Talk Tech

Ransomware: Prevention and Response for Businesses

Jun 8, 2021 2:31:13 PM / by DataVizion posted in IoT, ClearPass, Aruba Networks, IT security, DataVizion

0 Comments

If recent national news has proven anything, it’s that ransomware attacks are on the rise. Especially for businesses here in the United States where approximately 39% of all worldwide ransomware attacks take place, new technology has made ransomware attacks both harder to prevent and harder to untangle once hackers have gotten into your internal infrastructure. Our managed security offerings, backup and disaster recovery, and tech infrastructure design services have helped business owners throughout the Midwest and across the nation avoid the frustration of a full-fledged attack.


What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a form of malware designed to cause instability by encrypting files on a device. Then, the individual or group who organized the attack will demand a ransom in order to decrypt the file or files that were disrupted. Think of it like kidnapping, but instead of a person, these bad actors are after your private business information. This has been a growing issue, specifically in government entities, municipal utility companies, and other organizations that handle critical infrastructure, but now, even small- to mid-sized businesses are becoming targets for bad actors. Experts have estimated that ransomware and associated spending (loss of revenue due to inability to work, paying ransoms, etc.) will cost businesses somewhere between $20 and $25 billion in this year alone, and those numbers are rising every year. This has left many business owners wondering how they can protect themselves and their sensitive information before issues arise.



Whether you’re preventing a ransomware attack or recovering from one, DataVizion has solutions to help!

LEARN MORE


 

Recent Ransomware Attack in Omaha

A manufacturing facility near Omaha, Nebraska was the target of a ransomware attack recently. Hackers accessed company systems through existing remote access connectivity, and they managed to bring operations to a screeching halt for about two weeks. That meant no emails, no ordering products, no sending invoices to customers, and no paying vendors. Some floor production remained operational, but with manual processes and paper trails, even production was down. 

Now, more than a month later, the company is still in negotiations to have their information released, with the party involved asking for upwards of $100,000. Add that to the business costs lost by the inability to operate, and leadership has come to a few realizations about the future of their digital landscape.

Firstly, they realized that their company’s basic insurance coverage does not include ransomware coverage, leaving them to cover all costs with no help. Next, they realized that the sophistication of these modern attacks means having safe and timely backups in place is more important than ever. With the right backups, they could have restored their business easier, faster, and cheaper. The last and most important lesson learned by leadership at this manufacturing company is that in the event of a ransomware attack, you’re going to end up paying big bucks no matter what. The costs associated with the attack, legal fees, emergency IT assistance, lack of operations, and upgrading to new equipment add up quickly, so it’s actually more frugal to pay for great IT security upfront and avoid a ransomware attack in the first place.

 

Preventing Ransomware Attacks

There are a few simple steps that businesses of any size should be taking in order to protect themselves, their customer’s information, and their bottom line from the misfortune of a ransomware attack.

  1. Prepare Ahead of Time: The best offense is always a great defense. That means creating and actually enforcing your security policies (yes, that includes regularly making new, unique passwords), ensuring all software is updated consistently, using multi-factor authentication, and training your employees to spot strange or malicious behavior in all areas of your technological infrastructure. 
  2. Create Additional Protections for Highly Sensitive Information: Cyber criminals will always try to attack your most important information. From the systems that keep your physical building operational to sensitive data like customer payment information, keep all your most private data under multiple levels of security.
  3. Use Experts to Manage Threats: Having a third party team of IT experts manage your cyber security is a great way to ensure you know about threats as soon as they pop up.
  4. Create & Regularly Test Response Protocols: Should a threat to your business’ security emerge, it’s important to know how you’ll respond. Create a plan of attack (pun intended) and practice your response, so everyone knows what their responsibilities are when those threats arise.

 

Manage Threats with DataVizion

DataVizion is an industry-leading provider of security options for small- to mid-sized businesses, including manufacturing, healthcare, and even mom and pop shops across the country. We’re able to directly assist small business customers and larger mid-sized corporations with everything from managed IT security to network segmentation services. Our ransomware avoidance tactics also include:

  • Management of border and edge security: Stopping the threat from being able to access a network
  • Endpoint protection: Protecting the endpoint from being susceptible to ransomware attacks.
  • Patch management: Distributing and applying updates to software vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
  • Backups/Disaster recovery services: Restoring your network to the most recent update in the event that a cyber criminal is able to gain access to the network.

Talk with our experts today to schedule a security posture assessment so we can ensure your technological infrastructure best protects your business, your customers, and your employees from ransomware attacks.


Read More

Compliance? Meet ClearPass.

Apr 20, 2021 10:45:29 AM / by DataVizion posted in IoT, ClearPass, Aruba Networks, IT security, DataVizion

0 Comments

Financial institutions are subject to some of the strictest regulations and compliance standards and for good reason. Protecting the financial data of the individuals you serve is crucial for the customers who trust you to keep it safe. For banks, credit unions, investment companies, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions, ClearPass is a tool that helps authorized users gain secure access to sensitive data, even when remote access outside a branch or location is necessary. 

 

Learning to Leverage ClearPass

According to a recent study, IoT devices are typically attacked within the first 5 minutes of logging onto the internet. Unfortunately, should a data breach occur, they’re typically discovered nearly 50 days after the incident, leaving plenty of time for bad actors to use the information they’ve gathered for their intended purpose. Using ClearPass helps your team detect and deal with security threats faster than ever before. By keeping an inventory of all devices that can log into and access your private network, what types of devices they are, any new devices that log on, and any untrustworthy or suspicious logins, ClearPass provides unmatched transparency regarding who’s using your network and why. But that’s not all it offers.

 

There are tons of features that can make ClearPass the most important security tool you’ll ever add to your arsenal. All you have to do is learn how to utilize the software to your advantage. That’s why we’re offering a free webinar for our partners who use ClearPass!

 

Start the Conversation!

Our free consultation teaches our partners the new ways to leverage their existing investments in the ClearPass platform so that they’re able to get the best protection possible. Plus, you’ll get a free gift just for showing up (virtually, of course.)! We’ll send a free drone, Amazon gift card ($50 value), or Blink Mini smart security camera to your home when you book your consultation today. Achieve your goals and work well from any location without fear of security threats with top-rated protection from DataVizion powered by Aruba, a Hewlett Packard company.


You can learn more here, or simply book your consultation now!

Read More

Your Network is Part of the Healthcare Experience

Mar 25, 2019 4:05:22 PM / by DataVizion posted in Managed Services, healthcare, health care, ClearPass, Tech Talk, Aruba Networks, IT

0 Comments

The patient experience is one of the most important aspects for leading healthcare organizations. At DataVizion, we know a large component of this is delivering seamless and secure wireless access that physicians, nurses, locum, administrators, patients and their families can rely on.

This may seem like an overwhelming task, but we can put together a custom networking solution that covers all the bases including:

An ultra-reliable wireless network

We will deliver fast, always-on access you can count on in the office or with a patient.

Increased guest and patient satisfaction with mobile applications

Whether it’s turn-by-turn navigation to show visitors where they are at in your hospital or push notifications with time-sensitive information, we ensure you have applications anywhere that create a better patient and guest experience.

Secure Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and guest access for everyone

Regardless of building location, staff can stay connected to Wi-Fi using their favorite mobile devices, and your patients can keep in touch online with family and friends without compromising the performance or security of critical-care apps on the same network.

Less IT headaches

DataVizion has solutions to simplify the way IT grants per-user access, keeps an accounting of connected users and performs troubleshooting. Guests can even go through a simple onboarding process to get network access with no IT intervention.

Completion ahead of schedule and within budget 

It’s common for us to hear that clients think their networking plans will take years to complete or out of their budgets. We have been able to deliver custom solutions in less time and for less cost.

If you are interested, or would like to learn more please give us a call at 402.327.1880 or email us at marketing@datavizion.com

 

Read More

IoT is Here to Stay – Secure Your Network with Aruba ClearPass

Jan 14, 2019 2:25:07 PM / by DataVizion posted in Security, access management, Aruba, cyber security, Wi-FI, mobile, ClearPass, Tech Talk, Aruba Networks, IT, mobility, Technology, wireless

0 Comments

As we enter 2019, it’s no secret the Internet of Things (IoT) is going to continue to grow at an exponential rate. From smartphones and tablets to wearable technology and appliances, these devices are everywhere and quickly becoming an expectation of doing business.

New Security Risks

Companies, responding to this growing trend, allow employees and guests to connect to their network for work, collaboration and personal communication. With a huge increase in the number of IoT devices on a company’s network, increased security vulnerabilities are a given and businesses need to be ready.

Aruba ClearPass

At DataVizion, we’ve been implementing Aruba ClearPass as an integrated solution for businesses of all sizes. ClearPass gives IT the tools needed to centrally develop, automate, enforce and audit network access policies across their network.

Benefits include:

  • Visibility: The ClearPass platform provides ability to capture device information across all networks, ensuring that security policies leverage device attributes and ownership for all authentication services.
  • Security: Enforcement, auditing and reporting features enable customers to comply with relevant regulations and legislation, demonstrate compliance, and mitigate the risk of a breach in access security.
  • Workflow: Users are able to connect securely and easily from tablets, smartphones, and laptops delivering an improved mobility experience across both corporate owned and user-owned devices (e.g. BYOD).
  • Mobility: Employees are given the flexibility to work from their preferred locations and devices while maintaining security posture.
  • Cost: The automated workflows and reduction in IT help tickets through self-service and the reduced number of appliances required to secure enterprise mobility, make the ClearPass solution efficient and cost-effective.

IoT devices are going to continue to become more and more integrated as a way of doing business and will present unique challenges and security concerns for organizations. But, with Aruba ClearPass it’s manageable.

If you are interested in learning more about Aruba ClearPass or other security solutions, give us a call or visit www.datavizion.com.

Click here to read how DataVizion partnered with Aruba Networks to bring Midland University a secure and scalable wireless solution to support current needs and meet growing demands.

 

Read More

No Wi-Fi, No Thank You

Sep 22, 2016 10:20:57 AM / by DataVizion posted in Security, HPE, digital workplace, BYOD, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, troubleshooting, Aruba, seamless, GenMobile, guest access, analytics, Information Technology, Blog, Internet, Wi-FI, safe, mobile, ClearPass, IT, integration, mobility, VizionCare, DataVizion, wireless

0 Comments

Aruba ClearPass Helps You Embrace BYOD

Regardless if you run a bank, hospital or retail organization, one thing’s for certain: your employees and customers have come to expect Wi-Fi access. But if the thought of letting anyone and everyone onto your network scares you, you’re not alone.

With the Aruba ClearPass Access Management System you can embrace the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture allowing guest and employee-owned devices like smart phones, tablets and laptops onto your network without losing control and visibility.

Here’s five other key benefits ClearPass offers:

  1. Customized Guest Access Portal

Use your company logo and branding or create unique data-entry fields that users have to fill out to log on. You can even post customized advertisements and offers or other targeted content to create a unique user experience.

  1. Seamless Integration

ClearPass is available as both a hardware-based or virtual appliance and can be deployed with any existing network infrastructure from any major vendor, which means you don’t have to replace existing infrastructure.

  1. Real-time Analytics

With ClearPass, you have the ability to see which devices have connected to your network in real-time, which can be helpful when it comes to reporting, planning, auditing and compliance.

  1. Comprehensive Security

ClearPass has an abundance of security procedures in place to protect your network. You can ensure devices are compliant with your policies before they connect, set a policy according to device type, block applications that don’t meet company policy, provide different service levels based on the user and more.

  1. Easy Troubleshooting

ClearPass provides advanced troubleshooting and the forensics needed to easily pinpoint the root cause of a user’s network access or authentication issue. Your IT department will thank you.

So whether you have 10 users or 10,000 on your network, ClearPass will help create a better user experience while keeping your network secure. Curious if ClearPass would work for your business? Contact your account manager today.

Read More

Subscribe to Email Updates

Lists by Topic

see all

Posts by Topic

See all

Recent Posts