Security can be rough for small businesses to optimize, but that does not make it any less imperative. One such way that security can work against you is actually your employees’ predispositions toward it; the cognitive biases that your employees have regarding security can put your business at risk, even if that is the last thing on their minds.
Macro Systems Blog
Cybersecurity is one of those components to an IT strategy that is absolutely imperative; you cannot ignore it in the modern age of ransomware and other high-profile hacks. In order to make sure that you are prepared to handle anything that comes your way, you must periodically test your security practices and assess how well your team can prepare for attacks. The question remains as to how often you should do this.
“Hackers are a serious threat to modern businesses” isn’t exactly a novel statement, is it? On the other hand, if a hacker was lurking on your network, would you know the signs to help you catch them? Just in case, we wanted to share a few strategies that can help highlight these warnings so you can more effectively catch any threats present on your network, especially when your workforce is accessing it remotely.
Nothing is more irritating than going to log into your device and finding out that you can't access it or that files you thought were there have been wiped. Alas, this is the situation that many users of a specific device have recently gone through. Thanks to an unpatched vulnerability, users of Western Digital’s My Book network-attached storage device are suffering from lost files and lost account access stemming from remote access.
A new ransomware attack has surfaced, this time mostly targeting IT companies and their clients. The attack is specifically targeting the Kaseya platform. Kaseya is management software that many IT companies utilize to remotely manage and support technology. The attack in question targeted Kaseya’s supply chain via a vulnerability in its VSA software; this attack is notable because of how it targeted the supply chain, not only striking at the vendor’s clients—notably IT companies—but also their customers. Essentially, this attack had a trickle-down effect that is causing widespread chaos for a massive number of businesses.
The last few months have been filled with severe cyberattacks, particularly those taking advantage of major businesses that might not initially be considered targets for these kinds of attacks. For example, McDonald’s Restaurants was recently breached. We examine the situation below, and how it plays into the recent trends we’ve witnessed.
Millions of people find themselves sitting in front of a computer moving files around and corresponding with people over the phone, through email, or updating info in the company’s line of business app. However, what many of them don’t know, is that, at any time, they are only a couple of clicks away from causing significant problems for their organization. This is why it is extremely imperative to train your staff on what to look for and how to address those situations when they do arise.
According to a survey conducted by Splunk and Enterprise Strategy Group, more business leaders plan to funnel funding into their cybersecurity; 88 percent of respondents reported a planned increase into their investments, 35 percent reporting that these boosts will be substantial. Listed below are a few of the insights that this survey has revealed.
Last weekend a significant cyberattack occurred against the world’s largest meat processor and distributor, JBS S.A., that completely shut down the company’s operations in both North America and Australia… and as a result, has affected the supply chains associated with the organization. What lessons can be learned from all this?
Most accounts these days require a password and, as such, the average user has countless of these codes that need to be kept secure. Some web browsers have built-in password management tools to help make them more user-friendly, but with so much convenience involved, one has to ask whether or not these built-in management tools are as secure as they should be.
Most organizations have compliance regulations they need to meet. 2021 is becoming somewhat of a tipping point for some. Businesses are dealing with the development of new data privacy laws that will surely add some responsibilities on top of already established regulations. Below is a look at compliance and why it is critical to stay on top of it.
Ransomware has been a significant problem for the past several years. Once known for breaching networks directly, the establishment of uncrackable encryption left hackers looking to change their strategies. Now they use scams to get people to give them access to network resources. If they are successful, it can deliver more than headaches for a business. Below is a look at what makes ransomware so dangerous and how your business can combat the constant attacks that come your way.
Your organization's data is perhaps its most important resource, which is why it is so critical that it remains protected against all threats (including those that come from within your own business). Consider, for a moment, the ongoing trial of Xiaorong You, going on in Greenville, Tennessee. Accused of stealing trade secrets and committing economic espionage, You allegedly stole various BPA-free technologies from various companies—including Coca-Cola and the Eastman Chemical Company, amongst others—to the tune of $119.6 million.
We always picture hackers as these foreboding, black-clad criminals, smirking through the shadows in their dark room by their computer monitor. Hard, uncaring individuals who don’t go outside very often, staring at code as if they were able to decipher the Matrix.
It’s time we give up this persona and stop mystifying cybercriminals. Why?
It only takes a few dollars and some spare time to truly hold an individual’s data hostage.
Macro Systems likes to remind people as much as we can of the importance of staying up-to-date with your organization’s cybersecurity. There are numerous things you can do to strengthen your grip on your network. This month we thought we’d go over some of the solutions we provide to help our clients secure their network and infrastructure.
Everyone knows that modern businesses can be defined on how they approach cybersecurity. Alas, even if your business makes a comprehensive effort to protect your network and data from data breaches, all it takes is one seemingly minor vulnerability to be exploited to make things really hard on your business. Listed below is a look at the major data breaches that have happened since the calendar turned to 2021.
It is not uncommon for people to have very different personalities in the office than they do during their off hours, with different standards and practices to suit them. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that on the surface, you need to be sure that they are at least upholding the kind of security best practices that you expect of them in the office while they are at home.
Healthcare is a heated issue regardless of where you live. As a result you’d think that the industry would be one of the first to implement new information technology. Alas, the healthcare industry has sometimes lagged behind other industries on the deployment of new IT tools. One technology that is being used in the development of new IT tools for healthcare is blockchain. How blockchain technology is being utilized and how it can change the face of healthcare going forward is listed below.
A lot has been made about biometric authentication over the past decade, so much so that it has been loosely integrated into a lot of the access control mechanisms on most of today's mobile devices. Fingerprint scanners, retina scanners, and facial recognition are all part of the transition to biometrics to upgrade security and privacy. However, for today's businesses, implementing biometrics can have some major disadvantages. Listed below are the pros and cons of biometric authentication.
Gmail has been as secure as most other email platforms, but email is email and there are times when you send an email that isn’t opened promptly and you’d rather not have the information in that message get sent around or archived where you can’t control it. Gmail has now added a feature that allows users to send messages that will delete themselves in a predetermined time frame, and work to keep the contents of those messages from being shared.