5 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

Discover what steps to take to improve cybersecurity controls and manage complexity. Read More…

Are there any simple cybersecurity rules you live by—e.g., not opening attachments from unknown senders—that you think significantly mitigate #cyberrisk?

Make the Switch to the New Teams

The new Microsoft Teams was reimagined from the ground up for a faster, simpler and more flexible experience. See why it’s the perfect collaboration app for your hybrid workforce in this informative video showing how it’s made connecting with colleagues simpler and faster.

6 simple cybersecurity rules to live by

How do you train others to avoid being victims of online crime? It’s all about human behavior. Read More…

Identify your biggest security gaps—free consultation

If you’re using ChatGPT or another relatively new AI powered tool, you’re a prime target for cybercriminals eager to exploit the new tech’s security gaps. To determine what you can do about it, schedule a free consultation with one of our experts. View: Identify your biggest security gaps—free consultation

These 7 AI Trends Are Sweeping the Cybersecurity Realm

Relentless digital innovation has defined the last few years. The symbiotic relationship between AI and cybersecurity has become pivotal especially when it comes to safeguarding sensitive information and digital assets. As cyber threats evolve in complexity, AI has emerged as a formidable ally. It empowers organizations with advanced tools and techniques. Helping them to stay one step ahead of malicious actors. In this exploration, we delve into cutting-edge AI trends. The trends that are reshaping the cybersecurity realm as well as fortifying defenses against an ever-expanding array of cyber threats. The Rise of AI in Cybersecurity As cyber threats grow in sophistication, traditional measures face challenges in keeping pace. This is where AI steps in. It offers a dynamic and adaptive approach to cybersecurity. Machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and other AI technologies analyze vast datasets. They do this at unprecedented speeds. They identify patterns and anomalies that might elude human detection. 58% of security professionals expect a completely new set of cyber risks in the coming years. The integration of AI in cybersecurity doesn’t replace human expertise. It enhances it. This allows security professionals to focus on strategic decision-making. All while AI handles the heavy lifting of data analysis and threat detection. AI Trends Sweeping the Cybersecurity Realm 1. Predictive Threat Intelligence AI is revolutionizing threat intelligence by enabling predictive capabilities. Machine learning algorithms analyze historical data, current threats, and emerging patterns. It does this to predict potential future cyber threats. This proactive approach allows organizations to put in place preemptive measures as well as close vulnerabilities before hackers exploit them. 2. Behavioral Analytics Traditional signature-based approaches struggle to keep up with zero-day attacks as well as advanced “smart phishing.” But AI-driven behavioral analytics take a different approach. They focus on understanding the normal behavior of systems and users. Deviations from these patterns trigger alerts. This helps in identifying potential threats. Identification is based on anomalous activities rather than known signatures. 3. Autonomous Security Systems The concept of autonomous security systems, empowered by AI, is gaining prominence. These systems can automatically detect, analyze, and respond to cyber threats in real-time. This minimizes response times and reduces the impact of security incidents. The ability to automate routine security tasks enhances efficiency. It also allows human experts to focus on strategic aspects of cybersecurity. 4. Explainable AI (XAI) AI plays an increasingly critical role in cybersecurity decision-making. This makes the need for transparency paramount. Explainable AI (XAI) addresses this concern. It provides insights into how AI algorithms reach specific conclusions. This enhances trust in AI-driven cybersecurity. It also helps security professionals understand the decisions made by AI systems. 5. Cloud Security Augmentation With the proliferation of cloud services, securing cloud environments has become a priority. AI is being leveraged to enhance cloud security. A few ways that it does this is by: Monitoring activities Detecting anomalies Responding to threats in cloud-based infrastructures The dynamic nature of cloud environments requires adaptive security measures. This makes AI a natural fit for bolstering cloud security. 6. Deception Technology Deception technology involves creating decoy assets within an organization’s network to mislead attackers. Companies are now integrating AI into deception technology to make decoys more convincing as well as more responsive to attackers’ behavior. This helps in early threat detection. It also provides valuable insights into attacker tactics and techniques. 7. Zero Trust Architecture Zero Trust Architecture, supported by AI, challenges the traditional security model. Where systems trust entities inside and distrust entities outside the network. AI-driven continuous authentication and monitoring ensure that trust is never assumed. It dynamically adapts access privileges. It does this based on real-time assessments of user behavior and risk factors. Embracing the Future of Cybersecurity with AI As the threat landscape evolves, the incorporation of AI in cybersecurity is important. It’s not just a strategic choice, it’s a necessity. These AI trends mark a paradigm shift. They are enabling organizations to build more resilient and adaptive cybersecurity frameworks. It’s important to stay informed and embrace the transformative power of AI. This helps businesses navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. And do it with confidence, fortifying defenses against emerging threats. AI stands as a beacon of innovation. It continually pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of cybersecurity. The symbiotic relationship between human expertise and AI-driven capabilities is vital. It will shape the future of data security. Helping ensure a safer digital landscape for businesses and individuals alike. Schedule a Cybersecurity Upgrade Assessment How strong are your digital defenses against sophisticated threats? The bad guys are also using AI. This means more dangerous phishing and network attacks. Need some help assessing your strength? Sign up for a cybersecurity assessment and shed light on your capabilities. We can help you incorporate AI-based protection and fortify your network from attacks. Give us a call today to schedule a chat. —Featured Image Credit This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

9 Signs That Your Smart Home Device Has Been Hacked

Smart home devices are becoming more popular and convenient. But they also pose some serious security risks. Hackers can target these devices to access your personal information. As well as spy on your activities or cause damage to your home. Often the dangers of smart home devices fall under the radar. Seventy-five percent of people feel some level of distrust about the use of their data. Yet most people are willing to use smart home technology. As we enjoy the convenience of smart living, it’s crucial to be vigilant about cyber threats. A hacker may have compromised your smart system without you even knowing it. How can you tell if a hacker has compromised your smart home device? Here are some signs to look out for. 1. Unexpected Behavior Unexpected behavior is the first sign someone has compromised your smart home device. If your device starts acting erratically, it’s time to investigate. Erratic behavior can include: Lights flickering Thermostat settings changing Smart locks behaving unpredictably Hackers often manipulate smart devices to create disturbances. Noticing these irregularities early can prevent further damage. 2. Unusual Network Traffic Monitoring your home network is a fundamental aspect of cybersecurity. Have you observed a sudden surge in data usage? Noticed unusual patterns in network traffic? If so, this could indicate unauthorized access. Hackers may exploit your smart devices to launch attacks or steal sensitive information. Regularly check your router’s activity logs. This helps you stay vigilant against abnormal network behavior. 3. Strange Sounds or Voices Smart speakers and voice-activated assistants have become commonplace in many households. If you start hearing unfamiliar voices or strange sounds from these devices, it’s a red flag. Hackers may use compromised devices to eavesdrop or communicate with household members. This poses serious privacy concerns. Ensure that your smart devices are only responding to authorized voices. 4. Device Settings Modification Smart devices offer customizable settings to cater to individual preferences. Have you noticed unauthorized changes to these settings? Such as alterations in camera angles, sensor sensitivity, or device preferences? If so, there’s a high likelihood that a hacker has compromised your device. Regularly review and update your device settings. This helps you maintain control over your smart home ecosystem. 5. Unexplained Data Transfers Smart devices often collect and send data to the cloud for analysis or storage. Keep an eye on your device’s data usage. Be wary of unexplained data transfers. Hackers may exploit vulnerabilities to extract sensitive information from your devices. Regularly review the data usage patterns of your smart devices. This helps you to identify any suspicious activity. 6. Device Inaccessibility Suddenly finding yourself locked out of your smart home devices could be a sign of hacking. Hackers may change passwords or enable two-factor authentication without your consent. They can take control of your accounts. This renders you unable to access or manage your devices. Always act promptly to regain control. Secure your accounts if you suspect unauthorized access. 7. New or Unknown Devices on the Network Regularly review the list of devices connected to your home network. Do you spot unfamiliar or unauthorized devices? If so, it’s a clear sign that someone may have breached your network. Hackers often connect to your network. They do this to exploit vulnerabilities in smart devices or launch attacks. Secure your network with strong passwords. Also, consider implementing network segmentation for added protection. 8. Frequent Software Glitches Smart devices receive regular software updates. These updates patch vulnerabilities and enhance security. Have you noticed frequent software glitches? Or has your device failed to update? It could be a sign of interferenceby a malicious actor. Ensure that your smart devices are running the latest firmware. This ensures it has the latest security patches and bug fixes installed. 9. Emails or Messages Confirming Changes You Didn’t Make Some smart devices send notifications or emails to confirm changes such as changes in settings, passwords, or device access. Did you receive such confirmations for actions you didn’t take? If so, this is a clear sign of unauthorized access. Take immediate action to secure your account. This includes changing passwords and reviewing access permissions. Need Help Securing Your Smart Home & Peace of Mind? As our homes become smarter, so must our approach to cybersecurity. The first step in safeguarding your digital domain is recognizing signs. The signs that a hacker has compromised your smart home device. Remember, smart home devices can make your life easier and more comfortable. But they also need careful maintenance and protection. Need some guidance? We can help you ensure that your smart home remains a secure haven of innovation. Instead of a vulnerable target for cyber threats. Contact us today to schedule a smart home security consultation. —Featured Image Credit This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

Understanding Google Analytics

In today’s competitive business world, it’s imperative that you have a thorough understanding of who your visitors are and what are their expectations. If you’re looking for a powerful analytical tool for your company’s website, Google Analytics one of the best options in the market. Yet trying to understand Google Analytics and its strategic use can make your head spin. If you’re just starting out, here’s an overview of Google Analytics and its key metrics that are noteworthy. What exactly is Google Analytics? Google Analytics is a free website analytic product offered by Google. It is an application that collates visitor data from your website and provides basic statistics and analytical tools for search engine optimization (SEO). The data is used to generate reports that give you insights as to how your visitors are engaging with your website. With Google Analytics, you can analyze your traffic to discover whether your target market is finding your website, how they’re finding it, and if they’re taking the actions you expect them to take while on your site. By tracking and analyzing your traffic you can increase the engagement and enhance your marketing strategies. Google Analytics’ Key Metrics Navigating Google Analytics can be mind-numbing, since you are likely to get lost in its many features, variables, and settings. Check out these basic key metrics that will help you analyze your website traffic. Unique Visitors Most people tend to confuse this metric with “Visits”. The Unique Visitors metric can give you an accurate number as to how much real traffic you receive on a daily basis because, unlike the Visits metric, it doesn’t solely rely on cookies to count. This means any of your visitors would be counted once, even if they cleared their computer of cookies. Pageviews The Pageviews metric should increase in direct proportion to the numbers shown in Unique Visitors. This metric represents how deep your unique visitors go into your website pages. If the percentage is low, your content may not be engaging enough to encourage visitors to explore the your website further than the home or landing page. Bounce Rate The Bounce Rate metric will tell you the percentage of visitors who left your website after viewing only one page. High bounce rates can mean that your website is not appealing to visitors in certain aspects such as the design, content, navigation, and so on. Tracking your website’s bounce rate will quickly help you identify things that are not working well on your website, so you can fix the problem accordingly and ensure you grab visitors’ attention from the first click. Traffic Sources This metric shows which sources drive the most and least traffic to your website. Generally there are four types of metrics: Referral, Direct, Organic Search, and Social. Referral traffic – These visitors found your site via your off-page marketing efforts, such as backlinks and blog articles on other websites. Direct traffic – These visitors are highly targeted, since they type your URL directly into their web browser. Organic search – These visitors discover your site after searching a keyword in a search engine, usually from Google. Social traffic – These visitors came from social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These are the metrics that matter to tracking your website’s visitors. They consist of basic numbers that are easy to understand and interpret. Once you get a handle of these metrics, you can make your way to more advanced metrics that provider deeper level and more accurate insight. For more tips on how to utilize your business data with Google Analytics, contact our specialists today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Keep the lights on and your business running

There is nothing worse than having a productive day at the office become undone due to a power outage. Losing power for even a single minute can have far reaching effects on your company’s operations as you need to make sure everything is running properly and all data is accounted for. While power outages can be a nuisance, with proper preparation you’ll have no trouble in persevering when the lights go off. Power outages are one of the only disasters that can strike just about anywhere in the United States. If you are in Seattle chances are tropical storms are not going to be an issue and if you’re in Miami you aren’t going to fret over a blizzard, but losing power can occur anywhere, at any time and without warning. A Department of Energy report noted that power outages cost American businesses nearly $150 billion in 2014 and added that increasing demand for energy coupled with an aging infrastructure could see the number of blackouts increase. While weather-related events are the most common cause of power outages in the U.S., it is far from the only thing that can disrupt energy service. Since this is a problem that will continue to plague businesses, especially those ones that are unprepared, it’s important to be ready should a blackout strike. Here are a few things you should consider when it comes to power outages. Power outages hurt in more ways than you think The most notable issue a business faces when a power outage occurs is an inability to work. Employees often times sit around unable to do anything until the power is turned back on. Once the power does return, additional time is needed to safely turn everything back on and to check if all your files are still there. There are also numerous indirect consequences that your business may face either during or after a power outage. These include a loss of revenue from potential sales, a decrease in customer satisfaction and a drop in your company’s reputation. The more your company is prepared for a power outage, the better continuity you will see and the less damage will be done. While it may be impossible to completely avoid issues caused by blackouts, you can minimize their impact. Be ready in case of an outage One of the biggest sources of frustration for employees during a blackout is losing files they had been working on. Autosave features do help prevent this but sometimes you’ll still lose that one important note or sentence you didn’t have the chance to save. Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are one way to buy your employees a little extra time should the power go out. You’re able to plug your computer into these devices and they will operate as a battery when the power goes out. The life of these power stations is anywhere from ten minutes to an hour for some models which should give you enough time to save your work and properly shutdown your computer. If you want to stay in business during a power outage, a standby commercial generator can help. These normally run on propane or natural gas and immediately switch on as soon as your main power supply goes out. If you aren’t concerned about the lights but want to keep your employees productive, equipping them 4G enabled devices with Office 365 or Google Apps will let them continue to work on files that have been saved and stored on the cloud. Always test your outage plans Regardless of what your company’s plans are during a power outage, you will need to test them on a regular basis to ensure everything runs smoothly when the real thing does happen. If you utilize a UPS or standby generator, you will want to test these out every six months at the very least to make sure they function properly. If your business has special plans for what employees need to do during a power outage, you should run a practice drill on a yearly basis to ensure everyone is up to speed on their duties. They key to business continuity is preparation. Let our team of experts help prepare your business for anything thrown its way in 2016 and beyond. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Interruption insurance for businesses

Natural disasters have increased exponentially in the last few years – something that has resulted in a number of small and medium-sized business owners turning to business interruption insurance for protection. Covering many scenarios that regular business insurance simply ignores, adequate protection can be the make-or-break factor when it comes to surviving a natural or manmade catastrophe. So why do small and medium-sized organizations tend to forego business interruption insurance policies? Chances are it, like so many things, comes down to cost. But can you really afford to ignore the additional protection that interruption insurance offers, or is it safe to cut corners and hope that your regular business insurance will have you covered in the event of a disaster? While an interruption insurance policy may cost you anywhere from $750 to $10,000 or more (the cost is normally dependent on the size of your business), the fact is that your standard insurance policy will not cover you completely when a catastrophe strikes. Take for example the spate of superstorms that have ravaged the United States over the past decade. From Hurricane Katrina to the more recent Sandy, small businesses and enterprises throughout the US have been left devastated after feeling the wrath of Mother Nature. While a best-case scenario may entail losing a few days sales during a power outage, at the other end of the scale you could find yourself dealing with a destroyed warehouse, an office that no longer has a roof, or thousands of dollars worth of stock destroyed by flooding. And the reality is that your regular insurance is probably not going to reimburse you for storage or relocation costs if you need to move operations elsewhere, temporarily or otherwise. The majority of policies will only cover the loss of, or damage to, physical items like stock, equipment and property. They will usually not cover you for any loss in profit if a disaster means that you need to temporarily cease trading. On the other hand, tightly drawn up business interruption insurance should cover you in the event you need to move. It should also cover a decrease in sales due to power failures that shut your communication lines down, as well as a drop in profits due to delays in the delivery of stock or equipment. Think the chances of a natural disaster affecting you are still slim despite the scenes of chaos and devastation reported in the media? Consider that a recent survey conducted by insurance giant Allianz found that there are now typically 600 major incidents per year – compare that to the previous 400 per annum and it doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out that disasters are on the rise. So, as a small or medium-sized business owner, what do you need to know before you consider purchasing interruption insurance? If you’re thinking of adding interruption coverage to your existing policy, first record your current net income – but watch out because, if your net profit is high, you might be hit by a low per-incident limit. You could find your insurer has limited your coverage and left you inadequately protected. Is business booming? If you are undergoing rapid growth, keep records spanning many months so you have proof of revenue increase. Without this, you will not be able to forecast month-on-month profit growth and your insurer might cap coverage at the rate of the previous year’s profit, not at your accelerated one. Be aware, too, that the type of interruptions you want protection for should reflect the areas covered in your general business policy. If your existing policy doesn’t include coverage for fire damage, neither will your interruption insurance. There are many other aspects of an interruption policy to take into account – such as add-ons that protect you in the event of a power outage (something that standard policies normally don’t normally cover), and knock-on effects caused by a disaster at your supplier’s end. Once you have taken out interruption insurance, should you have to use it then the most important aspect for you will be getting reimbursed. Crucially, you need to be able to provide your insurer with as many details concerning profit loss as possible. Consider storing files electronically, either offsite or in the cloud. That way, if your office or store is destroyed, you’ll still have access to your documents – and a far greater chance of recovering your losses. If you’d like to learn more about protecting your data, files and documents, as well as about business continuity planning to help you get back up and running should disaster strike, please get in touch with our team today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Tips to add value to your blog

When listing your company’s assets, your blog probably doesn’t make the cut. Many businesses tend to ignore blogging – which is a real mistake these days. By putting time and resources into your blog, your can transform it from just another webpage to one of the most valuable things to your company’s growth. We’ve complied our own list of things you can do to make that happen. We’re not here to judge. However, if any one of these scenarios resembles the current state of your blog, it might be time to do something about it. We know you’re busy and that the last thing you want to do is write about your business but, with content that is carefully crafted and curated, your company will have an unique asset that can help lead your marketing, by establishing you as an expert in your field, and promote sales efforts by driving people to your website. You’re probably wondering where to begin. Well go ahead and reset the password for your WordPress or Tumblr account, because we have a few pointers to help you get started. Use your blog to build your brand identity For small and medium-sized businesses, it can be difficult to build a brand identity. You have your logo and colors, but what does your brand consist of beyond that? What is its personality, what characteristics does it have, and what is its tone? These are just a few of the questions you need to consider before you begin writing your blog posts, or having someone else write them for you, of course, which is a good option for busy business people. A blog that reflects the personality of your business helps to give you a brand identity in the minds of readers by letting them know just what your company is. A hardware store is most likely going to want the contents of its blog to be straightforward, reliable and no-nonsense, while a marketing company is likely to have a blog that shows off its creativity, playfulness and skill at design and wordplay. This is your chance to develop your company’s identity, and explore just how you wish to be perceived by online readers. Tip: Before starting to write posts for your blog, picture your business as a person, and write down what this person would say and how they would say it. This should be used as the foundation for each and every blog post. Create a strategy and schedule for your blog A clearly defined schedule and game plan for your blog will help make sure that once the ball starts rolling, it keeps rolling. Your goal from a scheduling perspective should be to have at least one new post a week. More is always better, but weekly posts will at least let both readers and Google know your site is still active. In terms of a blogging strategy, don’t feel like every post needs to be a second coming of The Odyssey. Sometimes all you need to do is come up with a quick tip, or share a video you think is useful to people visiting your website. Varying the the length and type of content featured on your blog is a good way to keep things fresh. Tip: At the start of each month, you should come up with blog topics and a deadline for each post. This should help make sure content is always going up on your blog. Lead and inform, but do not sell One of the biggest challenges for small and medium-sized businesses with a blog is to keep the content related to your company without putting on the hard sell. Realistically, the goal of your blog should be to point people in the direction of your business without pushing them into buying something. They should be able to reach that conclusion organically. Let’s use an auto parts store as an example. A blog on the quality of the windshield wipers it sells is unlikely to generate a lot of interest. That’s because it is not something that resonates with a lot of people. A post on the dangers of driving with old wiper blades, however, will help get readers more interested in investing in new blades. And the good news for them is that they can purchase new wiper blades right, without even having to leave your website. Tip: In addition to creating informational posts, don’t be afraid to add blog posts about your employees, especially if you do not have dedicated staff pages on your website. This can enable people get to know the names and faces behind your business, and help potential customers to feel more comfortable with your company as a whole. You made it to our blog, so there must be something to this whole blogging thing. Get in touch with us if you want to know more about how blogging, or any other technology-related tools, can help add value to your business. And of course, feel free to keep reading our blog while you’re here! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Tips for smart BI planning

Implementing Business Intelligence (BI) software and other tools can help your company grown by leaps and bounds. However, it has to be planned for with the proper level of diligence and care to truly be beneficial to your business. Haphazardly installing BI software can result in an expensive misstep that sees you fall behind the competition. But with well executed BI planning and implementation, your company can grow in ways never imagined. Quite a few business owners see other companies using BI software and tools successfully and hope to emulate those results. Unfortunately, BI goes far beyond installing a program on your employee’s computers and expecting them to churn out results because of it. In fact, without proper planning in place, you could end up losing money on your BI investment. If you’re ready to bring BI software and tools to your small or medium-sized business but aren’t quite sure what your should be looking for, here are four things you need to consider during the planning process. What data do you need to know BI software is great at helping you obtain data and presenting it to you in all kinds of different ways. But it’s only helpful if you can actually use the information. Too many businesses jump on the BI software bandwagon because they hear about the great results other companies have achieved using these tools. However, if you don’t know what information you’re looking for or how to use that data to your advantage, BI software essentially becomes a toy for you and your staff to play with. That’s why you need to fully understand what information and data your business needs before implementing any BI software. This will help you pick the best tool for your needs and then utilize it to great effect. Create specific goals When you are planning to implement BI software it is vital to have a specific endgame in mind. Increasing profits sounds great but it’s hard to utilize BI effectively when tackling a goal of that magnitude. Instead focus on performance metrics you can measure like higher closing rates or more online conversations. This will help make your planning easier and allow you to find the BI tools required to reach those goals as well as track your progress along the way. Think about today and the future It is important to not only think about BI software in correlation to your short term goals but your long term ones as well. You want to make sure your BI software is useful both now and in the future. Find something that can grow alongside your company over the long haul. You don’t want to constantly be changing or adding on to BI tools unless it is absolutely necessary. If possible, find BI solutions that are scalable and flexible so they can help over a longer period of time. Keep it simple Sometimes the desire to know more about your company can see you end up overloading your staff and employees with complex toolsets and data. The goal, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, should be data that is quickly accessible and easy to comprehend. This will allow you and your team to make speedy and informed decisions. Convoluting the process with unnecessary information or complicated process will only serve to negate what you are trying to do by installing BI software in the first place. BI tools and software are designed to help you work smarter, not harder. When you plan to bring them to your company, this is something you will want to keep at the forefront of your decision making process. If your company is looking to start utilizing BI tools, our team of experts can help. Together we can create a BI plan that works best for your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Blog Posts

Technology Blog posts and Articles for various IT topics, including; Cybersecurity, Data Backup & Recovery, Latest in WIFI technology & Server related software & hardware reviews and suggestions. Updated daily!

Includes: Practical IT tips, security updates, and managed services insights to help your business run smoother.