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Ransomware: Prevention and Response for Businesses

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

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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!

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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.


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Compliance? Meet ClearPass.

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

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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!

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Top Tech Solutions for the Safety of Financial Institutions

Mar 4, 2021 6:57:29 PM / by DataVizion posted in Intelligent mobile, Aruba, Aruba Networks, SD-WAN, IT security, Technology, protect, DataVizion, free IT consultation, Financial

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Financial institutions have seen an astounding evolution in the past hundred years alone. The iron vaults of the past have been replaced by a digital alternative, but that alternative poses entirely new challenges when it comes to the safety of not just a simple stack of bills, but entire caches of data that your customers trust you to keep private. DataVizion’s team makes sure your customers are getting the safest, most secure financial services possible. With help from our partners at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Company, we can gain secure, remote access to your system in the event you’ve experienced a tech emergency or issue. 

In our nearly 20 years of providing full-scale IT services for companies of all sizes, we’ve learned how to pivot quickly, strategize effective solutions, and work within the regulations of a variety of industries to custom-design IT solutions that best protect both our customers’ most sensitive data and, in turn, their own customers. Plus, we’re regularly researching the latest technology and data protection compliance standards for banks, credit unions, investment management companies, and other financial industries to ensure your IT infrastructure meets every criterion. That includes infrastructure that spans multiple branches and locations, with each branch’s technological landscape operating as smoothly and efficiently as the last. 

Our scalable solutions have kept private data private, provided backup and disaster recovery, managed IT and security, and created network infrastructure and cloud solutions that have been supporting financial institutions for the past two decades. The coming years will only see technology become more and more integrated into our daily lives. Make sure your business is staying ahead of the curve with help from DataVizion.

Book an appointment with a DataVizion rep today and you’re automatically entered to win a drone or a $50 Visa gift card!* 

*Must complete appointment as scheduled to be entered

About DataVizion: 

DataVizion is a leading provider of custom IT solutions for businesses for 20 years. Proficient in the full range of business technology solutions from Small Business to Enterprise, DataVizion provides a better connection through enhanced speed, flexibility, and productivity in a secure environment. Backed by superior support and customer service, these proven solutions give their customers a competitive advantage to grow and thrive. IT, the way it should be.

 

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4 Common Misconceptions of Outsourced Managed Service Providers

May 20, 2019 12:35:52 PM / by DataVizion posted in MSP, Security, IT Network, cyber security, Service Level Agreement, Uncategorized, VizionCare Secure, Tech Talk, IT security, VizionCare, free IT consultation

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The increasing sophistication in and rise in number of cyber security attacks is leading more companies to consider whether hiring a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is the right move. We've found these common misconceptions often keep business owners from considering this solution.

1. We Already Have an Internal IT Team
Hiring an MSP doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your internal team. At DataVizion we work with your team by freeing them from necessary, yet time-consuming tasks like monitoring, management and patching of your IT network. Empower your internal IT resources by freeing them from status quo-maintaining tasks and allowing them to focus on business-advancing tasks.

2. External Help Means Slower Response Times 
It’s common for companies to fear their issues will sit at the bottom of some never-ending queue. With VizionCare, DataVizion’s managed services platform, there are no mystery queues.  VizionCare includes Service Level Agreements that define exactly how, when and in what timeframes service issues will be responded to. Our experienced team will ensure the right resources are dedicated to each task and resolved in an efficient and timely manner.

3. MSPs Are Only for Large Businesses and Too Expensive 
Businesses of all sizes can benefit from using an outsourced MSP. Not only will it help you gain a competitive edge, but our customers find it helps them operate more safely and efficiently. With VizionCare, you get top-level proactive monitoring and support all for a predictable fixed monthly fee agreement. No surprises.

4. Outsourcing Can Lead to More Security Risks  
VizionCare is a safe and secure solution that brings together protection, detection and response. Actionable threat intelligence is gleaned from the millions of events and we take the proper remediation steps to continuously harden your network. We also deliver compliance reports to you at specified intervals and you maintain full legal chain-of-custody over your logs.

While we can’t say hiring an MSP is the perfect solution for every company, the benefits are many.  If you want to learn more about VizionCare and how we can free up your IT Team, please contact us for a free consultation.

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