Tag Archives: miami it managed services

05.18.21
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Prevent Costly Oversights With Managed IT Services

If you are still relying exclusively on an on-site technician to take care of all your computer needs, you are not utilizing the latest technology tools to bring your IT service cost down. Nor are you resolving computer issues as quickly as possible or ensuring security threats to your network infrastructure are being met.

In fact, the #1 security risk to your business are people! Human error is a major factor in breaches. This includes:

  • Misaddressed Emails
  • Lost or stolen devices
  • Confidential data sent to unsecured home systems

So how does a business prevent this in happening? It starts with strategic IT planning and having a team of experts to manage the IT and Network infastructure. Here at ThirdpowerIT, we implement a variety of security solutions for your business.  This includes a variety of technologies and in specific to security, you can expect us to monitor, manage & implement:


1. Patch Management ( Automate System Updates) 

Patching is the process of repairing system vulnerabilities discovered after the infrastructure components have been released in the market. Patches apply to many different systems including operating systems, servers, routers, desktops, email clients, mobile devices, firewalls, etc.


2. Network Perimeter/Edge Security

This includes Next-Generation Firewalls & Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Tools.

  • DON’T rely on the modem supplied by your ISP – It is NOT a FIREWALL!
  • Consumer-grade devices DON’T provide adequate protection. There’s a reason they’re so cheap.
  • Install a business-grade firewall with Active Threat Management (ATM) Software.
  • Make certain your firewall is configured correctly.


3. Access and Permission Controls (Next-Generation Firewalls & Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Tools)

  • DON’T rely on the modem supplied by your ISP – It is NOT a FIREWALL!
  • Consumer-grade devices DON’T provide adequate protection. There’s a reason they’re so cheap.
  • Install a business-grade firewall with Active Threat Management (ATM) Software.
  • Make certain your firewall is configured correctly.


4. Identify Authentication & Password Security

  • Most passwords today are too guessable or are being sniffed or captured by hardware from software keyloggers.
  • 2FA or MFA are a combination of individual security factors required simultaneously to prove a user’s authentic identity.

5. Regular Security & Risk Assessments

  • Don’t just assume that your firewall, anti-virus, and anti-malware solutions are doing the job. Be certain.
  • Security is not a one-and-done effort.
  • The security landscape changes daily.
  • Vulnerability scans should be run at least monthly to confirm the security of your network.

6. Advanced Email Security

  • Email is often the gateway to your network.
  • Effective anti-spam software is essential to keeping malware at bay.
  • Most email providers include anti-spam software, but it needs to be carefully tuned to be effective.
  • On-premises email servers and some hosted environments need third-party software (and updates).

7. Security Awareness: Training For Your Employees

The #1 Security Risk is “the unit between the desk and the chair.” Regular education and constant vigilance will do more for your security than all the security software in the world.

And this is just touching on security for your network!! At ThirdpowerIT, you can expect our team to fully manage every aspect of your business’s IT infrastructure and needs.   Getting started is easy and we offer many custom plans that fit your business and budget.  Give us a call or click on the button below to schedule your FREE 30 minute consultation and learn how we can put in a strategy that protects you from downtime, loss in business revenue and in human capital.

Get Your FREE 30 Consultation

The post Prevent Costly Oversights With Managed IT Services appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

05.12.21
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How Can Cybersecurity & Resilience Protect Your Small Miami Business?

How Can Cybersecurity & Resilience Protect SMBs?

Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) usually invest less in cybersecurity, making them easier targets for cybercriminals. Close to 30% of businesses experience a cyberattack at least once per week.1

The need for constant vigilance and defense against hackers has led many SMBs to complicate cybersecurity matters. Though the percentage of businesses that have adopted formal, business-wide incident response plans has increased from 18% in 2015 to 26% in 2020, the ability to contain an actual attack dropped by 13%.2 This is because: (1) businesses do not consistently test threat-readiness of incident response plans and (2) many of them use too many security products that hamper the ability to identify and respond to a cyberattack.

It is here where a cyber resilience strategy can help organizations protect uptime and recover from incidents faster. Some people use the terms cybersecurity and cyber resilience simultaneously, but the meanings are different.

While cybersecurity primarily aims at blocking nefarious cyber players from attacking your network, cyber resilience is more about planning, defending, responding to and recovering quickly from a cyberattack. Endpoint protection, email security, network security, backup and data recovery, identity and access management and a host of other critical solutions together fuel a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy.

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Arm Your Business with Cyber Resilience

The cyberthreat landscape is evolving at lightning speed and traditional security measures cannot keep up with it. Experts have predicted that a ransomware attack will occur every 11 seconds in 2021.3 The only way forward for businesses, including yours, is to draft a cyber resilience strategy that highlights ways to move forward in the face of a cyberattack.

Your business is cyber resilient when:

  • You’ve implemented measures to guard against cyberattacks
  • Proper risk control measures for data protection get deployed
  • Hackers cannot severely disrupt business operation during or after an attack

The major components of a cyber resilience strategy are:

  • Threat protection

By deploying efficient attack surface management and risk management, you can easily take your business through the path of cyber resilience. Doing so helps you minimize first-party, third-party or fourth-party risks that arise because of data leaks, data breaches or misconfigurations. Additionally, assessment reports identify key risk areas that require attention.

  • Adaptability

Cybercriminals are shapeshifters who constantly change their devious tactics. Ensure your business can adapt to emerging cyberthreats.

  • Recoverability

To quickly bounce back after a security incident, your business must have all the necessary infrastructure, including robust data backups. Conducting mock drills that let you understand the employee readiness to counter cyberattacks is also important.

  • Durability

Your IT team can improve the business’ durability through constant system enhancements and upgrades. No matter what strategy the criminals use, prevent their actions from overwhelming you through shock and disruption.

 

5 Ways Cyber Resilience Protects SMBs

Adopting cyber resilience proves beneficial before, during and after cyberattacks. Five ways cyber resilience protects SMBs:

  1. Enhances system security, work culture and internal processes

By implementing a cyber resilience approach within your business, you can easily design and develop strategies tailor-made for your existing IT infrastructure. Additionally, cyber resilience improves security within each internal process, so you can communicate desired behavior to employees.

  1. Maintains business continuity

Cyber resilience ensures that operations are not significantly affected and business gets back to normal after a cyberattack.

  1. Reduces financial loss

The financial damage caused by a breach can be so severe that businesses go bankrupt or even close. Cyber resilience keeps threats in check, reducing the chances of business disruption as well as limiting financial liabilities.

  1. Meets regulatory and insurance requirements

Cyber resilience helps keep your business out of regulatory radars by satisfactorily following all necessary criteria. Also, complying with regulations can be beneficial to your business for cyber insurance claims.

  1. Boosts company reputation

Having cyber resilience by your side gives you better control in the event of a successful cyberattack. It helps you block attacks, bounce back quickly if an incident happens and minimize the chaotic aftereffects of a breach. This improves your business reputation among partners and customers.

Don’t worry if the concept of cyber resilience is tough to crack. We can guide your business to and through cyber resilience. Start with an assessment to check your business’ cyber resilience level. Contact us now!

Not sure where to start?

The Cybersecurity Experts at Third Power IT can help. As Miami’s premier Cybersecurity consultants, Third Power IT can help you implement a secure network that is IT compliant and safe.

Call Us Today
Claim Your Free 30 Min Consulation

 

Article curated and used by permission.

Sources:

  1. Infosecurity Magazine
  2. The 2020 Cyber Resilient Organization Study
  3. JD Supra Knowledge Center

The post How Can Cybersecurity & Resilience Protect Your Small Miami Business? appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

04.26.21
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Know the Risks of Not Having Backup & Disaster Recovery for Your Business

Experts estimate that humans produce 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day.1 That is a lot of information. However, having a poor backup strategy can wipe out all or vast portions of your data in a single click. From accidental deletions and malicious attacks to natural disasters, there are multiple ways by which you can lose your business data. Therefore, make sure a robust backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solution is an integral part of your business.

When you lose crucial data permanently, the consequences can be devastating. Some costly aftereffects of data loss are:

  1. Productivity Disruptions: Companies hit by an incident face an average of close to 200 hours per year of downtime.2
  2. Loss of customer trust: One-third of customers end their association with a business following a severe data-loss incident.2
  3. Regulatory penalties: The penalties may vary based on the regulatory bodies governing your industry, and they can cost millions of dollars.

It is your responsibility to equip your business with an effective backup and disaster recovery solution, irrespective of your business’s size, industry or location. Let us take a look at how significant backup and disaster recovery is to the following business industries:

 

Healthcare

There can be severe complications when data loss happens in the healthcare industry:

  1. If a patient’s health records go missing when needed, a life-saving surgery could get delayed or denied.
  2. Without the billing records, a hospital cannot process payments.
  3. Regulatory bodies like HIPAA slap hefty fines on hospitals for carelessly handling data. HIPAA can impose penalties anywhere between $100 to $50,000 for an individual violation, with a maximum fine of $1.5 million per calendar year of neglect.4

Alarmingly, the healthcare industry was the worst-hit industry by cyberattacks in 2020.3 Therefore, backup and disaster recovery are critically important in the healthcare industry.

 

Finance

A robust backup and disaster recovery solution is an important part of any financial institution’s growth and survival.

Financial institutions must comply with requirements put forward by:

  1. Regulations like the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
  2. Financial agency regulatory agencies like the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
  3. International regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  4. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

An effective BDR solution is a mandatory requirement highlighted by all the concerned authorities mentioned above. Additionally, having one in place helps these institutions protect employee productivity and ensure customers quickly regain access to essential services following a data-loss event.

 

Hospitality

The information generated in the hospitality industry is in a precarious position. This is because the hospitality industry often invests less in backup and disaster recovery than other industries.

That said, survival in the hospitality industry can be tough. We live in an era where people check public ratings of a hotel room, even if they only plan on staying just one night. A minor dent in reputation could be an enormous blow to a hospitality business.

All critical data like credit card information and customers’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) must be handled with care to avoid satisfaction issues and regulatory fines. Hence, backup and disaster recovery are an essential part of hospitality.

 

Adopt BDR Before It Is Too Late

Avoiding data loss at any cost is vital for your business to survive and thrive. It is, therefore, highly recommended to have the right BDR provider to maintain control of business-critical data. If you are confused about how to take the first step, do not worry. We are here to help. Our BDR expertise can help your business sail smoothly without being caught in the whirlpool of data loss. Contact us now to learn more.

 

Article curated and used by permission.

Sources:

  1. net
  2. IDC Report
  3. IBM Cost of Data Breach Report
  4. National Library of Medicine

The post Know the Risks of Not Having Backup & Disaster Recovery for Your Business appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

02.11.21
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Top Warning Signs & How to Prevent an Internal Data Breach

Is your business one misstep away from a cyber-attack due to an insider threat?

 

If you’ve been following our blog, then you already know what insider threats are and how they affect your business.

 

As a reminder, insider threats are security risks that originate from within an organization. Essentially, an insider threat involves someone who is a part of your business network or has access to it.

 

An insider threat can present itself in two different ways:

  1. A malicious insider — someone who intentionally steals or compromises your data
  2. A negligent insider — someone who unknowingly puts your network at risk

 

So, how can you identify insider threats before they become a bigger problem?

 

Although accurately identifying insider threats can be tricky, there are some early warning signs you can watch out for to prevent a cyber-attack.

 

Keep a keen eye out for these signs so you can recognize unusual patterns early on.

 

First let’s look at the main types of warning signs and what you should look out for.

 

There are two main types of warning signs:

  1. Behavioral
  2. Digital

 

First, we’ll look at behavioral warning signs of an insider threat.

 

Behavioral Warning Signs of An Insider Threat

 

An employee or a stakeholder could be a potential insider threat if he/she exhibits any of the following behavioral patterns.

 

  • Attempting to bypass security controls and safeguards
  • Frequently and unnecessarily spending time in the office during off-hours
  • Displaying disgruntled behavior against co-workers and the company
  • Violating corporate policies deliberately
  • Discussing new opportunities and/or the possibility of resigning

 

Now let’s take a closer look at the digital warning signs of an insider threat.

 

Digital Warning Signs of An Insider Threat

 

Some of the digital actions mentioned below are telltale signs of an insider threat.

 

  • Accessing or downloading substantial amounts of data
  • Attempting to access data and/or resources unrelated to his/her job function
  • Using unauthorized devices to access, manage or store data
  • Browsing for sensitive data unnecessarily
  • Copying data from sensitive folders
  • Sharing sensitive data outside the business
  • Behaving differently from their usual behavior profile

 

If you notice any behavioral or digital warning signs, don’t ignore them. You might be at risk of an internal data breach.

 

How to Prevent an Internal Data Breach

 

While some cyber attacks are inevitable, the government expects you to do everything in your power to prevent them. If not, you will face regulatory action.

 

In the event of a data breach, you will be audited for compliance. At this time, you will need to present documented evidence of the preventive and corrective measures you took to protect your business’s sensitive data from insider threats.

 

Here’s what you can do to protect your data now and steer clear of potential penalties in the future:

 

  • Identify, document, and o troll access to your sensitive data
  • Define data privileges for employees and stakeholders based on their needs
  • Build suitable infrastructure that monitors abnormal behavior and raises timely alerts
  • Add insider threat parameters to your regular risk assessment
  • Introduce a robust security awareness training program for all stakeholders
  • Devise a strategy to investigate a breach caused due to insider threats

 

If you take these steps, they will go a long way towards significantly securing your business from insider threats. Plus, they will show regulators that you are committed to ensuring data protection.

 

Make Data Protection a Priority Now

 

Cyber threats are at an all-time high, and you simply cannot ignore the risks.

 

Make data protection a priority and rest knowing your network is secure. Every minute you wait is another minute you risk a cyber attack. Don’t wait to set up your cybersecurity strategy.

 

Connect with the cybersecurity consultants at Third Power IT to safeguard your network now. Visit www.ThirdPowerIT.com to get started.

 

The post Top Warning Signs & How to Prevent an Internal Data Breach appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

12.28.20
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IT Security: Why You Should Make Risk Management An Ongoing Operational Standard

Are you making IT security a top priority?

No business today is 100 percent secure from cyberthreats, and more businesses are waking up to this reality now than ever before.

It’s no wonder cybersecurity investment in 2020 is pegged to grow by 5.6 percent to reach nearly $43.1 billion in value.1 

With cyberattacks surging due to widespread remote work and increased online interactions during the pandemic, it seems likely that this trend will only continue to grow.

While 58 percent of IT leaders and practitioners consider improving IT security their topmost priority, nearly 53 percent of them find cybersecurity and data protection to be among their biggest challenges as well.2 

 

That’s primarily because cybersecurity is not a one-and-done exercise. 

While your business might be safe right now, it could be at risk the very next minute.

Are you doing enough to ensure your IT security?

Securing your business’s critical data and the data of your invaluable clients/customers requires undeterred effort sustained over a long period of time.

Although there are several pieces to this puzzle, the most important one, considering today’s threat landscape, is ongoing risk management.

Through the course of this blog, you will understand the definition of a cybersecurity risk assessment and why you must conduct and monitor them regularly.

Cybersecurity risk assessments will help you:

  • Understand the risks threatening your IT security
  • Take action to keep your cybersecurity strong
  • Steer clear of ever-evolving cyber threats
  • Prevent loss of data, productivity, and revenue

By the end of this article, we hope you realize how installing cybersecurity solutions alone isn’t enough to counter cyberattacks — unless you make ongoing risk management an operational standard for your business.

Keep reading to start understanding the importance of cybersecurity risk assessments right now.

 

Understanding The Importance Of Cybersecurity Risk Assessments

In general, a cybersecurity risk assessment refers to the act of understanding, managing, controlling and mitigating cybersecurity risks across your business’s infrastructure.

In its Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) states that the purpose of cybersecurity risk assessments is to “identify, estimate and prioritize risk to organizational operations, assets, individuals, other organizations and the Nation, resulting from the operation and use of information systems.”

 

The primary purpose of a cybersecurity risk assessment is to help key decision-makers tackle prevalent and imminent risks. 

Ideally, an assessment must answer the following questions:

IT Security Risk Assessment Questions

  • What are your business’s key IT assets?
  • What type of data breach would have a major impact on your business?
  • What are the relevant threats to your business and their sources?
  • What are the internal and external security vulnerabilities?
  • What would be the impact if any of the vulnerabilities were exploited?
  • What is the probability of a vulnerability being exploited?
  • What cyberattacks or security threats could impact your business’ ability to function?

The answers to these questions will help you keep track of security risks and mitigate them before disaster strikes.

Now, imagine periodically if you had the answers to these questions whenever you sat down to make key business decisions. If you’re wondering how it would benefit you, keep reading.

 

Why Make Ongoing Risk Management An Operational Standard?

Making ongoing risk management an operational standard is vital, especially in today’s cyberthreat landscape, where even a single threat can break your business.

In one assessment, your business might seem on the right track but in the next one, certain factors could show weaknesses in your cybersecurity framework.

That’s precisely why having an ongoing risk management strategy is now an integral part of standard operations for most successful businesses.

Are you ready to prioritize your cybersecurity and keep your business safe from cyber threats?

Here are seven reasons why you just can’t keep this key business decision on the backburner anymore:

 

7 Reasons To Make Risk Management An Operational Standard

Reason 1: Keep Threats At Bay

Most importantly, an ongoing risk management strategy will help you keep threats, both prevalent and imminent, at a safe distance from your business; especially ones you usually do not monitor regularly.

Reason 2: Prevent Data Loss

Theft or loss of business-critical data can set your business back a long way, leading you to lose business to your competitors. Ongoing risk management can help you remain vigilant of any possible attempts at compromising your business data.

Reason 3: Enhance Operational Efficiency And Reduce Workforce Frustration

As a business owner or key decision-maker of your organization, you would be amazed how consistently staying on top of potential cybersecurity threats can reduce the risk of unplanned downtime. The assurance that hard work will not vanish into thin air will keep the morale of your employees high, thereby reflecting positively on their productivity.

Reason 4: Reduce Long-Term Costs

Identifying potential vulnerabilities and mitigating them in time can help you prevent or reduce security incidents. This can save your business a significant amount of time, money and/or potential reputational damage.

Reason 5: Set The Right Tone And Plan For The Future

You must not assume that there should only be one fixed template for all your future cybersecurity risk assessments. However, in order to update them continuously, you need to conduct one in the first place. Hence, the first few assessments will set the right tone for future assessments as part of your ongoing risk management strategy.

Reason 6: Improve Organizational Knowledge

Knowing security vulnerabilities across the business will help you keep a keen eye on important aspects that your business must improve on.

Reason 7: Avoid Regulatory Compliance Issues

By ensuring that you put up a formidable defense against cyberthreats, you will automatically avoid hassles with respect to complying with regulatory standards such as HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, etc.

Now that you know why risk management is an important operational standard, it’s time to start putting it in place — and fast.

Did you know? The Oxford Academic Journal of Cybersecurity estimates the costs of cyber events to total roughly $8.5 billion per year. 

 

Prevent Cyber Attacks Now – Join Hands With ThirdPower IT

The Best Cybersecurity Firm In South Florida

As you now know, cyber threats are increasing every day. Don’t get hit hard by a cyber attack. Ensure your cybersecurity now so your business can keep growing.

Don’t wait for a problem to take place — prevent hacks from happening by partnering with the most trusted IT firm in South Florida.

At ThirdPower IT, we’ll help you gauge every single cybersecurity risk your business is exposed to and protect your business continuously for a prolonged period of time.

 

Protect Your Business Now – Connect With ThirdPowerIT, a Miami Cybersecurity Company, Today

Connect with us today to find out how you can prevent cybersecurity problems from happening before they start.

 

Call us now at 844-677-3687, or visit ThirdPowerIT.com and learn more about how our IT Security services and chat with an IT security expert today.

 

Article curated and used by permission.

Data Sources:

  1. Global Cybersecurity 2020 Forecast Canalys
  2. 2020 State of IT Operations Survey, Kaseya
  3. Oxford Academic Journal of Cybersecurity

 

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