Macro Systems Blog

The Internet of Things, or IoT is everywhere. There’s a relatively good chance that a device that would be part of the IoT is within your reach right now, perhaps even on your person. Businesses of all kinds utilize the IoT for various purposes as well, but behind this usage lies significant risk from cyberthreats, and a shocking number of businesses seem to accept this risk without much concern… as in, the vast majority of surveyed businesses utilizing the IoT demonstrated a lack of protection but seemed not to be bothered by it.

Digital security cameras provide numerous advantages over their analog counterparts, making them a popular choice for enhancing security in various settings. Listed below are three vital advantages of using digital security cameras.

One major nonprofit has become the victim of a disclosed major data breach, affecting 890 schools all across the US: the National Student Clearinghouse, or NSC. The organization has announced that they have experienced a significant data breach that has put their clients’ data at risk. What does this mean for affected organizations and their clientele?

Data privacy is absolutely imperative these days in both a business and individual context. In some locations, governments have introduced legislation to protect consumers, and in others, there is significant pushback in favor of fewer regulations on business. How does data privacy factor into your business’ operations?

There are a lot of threats to modern businesses, but ransomware seems to be the worst… or at least, the most feared. It seems as though we can’t mention cyberthreats anymore without mentioning ransomware. Alas, we’re right to do so, and the reason for this is a simple one.

You might see encryption as a major Advantage to your cybersecurity strategy, but it’s often utilized in a way that might have you guessing whether you really understand it. Listed below is a closer look into what encryption does to your data, as well as why it is essential for any business to ensure maximum privacy and security.

How often does your organization take it upon itself to ensure that those working for its success—your employees—are kept up to speed on cybersecurity? If your approach is to have your team sit in a room and watch a presentation once a year, it’s time to reconsider your training strategy. The impact that proper cybersecurity training can have, and who tends to have access to it, is discussed below.

We talk about phishing often here, and one method that usually flies under the radar is smishing, or phishing that is conducted via SMS messages. Although email phishing is perhaps the most common method of conducting these scams, you should also be prepared to take on smishing, as it comes with its own share of unique challenges and dangers.

Scams are everywhere in our highly digitized world, which makes it especially imperative that everyone is prepared to deal with them—both personally and professionally. The publication Consumer Reports’ cover feature for its August 2023 edition is dedicated to exactly this goal: helping its readers avoid the various scams and threats out there. Listed below is some of the advice shared in the article, and compare it to the best practices we recommend.

In 2004, a service called VirusTotal was launched and quickly became a popular antivirus and malware scanner to help detect threats in various files and URLs. It became popular enough that it was officially acquired by Google in 2012 and ultimately assimilated into Chronicle, a cloud-based security operations suite for enterprise businesses. However, despite this impressive pedigree, we find ourselves able to look to VirusTotal as a sobering reminder of how fickle cybersecurity can be, with the service being the source of some limited data exposure.

Amazon Prime subscribers recently received an email from the online marketplace warning them of the prevalence of scams that took advantage of their offerings and brand recognition. Listed below is the advice that this email shared, and how it compares to the best practices we recommend for avoiding scams.

These days you can’t afford not to have some portion of your business’ budget set aside for cybersecurity. The question is, how much do you need, and what should you be spending it on first? Let’s take a few moments to dig a little deeper into this question and examine a few cybersecurity protections you should establish as your business’ baseline defenses.

We talk a lot about phishing. What it is, what it does, and perhaps most importantly, what it looks like. However, have you ever expected a phishing email to look like… nothing? As in, a completely blank message?

If you answered, “no,” that’s exactly what today’s cybercriminals are counting on.

The IoT (the Internet of Things) is a fascinating technology, as it exemplifies just how much can be accomplished when Internet connectivity is used to augment the capabilities of otherwise “dumb” devices. Alas, as fascinating as it is, the IoT is also infamous for its security issues, a reputation that attackers have been perpetuating as these devices grow more common.

Of all the cybersecurity threats out there for your business to deal with, there are going to be a few of them that are more likely to impact you than others. That’s just a statistical reality. Listed below is how these threats can be addressed.

While it is imperative that your business implement comprehensive network protections, there are plenty of simple ways that your business’ cybersecurity could potentially fail. This could easily cost you heavily in your available capital, financial and social alike.

AI, also known as artificial intelligence, has been a trending topic lately, with it seemingly being used for any purpose you can imagine nowadays. Alas, this has also included cybercrime.

That being said, just as AI can be a weapon for cybercriminals to utilize, it can also be a shield to help protect your business from threats. For instance, in phishing prevention.

When it comes to security, one often overlooked tool is the virtual private network, or VPN. We recommend that all businesses utilize a VPN to keep remote and hybrid workers from inadvertently putting your business’ data at risk while out of the office. Listed below: why a VPN is so effective, as well as what you should look for in a business-grade VPN tool.

Businesses can't afford to grow complacent with their network security; it could make a significant difference between falling prey to an attack and remaining secure. The process of securing a network must be looked at holistically, from top to bottom. This idea of enterprise security is not new, but even a small business needs to keep it in mind, and these solutions are more accessible than you might think.

One vital component of your business’ security is how well your team is trained to preserve it. Listed below are some of the aspects that you need to be sure you address as you educate your team.