“Cybersecurity Breach Costs Company Millions.” “Global Ransomware Attacks on the Rise.”

We’ve all heard the headlines and the warnings. Yet, companies continue to fall victim to avoidable breaches. Why? Here are five common mistakes that cause businesses to fall short when it comes to securing their networks.

1. Not Taking Inventory

For most organizations, one of the most critical assets is their data. Make sure you know where your data resides and who has access to it. Obtaining a solution that continuously monitors your network for abnormal behavior is critical to identifying potential breaches.

 

2. Trying to Manage it All

Gone are the days when having the latest antivirus would give you peace of mind. Your antivirus program might find common malicious files, but hackers have gotten far more sophisticated. If you hire a Managed Service Security Provider (MSSP) they monitor your network 24/7 and have specialized knowledge and resources for cybersecurity.

 

3. Thinking There Are No Small Fish

The phrase “we have bigger fish to fry” comes to mind, but when it comes to cybersecurity, hackers go after companies of all sizes. The good news? What was once available only to enterprise and mid-market organizations is now making its way down into the small and medium-sized business (SMB) world. Managed Security Services continues to enhance features and advanced security technologies are now developed even in small size firewalls and endpoint protection solutions.

 

4. Forgetting that People are People

You can have the best-intentioned employees, but all it takes is one person to fall victim to a phishing attack and compromise your entire network. End users are a key component to your security and are the most exploited sector. Making a small investment in end-user training and awareness will go a long way to improving your security.

 

5. Failure to Accept the Inevitable

In today’s technology landscape being targeted by cyber thieves is not a matter of “if”, but “when.” Your network security depends on both your ability to detect threats, but also on how to respond to them. Make sure you have a plan in place for when the worst happens.

 

If you have questions about how to protect your data and your business, contact us. Our team of cybersecurity experts is here to advise and help you implement a custom solution.

 

 

In an ever-increasing digital world, the use of mobile and other IoT devices will continue to rise along with the expectations of users. Whether it’s at work, on campus or while shopping, users expect to seamlessly access information, without having to worry about network issues.

However, as any IT professional knows, the increase in devices also means that networks are becoming more complex. So what happens when network issues do occur throughout your business? It can take hours or even days to troubleshoot and resolve wireless problems, during which the user experience is less than ideal.

To help our client’s combat this, DataVizion is implementing Aruba NetInsight, which gives your IT professionals access to AI-powered network analytics and assurance to detect problems and help optimize network performance.

“Through the use of Aruba’s AI- powered assurance and analytics, DataVizion is able to proactively customize our customers’ networks to meet their dynamic needs and dramatically improve the quality of experience for users on the network,” Kelly Schrad, DataVizion’s CEO and President, said.  “With a seamless and secure network, our customers can better focus on the user experience instead of reactive network management.”

Not only does Aruba NetInsight help detect issues, but also the web-based dashboard takes the guesswork out of troubleshooting by allowing network administrators to view insights along with root causes. Better yet, it provides recommendations to fix immediate and foreseeable network performance issues.

In addition to improving the network, NetInsight also allows our customers access to data visualizations.  This can provide information such as how people move around your business location or what areas they congregate in, all of which are valuable when it comes to planning and preparing for growth.

If you want to learn more about how AI-powered analytics and assurance can improve your business network, give us a call at 402-327-1880.  Read more about Aruba NetInsight here.

Recently, a group of our DataVizion team members, made their way to Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for Aruba Atmosphere 2018. Hosted by Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, it’s the largest mobility conference in the world, that brings together networking experts from across the globe.

During the action-packed week, our DataVizion team members, along with several of our customers, attended keynotes from top-performing industry professionals, and hands-on sessions and demonstrations. Along with our customers, we learned about the importance and implementation of intelligent edge, and how to enable its capabilities throughout businesses with Aruba Mobile First Architecture.

We also had the opportunity to hear from Partha Narasimhan, CTO at Aruba. During his presentation, he spoke about the need of Al-powered analytics and assurance. Al-powered analytics and assurance solutions provide connectivity insights that let you measure and manage application responsiveness, so that you can see how your network is performing for your users, in real time.

“Not only does this event enable us to learn more about Aruba and where they are headed, from a partners perspective, is also enables DataVizion to bring customers together to learn more about what can be achieved with the solutions they are considering implementing,” said Tom Burke, Channel Sales Director.

While obtaining an Aruba Mobile First Expert Certification, our DataVizion team members gained insight on:

• How to turn IT resources into assets for businesses
• Closing security gaps while supporting workplace flexibility
• Providing the right collaboration tools for organizational creativity
• Helping organization’s gain an innovative edge;
• Embracing the flexibility and scale of cloud and on-premises solutions.

If you are interested to learn about how mobile-first implementations can benefit your business network,  give us a call at 402-327-1880.

DataVizion’s 2018 Tech Summit kicked off April 9, bringing together industry professionals and technology experts from more than 30 companies.

This year’s theme “Leveraging Next Generation Technology Solutions” focused on the latest in next generation mobility and security and what companies need to do to keep up.

“Advances in technology are shaking up expectations for how every kind of business operates,” Kelly Schrad, DataVizion President and CEO, said. “Technology isn’t going to slow down, so we’re helping our customers not only look how to get ahead of the curve, but also utilize solutions to give them a competitive advantage. “

The day kicked off with a presentation from special guest speaker Dale Cline, the CEO of BlackStratus. Cline discussed the latest in IT security and compliance and what businesses should be on the look out for.

Condall Clegg, the Director of US Channels and Alliances in the Solutions and Technology organization within Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) spoke about how the company has evolved to address changing technology demands.

Breakout sessions from leading technology companies Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, Fortinet and Nutanix, filled the second half of the day.

DataVizion also hosted a special breakout session on the company’s new managed security services solution, VizionCare Secure.

The day wrapped up a cocktail hour and raffle drawing. Several lucky winners walked away with great prizes such as a GoPro HERO6 and a DJI Phantom 3 Drone startup kit.

A special thanks to our partners and sponsors for helping us put together this event.

View photos from the event here.

Looking back on 2017, it was a big year for major breaches and cyberattacks. The success of ransomware went mainstream, which lead to increasing cases of ransomware attacks.

Now that 2018 is here, we’ll continue to see the development of ransomware attacks, which will deeply impact the productivity and security of organizations. Here are some predictions for additional vulnerabilities in store for businesses this year.

• Political motives on the rise: Expect to see ransomware motives that are for political gain rather than just commercial.
• Increased sophistication: Security solutions will need to adapt faster than ever to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated ransomware.
• Expanded targets: Hackers are no longer just going after big business. While the statistics vary, most show a significant increase in attacks on small businesses.
• Focus on customer data protection: Customers are walking away from businesses that suffer cybersecurity breaches. To thrive, businesses will need to not only stay ahead of evolving threats, but also keep pace with updated regulation and compliance standards.
• Internet of Things (IoT) integration fueling threats: Hackers are finding new ways to get into your network through unprotected devices, including everything from point-of-sale machines and intelligent vending machines to smart home and vehicle devices.

While the concern for cybersecurity attacks will continue to rise in 2018, we're committed to protecting your data and your business. Our VizionCare Secure, Managed Service Security Solution, can dramatically reduce your chance of suffering a severe breach with 24/7 active monitoring.

Contact us today at (402) 327-1880 for more information about VizionCare Secure.

Small businesses are a big market for cyber attacks.

Hackers have realized that smaller businesses are easier targets for cyber attacks. According to the Verizon 2017 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 61% of cyber attack victims are business with less than 1,000 employees.

So why are small business the target for these invasions? The answer is simple. Small businesses generally have weaker security. What weaknesses does your business have? Here are five of the most common:

1. Phishing still works. This year’s DBIR found that about 1 in 14 users were tricked into following a link or opening an attachment.
2. Weak passwords. Maybe it’s the amount of passwords we all have to remember or lack of creativty. Whatever it is, people are still failing to set strong enough passwords. Stats show 80% of hacking-related breaches leveraged either stolen passwords and/or weak or guessable passwords.
3. Old defenses aren’t working against new threats. Many companies are relaying on outdated cyber security defenses. You need a cyber security plan that keeps pace wit the ever-envolving hacker techniques.
4. Employees. Unfortunaly, many breaches are a result of employees or former employees who have access toinformation and use it to their benefit, which can often harm your business.
5. Physical theft. Whether deliberate or accidental, cyber security threats can start with hard copies or sensitive information landing in the wrong hands.

Though these statistics may be alarming, there are affordable solutions to insuring your business doesn’t become a victim to cyber attacks. DataVizion is now offering a new managed security service solution, VizionCare Secure. Our solution provides advanced threat intelligence and the same level of security as the largest companies in the world, all at a low monthly cost. 

To show businesses just how valuable it is, we offer a free 30-Day Security Health Assessment for your business. During that time, we will assess your security posture, risk profile and identify potential gaps.

You may think your small business is immune to a cyber attack, but in reality small businesses are becoming larger targets. Contact us today for more information or to enroll in the free assessment (402) 327-1880.

Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting private companies in hopes of easy access. Even basic oversights, such as leaving a laptop unattended or opening a spam email, could lead to a cyber attack and ultimately cause a financial loss for your company.

Having the right technology in place to prevent such attacks is a must. However, you should also provide basic training to employees, as they are a critical line of defense against cyber attacks. Here are five topics to cover.

1. Phishing and Spam

Hackers are coming up with increasingly clever scams using fake emails to try and gain access to your company’s network or employee information. Train your employees to spot these phishing attempts and to alert IT to any suspicious emails. You can even purchase phishing simulator training tools to test your employees’ awareness. The results will show what additional training and education may be needed.

2. Strong Passwords

Between work and personal use, it seems like we all have a million passwords to remember. To combat this, employees may be tempted to create an easy password used for multiple purposes. Train employees on the importance of using strong passwords and ways to secure where they store that information.

3. Reporting Problems

Employees may be hesitant to notify IT if they accidently clicked on something they shouldn't have. Or, they may not realize the risks involved with losing a flash drive with sensitive information. Take the time to educate employees and make sure they are comfortable reporting any, and all, security threats.

4. Public Wi-Fi

With the increase in workplace mobility comes an increase in usage of public Wi-Fi. While convenient, Wi-Fi in coffee shops, airports, hotels and elsewhere may not be secure. Educate employees on how to identify secure website and how to connect through a virtual private network (VPN).

5. Social Media

For starters, if you don’t have a social media policy in place, it’s time to implement one. Social media is ripe with hackers looking to elicit information from individuals. Just one click on a post that appears harmless could inadvertently spread malware. Educate employees on acceptable use of social media and have monitoring practices in place to minimize the risks.

It’s a good idea to continue to provide employees with ongoing training and information updates to keep IT security top of mind.

Do you have questions about your IT security? Give us a call to see how we can help.

Southwest Airlines was one of the latest companies to fall victim to what’s been referred to as a “computer glitch” resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations, delays, lots of unhappy customers and a negative impact to the company’s bottom line.

A router breakdown that led to a series of failures in critical technology systems has been blamed. The backup systems in place also failed to work as expected.

Even if you aren’t operating one of the nation’s largest airline carriers, if your company relies on technology (which, let’s face it, is most) a disaster recovery plan is a critical business need. Here are three reasons why:

1. Machines and Hardware Fail

Even the best hardware is not completely immune to failing. That’s where Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) comes in. In the event of a failure, your physical or virtual servers should be backed up by a third party so you can quickly and cost-effectively recover your data with as little down time as possible. In addition, you should be conducting regular network assessments and testing to avoid unreliable redundancy.

2. Human Error is Common

Ever had your computer crash or lost an important document? It happens to everyone. Having a disaster recovery plan in place can ensure you have online data backups that allow you to easily restore your data. In addition, having redundant firewalls, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software can help prevent security breaches that are often the result of human error.

3. Customers Have Little Patience

With the Internet, and especially social media, customers are quicker than ever to voice their frustrations and concerns to anyone and everyone. Those affected by the recent Southwest Airlines flight interruptions are a prime example. It’s not easy to earn a customers’ trust, and any downtime or inconvenience they experience, even if due to an IT disaster is a quick way to send your customers to your competition.

At any time, something unwelcomed can happen and affect your organization's overall IT infrastructure and your company’s bottom line. Call us to learn more about how VizionVault, our disaster recovery service, can help you prepare for the unexpected.

School districts, government agencies and utility companies are just some of the businesses making the headlines as the latest victims of ransomware, a malware that encrypts your files and limits or eliminates access. Victims are then forced to pay a ransom to regain access.

The inability to access important data and the loss of confidential or proprietary information can have a crippling effect on companies. But it’s not just businesses that are being targeted – home computers are also at risk. The loss of personal information, family photos, video and other information can be devastating.

What to look for:

Email attachments containing malware are often the culprit, but not always. Your computer could become infected simply by clicking on a compromised website, often being lured there by a phishing attempt.

How to protect yourself:

• Keep regular backups of your data, because without a backup, there is nothing to recover if your files become encrypted.
• Do not open suspect email attachments, even if you know the sender. Email accounts can get spoofed and attachments will look odd with references to attached resumes, tracking numbers, payroll information, photos, etc.
• Ensure your anti-virus software is enabled and up-to-date.
• Only download software from official sites you know and trust.
• Use the same precautions on your mobile phone as you would on your computer when using the Internet.

How to protect your company network:

• Raise awareness of ransomware and safe practices to protect the organization’s data.
• Provide corporate training for employees to help identify potential phishing attempts.
• Back up data and verify the integrity of your backups regularly.
• Patch operating system, software and firmware on digital devices.
• Ensure antivirus and anti-malware solutions are set to automatically update and conduct regular scans.
• Set access controls and network share permissions appropriately.
• Implement controls or software restriction policies to prevent programs from executing from common ransomware locations.

DataVizion provides a VizionVault Cloud Backup Service. This service provides daily backups of your files, which can be restored to safe versions if files have been encrypted. We also provide managed cloud-based antivirus, and robust firewall solutions for threat prevention. Questions or want to learn more? Give us a call.

Wireless mobility – what used to be a convenient feature – is now an expectation that’s changing the way we live and work. From restaurants and airplanes to college campuses and sporting events, today’s 24/7 connected world expects anytime, anywhere mobile access.

To increase their competitive advantage, businesses of all sizes need a reliable and secure wireless network infrastructure. Here are five must-have components:

1. Future proofing

All signs point to a steep upward trend in wireless usage. Your network needs to be scalable enough to allow for proper coverage and density requirements as needed. And trust us – you’ll need it.

2. Indoor and Outdoor Coverage

Business doesn’t stop at the door and neither should your wireless network coverage. Even if you don’t start with it, make sure to leave open the possibility of adding outdoor coverage from the same platform.

3. Centralized Management

Regardless of how many access points you have, you’ll need a way to effectively manage updates and configuration changes from one central location.

 4. Access Management

Help solve wireless security concerns with access management systems such as Aruba ClearPass, which allows you to assign a role to the wireless device based on how it’s authenticated.

5. Mobile Device Management (MDM)

With a network full of mobile devices each running their own applications and programs, you need a MDM system to monitor and manage access.

We’ve designed and installed wireless network systems for companies of all sizes across the U.S. So whether you’re starting fresh or your wireless network needs an upgrade, we can help.