How many times a day do you respond to an email without really thinking about its contents?
Maybe it’s a request for some information. Perhaps it’s asking you to pay an invoice. All mundane stuff. But no sooner than you’ve hit send, you’ve fallen victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attack.
A BEC attack occurs when a cyber criminal gains access to your business email account and uses it to trick your employees, customers, or partners into sending them money or sensitive information. They do this by impersonating someone senior, and abusing their position of trust.
It might sound like something that only happens to big corporations, but that’s not the case.
According to the FBI, small and medium-sized businesses are just as vulnerable to BEC attacks as larger ones. In fact, these attacks have cost businesses more than $26 billion over the past few years.
And Microsoft brings more bad news, with its recent findings showing that they’re getting both more destructive and harder to detect.
So, what can you do to protect your business from BEC attacks? Here’s our advice:
Educate your employees: They are the first line of defense against BEC attacks. They need to know how to spot phishing emails, suspicious requests, and fake invoices. Train them regularly on cyber security best practice, like strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and secure file sharing.
Use advanced email security solutions: Basic email protections like antispam and antivirus software are no longer enough to block BEC attacks. You need more advanced solutions that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and prevent these attacks in real-time. Look for email security providers that offer features like domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance (DMARC), sender policy framework (SPF), and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM).
Set up transaction verification procedures: Before transferring funds or sensitive information, establish a verification process that confirms the authenticity of the request. This could include a phone call, video conference, or face-to-face meeting. Don’t rely on email alone to confirm these types of requests.
Monitor your email traffic: Regularly monitor your email traffic for anomalies and unusual patterns. Look for signs like unknown senders, unusual login locations, changes to email settings or forwarding rules, and unexpected emails. Make sure you have a clear protocol in place for reporting and responding to any suspicious activity.
Keep your software up to date: Ensure that you’re always running the latest version of your operating system, email software, and other software applications. These updates often include vital security patches that address known vulnerabilities.
BEC attacks are becoming more common and more sophisticated, but with the right awareness, training, and security solutions, you can protect your business.
Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action today to keep your business safe.
If you want to know more about how to protect your business from cyber threats, our team is always ready to help you. Give us a call.
In today’s digital age, small businesses need to invest in a strong IT infrastructure to stay competitive and operate efficiently. A small business IT infrastructure includes the hardware, software, and network systems that support and facilitate the operations of a business. Small business IT infrastructure is critical for a company’s success, as it enables businesses to communicate with customers, process transactions, manage data, and much more. This article will discuss why every small business needs a strong IT infrastructure, the risks of not having one, and the benefits of investing in it.
Why Small Business IT Infrastructure is Vital
Small businesses rely on technology more than ever before to operate their businesses. The digital age has brought about new challenges and opportunities for small businesses, and those that invest in a robust IT infrastructure are better positioned to succeed in the long run. With a strong IT infrastructure, small businesses can enjoy benefits such as:
Improved Efficiency through Automation:
A well-developed small business IT infrastructure enables small businesses to automate many of their processes, such as billing and invoicing, payroll, and inventory management. This automation reduces errors and improves efficiency, freeing up time for employees to focus on other essential tasks.
Increased Security & Reduced Downtime:
Small businesses are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and a strong IT infrastructure can help protect against these threats. With proper security measures in place, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and data backups, small businesses can reduce the risk of data breaches and other cyber incidents.
Enhanced Communication through All Networks
A streamlined small business IT infrastructure enables small businesses to communicate effectively with customers, vendors, and employees. With tools like email, instant messaging, and video conferencing, small businesses can stay connected and respond to customers quickly and efficiently. Plus, this helps on the internal side as well. Employees will be able to communicate, share information, and work together on projects better than ever, increasing not only their productivity but their employee experience.
Scalability to Increase Profit
A healthy IT infrastructure allows small businesses to scale their operations as they grow. With the proper hardware and software in place, small businesses can easily add new employees and customers, expand their product lines, and enter new markets.
Better Customer Service to Enhance Repeat Customers:
With a thoughtful IT infrastructure, small businesses can provide better customer service. With tools such as customer relationship management (CRM) software and chatbots, small companies can respond to customer inquiries and support requests quickly and efficiently.
Upgraded Data Management to Improve Operation Analytics:
Small businesses generate and store a large amount of data; a quality IT infrastructure can help manage that data effectively. With the proper hardware and software in place, small businesses can store, analyze, and use data to make informed decisions and improve their operations.
Competitive Advantage to Boost Your Business in a Big Market:
Let’s face it; getting customers can be challenging. With many small businesses competing against similar companies, those investing in their systems will always win. Small businesses that invest in a robust IT infrastructure can gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. With better efficiency, security, communication, and scalability, small businesses can differentiate themselves from their competitors and attract more customers.
The Risks of Not Having a Strong IT Infrastructure
Small businesses that neglect their IT infrastructure put themselves at risk of falling behind their competitors and losing customers. Without a high-quality, managed IT infrastructure, small businesses may experience the following:
Increased Downtime That Disruption the Business:
Without proper hardware and software maintenance, small businesses may experience more downtime due to hardware failures or software glitches. This downtime can result in lost productivity and revenue.
Security Breaches That Could Cause Severe Damage:
Small businesses, especially those remotely based, are a prime target for cybercriminals, and without proper security measures, they are vulnerable to data breaches and other cyber incidents. These breaches can result in lost data, legal liabilities, and damage to the reputation of the business.
Inefficient Operations That Waste Time, Money, & Resources:
Small businesses may struggle to keep up with their competitors without automation and streamlined processes. Inefficient operations can lead to lost productivity, increased costs, and decreased customer satisfaction. Remember, the goal is to work smarter, not harder.
Lack of Scalability That Prevents a Business from Reaching Its Full Potential:
Small businesses need to invest in a strong IT infrastructure to grow and expand. Without the proper small business IT infrastructure, they may find it challenging to add new employees, customers, or products simply because they are chasing their own tails with mundane tasks or “daily operations” that could be better utilized.
Schedule a Consultation with IT Haven Today
At IT Haven, we understand the importance of a strong IT infrastructure for small businesses. As an MSP, we offer individualized IT solutions for each of our clients, delivering the technical expertise they need at a much lower cost than hiring IT staff. Our team of experts recommends, installs, and manages technology according to our client’s objectives and core competencies, ensuring that critical data is safe. If you’re a small business owner or manager looking to improve your IT infrastructure, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us. During the consultation, we’ll assess your small business IT infrastructure needs and provide you with a customized plan to meet your business goals. Our goal is to help you stay competitive and operate efficiently so that you can enjoy the benefits of improved efficiency, increased security, enhanced communication, scalability, better customer service, improved data management, and a competitive advantage. Don’t wait until it’s too late; invest in a quality IT infrastructure with IT Haven today. To schedule a consultation, please fill out the form on our website, and one of our representatives will be in touch with you shortly.
When you replace old computers or external drives, do you delete data and then just… get rid of them?
You could be putting your sensitive data at risk.
A new study by a data recovery specialist shows that millions of deleted files can be recovered from improperly wiped hard drives that are sold online.
It’s not just buyers who can access your old files. Cyber criminals often buy used hard drives and attempt to recover data from them. This could include anything from confidential business information to client details.
It’s easy to forget about old data when you’re excited about shiny new technology. However, it’s important to consider what’s on that old drive before selling it or disposing of it.
Even if the drive is encrypted, it’s still possible for data to be recovered. And if the drive is damaged, there’s a chance that some of the data is still salvageable. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to sensitive information.
Think about it this way: Would you leave important documents lying around for anyone to see? Of course not! Your digital information deserves the same level of protection.
So what can you do to protect yourself?
Don’t let your old hard drives become a liability. Take the time to have them properly wiped or destroyed before disposal. If you’re upgrading hardware, consider hiring a professional to handle the data transfer and ensure that your old devices are wiped clean.
This isn’t just about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting your employees, clients, and anyone else whose personal information you may have stored on that old drive.
It’s a small investment to make for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe from prying eyes.
Don’t take chances with your data – take action to protect it:
Properly wipe or destroy old hard drives
Bring in a professional for your hardware upgrades
Have you ever felt frustrated by the flood of notifications from your multi-factor authentication (MFA) app?
Well, cyber criminals have too. And they’re taking advantage of “MFA fatigue” to try to gain access to your sensitive business data.
MFA is essential for keeping your data secure. It adds an extra layer of security to your apps and accounts by asking you to verify your identity in two or more ways, such as a password and a code sent to your phone.
The constant alerts can be overwhelming though.
Attackers know this and will bombard employees – sometimes in the middle of the night – with a constant stream of MFA notifications. Which makes it more likely someone will authenticate a login attempt through frustration, tiredness, or just to get the notifications to stop.
But now there’s a new weapon in the fight against MFA fatigue.
Microsoft Authenticator has introduced number matching as a way of making sure your MFA notification is from the correct login attempt, preventing cyber criminals from taking advantage of notification fatigue.
How does number matching work?
When you receive an MFA notification, the app will display a randomly generated number. You then need to input this number to authenticate the login attempt and prove you’re not a cyber criminal trying to access your business data.
That’s not all. Microsoft Authenticator also allows for biometric authentication, which means you can use your face, fingerprint, or other unique physical features to prove your identity and combat the threat of MFA fatigue attacks.
With these security measures in place, your business can stay ahead of cyber criminals and keep your sensitive data better protected.
If you already use Microsoft Authenticator, number matching is ready to use. Simply make sure your app is up-to-date, and you’ll be protected.
If you use another MFA system and want to look at how to make your security better or easier, we can help. Get in touch.
