Managed IT

The Top Trends in Managed Services: What to Watch for

Managed services have significantly transformed over the last two decades, changing the fundamental foundation of how businesses navigate their IT infrastructure needs. Initially, managed services were mostly focused on basic maintenance activities and break-fix support, with businesses relying on external suppliers to conduct everyday IT chores and repair issues as they occurred. However, as technology advanced and firms sought more strategic methods to use IT to gain a competitive advantage, the scope of managed services grew dramatically. Read More…
Cybersecurity

The Role of AI and Machine Learning in Managed Security

The complexity of cybersecurity concerns has increased in response to growing cyber threats, with attacks evolving at a rapid pace. Traditional security methods are struggling to keep up with this ever-changing landscape. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have emerged as revolutionary powers, providing a proactive and adaptable defense against modern cyber threats. This transition is most visible in the emphasis on enhanced threat detection, which is an essential part of cybersecurity. Advanced threat detection, powered by AI and ML, goes beyond predefined rules, employing intelligent algorithms to study activities, discover abnormalities, and forecast potential threats before they occur. This proactive approach allows businesses to keep one step ahead of adversaries, reducing the impact of potential breaches. Read More…
Cybersecurity

Endpoint Security: An In-Depth Exploration of Protection and Detection

Endpoint Security has become critical in the dynamic field of cybersecurity, where attacks emerge at an unparalleled rate. In this article, we will explore the dual concepts of protection and detection within the realm of Endpoint Security, highlighting the methods and technologies that strengthen organizations against the ever-changing cyber threat scenario. Endpoint security refers to the entire method used to secure end-user devices ranging from old workstations to current IoT (Internet of Things) gadgets. Endpoint protection and detection measures, being the last line of defense, are critical in protecting sensitive data and organizational assets. Endpoint security is becoming increasingly important as the threat landscape evolves and cyber adversaries refine their strategies. Endpoints, as the points of entry into organizational networks, serve as both prospective targets and gatekeepers. Let’s delve into the subtle techniques required for powerful defense and vigilant detection at these important junctures. Read More…
Managed IT

Why You Should Choose a Larger MSP

A managed service provider (MSP) is an outsourced IT team who will configure your digital infrastructure, monitor your network, troubleshoot any issues you may have, and so on. Ultimately, employing an MSP is the perfect solution for many businesses when it comes to tackling anything, and everything, IT related. Rather than maintain in-house IT personnel, which is the costly alternative, an MSP provides consistent access to specialized expertise without the high price tag. Employing an MSP enables businesses to eliminate the risk of paying high capital expenditures unexpectedly and, instead, to adopt more predictable operating expenditures.

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Cybersecurity

The Evolution of Cybersecurity: Is Your MSP Keeping You Secure? (Part 6)

Not only are cybersecurity threats growing in number, but they’re evolving too. As discussed throughout the cybersecurity series, businesses have to watch out for a variety of tactics which cybercriminals employ, ranging from malware attacks, to eavesdropping, to phishing. Cybercriminals are constantly developing more advanced methods of sneaking into your infrastructure and stealing your data, and unfortunately this means you need to spend more resources on refining your cybersecurity to combat the situation.

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Cybersecurity

The Evolution of Cybersecurity: Running Virtual Penetration Tests (Part 5)

Regardless of how many resources you’ve spent building your digital fortress to protect against cyberattacks, there is only one way you can be certain it will hold up to potential threats—by putting it to the test. Specifically what is being referred to is a penetration test, where trusted cybersecurity professionals are authorized to simulate a cyberattack. Here, a variety of tactics are employed which are commonly used by cybercriminals to attempt to gain unauthorized access to the network system. Of course, the cybersecurity professionals don’t actually do any damage by performing the simulation. This is why this procedure is often known as ‘ethical hacking’, or hacking without fraudulent intention. Essentially, by practicing cyber attack scenarios businesses can learn both how their defenses would perform when challenged with a security threat, and whether or not they can actually be confident implementing those same defenses in the real-world. Moreover, they can also keep track of performance statistics, find out where improvements need to be made, and ultimately develop a more secure network system.

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Cloud Security

The Evolution of Cybersecurity: The Risks of Working from Home – A Zero Trust Approach (Part 4)

Whether it be improved flexibility or improved productivity, working remotely entails a variety of added benefits. However, there are cybersecurity risks which accompany these benefits. This entry in The Evolution of Cybersecurity series will detail what the risks associated with working from home are, the threats cybercriminals employ, and how a zero trust approach can help in their mitigation.

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Cloud Security

The Evolution of Cybersecurity: Multi-Factor Authentication (Part 3)

When you’re logging in to an account, whether it be for work, entertainment, social media, or so on, multi-factor authentication means that one single authentication factor isn’t sufficient to gain access. The term “multi”, in multi-factor authentication, suggests that at least two or more authentication factors are required to log in successfully. Here are the possible forms of authentication factors:

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Cloud Security

The Evolution of Cybersecurity: Ideal Endpoint Protection (Part 2)

The first part of The Evolution of Cybersecurity series, titled What Poor Endpoint Protection Entails, covered why antivirus (AV) software should not be relied upon for endpoint protection. In fact, the senior vice president for information from Symantec claims that the majority of attacks go undetected by traditional AV. The first takeaway is that common forms of AV are ineffective against encryption. The AV doesn’t have the key to access the file, and as such, it may not be analyzed, leaving the system vulnerable. The second takeaway is that AV must be configured independently for each unique device, including fax machines and printers. This may require significant manual labour if the devices are not linked, and automatically updated, via the cloud. Therefore, it can be costly and is often neglected.Read More…