The post The little things that make a big difference first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>Microsoft has given Copilot, its handy AI assistant, a new place on the taskbar. No more hunting around for the button. Now it sits on the far right of the taskbar, in what we tech folks call the ‘system tray area’.
If Copilot isn’t your thing, no worries. You can easily remove it from the taskbar altogether. But having an AI assistant at your fingertips can be a real boost for productivity, so we’d recommend you give it a chance before giving it the boot.
Before you rush to check if your Copilot button has relocated, let’s talk details.
First off, this update has been rolling out over the last few weeks.
It’s known as Patch KB5034765 (catchy name) and isn’t just about moving buttons around. It’s also packed with important security and bug fixes, including a crucial one for Explorer.exe. This was causing some PCs to freeze up when restarting with a game controller attached.
Probably not an issue in your business, but you never know…
There was also a problem with slow announcements from Narrator, the screen reading tool. That’s been fixed.
While this Windows 11 update may seem like small fry, it’s these little tweaks that can really streamline your workflow and stop your team from being interrupted by problems while they work.
Has your business switched over to Windows 11 yet? Our team can look at your setup and advise whether you’d benefit from upgrading, or you should stay on Windows 10.
Get in touch and ask us for a tech audit.
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]]>The post 3 Types of Cyber Insurance You Need to Know About first appeared on Agility Technologies.
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As the world becomes more digitized and cybercrime increases, the need for cyber insurance is something businesses should not overlook. If your company handles, transmits or stores sensitive data, you need to know about cyber insurance.
Cyber insurance is intended to protect businesses from the monetary losses arising from a cyber incident that could jeopardize their future. It covers financial losses caused by events such as data breaches, cybertheft and ransomware.
Since small businesses often lack the resources or budgets of big corporations, cyber insurance can provide critical financial protection in the event of a cyberattack, helping them recover quickly.
Types of cyber insurance and what they cover
Although insurers may have their own specific classifications, cyber insurance can be divided into three broad categories:
Cybertheft insurance
With more and more businesses storing sensitive data online, the risk of cybertheft is more prominent than ever. As a result, ensuring that your company is adequately insured against this growing threat is critical.
Cybertheft insurance protects businesses from financial losses caused by digital theft. This type of insurance can cover a variety of cybertheft scenarios, including first-party cybertheft, embezzlement scams, payroll redirection and gift card scams.
Businesses of all sizes can be victims of cybertheft, and no business is too small to need cybertheft insurance. Therefore, even if there is a remote chance that your data or digital assets will be stolen, ensure you have cybertheft insurance for your business.
Cyber liability insurance
Cyber liability insurance includes third-party coverage for damages and losses, data breaches, regulatory penalties, credit monitoring and lawsuits.
Cyber liability insurance is a vital tool for small businesses like yours because the financial ramifications of a cybersecurity breach can be more severe than you can handle. This does not mean you should panic right now; it simply means that having cyber liability insurance can help your business recover and move forward even after a breach, without being stunted.
Cyber extorsion insurance /ransomware insurance
Cyber extortion insurance protects businesses against ransomware attacks. This type of insurance can help cover the cost of ransom payments, recovery expenses, business interruptions and more. It can also provide access to a team of experts who can help with cyber extortion negotiations and forensics.
Keep in mind that an attack could still succeed even with the right cybersecurity solutions in place to protect your business. That’s why it’s critical to have cyber extortion insurance. It can help you recover from a ransomware attack and reduce the financial impact.
Let’s work together to ensure your success
Cyber insurance is a complicated and ever-changing industry. There are many factors that can influence whether or not you qualify for a payout in the event of a cyberattack, and trying to remain compliant with your insurance policy can be difficult. Working with an IT service provider can help you better understand your options and ensure that you have adequate security in place, increasing your chances of receiving complete coverage.
Not sure where to start? Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our knowledge and experience may be just what you require.
The post 3 Types of Cyber Insurance You Need to Know About first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>The post Balancing a Proactive and Reactive Approach to Cyber Incidents first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>A cyber incident is a type of security event that can harm a business like yours. Ranging from data breaches and system failures to malware attacks and phishing scams, these incidents can hinder productivity, revenue growth and customer satisfaction.
In most cases, a cyber incident will result in data loss or downtime. This can include loss of confidential information, customer data or business records. In some cases, a cyber incident can also cause business interruption or financial loss.
We can all agree that no one wants their business to be hacked. A single cyberattack can rob you of your time, money and peace of mind. In addition to getting systems operational and data restored, you have to let all affected parties know that their data may have been compromised. This can be a difficult situation to navigate for anyone, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
In this blog, we’ll provide you with proactive and reactive approaches to tackle an attack, cope with the aftermath of a hack and prevent future incidents.
Proactive steps to implement
Before we move on, take note of the cybersecurity training topics recommended by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for all small businesses:
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Reactive steps to remember
The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) reactive incident response framework covers the following five phases:
Identify
To develop an effective incident response plan, security risks must be identified. This includes, among other things, threats to your technology systems, data and operations. Understanding these risks allows you to respond to incidents more effectively and reduce the impact of security breaches.
Protect
To protect your company, you need to develop and implement appropriate safeguards. Security measures to guard against threats and steps to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of an incident are examples of safeguards.
Detect
Detecting anomalies, such as unusual network activity or unauthorized access to sensitive data, are needed to limit the damage and get your systems back up and running faster following an incident.
Respond
A plan to respond to detected cyber incidents is critical. This strategy should include breach containment, investigation and resolution strategies.
Recover
To minimize disruption, you must have a plan to resume normal business operations as soon as possible after an incident.
Implementing the above proactive and reactive steps requires time, effort and skillsets that are possibly beyond what you can commit to at the moment. However, you can still accomplish this by collaborating with an IT service provider like us. Our experience and expertise may be just what you need. Feel free to reach out to schedule a consultation.
Also, to walk you through incident prevention best practices, we have created a checklist titled “Cyber Incident Prevention Best Practices for Small Businesses,”
The post Balancing a Proactive and Reactive Approach to Cyber Incidents first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>The post What a Top-Notch IT Services Provider Will Offer Your Business first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>What a Top-Notch IT Services Provider Will Offer Your Business
There are several reasons why small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours should be able to meet all their technology needs in one location. One reason is that small businesses often lack the resources of large corporations, so making the most of what you have is essential. Another advantage of centralization is that there will be no delays in receiving services, allowing you to maintain your peace of mind.
This is why you should think about hiring an external IT service provider to supplement your existing IT team or rely entirely on an external IT service provider if you don’t have an internal IT team. An external IT service provider is a specialist who can act as your outsourced IT department.
An external IT service provider can provide many benefits for your IT needs, including a single point of contact, industry-leading software, support and maintenance, access to additional resources that keep you up to date on the latest technologies.
Don't settle for anything less than the best
An excellent external IT service provider will offer you the following:
Regular risk assessments
Risk assessment is a critical part of any business and should not be overlooked. This is a process by which the IT service provider will assess your current IT infrastructure and identify any possible risks to your business. They will then create a plan to mitigate these risks and provide regular updates on their progress.
You can protect your company from potential threats by collaborating with an external IT service provider that offers regular assessments.
Ongoing network monitoring
Ongoing network monitoring is one of the most important aspects of having an excellent IT service provider. By having a third party continually monitoring your network, you can ensure that your systems are always up and running and that any potential issues are identified and addressed before they cause severe problems.
It can help you avoid costly downtime, protect your data and ensure that your systems operate at peak performance.
Business alignment
When looking for an excellent external IT service provider, it is vital to make sure they care about your business alignment. They should go above and beyond to find solutions that integrate with your company’s preexisting systems and help you reach your long-term business goals. They should also provide comprehensive training and support so that you can utilize these solutions to their fullest potential.
Quarterly reviews
An IT service provider can help you with quarterly reviews. These reviews are critical and should not be overlooked. Here are four reasons why:
- They can help you stay compliant with industry regulations.
- They can help you protect your data and your systems.
- They can help you optimize your systems and processes.
- They can help you plan for the future and make sure your systems are ready for it.
Regular reporting to demonstrate ROI
Any successful technology investment must include regular reporting to demonstrate return on investment (ROI). A proactive IT service provider can help you with this so that you have the data you need to make informed decisions about your technology investments.
Collaborate to succeed
When you partner with a top-notch IT service provider like us, you can expect to receive a wide range of services that will benefit your business. From managed IT services to 24/7 help desk support, you can rely on our team of experts to help you keep your systems running smoothly. Our team can also help you protect your data and privacy with our range of security, backup and compliance services.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your business today!
The post What a Top-Notch IT Services Provider Will Offer Your Business first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>The post Why Your Business Needs to Prepare for Cyber Incidents first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>As the world becomes more digital, so do the risks of conducting business online. Cyber incidents can happen to any business, regardless of size or industry, and can have serious consequences.
The following are some examples of common types of incidents to look out for:
Phishing
Phishing is an online scam in which criminals send emails or instant messages falsely claiming to be from a legitimate organization. These messages typically contain links to bogus websites designed to steal your personal information such as your login credentials or credit card number. Phishing attacks can be challenging to detect because scammers use familiar logos and language to dupe their victims.
Denial-of-service
A denial-of-service attack makes a computer or other service inaccessible to users. These attacks are carried out by flooding the victim’s computers or network with requests, rendering it unable to respond to legitimate traffic or causing it to crash. Such attacks can be excessively disruptive and can result in significant financial losses.
Ransomware
A ransomware attack is a cyberattack through which hackers encrypt a victim’s data and demand a ransom to decrypt it. Encryption is the process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format. This is done using a key, which is a piece of information that controls the transformation. Only the same key can convert the unreadable format to readable data or decrypt it.
These attacks can be incredibly detrimental to individuals and organizations since they frequently lead to loss of data or money.
SQL injections
An SQL injection is a form of attack cybercriminals use to execute malicious SQL code in a database. Simply speaking, SQL code is a language to communicate to computers. You can use it to tell the computer what you want it to do, like find some information or create a table, for example. Cybercriminals use this code to change, steal or delete data.
SQL injection attacks pose a serious risk to any website that relies on a database because they can cause irreversible damage.
Malware
Malware is software that is intended to harm computer systems. It can take the form of viruses, Trojans or spyware. Malware can be used to steal personal information, corrupt files and even disable systems.
Nothing could be further from the truth if you believe cybercriminals only target large corporations. According to a recent report, 43% of all cyberattacks target small businesses
Real cyber incidents experienced by small businesses
Although the media usually underreports attacks on small businesses and focuses on data breaches that affect large corporations, here are two instances of incidents that severely impacted small businesses:
When the bookkeeper of a boutique hotel began receiving insufficient fund notifications for regularly recurring bills, the chief executive officer (CEO) realized their company had been the victim of wire fraud.
A thorough examination of the accounting records revealed a severe issue. A few weeks prior, the CEO had clicked on a link in an email that they mistook for one from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It wasn’t the case. Cybercriminals obtained the CEO’s login information, giving them access to sensitive business and personal information.
This attack had a significant impact. The company lost $1 million to a Chinese account and the money was never recovered.
The CEO of a government contracting firm realized that access to their business data, including their military client database, was being sold in a dark web auction. The CEO soon noticed that the data was outdated and had no connection to their government agency clients.
How did this data leak happen? The company discovered that a senior employee had downloaded a malicious email attachment thinking it was from a trusted source.
The breach had a significant operational and financial impact, costing more than $1 million. The company’s operations were disrupted for several days since new security software licenses and a new server had to be installed.
Collaborate for success
Your business is not immune to cyberthreats. To address incidents as they occur, adequate security measures and an incident response plan are required. Consider consulting with an IT service provider like us if you need help identifying the right technologies to prevent a cyber incident or help with developing an incident response plan.
Feel free to reach out now.
The post Why Your Business Needs to Prepare for Cyber Incidents first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>There are endless ways that technology can benefit businesses like yours. Technology can help you automate processes, connect with new customers and improve communication within your company. Ultimately, technology can help you reach your business goals and be more successful.
The post Why Smart Businesses Outsource Their IT Needs first appeared on Agility Technologies.
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- In today’s business world, technology plays a significant role in almost every industry. It has disrupted the way we live, work, interact and collaborate.
- There are endless ways that technology can benefit businesses like yours. Technology can help you automate processes, connect with new customers and improve communication within your company. Ultimately, technology can help you reach your business goals and be more successful.
- However, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often have more difficulty implementing new technologies than larger businesses. This could be due to a lack of resources, compatibility issues with existing systems or complications in managing new technology. You might also find it hard to keep up with the latest technological trends.
- This is where you need to consider hiring an external IT service provider in addition to your existing IT team or simply rely on an external IT service provider if you don’t have an internal IT team. An external IT service provider is a specialist who can act as your outsourced IT team.
The benefits of outsourcing IT services over hiring internally
Outsourcing your technology needs can be a great way to get more robust support for your business. By outsourcing, you gain access to a team of professionals with a wide range of skill sets rather than just one person or a small group with a specific skill set. This can be beneficial for businesses looking for assistance in a range of areas.
If you only have one person providing your IT services, you only get service when that individual is available. That’s why it’s crucial to look for 24/7/365 support and that’s where an external IT service provider comes in. With an external IT service provider, you have a team of experts who are always on call to help you with your IT needs.
You can rest assured knowing that your systems are being taken care of and that you’ll never be without service again.
When you hire a specialized IT service provider, you are basically hiring a team of experts. That means if someone from that external team leaves, your support will not suffer. You’ll continue to have access to the same level of support as before.
Internal hires, on the other hand, don’t come with that same safety net. When someone quits or gets fired, your support abruptly dwindles. You’ll have to spend time training a new hire and getting them up to speed.
An external IT service provider will provide you with the necessary software, tools and staff to manage your entire IT environment. You can focus on your business and leave the IT management to them. This is an excellent option for small businesses that lack the time or resources to manage their own IT department.
The most enticing benefit of partnering with an external IT service provider is the monthly bill you’ll receive. This predictable bill will take away the worry of budgeting for employee benefits, bonuses, etc.
Collaborate with the right partner
An external IT service provider like us might be exactly what your business needs. We can help you by providing a single point of contact for all your IT needs, right from industry-best software to support and maintenance. We can also provide you with access to resources you may not have otherwise, such as a broader range of software and skill sets, as well as security, compliance and backup services.
Finally, we can help you stay up to date on the latest technologies, which can improve your business efficiency and competitiveness. Feel free to contact us today to take the first step towards solving your technology woes.
The post Why Smart Businesses Outsource Their IT Needs first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>The post Need More Reliable IT Services for Your Business? first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>One of the biggest challenges that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face is how to use their limited resources most effectively. Every decision, from what products or services to offer to how to market and sell them, has to be made to protect their bottom line.
SMBs also face several challenges in obtaining reliable IT services in-house. Not only do you have to worry about the expense of benefits and paid time off, but you also lose out on productivity when your techs are out of the office. Plus, if your tech employees leave, it can add fuel to the fire because it’s hard to find good talent.
This is where an external IT service provider can be helpful. An external IT service provider is a specialist who can act as your outsourced IT department.
How much do you know about external IT service providers?
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The Decision is Yours
When it comes to choosing IT services, you have a few different options. You can outsource your technology needs to an external IT service provider or use a hybrid approach where you enlist their services in addition to your in-house team.
Outsourcing IT services can be a great way to get access to expertise that you might not have in-house. It can also be an excellent way to get help with specific tasks or projects that are outside your core competencies. However, it’s up to you to decide what works best for you.
We understand that every business is different and has unique needs. That’s why we tailor our services to fit each company. We also have a wide range of services to choose from, so you get what you need.
To get started, reach out to us, and let us know what your business needs. We will be happy to provide a proposal outlining the specific services spanning security, backup, compliance and much more that we can provide for you.
The post Need More Reliable IT Services for Your Business? first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>The post Ransomware Canaries first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>Ransomware Canaries
If you’re a computer user that’s found a strange-looking file on your system guiding you to this page, you’re in the right place! The file you found, and led you here is called a ransomware canary.
It’s provided by a service called Huntress that was put in place by Agility. Similar to how miners used canaries in the coal mines to detect harmful gasses like carbon monoxide, Agility uses these files to detect a harmful type of computer virus called ransomware. If this file is changed, moved, or deleted, it will trigger an alert to the Huntress service, and by proxy Agility, notifying us of the possibility of a ransomware outbreak. It’s important that you do not modify the files or their location in any way. They are typically hidden, take up very little storage space, and not harmful in any way. They are small examples of common file types, such as documents or images.
As a reference, the file should look similar to the one below.
If you’re an end-user (and not a Agility employee), it’s best to reach out to Agility if you’d like more information. If you feel the file shouldn’t belong on your computer or is there without permission, please submit the file to our support department using the contact link at the bottom of the page. Be sure to include any details you can provide, and we’d be happy to assist you.
The post Ransomware Canaries first appeared on Agility Technologies.
]]>The post Why Attacks on Critical Infrastructure Are Dangerous first appeared on Agility Technologies.
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Why Attacks on Critical Infrastructure Are Dangerous
Critical Infrastructure (CI) comprises physical and cyber assets vital for the smooth functioning of societies and nations across the globe. The sectors that make up critical infrastructure differ from one country to another. For example, the USA considers 16 sectors to be vital as opposed to 13 in the UK. The disruption or damage of CI can have severe direct and indirect effects.
So far, cybercriminals seeking crypto payouts were propagators of attacks on critical infrastructure. But what happens if a threat actor has plans beyond a quick payday? What if an attack creates chaos by eliminating critical infrastructure to harm a region or country?
Attacks on CI could eventually devastate the livelihoods of millions of people and even bankrupt companies. Experts listed cyberattacks on CI as a top concern in 2020, and this trend is estimated to persist into and beyond 2021.1 In the interest of national and global security, CI facilities must take proper measures to prevent threat actors from accessing their networks.
Attacks Are Widespread
Attacks on CI are becoming increasingly common topics of discussion on news channels as highly publicized cases, such as the ones mentioned below, rattle businesses and communities. It’s a scary situation and emphasizes how prepared you should be.
1. Colonial Pipeline
In May 2021, the mammoth pipeline system for refined oil in the U.S. — Colonial Pipeline — was hit by a cyberattack that stemmed from a single compromised credential. The result? Colonial Pipeline’s gasoline distribution to the East Coast was shut down for nearly a week.
2. JBS SA
The largest meat processing company in the world, JBS SA, fell victim to a cyberattack a few weeks after the Colonial Pipeline breach. The attack forced the company to halt production at its U.S. beef plants while operations in Australia and Canada were also hit.
3. The Health Service Executive (HSE) Hack
The HSE (Ireland) had to temporarily shut down its IT systems following a cyberattack. What makes this CI attack so disturbing is that it happened during the pandemic when health systems were buckling.
Other well-known cases include the attacks on NSW’s State Transit Authority (Australia), Israel’s Water Authority, and Air India.
Know the Threat Actors
To avoid the unpleasant experience of a CI attack, here are some major threats to prevent:
Phishing
Phishing
Unpatched vulnerabilities
Unpatched vulnerabilities
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
SQL injection
SQL injection
Cross-site scripting
Cross-site scripting
How to Tackle These Attacks
Secure Remote Access
Remote access, if not secured, could provide a freeway for cybercriminals. Therefore, it’s vital to have network firewalls, endpoint protection, good password hygiene, etc.
Create Asset Inventory
You can’t protect what you don’t know needs protection. That’s why it’s essential to have an asset inventory. With an updated inventory of all your network assets, you can implement strategies to ramp up security.
Identify and Patch Vulnerabilities
Many Operational Technology (OT) and IoT devices that operate within industrial networks aren’t secure enough to be part of a critical infrastructure environment. By deploying tools to identify system vulnerabilities, it’s possible to find risky devices, sort them based on their level of risk and then recommend firmware updates.
Detect Anomalies
Automated detection solutions backed by artificial intelligence can easily track anomalies and other minor suspicious changes within the network.
Combine OT and IT Networks
Security risks of connected industrial control systems fall when OT and IT networks are managed together as part of a unified operational platform.
Managing all these single-handedly may seem like a tedious process, but we can take all the hassle away and help you ramp up your business’ security posture. Contact us to learn more about protecting your CI, or download our free infographic to learn more about this topic.
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]]>The post Recovery Assurance (RA): Is Your Business Data 100% Recoverable? first appeared on Agility Technologies.
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Recovery Assurance (RA): Is Your Business Data 100% Recoverable?
Ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of Disaster Recovery (DR) has received unprecedented attention. Most businesses have realized the importance of bouncing back quickly from a disruptive event. In 2020, about 80% of SMBs reported having a recovery plan in place.1 But are you sure your business’ data is 100% recoverable?
If you aren’t sure how much of your business-sensitive data is recoverable or aren’t testing your DR solution to catch issues like syncing, having a DR doesn’t make much sense. An effective DR plan must tackle a broad spectrum of threats to vital applications and systems, right from minor equipment failure to severe natural disasters.
Not having a fully and quickly recoverable environment could lead to:
• Downtime
For SMBs, per-hour downtime costs can be as high as $50,000.2
• Customer dissatisfaction
One-third of customers will end their association with a business that isn’t capable of safely handling data.3
• Regulatory penalties
Unsatisfactory data handling practices can lead to penalties worth 4% of company turnover.4
This is where the concept of recovery assurance (RA) finds its importance. Recovery assurance means sufficiently testing backups to ensure quick system recovery in the event of a cyber disruption.
Deliver Recovery Assurance With the Right Backup Solution
Make sure to incorporate the following features:
1. Automated Recovery Testing
This feature lets you easily schedule times for systems to be tested. The solution must automatically install the entire software stack and boot it in a test environment on the backup appliance or cloud. It goes beyond just validating the restoration of server operation to test recovery at the application level.
2. Non-Disruptiveness
The solution must fully restore applications, perform analytics, measure recovery time and recovery point, and identify why certain recoveries fail — without impacting productivity. This is achievable if all testing is performed on the backup appliance or in the cloud.
3. Ability to Generate Insightful Reports
The reports generated must be easy to comprehend and be shareable with your auditors. It must identify the number of successful tests and compare the actual recovery point/time to your expected recovery objectives. Additionally, a list of recovery issues and likely causes helps ensure quick remediation.
7 Things to Consider When Selecting a Backup & Recovery Solution
There are many different backup offerings in the marketplace because one solution rarely meets an organization’s needs. However, the following criteria can help SMBs evaluate backup solutions:
1. Hybrid Storage
As most companies are currently dealing with a distributed workforce, just having an on-premise backup will not suffice. Hybrid storage that provides on-premise and cloud storage options is what businesses need.
2. Recoverability
3. Regular Backup
4. Remote Access
5. Scalability
6. Support
7. Satisfies Security and Compliance Standards
The post Recovery Assurance (RA): Is Your Business Data 100% Recoverable? first appeared on Agility Technologies.
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