Why MFA is Important for Your Company’s Cybersecurity

Security, ,
Employee activating a multi-factor authentication using a mobile phone and a laptop.

Securing your information systems against cybercriminals.

It’s becoming increasingly challenging for individuals and businesses to secure their information systems against cybercriminals. Hackers are always trying to find ways of breaking into your data systems, and mere passwords may not be sufficient deterrence. To enhance your data security, there’s a need to add an extra layer of security, and this is where multi-factor authentication (MFA) comes into the picture.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Also referred to as 2-Factor Authentication (2FA), multi-factor authentication is a security system combining more than two forms of authentication to improve account security. With the MFA in place, credentials won’t be enough to allow access to your accounts.

When you activate the MFA on your device, account or website, the server will automatically require a second independent form of authentication to log you in successfully. Without this additional authentication, you won’t be able to access your account, website or device.

Importance of MFA on VPN connections to the office

VPNs provide a safe and secure environment for remote access to your internal on-premise applications, but they aren’t a silver bullet. If you’re providing users with just a password and username to access your VPN connections, you’re not completely immune to data breaches because those credentials can be stolen.

Here are reasons you need to activate MFA on your VPN connection:

  • Protection against credential theft: The MFA provides an additional layer of security when accessing your accounts, data and websites.
  • Provides visibility into all devices on the network: MFA sends authentication requirements to devices, so you can tell which devices are connected to the network.
  • Secure access to on-premises and cloud applications: With the MFA on, login credentials in the wrong hands won’t do much harm.
  • Help enforce granular access security policies: It’s a way of enforcing security policies – just ensure every user has MFA activated on their endpoints.
  • Achieve regulatory compliance: It’s a requirement to meet data security policies.
Importance of MFA on Office 365 logins

Hackers often fish for any loopholes to exploit and gain access to your data, and one potential place to find a loophole is your Office 365 account. Thankfully, Microsoft realized they needed to secure their Office 365 client accounts back in 2014, and made a provision for adding the MFA.

Here are some important benefits of adding MFA:

  • Increase security of user logins: When you activate the MFA, you’ll be required to acknowledge a phone call or text, message, or an app notification on your smartphone, so you can access Office 365 services. This means you won’t have to worry about your logins falling into the wrong hands, and someone using them to access your account. You will receive a notification when they attempt to log in, and know it’s time to change your logins.
  • Prevents phishing attacks: MFA helps you to know you’re logging into Office 365, and not a replica site designed to steal your sensitive data. If inputting your credentials doesn’t trigger a second authentication activity, then you know you’re about to fall victim to a phishing attempt.
  • Keeps track of all login activity: Multi-factor authentication can also help you keep track of all logins, so you can review them periodically to see if there’s abnormal activity. A notification of a failed login should be the first red flag you should look for when you’re ascertaining the security of your Office 365 account.

MFA is no longer a luxury today when cybercriminals are hell-bent on compromising your information systems and causing data breaches. A data breach can be a costly affair, requiring you to spend thousands of dollars to restore your systems. Be sure to set up MFA on all your accounts and VPNs to have an additional layer of security. At SystemsNet, we can help you implement MFA on your accounts and keep your data safe. Contact us today to handle all the installations.

How EventTracker Security Helps Small to Medium Size Businesses Succeed

Security, , , ,
IT professionals looking at a laptop in their office to detect signs of malicious activities - using EventTracker Security tools

Providing your organization with an overview of your network security.

Small to medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the American economy. According to a study by The Guardian, these businesses account for over 80% of all companies in America. Businesses employ more than half of the private sector workforce.

They need to have efficient systems that protect them from cyber attacks to be successful. EventTracker Security is one such system that can help SMBs succeed in the age of digital transformation.

It is a security information and event management (SIEM) system that helps businesses detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats. It does this by collecting data from all of the devices on a network, including routers, firewalls, servers, workstations, and more. This data then gets analyzed to identify potential security threats.

This post will explore the top five benefits of EventTracker Security for SMBs.

1. EventTracker Security Helps Businesses Detect Cyber Threats

The system constantly monitors all devices on a network for signs of malicious activity. If there is a threat, an alert gets generated and sent to the security team. It allows businesses to identify and investigate potential hazards quickly.

EventTracker Security also offers a comprehensive dashboard that gives businesses an overview of their network security. It allows businesses to quickly see which devices are vulnerable and take steps to mitigate the risk.

The system also includes a Threat Intelligence Database that contains information on millions of known threats. This helps businesses identify and investigate new threats as they emerge.

This data gets stored in a secure, cloud-based platform accessible from anywhere.

2. EventTracker Security Helps Businesses Investigate Cyber Threats

Upon discovering a threat, the EventTracker Security team will work with you to investigate the incident. They will provide all the data you need to understand what happened and how to prevent it from happening again.

The EventTracker Security team has years of experience in investigating cyber incidents. They will use their expertise to help you understand the root cause of the incident and take steps to prevent a recurrence.

3. EventTracker Security Helps Businesses Respond to Cyber Threats

Following an investigation of an incident, the EventTracker Security team will help you develop a response plan. The plan will include steps to mitigate the risk of future attacks and protect your business from future incidents.

The EventTracker Security team will also work with you to develop a communication plan. It ensures that your customers and employees are up-to-date on the incident and your response.

EventTracker Security also offers a 24/seven support line that can help you with questions or concerns you may have.

4. EventTracker Security is Easy to Use

The EventTracker Security platform is user-friendly. It includes a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy to monitor your network security.

The platform should be scalable. As your business expands, you can add more devices and users to the system without disruption.

EventTracker Security is also available in various languages, making it easy for businesses to use the system regardless of their location.

5. EventTracker Security is Affordable

EventTracker Security is a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. The system includes various features that can be customized to meet your specific needs.

EventTracker Security also offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model that makes it easy to budget for the system. This pricing model allows you to pay for only the features you need when you need them.

Get Started with EventTracker Security today!

EventTracker Security is an essential tool for small to medium-sized businesses. It helps businesses detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats. Also, it is easy to use and affordable, making it an excellent solution for businesses of all sizes.

Please don’t wait until it’s too late; get started with EventTracker Security today! Contact us for more information.

7 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know about VoIP

VOIP, , , ,
A laptop and a wireless headset showing VoIP system operation concept

Making calls online from any internet-enabled device.

Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony continues to gather momentum in people’s personal and professional lives. You probably even have an app on your phone that uses VoIP, or know a company that uses VoIP telephony. While this technology may appear as simple as calling people online, there could be many things you don’t know about it.

We can bet you’ve likely never known about these seven surprising things about VoIP:

1.      VoIP predates the internet

Although it has the internet in its acronym, VoIP came before the internet. The first VoIP call was made over ARPANET, a military network that gave way to today’s internet. The call was one-way, with a speed of 16 kb/s, but it still went through despite at a snail’s pace. This is certainly new to you because you tend to believe everything on the internet came after the internet.

2.      Started the culture of pushing ads without the “Skip Ad” button

Did you know where YouTube got the idea of using ads to generate revenue? Well, unlike YouTube, VoIP didn’t provide the option to “Skip Ad” as YouTube does. You just have to go through the entire ad before making the connection. This enabled VoIP to expand to outside companies and generate revenue. Social media revenue models need to salute VoIP for the ingenious idea.

3.      Thugs use it to launder money

VoIP got recognition from the most unexpected quarters: organized crime. Criminals use video games such as Second Life to commit money laundering scams and share hit information on their competitors. It’s so complicated that the police didn’t have much to do about it. You only have to watch The Sopranos to understand for an idea of how it happens.

4.      It was developed by gamers

Speaking of video games, gamers needed to find a way to communicate with each other in real-time during the games – and VoIP came to their minds. But you probably believe it was developed by some tech guys holed up somewhere burning the midnight oil. Today, gamers don’t have to use VoIP to communicate in-game due to a litany of instant messaging platforms available as well as the in-game chat platforms.

5.      You don’t need a phone to make VoIP calls

When people think about calls, a phone comes to their minds automatically and VoIP is no exception. What you don’t know is that you really don’t need an actual phone to make VoIP calls. Thanks to IoT, you can make these calls online from any internet-enabled device. Don’t throw away that good old laptop just yet: you can turn it into a VoIP device.

6.      It’s got superior call quality

VoIP call quality is better than PSTN calls because of its significantly greater frequency range. It makes it easier for your ears to differentiate different sounds compared to PSTN calls, which are sometimes affected by “noise”. And you just need an internet connection, not some signal boosters or booths or even satellites erected across the country.

7.      Big telcos are against it

Surprisingly, big telcos across the globe are lobbying governments to limit or block the use of VoIP around the world. This is because widespread VoIP services may easily cut into the profitability of the big telcos and probably drive some out of business. When it comes to VoIP you don’t need much infrastructure, potentially reducing phone call costs by up to 90%.

With SystemsNet on your side, you won’t have to worry about whatever you don’t know about VoIP or big telcos mounting pressure on world governments to limit the use of internet-enabled calls. Choose the level of service you want and we will deliver with a smile. For more information about VoIP services, please contact us today.

Understanding Business Downtime

Manage Service, , , , , ,
Professional in an office showing stress while dealing with a business downtime.

Dealing with service downtime

Downtime is a factor that will determine the success of your business. It is the total time elapsed when a piece of equipment or a machine is not functional. There are two kinds of downtime:

Planned Downtime

This kind occurs outside the scheduled business trading hours. Weekends are appropriate for this kind of this downtime. Effective planning for this kind of downtime requires companies to know when their demand cycles occur.

Unplanned Downtime

Unplanned downtime occurs when there is an unanticipated failure of a process or equipment. This kind of downtime occurs when companies are less prepared to address it quickly. It usually occurs at the busiest time of the day.

How Does Downtime Affect Your Business?

The cost of downtime can be very high when not managed. The cost varies from industry to industry. Nevertheless, it does not affect only your income. Here’s how downtime affects different industries:

Manufacturing Industry

In manufacturing, downtime could lead to a lack of raw materials. It will also increase the cost of holding inventory. Manufacturers will experience loss in production during downtime. Reducing downtime in manufacturing will increase your production levels.

Distribution Industry

The supply chain requires an efficient workforce. Employees need to focus on their tasks to increase efficiency. However, downtime leads to issues that divert the focus of employees. It will lead to an increase in labor cost per unit.

Service Industry

Downtime could lead to damage to a brand’s reputation for your service industry. Clients who have had experience in your system could write a negative review of your brand. These clients could damage your brand image further by sharing their experiences with friends and family. It might push away your current and potential clients.

Online Industry

Loss of opportunity can be very devastating. This is usually the case for industries such as online shopping that experience downtime. Downtime could also lead to data loss. Cyberattacks are also common during downtime.

Advertising and Marketing Industry

Downtime causes a loss of traffic for marketing sites. Visitors of these sites also lose trust in the company. It takes a lot of effort and money to rebuild that trust.

What Causes of Downtime?

Knowing the typical causes of downtime helps to avoid future inconveniences. Technology is the leading cause of downtime. In particular, IT downtime is the most popular in businesses. IT issues from any of the following may cause downtime:

Hardware Failure

Out-of-date hardware results in hardware failure. It cannot execute complex applications. This can result in data traffic flow congestion. To avoid hardware failure, replace your old hardware with the latest collection.

Software Updates

Systems and processes need to be updated regularly to maintain their efficiency. However, relying on outdated software will lead to scheduled downtime. Out-of-date software is also vulnerable to bugs. Bugs in a server’s operating system will cause server downtime.

Employee Error

Human error is the most frequent cause of IT downtime. These errors occur when employees fail to follow laid-down protocols. Although human error can not be completely avoided, it can be controlled. You can consider documenting each task step-by-step to ensure that a standard procedure is always followed.

Internet Outages

Most businesses today rely on the internet to deliver their services and products. Internet outages are therefore a significant cause of downtime for businesses. Network congestion and faulty routers are some of the causes of internet outages. Failed link-to-internet provider also leads to internet outages.

Understaffed IT Departments

Businesses require enough IT experts to monitor their network, applications, and servers. Understaffed IT departments are unable to perform tasks effectively. Companies ought to hire dedicated experts to manage their IT needs.

Let Us Support You

Preventing downtime should be a top priority for your company. You need to have a team of experienced individuals monitoring and being proactive to prevent downtime and that is where SystemsNet comes into play. Ensure you contact us today to get started.