Category Archives: Manage Service

Building a Culture of Employee Data Security Training

Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Security, Technology, , ,

Data Security Training

Data security is no longer the new concept that it was a few years ago. In today’s digital age, most people already recognize that data security protocols are important and that there are dire consequences when these protocols are not followed. However, in many industries, there is still a general assumption that the responsibility for data security training falls only on the company’s IT team.

Sure, the IT department is in charge of the technical stuff. However, each employee must be accountable, especially these days, when threats of online attacks are coming in from all directions. Now more than ever, we need to normalize the practice of employee data security training regularly.

Fostering a Culture of Data Security Training

To ensure the protection of data, everyone must pull their weight. However, it will still have to begin with the upper ranks. As a business owner, there are a lot of things you can do to get the ball rolling.

Regular Employee Data Security Training

A good way to start is by arranging for regular employee data security training to provide awareness and education to every single member of your staff. These sessions don’t even have to delve deep into the technical stuff. Some topics might include identifying cyber threats, learning secure data handling, or even simple but vital matters like creating strong passwords.

Education on the Impact of Data Breaches

Employees are more likely to adopt data security practices when they have a full understanding of the consequences of laxity. A data breach can have an impact on their personal lives, as well as their business. With this realization, employees will be more careful and take on a much more proactive stance in terms of data security and handling.

Incentives for Maintaining Security Protocols

To further encourage employees to show diligence in carrying out security protocols, you can offer incentives in various forms. By rewarding them for their efforts, you can expect changes like closer attention to GDPR compliance and considerably fewer data privacy mistakes from your staff. Before long, a strong culture of data security will penetrate the entire organization.

Partnering with an MSP for Employee Data Security Training

Training your employees purely through in-house efforts may sound easy, but it is often not. More than just the drive and determination, you need to have the right skills and technical knowledge to impart.

For this, partnering with an MSP is the best solution. With certified experts taking charge of employee data security training, you can rest assured that your team will get the best instruction possible, and you can direct your attention toward the core competencies of your business. Also, take a chance to download our new resource Data Breach Response Plan Template for your peace of mind. If you are ready to build a culture of data security training in your organization, give us a call and we’ll set you up for a free consultation!

5 Data Privacy Mistakes to Avoid

Cybersecurity, Data Backup, How To, Security, , , ,

Data Privacy Mistakes

Data privacy mistakes can set the stage for immense damage to one’s business. An insignificant error can cost you millions of dollars in fines and reparations. It can even put you smack in the middle of stressful lawsuits. And it can even blow up and seriously harm the reputation of your business!

Therefore, the pressure is very high for business owners to avoid these mistakes at all costs. To do that, you first need to know which data privacy mistakes to avoid. That is what we are going to talk about in this post today.

5 Most Common Data Privacy Mistakes and Potential Solutions

The dread of something terrible happening because of a single wrong move can be debilitating to your business. Free yourself from needless worrying by knowing what data privacy mistakes to avoid and planning appropriate contingencies.

Failure to Obtain Consent

Collecting personal data without explicit consent directly violates the General Data Protection Regulation. Every time you ask people for personal data, be sure to include a way for them to either give recorded consent or opt out.

Weak Data Security Practices

With so many advanced data security systems now available, there is no excuse to stick to practices that are way below par. At the very least, be sure to use a reliable encryption method, use updated software, secure your storage systems, and conduct regular security audits.

Data Privacy Mistakes – Ignoring Data Subject Rights

According to the GDPR, it is the right of users to access, correct, or delete data they have submitted for collection. You can honor this right by establishing procedures that let them request access, corrections, or deletion of their information.

Over-Retention of Data: A Risky Data Privacy Mistake

The longer you store collected data, the higher the risk of a data breach. A simple solution is to store data only as long as necessary. Once it is no longer needed, the data must be deleted from your system.

Inadequate Staff Training

Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. This is largely due to the inadequate security training they receive, especially with data privacy. Regular training sessions on privacy laws, data security practices, and data privacy mistakes to avoid will equip your staff with better knowledge and skills to handle data for your business.

Final Thoughts on Data Privacy Mistakes

These are just the most common data privacy mistakes to avoid. To ensure that none of these errors are made, the best move is to hire an MSP to take care of your data security. Now, if, despite all your precautions, your organization still falls victim to a data breach, you must have a recovery strategy ready to roll out immediately. We can help you with this by providing a free Data Breach Response Plan Template for your peace of mind. Download this resource right here, tailor it to align with your cybersecurity needs, and you’ll be ready for the worst attacks.

Recognizing the IT Security Risks Facing Your Business Today

Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Technology, , , , ,

IT security risks

How many real or imminent cyber threats did your company encounter in the past month? These days, it’s not unusual for a business to face IT security risks daily since hackers are becoming increasingly creative. An unknowingly clicking on a link or download can cause bleeding losses before you know it.

Did you know that in 2023, over 75% of attacks on small businesses did not even use malware? Hackers mostly use phishing and other sophisticated social engineering scams nowadays, which prey on many unaware victims. Can you spot such threats before they materialize?

When it comes to business cybersecurity, awareness is a vital element for staying safe. You must have protective measures in place, like a firewall or an antivirus program. Moreover, having an expert to help you handle these vulnerabilities is the better option.

How will you mitigate the hazard when you are unaware of the cyber threats that can harm your business? With your staff’s level of awareness, how likely is it for your company to stop an attack? If these questions lead to more confusion, now is the time to learn about IT security risks.

Most Common Types of IT Security Risks Against Businesses in 2024

Online attacks come in all forms and from all directions, making it challenging to protect your business. Here are the most common cyber threats that could affect small businesses today.

IT Security Risks – Ransomware

Hackers use ransomware to control a company’s data, which ultimately freezes operations and does massive damage to the business. The culprit would then demand a ransom for the victim to retrieve the data. When faced with this dilemma, would you pay an exorbitant amount to get your valuable information back? Most companies would say a resounding yes.

Credential Stuffing

Cybercriminals can now break into your network by attempting various login credentials. Using automated tools, they can go through millions of username and password combinations in seconds. Isn’t it frustrating that the hacker can successfully pull your login information within a substantial number of chances? Would you like to see if your passwords are on the dark web? We thought so. Contact us here to pull your report. Mention this blog to waive the cost of the report.

IT Security Risks – Social Engineering

Social engineering is a very dangerous cyber threat based on human psychology. Hackers use manipulative tactics to trick people into divulging sensitive data, like phishing, pretexting, and quid pro quo. Anyone is a potential victim, more so if the person is misinformed regarding business cybersecurity.

Take Business Cybersecurity to the Next Level with Co-Managed IT

Implementing protective measures to combat cyber threats is the first step to mitigating risks. The right steps to take include tightening your grip on IT security.

Is your team regulating access controls stringently? Do you train your employees on cybersecurity regularly? Does your company have an efficient backup and recovery plan? These factors come together to form the defenses of your business.

Cyber security is a rapidly evolving area and new threats arise practically every day. Your internal IT team, regardless of how skilled they are, is still vulnerable. In this case, co-managed IT presents a viable solution.

By taking a look at this free Cyber Risk infographic, you can have a more accurate picture of the cyber threats your business is facing. It also illustrates how a co-managed IT partner can help your in-house team in enhancing your company’s cybersecurity strategy.

Going over this information and stats will only take a couple of minutes, but it can make a vast difference in the security of your business! Call us today for more information!

Can Your Business Benefit from Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Technology, , , , ,

Copilot for Microsoft

Do you need an AI assistant for your business? Many developers continue introducing AI-powered tools to the market, promising to make work much easier. However, can they deliver to consumer expectations, which are infinitely higher these days? We introduce to you Copilot for Microsoft 365.

While it’s tricky to speak for other AI applications, one is gaining a lot of buzz currently. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a power-packed productivity tool boasting robust machine learning and natural language processing in one.

The result? A highly beneficial AI assistant that’s perfect for your business. Learn more about Copilot in this guide!

Copilot for Microsoft 365: an overview

Think of Microsoft Copilot as your go-to assistant for everyday tasks. Do you need to create presentations? Need to brainstorm new ideas for your next marketing campaign? This AI tool can practically do it all:

  • Word. Create, comprehend, translate, summarize, and analyze documents. Transform text into visualizations and incorporate data from a wide variety of sources.
  • PowerPoint. Analyze data and organize it into slides. Add media and content, animations, and guide rehearsals for better presentations.
  • Excel. Analyze data sets and suggest formulas, including task automation. Generate charts and tables, format templates, and program macros.
  • Outlook. Create, summarize, and edit emails, and organize inboxes and calendars. Improve email drafts and manage contacts.
  • Teams. Summarize discussions in real-time and analyze conversations. Task coordination and development of custom bots.

These super functionalities enhance the way you approach work tasks. Combined with an efficient managed IT service, you can rest assured that your business runs seamlessly every day. With Copilot for Microsoft 365 doesn’t that sound like an appealing dealmaker for you?

Benefits of Copilot for Microsoft 365

Rather than a one-track AI tool, Copilot is a multi-faceted suite of assistants to match different aspects of your company. There’s virtually a Copilot AI assistant to streamline your business.

Quick and comprehensive research

Microsoft Copilot revolutionizes the way you find information online and offline. It’s an excellent tool that pulls data from a vast array of sources, saving effort and time in the process.

Productivity boost with Copilot for Microsoft 365

This AI tool is intelligent and can automate tasks on your behalf. Doing so improves your workflow, especially when dealing with Microsoft apps that you use in the office. It allows your team members to invest their energy in achieving vital long-term and short-term goals.

Creative support with Copilot for Microsoft 365

The speed and accuracy with which this AI-powered assistant performs visualization and organization is extraordinary. You can create and edit presentations and content in minutes and receive effective suggestions to improve your creative processes.

The takeaway

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is the ticket to improving a great chunk of your work. With the right managed service provider and this AI tool in action, you can focus on more important business matters. Should you get it for your company? Yes, definitely!