Tag Archives: IT security

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics and How to Identify Them

Phishing Scam Tactics
Cybersecurity, How To, Phishing, Security, , , ,

Phishing has been a common hacking method for over two decades now. You would think that everyone would already know how it works and how to avoid becoming a victim, right? Sadly, that is not the case for these Phishing Scam Tactics. There are more victims now than ever. In 2022, there were more than 300,000 victims in the US alone, with damages amounting to over $52 million!

The thing is that phishing scams have evolved over the years. Hackers are now more adept at hoodwinking unsuspecting victims, and they also have easy access to modern technology that helps elevate their phishing tactics.

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics

To protect your data and your business, you must build awareness of these scams at all levels of your organization. Here are the top 8 indicators of phishing scam tactics and what to do when you encounter them.

Spoofed Emails

Upon getting an email from a trusted source, many people would open the email without a second thought. Hackers know this and use it for their Phishing Scam Tactics. They make the email look like it came from a reputable source by indicating a trusted sender name, although the email address is not correct. Before opening an email, check that the sender and the address are the same.

Sense of Urgency

Receiving a message that threatens to close your account or bring you legal action can easily cause you to freak out. Because of your panic, you could rashly click on the links as instructed in the email. Of course you would…you don’t want to be sued or go to jail! Stay calm when you receive such emails. Verify the information before taking action.

Malicious Links as a Phishing Scam Tactics

Malicious links are among the oldest phishing methods, but they are still very effective. Sometimes, these links appeal to a person’s natural curiosity, and at other times, they come with the promise of a reward. Either way, it led the unwitting victim to click the link or open the attachment. Again, always check before clicking.

Password Requests

Have you ever received an email from your bank or credit card provider asking for your password or other sensitive data about your account? Never! Legitimate companies do not ask for these kinds of data from clients. In case you get such a request, this is a phishing scam tactics so make sure to block and ignore it. They are almost certainly hackers trying to get into your account.

Misspellings and Poor Grammar

Although many hackers have sharpened their grammar skills by now, many phishing emails are still easily identifiable by wrongly spelled words and typographical errors. Yes, they make you cringe, but these emails can wreak serious havoc on your business. Therefore, you must not even reply or make grammatical corrections.

Personalized Content

It sounds like a legit email if they address you by the correct name and position, right? Hackers are very resourceful. They can get their hands on publicly known information with little effort. They can also access so much more if you engage in their attempts. So before you take any action, make sure to verify the source of the message.

Fake URLs are used in Phishing Scam Tactics

Using fake website URLs is another phishing scam tactic with a very high success rate. Hackers send out emails that look like they came from a trusted source, like a service provider, containing a link to what looks like the actual page of the provider, and they will ask you to log in. Of course, thinking that you are at a legit site, you enter your login details, unknowingly giving them full access to your account.

Unexpected Emails

If you suddenly receive an email out of nowhere that raises an alarm, be immediately wary because this is likely to be a scam. Do nothing they are asking you to do. Don’t even reply. Verify the source of the email to see if it is legit.

Final Thoughts

If anyone in your organization receives any form of these phishing scam tactics, encourage them to speak out so others will be doubly vigilant. If someone thinks someone has already hacked them, it’s not necessarily too late. There are things you can do to minimize the damage. We have outlined the steps in an infographic called “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked”. You can download it by clicking right here.

To learn more about protecting your business from phishing scams and improving your company’s cybersecurity, call us. We will be happy to set you up for a free consultation!

When Is It Time to Start Changing Your IT Provider?

Changing your IT provider
Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Security, Technology, , , , , , ,

Changing your IT provider is not an exciting task. Finding a new one can be stressful. You need to find one that will serve your needs to the highest standards and that you can trust to keep your best interests at heart. Because of the difficulties, many companies choose to slug it out with the one they have even though they are no longer satisfied with the services they are getting.

For some businesses, this kind of setup might still be manageable. But what if your company is already taking losses because of poor service, and you don’t even realize it? How do you know if changing your IT provider is already a must? Here are five signs that you should look out for.

No Dedicated IT Team

When working with an IT provider or managed services provider, you should have a contact person or team you can work with. This plan contrasts with just relying on whoever answers your call. A dedicated team would understand your business and your corporate goals and know how to tie it up with the right IT services to produce the best results.

No Monthly Contract

If you need to pay your provider by the hour, or for every time you require their services, this will not be very economical for your business. When they do not address the problem, and you would need to call them again and pay them again, it makes little sense. You should change your IT provider to one that offers a fixed monthly contract, regardless of how many times you call them.

Use of Outdated Resources

Technology changes constantly. Just because the software or equipment your provider initially used was innovative at the time doesn’t mean that it won’t need to be replaced. A good MSP knows to upgrade resources so that the service they give you is always better or, at the very least, at par with current industry standards.

Inadequate Data Security is A Sign to Start Changing Your IT Provider

Cybersecurity can never be emphasized enough, especially in the world of business nowadays. The threats are getting more rampant and dangerous each day, and companies need to be vigilant. Switch If you feel that your IT provider is not giving you the best cybersecurity solutions your business requires. It doesn’t matter how much they excel in other aspects. It’s not worth it if your business does not have protection.

Changing Your IT Provider Who Is Slow to Respond

When you contact your IT provider, they should give you a prompt response. Every second wasted during a critical network issue or system failure can cost your business greatly. They should at least communicate clearly with you regarding the issue and their proposed solution for a problem.

Final Thoughts on Changing Your IT Provider

The temptation of staying with your current provider can be strong. At least you already know their limitations rather than take the risk on a new provider altogether, right? But then, this would mean continuing to take losses, waste resources, and miss out on great business opportunities.

If you are considering changing your IT provider, Our company is ready and capable of taking over. We have a wide range of managed services for many different industries.  We’d be happy to be your IT partner. To learn more about the services we offer, click here.

If you’re looking for help managing your vendors, download our Free Infographic for helpful tips. You can also call us so that we can discuss the best IT solutions for your business.

IT Compliance and Why It Is Important for Your Business

Compliance
Cybersecurity, Security, , , , , , , ,

In running a business, there are a lot of important matters that need to be taken care of. Even if they are not really in line with the core competencies of the business. One such matter is IT compliance. In the last few weeks, we have been talking about compliance and how it is important to your business.

What Is IT Compliance?

One of our recent blogs gives a brief but enlightening overview of what IT compliance is all about. In a nutshell, it is the process of complying with the rules, regulations and requirements set by a third party, which aim to reduce the risk for your organization and allow you to operate within the location or industry under their jurisdiction.

IT Security

How Is IT Compliance Different from IT Security?

IT security is another term that we are all familiar with, especially these days when online fraud, data breaches and other kinds of cyberattacks are so prevalent. In another recent blog, we list the differences between IT security and compliance, and also how they are similar in some ways.

The Similarities

IT Compliance and security can be quite confusing to a lot of people, with many mistakenly thinking that they are the same concept. This is understandable as both do have to do with the protection of your organization amidst the threat-filled online environment. That is, both reduce the risk for your business and let you operate more smoothly.

Also, both compliance and security are vital for gaining and maintaining the trust of your clients. By showing that your system is secure and fully compliant with all industry and legal standards, you can attract customers and build a positive reputation much more easily.

The Differences

One of the primary differences between IT compliance and IT security is that the former is only to fulfill the requirements set by a third party, while the latter is done for the actual protection of one’s business or company. As such, IT security usually involves much more stringent safety measures and protocols that aim to keep your system as safe as possible.

Another difference is that IT security is an ongoing process that needs to be maintained 24/7 while compliance is done as soon as the requesting party is satisfied. The requirements for compliance remain more or less the same for a very long time, while security needs can change very often as it needs to address the continually evolving strategies used by hackers day in and day out.

Achieving Compliance

Why Compliance Should Be a Team Effort

Compliance is considered by many as routine work that only requires the minimum requirements set by a third party. With that only one individual is working on compliance for the company. But compliance is actually a much more significant and much larger task than that. In yet another blog, we discuss the reasons why compliance should be a team effort for any organization.

Among these reasons is that there are plenty of discussions that need to take place before full compliance is complete. Some of the most crucial issues to talk about our email encryption, data encryption, firewalls, backups, data availability, and storage. If you don’t work on these matters, it can lead to fines and penalties for your company. Worse, it could leave gaps in your security system that hackers can easily get through.

We have a 10-step guideline that you can follow if you think there is a hacker in this infographic.

But of course, we don’t want things to go that far. To minimize the risk of that happening, you need to put due effort into compliance. It won’t be practical or wise to expect just one person to complete this sensitive work. We highly recommend delegating the work to a team of experts who can guarantee that all requirements are complete. This will let your organization be fully compliant in no time at all.

To find out more about how we can help, just call us today and we will schedule a free consultation!

What Is IT Security and IT Compliance?

IT Security
Cybersecurity, Security, Technology, , , , , ,

IT security and IT compliance are two essential matters for any business or organization. Many people think they are the same, while others frequently confuse one for the other. They are not the same thing, but when implemented together, they can provide maximum digital safety and minimize the risk of data breaches and other online threats. In this article, we’ll explain which is which and why both require your attention.

What Is IT Security?

As the term implies, IT security refers to ensuring the security of a company’s or organization’s IT infrastructure. When creating a security strategy for your business, IT security experts usually have two goals to achieve. First, it should be able to thwart cyberattacks that will damage the system or put the company’s data in danger. Second, it should give attackers a way to do as little damage as possible if they get through the defenses.

When developing an IT security strategy, a few key points must be considered. Some of the most important ones are the confidentiality of sensitive data, the integrity of the system, and the accessibility of vital information and systems.

With these goals in mind, it is easy to see that IT security involves best practices to guarantee the safety and protection of an organization, regardless of the industry or size of the business.

What Is IT Compliance?

IT compliance is about meeting the needs of a third party so that the business operations or services are accepted. For example, governments have rules about technology that companies must follow if they want to do business legally in the government’s territory. Some industries also have specific IT guidelines that we must follow. IT compliance also includes meeting the contractual terms of a client or customer.

Most times, IT compliance overlaps with IT security. Many of the requirements have to do with protecting the system and data. However, the purpose of IT compliance is to meet specific requirements. If you can’t meet these requirements, you might not get a license or certification that you need, or a potential client might not choose you for their project.

What Are the Differences between IT Security and Compliance?

Although they have some similarities, IT security and IT compliance have three major differences.

1. What They Protect

IT security protects your business’s data and IT infrastructure. This is done by using best practices and the best protection possible. IT compliance safeguards your company’s operations by ensuring that all rules are followed. This protection lets your business run smoothly and without problems.

2. Who They Benefit

Your company is the one that benefits from IT security procedures because it is your data and your network that are guarded from online risks. With IT compliance, you have some benefits, but its primary purpose is to meet the demands of a third party.

3. How They Are Implemented

IT compliance is when a third party sets specific requirements, and once these requirements are met, the job is considered done. But IT security requires ongoing upgrades and maintenance to fight current threats. It needs to change with your business and may need to be updated and improved all the time.

If you need help with either of these aspects of your business, it is best to enlist the services of experts rather than attempt to tackle it with limited skill or experience.

We can prepare a solid strategy to keep your company protected, and we can help your business recover quickly if you become the victim of a cyberattack. Just give us a call, and we’ll be on it right away! In the meantime, download our FREE Infographic to learn Ten Tips on what to do after you’ve been hacked.