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Month: January 2023

Important Steps To Take After A Business Data Breach

Published by Will Chatham on 1/17/2023

Important Steps To Take After A Business Data Breach

Data breaches are happening at an alarming rate with devastating consequences for businesses. A recent data threat report indicates that 45% of US companies suffered data breaches in 2021. Currently, it’s estimated that cyber attacks occur every 39 secs (according to the University of Maryland). A data breach can be a serious threat, and you need to know how to contain it, identify the cause, assess the damage, and prevent re-occurrence. While prevention is the best protection, here are some important steps you should take as soon as you notice a business data breach. 

Contain the breach

Almost every online security expert will advise you to protect your network or else… you may suffer serious consequences. That is the first step in preventing costly data breaches. But sometimes, many businesses are completely blindsided by these breaches, and the  immediate response will be to contain it and prevent it from getting worse. Additionally, you can ensure that there’s no further unauthorized access to the affected systems. An effective way to contain data breaches is by disconnecting systems from the network. Once done, shut down all your servers or even physically disconnect devices as soon as possible.

Identify the cause

Once the breach has been contained, the next step is to identify the cause. That will involve thoroughly analyzing the affected systems and network logs to determine how the attacker gained access and what data was compromised. You can review system access logs, network traffic logs, and security alerts to determine how the attacker gained access to the system. Additionally, it can be helpful to examine any known vulnerabilities in the systems, such as unpatched software or weak passwords. You can find intrusion detection tools to use or engage a forensic investigator with the expertise to help you investigate the root cause of the data breach.

Assess the damage

After the cause of the breach has been identified, the next step is to assess the damage. You want to determine to what extent business data has been compromised, how sensitive it is, and who is affected by the breach. Doing this can also help you calculate the cost of the damage to your business. You also must notify the affected parties. That means informing clients, business partners, and any individuals whose personal information has been compromised, including any regulatory bodies that must be notified according to the laws in your area.

Implement preventive measures

The next step is to implement preventive measures to prevent future breaches. You can review and update security policies and procedures, conduct regular security audits, and implement security technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption. But if that sounds too complicated, you can engage the services of a cybersecurity consultant or forensic investigator to help. 

Continuously monitor and improve

Continuously monitor your systems and network to detect potential threats and improve your security posture. Be sure to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, implement security updates and patches, and conduct regular security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Amazing Reasons Cloud Computing is Essential for Business, & Why Yours Needs It

Published by Will Chatham on 1/3/2023

New technology has brought with it so many changes, but it has also presented fresh challenges to companies as well. This is something that you need to try to focus on as much as possible when running your company, and there is plenty you need to keep in mind here. This is something that you have to consider when it comes to making the right choices that will help you be more successful as a business. 

You have to think about some of the best reasons why you can improve your business via technology, and cloud computing is one of the best avenues through which you can achieve this. There are so many elements that you need to get right when you are looking to make the most of this. It is important to make sure you use cloud computing as a modern business owner, as it can have a revolutionary impact on your company. Here are some of the key reasons why cloud computing is essential for businesses, and why yours needs to be using it more effectively.

Data Storage

Being able to store your data somewhere secure, and gain access to it anywhere, anytime has been a huge advantage for companies in the modern world. Navigating online migration and the digitization of data has proven overwhelming for a lot of businesses, and this is what makes data storage such a key component of this. The ability to safely and securely store vast quantities of important data and information is something that you need to make the most of right now. This means you are going to need to utilize and embrace the cloud in order to make the most of this. Scalability is the seed through which successful modern companies grow strong, and cloud computing provides the opportunity for scalability on a very large scale, which is a huge positive.

Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery is a massive part of business planning nowadays, particularly in a post-COVID world. Having a plan of action that will help you to get your business back up and running in the most efficient way possible is integral to modern success, and cloud computing is irreplaceable in this sense. Cloud computing saves time, avoids upfront investments, and can help incorporate third-party expertise. In other words, it is the ideal choice for helping with your company’s disaster recovery. This makes it particularly essential for small businesses that may not have the money and resources that larger corporations have for helping deal with threat and disaster. The implementation of cloud computing can protect your company and make it better in the long run, and this is crucial. 

Cost Effective

One of the best things about using cloud computing as a business these days is that it is a really cost-effective choice to make. Running a business is expensive enough already, so anywhere that you can save money would be advisable. The great thing about cloud computing is that it can really help you when it comes to saving money, and the cost of the cloud could prove to be significantly lower than what you are currently paying for your IT services. Finding out estimations based on needs is the best place to begin, and you need to make sure to get estimations where possible. The added value from cloud computing can be found in the added functionalities that come with it, such as scalability and optimized DevOps. 

Flexible 

When you are looking to make use of cloud computing services in the best way you possibly can, it is essential to focus on flexibility. When choosing the right provider, this is going to be a key focal point for your business, and you need to make sure you get this right, and cloud computing provides a future-proof model for long-term success and security. Having a flexible system that you can learn and put into practice easily, and that is accessible to your business across the board is really important. There are loads of ideas that play a part in this, and you need to look at what you can do to improve the flexibility of your cloud computing system. This can make a huge difference to the way your company is able to do business, and there are so many great reasons this is beneficial.  

Protects Your Reputation

In the world of business there are few things that matter more than reputation, and protecting yours is something you need to get right as much as possible. There are loads of excellent ideas that play a role in helping you to improve this, and cloud computing is a great way to achieve that. It can protect against things like online security breaches, which can be disastrous for your data, as well as your company’s long-term reputation. There is also a lot to think about when trying to ensure you provide a strong, reliable, and safe service to your clients, and cloud computing is something that helps to make this easier and more accessible than ever. Reputation can make or break a business in the eyes of customers, and this is why you need to pull out the stops to make sure this is taken care of as much as possible.

Makes Collaboration Easier

There are many great reasons to get cloud computing services implemented for your business, and one of the main ones is to make sure it helps provide easier future collaborations. As a business, you need to be utilizing collaboration as a way of trailblazing and taking the company to new heights. However, this is something that can come with its fair share of challenges, which is why cloud computing is so useful. It allows for you to communicate and interface outside of the traditional channels, and it can help to bring multi sharing to the business, and its collaborators, and this is essential. This is one of the most useful and wide-reaching advantages of using cloud computing services, and this is something you need to try to work on improving as much as you can.

Scalability

When you are going to take your business forward in a positive way, scalability is going to play a massive part in that, and cloud computing is a game-changer for scalability. If your business has growing bandwidth demands, it is important to make sure you are able to scale up or scale down where appropriate, and this is something you need to make the most of right now. You may need to understand how you can improve the resource storage of your business, and this is something that you need to try to get right as much as you can. 

Improved DevOps

DevOps are important because they improve the quality and pace of innovation solution deployments, and this is done via a flexible communication process. Adding functionality and retaining stability is the best way of achieving this, and that is why you need to understand the best reasons to use the DevOps model. Using cloud computing in conjunction with DevOps is an absolute must at this point, and failure to do so is going to result in missed opportunities for quicker operational support and product development processes. This is something that you need to make sure you focus on as much as you can, and this is super important to get right if you’re looking to be more successful.

Peace of Mind

When you are running a modern business, you have to be able to wear many hats, and this can become pretty overwhelming. It is important to make sure you come up with some of the best ideas that are going to provide peace of mind for you as a business owner, and cloud computing can help a lot with this. There are so many ideas that play a role in this process, and you need to try to make the most of this as much as you can right now. By ensuring all your important data and documents are protected, and that they are stored somewhere offering easy access, you can focus on other aspects of the business, knowing your data and information is safe and sound. This brings much needed peace of mind and eases many of the worries that business owners have.

Increases Response Time

In the modern business world there is more competition than ever for companies to be successful, and this is something that cloud computing can help with. Being able to remain competitive and respond better to changes in the marketplace is something that can help to boost the success rate of your company. This is something that you need to try to focus on as much as possible, and there are plenty of advantages to this. You have to make sure you come up with some of the best ideas that are going to allow you to improve your company and increase response time. 

It is important to come up with some of the best ideas that are going to allow you to focus on improving the business and making use of cloud computing. This is one of the best and most effective ways of being able to improve your company, and there are a lot of ways of being able to utilize this moving forward.

Ways To Be More Environmental

Published by Will Chatham on 1/3/2023

Whether you are concerned about the state of the environment or simply want to become more environmentally friendly in your daily living, there are easy ways to accomplish your goals. All you need to do is make a few small changes.

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Repair Your Phone

As you have likely noticed, there seems to be a planned obsolescence when it comes to technology. Whenever a company has its big reveal for a new device, the old ones somehow start to slow down or do not work as well as they used to.

You do not have to succumb to the masses to have a good phone. There is far too much waste when it comes to discarded tech devices. If you own a Samsung phone, avoid this problem by opting for Samsung phone repairs instead of replacements. 

Let qualified service personnel assess your current phone to determine how they can provide the best service so you can keep your phone. It will save you time and money by keeping what you have and preventing your phone from going to the landfill.

Use Reusable Bottles

Consider how often you drink water throughout the day. If you open a new plastic water bottle each time, you will have a pile of discarded bottles lying around by the end of each day. Be aware of your consumption and opt for a reusable water bottle instead. Select a bottle that will fit in your vehicle’s cup holder and the side pocket of your backpack or work bag. This way, you will ensure a higher success rate in using your bottle simply because it will fit.

Take this notion a step further and also invest in a reusable coffee or tea travel mug. They come in a variety of sizes, types, and colors. You can usually bring them into your local coffee shop and ask the barista to fill them up with your favorite caffeinated beverage each morning. This may garner a discount, but it will surely save a few cups from the trash.

Reduce Litter

You are probably thinking “I do not litter” and you are right. But, your waste may produce litter if you are not mindful. When you take your trash bins out to the curb every week, are they overflowing? Does the lid open up in strong winds causing trash to blow away? 

Mitigate these potential litter factors by only placing what can fit into the bins each week. To do so, take a look at what you are classifying as garbage. Could it be recycled instead? Check your local municipality to learn what the guidelines are in your area.

Additionally, ensure you are closing any bags or parcels inside the trash bin. That way, when the bin is lifted into the garbage truck, all of the trash goes with it instead of onto your lawn or the roadway.

In Conclusion

All of these environmental efforts on your part will benefit you in more ways than simply being kind to the planet. You will save money over the long run, which will aid your financial health and even serve to strengthen it. That is a win for everyone.