4 Tips for Business Data Storage

Office IT,
31
May 2016

data-storage-solution All businesses rely on data storage, so it’s an important area for your business to focus on. However, many businesses fail to make it a priority.

Underestimating your data storage needs can lead to major, major issues when things go wrong. Things tend to always go wrong at the worst possible moment. That’s why it’s critical to make data storage an on-going priority.

To help you understand how to build a reliable and forward thinking data storage plan, we will share some tips to help get you started.

Determine Your Storage Needs

Your storage needs will be reliant not only on how much data you’re processing, but also the type of data. And, of course, how will you be accessing this data?

There are a wide variety of options available such as:

  • USB Sticks
  • External hard drives
  • Central data storage
  • Cloud based storage

All of these provide a unique service which may or may not fit in with your specific needs, so the best advice here is to speak with your IT support. They’ll be able to tailor data storage to fit your needs.

Buy More Than You Need

Businesses always miscalculate the amount of data they’re handling and processing. It’s no surprise really as things can rapidly build in the business world. And, sure, it may seem as though your brand new data storage solution seems enough.

But what if you get a little bit busier? That amazing data storage system may start to creak under the weight of all this additional work.

To avoid disruption to your business, it’s a good idea to overcompensate for your data storage needs. This allows your hardware to not only handle the data with ease, but also allows for rapid expansion when necessary.

Consider Network Attached Storage

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Many small businesses are now turning to Network Attached Storage (NAS) for their data storage needs, but what is NAS?

Well, a NAS device is a piece of storage hardware which permits users on a network to store and retrieve data from a central location. The beauty in an NAS device is that they’re incredibly simple to use and don’t require an IT team to monitor.

Essentially, NAS is the same as cloud storage, but it’s physically based in your office. Depending on the device you purchase, around 25 – 50 employees can all access data from a central point. This is vital in a small business where everyone needs to be on the same page.  You also have the option of adding additional storage as you go seamlessly.

Regularly Test Your Data Storage

It’s very easy to put a data storage system in place and then assume that it’s going to work fine for years to come. On the whole, it should work pretty well. However, your business environment may suddenly change and this can affect the power of your data storage.

To prevent falling into this pothole, you’ll want to test the performance of your data storage a few times a year. If you find that things are slowing down when it comes to accessing and storing data it’s going to need investigation.  Most modern NAS systems have health monitoring built in making this task simple and straight forward.

This may be caused by a simple software issue or it may be a signal that an upgrade in hardware is required for the additional workload. Either way, you’ll be in a position to implement the necessary changes.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

 

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Adobe’s Emergency Patch against Ransomware

Security, ,
24
May 2016

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Adobe’s Flash Player – no stranger to security concerns – has recently been forced into issuing an emergency patch to protect its users from ransomware.

Despite the repeated horror stories of Flash Player’s buggy and easily exploited software, it’s still used on a regular basis by a huge number of people. That’s why any vulnerability which comes to light can have an impact on millions of systems.

This time, it’s that contemporary marvel of security scares known as ransomware which is making the headlines again. So, to keep your systems protected, let’s see what we can learn from Adobe’s latest debacle.

Adobe’s Zero-Day Flaw

The vulnerability at the center of Adobe’s woes is known as a zero day flaw, but what does this mean? A zero-day flaw refers to a software vulnerability which is completely new and unheard of. Due to its unexpected emergence, the team behind the software then, quite literally, has zero days to prepare a response.

And it’s this level of precarious defense which means zero-day flaws can spread like wildfire and cause absolute mayhem.

In this particular instance, Flash Player was discovered to contain a memory-corruption vulnerability which allowed hackers to hijack user’s systems. To take remote control of user’s systems, the hackers employed the use of the Magnitude exploit kit.

Using Magnitude, hackers were then able to download ransomware software – such as Locky and Cerber – onto user’s systems. This ransomware was then primed to encrypt personal files and demand a ransom to unlock these files.

All versions of Flash Player up to version 21.0.0.197 have been affected. And it’s not just limited to systems running Windows – Macs, Linux and ChromeOS are all vulnerable as well.

The Emergency Patch

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The threat was first discovered when security experts Proofpoint were investigating recent changes made to the Magnitude exploit kit. Once the magnitude of Magnitude had been established, Proofpoint swiftly contacted Adobe who was quick to rush out an emergency patch.

Thankfully, for Adobe, they had previously built in an exploit mitigation technique into Flash Player version 21.0.0.182, so this minimized the malicious impact of this zero-day flaw. However, you would be surprised by the amount of users who don’t update their software when prompted. As a result, a significant number of systems were compromised.

Once the emergency patch had been released, Adobe was also quick to advise all its Flash Player users to upgrade to the latest version. This would, hopefully, minimize the risk of further exploitations on older versions of the software.

Is Adode Safe?

This is a question which seems to get asked on a daily basis at present. And unfortunately for Adobe, things do not look great.

Hackers are clearly targeting Flash Player now and Adobe seems helpless in protecting its product. The knock on result of all this negative publicity is that PC manufacturers, such as Windows, are going to question whether it makes sense to bundle Flash Player with their products.

The key piece of information to take away from this article is that you should ALWAYS ensure all your software is up to date. This ensures you have the best protection possible against any potential security flaws.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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What’s a DDoS Attack and How Do You Combat One?

Network, , ,
17
May 2016

bigstock-Hacker-Typing-On-A-LaptopWebsites are vital for business, so any disruption to them can spell disaster. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack spells it in capitals!

A DDoS attack sounds like a mouthful and very technical, but it’s something that could strike your business’ website at any time. Therefore, it’s the kind of cyber-attack that you need to acquaint yourself with before it’s too late.

Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of a DDoS attack and, more importantly, how to combat one.

What’s a DDoS Attack

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The main aim of a DDoS attack is to take down a website. Without a website, many businesses can find their operations severely crippled e.g. if you rely on e-commerce then no website equals no business.

But how does a DDoS attack disable a website?

Well, first of all, it doesn’t work off just one computer and this is where the distributed part of DDoS comes from.  It usually takes hundreds of computers all working together to disable web servers.

The denial of service aspect of a DDoS attack literally means that users of the website are denied that service e.g. making an office or medical appointment through the wesbite.

A DDoS attack uses huge amounts of false traffic (which has no intention of using a website’s services) to overload web servers. This prevents customers from accessing the website and, eventually, takes it down.

DDoS attacks are becoming more and more popular with hackers with nearly 180% more DDoS attacks in 2015 than the previous year. And big names are being targeted; the BBC and Microsoft’s Xbox Live network have suffered at the hands of DDoS hackers recently.

How Do You Combat a DDoS Attack?

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There are several ways you can combat a DDoS attack, so let’s take a look:

  • Invest in more bandwidth – the reason that a DDoS attack will eventually take down your website is because your bandwidth will be maxed out. Therefore, if you can invest in more bandwidth then you think you could ever possibly use, you’ll increase the chance of keeping your website up.
  • Watch your network – You need to maintain a watchful eye on your traffic. Any sharp increases in traffic need to not just be handled, but also visible to the network. This allows you to get to work on preventing any further damage and preparing any necessary protection.
  • Know who to call – In the case of a DDoS attack you’re going to need to get in touch with your ISP. They will have the capabilities to reroute data and nullify any huge packets of traffic. This is why it’s a good idea to make sure you have all the relevant contact details at your disposal. Remember, time is of the essence here.

Final Thoughts

A DDoS attack can be a tricky piece of cybercrime to combat, so it’s important that your business is aware of the impact they can have. It’s a good idea to formulate a set of guidelines of what to do in the case of a DDoS attack and putting this into place now could save your website in the future.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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What is Cloud App Security an Do You Need It?

Security,
10
May 2016

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Cloud computing is becoming more common in every business’ operations. Some benefits are set to be enhanced with Microsoft’s Cloud App Security.

Mindful that businesses want to maintain the protection and visibility of their data, Microsoft has designed Cloud App Security to provide this level of control. With more and more businesses moving to the cloud, it could prove to be a very clever move by Microsoft.

To help you understand the benefits of Cloud App Security, I’m going to take you through the basics of this exciting new service.

Employees and Cloud Apps

Employees – just like consumers – absolutely love cloud apps due to their ease of use, but what employees aren’t aware of is the security risk; with employees using, on average, around 17 cloud apps, this opens up a significant number of routes into your network.

These cloud apps are referred to as ‘shadow IT’ as they’re not software/hardware which your businesses IT team will be supporting. Or will have even acknowledged as accessing the network.

91% of companies allow their employees to have access to the organizations cloud, so, as you can gather, the impact of all these routes into your business could cause major issues if security processes are not adhered to.

Employees are human and humans make mistakes, so preparing for this is essential!

The Workings of Cloud App Security

Cloud-Security

Microsoft is keen to clarify that Cloud App Security isn’t about breaching employees’ data usage or habits, but more that it gives businesses a better understanding of how much data is leaving their network and the ramifications of this.

There are three main elements which make up Cloud App Security:

  • Data Control ­– This component allows IT teams to use routines and protocols to control how much data is shared and lost through the network. The policies employed here can either be default, pre-set controls or custom made ones.
  • App Discovery – Using a risk assessment scoring method, Cloud App Security identifies individual cloud apps on the network and evaluates their risk.
  • Threat Protection – By analyzing user behavior and any data anomalies, Cloud App Security delivers threat protection for your various cloud apps.

Cloud App Security operates through two simple steps:

  1. Uploads Network Logs for Analysis – This function allows businesses to take snapshots of network logs of any device on the network and then upload them for analysis. This provides clear and instant visibility.
  2. Connects Sanctioned Apps – Cloud App Security allows you to approve access to apps with just one click. This allows the service to then scan the cloud for app specific data usage.

Do You Need Cloud App Security?

Cloud App Security is an intriguing service and one which should help businesses sleep a little easier at night. There’s a level of cloud app visibility which is currently out of reach for most businesses, but Microsoft, among other cloud app security service provides, makes this readily available.

Cloud computing is a relatively new technology, so this means it can be easily exploited. Cloud App Security, therefore, helps you stay ahead of any potential exploits by providing readily available visibility and analysis of outgoing data through cloud apps.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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6 Reasons Your Business Needs Cloud Computing

Cloud, Internet
03
May 2016

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You’ve probably heard a lot about cloud computing over the last couple of years, but what is it? And, more importantly, how can it benefit your business?

We don’t want to bog you down in lengthy technical details, so we’ll just fill you in on the basics of cloud computing. In a nutshell, cloud computing dispenses with the traditional local servers and, instead, uses a network of remote servers – which are based online – to process, manage and store your data.

So, the basic premise seems fairly simple, but, apart from saving you a few square feet in your premises, what are the real reasons your business needs cloud computing?

  1. Hassle Free Updates

Cloud networks are setup by suppliers and then rented out to clients, so the maintenance due on your end is virtually zero. And this can be a real time saver; you only have to look at the number of security updates which arrive almost daily and require significant time to be approved and installed.

  1. Enhanced Accessibility

One of the jewels in cloud computing’s crown is the level of accessibility to resources it offers. As long as employees have an internet connection then they can access your cloud. This is a fantastic feature of cloud computing as it allows employees to work from home or on the move. And it’s this flexibility which offers employers the chance to reduce office size and overhead.

  1. Cost Savings

Cloud data storage costs are relatively low when compared to the hugely expensive hardware required for onsite storage. Hardware costs are not the only savings you will benefit from. With all your servers located offsite, you’ll quickly discover that the need for in-house IT expertise has reduced. Although I’m not suggesting you completely get rid of your IT support, you will find that it’s less stretched and cuts can be made.

  1. More Eco Friendly

Businesses are looking for more and more ways to reduce their carbon footprint and cloud computing helps you to help the environment. Physical servers have a ravenous desire for electricity, so it’s a constant drain on energy resources as well as your utilities bills. With cloud storage, however, the servers only respond to demand, so there’s less energy usage and less cost.

  1. Better Collaboration

Document control is a tough task when several people are working on the same file and having to email it back and forth. Not only is this a time consuming procedure, but human error is always hovering around the periphery e.g. one user may fail to send the most up to date document back. With cloud computing, though, every employee is able to access the same file from one central location. This ensures that everyone is, literally, working on the same page.

  1. Reduced Data Loss

The funds and technical know-how required to avoid or repair data disasters are often stumbling blocks for small business thanks to costs. The beauty of cloud computing, though, is that the cloud networks suppliers are highly experienced in data recovery. And the added bonus is that the cost of this expertise is spread across a huge database of clients, so costs remain low.

Final Thoughts

Is-Cloud-Computing-a-Green-IT-Initiative

Cloud computing is helping to make everyone’s lives easier, so it’s crucial that your business starts investigating it as a viable network option. Anything that enhances your businesses productivity and competitiveness with cost savings should never be ignored.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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