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Mobile Computer Services, Inc. Shares 10 Ways to Protect Data in an Organization

 10 Simple Ways to Secure Data 

Data and web threats are a stark and unavoidable reality of the world today. Whether it’s a large-scale enterprise or a start-up, any manner of data breach can lead to massive disruptions in the daily operations of a business. Mobile Computer Services, Inc. - a managed IT service company - shares 10 effective ways that small businesses can follow to safeguard their data and network:  

1. An IT strategy

An incident-response strategy will not only ensure the right steps are taken but will also prevent any further errors. A formal IT security strategy must be exhaustive and accessible to all relevant personnel. It not only presents how to protect data and resources but also shares what steps to take in case of an emergency. 

 

2. Malware protection

Malicious software can sneak into PCs and network systems and wreak havoc on an organization’s data. Data threats can be prevented by securing PCs and network systems against malware in the following ways:

• Firewall: The router’s onboard firewall is the first line of defense against data breaches. Although by no means is this sufficient.
• Protection software: Sophisticated security software can deal with identity theft, suspect websites, and hacking without impacting the performance of the computer or network. 
• Anti-spam: Keep the emails clean with Anti-spam software. It is important to take precautions and stop these spams from creating risks and distracting employees. 

3. Wireless setting

A wireless network without a fort of encryption is a sitting duck for hackers. An encryption key may be unable to deflect hackers and therefore a stronger defense is required. An organization can strengthen its router by applying the strongest encryption setting, and turning off the broadcasting function to hide the company network. What can’t be seen cannot be tampered with.

4. Safeguard passwords

A password may seem too simple a suggestion but is one of the best ways to fortify data. The more complex the passwords, the better the protection.

A password must ideally be at least eight characters long and include numbers and non-standard characters within it. A regular change of password is also an important step to follow to optimize data security.

5. Personal device security plan

Certain small to medium organizations that encourage or allow a “Use your own device” policy at the workplace or homes must be aware of the associated security risks. They must have a plan to provide some protection against legal repercussions and mobile system costs. A clear, comprehensive policy must cover pertinent data deletion, location tracking, and Internet monitoring issues.

6. Automatic software updates

An older version of the software makes the device easy prey for hackers. Regular updates of device security settings, operating systems, and other software to their latest versions can safeguard the system against potential threats. Setting any patches and improvements to automatically update in the background can offer an extra layer of protection against hacking.

7. Background checks

Due vigilance while hiring a new employee is crucial to protect the organization from internal threats. A background check is necessary to know one’s employee well. Even sudden changes in employee behavior may indicate other issues that need redressal.

8. Data disposal

Disposing of redundant data is not as simple as deleting it. There must be a sound data destruction policy to ensure there is minimal risk of a security breach. This policy must advise the step-by-step procedures to safely dispose of data for all devices. 

Confidential company data must be properly removed from retired and reused devices and storage media so it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. The data must be overwritten multiple times by the IT disposal partner to ensure it cannot be accessed by freely available tools.

9. Data backup

Besides cybercrime, there are a host of technical problems such as power outages or infrastructure damage that can lead to corruption or loss of data. Even a minor delay can escalate into a huge financial and reputational damage situation. Backing up data is an essential practice that will always keep the organization prepared for the worst and maintain continuity of work.

A cloud service for instance is a good option for storage of data, maintenance of software patches, and implementation of security for small businesses.  

10. Employee education

During onboarding or bi-annual refresher courses, the company security policy must be reiterated to employees to ensure everyone follows it. Additionally, employees must be educated about phishing practices and how to identify scams and precautions they can take.  

Why Mobile Computer Services?

Mobile Computer Services is a professional IT services company that works with small and medium-sized businesses in Wake Forest. The services include:

1. Managed IT services - 24x7 proactive monitoring and management of the company's IT infrastructure.
2. Network services: Comprehensive care for the network systems provided by certified technicians.
3. Business continuity planning: Get the business back on its feet swiftly during and after disasters.
4. IT consulting: High-caliber advice from professional consultants to help achieve business goals.
5. Security: Safeguard business from malicious hackers and cyber attacks.
6. On-demand services: Day or night, the dedicated support staff is always available to assist.
7. Office move: Professional office relocation and network cabling services.
8. VoIP: Reduce telecom expenses and improve communications with powerful phone systems.
9. Email Protection: Protect mail systems from spam and malware.

Contact Mobile Computer Services, Inc. at Wake Forest today at (919) 230-2900 for IT support, services and solutions. 

 

Contact Information:

Mobile Computer Services, Inc.

3650 Rogers Rd Ste 213
Wake Forest, NC 27587
United States

How to Recognize Phishing Attacks and Prevent Them

 How to identify phishing scams and prevent them?  

Statistics have revealed that 90% of all data breaches can be traced back to phishing attacks. The average cost of a successful phishing attack to a medium-sized business is estimated at $1.6million. Mobile Computer Services, Inc. - a managed IT company - shares how to identify phishing scams and reduce the risk they pose.

What is a phishing scam?

Phishing is a type of social engineering attack wherein a victim is duped into sharing confidential data, including login credentials, banking details, and other personal or business information with a hacker. Phishing can not only lead to significant financial loss but also cause loss of sensitive company information, such as revenue figures.

Traditionally carried out only via email, phishing scams are now being carried out via text message (smishing) and phone calls (vishing) as well. Moreover, spear-phishing – personalized phishing attacks on a particular target – has become rampant.

Ransomware - the Trojan horse

Besides gaining precious confidential information from the target, phishing scams can also be used to plant ransomware on a device. It is a form of malware that encrypts the data on the victim’s device disabling any access to all files and information. This is followed by a payment demand or a “ransom” by the cybercriminals to decrypt the data and provide access.

Ransomware is a dangerous malware that is capable of bringing even the largest organization to a standstill.

How to identify a phishing email?

1. Language errors

A careful read of a message can reveal its authenticity. For instance, an email from the bank asking for personal information updates is unlikely to have grammatical and spelling mistakes. Or an untimely mail from a colleague with an unusual amount of language errors must be viewed with caution. 

Phishing emails can seem very genuine until a closer look reveals complex subdomains that mask the actual identity of the sender. One must refrain from clicking on the attachments on such links.

2. A sense of urgency

A sense of urgency in a message takes away the attention from the telltale signs of inauthenticity. Hackers often use a sense of urgency by suggesting a hacked account that needs to be reset or by offering a time-specific promotion or reward. More often than not, this sense of urgency lures the victim into providing information without confirming the genuineness of the sender.

3. Threats

Phishing victims may often receive messages threatening to reveal some information to others. This threatening message may demand personal information or simply carry an attachment that once opened will install ransomware on the device, locking all access to data. 

4. Odd attachments

A simple rule to follow online - do not open an attachment contained in a mail from an unknown person or entity. An attachment with an unusual name or a URL that doesn’t begin with HTTPS and has no SSL certificate is not worth the click. 

6 steps to reduce the phishing risks 

Despite the awareness, some phishing messages may not have any tell-tale signs of being dangerous and fake. But there are certain steps businesses can take to protect themselves and their employees from phishing scams.

1. Install email filters

Researching for an email provider that has effective spam and junk mail filters is worth the effort before making a choice. However, just an email filter is insufficient protection from malicious emails. 

In case of serious phishing concerns, the hyperlinks can be disabled on email settings but this will also block links from authentic senders. 

2. Employ antivirus software

An up-to-date antivirus software protects a business from phishing attacks as well as other types of dangerous threats. Businesses can install antivirus software that is equipped with anti-phishing capabilities that will check links for authenticity and safety. However, it is important to regularly scan the devices as phishing scams may go unnoticed.  

3. Utilize VPNs

If a business utilizes public WiFi connections to access sensitive information, an effective Virtual Private Network (VPN) can decrypt the data during the online activity and provide the much-needed security.

However, one must not access bank accounts or sensitive company information on an unsecured network as it heightens the risk of phishing attacks. 

4. Educate employees

Lack of awareness leads to successful phishing scams. Educating employees is the first step to protecting the business. Simulated phishing tests are a great way to ensure that employees understand and recognize phishing scams. 

5. Encrypt all sensitive data

Encryption of all sensitive information and files is another layer of defense against phishing. This information can only be decoded and accessed by personnel who have the sender’s cipher/key. Encryption can be carried out on a small or large scale depending upon the company's needs. Additionally, some modern operating systems (OS) have built-in encryption programs (such as OS X, Windows, Linux).

6. Update company password

A policy of regular password change is advised to protect the company's information. But this must be enforced without fail when there has been a security breach or an equally compromising situation. Ideally, passwords should be strong, long, and use two-step or multi-factor verification. 

Why Mobile Computer Services?

Mobile Computer Services is a professional IT services company that works with small and medium-sized businesses in Raleigh NC. The services include:

1. Managed IT services - 24x7 proactive monitoring and management of the company's IT infrastructure.
2. Network services: Comprehensive care for the network systems provided by certified technicians.
3. Business continuity planning: Get the business back on its feet swiftly during and after disasters.
4. IT consulting: High-caliber advice from professional consultants to help achieve business goals.
5. Security: Safeguard business from malicious hackers and cyber attacks.
6. On-demand services: Day or night, the dedicated support staff is always available to assist.
7. Office move: Professional office relocation and network cabling services.
8. VoIP: Reduce telecom expenses and improve communications with powerful phone systems.
9. Email protection: Protect mail systems from spam and malware.

Contact Mobile Computer Services, Inc. at Raleigh NC today at (919) 830-9448 to find out about its Managed IT services.  

 

Contact Information:

Mobile Computer Services, Inc. (Raleigh)

8009 CREEDMOOR RD Ste 200
RALEIGH, NC 27613
United States

Kara Mason
(919) 830-9448

Managed IT Service Explains Four Common Cybercriminal Phishing Emails

Dental practices, veterinary clinics, and small businesses must keep their guard up in the effort to maintain cybersecurity. Vulnerabilities can spell disaster. IT managed services are a burden that most small businesses are unable to shoulder alone. An outsourced managed IT solutions provider, such as Mobile Computer Services, Inc. of Wake Forest, is an affordable way to gain the cybersecurity every business needs to stay safe and functional in the “new normal” of accelerated cybercriminal activity.

Four types of phishing pose a critical threat to dental practices, veterinary clinics, and small businesses:

1. Spear phishing
2. Clone phishing
3. Whaling
4. Pop-up phishing

Spear phishing

The majority of phishing emails targets large groups of people. Spear phishing is a type of attack that is more personalized and individual in its approach and focus.

A spear-phishing email, as the name implies, targets a specific individual, business, or organization. Dental practices and veterinary clinics are prime examples of entities that this variety of phishing expedition would single out. The scammers who spear phish invest time to research their niche targets. This more sophisticated phishing is sometimes referred to as social engineering. The emails are configured to closely resemble legitimate sources.

In 2016, millions of Amazon customers received an email containing the same subject line message about an order status with an order code following directly after it. Upon opening the email, consumers found no message, only an attachment. Customers who opened the attachment put themselves or their companies at risk of installing ransomware on their computers or other devices.

Another example of spear phishing emails specifically involves small businesses, including dental practices and veterinary clinics.  The target, in this instance, might be a company employee. The email may seem to originate from higher up the management chain, and it requests access to sensitive company information. If the spear-phishing target responds, a data breach could ensue in which company or employee information is accessed and stolen.

Clone phishing

Another type of malicious phishing, clone phishing, is very difficult to detect. This phishing attack involves creating a version of an email that victims have already received. The email address is very close to the address of the original email, and the formatting of the body of the email resembles the original email, as well. The only difference is the attachment or link in the message has been changed. Unwary victims who click on the link or open the attachment will be taken to a fake website or open an infected attachment. This type of email phishing requires a keen eye and attention to detail to notice.

Whaling

Some phishing expeditions focus on the large catch, the whales. Whaling attacks target chief executive officers, chief operating officers, or other high-level executives in a business. The phisher’s aim is to con these powerful individuals into divulging sensitive corporate information. Any key decision-maker with sensitive information qualifies as a high-value target, including dentists and veterinarians, as well as other small business owners.

These attacks require a higher level of sophistication and much more research. The scheme usually relies on fraudulent emails that seem to originate from trusted colleagues within the company or from legitimate external agencies.

Pop-up phishing

Pop-up phishing utilizes pop-up ads to entice users into installing malware on their computers. The ads may seek to convince the recipient to purchase unnecessary antivirus protection. Scare tactics may be employed. The user might be warned that their computer has been infected with a virus and the only remedy is to install a particular antivirus software. Upon installation, the user discovers this software is non-functional. Sometimes the supposed remedy actually infects the computer with malware.

How can a dental practice, veterinary clinic, or small business protect against a phishing attack?

Small businesses can take simple, common sense, proactive steps to avoid being scammed by phishing expeditions. The application of several commonsense principles and a healthy dose of suspicion are a good combination when dealing with potential cybercrimes. Cybercriminals are smart. Their subtle machinations can hook the most astute business owner or employee. The following principles will help safeguard against falling for the scammer’s tricks.

• Delete suspicious emails.
• Do not click on suspicious links in emails.
• Do not send financial information through email.
• Avoid clicking on pop-up ads. Hackers can add fraudulent messages that pop up when the victim is visiting legitimate websites.
• Protect computers and other devices with strong, multi-layered security software.

Managed IT services are indispensable for cybersecurity in the twenty-first century. An outsourced IT support service is an affordable strategy to gain bullet-proof security and achieve peace of mind. For more information about IT solutions that work, contact Mobile Computer Services, Inc. of Wake Forest by phone at (919) 230-2900.