2 Places You Should Never Cut Corners With IT

Today’s technology empowers business owners in ways that would have seemed incredible even 10 years ago. With a humming network connecting your team to the rest of the world, and with just a few simple keystrokes, your organization can complete tasks that used to take days. That's why you need to boost your cybersecurity measures.

However, the endless possibility that accompanies technological advancement comes with a catch: to be truly effective, IT requires investment – not just of capital, but of time and attention, resources all too dear to the harried entrepreneurs of the modern age. Perhaps this is why, everywhere you look, small to midsize business owners are not only failing to realize the full potential of their technology, but are unknowingly leaving massive gaps in their systems and processes for malicious entities to exploit. And so, budding companies that would otherwise dominate the market are prematurely stamped out by competitors with more tech savvy or are hamstrung by costly data breaches.

Even in the midst of this trend, we understand how easy it is to ignore your company’s glaring technological gaps. You imagine that you don’t have the time or money to address the issue, or that you’ll do it down the road once your business is better established. But no matter how big or small your business may be, there are two foundational tech concerns that you should never cut corners on.

 

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1 CYBERSECURITY

Pretty much every successful company today is intimately intertwined with the technology on which it depends. So it makes sense that your primary worry should be protecting what’s yours from those who want to snatch it. Think of it this way: would you hire a $5 locksmith to secure your office? Of course not. Then why do so many business owners put their livelihood behind a flimsy, $5 firewall – or, even worse, a free antivirus? In 2018, it is more likely that your business will fall victim to a cyber-attack than it is that thieves will arrive at your office in the dead of night, according to a 2017 report from Kroll.

In 2015, SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar wrote, “Cyber security is clearly a concern that the entire business community shares, but it represents an especially pernicious threat to smaller businesses. The reason is simple: small and midsize businesses are not just targets of cybercrime; they are the principal targets.” With this in mind, cyber security should always be one of your top priorities.

2 TECH SUPPORT THAT GOES BEYOND THE “BREAK-FIX” APPROACH

It’s difficult to overestimate the money, time and stress it can cost you when your technology breaks down. Between server downtime, haywire software, connectivity issues and myriad other potential problems, when your stuff breaks, it can cause more than a massive headache – it can put you out of business.

Most business owners realize this, but many still opt for the classic “break-fix” strategy. Unfortunately, “If it ain’t broke…” is a dangerous maxim by which to steer a ship. If you wait to address a problem until after it becomes an issue, you’re inviting a crisis into the equation that could easily have been avoided with a keen, proactive eye. And when your server fails, or your firewall network experiences hiccups, or some other unforeseen issue rears its ugly head, an unfamiliar break-fix technician will take longer to fix the issue than an expert who’s been working with your specific network from start to finish and already knows it inside out. It’s just not worth it.

In addition, proactively managed service providers will consistently make recommendations to keep your company competitive. Whether it be a small upgrade to software here, a patch there or an overhaul of your server system, these moves can be invaluable in the breakneck marketplace. And, of course, since they’re keeping tabs on your tech at all times, any potential problems get addressed long before they hit your bottom line.

By leveraging technology, you and your business can do amazing things. Partner with a team of IT support professionals who are actively invested in your success and confidently push your company into 2019.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you want to make sure that your business is secured by implementing the appropriate cybersecurity measures.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Difference Between a Data Breach and Security Incident?

If you think a data breach can’t happen to you, think again: According to the Ponemon Institute’s Fifth Annual Benchmark Study on Privacy and Security of Healthcare Data,criminal attacks are up 125 percent compared to five years ago. And that’s just in the healthcare sector.

Now more than ever, organizations need a primer on how to protect sensitive data. With cyber crime attacks on the rise, it’s critical to understand what a data breach is, how it differs from a security incident and how to plan a data breach response.

Incident vs. Breach

Think of a security incident as a pesky cold that may sideline you for a couple days, but clears up fairly quickly. It’s any event that violates an organization’s security or privacy policies around sensitive information like Social Security numbers or confidential medical records. This can be anything from a misplaced drive to missing paper files.

A data breach Myrtle Beach, on the other hand, is like the nastiest flu bug ever — a whopper of a virus that will knock you off your feet.  The folks at ID Experts define it as a security incident that meets specific legal definitions per state and federal laws.

Specifically, data breaches require notification to the affected individuals, regulatory agencies, and sometimes credit reporting agencies and media.

 

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Security Incidents Are Status Quo

Security incidents are, sadly, part of the status quo — with 65 percent of healthcare organizations reporting having experienced electronic information-based security incidents over the past two years, according to the Ponemon study.

While not all security incidents escalate into data breaches, there’s a regulatory obligation to complete an incident risk assessment when PHI (protected health information) or PII (personally identifiable information) is compromised.

Responding Effectively

When an incident does escalate into a data breach, a quick and effective response is critical. This requires close collaboration across the company or organization, not just IT. Stakeholders in legal, marketing, public relations, the C-Suite and other functions have to be prepared to own a piece of the incident response and work together in a fairly seamless manner.

The first two, vital steps following a data breach are 1) Quantify the damage; and 2) Determine your response.

To address the first, quantifying damage, it helps to know at any point in time what information requires the most protection, where it’s stored and how it’s protected. At SpartanTec, Inc. we recommend performing periodic cyber threat assessments to develop this understanding.

In respect to step two, determining response, this is essential to managing enterprise risk and can quell fears, especially when the breach is more serious than initially thought, when credit monitoring isn’t enough and when media interest is high.

It requires data breach agility. Organizations with high data breach agility are more likely to have cybersecurity platforms that optimize visibility and the sharing of actionable threat intelligence between prevention and detection tools and across endpoints, data centers and the cloud.

 

This is among the advantages of the security fabric. Based on open APIs, it links together different security sensors and tools to collect real threat data, enabling technology and people to more effectively coordinate and respond to potential threats. Contact SpartanTec, Inc. to learn more.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Morgan Stanley Banking Latest To Get Hit By Data Breach

Data breach continue to evolve as the hackers themselves get increasingly sophisticated. One of the most recent victims is investment banking giant Morgan Stanley. Their network was breached after the attackers stole personal information belonging to their customers by hacking into an Accellion FTA server belonging to a third-party vendor, then using that information to breach Morgan Stanley's network.

The third-party vendor in question, Guidehouse, provides account maintenance service to Morgan Stanley. They notified the banking giant back in May that they had been breached and that some information belonging to Morgan Stanley customers had been compromised.

At this time it is unclear just how many of Morgan Stanley's customers have been impacted, but the company is in the process of reaching out to all who were impacted to let them know. Although the company has not indicated as much, it's fairly standard practice for firms to offer 1-2 years of credit protection to customers who have had their data compromised. Odds are excellent that this will be the case here. Although again, that has not been confirmed at this point.

 

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In any case, this is a serious cybersecurity breach, regardless of scope and scale, because the hackers were able to make off with both encrypted files and the decryption key to unlock them.

The stolen data includes:

• Stock plan participants' name
• Physical address
• Date of birth
• Social security number
• And company name, where applicable

In other words, more than enough information to steal an individual's identity.

If you bank with Morgan Stanley, be on the lookout for a letter from the company and watch your credit statements like a hawk. If you want to take a more proactive stance, give them a call to verify whether or not you are among the impacted users.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you want to protect your business against cyberthreats.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Is IT Outsourcing Right For Your Business?

For years, a lot of small businesses with 100 to 500 users have depended on in-house IT support to remain operational. When a user has a problem with an application or a device, they asked their IT staff to stop whatever they’re doing and fix the problem. Although inefficient, this method gave users a go-to option for their IT needs. But did you know that there’s a more effective option that’s beneficial to both the company and their users, it’s IT outsourcing?

The conventional shoulder tapping model used by IT support has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. When companies shut down and moved to remote work, the in-house IT professional was nowhere in sight. Apart from that, user questions, incidents, and problems increased, and several employees were not used to home based work. The in-house teams which are working remotely could not keep up with the rise in demand, because they lacked the process discipline and monitoring tools. They also depended on ad hoc fixes.

 

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It also disrupted anti-virus updates, application lifecycle servicing, as well as routine hardware refreshes. Problems and incidents snowballed. Even though Zoom existed, collaboration tools were unable to reach their full potential, because user training programs were moved back to the back burner. Not only that, the risk profiles were heightened because of the neglect of the protocols involving cybersecurity. Cybercriminals have also upped their game during the coronavirus pandemic, which placed employees who handle sensitive data from their home offices at an increased risk.

IT Outsourcing Is The New Normal

These days, many companies are understanding that in-house IT support is no longer enough for the new normal where remote work takes on a more prominent role. While third-party outsourcing is a good option, looking for a model that will fit remains a challenge. Conventional enterprise outsourcing arrangements that are built on economies on the scale, as well as negotiated service agreements and T&Cs, are too costly for small clients and unprofitable for the providers. Meanwhile, the nerd-for-hire option lacked the resources, flexibility, and scalability required to deal with the complex technology needs of several small businesses.

An appropriate and effective IT outsourcing approach combines scalability, enterprise-level capabilities, and cost-effectiveness. It allows the maximizing of resource utilization while making sure that an IT team will respond to the requirements of a user. IT outsourcing strikes a balance by assigning an IT support team for a defined group of clients. It also offers you access to top-notch IT experts at affordable rates and provides the extra benefits of scalability and flexibility.

Effective IT outsourcing offered by companies like SpartanTec, Inc. for smaller companies will deliver on the basics of service governance and execution. They can get, configure, install, as well as service laptops, notebooks, and mobile devices. They will monitor your network security round the clock and deal with IT issues right away.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you’re interested in outsourcing your IT tasks. Our team of IT experts is always ready to help.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

This Malware Could Be Using Your PC To Make Money

If you haven't heard of a malware strain called Crackonosh, be aware that it might be abusing your system, and specifically, Windows Safe Mode, to make money for its controllers.

In fact, since it was first discovered, researchers at Avast estimate that Crackonosh has quietly generated millions by enslaving PCs around the world and using them to mine cryptocurrency.

Crackonosh is only a few years old, having first been spotted in the wild back in June of 2018. It has spread like wildfire, leveraging the popularity of file sharing (torrent) websites where it piggybacks inside compressed files containing music, movies and cracked versions of in-demand software.

The malware's design is fairly clever, and before it tries to install itself on a target system, it will scan for the presence of antivirus software running on the target machine, then attempting to disable it and delete Windows Defender. Once that's done, Crackonosh takes the additional step of deleting the log file, essentially destroying the evidence of its misdeeds.

 

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Finally, it deploys a cryptocurrency mining software called XMRig, utilizing your PC's resources to mine Monero (XMR), and modifies the registry so that the machine reboots in Safe Mode. That is incredibly clever, because by design, when a computer boots up in Safe Mode, (which is used primarily for diagnostic purposes) only a minimal tool set loads, which doesn't include antivirus software.

Based on Avast's research, Crackonosh is infecting around a thousand machines each day, and so far, nearly a quarter of a million machines have been bent to the will of the group controlling Crackonosh. That amounts to a lot of Monero mining power. Estimates are that it has enabled them to mine more than 9000 XMR, which, based on current prices, amounts to more than two million dollars.

In any case, if you're a fan of torrent sites, beware of Crackonosh. While not overtly harmful, it will allow hackers to steal your processing power and profit from it.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our IT support professionals help protect your computers and network from cybercriminals who are looking to get access to your system and steal your confidental information.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Some US Mercedes Customers Likely Hit With Data Breach

Do you own, or have you recently test-driven a Mercedes? If so, or if you've created an account on their website for some other purpose, be advised that the company recently disclosed that they had been hacked. They say that the cybersecurity attackers made off with personal and financial information belonging to more than 1.6 million account holders.

Based on the results of the investigation thus far, the company has confirmed that the stolen data included:

• Customer Name (full names)
• Physical address
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• Credit/Payment card number
• Customer phone number
• Email addresses
• And specific information relating to the vehicle that each person purchased

 

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Additionally, the hackers made off with a small number (less than a thousand) driver's license numbers belonging to prospective buyers. That's bad, as the compromised data is more than enough for the attackers to steal the identities of those people whose data they now possess.

As is the case in a growing number of data breaches, the issue wasn't the Mercedes Benz network itself. Instead, the attackers gained access via a third party vendor vulnerability. A spokesman for Mercedes Benz said that the vendor in question had isolated the weak spot in their security and made changes so that it won't happen again.

That's small comfort, however, for the 1.6 million+ customers who now have to watch their credit reports like a hawk.

In any event, the company is in the process of contacting all those who were impacted by the breach, and as is common in these types of cases, Mercedes Benz is offering two years of free credit monitoring if your data was compromised. If you haven't heard from the company by the time you read these words, odds are excellent that you weren't impacted, but if you want to be sure, check the website "Have I Been Pwnd" just to be safe.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you want to make sure that your business and client data with the help of our IT support team.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Finding The Best Managed IT Services Company

As you search for managed IT services for your company, there are steps you need to take to make sure that you’re getting the best managed IT services that will meet your business objective. You will eventually reach the final steps of the process that’s involved in looking for a reliable managed IT services company in your area.

Sure, you may come across several potential companies. But how can you be sure that they can meet your business needs? How can you weed out the bad from the good ones?

There are questions you need to ask before you start your search.

• Why do you need managed IT services? Do you need it to grow your business?
• Do you need help in managing your IT department?
• Is your current in house IT team or IT services company slacking off?
• Are you having the same IT problems all the time?
• Is your business missing out on new apps, updates, and features that could make your daily IT tasks easier?

These are the questions that you need to be asking your IT provider. That’s why it’s important for you to find one that will serve you, your staff, and your overall business objectives.

 

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What to look for in a Managed IT Services Company?

Many managed IT services concentrate in various solutions, which makes it more difficult to decide which features and services you need most. Keep in mind that just because a firm specializes in a certain solution doesn’t mean that they’re offering the best services. It also doesn’t mean that their offerings will benefit your company. So, here are a few factors you need to consider.

Responsiveness

One of the most essential things that you have to invest in is a daily help desk support. The main point of outsourcing IT Services is so that somebody who is knowledgeable and qualified could help you with your network problems as soon as the issues arise. They can fix the problems remotely and can identify and resolve the issue even before you know it.

Certainty

If you want to enjoy some peace of mind, data recovery and backup should be among the things you have to consider. What will happen to your business if you suddenly lose access to your employee and client information, business intelligence records, financial data, project details and plans, as well as corporate communications.

If you’re like other companies these days, your business will depend on email communications, network infrastructure, as well as digital documents. That is a lot of data and you need to make sure that they’re backed up regularly. You must also have a plan in place in case a disaster happens.

Security

Email security and network security are always changing since the techniques used to hack devices and networks evolve constantly. Companies that do not have enough resources for network security will be more at risk of data breaches. Working with a managed IT services company will give you that peace of mind knowing that a system is in place to check all your company’s data and to keep your network secure at all times.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you are looking for a reputable and experienced managed IT services company in Myrtle Beach.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence