It is no surprise that the competition is fierce in the world of small to midsize businesses. From jumping through legal hoops to obtaining capital, staying on top of digital marketing, and climbing ahead of the competition, small business owners have a never-ending list of responsibilities. Because not all small business owners are both experts in their field and technologically savvy, finding partnerships to alleviate some of the burdens is crucial to increasing revenue and growing the business as efficiently and responsibly as possible. After all, entrepreneurs aren’t only responsible for the success of their business, but the welfare of their staff as well.
Partnering with IT support provides big-business solutions
The reality for SMEs is that training and maintaining IT personnel can be quite expensive. Business owners must pay for a full-time team even when they do not have technology issues that may need to be addressed. By outsourcing an IT solution network, business owners can trust technicians will provide solutions similar to those provided to big businesses. Not only are they paid through a contract or as-you-go service, but most IT support companies have been through the gamut of technology and cybersecurity issues. Their experiences range from server malfunctions to identifying external threats or unauthorised attempts at hacking.
Leaders in the space
The security of any business’s information is of the utmost importance, and the reliability of the IT support partner should be a primary decision when identifying potential support companies to work alongside. Leaders in the space should be considered as well as determining the needs of the business. The best IT support companies will provide cloud computing, backup services, technology relocation, network services, and cybersecurity services.
Because IT support companies are becoming extremely efficient and streamlining solutions, increasingly more business owners are turning to an IT support partner like Prosyn for guidance. These types of companies have the expertise to keep business networks safe from cybersecurity issues, which leaves the owner free to grow the business on the front end. Professionals that can assist in establishing a plan for relocating sensitive data without compromising that information, or a company that can troubleshoot issues before they arise, are both solid reasons why any business owner should consider outsourcing IT support.
The basics of cybersecurity
But what is cybersecurity, and why should any business owner pay attention to cybersecurity advances? To answer these questions, let’s start with what cybersecurity, or information technology security, is.
Essentially, it’s the protection, tracking, and preventative actions information technology technicians take to stop the infiltration or unauthorised access of a business’s internal systems, data, or any other sensitive information. Many companies hire highly trained individuals to determine where weaknesses may be in order to eliminate any potential points of entry for would-be criminals. These men and women who identify the weaknesses before cyber attacks are what are known as hackers.
The term ‘hacking’ originated in the 1960s, but does not mean what many people know it to be today. Today’s term carries a negative connotation and, many times, people may think of someone using a computer to breach a system and steal sensitive data in order to then turn around and sell it to a high payer.
The idea of cybersecurity began in the 1970s and has become a very sophisticated field today. Understanding the intricacies and nuances of cybersecurity is essential when selecting an IT support company to work with. With ever-evolving technological advances, experts in IT can better support a small or midsize business because they are more familiar with the legal aspects and can identify potential security issues much more readily than individuals outside of the cybersecurity field.
What cybersecurity is not
Alternatively, cybersecurity is not a problem with the technology. The idea that cybersecurity as a technology will fix any problem a company may have is unrealistic. The reality is that the people who interact with the technology every day are what makes a system strong or weak. While an IT company may be outsourced, the bottom line is that the employees must understand how the technology works and work through the processes put in place.
Cheap IT support may cost more in the end
The old adage “you get what you pay for” rings true when it comes to IT support. Hiring a company that will be proactive and identify potential issues before they arise is extremely crucial to a smoothly operated business. Sure any IT support system will be able to troubleshoot a slow processor or what to do when Office crashes, but will all IT support networks understand what to do if a firewall goes down, or if a disgruntled employee compromises data? These setbacks could result in even larger financial hits.
According to a recent study conducted by Deloitte, more and more businesses are turning to outsourcing their IT solutions. In fact, outsourcing is providing businesses with a more competitive edge, especially when the IT solutions network have a team of industry experts who know what to expect and can think outside the box in terms of information technology and how to make tech work for any business.
The study also had another interesting conclusion. The number one response for what business owners would consider differently next time was to take a longer, more thorough look when selecting the IT company they work with. Specifically, the business leaders identified the need to spend more time in the RFP stage.
Any small or midsize business owner can gain a competitive edge when they outsource IT support, because it leverages them with expert IT security engineers while providing more time for the business owner to work and grow the business. With a team of highly trained IT support engineers, cybersecurity can be stronger and issues are more readily predicted.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).