Travel Smart: Cybersecurity Practices For A Hack-Free Vacation

Travel Smart: Cybersecurity Practices For A Hack-Free Vacation

by | Jul 24, 2024 | Newsletter

Summer is a popular time for business owners and employees to step out of the office and take a well-deserved vacation. Even if their “out of office” e-mail responder is active, many people will periodically check in on work at least once while traveling. Unfortunately, studies show that working outside of the office – whether it’s a few simple check-ins on vacation, connecting to the Internet at a local coffee shop or even business travelers out on work trips – can lead to major cybersecurity issues. If you or your employees will be answering urgent e-mails from the airport or accessing network documents in the hotel lobby, it’s essential to maintain strong cybersecurity best practices to avoid exposing the company’s network to hackers preying nearby.
In this blog post, we’ll cover what cybersecurity best practices are necessary for you to take before and during any trip to keep your network secure from hackers.
Why Cybersecurity Matters While Traveling
Cybersecurity might not be at the top of your vacation checklist, but ignoring it can turn your dream getaway into a horrible nightmare. Cybercriminals know summer is a prime time to attack because people are more likely to let their guard down while on vacation. For most vacationers, the focus is on enjoying time out of the office instead of ensuring they’re following cybersecurity best practices, making them an easy target for hackers.
To minimize the risk of a cyberattack while traveling, here are a few best practices to cover with anyone on your team who might connect to the Internet while on vacation.
Before you go:
  1. Back up your data – If your device gets lost or ruined, you’ll want a copy of your data available to be restored.
  2. Update your software – Make sure your operating system software, web browsers and apps have all been updated to the latest version. Outdated software can impact your device’s ability to defend against malware.
  3. Protect your devices – You should always lock your device using a PIN, passcode, fingerprint or facial recognition feature, but if you don’t already, set this up before traveling. If you leave your device unattended and someone attempts to access it, they will have full access to your private information if it’s not locked.
  4. Enable “Find My Phone” – This feature will allow you to locate your device if you lose it, but it also gives you the power to remotely wipe data or disable the device if it falls into the wrong hands.
While traveling:
  1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – A VPN encrypts your Internet connection, ensuring your data is secure even when you use public WiFi networks. Before you leave, set up a VPN on your devices and use it whenever you access the Internet.
  2. Don’t connect to public WiFi – While public WiFi offers convenience, these networks can be a hotspot for cybercriminal activity. Avoid unprotected networks whenever possible. (Yes, that means no checking your e-mail on the beach unless you have a VPN!)
  3. Manage location services – Location tools are useful for navigating new places but can also expose your location to criminals. Turn off location services when you’re not actively using that feature, and consider limiting how you share your location on social media.
  4. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) – MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second verification form, such as a text message code, authenticator code or fingerprint scan. This feature should be enabled for all accounts containing sensitive information before leaving your house.
  5. Disable auto-connect features – Some devices automatically seek and connect to available wireless networks. These features can give cybercriminals access to your devices if you connect to the wrong network. Disable this option so you only connect to wireless and Bluetooth networks you know and trust.
You should be able to relax on vacation. Taking these simple precautions can help you keep your device secure so you can enjoy your time off and don’t have to worry about dealing with cyber issues when you get back to work.
However, it’s important to know that these steps aren’t fail-proof. To truly ensure that your company’s cybersecurity measures are up to standard, it’s important to work with a professional IT team that can monitor your network 24/7, patch any vulnerabilities that pop up (which happens regularly) and alert you if something seems suspicious.
To help you prepare for your vacation and have peace of mind knowing your business is secure while you or your employees are working remotely, call us at 216-800-7800 or click here to schedule a FREE IT Security Risk Assessment with our cybersecurity experts today. We’ll evaluate your current cybersecurity solutions, identify potential vulnerabilities and help you implement a strategic security plan to keep your company safe.

Massive Layoffs In 2024 Create A Serious Threat To Your Cybersecurity

by | Jul 19, 2024 | Newsletter

The massive wave of layoffs in 2024 brings a cybersecurity threat that most business owners aren’t focusing on – offboarding employees. Even big-time brands that you would expect to have top-of-the-line cybersecurity systems, processes and procedures in place fail to adequately protect themselves from insider threats. This August marks a year since two disgruntled Tesla employees went rogue after being let go and exposed the personal information – including names, addresses, phone numbers and even the Social Security numbers – of over 75,000 people, including employees.
And, of course, the issue is expected to get worse. According to NerdWallet, as of May 24, 2024, 298 US-based tech companies have laid off 84,600 workers and counting. This includes major layoffs at big companies like Amazon, Google and Microsoft, as well as smaller tech start-ups. In total, around 257,254 jobs were eliminated in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
Whether or not you’ll need to downsize your team this year, having a proper offboarding process in place is essential to every business, big or small, because it’s more than a routine administrative task – it’s a critical security precaution. Failing to revoke access for former employees can lead to serious business and legal implications later.
Some of those issues include:
  • Theft Of Intellectual Property – Employees can sneak away with YOUR company’s files, client data and confidential information stored on personal devices, as well as retain access to cloud-based applications like social media sites and file-sharing sites (Dropbox or OneDrive, for example) that your IT department doesn’t know about or forgets to change the password to.
A study by Osterman Research revealed that 69% of businesses experience data loss due to employee turnover, and 87% of employees who leave take data with them. Most often, the information you worked hard to gather is sold to competitors, used by them when they’re hired by the competition or used by the former employee to BECOME a competitor. Any way you cut it, it screws YOU.
  • Compliance Violations – Failing to revoke access privileges and remove employees from authorized user lists can register you as noncompliant in heavily regulated industries. This simple mistake can result in large fines, hefty penalties and, in some cases, legal consequences.
  • They DELETE Everything – If an employee feels unfairly laid-off and retains access to their accounts, they could easily delete ALL of their e-mails and any critical files they can get their hands on. If that data isn’t backed up, you will lose it ALL. And for those thinking, “I’ll sue them!” Rightfully so, but even if you do sue them and win, the hard reality is that the legal costs, time wasted on the lawsuit and recovering the data, plus the aggravation and distraction of dealing with it all, are greater costs than what you might get awarded if you win the lawsuit and might collect in damages.
  • Data Breach – This could be the most terrifying of all. Unhappy employees who feel they have been wronged can make you the star of the next devastating data breach headline and incur a costly lawsuit to go with it. It could be as simple as making one click and downloading, exposing or modifying your clients’ or employees’ private information, financial records or even trade secrets.
Do you have an airtight offboarding process to curb these risks? Chances are you don’t. A 2024 study by Wing revealed that one out of five organizations has indications that some of their former users were not properly offboarded, and those are the people who were astute enough to detect it.
How DO you properly offboard an employee?
  • Implement The Principle Of Least Privilege – Successful offboarding starts with proper onboarding. New employees should ONLY be given access to the files and programs they need to do their jobs. This should be meticulously documented to make offboarding easier.
  • Leverage Automation – Your IT team can help use automation to streamline revoking access to multiple software applications simultaneously, saving time and resources while reducing the likelihood of manual errors.
  • Implement Continuous Monitoring – You can implement software that tracks who is doing what and where on the company network. This can help you identify suspicious behavior by an unauthorized user and help you determine if a former employee retains access to private accounts.
These are only a few ways your IT team can help improve your offboarding process to make it more efficient and secure.
Insider threats can be devastating, and if you think this can’t happen to you, think again. You have to be proactive in protecting your organization.
To find out if any gaps in your offboarding process expose you to theft or a data breach, our team will do a free, in-depth risk assessment to help you resolve it. Call us at 216-800-7800 or click here to book now.

Frustrated With BAD Tech Support? You Are Not Alone

Frustrated With BAD Tech Support? You Are Not Alone

by | Jul 10, 2024 | Newsletter

A recent stream of Reddit comments emerged detailing a series of poor customer service experiences with tech support. While I typically try to stay clear of Reddit and its gang of chronic whiny-pants commenters, I scrolled through a few, you know, for research purposes since I’m in the industry. A few of the complaints sounded so outlandish – like the lady who claimed the technician took a bathroom break in her attic – that it almost seemed impossible they could be true. However, other more common issues on the thread I’ve experienced myself, and to be candid with you, they sucked!
When you are experiencing a tech emergency – be it a broken printer, hardware malfunctions, Internet connectivity issues, login troubles or something similar – poor tech support only worsens the irritation. It leaves you with frustrated employees who can’t efficiently get their jobs done because they’re troubleshooting their tech and on hold with an IT company that is “looking into it” and irritated customers who just want a smooth process when dealing with your organization.
This can result in losing customers and A-player employees to your competitors that don’t have these same daily issues. At first, it might seem dramatic that a few unresolved “tech issues” could cause such a stir, but as these problems continue to repeat themselves, with no solution in sight, resentment grows and will eventually result in these people seeking organizations that don’t have to deal with such headaches.
What can you do to get ahead of the problem? Start by polling your employees. Ask them questions that will help you “grade” your current IT company to see if they’re dealing with your team as fast and efficiently as they should. Here are a few questions to ask:
  1. Do you experience any recurring technical problems that haven’t been fully resolved? If so, what are they?
  2. How would you rate the response time of the IT support team when you encounter a technical issue?
  3. Have you found the IT support team to be knowledgeable and helpful in resolving your issues?
  4. Do you feel that the IT company communicates effectively and keeps you informed about the status of your requests?
  5. How would you describe your overall satisfaction with the support provided by our IT company?
These questions take only a few minutes to answer and can help you gain valuable insight into whether or not your current IT team is properly handling issues or if there is trouble brewing within your organization that you weren’t aware of.
If you would like to see what good IT support actually looks like, we’ll do TWO FREE hours of support for your organization.
Here are SOME of the ways you could use your time with us:
  • Diagnose any computer network problem you are experiencing.
  • Check your network’s security against hacker attacks and viruses.
  • Scan and review for spyware.
  • Check your network backup system to make sure it is working properly.
  • Diagnose slow, unstable PCs.
  • Have us conduct our proprietary 57-point IT Systems Security And Performance Assessment.
  • Discuss a project or upgrade you are considering, or even get a second opinion on a quote you received.
To get started, give our team a call at 216-800-7800 or click here to book your call now.

Apple Might Never Have Released The Macintosh If This Happened

Apple Might Never Have Released The Macintosh If This Happened

by | Jun 12, 2024 | Newsletter

Steve Wozniak was asked in an interview what he would have done differently if he had been Apple’s CEO instead of Jobs. He said he would have been “a lot nicer to people,” but then quickly added that IF he had been CEO, they might never have released the Macintosh.
Jobs was known for being ruthless and controlling, rude and ill-tempered, driven by a desire for perfection and pushing people to bring products out before they were ready, creating enormous strain within the organization. The OG “mean girl.” Many people couldn’t tolerate working for him, and I’m sure he missed out on a lot of talent for this reason. But in spite of that – or more possibly because of that – he was able to build one of the world’s most iconic brands and successful companies.
I’m not sure that level of “disagreeableness” is necessary for us mere mortals running small businesses vs. the enterprise builders like Jobs, but I do know this: FAR too many business owners tolerate FAR too much from too many people: employees, vendors, clients or otherwise!
One of the reasons so many people loved the character Tony in The Sopranos was because, deep down, they secretly wished they had his backbone and confidence, not taking anything from anyone AND bold enough to do something more than simply holding a grudge against someone who wrongs them.
I’m not suggesting his level of corruption, anger or response is good or healthy. That’s not my point. What I’m saying is that many people would do far better in life if they were unafraid to stand up for themselves, not allowing themselves to be affected by critics and instead becoming a more imposing, respected alpha leader, unafraid of speaking their mind and standing their ground.
This translates directly to the security of your business. If you cower and fear taking a stand for yourself, failing to draw a HARD LINE to protect yourself and your organization, you WILL be taken advantage of. It’s really that simple. There are a lot of people out there with their own agendas who aren’t going to give a rip about you. Many want to take you out, harm you and damage you for their own personal gain, particularly cybercriminals, whose job it is to capitalize on YOUR hard work. To steal YOUR profits. To sneak into your network and steal YOUR data, putting on the line your livelihood and everything you’ve spent years of blood, sweat and tears building.
As a business leader, you must assume a Tony Soprano–level toughness about this. ZERO tolerance for it: be awake and alert, look for such enemies at the gate and get rid of them before the damage they do is irreversible. Further, you need to protect yourself by putting the necessary protections in place to prevent those who mean you harm from getting into your network in the first place. The cold, hard truth is that, at the end of the day, as a leader in your organization, if you’re the victim of a cybercrime, YOU will be the one they blame. Your tail is on the line, and reporters won’t be timid about blasting that headline all over the news.
Business isn’t all about being tough on others – it’s also about innovation and driving your company forward, using the best strategies and best practices of those who lead the way, including protecting what you’ve built. It can all be taken away with one wrong mouse click if you don’t have the foresight to get ahead of the problem.
To stay ahead of the cybercriminals and make sure you’re protected book a 10-Minute Discovery Call with our team of experts to get a free IT Risk Assessment. We’ll perform analysis of your network to identify any vulnerabilities and provide you with a plan of action to fix them. This assessment will give you the peace of mind to do what you do best and focus on growing your business.
Click here to book your call now or give us a call at 216-800-7800.

Understanding Multi-Factor Authentication: A Comprehensive Guide

by | Jun 5, 2024 | Newsletter

In today’s increasingly digital world, the security of our online accounts and sensitive information has never been more crucial. Cyber threats are evolving, and traditional single-layer defenses like passwords are no longer sufficient to keep our data safe. This is where Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) comes into play. As a critical component of modern cybersecurity strategies, MFA provides an extra layer of protection that can make a significant difference in safeguarding against various cyber threats.
What is Multi-Factor Authentication?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource such as an application, online account, or VPN. Rather than just asking for a password, MFA involves a combination of the following:
  1. Something You Know: A password or PIN.
  2. Something You Have: A smartphone, hardware token, or smart card.
  3. Something You Are: Biometrics like fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice recognition.
By combining these factors, MFA ensures that even if one element (like a password) is compromised, unauthorized users are unlikely to gain access without the additional required factors.
How to Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Implementing MFA is straightforward and highly effective. Here’s how you can set it up and use it:
Step 1: Enable MFA on Your Accounts
Most major online services, including email providers, social media platforms, and financial institutions, offer MFA as an option. To enable it:
  1. Go to Account Settings: Look for security settings within your account.
  2. Find Multi-Factor Authentication: This may be under “Security,” “Two-Step Verification,” or a similar section.
  3. Enable MFA: Follow the prompts to turn on MFA.
Step 2: Choose Your Second Factor
You’ll typically be given several options for your second factor:
  1. Authenticator Apps: Apps like Google Authenticator or Authy generate time-sensitive codes.
  2. SMS Codes: Receive a code via text message to your phone.
  3. Email Codes: Receive a code via email.
  4. Biometric Verification: Use fingerprint or facial recognition if your device supports it.
  5. Hardware Tokens: Use a physical device like a YubiKey.
Step 3: Verify and Secure
  1. Enter Your Phone Number or Email: If using SMS or email codes.
  2. Install an Authenticator App: If using an app, scan the provided QR code.
  3. Verify Your Choice: Enter the code sent to your phone or generated by the app.
  4. Backup Options: Set up backup methods in case you lose access to your primary method.
Step 4: Use MFA When Logging In
Each time you log in, after entering your password, you’ll be prompted to provide your second factor. This might involve entering a code from your phone, approving a notification, or scanning your fingerprint.
What Does Multi-Factor Authentication Protect Against?
MFA significantly enhances security by addressing several common vulnerabilities:
1. Phishing Attacks
Phishing involves tricking users into providing their credentials via fake websites or emails. Even if a user falls for a phishing scam and reveals their password, MFA can prevent attackers from accessing the account without the second factor.
2. Stolen Passwords
Passwords can be compromised through various means, including data breaches, social engineering, or brute force attacks. MFA adds an additional barrier, ensuring that a stolen password alone is not enough to access the account.
3. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
In these attacks, an attacker intercepts communication between the user and the service. MFA mitigates this risk by requiring authentication methods that are difficult to intercept or replicate.
4. Account Takeovers
Even if an attacker gains access to one authentication method, such as a password, they would still need the second factor, making account takeovers significantly more challenging.
Where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, relying solely on passwords for security is no longer sufficient. Multi-Factor Authentication provides a robust, multi-layered defense that is essential for protecting personal and professional data. By implementing MFA, individuals and organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and ensure that their sensitive information remains secure.
By adopting MFA, you’re not just adding an extra step to your login process; you’re making a crucial investment in the security of your digital identity. Don’t wait until it’s too late—enable MFA on your accounts today and experience the peace of mind that comes with enhanced security.
Want to know more about Multi-Factor Authentication or how to implement it in your business? Contact us at 216-800-7800 or schedule a FREE Discovery Call with us.