Business and Technology News

Phishing attacks are the most common cybercrime attack for one reason…they work. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam e-mails reach unsuspecting users' inboxes. Phishing e-mails have held the top spot as the most frequent form of attack for years because they're easy to implement, easy to scale and continue to fool people. AI tools like ChatGPT are now making it even easier for cybercriminals to create e-mails that look and sound like they're coming from humans instead of bots and scammers. If you're not careful, the effects of phishing scams can be detrimental. Since it's Cybersecurity Awareness Month and phishing e-mails are one of the top causes of attacks, we created this simple guide to help you and your team successfully identify phishing e-mails and understand why it's so important to do so. What can happen? Here are 4 significant dangers associated with phishing attacks: 1. Data Breaches Phishing attacks can expose your organization's sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once your data is exposed, hackers can sell it on the dark web or hold it for ransom, demanding thousands, millions or even more for its return - and they likely won't return it anyway. This can result in financial and legal repercussions, damage to your reputation and loss of customer trust. 2. Financial Loss Cybercriminals often use phishing e-mails to steal money directly from businesses. Whether it's through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, falling victim to phishing can have a direct impact on your bottom line. 3. Malware Infections Phishing e-mails can contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt your operations, lead to data loss and require costly remediation efforts. 4. Compromised Accounts When employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data. And the list goes on. However, there are actions you can take to prevent becoming the next victim of a phishing attack. Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method you and your employees can use to help identify phishing e-mails  S - Start With The Subject Line: Is it odd? (e.g., "FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately") E - Examine The E-mail Address: Do you recognize the person? Is the e-mail address unusual? (e.g., spelled differently) or unknown (not the one they usually send from)? C - Consider The Greeting: Is the salutation unusual or generic? (e.g., "Hello Ma'am!") U - Unpack The Message: Is there extreme urgency to get you to click a link or download an attachment or act on a too-good-to-be-true offer? R - Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings? E - Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before you click them to check the address, and do not open attachments from anyone you don't know or weren't expecting to receive mail from. It's also important to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and eliminate e-mail spam before your employees can make a mistake. Make sure you're taking proper precautions to protect your network. These phishing attacks work and happen all the time. We don't want YOU to be the next victim. If you need help training your team on cybersecurity best practices or implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or just want a second set of eyes to examine what you currently have in place and assess if there are any vulnerabilities, we are ready to help. Call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to book a call with our team.

National Public Data confirmed in September 2024 that a hacker has compromised the personal records of millions of individuals. The information exposed includes the names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers and even Social Security numbers of up to 2.9 billion people. Here's what you need to know. What happened? National Public Data, a consumer data broker that specializes in providing criminal records, background checks and other forms of data to private investigators, consumer public record sites, human resources, staffing agencies, the government and more, was hacked. The incident is believed to have started in December 2023 when a third-party bad actor attempted to gain access. In April, a cybercriminal named "USDoD" posted the stolen data online in a popular criminal community. On August 6, the stolen dataset resurfaced, this time posted for free to several breach forums for anyone to access and download. The sensitive, personally identifiable information released included names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Social Security numbers for millions of people, some of whom are deceased. The data also contained previous addresses and, in some instances, alternate names. The official data breach notice that was filed in Maine indicated that 1.3 million records may have been breached; however, some lawsuits are suggesting as many as 2.9 billion records have been exposed. As the investigation continues, many cyber experts are finding that some of the data released was inaccurate, and aside from the Social Security numbers, most of it is already public and easy to find online. So why is this breach dangerous if the information can be found with a quick Google search? There are several reasons to be concerned. Having all this critical information in one place makes it easy for criminals to use the information needed to apply for credit cards and loans or open new bank accounts. The information included, such as childhood street names or the last four digits of your Social Security number, are often answers to security questions and can help hackers bypass authentication and access your private accounts. Some cyber experts are suggesting watching for a surge in phishing and smishing (phishing over SMS) attacks as well. Can you be affected even if you've never heard of National Public Data or purchased data from them? Yes! Just because you haven't interacted with them doesn't mean other organizations, businesses, landlords, etc., haven't leveraged their resources to dig up information on you. What should you do to protect yourself? Step 1: Check to see if your data has been exposed. You can use tools like https://npd.pentester.com/ to find out if your information has been compromised. If so, it's important to take immediate action. Step 2: Request a copy of your credit report and then freeze your credit. One of the best ways to protect your identity is to freeze your credit and set up alerts. This prevents criminals from opening up new lines of credit in your name. To do this, contact all three major credit bureaus - Equifax, TransUnion and Experian - and request a freeze. The process is free and should take you less than 10 minutes per site to complete. If there are others in your house over the age of 18, it's a good idea to freeze their credit too. Anyone with a Social Security number is vulnerable following a breach of this size. Once you have a copy of your free credit report, review it for anything that you didn't authorize. Don't forget to set up alerts and review your credit regularly. Step 3: Watch out for phishing scams. As mentioned, many cybercriminals will try to leverage this information to scam you through phone calls, text messages, e-mails and even social media sites. Be cautious! A data breach is devastating for everyone involved - the business hacked and the customers or employees whose data is leaked. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you are taking the highest precautions to protect your business and its data. If you want to do a full assessment and find out if any of your information has been leaked or if your network is vulnerable to a breach, we'll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at (207) 300-2300 or click here .

Software updates can feel like a nuisance, but skipping them is one of the easiest ways to leave your systems vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Hackers are constantly looking for weaknesses, and outdated software is like an open door to your network. But how do you know when it's time to update, and should you always trust your computer to tell you? Here are five clear signs it's time to update, plus tips on how to handle updates safely. 1. Your Software Is No Longer Supported If the software provider has stopped releasing updates for your current version, it's a major red flag. Unsupported software often has known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can easily exploit. Check for announcements from your software providers about end-of-life support and upgrade as soon as possible. Tip: Don't wait for the software to "break" before updating. Plan ahead and migrate to newer versions while you still have full support. 2. You Notice Slower Performance A sudden slowdown in your software's performance can be a sign that it's out-of-date. Newer versions of software are optimized to run more efficiently, and skipping updates might leave you with buggy, sluggish software. Tip: If you notice performance drops, check the settings for pending updates or visit the provider's website to manually download the latest version. 3. You Receive Security Alerts Has your antivirus or security software flagged vulnerabilities in an application you use? If so, an update is likely overdue. Cybercriminals thrive on exploiting security gaps in outdated software. Always pay attention to security alerts and take them seriously. Tip: Use a trusted antivirus tool that can integrate with your software and alert you when updates are needed. Make sure you verify the authenticity of any update alerts before clicking. 4. You Haven't Updated In Over 6 Months If it's been more than six months since your last software update, you're probably due for one. Many providers release updates on a regular schedule to patch vulnerabilities and enhance features. Tip: Set a reminder to check for updates regularly, rather than waiting for the computer to alert you. This is especially important for critical software, like operating systems and antivirus programs. 5. New Features Have Been Announced Sometimes updates come with more than just security patches - they also bring new features. If you hear about exciting new functionality that you don't have, it's a sign you're behind on updates. Tip: Keep an eye on announcements from your software providers. Follow their blogs or sign up for notifications so you're always aware of improvements. How To Update Safely While updating software is crucial, you should always be cautious about how you do it. Here's how to ensure your updates are safe: - Verify The Source: Always download updates directly from the provider's official website or trusted app store. Avoid third-party sites or suspicious links. - Back Up Your Data: Before any major update, back up important data to an external location. This ensures that if something goes wrong, you won't lose critical files. - Restart Your Device: Once the update is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the new features and patches are properly installed. By staying on top of software updates, you're not only improving performance but also protecting your systems from potential threats. Don't wait until it's too late - keep your software up-to-date and ensure your network stays secure. Need help managing your software updates? Call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to schedule a consultation.

Spooky season is here and you can finally feel good about buying the Halloween candy that has been on the shelves since July 5 th . It ALSO means the biggest online shopping day of the YEAR is just weeks away: Cyber Monday. Unfortunately, it's also open season for cybercriminals. Now that's scary . Because preparation is the best prevention, we're covering the six most common shopping scams this time of year and how to avoid them. It's Open Season For Shopping Scam Thanks to cybercriminals, what should be a season of festive shopping is now dangerous for consumers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, shopping scams were the second-worst type of scam in the US in 2023. And online scams are at their worst during the holidays. According to TransUnion's 2022 Global Digital Fraud Trends report, there was a 127% increase in daily fraud attempts between November 24 and 28 compared to January 1 through November 23. Due to the high volume of shopping activity during the holiday season, cybercriminals don't have to work hard to find potential victims. But it's not simply volume that contributes to the rise in attacks; consumers take more risks during the holiday season. According to Norton's 2022 Cyber Safety Insights Report, nearly one in three adults (32%) worldwide admitted to taking more risks with online shopping closer to the holidays. Last-minute shopping pressure or excitement around scoring big deals results in common mistakes, including clicking on unverified links, using public WiFi for transactions and ignoring website security red flags. Cybercriminals expect shoppers to make mistakes, and they have tried-and-true tactics for stealing your money. Watch out for these six scams that appear this time of year, and protect yourself this holiday season. 6 Common Scams During Black Friday And Cyber Monday And How to Avoid Them 1. Fake Coupons: Scammers distribute fake coupons promising steep discounts. These coupons are often shared via e-mail, social media and fake websites designed to mimic legitimate retailers. Remember: if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. How to avoid: Always verify a coupon by checking the retailer's official website or app, and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited e-mails. 2. Phony Websites: To steal personal information, fake websites mimic legitimate online stores using similar logos, branding and URLs that are only slightly different from the official sites. How to avoid: Check for secure website indicators such as HTTPS and a padlock icon in the address bar. Read reviews and quickly search the website's legitimacy before making any purchases. Pay attention to the URL for any unusual characters or misspellings. 3. Fake Delivery And Nondelivery Scams: Scammers send fake delivery notifications or claim a package is undeliverable to trick you into providing personal information. How to avoid: Track orders directly through the retailer's website or app. Avoid clicking on links in suspicious messages, and be cautious of unsolicited delivery notifications. 4. Fake "Order Issue" Scams: E-mails claiming a problem with your order and asking for personal details are common. These messages often look like they come from well-known retailers. How to avoid: Contact customer service directly through the retailer's official channels to verify any issues, and avoid providing personal details through links in unsolicited messages. 5. Account Verification Scams: Scammers send e-mails or texts asking you to verify your account information. These messages often include links to fake login pages. How to avoid: Never provide personal details through links in unsolicited messages; instead, log in directly to your account through the official website. 6. Gift Card Scams: Scammers offer discounted gift cards or request payment via gift cards. Once the card numbers are provided, the scammer uses the balance, leaving the victim with a worthless card. How to avoid: Purchase gift cards directly from reputable retailers and never use them as a form of payment to unknown individuals. Avoid Scams And Create A Safer Shopping Experience Nothing will kill the holiday shopping spirit like $1,000 worth of fraudulent charges on your credit card or gifts from phony sites that never arrive. Cybercriminals take advantage of the festive shopping rush, and consumers' tendency to take more risks during this time only amplifies the danger. By verifying sources, checking website security and avoiding unsolicited links, you can enjoy a safer shopping experience this season!

Important News: Microsoft will NO LONGER support Windows 10 after October 2025! While these PCs will still work after the official end date of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide product key free services that keep your device working properly and securely. These services include: Security updates Non-security updates Technical support Why Is This Important For Business Owners? Security Risks: Without regular updates, your computer will become more vulnerable to viruses, malware and hackers. This could put your business data at risk, which is why upgrading to a newer version of Windows is crucial. Software Compatibility: Many software programs are updated regularly to work with the latest operating systems. After Windows 10 reaches its end of life, some of your favorite programs might not work as smoothly or could stop working altogether. Compliance Issues: If your business deals with sensitive information or follows strict regulations, using an outdated operating system could lead to compliance issues. It's important to stay current to avoid potential fines or legal problems. What Are Your Options? Microsoft encourages users to migrate to the latest version before the end-of-life date. This can present challenges for some PC owners, as not all devices currently running Windows 10 are compatible with Windows 11. If you try to upgrade one of those PCs to Windows 11, but the device does not meet the stringent hardware requirements of the new software, you'll encounter an error message. If your device isn't compatible with Windows 11, you have a few options. You can: Buy a new PC that is compatible Pay for Microsoft's Windows 10 security updates (available for up to three years but no longer free!) Switch from the Windows operating system to Linux Try to upgrade "incompatible" PCs, using a technical loophole Ignore the deadline and put your business at risk (we do NOT recommend this one!) Whatever you decide, make sure to back up your data! Before making any changes, always back up your important files. This ensures that nothing gets lost during the upgrade process. Planning Ahead \It's important to be proactive about the transition. There has been some discussion that Microsoft will extend the deadline, but that's not a strategy you want to bet your business on. You don't want to wait to take action until you're out of options and your business is at risk because you no longer have security protection. The best step is to work with your IT provider to determine what option makes sense for your organization. If your computers are fairly new, paying for ongoing security updates might make sense. If your devices are older and nearing the end of their life anyway, new PCs could be the way to go. An experienced IT team or a tech consultant can help you with the upgrade process. They can make sure everything runs smoothly and minimize any downtime for your business. If you're looking for someone to guide you in making the right decision, get in touch with our team to schedule a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call. During this quick conversation, we'll be able to map out the next steps to take to start transitioning to Windows 11 efficiently. To schedule, call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here .

Even if you're tired of hearing about AI, the reality is that those who embrace it, find the tools that work and learn how to use them efficiently WILL get ahead of those who refuse to try. However, sorting through the thousands of AI-powered programs on the market can feel like a daunting task, which is why we want to highlight one that we support. Microsoft Copilot is an advanced AI-driven tool that leverages artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks, analyze data, facilitate collaboration and more. Its chat-like design works seamlessly across commonly used Microsoft applications like Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams and can significantly boost productivity. Unfortunately, most companies often underutilize it. Today, we're sharing many ways you should use Microsoft Copilot to enhance efficiency in your business. Automating Routine Tasks - Routine tasks like data entry, scheduling and managing e-mails are time suckers. Microsoft Copilot can handle these for you, freeing your time to focus on more strategic activities. You can start your day with a clear inbox and a well-organized schedule without lifting a finger. Data Analysis And Reporting - Data is crucial for making informed decisions, but analyzing it can be time-consuming and require some level of technical expertise. With Microsoft Copilot, you can effortlessly sift through large datasets and quickly create comprehensive reports. Whether you need insights into sales trends, customer behavior or financial performance, Copilot can provide actionable data in minutes. Improve Customer Support - Quality customer support is crucial to growing a business. Copilot can help you develop scripts for customer service representatives to handle inquiries and complaints, edit e-mails to sound more professional, automate responses to common questions, and even direct more complex issues to the appropriate team member. This means faster response times and happier customers. Content Creation - Creating content for e-mails, presentations and marketing campaigns can take time. Copilot can draft e-mails and blogs, develop creative ad copy for various advertising campaigns, generate sales pitches and presentations and even create social media content, all while ensuring your messaging stays consistent. Whether you're putting together a newsletter or a social media post, Copilot keeps the engaging content flowing smoothly in half the time it normally takes and without the usual hassle. Financial Management - Microsoft Copilot can help you draft budget proposals; create financial summaries; accurately forecast, create and organize invoices; track expenses; automate data collection; and generate accurate financial reports. This helps you keep track of your finances and make informed decisions based on real-time data. With Copilot, monitoring your financial health and planning for future growth becomes much more manageable. Improve HR And Operations - Copilot can quickly help your human resources department and operations team get more done in less time in various ways. Leverage Copilot to: Manage documentation such as employee manuals, policy documents and FAQs, ensuring they are always up-to-date. Assist in developing training modules and educational content for new hires or ongoing employee development. Generate templates for performance evaluations and feedback forms that can be personalized for each employee. Ensure compliance with regulations by using Copilot to stay informed about legal changes and update necessary documentation accordingly. Streamline Task And Workflow Management - Keeping track of tasks and deadlines can be challenging and overwhelming. Copilot integrates with tools like Microsoft Planner and Project to help you organize tasks, set deadlines and track progress. Using this to your advantage helps projects stay on track and team members remain accountable. By streamlining task and workflow management, you can maintain a productive and organized work environment. While this list barely scratches the surface of what Microsoft Copilot can do, there is no magic button that will make your business run itself. But leveraging tools like Microsoft Copilot can get you closer to that. From automating routine tasks to enhancing collaboration and financial management, Copilot offers a wide range of benefits that can significantly boost your productivity. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, Copilot allows you to focus on what matters most - growing your business. And remember, no matter how advanced technology gets, nothing replaces the value of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication. So, integrate these tools, but keep pushing forward with the grit and determination that got you here in the first place. If you need help learning how to set up or leverage Microsoft Copilot in your organization, our team of experts is here to help. Give us a call at (207) 300-2300 or book a FREE Network Assessment here .

When 8.5 million Windows devices, including those at airlines, banks and hospitals, suddenly displayed the "Blue Screen of Death," people began to panic. "We are under a cyber-attack!" most speculated. Fortunately, that was not the case, but the real reason behind the outage is alarming and something every business owner should be concerned about. So, What Happened? On July 19, 2024, millions of Windows devices crashed, triggering an endless reboot cycle and an unresolvable blue screen. This issue caused massive global disruptions. Airlines had to ground flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in airports and unable to book new routes home. Electronic health record software was knocked offline, forcing providers to cancel or delay nonemergency procedures, surgeries and medical visits. Several major banks also went offline, leaving customers unable to access their accounts. These were just some of the significant issues caused by what is now labeled the largest IT outage in history. Almost brings back those Y2K fears, doesn't it? If It Wasn't A Cyber-Attack, What Caused It? Many worried that the outage was due to a cybersecurity attack, but the source of the problem was a botched software update from CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. The team behind their endpoint detection and response (EDR) platform, Falcon, configured what should have been a routine sensor update. This update, specifically for Microsoft Windows, unknowingly had a flaw, and due to its tight integration with Windows OS, it resulted in widespread system crashes when it was pushed through. How could a multibillion-dollar organization release an update with such a serious flaw? Representatives for the company later explained that it was due to a gap in their testing software. The issue stemmed from a flaw in the content validator tool, which failed to detect the problem in the update, leading engineers to believe everything was ready for release. As a result, the update forced Windows systems to enter an endless reboot cycle, displaying the infamous Blue Screen of Death. As the situation unfolded, CrowdStrike immediately acted to fix the issue, but the damage was already done. Reports from insurers now estimate the outage will cost US Fortune 500 companies upward of $5.4 billion. Why Should This Concern You? \This event reinforces how integrated technology is in our lives and underscores the significant impact a single software flaw can have on global IT infrastructure. When it comes to your company's technology management, there is no substitute for having three things: A reliable, knowledgeable IT professional managing your network. Accidents happen even in large organizations, as seen with CrowdStrike, but you can reduce your odds of being caught up in an issue like this by working with an experienced IT team. Their expertise and knowledge in updates, backups and constant awareness keep your operations running smoothly and prevent minor hiccups from escalating into full-blown disasters. Rigorous software testing. If you have a reliable IT team, they should handle this for you. A robust disaster recovery plan. Mistakes will happen, and you need to be prepared to take action quickly so you can continue doing business and mitigate damage quickly. Many organizations affected by this outage had to pause business because they had no action plan for a disaster like this. Don't be caught without plan B if something like this happens in your organization. Don't wait until you're hit with a crisis to take action. Ensure your business is prepared by partnering with an experienced IT team. We offer a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment where our team of experts will evaluate your current systems, identify potential vulnerabilities and develop a comprehensive plan to safeguard your business against future outages. Your company's security and continuity depend on it. Call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to book your FREE Network Assessment today!

Health insurance is designed to provide access to necessary treatments, preventive services and emergency care to individuals and families in need, and, apparently, now it's also used to hand out paydays to scammers. In February of this year, Change Healthcare fell victim to a cyber-attack that impacted thousands of health care providers, insurers and policyholders nationwide. Reports from this incident suggest that around 50% of all US medical claims could be at risk! To put that into perspective, if you're in the waiting room with nine other people, there's a good chance that five of you could fall victim to medical identity theft within the year. The aftermath of this fraud is staggering, affecting countless individuals and their access to health care. Once your medical information is exposed online, these identity thieves can use it to file false claims, buy expensive prescriptions and more, and it will all be conveniently billed to your account. The worst part is how some people are finding out they were affected. Some are facing tax or mortgage fraud, but others are going to the doctor to find out if they need a procedure, but instead of getting a surgery date, they're handed a rejection letter from their insurance provider, claiming the company won't cover it because they've exhausted their benefits from multiple other procedures this year. But the thing is, THEY didn't have any other procedures this year. Someone stole their medical ID and used it for their own procedures. And it's not just individuals you have to worry about. Manipulative organizations can use your medical information for fake billing schemes. What happens is that they submit false claims for medical services you never requested, received or knew anything about, then they collect their payday, and stick you with the bill. In July, 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals, were charged for their alleged participation in several different health care fraud schemes that resulted in $2.75 billion in false billings to federal programs. Medical fraud happens! How Do You Know If You're A Victim? Here are 10 signs that your medical ID may have been stolen and is currently being used by cybercriminals: Unexpected Medical Bills: Receiving bills for medical services you didn't receive is a major red flag. Collection Notices: Being contacted by debt collectors for unpaid medical bills that aren't yours. Errors In Medical Records: Finding inaccuracies in your medical records, such as treatments you never had, incorrect diagnoses or unfamiliar medical histories. Insurance Issues: Your health insurance claims are denied because your benefits have been maxed out or you're told you've reached your coverage limit, despite not using the services. Notification From Your Insurance Provider: Receiving alerts from your health insurance provider about claims or services you don't recognize. Unknown Accounts: Discovering new health insurance accounts or medical records under your name that you didn't create. Discrepancies In Your Explanation Of Benefits (EOB): Your EOB statements from your insurer list medical services you didn't receive. Being Denied Insurance: Having difficulty obtaining life or health insurance because medical conditions that you don't have are listed in your records. Calls From Medical Providers: Receiving calls from doctors or medical facilities about appointments or follow-ups for treatments you never had. Unfamiliar Prescriptions: Notices about prescriptions being filled in your name that you did not authorize or receive. How Can You Prevent Becoming A Victim Of Medical ID Fraud? Don't become the next medical ID theft victim. Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself: Check For Health Care Breaches: Use a searchable database, like this one , to find out if your health care information has been compromised. Secure Your Records: Store paper copies of medical records in a safe or lockbox to prevent unauthorized access. If your health care organization's system is compromised and records are lost, altered or unable to be accessed, you will be glad you did this. Shred Documents: Shred any documents with personal information before disposing of them. Monitor Your Medical Records: Regularly request and review your medical records from your health care providers and look for unfamiliar treatments, diagnoses or other discrepancies. Review Insurance Bills: Carefully review explanation of benefits (EOB) statements from your insurance provider for any services you did not receive and question unfamiliar or unclear charges. Contact your insurer immediately if you see any charges or services that you don't recognize. Afterward, report any billing errors to the credit bureaus at IdentityTheft.gov . Dispose Of Prescription Labels: Remove labels from empty prescription bottles before discarding them! These labels can contain information that, believe it or not, can be used to steal your identity. Monitor Your Credit: At AnnualCreditReport.com , you are able to get three free reports a year to keep an eye on any suspicious activity. Health care will always be around and will also always be a target for hackers. Attacks on hospitals, doctors' offices and other medical facilities will continue. It's important that you are taking proactive measures to protect yourself. We can help you find out how you're at risk with our FREE Dark Web Scan. Using this technology, we can quickly find out if your information has been put up for sale on the dark web or if you've been a victim of a data breach. To book your Dark Web Scan, call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here .

If the software your organization used to close deals and pay employees unexpectedly went down and you had no idea when it would be fixed, what would you do? Could you continue doing business? How much money would you lose? Unfortunately, in June, this happened to over 15,000 US- and Canada-based car dealerships when two cyber-attacks occurred on the popular industry software provider, CDK Global. This software attack shut down the sales, financing and payroll systems for thousands of dealers, forcing them to either stop business or revert to the old-fashioned pen-and-paper method. This incident should be a wake-up call for all small business owners, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. What Happened? The initial attack occurred on the evening of Tuesday, June 18. Once it was detected, CDK Global immediately took the correct action, bringing the entire system offline to investigate the issue. The system was up and running again the following day until a second incident occurred, which resulted in the company bringing the system back offline. It's thought the system was brought back online prematurely, before all compromised areas were discovered, resulting in a second attack. Cybersecurity experts are saying it could be weeks before the system is back to being fully operational. While some businesses were able to revert to manual processes, this incident highlights the vulnerabilities that come with relying on digital systems. In our ever-advancing digital world, where most transactions are a couple of clicks away, significant issues arise when systems go offline. Critical parts of the business process, such as completing transactions, managing payroll and interacting with financial institutions, can come to a standstill. This means that until the systems are back online, many business operations cannot be fully completed, leading to delays and potential financial losses. Business owners know that there is no sale until the check clears the bank! So, What's Next? CDK Global didn't disclose the exact cause of the attack. Whether that was intentional or they are still unsure remains to be seen. Their security team will need to meticulously comb over every area of the business to determine exactly what was compromised. It's often difficult for large companies to get the details about cyber-attacks 100% correct after the first review because they may not be able to determine the extent of an attack's network penetration if there are multiple points of vulnerability. In the meantime, businesses need to take a hard look at their systems for selling and operational continuity. Will they be prepared to continue doing business if and when this happens again? This incident should serve as a wake-up call for all business leaders. If you don't have a business recovery and continuity plan in place, you're putting yourself at risk. And if you do, you need to ask yourself if it is high-quality, tested often and able to handle a large-scale attack where multiple operational systems are disabled. If the answer is no, it's time to do something about it. We'll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment that will achieve two important things: We'll analyze your network for vulnerabilities. This will show you if and where an attack can occur, and we'll offer solutions to patch it so you're not actively setting yourself up to be the next cyber-attack victim. We'll help you determine what continuity or recovery plan makes sense for your organization. Cybersecurity is an essential and necessary element of doing business, but even the most robust security solutions are not 100% foolproof. This means you must have a plan to bounce back and continue doing business if something should happen to your network or to a third-party piece of software you rely on, like CDK. To get started, call our office at (207) 300-2300 or click here to book your FREE Security Risk Assessment now.

Summer is a popular time for vacation travel. If you're looking to squeeze in any last-minute travel, there is a scam circulating that you need to be aware of. As costs for everything from food to travel continue to increase, the logical step is to search for the best deals online to book a memorable trip without breaking your budget. According to Booking.com, cybercriminals have decided to capitalize on this need and are now using one scarily convincing, AI-generated phishing e-mail that can cost victims way more than their vacation fund. Booking.com's CISO, Marnie Wilking, shared that the organization has seen a 500% to 900% increase in travel-related scams in the past 18 months using this malicious tactic. How are these scammers doing it? Phishing e-mails have existed since the dawn of the Internet, but AI tools like ChatGPT are making it increasingly easy to create realistic and professional scam e-mails that are more likely to trick readers. In the past, phishing e-mails were riddled with red flags such as spelling and grammatical errors. With the rise of AI, it's easier for cybercriminals to pump out dozens of seemingly legitimate e-mails that often go undetected by software and readers. Here's how they work: Scammers will use sites like Booking.com or Airbnb.com that allow people to list their places as short-term rentals. The scammers send out e-mails offering incredible rates or time-sensitive deals on nonexistent properties. After someone pays, the cybercriminals will either disappear with the money, leaving the renter without a place to stay, or use follow-up e-mails to collect additional "fees" or "charges" before vanishing. To be clear, these vacation-focused phishing scams are NOT new. The problem now is that, with AI, more people are falling for them because these e-mails are becoming more convincing. What can you do? Vacationers can take several key steps to ensure they're not being duped. Use two-factor or multifactor authentication, where applicable. Having a confirmation code sent to your phone every time you log in will help prevent phishing attacks and credential theft. Avoid clicking on e-mail links. If you receive an e-mail promoting a too-good-to-be-true deal, remember, it is likely too good to be true! Go to the website and search for the special. If you can't find it, there is a chance you will avoid a scam. Before booking ANY property online, make sure contact information and reviews are readily available. Have other verified users stayed at the property? If so, it's less likely to be a scam. Use credit cards for online purchases. Using debit cards that are linked directly to your bank account is dangerous. When theft occurs from your debit card, it is difficult to get your money back - if you get it back at all. Using a credit card provides an additional layer of protection. The most important thing is to stay vigilant. Analyze every e-mail offer you receive and follow cyber security best practices. Standard security software can help detect some of these scam e-mails, but often not all of them, so it's important to be cautious and look for red flags. Personal scams may ruin a vacation, but business breaches can cost you and your family their livelihood. To keep your network secure, call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to book a FREE 10-minute discovery call with our cyber security experts, who can help you create a plan that protects you. We are here to help! Enjoy a well-deserved break this summer, and remember to be cybersmart.

Just when you think cybercriminals will run out of new ideas for how to scam people, they find a way to get creative and surprise you. Now they're faking data breaches, hoping to steal money from unsuspecting business owners and dark web data buyers alike. Earlier this year, Europcar, an international car rental company from France, discovered a cybercriminal selling private information about its 50 million+ customers on the dark web. The car rental company immediately launched a formal investigation, only to find that the data being sold was fake. The information was falsified, most likely done with the help of generative AI. How Did They Do It? With AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, it's easy for cybercriminals to generate realistic-looking data sets quickly. Smart cybercriminals do their research and design data sets that look complete, with correctly formatted names, addresses and e-mails, and can even include local phone numbers to match. They will also leverage online data generators that can quickly create large, fake data sets designed for software-testing purposes to develop authentic-looking data sets. Once they have these, hackers choose the target they claim to have stolen the data from and post the information on the dark web. Why Are They Doing It? Why would a hacker fake a data breach? There are a couple of reasons, besides reaping the same benefits without the work of hacking a network's security system. Creating Distractions. One of the best ways to get a company to let down its defenses is to focus on something else, like finding a breach in its system. The company will be so intent on finding where a hacker was already able to get into its network that it will likely miss an attack from a different angle. Bolstering Their Reputation. Reputation is highly valued within the hacker community. Targeting a well-known brand publicly is a way for them to earn notoriety and get noticed by other hacker groups. Manipulating Stock Prices. For publicly traded companies, a data breach can cause a rapid 3% to 5% (or more) drop in the stock. This can cause widespread panic, allowing cybercriminals to manipulate stocks for financial gain. Learning Security Systems. Faking a data breach can allow cybercriminals to gain insight into the company's security processes to prevent, detect and resolve attacks. Knowing threat response time and security capabilities can help them fine-tune their attack strategy. Why Is This Bad For Businesses If The Data Is Fake? By the time the public is made aware that the information is fake, the damage is already done. For example, in September 2023, Sony was targeted by a ransomware group that announced it had breached the company's network and acquired its data. The breach was all over the news, where reporters repeatedly dragged Sony's brand through the dirt, and by the time the investigation concluded that the hacker's claim was false, irreparable damage had been done to their name. What Can You Do To Prevent Fake Data Breaches? If you want to avoid being the victim of a fake data breach, these are good steps to follow: Actively Monitor The Dark Web. You or your cybersecurity team should routinely monitor the dark web. If you encounter an attacker selling your data, investigate the claim immediately to prevent extensive damage. Have A Disaster Recovery Plan In Place. Don't let your team wonder what they should say if a data breach occurs. This communication plan needs to be developed in advance and fine-tuned if or when a breach occurs. Work With A Qualified Professional. You are in business to do what you love to do, not deal with IT-related issues. Working with a cybersecurity expert who knows what to look for, how to resolve issues and how to prevent breaches takes tasks off your plate and gives you peace of mind, and will make sure #1 and #2 are taken care of. Data breaches can create enormous problems for your organization. Get ahead of the issue and have someone proactively monitor your network and the dark web to keep you secure. If you want a no-obligation, third-party opinion on whether or not your network is vulnerable to an attack or properly secured, we're happy to provide one for FREE. Call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to book your FREE Security Risk Assessment with one of our cybersecurity experts.

Is your organization currently bleeding money due to its reliance on outdated technology? The answer is likely yes. A recent survey by Deloitte revealed that a staggering 82% of companies failed to meet their cost-reduction targets last year, with an inefficient technology infrastructure being the primary culprit. The 2024 poll of nearly 300 business leaders on business margin improvement and technology transformation efforts revealed that challenges with their technology infrastructure are the biggest barrier to organizations seeking to improve margins by cutting costs. This same study found that over 50% of the respondents reported that leveraging data and generative AI strategies for improving margins would be their focus for 2024. What does this tell us? Organizations are looking to adopt new, automated, AI-powered ways of doing business to save money and improve efficiency but are held back by antiquated technology. Why Should Businesses Upgrade Their Technology? Legacy systems, typically categorized as technology that's at least a decade old, can quickly become expensive to maintain. They are slower, need constant updates and patches, and don't leverage new features as they're developed. As a result, businesses struggle to keep up with their tech-savvy competitors in every area of the organization, from scaling and cloud usage to human resources and customer service operations. But that's not the only issue. Outdated technology increases your risk of cyber-attacks. Old technology typically cannot keep up with the rapidly changing world of cyber security. As new, more malicious threats emerge, older technology eventually becomes incapable of keeping up with the latest updates required to keep your network secure. So, why do business owners put off updating technology when the data clearly shows that it will positively impact productivity and the bottom line? There are a couple of reasons, the main one being sticker shock. Seeing the price of updating technology infrastructure can feel overwhelming. Smart business leaders run through risk-related questions like "What if something breaks?" or "What if it doesn't work like they say it will?" However, the data shows that maintaining old technology could be more costly. A separate Deloitte study of CIOs in 2023 found that respondents spent an average of 55% of their technology budget on maintaining their existing systems. There's also the cost of switching. What will bringing systems down and transitioning to a new system cost? What will the cost be to train employees to use the software? These are all questions your IT team can help you answer BEFORE you start upgrading your technology. An experienced technician will help you analyze your system to see what needs to be updated and when, and map out a plan to upgrade your system in the most efficient way possible. It's easier than most business leaders think and pays off in increased productivity and profitability. If you're looking to upgrade your technology or are just tired of slow, outdated tech and want to see what the next step could look like, we'll do a FREE Network Assessment. Our techs will dig into your system and determine what you need to get technology that helps you run your business better. To book your assessment, call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to schedule now.

Summer is a popular time for business owners and employees to step out of the office and take a well-deserved vacation. Even if their "out of office" e-mail responder is active, many people will periodically check in on work at least once while traveling. Unfortunately, studies show that working outside of the office - whether it's a few simple check-ins on vacation, connecting to the Internet at a local coffee shop or even business travelers out on work trips - can lead to major cybersecurity issues. If you or your employees will be answering urgent e-mails from the airport or accessing network documents in the hotel lobby, it's essential to maintain strong cybersecurity best practices to avoid exposing the company's network to hackers preying nearby. In this blog post, we'll cover what cybersecurity best practices are necessary for you to take before and during any trip to keep your network secure from hackers. Why Cybersecurity Matters While Traveling Cybersecurity might not be at the top of your vacation checklist, but ignoring it can turn your dream getaway into a horrible nightmare. Cybercriminals know summer is a prime time to attack because people are more likely to let their guard down while on vacation. For most vacationers, the focus is on enjoying time out of the office instead of ensuring they're following cybersecurity best practices, making them an easy target for hackers. To minimize the risk of a cyberattack while traveling, here are a few best practices to cover with anyone on your team who might connect to the Internet while on vacation. Before you go: Back up your data - If your device gets lost or ruined, you'll want a copy of your data available to be restored. Update your software - Make sure your operating system software, web browsers and apps have all been updated to the latest version. Outdated software can impact your device's ability to defend against malware. Protect your devices - You should always lock your device using a PIN, passcode, fingerprint or facial recognition feature, but if you don't already, set this up before traveling. If you leave your device unattended and someone attempts to access it, they will have full access to your private information if it's not locked. Enable "Find My Phone" - This feature will allow you to locate your device if you lose it, but it also gives you the power to remotely wipe data or disable the device if it falls into the wrong hands. While traveling: Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) - A VPN encrypts your Internet connection, ensuring your data is secure even when you use public WiFi networks. Before you leave, set up a VPN on your devices and use it whenever you access the Internet. Don't connect to public WiFi - While public WiFi offers convenience, these networks can be a hotspot for cybercriminal activity. Avoid unprotected networks whenever possible. (Yes, that means no checking your e-mail on the beach unless you have a VPN!) Manage location services - Location tools are useful for navigating new places but can also expose your location to criminals. Turn off location services when you're not actively using that feature, and consider limiting how you share your location on social media. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) - MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second verification form, such as a text message code, authenticator code or fingerprint scan. This feature should be enabled for all accounts containing sensitive information before leaving your house. Disable auto-connect features - Some devices automatically seek and connect to available wireless networks. These features can give cybercriminals access to your devices if you connect to the wrong network. Disable this option so you only connect to wireless and Bluetooth networks you know and trust. You should be able to relax on vacation. Taking these simple precautions can help you keep your device secure so you can enjoy your time off and don't have to worry about dealing with cyber issues when you get back to work. However, it's important to know that these steps aren't fail-proof. To truly ensure that your company's cybersecurity measures are up to standard, it's important to work with a professional IT team that can monitor your network 24/7, patch any vulnerabilities that pop up (which happens regularly) and alert you if something seems suspicious.  To help you prepare for your vacation and have peace of mind knowing your business is secure while you or your employees are working remotely, call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to schedule a FREE IT Security Risk Assessment with our cybersecurity experts today. We'll evaluate your current cybersecurity solutions, identify potential vulnerabilities and help you implement a strategic security plan to keep your company safe.

The massive wave of layoffs in 2024 brings a cybersecurity threat that most business owners aren't focusing on - offboarding employees. Even big-time brands that you would expect to have top-of-the-line cybersecurity systems, processes and procedures in place fail to adequately protect themselves from insider threats. This August marks a year since two disgruntled Tesla employees went rogue after being let go and exposed the personal information - including names, addresses, phone numbers and even the Social Security numbers - of over 75,000 people, including employees. And, of course, the issue is expected to get worse. According to NerdWallet, as of May 24, 2024, 298 US-based tech companies have laid off 84,600 workers and counting. This includes major layoffs at big companies like Amazon, Google and Microsoft, as well as smaller tech start-ups. In total, around 257,254 jobs were eliminated in the first quarter of 2024 alone. Whether or not you'll need to downsize your team this year, having a proper offboarding process in place is essential to every business, big or small, because it's more than a routine administrative task - it's a critical security precaution. Failing to revoke access for former employees can lead to serious business and legal implications later. Some of those issues include: Theft Of Intellectual Property - Employees can sneak away with YOUR company's files, client data and confidential information stored on personal devices, as well as retain access to cloud-based applications like social media sites and file-sharing sites (Dropbox or OneDrive, for example) that your IT department doesn't know about or forgets to change the password to. A study by Osterman Research revealed that 69% of businesses experience data loss due to employee turnover, and 87% of employees who leave take data with them. Most often, the information you worked hard to gather is sold to competitors, used by them when they're hired by the competition or used by the former employee to BECOME a competitor. Any way you cut it, it screws YOU. Compliance Violations - Failing to revoke access privileges and remove employees from authorized user lists can register you as noncompliant in heavily regulated industries. This simple mistake can result in large fines, hefty penalties and, in some cases, legal consequences. They DELETE Everything - If an employee feels unfairly laid-off and retains access to their accounts, they could easily delete ALL of their e-mails and any critical files they can get their hands on. If that data isn't backed up, you will lose it ALL. And for those thinking, "I'll sue them!" Rightfully so, but even if you do sue them and win, the hard reality is that the legal costs, time wasted on the lawsuit and recovering the data, plus the aggravation and distraction of dealing with it all, are greater costs than what you might get awarded if you win the lawsuit and might collect in damages. Data Breach - This could be the most terrifying of all. Unhappy employees who feel they have been wronged can make you the star of the next devastating data breach headline and incur a costly lawsuit to go with it. It could be as simple as making one click and downloading, exposing or modifying your clients' or employees' private information, financial records or even trade secrets. Do you have an airtight offboarding process to curb these risks? Chances are you don't. A 2024 study by Wing revealed that one out of five organizations has indications that some of their former users were not properly offboarded, and those are the people who were astute enough to detect it. How DO you properly offboard an employee? Implement The Principle Of Least Privilege - Successful offboarding starts with proper onboarding. New employees should ONLY be given access to the files and programs they need to do their jobs. This should be meticulously documented to make offboarding easier. Leverage Automation - Your IT team can help use automation to streamline revoking access to multiple software applications simultaneously, saving time and resources while reducing the likelihood of manual errors. Implement Continuous Monitoring - You can implement software that tracks who is doing what and where on the company network. This can help you identify suspicious behavior by an unauthorized user and help you determine if a former employee retains access to private accounts. These are only a few ways your IT team can help improve your offboarding process to make it more efficient and secure. Insider threats can be devastating, and if you think this can't happen to you, think again. You have to be proactive in protecting your organization. To find out if any gaps in your offboarding process expose you to theft or a data breach, our team will do a free, in-depth risk assessment to help you resolve it. Call us at 207-300-2300 or click here to book now.

A recent stream of Reddit comments emerged detailing a series of poor customer service experiences with tech support. While I typically try to stay clear of Reddit and its gang of chronic whiny-pants commenters, I scrolled through a few, you know, for research purposes since I'm in the industry. A few of the complaints sounded so outlandish - like the lady who claimed the technician took a bathroom break in her attic - that it almost seemed impossible they could be true. However, other more common issues on the thread I've experienced myself, and to be candid with you, they sucked! When you are experiencing a tech emergency - be it a broken printer, hardware malfunctions, Internet connectivity issues, login troubles or something similar - poor tech support only worsens the irritation. It leaves you with frustrated employees who can't efficiently get their jobs done because they're troubleshooting their tech and on hold with an IT company that is "looking into it" and irritated customers who just want a smooth process when dealing with your organization. This can result in losing customers and A-player employees to your competitors that don't have these same daily issues. At first, it might seem dramatic that a few unresolved "tech issues" could cause such a stir, but as these problems continue to repeat themselves, with no solution in sight, resentment grows and will eventually result in these people seeking organizations that don't have to deal with such headaches. What can you do to get ahead of the problem? Start by polling your employees. Ask them questions that will help you "grade" your current IT company to see if they're dealing with your team as fast and efficiently as they should. Here are a few questions to ask: Do you experience any recurring technical problems that haven't been fully resolved? If so, what are they? How would you rate the response time of the IT support team when you encounter a technical issue? Have you found the IT support team to be knowledgeable and helpful in resolving your issues? Do you feel that the IT company communicates effectively and keeps you informed about the status of your requests? How would you describe your overall satisfaction with the support provided by our IT company? These questions take only a few minutes to answer and can help you gain valuable insight into whether or not your current IT team is properly handling issues or if there is trouble brewing within your organization that you weren't aware of. If you would like to see what good IT support actually looks like, we'll do TWO FREE hours of support for your organization. Here are SOME of the ways you could use your time with us: Diagnose any computer network problem you are experiencing. Check your network's security against hacker attacks and viruses. Scan and review for spyware. Check your network backup system to make sure it is working properly. Diagnose slow, unstable PCs. Have us conduct our proprietary 57-point IT Systems Security And Performance Assessment. Discuss a project or upgrade you are considering, or even get a second opinion on a quote you received.  To get started, give our team a call at 555-555-5555 or click here to book your call now.

A recent report from Check Point Research revealed a shocking statistic - the Microsoft-owned business platform LinkedIn is impersonated in nearly half of all phishing attacks globally. One of the ways scammers leverage LinkedIn to deploy their phishing attack is when they zero in on anyone seeking a new job or career change. While e-mails like "You have 1 new invitation" or "Your profile has been viewed by 63 people" can be authentic, it's critical to verify the e-mail address it's sent from to ensure that it's genuinely from LinkedIn. These impersonators will send e-mails that look identical to the real ones, with links to fake LinkedIn pages that will rip off your information as soon as you enter it. Another way cybercriminals leverage LinkedIn is by creating fake profiles and messaging people about job opportunities. Once you're on the hook, they'll either ask for a small payment upfront to process your application (that you'll never see again) or send you a link to a form you must fill out that's actually a phishing link in disguise. LinkedIn is aware of the problem and is working on developing advanced security features to protect its users. Here are three of the current security features it has already deployed: 1. Suspicious Message Warnings - LinkedIn's technology can detect messages from people who are attempting to take you off the platform or are saying something potentially inappropriate, and will send you a warning notification. 2. Profile Verification - This feature allows you to verify your page's authenticity. By submitting an additional form of ID, you can get a verification badge on your profile, so anyone who looks at it knows you are who you say you are. This is a valuable feature since scammers are always looking for fresh targets and have pages that get shut down quickly, so they don't often bother keeping information up-to-date. 3. Profile Information - This feature allows you to see the details of a person's profile to help you determine whether or not to respond to a message, accept a connection request, trust an offer, etc. Under your profile, if you click "More" and select "About this profile" from the drop-down menu, you'll see information like: When the profile was created. When the profile was last updated. Whether the member has verified a phone number. Whether the member has a work e-mail associated with their account. 4. AI-Generated Profile Picture Detection - Scammers will use AI to generate realistic profile pictures of fake people to create fake profiles used to scam users. Scarily, LinkedIn's research showed that users were generally unable to visually distinguish real faces from these synthetically generated ones. As a result, LinkedIn partnered with Academia to develop and deploy advanced detection features that allow LinkedIn to detect AI-generated profile pictures and shut down their profiles before they cause problems. Do you use LinkedIn to find jobs, employees or clients? It's a great resource for business, but it's important to stay secure. However, LinkedIn's features are just the first line of defense. If someone in your organization were to fall for a scam and click a bad link, would your internal security solutions be enough to protect your network? We can help you find out. We'll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment to help you determine if your network is vulnerable to any type of attack. To book yours, call us at (207) 300-2300 or click here to book now.

Odds are that right now you're doing a handful of tasks manually that you don't need to, like sorting through an endless e-mail inbox. According to Microsoft, employees spend just under two hours daily on e-mail - that's more than eight hours a week spent in your inbox instead of on more creative or strategic projects. But many businesses and employees have found a way off the relentless merry-go-round of to-dos: automation. By using software to manage repetitive tasks (without human intervention), you can complete your to-do list faster, spending less time on menial tasks and more time doing the projects you enjoy. Task #1: Get Your Inbox To Zero (Without Wasting A Day Of Your Life) E-mail is essential to our work today, but managing an overflowing inbox is an endless job. Automation tools, however, can quickly organize and prioritize e-mails, schedule responses and even convert e-mails to actionable tasks. Here are a few ways to automate your e-mail tasks: Automating inbox organization. In every mainstream e-mail platform, you can create filters and rules. Start by setting up filters in your e-mail to automatically sort incoming e-mails based on criteria like sender, subject or specific keywords. For instance, e-mails containing the word "invoice" can be directed straight to a designated folder.  Use labels and categorization. Most e-mail platforms have an automatic label feature that helps you categorize e-mails more dynamically than folders will allow. You can apply multiple labels to a single e-mail, making it easier to retrieve e-mails that may fall into several categories. Scheduling and automating e-mail responses. Delayed send or scheduling tools automatically send your e-mails at predetermined times, which can be particularly useful for reaching recipients in different time zones. Write now, send later. Automate task creation from e-mails. Automation services can integrate your e-mail with project management tools and automatically convert incoming e-mails into actionable tasks, so you never miss an important action item! Utilizing AI and advanced automation. If you want to level up your e-mail automation, some automation tools let you use AI to label new e-mails based on their content, which can streamline how you prioritize and handle incoming messages. Task #2: Hands-Off Appointment Scheduling We're all busy people, but booking a meeting shouldn't require 10 back-and-forth e-mails. Calendar automation tools remove this annoying exchange by enabling people to book directly on your calendar and sending automatic event invitations and reminders. With calendar automation tools, you can: Allow clients to book directly into your calendar. With automated calendar tools, customers or team members can view your available time slots and book directly. Sync schedules across devices and team members. These tools can also sync with most e-mail platforms, ensuring all team members are updated in real time when a time or location changes. Send automated appointment reminders. Calendar tools also support sending automated appointment reminders. These can be customized to send before the appointment, reducing no-shows and making sure everyone is on time and prepared. Task #3: Streamline Bookkeeping Tracking the ins and outs of finances manually is tedious and can also be subject to more human error. Here are three ways automation improves bookkeeping: Automatically import and categorize transactions. Automation software can automatically pull in and categorize transactions from your bank accounts and credit cards, dramatically reducing the need for manual entry and helping maintain cleaner, more organized financial records. Generate custom financial reports with one click. Automated reporting tools also have robust capabilities for generating detailed financial reports instantly. These platforms allow for real-time insights into financial performance, enabling leaders to make informed business decisions quickly. Integrate with your bank and payment processors: There are tools that also provide comprehensive integration with banking systems and payment processors that track cash-flow management and ensure that all transactions are automatically recorded and reconciled in your accounting software. Focus On The Work You Enjoy E-mail, appointments and bookkeeping are critical to running your work and business, but they don't need to be a mind-numbing time suck. Use simple automation tools to take manual tasks off your plate so you can focus on the creative and strategic parts of your business you enjoy most.

Steve Wozniak was asked in an interview what he would have done differently if he had been Apple's CEO instead of Jobs. He said he would have been "a lot nicer to people," but then quickly added that IF he had been CEO, they might never have released the Macintosh. Jobs was known for being ruthless and controlling, rude and ill-tempered, driven by a desire for perfection and pushing people to bring products out before they were ready, creating enormous strain within the organization. The OG "mean girl." Many people couldn't tolerate working for him, and I'm sure he missed out on a lot of talent for this reason. But in spite of that - or more possibly because of that - he was able to build one of the world's most iconic brands and successful companies. I'm not sure that level of "disagreeableness" is necessary for us mere mortals running small businesses vs. the enterprise builders like Jobs, but I do know this: FAR too many business owners tolerate FAR too much from too many people: employees, vendors, clients or otherwise! One of the reasons so many people loved the character Tony in The Sopranos was because, deep down, they secretly wished they had his backbone and confidence, not taking anything from anyone AND bold enough to do something more than simply holding a grudge against someone who wrongs them. I'm not suggesting his level of corruption, anger or response is good or healthy. That's not my point. What I'm saying is that many people would do far better in life if they were unafraid to stand up for themselves, not allowing themselves to be affected by critics and instead becoming a more imposing, respected alpha leader, unafraid of speaking their mind and standing their ground. This translates directly to the security of your business. If you cower and fear taking a stand for yourself, failing to draw a HARD LINE to protect yourself and your organization, you WILL be taken advantage of. It's really that simple. There are a lot of people out there with their own agendas who aren't going to give a rip about you. Many want to take you out, harm you and damage you for their own personal gain, particularly cybercriminals, whose job it is to capitalize on YOUR hard work. To steal YOUR profits. To sneak into your network and steal YOUR data, putting on the line your livelihood and everything you've spent years of blood, sweat and tears building. As a business leader, you must assume a Tony Soprano-level toughness about this. ZERO tolerance for it: be awake and alert, look for such enemies at the gate and get rid of them before the damage they do is irreversible. Further, you need to protect yourself by putting the necessary protections in place to prevent those who mean you harm from getting into your network in the first place. The cold, hard truth is that, at the end of the day, as a leader in your organization, if you're the victim of a cybercrime, YOU will be the one they blame. Your tail is on the line, and reporters won't be timid about blasting that headline all over the news. Business isn't all about being tough on others - it's also about innovation and driving your company forward, using the best strategies and best practices of those who lead the way, including protecting what you've built. It can all be taken away with one wrong mouse click if you don't have the foresight to get ahead of the problem. To stay ahead of the cybercriminals and make sure you're protected book a 10-Minute Discovery Call with our team of experts to get a free IT Risk Assessment. We'll perform analysis of your network to identify any vulnerabilities and provide you with a plan of action to fix them. This assessment will give you the peace of mind to do what you do best and focus on growing your business.  Click here to book your call now or give us a call at (207) 300-2300.

If you're serious about growing a successful, profitable business in 2024 and beyond, there's no room for pass-the-buck tactics - especially when it comes to IT support. The efficiency of your IT team isn't just a convenience - it's a cornerstone of your operational capability. Yet many companies find themselves held back by subpar tech support, with unresolved IT issues lingering, impeding productivity and frustrating employees and customers alike. These recurring issues can significantly slow down your business growth and quickly cut into your profitability. The reality is that reliable IT support is the backbone of modern business. It ensures operations run smoothly, data remains secure and communication channels remain open. Without it, even the simplest tasks can become complicated, leaving employees to deal with the fallout of unresolved technical problems instead of focusing on their core responsibilities. This can lead to missed opportunities, strained customer relationships and, ultimately, stifling your business's potential to expand and thrive. In this article, we will share the common tech issues that are likely happening in your business right under your nose, how they are impacting your business's growth and what actions you need to take to eliminate them once and for all. Whether you're dealing with frequent downtime, delayed issue resolution or lackluster service, recognizing and addressing these IT shortcomings is essential for enabling your business to flourish. Top Signs You Are Settling For Subpar IT Service Recognizing the signs of inadequate tech support is the first step to getting back on track. These symptoms often manifest slowly and subtly but can have profound implications for your operations and growth over time. Here are the most common indicators that your IT support may not be up to par: Frequent, Frustrating Downtime Downtime is not just an inconvenience; it costs your business money. If your systems are frequently offline or your network experiences regular interruptions, it's a clear sign that your IT support is failing to maintain a stable infrastructure. This not only affects your team's immediate productivity but also impacts your ability to generate revenue and your reputation with clients, who expect reliability and professionalism. Slow Response Times When tech issues arise, response time can be just as critical as the solution itself. Prolonged response times can lead to extended disruptions in your workflow. Effective tech support should offer timely responses and quick resolutions to minimize downtime and keep your business moving forward. Recurring Problems Are the same issues cropping up repeatedly? This is a telltale sign of tech support that treats symptoms rather than underlying causes. Quality IT support digs deeper to find permanent solutions, ensuring that once a problem is resolved, it doesn't return to haunt your business operations. Lack Of Proactive Measures Preventive measures are the hallmark of excellent tech support. If your IT service is only reactive - responding to problems after they occur rather than anticipating and mitigating risks beforehand - your business is always operating a step behind. Proactive IT support includes regular updates, backups and security protocols that help prevent issues before they impact your business. Poor Or Nonexistent Communication Effective communication is vital in any relationship, including with your IT support provider. If explanations are unclear, tech jargon is used without clear explanations or calls and e-mails go unanswered, it indicates a lack of commitment to client service and can leave you feeling out of the loop and frustrated. How Bad IT Support Is Affecting Your Business Right Now Inadequate tech support does more than just create temporary disruptions; it can have lasting effects on your business's growth trajectory. Here are a few ways poor IT support directly impacts key areas of your business: Downtime Leads To Lost Revenue Every minute your systems are down, you're losing money. For small businesses especially, this can be devastating. Unplanned downtime not only results in lost sales but can also incur additional costs as you scramble to get systems back online. Over time, these losses can accumulate, significantly impacting the financial health of your organization. Inefficiency Reduces Productivity When employees are consistently facing IT issues, their ability to perform efficiently is compromised. Simple tasks become time-consuming, reducing overall productivity. This inefficiency not only slows down operations but also affects employee morale and job satisfaction, which are crucial for long-term business success. Customer Experiences Suffer Your technology directly impacts your customers, from how they interact with your services online to how you manage their data. Frequent tech issues can lead to poor customer experiences, such as slow service, transaction problems or security concerns. In today's market, customers are quick to switch to competitors if they feel their needs aren't being met effectively. Hindered Scalability As your business grows, your IT infrastructure needs to evolve to support increased demands. Poor tech support can hinder this scalability, making it difficult to expand operations or integrate new technologies. Without the ability to scale efficiently, your business could miss out on potential growth opportunities. Compromised Data Security One of the most severe impacts of inadequate tech support is compromised security. Small businesses are frequent targets for cyber-attacks, and without robust IT support to implement and maintain strong security measures, your business is at a higher risk of data breaches. These breaches can have catastrophic consequences, including loss of customer trust, legal repercussions and substantial financial losses. How To Choose The Right IT Support For Your Small Business Selecting the right IT provider is pivotal for ensuring your business's long-term success. Here are key attributes to look for in a reliable IT support provider: Responsiveness - Choose a provider known for quick response times. Efficient problem-solving can drastically reduce downtime, helping maintain continuous business operations. Expertise - Ensure the IT support team has the necessary technical expertise to manage your infrastructure. Look for certifications and experience in the specific technologies your business uses. Proactiveness - Select a provider that offers proactive support, such as regular system audits, continuous monitoring and preventive maintenance, to avoid issues before they arise. Communication - Effective communication is essential. Your IT support team should provide clear, jargon-free explanations and maintain open lines of communication. Customization - Opt for a service offering tailored solutions that align with your specific business needs, ensuring more effective and relevant support. Reviews And References - Check reviews and ask for references to gauge the provider's reputation and reliability. Positive feedback from other businesses can be a strong indicator of quality service. If you're tired of dealing with recurring issues like downtime, slow response times, ineffective solutions or hearing your employees complain that something is "always broken," it's time to look for better IT support. Don't let poor tech support be the bottleneck that stifles your business's potential - take action today to ensure your technology propels your business forward.  Get a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call with one of our experts by clicking here or calling us at (207) 300-2300.

In recent months, the alarming cybersecurity breach at Change Healthcare, the health care payment-processing company under the health care giant UnitedHealth Group, has thrown a spotlight on a chilling reality: cyberthreats can lurk undetected within our networks, ready to unleash chaos at a moment's notice. The breach, executed by the notorious ALPHV/BlackCat hacker group, involved the group lying dormant within the company's environment for nine days before activating a crippling ransomware attack. This incident, which severely impacted the US health care system, a network with a large budget for cybersecurity, underscores an urgent message for all business leaders: a robust cybersecurity system and recovery plan are not optional but a fundamental necessity for every business out there. The attack began with hackers using leaked credentials to access a key application that was shockingly left without the safeguard of multifactor authentication. Once inside, the hackers stole data, locked it down, and then demanded a hefty ransom. This action stalled nationwide health care payment-processing systems, for thousands of pharmacies and hospitals causing them to grind to a halt! Then things got even worse! The personal health information and personal information of potentially millions of Americans was also stolen. The hackers set up an exit scam, demanding a second ransom to not release this information. This breach required a temporary shutdown, disconnecting entire systems from the Internet, a massive overhaul of the IT infrastructure and significant financial losses estimated to potentially reach $1.6 billion by year's end. Replacing laptops, rotating credentials and rebuilding the data center network were only a few of the actions the UnitedHealth Group had to take. More than financial, the cost was deeply human - impacting health care services and risking personal data. While devastating, it's a powerful reminder that threats can dwell in silence within our networks, waiting for an opportune moment to strike. It is not enough to react; proactive measures are essential. Ensuring systems are secured, implementing multifactor authentication, regularly updating and patching software and having a recovery plan in place in the event of an attack are steps that can no longer be overlooked and are basic requirements for doing business in today's world. Also, the idea that "We're too small to be a target" is false. Just because you're not big enough to make national news, doesn't mean you're too small to be attacked! Cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue; it's a cornerstone of modern business strategy. It requires investment, training and a culture of security awareness throughout the organization. The fallout from a breach reaches far beyond the immediately affected systems. It can erode customer trust, disrupt services and lead to severe financial and reputational damage, and your business, will be the one blamed. As we consider the lessons from the Change Healthcare incident, it's your duty to make cybersecurity a top priority. Investing in comprehensive cybersecurity measures isn't just a precaution - it's a fundamental responsibility to our customers, our stakeholders and our future. Remember, in the realm of cyberthreats, what you can't see can hurt you - and preparation is your most powerful defense. Is YOUR organization secure? If you're not sure, or just want a second opinion, our cybersecurity experts will provide you with a FREE Security Risk Assessment that will detail if and where you're vulnerable and what to do about it. Schedule yours by clicking here or calling us at (207) 300-2300.

As a business leader, you're always looking for ways to increase revenue, cut expenses and grow your bottom line. Implementing AI tools, shopping services and running a more efficient operation are great ways to do that. One place you do NOT want to cut corners is using free antivirus or firewall software. In today's blog, we'll share why these seemingly helpful software solutions are a detriment to your business and why a 10-minute call with our team might just be the best investment you'll make this year. Free software often lacks necessary features and is limited in what it can detect. Free antivirus software and firewall solutions can protect your business against some known viruses but not all of them, and they likely won't have the ability to protect you against other comprehensive threats, like malicious files, unknown or unidentified threats and more. Cybercriminals are constantly rolling out new and "improved" viruses to trick even the most robust security solutions, which makes it difficult to believe that free, infrequently updated antivirus solutions could offer the level of protection needed to keep you secure. There's no such thing as a free lunch. While free cybersecurity solutions sound like a good way to save a few bucks, you have to stop and realize these programs will make their money somewhere. The most common ways they make money are through ads, sponsored recommendations and collecting and selling user data. They collect and sell your personal information, like age and gender, and installed apps, to third-party advertisers. Some free solutions are already infected with malware. Ironically, these free cybersecurity tools can come with malware already installed to infect your computer upon downloading them. It's also difficult to determine the difference between real free software solutions and fake ones created by hackers looking to trick unsuspecting business owners who hope to save a buck into downloading an infected version that immediately opens up your network to them. Free antivirus software is mostly reactive, detecting infections after they've happened. The point of having cybersecurity solutions is to try to prevent a data breach from occurring in the first place. Most free solutions are reactive and won't keep unwanted intruders out; they simply alert you when one has already breached your network. If you're going with a free solution, make sure you have a robust recovery plan in place. You'll likely need it. \ Cybersecurity solutions are not as expensive as most business owners think and are more cost-effective than dealing with a data breach. If you have been using free antivirus or firewall software in your organization, it's time to level up. Our cybersecurity experts will provide you with a FREE Security Risk Assessment that will detail if and where you're vulnerable and what to do about it. Schedule yours by clicking here or calling us at (207) 300-2300.

It's not just cybercriminals who hack into networks and steal data. Most business owners erroneously think cybercrime is limited to hackers based in China or Russia, but the evidence is overwhelming that disgruntled employees, both of your company and your vendors, can cause significant losses due to their knowledge of your organization and access to your data and systems. What damage can they do? They leave with YOUR company's files, client data and confidential information stored on personal devices, as well as retaining access to cloud applications, such as social media sites and file-sharing sites (Dropbox or OneDrive, for example), that your IT department doesn't know about or forgets to change the password to. In fact, according to an in-depth study conducted by Osterman Research , 69% of businesses experience data loss due to employee turnover and 87% of employees who leave take data with them. What do they do with that information? Sell it to competitors, BECOME a competitor or retain it to use at their next job. Funds, inventory, trade secrets, client lists and HOURS stolen. There are dozens of sneaky ways employees steal, and it's happening a LOT more than businesses care to admit. According to the website StatisticBrain , 75% of all employees have stolen from their employers at some point. From stealing inventory to check and credit card fraud, your hard-earned money can easily be stolen over time in small amounts that you never catch. Here's the most COMMON way they steal: They waste HOURS of time on your dime to do personal errands, shop, play games, check social media feeds, gamble, read the news and a LONG list of non-work-related activities. Of course, YOU are paying them for a 40-hour week, but you might only be getting half of that. Then they complain about being "overwhelmed" and "overworked." They tell you, "You need to hire more people!" so you do. All of this is a giant suck on profits if you allow it. Further, if your IT company is not monitoring what employees do and limiting what sites they can visit, they could do things that put you in legal jeopardy, like downloading illegal music and video files, visiting adult content websites, gaming and gambling - all of these sites fall under HIGH RISK for viruses and phishing scams. They DELETE everything. A common scenario: An employee is fired or quits because they are unhappy with how they are being treated - but before they leave, they permanently delete ALL of their e-mails and any critical files they can get their hands on. If you don't have that data backed up, you lose it ALL. Even if you sue them and win, the legal costs, time wasted on the lawsuit and on recovering the data, not to mention the aggravation and distraction of dealing with it all, are all greater costs than what you might get awarded if you win the lawsuit, might collect in damages. Do you really think this can't happen to you?  Think again. You have to be proactive in protecting your organization.

From natural disasters and cyber-attacks to accidental deletion, there are many reasons a business needs to back up its data. However, Avast's latest findings on disaster recovery highlight an alarming issue for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs): 60% of data backups are not fully successful, and half of the attempts to recover data from these backups don't work.  This leads to businesses being offline for an average of 79 minutes, costing them roughly $84,650 for every hour of downtime. Still, not all backups are created equal. It's important you're aware of backup best practices, so you're confident your backup solution will work when you need it most. Why Backups Are Failing There are a few common reasons backups are incomplete or a restoration fails: Backup products are unreliable: When it comes to backups, you get what you pay for. Free or cheap solutions may not offer the robust features of more expensive products. This can result in backups that are not as secure or reliable. Backup times are not optimal. If backups are scheduled during high-traffic periods or when data is being heavily modified, there's a risk that not all data will be captured. Compatibility issues. As your business evolves, so do your systems and software. However, new systems may not always be fully compatible with existing backup solutions. This can lead to situations where data is not properly saved or, even if it is, cannot be restored correctly because the formats or systems are no longer aligned. Human error. Mistakes such as incorrectly configuring backup parameters, accidentally deleting crucial files or ignoring backup schedules and alerts can lead to backup failures. Cyber-attacks and other disasters are a constant threat. If your backup fails and you get hacked, you might lose data permanently. Additionally, health care and finance organizations have strict compliance regulations around data handling, and failed backups can result in fines, legal challenges and a damaged reputation. Best Practices For Successful Data Backup And Restoration Reliable data backups and successful restoration are your lifeline in times of crisis. From choosing the right backup solution to regular testing and daily monitoring, these best practices protect your data from surprise disruptions, ensuring your business doesn't miss a beat, no matter what comes your way. 1. Pick a solid backup solution. Don't just go for the big names in backup software; some might not deliver what they promise. Digging deep and finding a solution that suits your needs is essential. For example, immutable backups are a must-have for anyone needing to meet strict compliance rules, as they can't be changed or deleted, even by a ransomware attack. Talk with your IT provider about the backup technologies they're using for you, how quickly you can expect to recover data, what kind of downtime you might face and whether your backups are on the cloud, local or a mix of both. Make sure your backup ticks all the boxes for compliance, especially if you're in a sensitive field like health care. 2. Use the 3-2-1 rule. Once you have a reliable backup solution, consider using the 3-2-1 backup rule, a standard set of best practices for data recovery. The rule recommends storing three copies of your data in two different formats, with one copy stored off-site. This significantly reduces your risk of total data loss. 3. Make sure a backup status report is being generated daily. Ensure someone - either you or someone on your IT team - is checking the backup status every day. Incomplete backups should be followed up on immediately. Even if your IT team receives a daily report, ask to have a weekly or monthly report delivered to you too, so you can verify that your backups are successful. 4. Do regular restore tests. Like a fire drill for your data, do a trial run and restore some files or even the whole server every few months to ensure everything works as it should. It's one thing to have backups, but another to ensure they are in good condition and the data can be retrieved as expected. Don't ignore your data backups! Backups might seem like one of those "set and forget" tasks, but when disaster strikes - be it a flood, fire or cyber-attack - your backup could be what saves your business. If you haven't already, start a conversation with your IT provider and make sure your backup strategy is solid and reliable.

In a statement released by the largest telecommunications company in the United States, AT&T, they shared that they recently discovered a dataset for sale on the "dark web" that contained information for about 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and 65.4 million former users, totaling approximately 73 million affected accounts. AT&T shared that the data released contained passcodes (PIN numbers) and Social Security numbers from 2019 or earlier and did not contain any other personal financial information or call history but could possibly include e-mail and mailing addresses, phone numbers and birthdates. AT&T has reached out to all customers via e-mail or mail to let them know of the breach and to reset their passcodes. If you're an AT&T customer, it's important to be highly critical of any e-mail asking you to change your password. Please make sure it is from AT&T, as it's suspected other cybercriminals will attempt to capitalize on this issue and send out fake e-mails with malicious links, hoping someone will click on them. If you're concerned it's a fake e-mail, call AT&T support and ask them to send another reset link while you're on the phone. As for the cause of the breach, it's still unknown whether the data breach originated from AT&T or one of its vendors, but AT&T has launched an investigation and will likely hire computer forensics specialists to find the cause of the incident. The organization will also have to scrub any installed malware out of the software that runs its customer account system without disrupting unaffected customers' service. Between the investigation, cleaning up the issues, lawsuits, legal fees and more, this will be an expensive issue to solve. That's why at COMPANY NAME, we talk about being proactive with cybersecurity so often. While no solution is 100% impenetrable, most are strong enough to keep the majority of hackers out. It is way more costly to deal with the effects of a cyber-attack than it is to prevent one in the first place. If you're concerned about the safety of your organization, request a FREE Security Assessment from our team of cybersecurity experts. We'll analyze your network so you can see if there are exposed entry points in your network that hackers could use to break in. We'll also advise on how to work with third-party vendors to ensure your and your customers' data is as secure as possible. Hackers will do whatever it takes to break into your network. Your job as the CEO is to do whatever it takes to keep them out. We are here to help! Click here to book your Cyber Security Risk Assessment with one of our cybersecurity experts, or call our office at (207) 300-2300.

Another day, another cyber-attack! In early April, Omni Hotels & Resorts was the victim of a cyber-attack that brought down the entire IT system and led to a company-wide outage. The organization took immediate action and brought the entire network offline to isolate the issue, protect its data and prevent further damage from occurring. Unfortunately, this process heavily impacted the hotel's operations and day-to-day functions, such as managing reservations, unlocking hotel room doors manually and using point-of-sale (POS) systems in restaurants and shops within the hotel. Some estimates expect this attack to cost the Omni over a million dollars. While unconfirmed by the hotel, several sources speculate that the type of cyber-attack was a ransomware attack similar to what happened to MGM in Las Vegas several months ago. While most customers were aware of the inconveniences of the Omni outage, many weren't aware of the dangers associated with cyber-attacks. When a network is compromised, unless you have high-grade tools to protect you, every device you connect to is put at risk. When you're traveling, it's important to treat everything like a risk to ensure your safety. In today's article, we're sharing a couple of tips to keep you safe when you're on the road for work or even on vacation this summer. Don't connect to the public Wi-Fi in the hotel. Truthfully, this also applies to coffee shops, airport lounges, etc. If a network is compromised and you connect to it, you could be giving hackers access to your devices. Turn off the auto-connect feature. Even if you don't actively connect to the hotel's Wi-Fi, if a hacker has set up a fake Wi-Fi network and your device auto-connects to it, that could be a big problem. Shut the feature off and only manually connect to sources you trust. Use your phone's hotspot. Instead of connecting to public Wi-Fi, most cell phones come equipped with a hotspot that allows your other devices to connect to your phone's internet. If not, one call to your wireless provider can often add this feature. These tips will help protect you, but if you travel for work or have employees who travel for work, it's important that all work devices have professional-grade cybersecurity tools installed on them. You don't want to send your sales team to a hotel-hosted trade show, and instead of bringing back a list of leads, they bring back malware that could shut down your company altogether. There is one final lesson in this terrible incident that all [location] business owners need to understand: No matter the size of the company, you can still be the victim of a cyber-attack. The Omni chain, which boasts over 50 properties nationwide, would likely have a large budget to defend itself from cyber-attacks and yet still fall victim to hackers. No system is 100% impenetrable, but small business owners who don't have any security measures in place are putting a big red target on their backs. If you don't have a cybersecurity system in place, or if you do and someone else is managing it but you'd like a second opinion, we offer a FREE Security Risk Assessment. This assessment will go over every area of your network to identify if and where you are vulnerable to an attack and propose solutions to fix it. Click here to book your Security Risk Assessment with one of our cybersecurity experts, or call our office at 207 (300)-2300.

What sets high-quality, reliable IT support apart from mediocre or substandard support? Is it lower prices? Flat-fee service? At COMPANY NAME, we believe there are many deciding factors that separate even the good from the great providers, but when our clients switch from their old companies to us, we get the same feedback over and over. The problem isn't that they didn't know they had bad support; they just didn't know what good support was. In today's blog, we're sharing 10 things top-level IT providers always do. It's time to stop settling for tech headaches and subpar service that could be putting you and your company at risk. Great IT providers... 1. They answer the phone during emergencies. If you have an emergency, you don't have time to wait on hold or leave a message and hope for a call back; you need help NOW! Reliable IT providers know that time matters and will either answer their calls live or respond in 30 minutes or less. 2. They are consistently easy to reach and highly responsive when you need them for non-emergencies. Are they readily available, even for small tech-support issues? One way to check is to ask around your office. Does your staff enjoy working with them, or are they tired of dealing with the same issues repeatedly, dealing with unhappy customer support or waiting forever for solutions? If the answer is no, that's a red flag. 3. Do they offer after-hours support? At the bare minimum, any IT company worth their weight will answer their phones LIVE (not voice mail or phone trees) and respond from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every weekday. But many CEOs and executives work outside normal "9 to 5" hours and need IT support both nights and weekends. High-quality IT companies can be reached after-hours any time, any day, and will still provide a fast response time. 4. They proactively monitor your network. You shouldn't be alerting your IT company to an issue! Their team of technicians should be monitoring your systems for downtime, breaches, inefficiencies and more and coming to YOU with proposed solutions and updates. 5. They have a customer-centric system that is easy for YOU to use. Can you easily "open a ticket" in their IT management portal so they can properly assign, track, prioritize, document and resolve your issues quickly? Their ticketing system should be set up to make it easy for customers to submit requests. If they don't have a system in place, we can practically guarantee your requests will sometimes get overlooked, skipped or forgotten. If this is the case, it's time to question whether their customers are their true focus. 6. Have they prepared, proposed and implemented a cybersecurity plan for your organization, including protection against ransomware and data loss? Cybersecurity is a huge issue! If your IT team hasn't come to you with a plan on how to protect your business, they might not be qualified to provide you with the level of support and protection you need, which is undoubtedly putting you at risk. You want to work with an IT provider that takes cybersecurity seriously and is regularly proposing new solutions to keep you secure from hackers' latest advances. 7. Do they provide detailed invoices that clearly explain what you are paying for? Do you know exactly what you're getting for your money? This problem shows up in one of a few ways. The most common thing we see is a client being charged a flat fee, but they have no idea what that service includes. Can they get help with their printer? How about sourcing new computers? What's extra? You deserve to know. Another issue is overcharging for a level of support that doesn't reflect the price tag. Important: expensive support does not necessarily mean the service is better! A common problem we hear about is when businesses hire an IT company because they offer a very low price and then end up 'nickel and diming' their clients for every small request to make up for the bottom-feeder price they're charging. When choosing an IT provider, make sure they're willing to be 100% transparent about costs, so you always know where your money is going. 8. They carry cyber liability and errors and omissions insurance to protect you. If your IT team creates a problem with your network that causes you to be down for hours or days, to lose data or to get hacked, who's responsible? What if one of their technicians gets hurt at your office? Or damages your property while there? In this litigious society we live in, you better make darn sure whomever you hire is adequately insured with both errors and omissions insurance, workers' compensation and cyber liability—and don't be shy about asking them to send you the policy to review! 9. They INSIST on doing periodic test restores of backups to make sure the data is not corrupt and could be restored in the event of a disaster. If your IT provider isn't regularly backing up your data and making sure it's backed up, you could lose EVERYTHING if you need a restore. We have seen this happen. Make sure your IT company is treating your data as if it's as valuable as their own. 10. They get projects done on time and on budget. If your IT provider is constantly tacking on fees or delaying projects, it's time to switch. Great IT providers accurately estimate project timelines and work hard to stick as closely to the schedule and budget as possible. Things can and will go wrong from time to time, but they should be quickly communicated with proposed solutions. It's time to stop settling for flat-out poor IT service. Tech nightmares should be a thing of the past. If you want to know what trustworthy, reliable IT support is, we'll perform a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment so you can see how our team of experts will work together to handle your network stress-free. We'll provide optimization ideas, share if and where you could be vulnerable to a cybersecurity issue and leave you with a list of ways to improve the technology in your business.  To get started, click here to book your FREE Network Assessment now or call our office at (207) 300-2300.

Are you planning on buying gifts for the special women in your life for Mother's Day? If you shop online, there are a few ways to do it SAFELY. During the holidays, cybercriminals ramp up various scams to capitalize on innocent people looking for gifts online. These scams range from fake offers to sham giveaways, all with the goal of stealing your money and information. Times and technology have changed drastically in just the last year, meaning what kept you safe before is no longer enough. In today's article, we'll share the best way to pay for your online purchases, the common scams to look out for and the top online shopping best practices to keep you safe. How To Make Online Purchases Safely Should you use your debit card to buy online? No! Debit cards are linked directly to your bank account. If you make a bad purchase online, it can be very difficult to get your money back once you've alerted your bank. To avoid headaches, hours on the phone arguing with customer support, losing money and, if things escalate enough, legal fees, use your credit card or a third-party payment system instead. Credit cards have extensive fraud monitoring systems, which can often catch discrepancies as they occur. These companies use statistical analysis and machine learning to track and analyze your transactions to quickly identify suspicious activity, allowing you to dispute the purchases and avoid being charged. Some credit card companies, like Capital One, go a step further to keep you secure by offering virtual credit cards. These cards provide you with a random 16-digit number, a three-digit CVV and an expiration date that you can use for online or even in-store purchases. While these DO connect to your real accounts, retailers are unable to see your actual card details, keeping your information secure. Bonus: These can be "turned off" at any time, eliminating the hassle of canceling unneeded subscriptions without going through the merchant. Third-party tools like PayPal are also a great option because no personal information is exchanged with the seller. The company you're purchasing from does not receive your financial or banking information, keeping your data secure. Online Shopping Best Practices Using a credit card, virtual card or third-party payment tool is a great start, but it isn't the only proactive step you should be taking to stay safe online. If you're making purchases online, make sure you're also: Shopping from real websites - Cybercriminals will set up fake websites that look exactly like big-name websites. Go to the REAL website and search for the item you're looking for. Avoid too-good-to-be-true offers - If it sounds like a scam, it's probably a scam! If you're interested, go to the website and look up the deal to see if it exists. Do NOT click on promo links in e-mails - Cybercriminals will set up spoof e-mails mirroring your favorite brands. When you click on the offer links, they can infect your network. Use a VPN - This hides your location and web browsing information from snoopers. Don't save your information - Password tools are trying to make your life easier by saving your payment information, but they make you more vulnerable to having it swiped. Use unique logins for loyalty accounts - Using the same e-mail and password combo for all your loyalty accounts means that if one is compromised, a smart hacker could break into all of them, and some will have your payment information available. Set up alerts - Go into your banking system and enable notifications. You can request to be notified when any purchases or purchases over a certain amount are made, so you can quickly report any suspicious activity. Cybercriminals will use any method they can to steal your information and money. To stay safe, you must take a proactive approach to protecting your financial information. This is equally true for your business. If hackers are willing to put this much effort into stealing money for low-dollar purchases, imagine what they would do to access your company accounts. Your customer data, employee information, trade secrets and more can be worth millions to them. If you're not sure if your company is as secure as it should be or you just want to get a second set of eyes on your system to make sure there aren't any holes in your security, we'll perform a FREE Network Security Assessment for you. We'll go through our multi-step security checklist and let you know if and where cybercriminals can get into your network. Click here to book your FREE Network Security Assessment now or call our office at (207) 300-2300.

In our technology-driven world, efficient IT support is the backbone of any successful business. From ensuring seamless operations to safeguarding sensitive data, reliable IT services are crucial for maintaining productivity and protecting your bottom line. However, not all IT support is created equal, and the cost of settling for subpar services can result in expensive consequences for your business. Bad IT service can negatively affect employee productivity, customer happiness and operational efficiency and quickly eat into your profits. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the hidden costs of bad IT support and how it could be impacting your business in ways you might not have considered.  Unresolved Recurring Issues IT issues that aren't properly resolved are like untreated wounds that fester over time. For example, one person's poor password habits can become a company-wide issue that later results in an expensive ransomware attack when a hacker finds a weak link. Recurring IT issues also drain company resources. Without addressing the root cause of the issues, the problems will persist, leading to ongoing costs. Sloppy Systems And Processes Your IT team can take tasks off your plate, like getting new employees access to the files, software and programs they need to do their job and revoking access when an employee leaves the company. If the procedures are not followed or outlined properly, your company's processes will not run as efficiently as they should, costing you time and money, and it could open up big security risks to your company. Unexpected Downtime Operational inefficiencies aside, what's the cost if you CAN'T do business? Not just the loss of potential sales, but the cost of employees sitting stagnant, staring at the wall and scrolling on their phones while your IT guy is trying to get your network back up. If you have 20 employees at an average pay of $25 an hour and your system is down for three hours, you might as well light $1,500 on fire. Now, what if this is happening one, two, even three or more times a month? Add in the potential loss of sales and fees for emergency IT support, and the total for each outage will quickly add up to a sizable chunk of change you're letting fall right through your pocket. Security Breaches If a negligent or inexperienced IT professional leaves gaps in your security system, you could be vulnerable to a cyber-attack. There is no limit to what this could cost your business if client data or financial data is leaked, stolen or exploited. Legal fees, fines and downtime from cyber-attacks have put thousands of companies out of business because the owners weren't able to get out from under them. It is critical to the future of your business that you work with an IT professional who knows what you need to be compliant in your industry and secure from the latest threats. These issues are only the tip of the iceberg. If you'd like us to take a closer look at what you're getting for what you're paying, to make sure you're not exposed to risks and are operating as efficiently as possible, we're happy to do so. To schedule a free 10-minute discovery call to see how we can get rid of your tech issues once and for all, go to https://www.dpcco.me/discoverycall/ or call us at (207) 300-2300.

The initial reaction when you suspect your computer or network has been compromised is to panic. However, if your network has been breached, what you do next can make the difference between the incident being a minor inconvenience and being a devastating disaster that brings legal trouble and huge fines, and halts your ability to do business. In today's article, we've consulted our cyber security experts on the top signs of an affected computer and the five steps you need to take as soon as you notice your network has been compromised to prevent as much irreversible damage as possible. Signs Of An Issue According to IBM's latest cyber security report, the average data breach goes 277 days before it's noticed and reported. This time frame sounds crazy considering that attacks using malware, viruses, keylogging tools and more can cause a considerable amount of damage very quickly, but most users miss the warning signs and don't realize they're under attack until irreversible damage has occurred. Several of the biggest indicators of an issue can be mistaken for a slow or outdated computer or operating system. If you experience any of these issues, it's a good idea to contact your IT team. If it's an attack, they'll know the proper steps to take, and if it's not, they'll be able to update your system or replace your device to improve performance. Here are a few key signs your computer could be infected: Slow computer or network performance Frequent freezes or sudden crashes Rapid pop-ups Locked user accounts Sudden and unexpected file changes Abnormal system behavior, such as the device continuing to run after a shutdown Unusual account activity What To Do Next If you're experiencing any of these issues, the next steps you take are important. Here is what our team of experts recommends: 1. Take the network offline to isolate the incident, but DO NOT turn off the device or reboot it. When a device isn't working the way it should, the go-to move is to hit Restart. In many scenarios, that maneuver can work; however, if malware is involved, this simple act can make the situation worse. In some circumstances, rebooting your device can set in motion a crashed file-encryption process that can cause unrecoverable data loss. Disconnect your device from the network but allow it to remain on as you move through the next steps. 2. Call your IT team IMMEDIATELY. It's important to contain the breach before it infects the rest of your network or causes any more damage. Your IT team will be able to investigate the issue to determine what went wrong and what the impact was, and mitigate the breach quickly. Do not try to fix this on your own. Attempting to run a "system cleanup" or your antivirus software will waste time and could cause more damage. Call in the experts. 3. Call your attorney. There are several reasons to call your attorney. Depending on the size of the breach, your attorney may refer you to outside legal counsel with privacy and data security expertise who can advise you on the federal and state laws that may be implicated by the data breach. 4. Change passwords and secure all accounts. As the IT team is working on containing the breach, you'll want to change your passwords to protect any of your other accounts that may not have been affected yet. Hopefully you have multifactor authentication enabled and will be notified if someone tries to access your account, but if not, begin working through your accounts to secure them, starting with ones that contain financial information like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers and more. 5. Check your bank accounts. Nearly all cyber-attacks are financially motivated, making bank accounts the primary target. As the breach is being mitigated, check your bank accounts and payment processing tools, including third-party merchant accounts and employee payroll systems, for any anomalies or sudden changes. If you're hit by a cyber-attack, there will be a list of other steps to take, like implementing a PR communications plan, notifying appropriate parties such as law enforcement and more. The most important thing you can do if a data breach occurs is to isolate the incident and hand it over to a qualified cyber security professional as soon as possible. Time matters in these situations. If you need a reliable, trustworthy cyber security team monitoring your business, start with a FREE Cyber Security Risk Assessment. These assessments are designed to thoroughly examine your network to pinpoint any vulnerabilities and map out a plan to fix them. It is much more cost-effective to prevent a cyber-attack than to fix one, so book your assessment today by going to https://www.dpcco.me/cyber-security-assessment/ or calling (207) 300-2300 .

Horror stories of people getting scammed out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars aren't in short supply. As we scroll through the news app from the comfort of our couch, reading these accounts of how a stupid so-and-so opened an obviously suspicious attachment and a hacker drained their bank account, it's easy to say things like "I'd never fall for that!" But would you? The sobering truth is that, under the right conditions and with the right threat, anyone can fall victim to a financially devastating scam. This reality was recently demonstrated when a finance guru, someone armed with enough financial acumen to publicly advise others, lost $50,000 to a scammer pretending to be a CIA agent. Charlotte Cowles, a seasoned financial advice columnist for New York Magazine 's digital fashion news site, The Cut , wrote a first-person account of how she boxed up $50,000 in cash in a shoebox, walked it out to the sidewalk in front of her house and willingly handed it over to an unknown person in a white Mercedes SUV. Looking back, she was humiliated that she couldn't see the red flags, but the way these criminals intricately plotted every step would have convinced most people. I suggest giving her detailed story a read , but to give you the nutshell version, this elaborate scam started early in the day when a woman from "Amazon's customer service" called to inquire about unusual activity on Charlotte's account. The woman told her this has been a frequent issue for the company, provided a case number ID and recommended Charlotte check her credit cards immediately. She shared that the issue was so prevalent that the company was working with a liaison at the Federal Trade Commission and offered to refer her to him for additional assistance. Once connected, the FTC agent provided his badge number for reassurance and a direct number to reach him at, and confirmed personal details like her full name and Social Security number. Convincing, right? That's when things took a turn. The agent shared that he had been following her case for some time, and to date, there were 22 bank accounts, nine vehicles and four properties registered under her name. The bank accounts had wired more than $3 million overseas, mostly to Jamaica and Iraq, and he wondered if she could tell him anything about this. This crazy scheme escalated from there. The agent texted her a photo of her ID, claiming it had been found in a car rented under her name that was abandoned on the southern border of Texas with blood and drugs in the trunk and was linked to an even bigger drug raid. He told her there were warrants out for her arrest in multiple states and that she was facing heavy charges of cybercrime, money laundering and drug trafficking. She frantically googled her name, looking for any warrants. Nothing. Sensing her rising discomfort, he asked if she had recently used public WiFi. She had, at the airport. "Ahh…" he said, "that's how most of these things start." As she texted her husband that she was in serious trouble, the agent offered her a solution, but she could tell no one. Everyone was a suspect, and they were watching her every move. The agent said her laptop was hacked, her home was being watched and they could even see her two-year-old son playing in the living room right now. At the mention of her son, she was all in to resolve the problem. Sadly, you know the heartbreaking ending of the story. She drained her savings and hand-delivered it in a floral-printed shoebox to the scammer. Here's the real kicker: if Cowles, armed with financial acumen and a journalist's skepticism, can be led astray, what chance do the rest of us stand? It's a digital Wild West out there, folks, and the outlaws are on the prowl, looking for their next big score. This tale isn't just a wake-up call - it's a blaring siren for small business owners everywhere. If you think you're too smart to get scammed, think again, because it's happening all the time. When Charlotte began to share her story, everyone seemed to know someone who had gone up against a scammer and lost. One friend's criminal-defense-attorney father had been scammed out of $1.2 million. Another was a real estate developer duped into wiring $450,000 to someone posing as one of his contractors. Even a Wall Street executive, who had been conned into draining her 401(k) by a guy she met at a bar. These stories are everywhere. Cyber security cannot be ignored. With the AI tools available, scams are becoming more and more difficult to identify. If you want to protect yourself, your family and your business, you absolutely MUST take your security seriously. Every day, hackers are buying and selling personal information, like Charlotte's Social Security number, on the dark web to hackers who will use it to run scams just like this one. You or your loved ones could be next. This ISN'T meant to scare you, although it should; it's meant to educate you and give you the upper hand to go up against these criminals. To protect what's yours. The best way we can help is to offer a FREE Cyber Security Risk Assessment. We'll do an in-depth evaluation of your network's security system, including scanning the dark web for leaked information, and provide you with a comprehensive report of what you need to do to be secure. You can book your Assessment with one of our experts for FREE by going to https://www.dpcco.me/discoverycall or calling (207) 300-2300 .

Working amid the ever-changing currents of technology and cyber security, businesses often find themselves entangled in a web of misinformation and outdated ideas. But failing to distinguish between myth and fact can put your business's security at serious risk. Based on expert research in the field, including CompTIA's 2024 global State Of Cybersecurity report, we will debunk three common misconceptions that threaten to derail your success in 2024. Myth 1: My cyber security is good enough! Fact: Modern cyber security is about continuous improvement. Respondents to CompTIA's survey indicated that one of the most significant challenges to cyber security initiatives today is the belief that "current security is good enough" (39%). One of the reasons businesses may be misled by the state of their security is the inherent complexity of cyber security. In particular, it's incredibly challenging to track and measure security effectiveness and stay current on trends. Thus, an incomplete understanding of security leads executives to think all is well. Over 40% of executives express complete satisfaction with their organization's cyber security, according to CompTIA's report. In contrast, only 25% of IT staff and 21% of business staff are satisfied. This could also be accounted for by executives often having more tech freedom for added convenience while frontline staff deal with less visible cyber security details. "Either way, the gap in satisfaction points to a need for improved communication on the topic," CompTIA writes. Get your IT and business teams together and figure out what risks you face right now and what needs to change. Because cyber security is constantly changing, your security should never be stagnant. "Good enough" is never good enough for your business; vigilance and a continuous improvement mindset are the only ways to approach cyber security. Myth 2: Cyber security = keeping threats out Fact: Cyber security protects against threats both inside and outside your organization. One of the most publicized breaches of the last decade was when BBC reported that a Heathrow Airport employee lost a USB stick with sensitive data on it. Although the stick was recovered with no harm done, it still cost Heathrow £120,000 (US$150,000) in fines. Yes, cyber security is about protection. However, protection extends to both external and internal threats such as employee error. Because security threats are diverse and wide-ranging, there are risks that have little to do with your IT team. For example, how do your employees use social media? "In an era of social engineering, there must be precise guidelines around the content being shared since it could eventually lead to a breach," CompTIA states. Attacks are increasingly focused on human social engineering, like phishing, and criminals bank on your staff making mistakes. Additionally, managing relationships with third-party vendors and partners often involves some form of data sharing. "The chain of operations is only as strong as its weakest link," CompTIA points out. "When that chain involves outside parties, finding the weakest link requires detailed planning." Everyone in your organization is responsible for being vigilant and aware of security best practices and safety as it relates to their jobs. Make sure your cyber security strategy puts equal emphasis on internal threats as much as external ones. Myth 3: IT handles my cyber security Fact: Cyber security is not solely the responsibility of the IT department. While IT professionals are crucial in implementing security measures, comprehensive cyber security involves a multidisciplinary approach. It encompasses not only technical aspects but also policy development, employee training, risk management and a deep understanding of the organization's unique security landscape. Because each department within your organization involves unique risks, people from various roles must be included in security conversations. But many companies are not doing this. CompTIA's report shows that while 40% of respondents say that technical staff is leading those conversations, only 36% indicate that the CEO is participating, and just 25% say that business staff is involved. "More companies should consider including a wide range of business professionals, from executives to mid-level management to staff positions, in risk management discussions," CompTIA writes. "These individuals are becoming more involved in technology decisions for their departments, and without a proper view into the associated risks, their decisions may have harmful consequences." Business leaders and employees at all levels must actively engage in cyber security efforts, as they are all potential gatekeepers against evolving threats. Don't Listen To Myths  By embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, recognizing the wide range of threats and understanding the collective responsibility of cyber security, your business will remain safe, resilient and thriving, no matter what the future holds.

Tax season is around the corner, which means so are tax scams. Without fail, every year, individuals and business owners alike fall victim to tax scams, resulting in the loss of substantial amounts of money and sensitive personal data. According to the Better Business Bureau, taxpayers lost $5.7 billion due to tax scams and fraud in 2022 alone. In today's article, you'll discover the top scams you need to be on the lookout for to reduce your chances of becoming these scammers' next victim. The IRS has specific methods of contacting you One way to lessen your chances of falling for Internal Revenue Service scams is to know how the IRS will contact you. Per the IRS website, the IRS will not initiate communication with taxpayers through e-mail, text messages or social media platforms for the purpose of soliciting personal or financial information. The IRS's main method of communication is physical mail; however, if they're unable to reach you via mail, they may initiate a phone call. If this is the case, they will still try not to solicit any personal or financial information over the phone, and they will never threaten you or demand payment. If you're second-guessing anything you receive, you can check out this article to help you figure out if it's really the IRS contacting you. Here are the top scams to keep an eye on this tax season The Refund Scam The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning to taxpayers regarding a scam designed to deceive individuals into believing they are entitled to a refund. This is often the most common scam that we see happen every year. In this scheme, recipients receive a formal notification, usually a letter, stating that they have an "unclaimed refund" available. There are variations of this, including one scam that uses a cardboard envelope from what looks to be a certified delivery service and bears the IRS logo. Similar to many scams, the deceptive letter provides contact information and a phone number that is in no way affiliated with the IRS. What sets this scheme apart is its request for various sensitive personal details from taxpayers, including detailed images of driver's licenses. Identity thieves seeking to get ahold of tax refunds and other confidential financial data can exploit such information. Stay vigilant and be cautious of such misleading communications. If something seems off, it probably is. Identity Theft If cybercriminals are able to get access to your personal information, they can file a fake tax return on your behalf and potentially collect a refund payment. The IRS recently shared that more than 1 million tax returns were flagged last year for possible identity theft. One tool to prevent tax ID theft is to apply for an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS before you file your return. It's also good to file early before criminals have a chance, and if you get a notice about an alleged "duplicate tax return" or a notice saying that additional taxes are owed, contact the IRS directly as soon as possible. The ERC Scam The Employee Retention Credit (ERC), sometimes called the Employee Retention Tax Credit, or ERTC, is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes. The IRS and tax professionals continue to see aggressive broadcast advertising, direct mail solicitations and online promotions involving the ERC. While the credit is real, aggressive promoters are misrepresenting and exaggerating who can qualify for the credit. This has led the IRS to issue many warnings about ERC schemes from third-party promoters that charge large up-front fees or a fee based on the amount of the refund. These promoters may fail to inform taxpayers that they must reduce wage deductions claimed on the business's federal income tax return by the amount of the credit. Businesses, tax-exempt organizations and others thinking about applying for the ERC need to carefully review the official requirements for this credit before they claim it. The "Impact Payment" Scam As you prepare to collect the required documents for filing your 2023 return, be aware of a new online scam circulating. This scheme involves an e-mail displaying the IRS logo and addressing the "third round of economic impact payments," deeming it an "important matter concerning your recent tax return filing." The e-mail asserts that certain inconsistencies or missing information have been identified and assures recipients that a refund of $976 awaits them upon submission of the required document. Notably, there's a button labeled "complete my information," but IRS Media Relations Specialist Robert Marvin urges you not to click it. The "Additional Information Needed" Scam If you receive an e-mail from the IRS requesting that you submit a tax form, proceed with caution. While there are legitimate forms that taxpayers may be required to complete (such as the W-9 for freelancers and W-4 forms for employees), these are typically directed to companies and do not go directly to the taxpayer from the IRS. To steer clear of potential scams, it is recommended to disregard such messages and promptly report the fraud to the IRS. It's important to note that the IRS does not initiate contact via e-mail, and any solicitation for forms through this is indicative of fraudulent activity. Another Tax Agency Scam Scammers may adopt the appearance of legitimate or fictitious tax agencies when making phone calls. Instances include impersonating entities like the Taxpayer Advocate Service or the nonexistent Bureau of Tax Enforcement. While the Taxpayer Advocate Service is a legitimate entity, it does not initiate unsolicited calls to taxpayers. On the other hand, the Bureau of Tax Enforcement is not a genuine organization. Exercise caution and skepticism toward unsolicited calls alleging to be from government agencies. Obtain a reference number if possible, terminate the call and initiate a return call using an officially verified phone number. This practice helps protect against potential scams. Be Smart And Protect Yourself The tax season often sees a surge in scams, but with some vigilance identifying an IRS imposter and protecting your finances and sensitive data becomes possible. To enhance protection and mitigate the risk of identity theft, it is recommended to file your taxes early. Early filing reduces the window for scammers to impersonate you. When hiring a tax preparer, conduct thorough vetting and be wary of those promising substantial refunds without prior access to your information. For an added layer of security and peace of mind, explore a fraud protection service. Cybercriminals never take a break. Tax scams are only one way they're trying to steal your information and money. It's important to have a full cyber security system in place to make sure your organization is protected at every possible entry point. We recommend getting a FREE third-party security assessment. Our team of experts will examine your entire network for vulnerabilities and help you map out a plan to fix them. In all the years we've been doing this, we've always found something. To schedule your no-obligation assessment for your peace of mind, click here .

Technology can provide a strategic advantage for companies in every industry when properly utilized. However, one of the biggest issues small business owners face is overcoming some of the common tech obstacles that hinder productivity. These issues can range from minor inconveniences to serious threats that can permanently shut down a business. In today's blog, we've outlined 6 of the most common technology problems small business owners deal with on a regular basis and how you can either avoid or resolve them. 1. Failing To Meet Industry-Specific Compliance Requirements Many industries have specific regulatory compliance requirements that define how companies must organize and protect data. Common examples you might be familiar with include HIPAA, which regulates electronic medical data in the health care industry; FFIEC, GLB and SEC in the financial services industry; and CMMC for companies that work directly or indirectly with the Department of Defense. For a small business owner wearing many hats, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest compliance requirements, especially if you don't have an IT or cyber security employee on staff. Missing a requirement cannot only lead to hefty fines and legal issues but it can also incidentally leave you vulnerable to a cyber-attack. The best thing you can do is work with a managed services provider (MSP) that has experience in compliance for your specific industry. While compliance is not exactly the same as cyber security, the two overlap, and an experienced provider will be able to help you bridge the gap so you're protected and meeting any mandatory requirements. Click here to get a FREE Network Assessment so you'll know if you're currently missing any mandatory compliance requirements for your organization. 2. Lack Of Strategic IT Planning One of the biggest issues we see is a disjointed relationship between the business leaders in the organization and the IT team. In this digital age, technology is an integral part of how a business operates. When business leaders, who tend to see the larger picture, loop in IT professionals, they can make informed decisions about what technology to deploy to make long-term growth and scalability easier and more efficient. Several areas in which your IT team should act as a strategic advisor are: Optimizing business operations to streamline processes and improve productivity Selecting the best line of business software Upgrading old or outdated hardware and software Implementing cyber security best practices Deploying cost-effective and scalable cloud solutions Creating a predictable IT budget that doesn't rely on break-fix solutions 3. Inadequate Cyber Security Protection Cyber security risks become more advanced every year. Decisions about cyber security should not be solely left to the IT department. These are business decisions that need to be made with the buy-in of the leadership team because failing to have a robust cyber security system and becoming the victim of a cyber-attack can be detrimental to a business. There are trade secrets, confidential communications, customer data and employee records that are stored on your company's devices that you can't afford to have fall into the wrong hands. Work with your IT team to deploy a three-pronged approach that includes: Prevention Strategies: Do you have the right software and solutions in place, such as antivirus, firewalls, MFA, etc., to protect your organization from an attack? Are you regularly training employees on the latest threats and how to identify them? Detection Mechanisms: This is a key piece that most small businesses neglect, which leaves them vulnerable. Do you have a process in place for detecting a breach, or would it go unnoticed until it's a bigger problem? You should be conducting regular scans and monitoring, as well as employing endpoint detection and response tools. Response And Recovery Action Steps: Do you have a plan in place if something goes wrong? Would your employees know what to do? You need to have an IT team supporting you that can identify and mitigate any issues quickly, before the damage can't be undone. Leaders in the organization should take this seriously. 4. Poor User Support If your employees are struggling with their technology all day, productivity will decrease. Using slow, outdated devices and software can be frustrating for employees, leaving them feeling less motivated and hindering their output. It's even worse when you have unreliable technical support following the "get to it when we get to it" approach. With the right IT team, whether that's in-house staff, outsourced support or, more commonly, a combination of both, you can trust that an experienced technician with the tools and knowledge to quickly assist employees and solve problems will always be available to help. 5. Poor User Asset Management Managing access to various levels of data for each employee can be tedious and overwhelming in larger organizations. IT professionals can take on the role of managing and monitoring user access so that no one has access to data they don't need, security policies are enforced and accounts are constantly monitored for anomalies. They can also assign new users, make changes to existing accounts, delete accounts, add remote users, set permissions on how employees can access the network and more. This is particularly important when it comes to offboarding employees. Whether the employee is leaving on good terms or not, removing data access from someone who has access to sensitive information can be risky and needs to be handled with care. 6. Lack Of Training As mentioned, making sure your employees know how to use technology efficiently is paramount to productivity, but it's also important for security reasons. All employees should regularly go through cyber security training to ensure they understand and are following best practices. This is typically not the role of the business leaders in the company. Most often, they need refresher courses too. When you work with a reliable IT team, they'll be able to regularly inform team members of new threats and what to look out for, run phishing simulations to test employees on whether or not they know what to do and more. One training session is NOT enough! To build a cyber security-focused culture, you need to be talking about it often. Is it time to solve your IT problems once and for all? We have your back. To get started, book a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment. We'll review your systems using our 42-Point Optimization Checklist to let you know how and where your organization can better utilize technology to grow. To Schedule Your FREE Assessment, Please Visit https://www.dpcco.me/free-network-assessment/ Or Call Our Office At (207) 300-2300 .

"Know Ye That We Have Granted And Given License To Adam Robernolt and William le Sauvage…to annoy our enemies by sea or by land, wheresoever they are able, so that they share with us the half of all their gain." These were the words of King Henry III of England as he issued one of the first letters of marque, effectively employing private sailors to bolster his naval power and fill the royal coffers, all under the guise of lawful privateering. This clever maneuver not only financed the kingdom's ambitions but also paved the way for the discovery and plunder of new worlds, all at the expense of England's adversaries. Fast-forward several centuries, and we find the essence of privateering alive and well, albeit in a new battlefield: cyberspace. Today, businesses, particularly in the United States, find themselves at the mercy of digital privateers. Recently, the FBI testified before Congress that the People's Republic of China was preparing to "sow chaos" by taking down the US power grid, oil pipelines and water systems in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. As small business owners, you are not mere spectators in this digital skirmish but frontline warriors. The misconception that cyber security is a concern reserved for larger entities couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, the agility and often less fortified digital defenses of small businesses make you prime targets for these modern-day privateers. The revelation of these threats isn't meant to dishearten but to awaken a recognition of the critical need for robust cyber security measures. The landscape has shifted, and the onus is on you to protect your enterprise from digital marauders. The good news? There's a silver lining in the form of unprecedented opportunity for those ready to fortify their defenses. Consider this: The investment in cyber security is not merely a safeguard but a strategic advantage. The narrative has evolved from viewing digital protection as an operational cost to recognizing it as a cornerstone of business resilience and growth. CEOs and business leaders are now acknowledging the indispensability of cyber security and integrating it into their core business strategies. So, where do you stand in this evolving scenario? This moment calls for reflection, for a candid assessment of your cyber security posture. Are you prepared for the digital equivalent of a storm at sea? Have you charted a course that not only navigates through these treacherous waters but also seizes the opportunities they present? The urgency cannot be overstated. The threats are real, and the consequences of inaction grave. We've made it easy for you to take the next step toward a proactive defense and invite you to join us for a complimentary 15-minute discovery call. On this call, we'll get an idea of where your business stands to see if it makes sense to have further discussions. To do this, simply call us at (207) 300-2300 or go to: https://www.dpcco.me/discoverycall/  The era of digital privateering is upon us, but so is the opportunity for unparalleled growth and security. Let's embark on this journey together, safeguarding your enterprise and securing its future in the digital frontier.

What you are about to read is a real story showing you how a business can be devastated by cybercriminals in the blink of an eye. Most importantly, I'll share several ways this could have been avoided. Make sure to forward this to anyone who might be making online payments and, better yet, your entire staff. The name of the company and principals have been withheld so they don't become a further target. $43,000 Gone In The Blink Of An Eye Imagine, on a normal Friday night after a long week of work, you glance down at your phone and see an alert from your bank. You open it to find that you've just paid a company you've never heard of $43,000! This was an all-too-real situation for one small business owner a few weeks ago - and there's NOTHING the owner, or police, or anyone else can do to get that money back. It's gone forever. Thankfully, for this company, $43,000 was a loss they could absorb, but it was still a huge hit and, frankly, they are lucky they weren't taken for more. Here's what happened and how you can keep this from happening to you. The E-mail That Started It All Imagine receiving an e-mail so convincing, so utterly devoid of red flags, that you find yourself compelled to act. This isn't a failure of judgment; it's a testament to the sophistication of modern cyberthreats. In this case, an employee in the accounting department received an e-mail from the company's "CEO" saying they were starting to work with a new company and needed to get them set up in the system and make a payment to them right away. This was NOT an abnormal type of e-mail, nor was the amount anything that aroused suspicion - they made and received large amounts of money often. The only telltale clue might have been that it came in on a Friday afternoon and it was made clear that it was an urgent matter that had to be handled right away. The employee, thinking they were doing exactly what their boss wanted, set the attacker's company up in the system, including their bank routing number, and made a payment. And the minute they hit "Send," the money was never to be seen again. It wasn't until the CEO called minutes later, after receiving notification of the transfer, that alarm bells started to ring! But by then it was all too late. So What Happened? While it's impossible to know what exactly occurred to kick off this chain of events, the most likely culprit is that an employee, possibly even the owner, received an e-mail sent by a cybercriminal weeks or even months earlier that allowed this person to gain access to some of the company's systems. In all likelihood, the e-mail looked normal and had a link that, when clicked, downloaded software onto the recipient's computer, and that's where things started to go wrong. Over the following weeks, the cybercriminals accessed company communications, figuring out who the players were, and devised a plan to make it look like the CEO needed a vendor to be paid urgently. And when the criminals determined the time was right, they "attacked" and walked away with $43,000 for their efforts. Home Alone While this scenario may sound far-fetched, it's not new. If you remember seeing the classic movie Home Alone , would-be thieves watched houses immediately preceding Christmas to determine which families would be away for the holidays so they could break into those homes. Cybercriminals do the same thing, but from a distance, and you'd never know they were ever there. The scary fact is, your system could be compromised right now, and you would have no way of knowing it, until an attack happens. In the cybercrime world, the kind of attack this company suffered is referred to as spear phishing. Criminals identify a single point or person in an organization who they believe could fall victim to a scam like the one that happened here, and they engineer a scheme to specifically target them. What You And Your Employees Need To Know To Help Thwart Attacks The sad fact is that there is no 100% safeguard against cybercriminals. But, just like our robbers in Home Alone , cybercriminals go after the low-hanging fruit. If your house has a gated entry, security system, outside cameras and lights, and has three vicious-looking dogs roaming around, would-be thieves are much more likely just to move on to a house without all these layers of security. Cybercriminals operate in the exact same fashion, looking for companies that aren't protected and then targeting them specifically. So, the best thing you can do is have layers of protection for your company, along with education for your employees. 3 Things To Do Right Now To Protect Your Company Multi-factor authentication (MFA), also called two-factor authentication (2FA), is not just a tool but also a shield against the relentless barrage of cyberthreats. An example of MFA is when you try to log into a program and it sends a code to your cell phone via text that needs to be entered before granting access to the program. While often deemed a nuisance, MFA isn't an inconvenience - it's the digital equivalent of locking your doors at night. It's a simple yet profoundly effective measure that can be the difference between a secure business and a cautionary tale. Employees are your first line of defense. Just like you'd teach your kids not to open the door for someone they don't know, you NEED to educate your employees on malicious threats. Teaching them about the common scams, how to avoid them and what to do if they think they've inadvertently clicked a link they shouldn't have, is key. You need to ask your IT company to provide this training, and often they have programs that you can require your employees go through a couple of times a year. The program then quizzes them to ensure they have the knowledge. While this process isn't something you or they will look forward to, the reality is that it could take just 10 to 15 minutes a couple times a year to keep you out of the news and your money out of someone else's account!  Get cyber security services in place. MFA is just the start of a comprehensive security plan. You need to talk to a qualified company (not your uncle Larry who helps you on the side) about getting more than a firewall and virus scan software. What worked a decade or two ago - and may still be helpful on a home network - would be like protecting a bank vault with a ring camera. It's just not going to cut it. NOTE: We offer a variety of security services for companies of all sizes and can certainly talk to you about options that make sense for your situation. Whatever You Do, Don't Do This!!! Maybe the worst thing the owner of the company that lost $43,000 did was they then posted a video and story on social media. While their intentions were good because they wanted to warn other business owners not to fall victim to the same scam, they might as well have had T-shirts made with a big target on the back. It'd be like having cash from your house taken, then going online and telling people exactly how it happened - you're just inviting more people to come try to take your cash. Not Sure If You're As Protected And Prepared As You Should Be? To make sure you're properly protected, get a FREE, no-obligation Cyber Security Risk Assessment. During this assessment, we'll review your entire system so you know exactly if and where you're vulnerable to an attack. Schedule your assessment with one of our senior advisors by calling us at (207) 300-2300 or going to https://www.dpcco.me/cyber-security-assessment/ .

Today, most business transactions - whether buying shampoo or tonight's dinner - are faceless. That's why in our digital world, trust is the new currency. This shift in consumer behavior, sometimes called the "trust economy," is more than the quality of products or services you offer; it's about constructing a bedrock of reliability and transparency so customers choose you over competitors. "Trust keeps society running. Even the most trivial interactions rely on small acts of trust," the Economist reported. This isn't lost on company leaders either. PwC's 25th Annual Global CEO Survey reported that behind industry conditions, consumer trust is the most important predictor of a company's past and future financial performance. However, trust is increasingly difficult to earn. Thanks to the recent emergence of AI, frequent mishandling of personal data by companies and relentless cyber-attacks, customers are more skeptical than ever. As product and service providers, PwC points out that we are constantly evaluated by our customers on whether or not we are "forces for good in society." Make one slipup and that trust is gone, perhaps for good. How you handle data and use technology to influence your customers' experience will decide your fate in the trust economy. Prioritize the most important drivers of trust - empathy, reliability and integrity - and grow your customer loyalty this year and in the years to come. Technology's Role In Improving Customer Trust Our dependence on technology is undeniable, yet this very reliance makes us vulnerable. Computer pioneer Willis Ware once said, "The only computer that's completely secure is a computer no one can use." This statement hits a nerve, especially for businesses navigating the complexities of digital security. The challenge, then, is to harness technology in a way that boosts, rather than undermines, customer trust. Be Transparent About Data Usage Ever been shopping for a new shirt only to have an online ad pop up later for the same shirt? It's not a coincidence - it's data. Although customers expect you to collect data, they want a say in it. According to a report by Qonsent, 94% of consumers feel that having control over the data they share with companies is important. Make sure you have a clear privacy policy that tells customers: What data you collect How you use it Who you share it with How they can adjust what data they share with you Additionally, don't collect more data than you need, and ensure your team is well-versed in data security, drawing from clear internal processes around data management. Slack's "Privacy Policy" page is an excellent example of data transparency. It's written for the consumer (not in legalese), and it clearly explains what data is collected and why, and how users can change their preferences. Take Cyber Security Seriously Customers want to know if you have a good reputation for protecting their data and information. According to a 2022 McKinsey survey, 53% of consumers will only engage with a company after checking for a good security track record. Even one breach could mean losing a significant amount of your customer base. To build trust with your customers, make sure your company's cyber security strategy includes: Multi-factor authentication Proactive security software that stops attacks before they happen Regular security awareness training for all employees Frequent backups (local and remote, ideally) A disaster recovery plan to help you respond quickly and with authority, decreasing the risk of losing your customers after an incident Leverage Technology To Improve Your Customers' Experience According to a 2018 report by Deloitte, customers spent 140% more with companies they had a positive experience with. Additionally, companies with positive interactions reduced customer service costs by as much as 33%. Technology enables businesses to offer personalized, seamless experiences that resonate with customers. Consider how e-commerce platforms use encrypted payment transactions and tailored shopping recommendations to provide secure and helpful interactions. Or CRM systems that act like an assistant who never forgets a face or a conversation, so you can manage customer interactions with greater personalization. Above all, though, it's the quality of every interaction you have with customers that builds trust. Whether over the phone, by e-mail or across a store counter, remember that your customer wants to trust you. You just have to deliver. Embrace Trust And Earn Loyalty  Nearly half (46%) of consumers say they'll consider another brand if data practices are unclear, according to the McKinsey survey. On the flip side, organizations prioritizing digital trust are more likely to experience a 10% annual boost to their top and bottom lines. Listen to your customers. Prioritize a trust-based approach to your business and digital security, and you're not just winning trust now, you're setting up for years of loyal customers.

Is your company looking to hire an IT firm? Unfortunately, unless you're tech-savvy or experienced with IT contracts, there can be hidden costs that you wouldn't expect or know to look for. While it can sound appealing to go for the cheapest firm, that decision can end up costing you more in the long run due to carve-outs and hidden fees in the contract. Cheaper IT firms will omit certain services from the original agreement and later nickel-and-dime you to add them on or by quoting you inadequate solutions that you'll later need to pay to upgrade. To help you weed out these companies that are not the bargains they advertise themselves to be, there are a few key elements to consider determining if your quote is insufficient, overpriced or underquoted. Insufficient Compliance And Cybersecurity Protections: A ransomware attack is a significant and devastating event for any business; therefore, it's imperative that the IT company you're working with isn't just putting basic (cheap) antivirus software on your network and calling it a day. This is by far the one critical area most "cheaper" MSPs leave out. Antivirus is good to have but woefully insufficient to protect you from serious threats. In fact, insurance companies are now requiring advanced cyber protections such as employee cyber awareness training, 2FA (2-factor authentication), and what's called "advanced endpoint protection" just to get insurance coverage for cyber liability and crime insurance. We provide those standards in our offering, so not only do you greatly reduce your chances of a cyber-attack, but you also avoid being denied an important insurance claim (or denied coverage, period). Inadequate Recovery Solutions: One thing you also want to make sure you look for in your IT firm proposal is that they do daily backups of your servers and workstations, as well as any cloud applications your company uses (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, etc.), because online applications do NOT guarantee to back up your data. You also need to make sure your backups are immutable or unable to be corrupted by hackers. Again, most insurance companies now require immutable backups to be in place before they'll insure against ransomware or similar cyber events. Transparency About On-Site And After-Hours Fees: This might take you by surprise, but most IT firms will charge EXTRA for any on-site or after-hours visits. We include ALL of this in our agreements, but 'cheaper' MSPs will intentionally leave this out and add it on later to make the sticker price appear lower. Make sure you understand what is and isn't included in your service agreement before signing. Nonexistent Vendor Liaison And Support: Will they help you with all of your tech, or just select pieces that they've installed? Some IT firms will charge you hourly to resolve tech support issues with your phone system, ISP, security cameras, printers and other devices they didn't sell you but that still reside on the network (and give you technical problems). These fees can stack up over time. As a client of ours, you get all of that INCLUDED, without extra charges. Cheap, Inexperienced Techs And No Dedicated Account Managers: One way some companies cut costs is by skimping on customer support and expertise. Many of the smaller MSPs will hire technicians under a 1099 agreement or find cheaper, less experienced engineers to work on your network and systems. The more experienced and knowledgeable a tech is on networking and, more specifically, cybersecurity, the more expensive they are. Further, many smaller MSPs can't afford dedicated account managers, which means you're depending on the owner of the company (who's EXTREMELY busy) to pay attention to your account and to look for problems brewing, critical updates that need to happen, upgrades and budgeting you need. Good account management includes creating and managing an IT budget, a custom road map for your business and reviewing regulatory compliance and security on a routine basis to make sure nothing is overlooked. You get what you pay for, and this is NOT an area you want overlooked. BEFORE you sign on the dotted line, it's important to make sure that you fully understand what IS and ISN'T included in the service you are signing up for. It's VERY easy for one IT services provider to appear far less expensive than another UNTIL you look closely at what you are getting. If you'd like to see what dependable, quality IT support looks like, book a call with our team, and we'll be happy to give you a quote that covers everything you need. To Schedule Your FREE Assessment, please visit https://www.dpcco.me/discoverycall or call our office at (207) 300-2300 .

Long gone are the days when phones were simple devices used to make calls. Today our phones are advanced, handheld supercomputers that can do everything from pay a bill to order lunch for delivery to edit videos and more. But with more capabilities come more risks. Because our phones are computers and connected to the Internet, they are susceptible to the same security risks that any other computer would be. Worse yet, personal devices often contain private information like bank account numbers, which, if accessed by the wrong person, could result in dangerous and expensive problems like drained bank accounts, identity theft and so on. Still, despite the obvious risks, most people do not treat phones like the security threats they pose, making them easy, no-brainer targets for cybercriminals. To give perspective on how severe the problem is, Apple recently shared a study from MIT revealing a shocking 2.6 billion personal records were breached in 2021 and 2022 and were expected to increase in 2023. According to Kaspersky Security Network, in Q3 of 2023 alone, a total of 8,346,169 mobile malware, adware and riskware attacks were blocked, with adware being the most common tactic at 52% of total detected threats. The risks are even more serious for business owners. Does your organization have a mobile policy for employees? Are employees accessing sensitive work documents or accounts using unprotected devices? If you're not sure, you need your IT department to look into this immediately. It only takes one entry point for a hacker to break into your network. There are a few ways to protect your devices now. Both Apple and Android have developed powerful security systems with advanced protective features you can start utilizing today. Apple: End-to-end encryption has been the default for Apple iMessage, iCloud Keychain, and Health data, but with a recent update, Apple rolled out Advanced Data Protection (ADP). This feature is an optional setting that offers Apple's highest level of cloud data security by encrypting messages in iCloud, iCloud Backup, Notes, Photos, Safari bookmarks, Siri Shortcuts and more. Activating this setting protects your data in the event of a cloud-based data breach by only allowing trusted devices added by you to decrypt the information. Not even Apple can access your data. Here's how to enable Apple's Advanced Data Protection Setting: Make sure devices signed in with your Apple ID have been updated to at least iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2 or later. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap your name at the top. Select iCloud, scroll to the bottom, and tap Advanced Data Protection. Tap Turn On Advanced Data Protection. NOTE: If you don't have a recovery contact or key set up, you'll be prompted to do that first. Once a recovery contact/key is set up, return to Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection and tap Turn On Advanced Data Protection. Follow the prompts. NOTE: You may be asked to update other devices signed into your iCloud account before enabling end-to-end encryption (E2E). You can also remove devices with old software to continue the process. If your device is new, for security reasons, Apple might make you wait to enable the feature. If that's the case, that timeframe will show on your screen during setup. Android: While Apple is known for having a robust security system that reduces vulnerabilities and protects users' data, Android's security features are not far behind. Google Play Protect analyzes every app before it's available for download, and any new apps where a security risk is detected are unable to be accessed. The software also runs daily scans to help identify and disable malware and other harmful applications installed on your phone to protect your data. Furthermore, Android backups are regularly uploaded to Google servers and encrypted with your Google Account password for security purposes. How to keep data secure if you're using an Android: If you're using Google One, you can set up automatic backups on your Android device to ensure that if disaster strikes, your data is securely stored in the cloud: Open the Google One app on your Android. At the bottom, tap Storage. Scroll to "Backup" and tap View. If this is your first phone backup, tap Set up data backup. If this isn't your first phone backup, tap View Details. To review backup settings, tap Manage backup. Choose your backup settings. NOTE: If you get a message to install an app, update an app or change your settings, follow the onscreen steps. Then, go back to the Google One app to finish. If asked, tap Allow Permissions. At the top left, tap Back. NOTE: Google One backups may take up to 24 hours to complete. How To Protect All Of Your Devices: These features are not the end-all, be-all for phone security, but they will add a layer of protection for your data. To ensure every device on your network is secure, we recommend getting a third-party Cybersecurity Risk Assessment. This is a free, no-obligation assessment where one of our experts will examine your network and let you know if and where you're vulnerable to an attack, including your mobile device policy.  Schedule your assessment with one of our senior advisors by calling us at (207) 300-2300 or going to https://www.dpcco.me/cyber-security-assessment/ .

Each year on February 1st, we celebrate Change Your Password Day. While it's not a holiday that gets you off work, it serves as a good opportunity each year to do a quick check-in and make sure you're using strong passwords that will keep your accounts protected. The suggested 'rule' used to be to change your password every three months. With advanced tools like password managers and data encryption, experts now say the type of password you use is more important than how often you create a new one. We're sharing up-to-date advice on how to create a strong password that will keep your account secure and hackers guessing. Make It Complex Aim for complexity by combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid easily guessable information like birthdays, names or common words. The more intricate and unique your password, the harder it is for hackers to crack it. Longer Passwords Are Harder To Crack Long passwords provide an added layer of security. According to Hive Systems, brute-force hacking can crack an eight-character password in less than one hour! When creating a new password, aim for a minimum of 12 characters, and consider using passphrases—sequences of random words or a sentence—which can be both strong and easier to remember. A random passphrase would be something like: cogwheel-rosy-cathouse-jailbreak. This passphrase was generated from the website useapassphrase.com, which will auto-create a four-word passphrase for you if you're stumped. Use Unique Passwords For Each Account Resisting the temptation to reuse passwords across multiple accounts is crucial. If one account is compromised, having unique passwords for other accounts ensures that the damage is contained. Consider using a reputable password manager to help you generate and store complex passwords securely. *Do NOT use Google or your browser's password manager. If your Google account is compromised, all of your passwords will be too. Talk with your IT team about what password management tool they recommend for you and your organization. Update Passwords Yearly As long as your account hasn't been compromised, you only need to change your passwords once a year to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. The only time a regular password change routine would be exceptionally helpful is if someone has access that you don't know about. A frequent password change can make it more challenging for attackers to maintain access to your accounts over an extended period of time. Engage Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Implementing multi-factor authentication is another easy way to make your password bulletproof. MFA typically involves combining something you know (your password) with something you have (like a code sent to your phone). Even if your password is compromised, MFA significantly reduces the chances of unauthorized access. Set Up Strong Password Recovery Alternatives Leverage password recovery options like security questions or alternative e-mail addresses. It's important to choose questions with answers that are not easily guessable or have publicly available information so "What's your mother's maiden name" is out! Use Password Managers You don't have to try and remember every password, and you shouldn't write them down on a sticky note on your desk. Instead, use a good password management tool that is secure and will handle keeping track of your passwords for you. Bonus points for turning off the auto-fill feature. Hackers can infiltrate sites and install a little bit of code on a page that creates a second, invisible password box. When your password manager autofills the login box, it will also fill in the invisible box, giving hackers your password. This isn't overly common, but it still poses a risk. Regularly Review Account Activity Monitor your account activity for any suspicious logins or activities. Many online platforms offer features that notify you of login attempts from unfamiliar devices, allowing you to take swift action in the event of unauthorized access. It's also always good to be aware of phishing attempts, never click suspicious links or attachments in e-mails, avoid public Wi-Fi and only use secure connections and educate and train your team on what to look for when it comes to cybercrime so they can protect themselves, you and the company. As cyber threats continue to evolve, mastering the fundamentals of cybersecurity, like creating strong passwords, becomes paramount. By making informed choices and staying proactive, you can significantly enhance your online security.  However, as the leader of your organization, it's important to remember that nothing is foolproof. Educating your team on cybersecurity best practices is essential, but mistakes can and will still happen. For most, it's not a matter of if, but when. You must have a robust cybersecurity plan in place. The right IT team will make sure you have every protection in place to keep you safe and a crisis management plan ready if something goes wrong. To find out what gaps you have in your cybersecurity system, we'll do a FREE Cybersecurity Risk Assessment. Click here to book yours now.

The year of 2023 marked a significant turning point for cyber-attacks with the introduction and wide proliferation of AI (artificial intelligence), now in the hands of people who wish to do you harm and who are actively using it to find faster and easier ways to rob you, extort you or simply burn your business to the ground. As I write this, I'm well aware there's a tendency to shrug and just accept the "we're all gonna get hacked anyway" mantra to avoid having to deal with it. Further, like overhyped weather reports, it's also tempting to just ignore the warning signs, thinking all of this is just fearmongering rhetoric designed to sell stuff. However, it truly is becoming a situation where the question is no longer IF your organization will be hacked, but WHEN. The Hiscox Cyber Readiness report recently revealed that 53% of all businesses suffered at least ONE cyber-attack over the last 12 months with 21% stating the attack was enough to threaten the viability of their business. This year is going to be a particularly nasty one, given the U.S. presidential election along with the ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas. Tensions are high and hacking groups are often motivated by revenge as well as money. Now, here are the 5 biggest developments in cyber threats you need to know about. 1. The Proliferation Of AI Powered Attacks: If cybersecurity is a chess game, AI is the Queen, giving the person in possession the most powerful advantage for whomever plays it best. All cyber-related reports expect to see highly sophisticated deepfake social engineering attacks on the rise designed to separate you from your money. We've already seen scams using AI-generated voices of family members, calling relatives to claim they've been injured, kidnapped or worse, to extort money. This is also being used to hack into companies by getting employees to provide login information to people they think are their IT department or boss. This is where employee awareness training comes in, as well as controls such as MFA (multi-factor authentication), come into play. One of the things we do here at Don't Panic Consulting is Security Awareness Training to give your employees the skills to protect your company and identity attacks . 2. Increased Risk Of Remote Workers: The expansion of remote work is a trend that is not going away; and with that comes an exponentially greater risk for cyber threats. From laptops being carried around and connected to suspicious Wi-Fi to mobile phones providing a "key" to logging into critical applications (like your bank account, Microsoft 365, line-of-business and credit card applications), these devices pose a high risk for being easily lost or stolen. Further, when people use their own devices or work remote, they tend to mix business and personal activities on the same device. That employee who frequents gambling or porn sites may be using the same device used to login to company e-mail or critical applications. Even logging into personal social media sites that get hacked can provide a gateway for a hacker to get to YOUR company's information through a user's (employee's) personal accounts. 3. Escalation Of Ransomware Attacks: There are an estimated 1.7 million ransomware attacks every day, which means every second 19 people are hacked worldwide. If you've been lucky enough to avoid this, know that someone else is getting hacked on a very frequent basis, and you are very likely to be hit. Last year, ransomware attacks increased by 37% with the average ransom payment exceeding $100,000, with an average demand of $5.3 million. Fortunately, not all ransom attacks are successful. Businesses are getting much smarter about cyber protections and have been able to put in place protections that prevent hackers from successfully extorting their victims. Some of the ways we protect our clients from ransomware is real-time backups of data, early-detection, and client isolation . 4. IoT Attacks: IoT, or "Internet of Things," is a term to describe the proliferation of Internet-connected devices. Today, even kitchen appliances, like a refrigerator, can be connected to the Internet to tell you when it's time to change the water filter to alerting you if there's a power outage. This means hackers have a FAR greater number of access points into your world. If there are 100+ more doors to walk through in a house, you have a much greater security risk than if there are only five. That's why IoT attacks present such a problem for us, and a huge opportunity for the hackers. While many people know they should lock their PC, they might not be as meticulous in locking down their fridge or their dog's tracking collar, but those could all provide access to you, your devices, e-mail, credit card and personal information. 5. Cyber Protection Legal Requirements: To try and combat the out-of-control tsunami of cybercrime, the government is initiating more comprehensive federal and state laws requiring business owners to have in place "reasonable security" protections for their employees and clients. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has been the most active in this space, bringing numerous actions against companies it alleges failed to implement reasonable security measures, issuing monetary penalties. Of course, all 50 states plus Washington D.C. have passed laws imposing security requirements as well as data breach notification laws that require businesses to notify anyone whose data and PII (personally identifiable information) has been stolen or accessed by hackers via the company. For example, in California, under the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA), a business could face a penalty of $100 to $750 per consumer and per incident if that company gets hacked and the court determines they failed to put in place reasonable security procedures. Not Sure If You're As Protected And Prepared As You Should Be? To make sure you're properly protected, get a FREE, no-obligation Cybersecurity Risk Assessment. During this assessment, we'll review your entire system so you know exactly if and where you're vulnerable to an attack. Schedule your assessment with one of our senior advisors by calling us at (207) 300-2300 or going to https://www.dpcco.me/discoverycall .

Have you ever searched for a specific website but landed on a completely different one after misspelling a letter or two in the URL? This deceptive tactic is known as cybersquatting. This practice not only jeopardizes the online presence of businesses and individuals but also poses a significant challenge in the ever-evolving landscape of cyber security. The scariest part is that you can be a victim of a cybersquatted domain and not even realize it. Here's what you need to know about this type of cybercrime: What Is Cybersquatting? Cybersquatting, also known as domain squatting, involves the malevolent act of registering a domain name that is confusingly similar to that of a legitimate entity, be it a business, organization or individual. The primary motive behind this maneuver is often financial gain, with cybersquatters aiming to exploit the recognition and success of well-known brands. However, the repercussions extend beyond monetary losses, as cybersquatting can stain the reputation of its victims. Types Of Cybersquatting There are many types of cybersquatting scams, but here are the most common ones that you need to be aware of. 1. Top-Level Domain (TLD) Exploitation: A TLD is the final element of a domain name, such as ".com," ".co.uk" and ".org." Because there are so many variations, it's difficult for small to medium-sized businesses to register all of them for their brand, and it's even more difficult for celebrities or famous individuals. Cybercriminals will register matching domains using different TLDs and either create offensive or inappropriate websites, requesting the original domain owner to pay them to take them down, or they will use these websites to gain customers' trust and make them susceptible to phishing attacks. 2. Typosquatting: This form of cybersquatting involves intentionally registering misspelled domain names to capitalize on common typos, leading unsuspecting users to malicious sites. If you take Facebook.com, for example, here's how a cybersquatter might buy their domains: Faecbook.com Facebokk.com Faceboook.com Typos are easy to make, so misspelled domains can generate a lot of traffic. 3. Look-Alike Cybersquatting: This form of cybersquatting involves creating domains with common words added to mislead customers, even if they aren't confusingly similar at first glance. Here are a few examples: Original: Google.com Lookalike: G00gle.com Original: Amazon.com Lookalike: amaz0n.com or amazon1.com Original: Microsoft.com Lookalike: Microsofty.com Looking at these, you might not think they'd easily trick users, but they still do! How To Avoid Being A Cybersquatting Victim You can avoid being a cybersquatting victim by taking a proactive approach. Here are a few steps to take: Register Your Trademark: To benefit from the full protection of the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), it can be helpful to register your trademark early. These regulations will still apply if a cybercriminal registers a cybersquatting domain name and you have an unregistered trademark; however, you'll need to prove you were using it for business before the domain was registered. Trademarks aren't required, but they can make this easier. Invest In Multiple Prominent TLDs: When you register your domain, also register it with the most popular TLDs, like .co and .org. Be Cautious Of What Websites You Visit: When typing URLs into the address bar, double-check to make sure you're going to the correct website. This applies to links you click too! Hover over links with your mouse to confirm that it is the correct link. For extra security, skip clicking links and type them into the search bar on your own. Cybersquatting is only one method hackers use to cause chaos. Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new ways to scam businesses and individuals alike. If you want to double down on security to make sure you and your company are protected from sneaky attackers, we can help.  We'll conduct a FREE, no-obligation Security Risk Assessment where we'll examine your network security solutions to identify if and where you're vulnerable to an attack and help you create a plan of action to ensure you're protected. Click here to book a 10-minute Discovery Call with our team to get started.

If you're hoping to cut costs and boost profitability in 2024 without compromising productivity or efficiency, assessing the technology you use in day-to-day operations is one of the first areas in your business to examine. We've created a road map that you can use to go step-by-step through your organization to determine if and where you can be saving money or utilizing new or better technology to improve operational efficiency. 1. Technology Inventory: Conduct a comprehensive inventory of your current technology assets, including hardware, software licenses and peripherals like monitors, printers, keyboards, etc. Identify outdated or underutilized equipment that can be upgraded or decommissioned. 2. Software Licensing And Subscriptions: Review all software licenses and subscriptions to ensure compliance. Identify any unused or redundant software and eliminate unnecessary expenses. 3. Cloud Services Optimization: Evaluate your usage of cloud services and consider optimizing resources based on actual needs. Monitor and adjust cloud service subscriptions to match fluctuating business demands. Evaluate security protocols for cloud-based services to ensure you're not at risk of a data breach. This can be an expensive problem, so do not skip it. 4. Energy Efficiency: Implement energy-efficient practices, such as consolidating servers, using energy-efficient hardware and optimizing data center cooling. Consider virtualization to reduce the number of physical servers, saving both energy and hardware costs. 5. Remote Work Infrastructure: Optimize remote work capabilities to support flexible working arrangements. Inefficiency in this area will decrease productivity, inflate costs and increase cyber security risks. Invest in secure collaboration tools and virtual private network (VPN) solutions for remote access. 6. Data Storage Optimization: Assess data storage needs and implement data archiving strategies to free up primary storage. Are you saving documents you don't need? Are there redundant files that should be removed? Consider cloud storage options for scalability and cost-effectiveness. 7. Network Performance: Regularly monitor and optimize network performance to ensure faster and more reliable data transfer, reduce downtime, enhance the user experience and support cost savings, ultimately contributing to the overall efficiency and success of your business operations. Implement quality of service (QoS) settings to prioritize critical applications and services. 8. IT Security Measures: Regularly update and patch software to address security vulnerabilities. Ensure that antivirus, anti-malware and other security solutions are up-to-date and active. Conduct regular security audits and employee training to prevent security breaches. NOTE: This cyber security measures list barely scratches the surface. If you haven't had a professional dig into your security solutions, this needs to be a priority. Data breaches are expensive and can shut a business down. Click here to book a call with our team. 9. IT Help Desk Efficiency: Implement or optimize an IT help desk system to streamline support requests. Use a faster, more efficient ticketing system to track and prioritize IT issues, improving response times and resolution rates. 10. Mobile Device Management (MDM): Implement MDM solutions to manage and secure mobile devices used by employees. Enforce policies that ensure data security on company-issued or BYOD (bring your own device) devices. 11. Vendor Management: Review vendor contracts and negotiate better terms, or explore competitive options. Consolidate vendors where possible to simplify management and potentially reduce costs. Evaluate vendor cyber security practices to ensure your data is as secure as possible. If they are breached and your data is released, you're still at fault. 12. Employee Training Programs: Provide ongoing training programs to enhance employees' IT skills and awareness. Reduce support costs by empowering employees to troubleshoot common issues independently. 13. Energy-Efficient Hardware: Invest in energy-efficient hardware to reduce electricity costs and contribute to environmental sustainability. Consider upgrading to newer, more power-efficient devices when replacing outdated equipment. 14. Paperless Initiatives: Explore paperless solutions to reduce printing and document storage costs. Implement digital document management systems for greater efficiency and cost savings. 15. Telecommunications Optimization: Review telecom expenses and consider renegotiating contracts or exploring alternative providers. Utilize Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for cost-effective and scalable communication solutions. By systematically addressing these areas, business owners can enhance their IT infrastructure, drive productivity and achieve cost savings that contribute to overall profitability. Regularly revisiting and updating this checklist will help businesses stay agile in the ever-changing landscape of technology and business operations.  If you need help implementing the action steps on this list, our team is ready to help. Click here to book a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call with our team, where we'll discuss what your company needs and answer questions you might have.

Continuing on from our previous blog post, we're answering one of the most common questions we get from new prospective clients: "What do you charge for your IT services?" In the last blog posted, we discussed the most common models - break-fix and managed IT. In this post, we'll discuss the actual fees. The price ranges provided are industry averages based on a recent IT industry survey conducted by a well-known and trusted independent consulting firm, Service Leadership, that collects, analyzes and reports on the financial metrics of IT services firms from around the country. We are providing this information to give you a general idea of what most MSPs and IT services charge and to help you understand the VAST DIFFERENCES in service contracts that you must be aware of before signing on the dotted line. Please note that the actual price is not what's most important but instead what you are getting for your money. There are a lot of ways "cheaper" IT firms hide the true cost of their fees, and the lowest bidder might actually end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for. With that in mind, here are the fee ranges for IT services and IT support for small businesses from Bangor to Boston: Hourly Break-Fix Fees: Most IT services companies selling break-fix services charge between $150 and $250 per hour, with a one-hour minimum. In some cases, they will give you a discount on their hourly rates if you purchase and pay for a block of hours in advance. As we discussed, this approach works best for microbusinesses that are not hosting or processing client data that is considered "sensitive," such as health records, financial information like credit cards, Social Security numbers, etc., and that have very simple IT. This is definitely not the approach a growing business with five-plus employees would want to choose. Project Fees: If you are getting an IT firm to quote you for a onetime project, the fees range widely based on the scope of work outlined and the complexity of the project. If you are hiring an IT consulting firm for a project, I suggest you demand the following: A detailed scope of work that specifies what "success" is. Make sure you document what your expectations are in performance, workflow, costs, security, access, etc. The more detailed you can be, the better. Clarifying your expectations up front will go a long way toward avoiding miscommunications and additional fees later on to give you what you REALLY wanted. A fixed budget and time frame for completion. Agreeing to this up front aligns both your agenda and the consultant's. Be very wary of hourly estimates that allow the consulting firm to bill you for "unforeseen" circumstances. The bottom line is this: it is your IT consulting firm's responsibility to be able to accurately assess your situation and quote a project based on their experience. You should not have to pick up the tab for a consultant underestimating a job or for their inefficiencies. A true professional knows how to take into consideration those contingencies and bill accordingly.  An agreement for scope changes and bug fixes. Many companies will appear to have a great project price, but then EVERYTHING is a scope change. Or, they get the project built without thoroughly testing it, and then charge for all of the bug fixes. These things should be clearly spelled out in the scope of work. A window should be provided for bug fixes that are included in the scope of work, and a clear definition of scope change vs bug fix to ensure you do not get nickel and dime(d), or have a project failure. Managed IT Services: Most managed IT services firms will quote you a MONTHLY fee based on the number of devices, users and locations they need to maintain. The average fee per user (employee) ranges from $80 per month to $300 per month - and those fees are expected to rise due to constant inflation and a tight IT talent labor market. Obviously, as with all services, you get what you pay for. "Operationally mature" MSPs typically charge more because they are far more disciplined and capable of delivering cyber security and compliance services than smaller, cheaper-priced MSPs. They also include CIO (chief information officer) services and dedicated account management, have better financial controls (so they aren't running so lean that they are in danger of closing their doors) and can afford to hire and keep knowledgeable, qualified techs vs. junior engineers or cheap, outsourced labor. To be clear, I'm not suggesting you have to pay top dollar to get competent IT services, nor does paying "a lot of money" guarantee you'll get accurate advice and responsive, customer-centric services. But if an MSP is charging on the low end of $80 per employee or less, you have to question what they are NOT providing or NOT including to make their services so cheap. Often they are simply not providing the quality of service you would expect and are leaving out critical security and backup services that you definitely want to have in place. Are you done with ongoing IT problems, downtime and ineffective systems? Then it's time you gave us a call and let us deliver the responsive, quality IT support you want with friendly, US-based techs who are both knowledgeable and easy to work with. Schedule your free initial consultation with one of our senior advisors by calling us at (207) 300-2300 or going to https://www.dpcco.me/discoverycall/. On this call, we can discuss your unique situation and any concerns you have and, of course, answer any questions you have about our services and how we might be able to help you. We are also happy to provide you with a competitive bid.

Before you can accurately compare the fees, services and deliverables of one IT services company to that of another, you need to understand the two predominant pricing and service models most of these companies offer. Many companies offer a blend of the two, while others are strict about offering only one service plan. The two most popular are: Time And Materials (Hourly). In the industry, we call this " break-fix " services because the IT company is called to "fix" something when it "breaks" instead of doing regular maintenance and support. These services are typically priced by the hour. The price you pay will vary depending on the provider you choose and the complexity of the problem. Ransomware removal will require a more experienced and skillful tech vs. a simple printer problem. Under this model, you might be able to negotiate a discount based on buying a block of hours. The scope of work might range from simply resolving a specific problem (like fixing slow WiFi or resolving an e-mail problem) to encompassing a large project like a software upgrade, implementing cyberprotections or even an office move. Some companies will offer staff augmentation and placement under this model as well. Similar to this are value-added reseller services. VARs typically do IT projects for organizations that have internal IT departments. The term "value-added" reseller is based on the fact that they resell hardware (PCs, firewalls, servers, etc.) and software, along with the "value-added" services of installation, setup and configuration. VARs typically service larger organizations with internal IT departments. A trend that has been gaining ground over the last decade is that fewer VARs exist, as many have moved to the managed IT services model. Managed IT Services (MSP, or "Managed Services Provider"). This is a model where the IT services company, called an MSP, takes on the role of your fully outsourced IT department. In this model, they handle everything related to your IT "infrastructure." That includes (but is not limited to) the following: Troubleshooting IT problems (help desk support). Setting up and supporting PCs, tablets, Macs and workstations for new and existing employees, both on-site and remote. Installing and setting up applications such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, SharePoint, etc. Setting up and managing the security of your network, devices and data to protect against hackers, ransomware and viruses. Backing up your data and assisting in recovering it in the event of a disaster. Providing a help desk and support team to assist employees with IT problems. Setting up and supporting your phone system. Monitoring and maintaining the overall health, speed, performance and security of your computer network on a daily basis. Setting up and managing your Business Applications, like CRM, E-commerce, and Production/Project management. In addition to managing your IT, a good MSP will provide you with an IT road map and budget for necessary projects to further secure your network and improve the stability and availability of critical applications, as well as ensure that your IT systems are compliant with various data protection laws (HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, PCI, etc.) and that your cyberprotections meet the standards on any cyber insurance plan that you have. The advantage of break-fix services is that you only pay for IT support when you need it, without being locked into a monthly or multiyear contract. If you're not happy with the service you're getting, you can change providers easily. If you're a microbusiness with only a few employees, very simple IT needs where you don't experience a lot of problems and don't host or handle sensitive data (medical records, credit cards, Social Security numbers, etc.), break-fix might be the most cost-effective option for you. However, the downsides of break-fix services are many, particularly if you're NOT a microbusiness and/or if you handle sensitive, "protected" data. The five big downsides are as follows: Break-fix can be very expensive when you have multiple issues. Because you're not a managed client, the IT company resolving your problem will likely take longer to troubleshoot and fix the issue than if they were regularly maintaining your network and therefore familiar with your environment AND had systems in place to recover files or prevent problems from escalating. Paying hourly works entirely in your IT company's favor, not yours. Under this model, the IT consultant can take the liberty of assigning a junior (lower-paid) technician to work on your problem who may take two to three times as long to resolve an issue that a more senior (and more expensive) technician may have resolved in a fraction of the time because there's no incentive to fix your problems fast. In fact, they're incentivized to drag it out as long as possible, given that they're being paid by the hour. You are more likely to have major issues. One of the main reasons businesses choose a managed services provider is to PREVENT major issues from happening. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." You can't budget for IT services and, as already explained, could end up paying more in the long run if you have to constantly call for urgent "emergency" support. You won't be a priority for the IT company. All IT firms prioritize their contract managed clients over break-fix clients. That means you get called back last and fit in when they have availability, so you could be down for days or weeks before they can address your problem. Are you done with ongoing IT problems, downtime and ineffective systems? Then it's time you gave us a call and let us deliver the responsive, quality IT support you want with friendly, US-based techs who are both knowledgeable and easy to work with. Schedule your free initial consultation with one of our senior advisors by calling us at (207) 300-2300 or going to https://dpcco.me/discoverycall . On this call we can discuss your unique situation and any concerns you have and, of course, answer any questions you have about our services and how we might be able to help you. We are also happy to provide you with a competitive bid.

In the fast-paced world of business, efficiency and productivity are paramount. Advancements in technology have revolutionized the way we work, providing a plethora of tools and resources to help us accomplish more in less time. Maximizing workplace productivity with technology has become an essential strategy for organizations looking to stay competitive and innovative in today's global market. Here are 7 ways to add tech to your day-to-day activities to stay productive. 1. Automation And Streamlining Processes: One of the most significant ways technology maximizes workplace productivity is through automation and process streamlining. With the help of tools like workflow automation software and robotic process automation, businesses can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more creative and strategic tasks. By automating routine processes, organizations reduce the likelihood of errors and increase the speed at which tasks are completed. This not only boosts efficiency but also enhances job satisfaction by allowing employees to concentrate on tasks that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 2. Collaboration And Communication: Effective communication and collaboration are vital to a productive workplace. Technology has provided a range of solutions, such as video conferencing, project management software and instant messaging platforms, that enable teams to work together seamlessly regardless of their geographic locations. These tools facilitate real-time communication, file sharing and project tracking, ensuring that all team members stay on the same page and are able to work efficiently together. This results in faster decision-making, improved project management and, ultimately, higher productivity. Need help with choosing the right collaboration and communication tools for your business? We can help! Click here to book a 10-minute discovery call to get started. 3. Data Analytics And Business Intelligence: In the modern workplace, data is king. The ability to collect, analyze and leverage data is a powerful tool for improving productivity. With the help of advanced analytics and business intelligence tools, organizations can gain insights into their operations, customer behavior and market trends. This data-driven approach allows for informed decision-making, optimized resource allocation and the identification of areas where improvements are needed. By harnessing data and analytics, businesses can work smarter, not harder. 4. Remote Work And Flexibility: Technology has also played a pivotal role in reshaping the traditional office environment. The rise of remote work and flexible work arrangements has been made possible by advancements in communication and collaboration tools. Employees can now work from anywhere, provided they have an Internet connection, which not only enhances their work-life balance but also opens up opportunities for businesses to tap into a global talent pool. Remote work can boost productivity by reducing commuting time and allowing employees to work in environments where they are most comfortable and productive. IMPORTANT: Security should be a high priority if you have remote workers. If you don't have a robust security system for virtual team members, you need to get one right away. 5. Project Management And Task Tracking: Effective project management is key to productivity. With project management software, businesses can plan, execute and monitor projects more efficiently. These tools provide a clear overview of tasks, deadlines and team member responsibilities, ensuring that everyone stays organized and accountable. From agile methodologies to Gantt charts, technology offers a range of project management approaches to suit various business needs. 6. Employee Training And Development: Investing in technology for employee training and development is another avenue to maximize workplace productivity. Learning management systems and online training platforms enable organizations to offer continuous learning opportunities to their employees. By upskilling and reskilling their workforce, companies can ensure that their staff remains adaptable and capable of using the latest tools and technologies, which in turn enhances overall productivity. 7. Security And Data Protection: As technology becomes more integrated into the workplace, the need for robust security and data protection measures is crucial. Cyber security solutions help protect sensitive information, prevent data breaches and ensure business continuity. When employees feel secure in their digital environment, they can work more confidently and productively, knowing that their data and the company's assets are protected. Technology is an indispensable resource for maximizing workplace productivity. From automating tasks and improving communication to harnessing data and fostering employee development, technology offers a wide range of solutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the modern workplace. Embracing these technologies and staying up-to-date with the latest trends is essential for businesses looking to thrive in today's competitive and ever-evolving business landscape. By leveraging technology effectively, organizations can achieve their productivity goals, improve their bottom line and create a dynamic, innovative work environment. If you need help creating a strategic plan for your technology, such as determining what software to invest in, sourcing devices, creating a plan for efficiency or securing your network, our IT team can support you. Click here to book a 10-Minute Discovery Call to get started.

In today's hyperconnected world, cybersecurity is a critical concern for individuals and organizations alike. However, as the digital landscape evolves, so do the myths and misconceptions surrounding cybersecurity. If you want to be protected, you have to understand what the real threats are and how you could be unknowingly overlooking them every single day. In this article, we will debunk 5 common cybersecurity myths to help you stay informed and protected as you take your business into 2024. Myth 1: "I'm too small to be a target." One of the most dangerous cybersecurity myths is the belief that cybercriminals only target large organizations. In reality, cyber-attacks do not discriminate by size. Small businesses, start-ups and individuals are as susceptible to cyberthreats as larger enterprises. Cybercriminals often target smaller entities precisely because they may lack robust cybersecurity measures, making them easier prey. To stay safe, everyone should prioritize cybersecurity, regardless of their size or scale. Myth 2: "Antivirus software is enough." Antivirus software is an essential component of cybersecurity, but it is not a silver bullet. Many people mistakenly believe that installing antivirus software on their devices is sufficient to protect them from all cyberthreats. While antivirus software can help detect and prevent known malware, it cannot stand up against sophisticated attacks or social engineering tactics. To enhance your protection, combine antivirus software with other security measures, such as firewalls, regular software updates and user education. Myth 3: "Strong passwords are invulnerable." A strong password is undoubtedly an integral part of cybersecurity, but it is not foolproof. Some believe that creating complex passwords guarantees their accounts' safety. However, even strong passwords can be compromised through various means, including phishing attacks, keyloggers and data breaches. To bolster your security, enable multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible, which adds an additional layer of protection beyond your password. Myth 4: "Cybersecurity is solely an IT department's responsibility." Another common misconception is that cybersecurity is exclusively the responsibility of an organization's IT department. While IT professionals are crucial in securing digital environments, cybersecurity is a group effort. Everyone within an organization, from employees to management, should be aware of cybersecurity best practices and adhere to them. In fact, human error is a leading cause of data breaches, so fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness is essential. Myth 5: "My data is safe in the cloud." With the increasing use of cloud services, some individuals believe that storing data in the cloud is inherently secure. However, the safety of your data in the cloud depends on various factors, including the provider's security measures and your own practices. Cloud providers typically implement robust security, but users must still manage their data securely, including setting strong access controls, regularly updating passwords and encrypting sensitive information. It's a shared responsibility. Cybersecurity is something you must take seriously heading into the New Year. Cyberthreats continuously evolve, and believing in these misconceptions can leave individuals and organizations vulnerable to attacks. It's essential to stay informed, maintain a proactive stance and invest in cybersecurity measures to protect your digital assets. Remember that cybersecurity is a collective effort and everyone has a role to play in ensuring online safety. By debunking these myths and embracing a holistic approach to cybersecurity, you can better protect your digital life and business. To start off the New Year in a secure position, get a completely free, no-obligation security risk assessment from our team. We'll review everything you have in place and give you a full report explaining where you're vulnerable and what you need to do to fix it. Even if you already have an IT team supporting you, a second set of eyes never hurts when it comes to your security. Book a 10-minute discovery call with our team here - 10-minute Call w/Justin .

Recently, the CEO of a very successful marketing firm had their Facebook account hacked. In just a weekend, the hackers were able to run over $250,000 worth of ads for their online gambling site via their account and removed the rightful owner as the admin, causing the firm's entire Facebook account to be shut down. Not only are they uninsured for this type of fraud, but they were shocked to discover that Facebook, as well as their bank and credit card company, was NOT responsible for replacing the funds. Facebook's "resolution" was that there was no fraud committed on their account because the hacker used their legitimate login credentials, and Facebook is not responsible for ensuring you keep your own personal credentials safe and confidential. Further, they didn't have the specific type of cybercrime or fraud insurance needed to cover the losses, so they're eating 100% of the costs. Not only are they out $250K, but they also have to start over building their audiences on Facebook again, which took years to build. This entire fiasco is going to easily cost them half a million dollars when it's all totaled. In another incident, another firm logged into their account to find all of their ads were paused. Initially, they thought it was a glitch on Facebook, until they realized someone had hacked into their account, paused all of their legitimate ads and set up 20 NEW ads to their weight-loss spam site with a budget of $143,000 per day, or $2.8 million total. Due to their spending limits, the hackers wouldn't have charged $2.8 million; however, due to the high budgets set, Facebook's algorithms started running the ads fast and furious. As they were pausing campaigns, the hackers were enabling them again in real time. After a frantic "Whac-A-Mole" game, they discovered the account that was compromised and removed it. The compromised account was a legitimate user of the account who had THEIR account hacked. Because of this, Facebook wouldn't replace the lost funds, and their account got shut down, with all campaigns deleted. Fortunately, these guys caught the hack early and acted fast, limiting their damages to roughly $4,000, but their account was unable to run ads for 2 weeks, causing them to lose revenue. They estimate their total damages to be somewhere in the $40,000 to $50,000 range. When many people hear these true stories (with the name of the companies withheld to protect their privacy), they adamantly believe someone besides them should step up and take responsibility, covering the losses. "It wasn't OUR fault!" they say. However, the simple reality is this: if you allow your Facebook account - or any other online account - to be hacked due to weak or reused passwords, no multifactor authentication (MFA) turned on, improper e-mail security or malware infecting your devices due to inadequate cyber security, it is 100% YOUR FAULT when a hacker compromises your account. Facebook is just one of the cloud applications many businesses use that can be hacked, but any business running any type of cloud application, including those that adamantly verify they are secure, CAN BE HACKED with the right credentials. Facebook's security did not cause their account to be compromised - it was the failure of one employee. The BEST way to handle this is to NOT get hacked in the first place. Here's what you need to do to protect yourself: Share this article to make sure your staff is aware of these types of scams. Cybercriminals' #1 advantage is still hubris; businesses and most people in general insist that "nobody would want to hack me" and therefore aren't extremely cautious with cyberprotections. Make sure you create strong, unique passwords for EACH application you and your team log into. Use a good password management tool such as iCloud Keychain or 1Password to manage this, but remember IT MUST BE USED IN ORDER TO WORK. For example, don't allow employees to store passwords in Chrome and bypass the password management system. Minimize the number of people logging into any account. If someone needs access, give them that access and then remove them as a user ASAP immediately after. The more users you have on a cloud application, the greater the chances are of a breach. Make sure all devices that touch your network are secure. Keylogger malware can live on a device to steal all of your data and credentials. If you want to ensure your organization is truly secure, click here to request a free Cyber Security Risk Assessment to see just how protected your organization is against known predators. If you haven't had an independent third party conduct this audit in the last 6 months, you're due. It's completely free and confidential, without obligation. Voice scams are just the latest in a tsunami of threats aimed at small business owners, with the most susceptible being the ones who never "check the locks" to ensure their current IT company is doing what they should. Claim your complimentary Risk Assessment today .