Macro Systems Blog

The scariest online threats are the ones you don't even see coming. Picture this: a hacker tricks one of your employees with a clever phishing email, steals their username and password, and just walks right into your network. No alarms, no warning. 

The good news is there's a simple fix that can make a huge difference: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Just setting this up is one of the biggest steps you can take to make your business much safer and a lot less likely to suffer a catastrophic cybersecurity breach.

We know the headache well: that one important, but crusty, legacy application that the business relies on, but the vendor has long since abandoned. It's a non-negotiable part of operations, but it sits on an outdated OS or platform, a massive, blinking security vulnerability in the middle of our network. We can't patch it, and we can't immediately rip and replace it.

So, how do we sleep at night? The answer, increasingly, is via the strategic application of cloud computing. The cloud isn't just about cost savings or scalability; it's a fundamental change in how we manage risk, especially the risk posed by unpatchable, end-of-life (EOL) software.

Clutter accumulates everywhere: the household junk drawer, an employee’s car, and yes, even your business’ network. In your business network, this clutter is called “digital cruft” and can lead to some serious problems if you aren’t careful.

Adopting smart office technology—from connected lighting and thermostats to sophisticated monitoring sensors—can enhance your workspace, offering efficiency and a modern aesthetic. Yet, as IT experts, we must guide you past the shiny facade to confront a critical reality: every new smart device is a potential gateway for cyber threats.

You should not have to sacrifice security for the sake of being "high-tech." That being said, implementing these solutions without a robust security strategy is a risky gamble.

Does your business have the good fortune of having an in-house IT department? More likely than not, even if you do, your department has maybe a couple of technicians at most, and they are all up to their ears in work, whether it’s keeping up with maintenance or struggling to implement new and innovative solutions. If you’re looking for ways to upgrade your organizational IT infrastructure, we recommend you start with a network audit to determine what needs to be done, and how Macro Systems can help you do it.

They say a man’s home is his castle. We’d contend that a more apt comparison is that someone’s business is more like their castle, realistically speaking.

As such, it is critical to ensure your security in every way possible. Much like a traditional castle was constructed to keep threats out, your business’ security needs to be approached in a similar way.

While we aren’t suggesting that you literally dig a moat or maintain cauldrons full of boiling oil, you do need to implement security measures that serve the same purpose for your business and its network.

With so many devices now connecting to the Internet, decreasing your business’ threat surface area is more critical than ever. Your threat surface area consists of any device that connects to your organization’s IT infrastructure, and if you’re not careful or forget a couple of oddball wearables, you could be looking at a data breach. Listed below is how you can prevent that from happening.

Today's small businesses generate a lot of data. From customer details and sales records to inventory tracking and employee schedules, you need to be able to structure this data so that you can use it effectively. Keeping that data organized and accessible is critical but managing it effectively can often be a hassle. This is where smart database management comes in. When done right, it helps businesses run smoother and often save money.

If you or your organization are concerned about cybersecurity, we’d like to say, “Congratulations, you get it!” Too many people fail to take cybersecurity seriously, and with hackers and data breaches making headlines worldwide, you cannot underestimate them. Listed below is how a cybersecurity consultant can save you time, money, and stress over your security systems.

Network security is hard, which is why so many businesses struggle to implement the solutions they so desperately need to stay safe and relevant. Below we demystify some of these components and lay out in clear terms what your highest priorities should be for your business’ network security.

Technology is a major part of modern business. It’s fair to say anyone that works in business today is at least semi-proficient with the technology needed to complete their tasks. Alas, for many people, however, the fact that their business requires complicated technology is problematic. This is because at any given moment there are people looking to undermine their job, seeking access to accounts that will allow them to siphon money and data from organizations. 

There are many parts of running a business where you can't be too careful, one of which is the realm of cybersecurity. Many of the preventative measures you can implement aim to keep issues from making their way to your infrastructure in the first place, which makes sense from an operational standpoint. With an endpoint detection and response solution—or EDR—you’ll take an important step toward keeping most threats off your infrastructure.

Your standard IT professional may suggest some common methods of network security such as implementing better preventative measures, like firewalls and antivirus. However, there is more that goes into network security—far more. If you’re not careful, you could accidentally miss some of these three security solutions and expose your business to potential threats. But we’re not about to let that happen!

If you are old enough to remember when, like most computer software, antivirus came in a large textbook-sized box at the store, then you probably remember a time when that was the only protection you really needed.

These days there are countless free versions of antivirus out there. How much protection do these actually provide, and when and where might they be a good fit?

You don’t need us to tell you that ransomware is a problem (or maybe you do–we mean, it’s a significant problem). It’s dangerous to both businesses and individuals, and it has become such a common threat that all organizations need to have a plan in place to address it with their staff. Listed below is a three-part strategy that you can use to approach ransomware in the most secure way possible.

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.

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.

Wi-Fi connectivity is a remarkable technology when you think about it, and it has fundamentally changed how we work today. What hasn’t changed, alas, is that hackers and cybercriminals will try to utilize this technology to their own advantage. Thus, let’s discuss a few relatively simple ways that you can enhance your wireless network’s overall security.

Today's threat landscape is vast and unpredictable; even if you think you know enough about cybersecurity to protect your business, we bet that you don’t. It’s not even just in the business world, either, as individuals also struggle against cyberthreats, along with IT administrators. The next couple of weeks will be dedicated to cybersecurity to get across everything you need to know about it.