Category: Data and Cyber Security

In 2024, cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and pose significant risks to businesses of all sizes. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) play a crucial role in safeguarding businesses against these threats. Here are some key cybersecurity threats in 2024 and how MSPs can help protect your business:

Ransomware Attacks: Ransomware attacks remain a major threat, with cybercriminals constantly innovating their techniques. MSPs can implement robust backup and recovery solutions to help businesses quickly restore their systems and data in case of a ransomware attack. Additionally, they can deploy advanced endpoint protection and threat intelligence solutions to detect and prevent ransomware infections.

Phishing and Social Engineering: Phishing attacks continue to target employees through email, social media, and other communication channels. MSPs can provide cybersecurity awareness training to educate employees about the dangers of phishing and how to identify suspicious emails and messages. They can also implement email filtering and authentication solutions to block phishing attempts before they reach employees’ inboxes.

Supply Chain Attacks: Cybercriminals increasingly target supply chains to compromise multiple organisations through a single attack. MSPs can assess the cybersecurity posture of vendors and partners and implement measures to mitigate the risks of supply chain attacks. This may include implementing secure communication channels, conducting regular security audits, and enforcing strict access controls.

IoT Vulnerabilities: The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices introduces new security challenges, as many of these devices lack built-in security features and are often overlooked by businesses. MSPs can help businesses secure their IoT devices by implementing network segmentation, device authentication, and continuous monitoring to detect and respond to any security incidents involving IoT devices.

Zero-Day Exploits: Zero-day exploits, which target previously unknown vulnerabilities, pose a significant threat to businesses as they leave little time for patching and mitigation. MSPs can proactively monitor for signs of zero-day exploits and implement intrusion detection and prevention systems to detect and block suspicious network activity. They can also work closely with vendors to promptly apply patches and updates as soon as they become available.

Overall, partnering with an MSP such as Keyinsite can provide businesses with the expertise, resources and tools needed to effectively defend against a wide range of cybersecurity threats in 2024. By taking a proactive and holistic approach to cybersecurity, businesses can minimize their risk exposure and maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their sensitive information and critical systems.

Data backup and disaster recovery are critical components of any IT strategy, especially for small businesses. Here’s why they are so important:

Protection Against Data Loss: Data loss can occur due to various reasons such as hardware failure, human error, cyberattacks, natural disasters, or software glitches. Without proper backup measures in place, small businesses risk losing valuable data including customer information, financial records, intellectual property, and operational documents. Data backup ensures that critical information is safeguarded and can be restored in the event of data loss.

Business Continuity: In the event of a disaster or unexpected incident, such as a server crash or ransomware attack, small businesses need to minimize downtime and resume operations as quickly as possible. Disaster recovery plans, which include data backup and recovery procedures, enable businesses to restore systems and applications swiftly, thereby ensuring business continuity and minimizing financial losses.

Compliance and Legal Requirements: Many industries are subject to regulatory requirements governing data protection and retention. Small businesses operating in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and legal services must comply with laws such as HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI DSS, which mandate the implementation of data backup and disaster recovery measures. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines, legal consequences, and reputational damage.

Protection Against Cyber Threats: Cyberattacks, such as ransomware, malware, phishing, and insider threats, pose significant risks to small businesses. These attacks can encrypt or steal sensitive data, disrupt business operations, and cause financial harm. Data backup solutions provide a layer of defense against cyber threats by allowing businesses to restore their systems and data to a pre-attack state, thereby mitigating the impact of cyber incidents.

Preservation of Reputation and Customer Trust: Data breaches and extended periods of downtime can damage a small business’s reputation and erode customer trust. Customers expect businesses to safeguard their personal information and ensure the continuity of services. By implementing robust data backup and disaster recovery strategies, small businesses demonstrate their commitment to data security, resilience, and customer satisfaction.

Cost Savings: While investing in data backup and disaster recovery solutions incurs upfront costs, the long-term benefits outweigh the expenses. The financial consequences of data loss, downtime, and reputational damage resulting from a lack of preparedness far exceed the cost of implementing backup and recovery measures. Additionally, insurance premiums may be lower for businesses with comprehensive disaster recovery plans in place

In summary, data backup and disaster recovery are indispensable components of small business operations. They provide protection against data loss, ensure business continuity, facilitate regulatory compliance, mitigate cyber threats, preserve reputation and customer trust, and deliver long-term cost savings. Small businesses must prioritize these aspects of IT infrastructure to safeguard their assets, maintain resilience, and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Cyber Attacks Are The New Normal

Last year, we talked about cyber attacks being on the rise. Data breaches were being reported regularly in the wider media. As awareness of the risks, not only to large corporates, but to SME’s and employee accounts has risen, it has become the new normal for most of us. Cybersecurity has always been a vital component of a comprehensive IT Strategy and an all too frequent occurrence in the IT press, but as hackers become more and more sophisticated, it’s more important than ever to make sure your business and staff are protected.

SME’s Need To Take Action

Too many SME’s are putting their heads in the sand and we often hear “Why would anyone want to attack our site or systems we aren’t big enough”. The idea and popular misconception that major data breaches only happen to larger companies or big names being specifically targeted is now dangerously outdated, and leaves smaller companies even more exposed. There has never been a better time to make sure you have the right IT provider in place who will help you shape and proactively enforce your data security requirements.

Our Top Tips For Protecting SME’s From Data Breaches

• Implement Robust Password Policies: Enforce the use of strong, unique passwords for all accounts and systems. Consider using password managers to securely store and manage passwords.
• Regularly Update Software and Systems: Ensure that all software, operating systems, and applications are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates to mitigate vulnerabilities.
• Educate Employees on Cybersecurity Awareness: Provide comprehensive training on recognising phishing emails, suspicious links, and social engineering tactics. Encourage a culture of vigilance and empower employees to report any security concerns promptly.
• Secure Wi-Fi Networks: Encrypt Wi-Fi networks with WPA2 or WPA3 security protocols and use strong, unique passwords. Implement additional measures such as network segmentation and guest networks to minimise the risk of unauthorised access.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA wherever possible to add an extra layer of security beyond passwords. This can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access to accounts and systems.
• Encrypt Sensitive Data: Utilise encryption technologies to protect sensitive data both in transit and at rest. This includes data stored on servers, laptops, mobile devices, and external storage devices.
• Back Up Data Regularly: Implement a robust backup strategy to ensure that critical data is regularly backed up and stored securely. Test backups periodically to verify their integrity and effectiveness.
• Limit Access to Sensitive Information: Implement the principle of least privilege by restricting access to sensitive data only to authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis. Regularly review and update access permissions as roles and responsibilities change.
• Secure Endpoints and Devices: Deploy endpoint protection solutions such as antivirus software, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems to safeguard devices against malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats.
• Create an Incident Response Plan: Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery and incident response plan outlining steps to take in the event of a data breach or security incident. Assign roles and responsibilities, establish communication protocols, and conduct regular drills to ensure readiness.
• Monitor and Audit Systems: Implement monitoring and auditing tools to track and analyse system activity for signs of unusual or suspicious behaviour. Regularly review logs and audit trails to detect and respond to potential security incidents proactively.
• Stay Informed about Emerging Threats: Keep abreast of the latest cybersecurity threats, trends, and best practices through industry publications, online forums, and professional networks. Stay proactive in addressing evolving threats to safeguard your business against potential risks.

What Else Can I Do To Prevent Cyber Attacks?

With an estimated 40% of UK businesses having experienced some form of attempted cyber attack, don’t let this happen to you. Talk to us at KeyInsite about keeping your cybersecurity up to date. We pride ourselves in being proactive and providing 24/7 round the clock support to give our clients peace of mind. We also give you guaranteed response times so you can be sure we’ll be there to help even in case of emergencies.

Backing up your Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) email is important for several reasons:

Data Loss Prevention: Regular backups help mitigate the risk of data loss due to accidental or malicious deletion. Users can accidentally delete important emails, and without a backup, these messages may be permanently lost. In the event of a cyberattack or unauthorised access, emails could be intentionally deleted.

Security Threats: Cyber threats such as ransomware and malware can encrypt or damage your data. Having a backup ensures you can recover your emails even if they are compromised.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Many industries have regulations that require the retention of certain data, including emails. Regular backups can help you comply with these regulations and avoid legal issues.

Business Continuity: System Failures, server crashes, hardware failures, or other technical issues can result in the loss of data. Backing up your Microsoft 365 email ensures business continuity by providing a means to restore critical information quickly.

User Errors: Human errors, such as accidental overwrites or misconfigurations, can lead to data loss. Having a backup allows you to recover from such mistakes.

Migration and Upgrades: When migrating to a new email platform or upgrading your Microsoft 365 subscription, having a backup ensures a smooth transition by allowing you to transfer your email data easily.

Complete Data Protection: Backup solutions often provide a comprehensive approach to data protection, including calendars, contacts, and other important information, as well as email.

Unforeseen Events: Natural disasters, fires, or other unforeseen events can physically damage infrastructure. Having a backup stored offsite provides an additional layer of protection against such incidents.

Microsoft 365 does provide some basic data retention features, but they may not be sufficient for all scenarios. While Microsoft offers some level of in built protection against data loss, it’s essential to understand that it is a shared responsibility between the service provider (Microsoft) and the customer. Regularly backing up your Microsoft 365 email ensures that you have control over your data and can recover it when needed.

We all know how crucial cybersecurity has become for all businesses but are you including dark web scanning? Companies should consider implementing dark web scanning as part of their cybersecurity strategy for some very compelling reasons:

Multi factor authentication requires at least 2 forms of authentication and is becoming increasingly important as hackers employ more sophisticated and aggressive tactics. As a Managed Service Provider (MSP) we implement 2-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication (2FA) and recommend our clients do the same for a number of reasons:

• Enhanced Security: we handle sensitive data and have access to various client systems. Implementing 2-step verification adds an additional layer of security protecting against unauthorized access. It significantly reduces the risk of security breaches and data theft.
• Safeguarding Client Information: we are entrusted with confidential client information. Enabling 2-step verification on client accounts ensures that even if an MSP employee’s credentials are compromised, unauthorized individuals won’t be able to access client systems without the second authentication factor.
• Compliance Requirements: Many industries and regulations mandate robust security measures to protect client data. Implementing 2FA helps meet these compliance requirements and demonstrates commitment to data protection.
• Mitigating Credential Attacks: Passwords can be compromised through various means, including phishing, brute-force attacks, or data breaches. By using 2-step verification, even if a password is leaked, the second factor (e.g., a one-time code) acts as an extra barrier against unauthorized access.
• Client Trust and Confidence: Clients expect their MSPs to have strong security practices in place. Utilizing 2FA shows a commitment to cybersecurity, fostering trust and confidence with clients.
• Ease of Implementation: Many modern systems and services offer built-in 2-step verification options, making it relatively easy for MSPs to enable this security feature for their accounts and their clients’ accounts.
• Scalability: Implementing a standardized 2FA procedure across all accounts can simplify security management and ensure consistent protection for both MSP’s and their clients.
• Reduced Downtime and Recovery Costs: By preventing unauthorized access, 2-step verification can help avoid potential security incidents that could lead to downtime, data loss, and costly recovery efforts.

In summary, 2-step verification is a crucial security measure that MSPs should adopt to protect their own accounts and their clients’ sensitive data. It helps prevent unauthorized access, mitigates security risks, and enhances the overall trustworthiness of the MSP’s services.

Cyber Attacks On The Rise

Another week, another serious data breach is fast becoming the new normal. Cyber security has always been a vital component of any decent IT Strategy and an all too frequent occurrence in the IT press, but as hackers become more and more sophisticated, and bigger names are affected, we are hearing about it more and more as mainstream news. The government have recently published research that finds many business leaders still don’t prioritise cyber security until after a major breach. Make sure you Review Data Security.

SME’s Need To Take Action

Too many SME’s are putting their heads in the sand and we often hear “Why would anyone want to attack our site or systems we aren’t big enough”. The idea and popular misconception that major data breaches only happen to larger companies or big names being specifically targeted is now dangerously outdated, and leaves smaller companies even more exposed. There has never been a better time to make sure you have the right IT provider in place who will help you shape and proactively enforce your data security requirements.

Take Action Before Your Own Data Breach

A government report, published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirms:
“in response to these increasing levels of risk, nearly all participants acknowledged
the need for ever greater levels of vigilance and investment in cyber-security, as the
controls that were appropriate a few years ago are now seen as less effective. That
said, while interviewees from medium and large organisations said they tended to
have formal plans in place and budget allocated for further cyber security investment,
interviewees from smaller organisations were more likely to assert they did not,
largely citing resource constraints. Their response to the perceived growing cyber
security risk therefore appears to be largely piecemeal and reactive”

Find The Right IT Provider

The general manager and IT manager at one SME (10-49 employees) said the breach it suffered made the organisation “more vigilant” at senior management level. This heightened vigilance allowed both managers to get immediate sign-off from the board when it came to contracting a new IT provider. This came after the previous company was blamed for a slow response to an attack which saw an email intercepted and client funds were stolen.

What Can I Do To Prevent Cyber Attacks?

With an estimated 40% of UK businesses having experienced some form of attempted cyber attack, don’t let this happen to you. Talk to us at KeyInsite about keeping your cyber security up to date. We pride ourselves in being proactive and providing 24/7 round the clock support to give our clients peace of mind. We also give you guaranteed response times so you can be sure we’ll be there to help even in case of emergencies.