Brush Up on Cyber Shopping Security Before the Holiday Blitz

Why are we talking about online shopping security now?

The holidays are still weeks away!

Well, if you don’t know how to stay safe now, then your holiday could be ruined by a hacker. Online shopping happens year-round, but we all know it ramps up come November and December. Whether you’re shopping from home or work (yeah, we know you do it!), it can be dangerous.

Scammers send you emails that look like Amazon shipping notices. They also dangle attractive ads with low prices to get your click. One click is all it takes to lose thousands of dollars to a cybercriminal. Brush up on these cyber shopping security tips before you’re rushing to score that Star Wars Lego set or PS5 and click a phishing link by mistake. Holiday-themed cyberattacks skyrocketed last year! And it’s bound to get worse in 2022.

Here are a few tips to keep you safe while shopping online:

·         Visit websites directly rather than through a link

·         Be wary of emails & social media ads promising deep discounts

·         Use a DNS filter to block malicious websites

·         Delete your credit card details right after you check out

·         Use PayPal or wallet sites to pay when possible

·         Do not shop online on an unsecured or public network

Need some help better securing your network from malicious online threats? 

Click to Call or Email us today to schedule a meeting to discuss your current and future technology needs.

Keep Those VOIP Phones Off Your Main Network

One of the less common, but well-known, attack vectors for companies are the VOIP phones. Yes, that thing sitting on your employees’ desks can be used to infiltrate your network. If intruders can get past your gateway and firewall (you DO have at least one firewall, right?!) then it is possible to attack any device that is plugged into your network whether it’s via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi. One of the ways they can hide and record your operations is by breaching and installing their software on your VOIP phones.

Once they have something installed on a phone, they can secure an easy way in and around your network. They can also use these devices as a springboard to attack other workstations, servers, or appliances. Did you know your two-factor authentication you use when connecting to QuickBooks Online is now easily bypassed? As of this year, it’s a pretty common practice amongst digital thieves, but the first thing they need in order to start the silent mayhem is access to the inside of your network. Keep them out by segmenting your phone system away from the rest of your network. Install firewalls between departments, phones, and wireless access points, not just the Internet. Assume any device on your network could be compromised and you’re one step closer to ensuring your business stays alive for the long haul as these new times of dramatically increased small business hacking craziness continues.

Click to Call or Email us today to schedule a meeting to discuss your company’s Cybersecurity needs before it’s too late.

Navigating the Challenges of Remote Work Ethics

Remote collaboration tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams have been a lifeline for many businesses during the pandemic. These tools have enabled companies to pivot and continue to compete, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. One of the key benefits of these tools is that they allow remote workers to work while at home, which can be a great advantage in difficult times.

However, the shift to remote work also brought new challenges, one of which is work ethics. When employees are left to their own devices, it can quickly become apparent who is dependable enough to work at home and who probably needs to be let go. However, it’s not quite so black and white. There’s a grey area of remote workers who are capable of performing well at home, but might be stifled by distraction, burnout, or isolation. To mitigate this, businesses owners and managers can use efficient communication, work-life balance, and team building strategies. Tools like Monday.com and Microsoft Teams can help facilitate collaboration and clear up communication noise, while encouraging employees to take breaks and fostering a sense of connection can help prevent burnout and isolation. Additionally, setting clear expectations and providing regular feedback can help ensure that remote workers stay on track and remain productive.

Culture is everything at a company. It doesn’t matter if you have every other aspect figured out. If the people who work for you aren’t happy or are burnt out, their productivity will plummet. If you need some help getting remote workers set up and on track, click to Call or Email us today to schedule a meeting to discuss your situation.

Who Knows More About Your Business?

Don’t have an IT department or provider? Not sure where to begin when auditing your business workflow process? How do you identify productivity issues with technology? Ask your staff.

Your staff has to work with the technology decisions you put into place. With an honest, open environment of communication, you’ll get the best input from the people who work hard every day to put the money in your company’s pocket. Some of the common questions you might ask are:

1. Is there anything that’s taking a long time to enter into the system?

2. Are there multiple steps or apps needed just to do one job?

3. Do the computers work reliably?

4. Are there seemingly unnecessarily repetitive tasks occurring every day?

You know, one of the things we do is grill everyone in the company for their opinions on how things are done and how they might be done better. While not every idea is practical, the input from the people in the trenches is priceless. This kind of information is something we use to start side research projects to look for ways of automating mundane tasks and streamlining workflow performance.

Click to Call or Email us today to schedule a meeting to discuss your current and future technology needs.

Have You Secured Your Printers?

One of the lesser-known attack vectors in a small or medium-sized company are the printers. While less common, they’re still important enough to stay on top of when it comes to cybersecurity. Why? Simple!

A modern printer, from the large copiers to the smaller office units, are complex enough to be considered a standalone computer in their own right. They have firmware, an operating system, extra memory, networking capability, wireless radios… and if you’re printing confidential information, they have an interceptable electronic copy of everything as you print it.

Just like any other electronic device, there could exist a number of known exploits that hackers can use to “jump into” the device and set up shop. Besides being able to get copies of everything your company prints, many of the newer printers are sophisticated enough that their OS can be modified and allow an intruder to launch new attacks over your network from the printer, itself. Attacks that can be tooled for breaking into your Windows workstations or servers. And we all know where that will eventually lead to!

So what do you do? Well, one of the simplest things that can be done is to check in with the printer manufacturer’s support website periodically. When they become aware of new exploits, many of these companies will release patched firmware for the printers. Download and install the latest firmware and drivers to help keep your printers secure.

There’s a number of other applicable security facets that are beyond the scope of this blog, but if you’re needing additional help getting your business secured against peripheral intrusion, click to Call or Email us today to schedule a meeting.