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Cybercriminals are Going Phishing for Your Data

By | Data Security

Email may not be a popular communication form for millennials and younger generations, but it is still one of the most-often-used technologies in business. Collaborating, sending information and files, and working remotely are made possible with email. Email, however, is also what makes it possible to trick your employees into wiring $300,000 to a hacker in East Asia, revealing the credit card numbers of every customer who has ever shopped with you, or delivering the social security numbers of every employee in your organization. And just when you think you’ve outsmarted cybercriminals and have a handle on phishing issues, a single employee clicks on a link and invites ransomware to invade your network.

No business is immune – businesses of all sizes and in every industry have reported phishing attacks. Avoiding these attacks requires more than just telling employees to be careful; it requires ongoing training and regular reminders, combined with layered security designed to detect and thwart attacks.

Improve email security

Prevent as many phishing emails as possible from even landing in employees’ inboxes, by implementing a hosted email service. In addition, develop a sender policy framework that makes it less likely for spoofed email to work. Better email security is an essential first step in thwarting phishing attacks.

Implement layered security

Carefully layered detection and security protocols can make it much more difficult for cybercriminals to hack your database. Consider how and where your data is stored and accessed; running files from desktops, USB sticks, or external drives can leave you without a safety net. Enterprise file sync software, such as SyncedTool provides a secure way to access data from anywhere. Backups of your data should also be stored offsite and protected with a comprehensive backup and recovery (BDR) solution. In the event of an attack, a managed services provider can perform a mass revision restore to the point in time before the attack.

Train and retrain (and train them again)

The only way to prevent phishing attacks from succeeding is for every employee to be vigilant at all times. Establish policies that require wire transfer requests to be verified by phone and approved by at least two people. Have a no-tolerance policy for clicking on unverified links or opening unknown files. Provide ongoing training to your employees and reminders about phishing techniques.

Download the thinkCSC email security guide.

Email security must be a top concern for every business. Take the necessary steps to protect your organization. Minimizing your risk is easier when you align your business with a trusted managed IT service provider that partners with your organization, understands your needs, and provides customized solutions to ensure that you have the protection you need. thinkCSC is committed to helping you find the most economical solutions to meet your needs. For more information, contact us today.

IT Trends – 2015 Edition

By | Data Security, Managed IT Services | No Comments

Crystal BallLast year we predicted several IT trends that are, for the most part today, standard operating procedures for most businesses. From VoIP to secure collaboration using Enterprise File Synchronization and Sharing, the big focus last year was the shift away from legacy processes and applications, with the gradual adoption of access-anywhere, work-anywhere work tools that didn’t compromise security.

This year we predict nearly every operational focus trending in IT will have something to do with security. IT security is the trend of 2015.

In fact, the biggest trend of 2015 will be the acknowledgement that no business is secure. No business – from the one-man work-at-home freelancer to the largest international corporation – is immune from incident. If you use technology and access the internet, whether from a smartphone or through applications on a bank of servers, you are a potential target for malware, cyber-attacks, viruses, natural disasters, and other business-disrupting issues.

Managed IT

Managed IT services, while not a new trend, will take center stage for even more companies because the need to maintain state-of-the-art equipment and have access to offline backup and disaster recovery will be too great to ignore and too costly for every non-IT business to do well. Shifting from a capital expenditure model for IT to an OPEX model will also be a priority for businesses striving to remain globally competitive. Managed IT services accomplishes that.

BDR Goes Mainstream

When disaster strikes, business leaders recognize the need for remaining operational. Backup and disaster recovery services provide a cost-effective business continuity solution that reduces downtime and allows you to keep serving customers from anywhere.

Enterprise Threat Detection

Rather than waiting for hackers and malware to highlight security gaps, then developing security patches in response to protect businesses, you can make your approach to security more aggressive. Enterprise threat detection offers proactive security that uses predictive analytics to stay ahead of the next attack. This will become a necessity for businesses of all size.

The most competitive businesses are the ones preparing for possibilities and designing their infrastructure in such a way that they can remain flexible, proactive, and competitive. Managed IT and BDR are not new concepts, but they are trending in 2015 as adoption becomes ubiquitous.

Discover how thinkCSC can help your business. Learn more.

The Arts Have a Direct Impact on Economic Development

By | thinkCSC Leadership Series | No Comments

by Tom Hastings

gcac finalWhen we think about economic development, the first thing that often comes to mind is the efforts made to create and the retain jobs and talent in a community. Measures to improve education and training, as well as government intervention to reduce property taxes and stimulate economic growth, are regularly employed as means to advance economic development. As important, however, is the advancement of the arts in communities, including Columbus, which has proven to be a prevailing factor in economic development. Overwhelming evidence suggests that communities who invest in the arts are promoting economic growth for their citizens.

The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) advocates for the advancement of the arts and culture in the Columbus, Ohio region. As the importance of sustained job growth becomes more apparent, so does the need for efforts to cultivate a flourishing arts community. The GCAC provides mounting evidence that the arts impact our community in a number of different ways, including the attraction and retention of talent and increased tourism and convention business. The impact to economic development is profound: the Columbus region realizes $226 million in economic activity and 8,500 jobs as a result of the arts.

Economic development can’t be measured merely in short-term dollars and cents. Genuine, sustained economic development is achieved over a period of time, and the arts are an important part of that effort. While local and federal government programs may stimulate development, organizations like the GCAC are what make the community attractive to the talent we’re trying to retain and attract that will help Columbus prosper. Our community will benefit the most – economically and culturally – from the ongoing sponsorship of the arts by local business leaders and individuals. thinkCSC is proud to support the efforts of the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

4 Keys to Choosing the Right Mac Service Provider

By | Hardware & Warranty Repairs | No Comments

macserviceproviderFor the most part Macs run well, but like any technology, eventually they will fail. When that time comes, the odds are you will not be able to fix it yourself. You are going to need some professional help in order to get your system back in working order.

To complicate matters, you can’t just hire any technician. You need to deal with someone who knows how to work with Macs – and a PC technician just won’t cut it. Macs have a unique system architecture that require specialized knowledge. Even the best Windows tech could end up doing more harm that good if they issue the wrong commands through Terminal, which provides the technician nearly unlimited access to the core of the system.

So, how do you pick a good Mac service provider? There are four basic credentials you should look for that will help you to decide which service provider is the one that can meet your needs.

1. Experience

When it comes to getting your systems repaired, experience matters. You need a service provide who is familiar with the system but every company’s marketing department is going to tell you that they are the best company to meet your needs. Only by talking to their customers and finding out how they have handled problems in the past can you ensure that the service is responsive, friendly and able to meet your needs. Never use a service that cannot provide you with references.

Remember, this is IT. Technology changes quickly. You’re not looking for a company with 50 years of experience. In fact, IT companies that last longer than five years are doing really well. One good example is CSC, which has been in business since 1992. Not a lengthy history when you compare it to a brand like Kellogg’s, but it is an impressive span for an IT services provider.

2. Apple Certifications

When you are choosing a company you need to be sure that the providers who will be working on your systems with have the appropriate Apple certifications. These credentials, issued by Apple, show that the people who will be servicing your systems have demonstrated the knowledge and the skills needed to work with your systems to the satisfaction of the Mac makers themselves.

3. Apple Authorized Repair Center

Apple Authorized Repair Centers come with a guarantee that the service will be done right. Even more important, using an Apple Authorized Repair Center is a guarantee that the service will not void your warranty.

4. Managed Services

A number of problems with your system can be avoided simply by making sure that your system gets the monitoring that it needs on a daily basis, and the maintenance that it needs on a monthly basis. A company that provides its customers managed services simplifies that process and helps to prevent problems before they happen. This kind of service gives you what you don’t know you need but can’t live without.

CSC has a well-trained staff of Apple-certified technicians available to help you with all of your Mac service needs. Schedule service for your Mac with us.