PCR Welcomes Andrew Unger
PCR Business Systems is thrilled to welcome Andrew Unger to our team as our newest Akron IT support specialist and onsite technician.
Why now is a smart time to outsource your IT
Now, more than ever, Northeast Ohio businesses are outsourcing their IT. Here’s why:
Technology takes up time and resources that many companies can no longer allocate for. Whether it’s continuously updating software and programs, fixing broken computers and hardware, keeping networks online, or safeguarding critical data from the increased risk of a cyber-attack, staying up to date with technology requires a great deal of time, expertise, and staff hours.
With many businesses just now getting back to normal, executives are finding they are not prepared to deal with these technology demands. Employees already have too much on their plates. Even businesses that have their own in-house IT technician are finding that their technology is too much for one person to handle alone.
In addition, executives are finding that budgeting for IT can be extremely difficult right now. This is because technology is evolving faster than ever and companies need to constantly update their IT to stay competitive within their industries. Furthermore, compliance laws and cyber threats require businesses to have the highest level of data security in place and to monitor their systems 24/7 to prevent a data breach or ransomware attack.
Outsourcing your IT eliminates these problems (and many others)!
Outsourcing your IT services to a company like PCR Business Systems helps you:
- Save Time
IT Managed Service Providers like PCR Business Systems have an entire team of IT specialists dedicated to your helping business. This allows you and your staff to focus on doing your jobs.
- Eliminate downtime
Outsourced IT companies like PCR monitor your networks around the clock to keep your business online and operational. In addition, PCR has the fastest helpdesk in Northeast Ohio. So, if a problem does arise, we are only a call or email away from fixing the issue right away.
- Rest easy
Professional outsourced IT providers in Akron, OH specialize in cyber security services. PCR Business Systems is SOC 2, Type 2 Certified—meaning that we have been audited by a third party to guarantee we have the highest levels of security controls in place. This is extremely important for companies that have critical client data they must protect, and compliance laws they must follow.
- Budget your IT
Akron outsourced IT companies generally offer flat rate, all-inclusive IT services that come with no additional fees — making it easy for you to plan your annual IT budget.
Interested in learning more about how outsourcing your IT can help your business?
Contact PCR President, Pat Carroll directly or schedule a FREE 10-minute call.
Even if you aren’t looking to outsource your IT, Pat can help answer any questions you have about your company’s technology.
5 Ways to Protect your Business from Cyber Threats
Think of your internet and sensitive data like you would a car. We take several preventative measures to keep our vehicles from being the target of thieves. We lock our doors, hide valuables from plain sight, install car alarms and anti-theft devices like the Club, and avoid parking in unsafe and dimly lit areas.
So why don’t we always take similar steps to protect our computers and smart phones from people looking to steal our valuable information or money from our online accounts?
Just like car thieves, most hackers look for easy targets. They’ll prey on victims with weak passwords or who use unsecured WiFi to access important financial accounts or to make online purchases. Fortunately, just like with keeping our cars from getting stolen or broken into, a little cyber defense can go a long way in keeping you from getting hacked.
Below are 5 simple things you can do RIGHT NOW to minimize your chances of being hacked.
1). Make sure your security software is up-to-date. Don’t ignore those notifications that pop-up on your screen telling you that your operating system requires an update. That update may contain critical security patches that must be installed in order to keep your system protected from hackers.
Email programs, apps and web browsers should all be updated whenever a software update is available. In addition, as we wrote in the article “End of the Road for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008,” make sure you are using an operating system (OS) that is not obsolete. Using an OS or any software that is no longer supported can leave you extremely vulnerable to a cyber-attack.
2). Create strong passwords, change them regularly, and don’t use the same password for everything. This seems pretty simple, and it is! In the unfortunate event that a hacker gains access to one of your passwords, for example your Facebook login; you can mitigate the damage by ensuring that password is ONLY used for Facebook. If you use the same password for Facebook as you do for your online banking, email, etc. you could be in real trouble as hackers will have access to all of those accounts.
Fortunately, you can prevent hackers from gaining access to any of your accounts by creating strong passwords with a variety of numbers, capital letters, and unique characters, and changing them regularly. Keep a log of your passwords locked in a safe place in your desk or your home.
3). Use Multi-Factor Authentication on all devices. In addition to password protection, you can also thwart off hackers by using multi-factor authentication for all connected devices. Multi-factor authentication simply means that you must present multiple credentials (in addition to just a single password) to gain access to your device or account. Using Multi-factor authentication will help protect your sensitive data against the leading cause of data security breaches– stolen credentials.
4). Install proper antivirus software. If you already have up-to-date security software installed, good for you! You’re one step ahead. If you don’t, make sure you install a firewall today and stay current with updates. Do your research before installing any program or software, and feel free to give us a call at 330.572.7575 or email directly at pat@pcrbusiness.com and we can recommend the best antivirus and antimalware software on the market today.
5). Limit the use of public WiFi and unsecured devices. Do your best to only browse the internet from a secure network. While we understand this may be difficult while traveling, especially if you need to book a last minute hotel or pay a bill online, try to find a network that is safe and password protected. Never use open Wifi for accessing email or important accounts. Just as you wouldn’t leave your purse or laptop on the front seat of your car for a would-be thief to see, you should never display sensitive data on an unsecured network for hackers to get their hands on. Troubleshooting internet connection problems>>
Staying ahead of hackers can be a challenging task. However, implementing these five things today will at the very least make it more difficult for hackers to gain access into your data–limiting the chances they’ll go after you in the first place.
For more information on how you can protect your business from cyber attacks visit us at pcrbusiness.com and check out more posts from our blog.
In Business since, 2004, PCR Business Systems is the leading IT Service Provider in Akron, OH and is SOC 2 Audited and Certified. Schedule a free review of your IT today!
How to Prevent a Ransomware Attack
Northeast Ohio companies that fall victim to a ransomware attack (and that do not have their files properly backed up) usually only have two choices—both of which could put a company out of business.
The first choice presented by cybercriminals is to pay a ransom for the release of the data they are holding hostage. This could cost your business hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars (it is reported that Colonial Pipeline paid upwards of $5 million for the release of their files) and there is no guarantee you will even get your data back. It is estimated that less than a quarter of companies who paid cybercriminals a ransom in 2020 got all of their data returned.
The second option is to do nothing and risk the confidential data of your customers being released. Not only could this destroy the reputation of your business, but you could potentially face lawsuits or fines for violating compliance laws.
As you can see, neither of these options are good and many businesses that fell prey to a ransomware attack never recovered. The best way to deal with a ransomware attack is to prevent one from ever taking place in the first place.
Here are five things your business must do to keep cyber criminals from holding your files and client data hostage.
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- Keep all programs and operating systems up to date with the latest patches.
- Use and maintain proper antivirus software, email filters, and firewalls while regularly monitoring your system for possible infections.
- Use multi-factor authentication for all logins and transactions.
- Train staff on what fishing attacks look like and how they can prevent them.
- Backup your systems regularly and ensure your backups work.
To further limit the chances of a successful ransomware attack on your business, it is also important to only work with SOC Audited outsourced IT service providers like PCR Business Systems. PCR has been SOC 2, Type 2 Certified to guarantee that we have the highest level of security controls in place to protect your critical data. You can learn more about what the SOC 2 Audit is and what it means for your business here.
Have questions about protecting your business from ransomware attacks? Contact PCR President, Pat Carroll for a free Q&A.
Know When to Outsource IT Services
Some companies benefit more from outsourcing their IT rather than having an in-house team. Learn if IT outsourcing is right for you.
PCR has been SOC 2, Type 2 Certified!
PCR Business Systems was recently SOC 2, Type 2 certified. Learn why you should only work with SOC certified Akron IT services providers.