How to Avoid Getting Hacked: 3 Practical Steps

How to Avoid Getting Hacked: 3 Practical Steps

by | Oct 21, 2021 | Managed IT, Security

Halloween is just around the corner, and we want you to stay safe online and off. In addition, October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. We’ll look at 3 practical steps you can take to stay safe online in this post.

Cybercriminals today are primarily targeting individuals rather than breaking into systems in today’s technological landscape. To help you protect yourself from cyberattacks at home or at work, we’ll discuss the three best practices.

1) Phishing Scams

Phishing scams can be spotted and avoided by understanding how they work. Phishing occurs when hackers send fake emails to trick users into giving up personal information by making it appear as though the email is from a legitimate institution or company. You are prompted to click malicious links, download dangerous files, and log into fake websites using fake logos, addresses, and language from real companies. When you enter your credentials to log in, the criminal on the other end steals your username and password to breach your account. The CEO scam is another common tactic, where an email appears to arrive from a CEO or top executive asking for money transfers. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments that appear suspicious to combat scams that invade your inbox. It’s wise to think twice before transferring money or sensitive information via email and confirm that request with the sender over the phone or in person.

2) Password Discipline

To be connected online, a good password strategy is also essential. Many headlines in the media report on data breaches involving millions of accounts. There is a chance that some of this can be attributed to using the same simple passwords on different accounts. The good news is there are tools like LastPass and Dashlane that will generate complex passwords for your various accounts and store them in one place. A modern password management strategy would not be complete without Two-Factor Authentication. With 2FA, an extra layer of security is created by verifying your login via a text message or application prompt on your smartphone. Two-factor authentication minimizes security breaches by 90%.

3) Phone Scams

In addition, cybercriminals target smartphones. A hacker will contact you on your mobile device, posing as CRA or a law enforcement agency, in the hopes of coercing you into paying back taxes. Here, you should take the same precautions you use against phishing emails, so never provide sensitive information or send money.

Essentially, sound cybersecurity is about recognizing phishing emails, managing your passwords effectively, and being able to identify when you’re getting a call from a scammer. Keep these three points in mind to keep yourself safe anywhere!

Introduction to Data Migration

Introduction to Data Migration

by | Jun 4, 2021 | Cloud Solutions

Data is more crucial now than ever before and the use of big data is no longer limited to large corporations.  These days big data drive most businesses, small and large, and data never sleeps. Therefore, data integration and data migration must be a well-established, seamless process.

The process of transferring information from one place to the next, one format to another, or one platform to another is known as data migration. This is usually the outcome of adding a new data system or location. Application migration or consolidation, in which older systems are replaced or supplemented by modern innovations that access a certain database, is generally the company’s business. Data migrations are becoming more common these days as companies migrate from on-premises technologies and services to cloud-based storage and apps to improve or change their businesses.

Why is Data Migration considered complex and dangerous?

“Data gravity” is the simple answer. Although the notion of data gravity has been around for a while, it is becoming increasingly important as data migration to cloud infrastructures become more common.

The major problem is that every application makes data administration more difficult by inserting application programs into the data management tier, and each one is unconcerned about the next data use case. Data is used in isolation by enterprise applications, which then output their forms, allowing integration to the next step. As a result, prototype models, data management, and business systems must all interact, yet one of the teams is frequently unable or incapable of adapting. As a result, system administrators are forced to deviate from ideal and straightforward operations, resulting in inferior designs.

When and why should you move your data?

There are many factors impacting why your company’s data might need to be moved from one destination to the next. Data migrations are usually categorized into three parts:

Storage Migration: This is the process of migrating data through one centralized database to a better, current one with advanced features and integrated tools.

Cloud Migration: Migrating data from a physical data center to a cloud-based storage solution is known as cloud migration. The classifications of storage and cloud migrations have merged slightly with the emergence of cloud-based database solutions.

Application Migration: This is the process of migrating an application (and its data) from one technological place to another. This category is quite broad, encompassing migrations of the entire program to or between clouds, as well as transferring merely the software’s system to a different version hosted abroad.

What is the best way to get started?

A sloppy data transfer procedure puts far too much at risk to warrant saving time or resources by doing it yourself. If your company has experienced in-house tech staff, they may be able to handle the move on their own. Otherwise, seek the assistance of a professional.

To ensure that data flows smoothly from your portal to its integrated database and back again as needed, thorough setup and smart data design are required.

Conclusion:

Regardless of why you need to start a data migration project, or how complicated or simple it is, it is critical to recognize the consequences of a badly planned or handled transfer. Data loss or theft may be devastating, particularly for small and emerging enterprises. If your company’s need for data migration is approaching, or if you believe it’s time to improve your technology, keep researching and learning as much as you can.

Why are SMEs in need of IT Service Specialists?

Why are SMEs in need of IT Service Specialists?

by | May 26, 2021 | Devices, IT Consulting, Managed IT

 Entrepreneurs are frequently do-it-yourself types who desire to be engaged across every area of their activities, from selecting the sort of copy machine for the training room to reporting their annual revenue statistics. It is not simple to identify the best technology for a small business and get the system up and running promptly.

Delegating responsibilities to workers or outside contractors is tough for many small businesses. Even though delegation is an essential skill for small business success, many entrepreneurs tend to handle everything themselves.

Having a small business takes on so much responsibility and ability, that, as the company expands, some level of support and division of labor becomes crucial in order to make the company successful. Contracting services, however, can be useful for small business owners who spend most of their time on non-core operations. 

During the early months or years of business, financial constraints typically force startup entrepreneurs to be jacks of all crafts. Many demands are best met by specialists in the subject as organizations develop and earnings rise.

Small businesses who can’t afford full-time staff all year, require a third party to solve a problem, or want an expert to provide advice and strategy might benefit from a consultant.

A small business contractor might help create a company plan, marketing strategy, or public relations campaign. Accounting, operations, human resources, management, marketing, and public relations are some of the areas in which they might specialize.

Services in Information Technology (IT)

As new technology influences devices or software systems daily, IT is one of the most swiftly changing industries in business.

  • Electronics for use at home
  • Solutions for cloud computing
  • POS (point-of-sale) devices
  • Media platforms networks and company websites
  • Word processing, spreadsheets, and other similar programs are available.

An IT consultant is advised unless your company is in the information technology area or you are otherwise capable of managing physical devices and resolving software difficulties.

An IT consultant can undertake a variety of tasks in addition to upgrading technology and operating systems, such as:

  • Ensure that critical corporate data is backed up in the event of a disaster
  • Providing support on hardware and software systems
  • Providing guidance on technological advancements and techniques for integrating technology into your organization to higher productivity.

Successful marketing is critical for recruiting and maintaining consumers, which is the most important demand for most organizations, especially startups.

Unfortunately, marketing requires a high level of expertise, and while many small and medium enterprises excel at supplying products and/or services to their consumers, they are typically inept at marketing and cannot afford full-time salesmen.

Marketing consultants can help your organization develop and execute plans based on your corporation’s function regarding the competitors, your general business goals, your products or services, your target customers or clients.

It has never been simple to build a company. You’ll need to figure out what kind of service or product you’ll provide, who your target market will be, and when the best moment is to begin. Many reasons are given by entrepreneurs for beginning their enterprises, including dissatisfaction with their existing employment, a need for a creative outlet, or simply a desire for more money. Whatever propels you, the timing and purpose for establishing the business and approaching the right consulting firm for the firm growth and productivity.

Benefits of Using Web Design Services for SMEs

Benefits of Using Web Design Services for SMEs

by | May 17, 2021 | Managed IT

A new corporate website design is one of the best ways to ensure your business remains competitive. Customer conversions are the ultimate goal when building a website for your business. A better design leads to more conversions, and once you have that, you can grow your business.

There are many ways to optimize the conversion performance of your site, but all of them are dependent on web design in some way. This includes elements such as calls to action, usability, and site appearance.

Increasing Conversions Via Web Design:

Website pages can include these elements and more to improve conversions. Each element is part of the website development process and when used correctly can help drive visitors into the marketing funnel and convert them to subscribers.

The information above can only serve as general guidance. So, how can you use web design to increase conversion rates for your SME?

Simple Navigation:

For any business, easy navigation is key. Most of the time, a basic header toolbar with links to your most popular sites will work. You will classify certain websites, which aids users in determining where to find the information they need.

Color:

It is a good idea to use a variety of colors in your SMEs website development to create a visually appealing design that appeals to the target audience. Be sure to consider what you want your company to portray to consumers before you begin designing your color scheme.

Call To Action:

It is crucial for a business’s online success that it has a clear call to action. These tell visitors what they must do next to finish the conversion process. Call to action work best on price pages, interaction pages, or other conversion-oriented areas of your website.

A Call to Action is usually just a few paragraphs long and includes actionable verbs to encourage readers to take action. You can make your CTAs more effective by emphasizing them on your website with contrasting colors, tabs, and other eye-catching elements.

Attract More Clients:

The ability of your company to attract new customers is crucial for its long-term survival. Using conventional marketing techniques like direct mail or print ads can be expensive and inefficient. By going online you can reach more people and pay less for exposure. Additionally, you can monitor the effects on individual customers. 

It is not just about attracting new clients, you can also use your website to serve your existing customers. The opportunity to update company records on the internet increases consumer communication while freeing up resources to work on more important business issues. You may also use a branded email to drive traffic back to your on and offline pages and improve customer satisfaction.

Conclusion:

In addition to providing small businesses with a platform for advertising and marketing, a website helps separate them from their competitors, which is crucial for consumers who rely heavily on digital content to find out everything they can about a brand. As a result, a website is one of the most valuable business tools for disseminating content, establishing a reputation, and standing out in a competitive market.

 Many SMEs strive to expand market share, finding new clients while maintaining their existing ones. Face to face interactions and word-of-mouth are both essential, but a website allows you to reach a wide range of people online.

Network Monitoring

Network Monitoring

by | Apr 21, 2021 | Managed IT

The word “network monitoring” is now widely used in the IT industry. Network monitoring is a vital IT process that involves continuous monitoring and evaluating all networking components such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and virtual machines (VMs) for faults in order to optimize their availability. According to one critical aspect, it should be constructive, by proactively detecting performance issues and bottlenecks aids in the early detection of issues. Network disruptions can be avoided with effective constructive management.

With the assistance of network monitoring software and network monitor tools, the system of network monitoring and management is streamlined and automated. A network monitor system is needed to address network abstraction layers and performance issues that could compromise network performance.

Keeping an Eye on the Basics

Network output is impacted by faulty network equipment. This can be avoided by early detection, which is why continuous network and system monitoring is critical. The first step in successful network monitoring is to recognize the devices and performance indicators that need to be tracked.

A broad variety of network monitoring devices and network monitoring solutions are available in the market because of the sudden surge in industrial network monitoring and virtual network monitoring. A built-in network monitor tool in an efficient network management system can help administrators simplify troubleshooting techniques.

Conclusion:

Network monitoring has become a crucial part of handling every IT infrastructure, especially small and medium enterprises. Similarly, a network assessment, facilitated by a network monitoring program, is considered an essential step in aligning your IT infrastructure with your business goals. Learn how to conduct a network assessment to detect security risks and efficiency bottlenecks by executing advanced network quality metrics to rapidly address network problems by locating the source of the issue. Get innovative actionable insights, including the ability to schedule and email or post reports dynamically.

 

Stay in the Loop!