying over leasing a copier.
Finally, an aging printer will also begin to require more maintenance to keep it running smoothly. And you might find yourself feeling like you have to keep it past its prime to get your money’s worth. That may cost you in employee productivity and lost wages.
Why Lease a Copier?
Leasing a copier does make sense if you need to have clear terms from month-to-month. You know upfront how much you pay each month and for how long. That’s often easier on the budget. If cash flow is tight and you’d have to finance a bought printer anyway, leasing may actually end up saving you money.
When your term ends, you’re not stuck with a printer that may now be outdated or breaking down. You can upgrade when you renew your lease. Or, depending on the lease terms, you may be able to buy the copier at the end of the lease for a minimal cost if it’s still working for you.
A newer copier needs less maintenance and functions more efficiently, increasing workplace productivity and reducing worker frustration around inadequate technology. If the leased copier needs maintenance or stops working entirely, that’s likely the responsibility of the leasing company.
That’s not an emergency expense you have to worry about.
When Leasing a Copier Isn’t Your Best Option
You will pay more for the leased copier than you otherwise would. Those pros of leasing listed above come at a price. It’s important to realize that those are what you’re paying for, not just the copier. In a way leasing is another way to manage risk. Not unlike buying insurance, you’re paying the leasing company to take on what would otherwise be your risk.
Every business has a certain amount of risk they’re comfortable managing and planning for. Leasing a copier may not make sense for you if you’re in a position where you can effectively manage more risk. That copier may last you 15 years or five. You just don’t know because lifespan is so strongly affected by how your office uses it.
Ultimately, deciding whether to lease or buy a copier is a very company-specific decision. So weigh these pros and cons and you’ll make the right choice for your business.

Why Do Workplace Copier Jams Keep Happening?

by Felicien | Sep 18, 2019 | Education

Why the Office Printer Keeps Jamming
Is a jamming printer or copier a common complaint? What’s that downtime costing you? Find out why the printer keeps jamming and how to prevent jams proactively.

Paper jams in a busy office aren’t just frustrating for employees, earning endless mentions in team meetings. They kill productivity. On average, each employee in an office wastes about 22 minutes a day on IT issues, which include things like malfunctioning printers, having to reboot computers, software that won’t load and more. Multiply that by 10, 50 or 250 employees. That really tears into the bottom line.
Fortunately, being proactive can go a long way into trimming this wasted time, allowing you to reclaim that lost labor attributed to workplace copier jams. Here are 5 reasons why the printer keeps jamming and what you can do about it.
1. Inferior Paper in Your Copier
Like so many things in life, you get what you pay for. Printer/Copier paper comes in various weights and thicknesses. Some paper is designed for older, slower copiers. While other paper is designed to handle the swift movement of a modern printer. You don’t have to break the bank on copy paper. But if you’re paying rock bottom prices for paper, it may be time to rethink what that’s really costing you.
2. Incorrect Paper Settings
These days, printers are multi-function. The modern office needs this versatility to get more done without multiple pieces of equipment. But with versatility and advanced function comes complexity in menus. It’s not hard for someone in the office to change a setting to photo paper, transparency, double-sided or stapled and forget to change it back. Or someone new in the office could have accidentally hit a setting.
If you’re wondering why the printer keeps jamming, it’s time to look at those settings and consider a quick training session on how to use the printer.
3. Poorly set paper guides
The employee who loads the paper manually moves the guides during insertion. If the guides are too tight or too loose, your staff may be fixing printer jams all day long. Guides should gently touch the edges of the paper and be checked if the printer keeps jamming.
4. They’re Inserting the Paper Upside Down
This may seem like a no-brainer to someone who constantly prints. But in an office, you usually have many people printing and some will be more familiar with the do’s and don’t’s.
Yes, copy paper does have and intended printing surface.
You’d be surprised how many printers keep jamming because of this simple mistake. The paper packaging will indicate the printing side with an arrow. But what if you’ve already removed the paper from the packaging?
Perform a simple test.
Grab a substantial amount of paper (the whole ream ideally), bend the paper in the middle in one direction, then the other. The direction that curves the most is your printing side.
5. Doing a Variety of Jobs on an Old Copier
That printer-copier that you purchased 10 years ago says that it can perform these many tasks. But the truth is, as printers get older, it becomes harder to switch between types of tasks. Gears, guides and surfaces wear out. Ink, dust or paper residue build up in places.
If the team only performs one type of print job, the printer may last longer. But, eventually, it too will begin to struggle with even basic jobs. Years of tugging jammed paper out and trying to run a printer while jammed wear out sensitive components.
Sometimes cleaning and adjusting by a professional can extend its lifecycle. And you can lengthen the life of a new copier by proactively addressing workplace copier jams, as we’ve discussed. But, over time, the workplace copier jams impact on productivity outweigh the cost of buying or leasing a new one. And that’s when it’s time to do a cost-benefit analysis and make an informed repair or replace decision.

Factsheet on Mobile Applications and Cybersecurity

by Felicien | Sep 17, 2019 | Education

FaceApp, the AI-powered photo editing app, went viral for quite a while until various experts expressed concerns about cybersecurity. In light of these concerns, we’ve put together a quick factsheet on mobile applications and cybersecurity.

Here are a few tried and true ways to protect yourself:

Download applications from trusted sources only and do your research before hitting install.
Keep your mobile phone’s operating system up-to-date at all times with the latest upgrades and patches.
Take a look at the application’s permissions and privacy policy before you decide to download.
Check out reviews online for each application you download to make sure there are no noted issues.
Update applications you’re using on a regular basis and delete those you’re not using anymore.
Look for warning signs, such as excessive permissions, pop-up ads, and in-app purchases.

As a last note for parents, make sure you’re checking what your children are downloading, or better yet, make sure they can’t download anything without your permission!