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Tag: cybersecurity

A new year means a new approach to cybersecurity

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WATCH WHAT YOU CALL THEM, THOUGH Let’s not call these resolutions, though. Because unlike our resolutions to eat better and get more steps in, we can’t afford to start ignoring cybersecurity before the first holiday credit card statement arrives in the mail. Here’s a quick list of things you’ll want to zero in on as you tune up your organization’s cybersecurity strategy for 2023: 1 – UPDATE YOUR DEVICES AND SOFTWARE You’re only as secure as your latest software update. We all know that outdated operating systems, apps, browsers, firmware, and any other form of code are invitations...

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Ukraine war holds critical cybersecurity lessons for all organizations

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THREATS THAT GO BACK YEARS The warnings have been building since long before Russian soldiers and weapons first began massing at the border, and the conclusions are stark. A report from Forrester in March concluded the invasion threatened to permanently alter the cyberthreat landscape; primarily as Russia accelerated its cyberattacks and cyber-espionage efforts to offset military losses and compensate for expanding economic sanctions. Forrester said Russian cyberattacks had been building for years, targeting Ukrainian financial systems and critical infrastructure. Forrester’s analysts...

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Ransomware and remote workers: 8 tips to stay safe

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CYBERCRIMINALS ADAPT After millions of workers worldwide were sent home following the first wave of lockdowns in March 2020, cybercriminals shifted gears. Amid the chaos of those early days, as corporate IT focused on keeping remote workers productive, ransomware attacks skyrocketed, with the FBI reporting a 62% increase in ransomware reports in the first half of 2021 compared to the same year-ago period. This follows a 20% increase in 2020. None of this came as any surprise to those of us in IT; the pandemic opened the door and malicious actors were only too happy to walk through....

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Apple security update – 5 lessons for the hybrid workforce

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NEVER-ENDING WARNINGS After all, hardly a day goes by that we’re not receiving yet another warning that our favorite Windows PC, Android phone, Ring smart doorbell, or Roomba smart vacuum cleaner needs a software update to patch a weakness that seemingly came out of nowhere. We’ve become almost numb to the never-ending threat landscape, to the sky-is-falling warnings that it’s time, yet again, to batten down the hatches. At the same time, it’s just as easy to understand why we can’t afford to ignore the warnings. And why it’s long past due for employers and employees alike to change...

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Teleworking: Information Security Essentials for Organizational Leadership

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USING VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE (VDI) FOR SECURE REMOTE CAPABILITIES If your organization already utilizes VDI and you have enough licenses to accommodate your teleworking staff, you are ahead of the game. VDI users can be provided role-based access, giving them access to only the resources they need to perform their jobs. All of those resources remain secured inside your organization’s environment or in the cloud; thus, physical security and unauthorized access concerns are reduced. VDI also uses less bandwidth and is easier for your IT staff to manage than Virtual Private Network...

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How an API Can Be Leveraged to Boost Sales

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WHAT AN API CAN DO: TECHNICAL DETAILS Before knowing how an API can make you money, you should first understand what an API does. API is a common term used for any component that can be used as a “middleman” between a client application and data (e.g., a third-party developer program and your internal procedures). APIs aren’t only for web applications. They are a part of operating systems that give external software access to low-level computer functionality. APIs can be implemented in many computer systems that allow third-party developers access to internal functionality...

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10 Ways Artificial Intelligence Will Change Business

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1. NEW CAPABILITIES WILL GET ADDED TO EXISTING JOB ROLES Despite all the hype about AI eliminating millions of jobs, most human jobs will be fine. For example, before 2020, AI has created 2.3 million new jobs while only eliminating 1.8 million jobs. According to experts, AI removes repetitive tasks to allow employees to focus on more productive tasks. Therefore, new roles are being created for human workers to perform that increase productivity. 2. COMPANIES WILL HIRE MORE AI PROFESSIONALS In addition to most human jobs being safe, many businesses will have to hire more AI professionals....

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5 Things to Consider Before You Partner With an IT Provider

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1. IT SECURITY PROTOCOLS One of the top duties of a managed service provider is to focus on cybersecurity in the workplace. Cyber threats pose significant risks for all businesses and can ruin the reputation of your company. Discussing standard IT security protocols with a managed service provider is essential to ensure that the IT support company is the right fit for your organization while also giving you optimal protection against cyber threats. 2. SERVICE-LEVEL AGREEMENT The service-level agreement (SLA) is a contract that details the services an IT provider will supply for your...

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DevSecOps: Why It’s Important and How To Achieve It

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What Is DevSecOps? In essence, DevSecOps is a refinement of the original DevOps concept that puts more emphasis on the importance of application security. Many cybersecurity incidents are the result of security flaws in an application’s code. There is a strong argument that the DevOps movement’s focus on faster software deployment acts as a barrier to developing secure software. Software security teams are tasked with ensuring that vulnerable code is not released into production. Traditionally, security teams implement rigorous testing to verify the integrity and security...

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