Tag Archive for: Best Practices

Business Continuity For Small Businesses

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What is your plan if your business gets hit by a natural disaster? Now what about if your network gets shut down because of a data breach? The recovery process can be very stressful, expensive, and may leave your operation out of commission for extended lengths of time. On top of that, you’ll need to worry about supporting your employees and serving your customers. These hiccups pose a lot of uncertainty, which can be a nightmare for young business owners and entrepreneurs to deal with. These are just some small factors that show why it’s important to establish a business continuity plan.

Whether you are dealing with the attacks of a natural disaster or a cyber attack, a business continuity strategy will be a solution that will help pull you out of the dark. Business continuity management (BCM) is a practice that expands on the efforts of your disaster recovery strategies. While your business is dealing with a crisis, data backup support will be streamlined so you can focus on getting your operation up to speed again. This is a great way to preserve the lifeblood of your organization so you can get back to doing what’s most important – serving your customers.

If you are still on the fence about establishing a BCM plan, then there are several factors that might put things into clear perspective. These are some of the key reasons why it’s best for businesses to define business continuity strategies in the early stages:

Millions Of Threats Are Always On The Horizon

Unfortunately, your network is always at risk. There are millions of cyber dangers swirling around the world wide web. Disaster can strike at any moment, from nearly any angle. Just one malware virus can yield enough power to wipe away your entire network. When it comes to business continuity, you can never be too cautious. Even if you have the strongest layers of firewall protection and a stable disaster recovery plan in place, business continuity is a surefire way to keep the business process of your operation running smoothly.

Any Downtime Can Be Extremely Costly

If your network takes a hit, then you may need to take some time to evaluate what to do next. Unfortunately, any downtime will keep you from running a productive operation. This can prevent you from serving customers, which will ultimately keep you from generating revenue. What’s even worse is that you’ll probably have to make expensive purchases on repairs and maintenance. This can rack up the costs and lead to failed business opportunities.

Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Is Not Enough

Risk management is about much more than just restoring your data. It’s about keeping things intact, and when a disaster ensues. If you are a business owner, there are many factors that you’ll need to gain control over. While your sensitive information like business data is certainly crucial, it is not the only worry that you should have. Fortunately, business continuity stimulates the effects of your cloud devices, helping you secure lost information faster. This will help you get your business back to peak form much more quickly.

You Will Deliver a More Positive Business Impact

Business continuity does more than just restore your data. The right technology will keep you clear of cyber dangers and make sure all our critical IT functions are on line. This gives you a leg up as it clears a pathway for you to focus your attention on customer services and other crucial business decisions. Finally, the right business continuity program comes with complimentary risk assessment software, so you are able to detect, prepare, and defend off any hazards much more efficiently.

Rely On PCR Business Systems

Our professional, experienced team will help you develop a business continuity strategy that promotes the growth and sustainability of your business. We will work alongside your team to determine your current needs and ensure all team members are educated on the necessary precautions and policies. To find out more about how a partnership with PCR business can benefit your business, contact us today!

WannaCry’s Long-Lasting Effect On Cybersecurity

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The cycle of news today moves very quickly, and certain stories can be lost in its wake. The massive WannaCry ransomware attack took place more than a year ago, and many people have forgotten about it at this point. The WannaCry attack spread worldwide in a matter of days, affecting more than 230,000 computer systems. The cyber attack bypassed antivirus software and heavily encrypted data on many of those computers. This caused all sorts of issues across many industries. Pieces of sensitive information in critical infrastructure were blocked from access and unretrievable.

It Is Still Out There

The self-propagating nature of WannaCry means that it is still out there and has not stopped trying to infect more systems. The number of WannaCry ransomware attacks has slowed, but it still one of the largest across the globe. This situation clearly dictates how many people and businesses do not take their security seriously enough. It also stresses how we must pay attention to threats even after they have left the news cycle. This far-reaching and long-lasting teaches the valuable lesson that no one can guarantee your complete online safety. However, there are safeguards you can put in place to defend the continuity of your business.

There Are Precautions You Can Take

Many people think a cyber attack will never happen to them. You might think that you will never get in a car accident, but that is not a good enough reason to not have car insurance. There is even a patch that Microsoft put out to protect systems from this piece of ransomware months before the attack ever hit, but many organizations still haven’t applied the update. The WannaCry attack is a perfect demonstration of why companies should be investing in robust and responsive data backup and disaster recovery solutions.

Investing in business continuity and data recovery strategies will protect your systems and the future of your business. A data breach is much less costly when you only have to restore your information systems from scratch. Virus protection like firewalls, intrusion detection, penetration testing, and network security and compliance are crucial defenses to have, but just putting walls up is never enough. You need to know that even when the defenses fail, your operations will be safe.

Let Us Protect Your Critical Business Functions

You can rely on PCR Business Systems for backup solutions that make sense. Our solutions will stay out of your way and let you have the peace of mind to go about your typical work day knowing that your data is safe and protected. Even when the next WannaCry attack happens, you can just restore straight from the backups and get back to work.

We can help you build your business continuity plan with reliable recovery time objectives and targeted risk management to prepare for the most likely threats. Contact PCR Business Systems today to learn more about our services and how we can help you defend your productivity to achieve your goals.    

Developing A Bring Your Own Device Policy

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The amount of smartphone and mobile devices in the world is only getting bigger. These tablets and personal devices have changed the way we all do business, and they offer many advantages you would not get otherwise. The most significant challenge with integrating these devices into the normal work day is the vast variety of devices and all of the necessary security management precautions that exist in the workplace. You need to create a comprehensive bring your own device (BYOD) policy to address these issues before they become problems.

Tips For Creating Your Own BYOD Policy

Like most of the HR-related privileges in businesses across the United States, your policy needs to make sure that all employees understand the guidelines. Making sure the program is clear, concise, and straightforward eliminates confusion and lower the risk of a data breach. The whole point of implementing a policy like this is to make everyone’s job easier and function more efficiently. The rules of your program need to balance that flexibility with the control and security that every business requires.

    • Be Specific About What Devices Are Permitted
      We’ve gone far beyond the time when everyone just had one type of phone or computer. Today, people will have multiple phones, tablets, a laptop, and a desktop PC. There are IOS and Android operating systems to consider and a wide range of lesser-known products. It is crucial that you define exactly what BYOD means for your business and what it doesn’t.  
    • Decide What Apps Will Be Allowed Or Banned
      There are thousands of applications out there and more popping up every day. These mobile apps can be helpful and harmful when not managed well. Make app delegation part of your mobile device management. It will protect you from applications that pose a security or legal risk in the future. There are too many ways for hackers to find paths into your personal data for identity theft already, don’t make it any easier for them by downloading the wrong app.
    • Set A Clear Service Program For All BYOD Devices
      When developing a process like this, it is crucial that you establish the boundaries of the service plan these devices can be on. There are several questions about service plans you need to answer before implementing your new plan. Be clear about the answers to questions like the ones below and make sure employees know when they can go to IT for support and when they have to rely on retailers or vendors.

      • What level of IT support will be offered for those connecting to your network from personal devices?
      • What kind of IT support will there be for broken devices?
      • Will you provide loaner devices for employees?
      • What if an approved application is causing operation issues?
    • Plan For The Long-Term
      Technology is one of the least static fields in the entire world. It is always changing and adapting to our needs and its own advances. You want to be able to alter your plan in the future when new tech becomes available. Also, planning for the future means that you will make fewer adjustments in the long run.   
  • Revisit Your Policy Routinely
    You don’t want to be constantly reviewing your own policies, but it is a good idea to check in from time to time and make sure everything is working well. You don’t want to trust your information security to outdated thinking. Keep that sensitive information safe by reviewing your plan on a routine basis.
    • Take Advantage Of What BYOD Offers
      The whole reason you are deploying a plan like this is because you want to embrace the freedom and flexibility that these devices provide. You want to be safe and protect your data, but you also don’t want to lock down your program so tightly that it cannot move. Work with a managed service provider or your IT department to have the best of both worlds.
  • Don’t Leave Data Locally On A Device
    We have all seen what can happen when a business is not responsible with things like the credit card numbers of millions of customers. Part of your security posture should be making sure that the applications you are using don’t store data locally on a device. You don’t want one lost phone or tablet being the downfall for millions of users. You can also use fail-safe programs to remotely wipe devices.  
    • Protect The Company From Liability
      Make sure that the language in your BYOD policy defends your business from liability across a wide range of situations. You do not want your company exposed to risk from an inappropriate website or driving and texting. A good policy will ban these behaviors and protect the business from the potential negative future impact.  
  • Set Up An Employee Exit Strategy
    There are many reasons why an employee might leave. Whatever the reason, you want it to be a clean break when it comes to your technology. Both sides of the exit should not want any risk of breaches or hackers gaining access through an old device that still had data or login information on it. You cannot just take back someone’s personal android device, but you can remove certain applications, access tokens, or email address access.   

Reach out and contact PCR Business Systems today to learn more about our services and what you need to know about developing your own BYOD policies. We can help you find the balance between superior security and freedom of use.

What To Look For In A Cybersecurity Training Program

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Today’s society is dominated by virtual technology. Information technology ultimately dictates the way that most businesses operate. To succeed in the current business world, organizations must have the support from the right hardware and software. A high-quality IT infrastructure is almost a surefire way to maintain a competitive edge. For many businesses, it is the backbone of their entire operation. An IT system is comprised of an arsenal of tools like phone systems, desktop PCs, laptops and other mobile devices, along with cloud-based platforms to keep your data secure.

If you are a business owner, you need to take a proactive approach to protect your intellectual property, because this is a critical way to keep your workforce safe.  Firewall systems, disaster recovery, and data backup plans are all great sources of security, but they can only do so much. This is why it’s important to educate all staff members about lingering cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing scams, and unpatched software systems. Cybersecurity awareness training is a great way to teach your employees how to defend against these treacherous dangers. Fortunately, there are many online security awareness training programs that make it easier to do this.

Over the years, PCR Business Solutions has engineered cyber training platforms to help businesses successfully mitigate handfuls of cyber risks like data breaches and malware invasions. Our comprehensive curriculum is full of useful training content that effectively covers each of these critical areas:

Data Management

We emphasize the nature of data security and the responsibilities that each employee has in order to protect the network. Administrators and leaders may have more capabilities granted, but all staff members will have the same obligation to respect and protect the equipment.  

Passwords Protection

One of the most important aspects of cybersecurity is password protection. It’s important for employees to select strong, cryptic passwords. This means that they cannot be easily guessed or remembered by others. Passwords should be updated after an extended length of time to make sure your company sends periodic reminders when it’s time to change this login credential.

Email Use

Data theft often stems from irresponsible email use. Make sure that your employees are trained to recognize email scams. Your training program needs to educate people on phishing scams, virus threats, and other email dangers. Make sure that the training program is adjusted with the latest safety practices.

Unauthorized Software

Unlicensed software should not be installed on any company computer. This needs to be addressed in company training. If an employee downloads unauthorized software, then your company may be susceptible to malicious attacks that can further corrupt your business model.

Social Media Policies

Social media should be limited to a minimum use at most. If your employee spends an extended amount of time of social media while on the job, then this can hinder their performance. Make sure this is addressed in the training program. Also, include policies that pertain to the use of any company-sponsored social media engines.

Mobile Device Policies

Employees pose a bigger risk of enduring security breaches when they access networks through their own mobile devices. The training program must effectively communicate the details of a company’s mobile device policy. If there is a bring your own device policy in place, then this is a must needed topic to cover.

The Anatomy of Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks can strike networks from any angle at practically any point in time. You need to break down the anatomy of certain cyber dangers and discover the reason for the attack. Some might call this hacking forensics. This can help teach you how to discover vulnerabilities in your network so you know how to act when threats are discovered on the horizon.

Computer Protection Methods

There are copious amounts of protection strategies that will keep your computer safeguarded from external hazards. Train your employees to lock their computers when they are not in use. Additionally, you need to promote routine backups and storage security. Encourage your employees to also continually update the virus protection software that’s stored on their computers.

How PCR Can Help

The experienced team at PCR Business system can help audit your current IT infrastructure and identify the areas in need of improvement. Once we have patched your network, we will continue to monitor for cyber threats and work with your team to develop policies that your team can follow to be more secure. We will also create a plan for recovery in case a cyberattack is ever carried out. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!

How To Protect Your Inbox

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Throughout the past few years, ransomware has grown into a very detrimental threat for businesses all over the world. Cyber criminals are always at work, looking for vulnerabilities that exist on the web. If a hacker spots an opportunity to poke holes into your network, they will seize on that opportunity with a malicious attack.

More times than not, ransomware strikes will be staged in the form of an email. Whether it’s a phishing scam, spam trap, or any other type of malicious attack, you need to make sure you have the right defense mechanisms safeguarding your inbox. If a hacker gets through your inbox, then this paves a clear path for them to compromise all of your hard-earned valuables. That includes things like credit card numbers, passwords, business documents, and any other sensitive information.

To keep your mailbox safe from any external cyber threats, make sure to have a comprehensive security plan in effect. Practicing these cybersecurity methods are surefire ways to keep hackers out of your inbox and away from your network.

Educate Your Employees:

There are multiple types of ransomware and ransomware attacks that you should be aware about. It’s important to know how to recognize them all. What’s even more important is to pass down that knowledge through the rest of your staff. Educate your employees on the different types of ransomware, the effects that they carry, and the best prevention strategies to utilize in the case of an attack.

Apply Spam Filters:

Spam is a very common type of ransomware to be carried in an email. Installing a spam filter is a great way to prevent hackers from entering your network. This special software automatically detects spam symptoms and filters suspicious messages into a “junk” folder. This will prevent those types of suspicious messages from reaching your main inbox, giving you the ability to keep your email organized with messages that are actually useful.

Distribute Phishing Assessments:

A phishing attempt is one of the most common and devastating attacks that one can endure. If you get an email that looks suspicious with a clickbait action, then chances are that is are that is a malicious phishing attempt. This is a randomized simulation that employees will have the ability to mark as “phishing.” This will expose network users to real-life phishing scenarios, conditioning them to keep them away from your inbox.

Install Antivirus Software:

Antivirus software gives you the ability to scan your entire inbox for viruses. This is a multi-layered source of protection that automatically detects virus symptoms. Incoming messages will be scanned through a virus detection program. If any threats are identified, then you will receive an automatic alert that pinpoints where that specific virus lives. You’ll get the upper hand as a result and will be able to take any necessary action to remove the virus from your network.

Mitigate Lateral Movements:

Minimize the use of a Local Area Network (LAN). Networks are usually most vulnerable when they are accessed in remote locations. If ransomware grips onto the network, then this can spread like wildfire. Most LAN-structured networks are easier to compromise from endpoint to endpoint so it’s important to only allow its use to a select few people.

Create A Data Recovery Strategy:

Backup and disaster recovery are the two of the most critical components to any good cybersecurity program. If you do fall victim to a cyber attack, then it’s important to have a good backup strategy in place. It’s best to have the extra support from an offsite data center. This gives you another safe place to store duplicate copies of your most important files. Additionally, it’s also wise to have a cloud storage solution equipped in your arsenal. This will be helpful if you lose grip on your network, because administrators will be able to quickly recover your data by logging into the cloud.

Practice Business Continuity:

If your disaster recovery plan doesn’t work so smoothly then make sure you have a safe business continuity plan to rely on. This will give you a chance to evaluate the landscape of the attack and adjust business objectives. As a result, you’ll be given the chance to get your business back up to speed once the dust settles following a disaster. Effective business continuity programming gives you the opportunity to recover any existing aspects of the business process that was impacted.