IT Articles
IT Articles
IT Articles
Effective September 1, 2023, the NCUA will require all federally insured credit unions to notify the NCUA as soon as possible, within 72 hours after a reportable cyber incident has occurred. “Each of us in the financial system has an obligation to protect our nation’s economic and financial infrastructure. And, credit unions must be included in conversations about critical infrastructure, as a whole. This final rule will facilitate such dialogue,” Chairman Todd M. Harper said. “Through these high-level early warning notifications, the NCUA will be able to work with other agencies and the private…
When using mobile devices to accomplish work tasks, consider implementing the following five overlooked security measures. Implement a mobile device policy. This is particularly important if your employees are using their own personal devices to access company e-mail and data. If that employee leaves, are you allowed to erase company data from their phone? If their phone is lost or stolen, are you permitted to remotely wipe the device – which would delete all of that employee’s photos, videos, texts, etc. – to ensure YOUR clients’ information isn’t compromised? Further, if the data in…
Firewalls are a network security device that when properly implemented will monitor all incoming and outgoing network traffic and will allow or deny data packets to enter your network based on your organization’s predetermined set of security rules. A firewall will establish a barrier between your internal network and external traffic sources. This critical form of security blocks malicious traffic, viruses, and potential hacking attempts. What Does a Firewall Do? Firewalls use predetermined security rules to analyze incoming traffic and will filter traffic from any suspicious or unsecured sources. The firewall acts as a…
A large-scale ransomware attack led the Colonial Pipeline to shut down its 5,500-mile gasoline pipeline. The pipeline is one of the largest conduits for gasoline in the country; it funnels nearly half of the gasoline used by the entire East Coast. This hack illuminates the reality that no industry, business, or organization is safe from ransomware attacks. What do we know about the cyberattack? Colonial Pipeline’s operator suffered what is believed to be one of the largest cyber attacks on the oil infrastructure in United States’ history. Ransomware attacks are performed when hackers take…
Did you know 91% of all data breaches begin with a phishing email? Phished and spoofed email messages are designed to trick you into clicking on a malicious link or attachment or revealing private information and passwords. The messages appear to be from known senders. Senders can spoof their email address to trick you into thinking the email was sent from someone you know or a brand or vendor you commonly work with. Phishing emails often bypass the spam filter because the body of the message does not contain malicious software and the sending…
Cybersecurity continues to occupy a prominent spot in companies’ priority lists. As such, companies commit substantial amounts of money to bolster cyber defenses. Norton’s 2019 data breach report revealed that bad actors breached 4.1 billion records in the first half of the year. Breaches can lead to significant reputational damage and financial losses. Hence, information security is a critical concern for organizations irrespective of whether they outsource IT functions or handle them internally. Thankfully, organizations can mitigate the risks by hiring a managed IT service provider with a SOC 2 Type 1 and Type…
In the early 20th century, if a crook wanted money, they’d rob a bank or steal a woman’s purse on the street. Real masterminds might devise an elaborate heist to hold up a Brink’s truck or befriend a millionaire, then make off with their riches. Today, these crooks look much different. That’s because an increasing number of them are not out on the street taking gold, jewelry, and cash. They’re sitting behind desks, somewhere in an unknown room where they will probably never be found, hacking your data. Why data? If you didn’t realize…
To defend against the devastation of cyberattacks, small- to medium-sized businesses must deploy a strategy that includes three critial components. If your cybersecurity is one-dimensional, it’s not cybersecurity. Threats to your data come from every direction, all the time. When companies devise brilliant new cyber-defenses, hackers come up with new cyber-weapons in about 3 minutes. They are endlessly innovative. Effective cyber-security must address every tool and technique in the hacker toolbox. 60% of SMBs fail within 6 months of a cyberattack. Most businesses underestimate their risk, with 82% of owners claiming they are not…
What would happen if all the files in your healthcare system were suddenly inaccessible? This might sound like an unlikely scenario, but it’s really not; a ransomware attack can hold your sensitive files hostage indefinitely. And healthcare organizations are extremely vulnerable to these types of malware attacks. Last year, estimated losses from ransomware in healthcare totaled a staggering $25 billion, and every year, these attacks affect more than 4 million patient records. You need to invest in good ransomware protection in order to comply with HIPAA regulations and safeguard patient data. Here’s everything you…
The Situation Ransomware is now one of the top security concerns for businesses and organizations of all sizes. The City of Atlanta was hit with a ransomware attack called SamSam in March, crippling some important departments like their court system, sewer infrastructure requests, and water billing department. The attackers who deploy SamSam are known for clever, high-yield approaches. This, combined with the City’s lack of preparedness, explains why the infection was so debilitating. Experts are telling us that SamSam will strike again. Unlike many forms of ransomware that spread via phishing attacks where individuals…
W-2 Phishing season is about to begin – without the right IT security services, your business will be left vulnerable. You and I know that effective communication with co-workers and clients is crucial, but are you sure your employees are practicing safe email and messaging conduct? If you don’t already have the best technical security services, your answer is probably, “I’m not sure”, right? Cybercriminals are smart – they adapt quickly and continually come up with new ways to take advantage of businesses like yours. A popular tactic among hackers today is “phishing”, a method in which…
Partnering with an IT Managed Service Provider can offer business owners a way to limit risks and increase productivity. Running a business is hard work, but thankfully there are a lot of tools that can help make it less burdensome. Managed Service Providers are an IT service provider that manages and assumes responsibility for delivering a defined set of services. In short, Managed Services Providers give businesses back their staff that would have otherwise been tied up in time-consuming IT projects. A Brief History of Managed Services Providers Amazon Web Services broke into the…
