IPM Computers

https://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png As a business owner, you know that cybersecurity is more important than ever. It is essential to have your employees trained in the latest cyber security measures and protocols in order to protect your organization from malicious attacks. In this blog post, we will discuss why training your employees in cybersecurity is vital for any business. 1. It Helps Protect Against Lawsuits When it comes to security breaches, companies are often held liable for any damages that occur. Negligence is a frequent claim, showing that the organization did not take proper measures to protect their digital assets. They could also be accused of providing false information about the safety of their network. Lastly, an employee who has not been adequately trained in cyber security may bear personal responsibility for the consequences of a breach. 2. It Improves Employee Morale Training employees to work together to increase cybersecurity within their organiza...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BSN-4-1024x597.png This week marked the annual Data Privacy Week . And we know that cybersecurity is critical when it comes to protecting data privacy and the integrity of information systems. Personal and corporate data are constantly at risk from malicious actors. A strong cybersecurity program is essential for safeguarding this data and maintaining the trust of customers, employees, and other stakeholders. Components One of the most important aspects of a strong cybersecurity program is the regular monitoring and testing of systems. This can include vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and regular scans to identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses. By staying ahead of potential threats, organizations can take proactive steps to protect their data and minimize the risk of a successful cyberattack. This includes assessing hardware, software, and people. Another key component of a strong cybersecurity pro...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1-1-1024x597.png The threat of phishing remains prevalent in all aspects of digital life. Both personal and professional. But a recent deep dive by Mandient into the details of a more specific kind of attack that is on the rise. This shines a light on the threat of industrial-themed email attacks and how they can affect operational technology. What is Operational Technology? Operational technology is the hardware or software that monitors and sometimes controls industrial equipment.  This technology will detect, as well as cause, changes to the processes that are physically happening through monitoring and direct control of the physical device.  Often found in factories, the oil and gas industry, mining, utilities, and transportation, it is all around us and controls things that we use every day. Information technology (IT) attacks are more familiar, and those target electronic transactions. This type of attack mi...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/it-support-1-1.jpg Managed IT services are a form of outsourcing that involves the management of a company’s technology infrastructure and related processes by a third-party service provider. These services cover the maintenance and support of the company’s computer systems, networks, and other hardware and software involved with technology. To make sure that technology systems are operating effectively and without interruption, managed IT companies monitor the client’s IT environment, identifying potential issues, troubleshooting and resolving issues remotely while providing proactive maintenance to prevent potential problems from occurring. The client pays the managed IT company a monthly fee for their services, normally as part of a service contract. There are two types of managed IT services: “Full” and “Limited”. With full managed services, a third-party company takes over all aspects of an organization’s technology infra...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1-1024x597.png Major Impact Earlier this week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a nationwide ground stop of all flights.  Approximately 9,000 flights were delayed, and over 1,000 flights were canceled. The reason why?  The NOTAM system (short for Notice to All Air Missions), which is designed to provide real-time information to pilots and air traffic controllers with critical information before takeoff, was down. This system is designed to alert you of such things as runway hazards or unsafe weather conditions and is therefore critical to safety. What Happened? According to reports, it was during routine maintenance that an engineer replaced one file with another. Unaware that the replacement had been made with a corrupted file, a cascade of failures then followed.  A complete reboot was needed. This was not an attack, and it was not intentional sabotage by an individual.  Simply put, ...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BSN-1024x597.png Which resolutions have you set for yourself in 2023? Let me guess: get fit, eat healthily, and hit the gym on a regular basis. These are good choices, but how about another way to incorporate training into your schedule? And this one may pay off in dollars saved, not pounds lost. Why Train? Cybersecurity training should not be a negotiable part of any business structure. Strengthening your human firewall is one of the best ways to protect your business against cybercrime. This cannot be emphasized enough. The sophistication with which these crimes are committed cannot be overlooked. With every holiday, world event, or other opportunity, scams are in the works before the headline hits the news. Disguising fraudulent email addresses and websites is easier than ever. And with the advent of AI, the possibilities for these criminals to take advantage of unsuspecting users is limitless. Training Program Creati...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BSN-Social-Security-1024x597.png Social Security Scams While many of us are taking time at the end of the year to enjoy our friends and family’s company and goodwill, cybercriminals are using it as an opportunity to scam people. One such opportunity comes with the end-of-year renewal of programs and policies. And Social Security scams are one of the most reported to the government . They target individuals who receive benefits because this demographic can be more vulnerable when it comes to falling for scams. How They Work This type of scam is often done via the telephone or email. With the sender information and caller id being easily disguised, the victim may respond thinking it is legitimate. The criminal caller or sender will say that they are calling or inquiring for various reasons. These may include, but are not limited to, the following: Updating records for the new year They are due for a cost of living adjustme...