Why A Complete IT Network Health Check Is Essential For Your Miami Based Business

Most organizations have no ongoing visibility into IT network health. This presents several issues: access control problems, unpatched systems and unchecked vulnerabilities that can be exploited by internal or external threat actors.to name a few.

In short, if your business is only doing”basic assessments” then here lies the problem:

  • Not comprehensive enough to be effective
  • Internal vulnerability scanning is often excluded
  • Cloud infrastructure and Microsoft 365 isn’t factored in
  • No holistic network activity and vulnerability reporting

Break the cycle of chaos and gain clear insights into your complete IT network’s strengths and vulnerabilities.

In less than 1 hour, network analysis can deliver a comprehensive health report that assigns a risk score to every aspect of your organization’s IT network, SQL Servers, Security, Exchange instances, and Microsoft 365 use.

Here at ThirdPowerIT, our expert IT professionals will conduct a thorough network analysis that will:

LEAVE BASIC ASSESSMENTS BEHIND, AND GRADUATE TO NEXT-GENERATION THREAT ASSESSMENT BY SCHEDULING YOUR COMPREHENSIVE IT NETWORK ANALYSIS TODAY.

The post Why A Complete IT Network Health Check Is Essential For Your Miami Based Business appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

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Personally Identifiable Information: Don’t Put Your Customers At Risk Of Cyber Theft

Are you making it easy for hackers to access your customer data as a result of not having a cyber security plan in place?

If you’re familiar with our IT blog, then you may already know what Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is and how it affects your business and your customers.

In previous blogs, we talked about:

  • What PII is
  • Why you need to secure customer PII
  • The top causes of a PII data breach
  • The risks to your business when PII is stolen

In this blog, we are going to cover how stolen PII implicates your customers — and why you should care.

First let’s refresh your memory on what PII is and what happens when there’s a PII data breach.

 

What is PII?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to various data points that can be used to identify an anonymous individual. Social security numbers, tax identification numbers, and location data are all examples of PII.

 

What Happens When PII is Stolen?

When a hacker gets hold of any type of PII, they gain access to confidential information. They can use this information to tap into your network and steal your data. They can also use this information to target your customers.  Having a cyber security plan is crucial.

So, how can they use PII against your customers, and why should you care? Keep reading to find out.

 

PII DATA BREACH: KNOW THE RISKS TO YOUR CUSTOMERS

  1. Identity Theft

Cybercriminals acquire sensitive customer data to use it to their advantage. For example, they can impersonate your customers using their credit card numbers, social security numbers, health plan beneficiary numbers or biometric identifiers. Then, they use this stolen identity to commit fraud or gain financial benefits.

  1. Social Engineering Attacks

Data breaches can uncover your customers’ PII, especially sensitive data, such as name, address, contact details, date of birth and so on. Cybercriminals can put these data points on the Dark Web and use them to launch social engineering attacks on your customers. The attackers may then psychologically manipulate or trick customers into sharing their confidential details.

  1. Blackmail Campaigns

Data breaches can expose sensitive medical information, such as psychotherapy reports or blood test reports. Cybercriminals can use this information to run blackmail campaigns against your customers by threatening to leak the information online.

As you can see, the implications of a data breach can have devastating effects on your customers, and this can also affect you.

 

How Stolen PII Affects You and Your Business

So, how does stolen customer data impact you?

If your customers experience a cyber attack of this kind, they will be less likely to work with you in the future. What’s more, they may write poor reviews, which can damage your online presence. They may even go as far as suing you for negligence.

Don’t lose the trust of your customers and the integrity of your business.

 

Keep Customer Data Safe and Secure

Want to do everything in your power to prevent a cyber attack? Leave it up to the experts at Third Power IT. 

Our consultants have decades of experience protecting data for healthcare facilities, financial institutions, e-commerce businesses, colleges, and more.

At Third Power IT, we know one size does not fit all when it comes to cybersecurity. That’s why we create custom IT packages based on your unique needs. 

Start building your cybersecurity strategy today. Get in touch with us now by contacting us online or calling us directly at: 844-677-3687

The post Personally Identifiable Information: Don’t Put Your Customers At Risk Of Cyber Theft appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

Top 5 Cyber Threats For Businesses In 2020

Did you know that cyber attacks were 400 percent higher in 2020 than the attacks reported before the onset of the coronavirus? The COVID-19 pandemic changed life, business, and cybersecurity as we know it. Unfortunately, as we step into a new year, these cyberthreats are still very real and should be top of mind for you as a business owner. 

First, you should know what a cyber threat is and how it can affect your business. 

 

What is a Cyber Threat?

 A cyber threat is a breach in the protection of your sensitive data.

Cyberthreats come in different shapes and forms. From a simple spyware monitoring your network transactions to a full-fledged ransomware attack that holds all your critical data for a ransom, there are multiple ways your IT network could be compromised. 

When you know the potential risks surrounding your IT infrastructure, you can build a resilient cybersecurity strategy that enhances your IT environment and keeps vulnerabilities at bay.

 Don’t let the top 5 most common cyberthreats happen to you.

 

The Top 5 Most Common Cyber Threats for Businesses

 

#1. Phishing Scams

Phishing emails still pose a major threat to the digital landscape of many business organizations across the globe. COVID-19 communications have provided the perfect cover for these emails to lure unsuspecting users. 

By creating a sense of urgency, these emails might persuade your employees to click on malware links that could steal sensitive data or install malicious viruses inside a computer.

 

#2. Ransomware

Targeted ransomware attacks are increasing every day. It is estimated that a ransomware attack will happen every 11 seconds in 2021. Ransomware attacks hold an organization’s critical data for ransom, and millions of dollars are paid to hackers every year as corporations do not want to risk losing their sensitive data. 

However, there is no guarantee that your files will be secure even after you pay the ransom.

 

#3. Cloud Jacking 

With the cloud becoming a more sophisticated way of storing data, incidents of cloud jacking have become a serious threat. These attacks are mainly executed in two forms:

  1. Injecting malicious code into third-party cloud libraries
  2. Injecting codes directly to the cloud platforms

As estimated by the 2020 Forcepoint Cybersecurity Predictions, a public cloud vendor is responsible for providing the infrastructure while most of the responsibility concerning data security rests with the users. 

So, bear in mind, you are mostly responsible for your data security even when it is on the cloud.

 

#4. Man-in-the-Middle Attack

Did you know hackers can insert themselves in a two-party transaction when it happens on a public network? Once they get access, they can filter and steal your data. 

If your remote working employees use public networks to carry out their official tasks, they are vulnerable to these attacks.

 

#5. Distributed Denial-of-Service Attack

This attack happens when hackers manipulate your normal web traffic and flood the system with resources and traffic that exhaust the bandwidth. As a result, users will not be able to perform their legitimate tasks. 

Once the network is clogged, the attacker will be able to send various botnets to the network and manipulate it.

 

Why You Should Protect Your Business from Cyber Threats

 As you can see, cyber threats are not going away, and an attack can be very costly. It can even cause irreparable damage to your business.

A cyber attack can:

  • Compromise your sensitive data
  • Decrease your brand’s value
  • Lose the trust of your customers
  • Result in hefty fines and penalties 
  • Cause your business to close for good

Don’t let this happen to you. Stop a cyber attack before it starts.

 

Protect Your Data With the Cybersecurity Experts at Third Power IT

The Best Managed IT Services in Miami and South Florida

Every business needs a data protection strategy in order to survive in today’s digital economy. Not only is it recommended, but in many countries, it’s the law. 

Are you ready to ensure your business is protected and compliant?

Team up with a trusted MSP partner who can continuously monitor and secure your IT infrastructure. Reach out to the experts at Third Power IT to discover how you can safeguard your data right now.

Visit www.ThirdPowerIT.com to learn more and connect with us now.

 

Article curated and used by permission.

Data Sources: 

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