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BYOD and Compliance Requirements

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:03:49 GMT

BYOD and Compliance Requirements

While using personal devices for compliance-related work is permissible, it requires robust security measures to ensure compliance. This includes encrypting the device, using strong passwords and authentication methods, and ensuring personal and compliance related data is not accessed in unauthorized locations or through unsecure networks. Additionally, healthcare and finacial workers need to be trained on compliance guidelines and the risks associated with using personal devices.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Security Measures:

Encryption:
Devices should be encrypted to protect PHI even if the device is lost or stolen.
Strong Passwords and Authentication:
Use complex passwords or biometric authentication (like fingerprint or facial recognition) to prevent unauthorized access.
Secure Networks:
Access PHI/Finacial Data Systems only through secure, encrypted networks (e.g., VPN) and avoid public Wi-Fi.
Device Lock/Logoff:
Enable automatic lock/logoff features to disconnect from the device when left unattended.
Remote Wipe:
Implement a remote wipe feature to erase PHI from the device if it's lost or stolen.
Secure Communication:
Use compliance-compliant email and secure communication tools.
Security Awareness Training:
Employees should be trained on the risks of using personal devices and how to protect PHI.
Secure Workspace:
Access PHI in a private, secure location where unauthorized individuals cannot view or overhear sensitive information.

Key Considerations for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device):

Data Separation:
Implement policies to separate personal and work-related data, such as using distinct profiles or containers.
Application Management:
Manage applications on the device to ensure they are compatible with complinace requirements and do not pose security risks.
Network Access Controls:
Enforce network access controls to limit access to the corporate network and PHI.
Third-Party Vendor Agreements:
If third-party vendors are involved, ensure they have Compliance Required Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) in place.
Regular Monitoring:
Monitor system access for suspicious or unauthorized activity.

In essence, while using personal devices for work that requires adhereing to compliance requirements is possible, it's crucial to prioritize security and follow your governing bodies guidelines to protect patient and client information. This is just part of the guidelines. The real difficult part is implementing all of the above in cost effective manner.

MFA Fatigue And The Associated Dangers

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 03:34:19 GMT

MFA Fatigue And The Associated Dangers

MFA fatigue, or multi-factor authentication fatigue, is an increasing concern for businesses like Peak Technologies and the clients that we provide Managed IT Support to. This phenomenon arises when users become overwhelmed by repeated authentication requests, leading to frustration and potential security risks. The danger of MFA fatigue is that an end user may allow a malicious individual access to their account on accident.

As organizations prioritize cybersecurity, effective implementation of MFA is crucial; however, excessive prompts can cause users to bypass essential security measures or compromise their login details.

It goes like this.

Hacker John obtains a username and password for a account that is protected with MFA. How they obtain it is a subject for another blog post but it can be a plethora of ways. (Even as simple as OH it's on the post-it note on my computer screen and the cleaning person put 2 and 2 together.)

Anyway Hacker John attempts to log in to the account using the obtained credentials and they are asked to confirm access via MFA. The MFA request still goes to the end users phone or mobile device to confirmed and login to the account approved.

The user receiving those MFA prompts may have become lax on understanding it and they get requests so often that they don't really think about what may be happening and just blindly approve the request thus granting Hacker John access to the account and all the data within it.

To mitigate MFA fatigue, Peak Technologies recommends adopting adaptive authentication strategies and user education, ensuring clients can benefit from enhanced security without diminishing user experience. By striking this balance, businesses can maintain robust defenses against cyber threats while fostering user satisfaction.

The bottom line is we are all a human firewall against malicious actors in the IT realm. Confirming all MFA request before you click on approval or scan your face on the MFA app is critical in the defense of your data.

I always tell users to click on deny or this was not me if you ever have any doubt about the request. The worst thing that will happen is you launch you Outlook or MS Teams and are logged out and get prompted again and now you are positive the request is for legitimate actions and not a Hacker John.

[ Backup and Recovery Tip] A Few Stats on Lost Data

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:38:47 GMT

A Few Stats on Lost Data

At Peak Technologies, our comprehensive data analysis reveals that a significant portion of data loss can be attributed to end user or a human element. According to Veaam (a preferred backup and disaster recovery partner of Peak technologies BTW) showed in their research the following:

The human element: 82% of breaches in 2021 involved a human element, such as error or misuse.
Hardware failure: Hardware failures are one of the leading causes of lost data, with some surveys finding that they account for up to 43% of data loss.
Malicious software: Malware and scams also pose a significant risk. A recent survey found that 86% of organizations had at least one user who tried to connect to a phishing site.

In examining some additional statistics from Acronis a world wide leader in data protection they state 41% of users are not backing up their data in any way at all. Taking that into account we can really start to see why data loss is so impactful to a business.

How impactful you ask? Lets look at some more statistics:

93% of companies that lost their data center for 10 days or more due to a disaster filed for bankruptcy within one year of the disaster. 50% of businesses that found themselves without data management for this same time period filed for bankruptcy immediately. (National Archives & Records Administration in Washington)
94% of companies suffering from a catastrophic data loss do not survive – 43% never reopen and 51% close within two years. (University of Texas)
30% of all businesses that have a major fire go out of business within a year and 70% fail within five years. (Home Office Computing Magazine)
77% of those companies who do test their tape backups found back-up failures. (Boston Computing Network, Data Loss Statistics)
7 out of 10 small firms that experience a major data loss go out of business within a year. (DTI/Price Waterhouse Coopers)
96% of all business workstations are not being backed up. (Contingency Planning and Strategic Research Corporation)
50% of all tape backups fail to restore. (Gartner)
25% of all PC users suffer from data loss each year (Gartner)

Bottom line is, end user are more likely to make a drastic mistake and deletes data or clicks on something that starts the snowball of disaster down the mountain of momentum. The platform your systems are on doesn’t matter all that much when it comes to the human factor and that data loss can quickly become a business crippling problem for a plethora of reasons.

As a leading provider of managed information technology services, we understand the critical importance of safeguarding your data assets no matter where they are housed. Our technical support, and managed backup services, along with the security services we provide are all designed to work together to mitigate risks and ensure the seamless operation of your IT infrastructure. By addressing the root causes of data loss, providing solid cloud as well as on premise backup solutions, as well as implementing a properly configured security and data loss prevention solution we empower businesses to proactively protect their valuable information and maintain operational continuity. Trust Peak Technologies to provide the expertise and solutions needed to safeguard your data.

Whats the Benefits of Cyber Awareness Training

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 20:40:26 GMT

Whats the Benefits of Cyber Awareness Training

At Peak Technologies, we understand the critical importance of cyber awareness training for businesses of all sizes. Our comprehensive training programs offer numerous benefits, including:

Increased employee awareness of potential cyber threats
Improved ability to recognize and respond to phishing attempts
Enhanced understanding of best practices for protecting sensitive data
Businesses can significantly reduce the risk of costly data breaches and cyber attacks
Safeguarding their reputation and bottom line of the business

Within our managed Information Technology services and support, we provide the platform, expertise, and resources needed to ensure that your employees are well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Employees that are educated and aware of the day to day cyber security threats that are surrounding us are less likely to fall for common tactics that cause data breaches and damages.

We call these actively aware staff the "Human Firewall".

It may take a hacker months to get through the security that our managed services put into place on your business network but an unaware and unsuspecting staff member may be tricked in seconds or minutes giving up sensative access or data to the wrong people.

[About Peak Technologies] What is Managed IT Services at Peak

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 20:16:38 GMT

[About Peak Technologies] What is Managed IT Services at Peak

At Peak Technologies, we specialize in providing comprehensive managed information technology services for businesses of all sizes. Our experienced team offers a range of technical support, security services , network services , and communication services to ensure that your IT infrastructure runs smoothly and securely. With our proactive approach, we help businesses minimize downtime, improve efficiency, and enhance overall productivity. By partnering with Peak Technologies, you can rest assured that your IT needs are in trained expert hands, allowing you to focus on your core business objectives. Let us take the burden of managing your IT services, so you can concentrate on driving your business forward. Because we know not every business is the same, every one of our clients has a customized agreement on the types and level of services that they receive from our team. We work hard to be a full service IT department weather your business is 5 end users or 250.

A typical manage services contract may contain some of the following services and sometimes more:

Remote end user remote technical support and incident tracking within our ticketing system
On Site technical support from our trained and skilled technicians
Network, Firewall, and Wi-Fi management and administration
Centralized end point protection including anti-virus and anti-malware
Operating system and 3rd party vulnerability and upgrade patching
Privilege access management and administration
Email Spam and Malware filtering
Email Archiving and backup
Cloud system security for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Microsoft 365 or Google workspace administration and management
Phone system management and administration
Workstation or Server backup and disaster recovery
IT System warranty management, asset management, and hardware procurement

[IT Security Tip] Properly Training Employees

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:22:39 GMT

[IT Security Tip] properly Training Employees

The team you have around you is an important part of your business. Having that team understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity practices is a fantastic way to improve your cybersecurity.

One mistake from a careless employee can render all your cybersecurity measures useless. Some things your team should focus on to stay secure are:

How to identify phishing emails

Not using personal gadgets in the workplace

Choosing a strong password

Paying extra attention to confidential information

Avoiding suspicious applications

Taking the time to train and educate your team could save you money and future headache. We offer cybersecurity training and if you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me today! Trained is important

[IT Security Tip] Do you have a yearly checklist?

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:22:37 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Do you have a yearly checklist?

Do you have an annual or bi-annual checklist for your cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is something many people don't think about too often until they are directly affected by it. If you had a list of cybersecurity tasks that you did annually or bi-annually that would greatly improve your network security.

Some simple things to focus on are:

Passwords- Review your accounts and update passwords or start using a password management tool like LastPass. Also, enabling Multi-Factor Authentication with all your accounts.

Computer Review- Go through your computer and get rid of what isn't necessary. Delete software, applications, and files that you don't need anymore. This will help keep your computer running faster and more efficiently.

Deep Clean- This one is something everyone probably hates but is a necessary evil. Clean up and organize your desk, filing cabinets, and any other areas that might hold sensitive material. If you look around these areas, I bet you have some sensitive information laying around them. Take the time to organize, shred and properly and securely store these items.

Focusing on these simple tasks will help you improve your organization and security.

[IT Security Tip] Are you using two-factor authentication?

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:22:36 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Are you using two-factor authentication?

Are you familiar with two-factor authentication also known as 2FA? If you aren't I would suggest looking into it? 2FA is a great tool that adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts.

2FA helps by adding another step to accessing your online accounts. This can be done in a handful of different ways like typing in a code when prompted or confirming you are the one logging in via a separate device like a phone. Many different websites and software are implementing a 2FA into their login's. You may have noticed this with some of your online accounts, but this is something you can implement on most if not all of your accounts.

2FA is a great tool that can help keep your accounts and information safe from hackers. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this please reach out, we are always happy to help!

Do you have a remote work policy in place?

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 16:53:13 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Do you have a remote work policy in place?

Working from home poses many risks to your company and its data. Although your employees may have the best of intentions, establishing a Work from Home Policy reduces these risks by providing them a clear set of guidelines and procedures.

You should consult with an IT expert, along with your HR department, to develop your Work From Home Policy. At minimum, it should include these items:

How remote workers are approved

What physical security measures are necessary for at-home workspaces

Requirements for maintaining online security, such as passwords and cloud file-sharing

Use of a VPN to connect to company networks

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) of company devices

Procedure for reporting incidents

If you are interested in learning more, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to help!

[IT Security Tip] Router or a Firewall which one do I need?

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 16:40:53 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Router or a Firewall which one do I need?

Not everybody is good with technology, and this is why computer jargon could get confusing at times. Like the confusion with routers and firewalls. They essentially serve the same purpose of distributing the Internet to devices on the network.

A router commonly purchased at a big-box store is designed to serve the needs of the home, not the needs of a business. Its main purpose is to make sure that all of your electronics have great WiFi, rather than being able to deny all Internet access from unwanted sources. A firewall, unlike a router, is intelligent.

You typically pay a subscription fee because the firewall is constantly updating itself to protect against the newest cyber-attacks. Unlike a router, the firewall looks at all Internet traffic passing through it to make sure it’s legitimate, not a virus, and was requested from a computer inside the network. They also allow us to block access from other countries known for producing cyber-attacks.

If you have a router instead of a firewall distributing internet to your employees you need to look into getting a firewall. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about firewalls. We are always happy to help!

[IT Security Tip] Having a Backup that is quick and efficient is key

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 16:38:32 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Having a Backup that is quick and efficient is key

We have been talking over the past couple of weeks about having a Disaster Recovery Plan in place as well as using a UPS Utility Power Source in your business. These are all important factors in making sure your data is safe in case of a disaster or other event that your backup is needed.

Another important factor is having a VM replica set up using VEEAM. This will help get you back up and running quickly and effectively. VEEAM is an enterprise-grade backup system that protects your data by keeping backups locally and offsite of your virtual machines. It also allows you to quickly restore them in the event of a failed physical server, ransomware attack, or any other reason you could think of. While VEEAM supports restoring and replicating entire virtual machines, it also allows you to simply restore a file from a previous backup.

This would be an effective tool for your company or team. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact Peak Technologies . We are always happy to help!

3 rules to keeping your data safe in the cloud

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 16:03:08 GMT

[IT Security Tip] 3 rules to keeping your data safe in the cloud

If you’re using any kind of cloud application, you are right to be concerned about data privacy and security. The company hosting your data is ultimately responsible for keeping hackers out of their network, but most cloud breaches are due to user error. So it’s important that you, the user, are being smart about security, too.

Here are a few things you can easily do to improve security in the cloud:

Maintain a strong password of at least eight characters with both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Make sure the device you’re using to access the application is secure. This is an area where you need professional help in installing and maintaining a strong firewall, antivirus, and spam-filtering software. Avoid accessing your cloud application with the same device used to check social networking sites and free email accounts to avoid compromising your cloud storage.

“Reverse”-backup your data. If the data in a cloud application is important, make sure you’re downloading it from the application and backing it up in another safe and secure location. In the event your account is hacked or the data is corrupted, you are secured in knowing you have a copy.

Make sure you have a disaster recovery plan in place

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 15:54:07 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Make sure you have a disaster recovery plan in place

Having a Disaster Recovery Plan in place is something many business owners don’t like to think about. The fact is, this is an important tool to have when disaster does strike.

What you should do to make sure you are prepared if a disaster strikes?

Inventory Everything: Find out every piece of hardware and software that you have helping your company operate.

Timeline and Owners: Take the time to understand what your business needs to run and what is less important. Make a list of what is a top priority, so you know what you need to focus on first and who should manage it.

Communication: Now that you understand who is responsible for what communicate to everyone involved what they are responsible for.

Review Insurance: Look at your company’s insurance policy when it comes to natural disasters or something that includes a disaster recovery plan.

Test your Plan: Now that you have everything in place, test it.

Having a Disaster Recovery Plan in place is an important piece for your business. Finding the right company to partner with to handle this for you can take the stress out of this experience if you ever must go through it. If you would like to learn more or see what Peak Technologies does when disaster strikes, please feel free to contact us. We are always happy to help!

[IT Security Tip] What Precautions Should You Take with Your Cybersecurity

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:40:23 GMT

[IT Security Tip] What Precautions Should You Take with Your Cybersecurity

In the last year, everyone has been forced to shift priorities. If you’re like many business owners, you are intently focused on pivoting your business to accommodate today’s “new normal”. In fact, you are probably investing so much of your time in trying to retain your customers and generate new cash flow that you barely have time to even think about cybersecurity.

The problem is that cybercriminals and hackers know there’s no better time to strike than during a global crisis. In fact, they’re probably working overtime to craft new malware while the rest of us are trying to manage the new normal. Here are solutions you can implement during these crazy times to help protect your business data, money, and productivity:

Be more suspicious of incoming e-mails

Ensure your work-from-home computers are secure

Improve your password strategy

Taking these simple steps will help keep you protected if disaster strikes. Let us know if you have any questions or need help.

What is a battery backup and how can it help me?

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:40:19 GMT

[IT Security Tip] What is a battery backup and how can it help me?

A UPS or a Utility Power Source is a battery backup that provides a power source to your electronics in case of a power outage. This is an extremely important tool to help keep critical equipment up and running in case of an interruption to your power supply.

Losing power temporarily does not seem like a big deal to most but it can be huge if not properly prepared for. If you have a Utility Power Source in place this will help give you a seamless transition if you experience a power surge, loss of power, or any other event to disrupt your power supply. In the event of power loss, the UPS will activate to provide a smooth consistent power source. Having this in place with help prevent damage to equipment and data loss.

The UPS sits between the wall outlet and your electronic devices. When you have a UPS in place, it recognizes that a power surge or outage happens. When the UPS notices this it engages and provides power to any devices plugged into it. Tools like these will help keep your equipment and data safe.

[IT Security Tip] Have you ever lost an hour of work on your computer?

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:40:17 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Have you ever lost an hour of work on your computer?

Now imagine if you lost days or weeks of work – or imagine losing your client database, financial records, and all the work files your company has ever produced or compiled. Imagine what would happen if your network went down for days and you couldn’t access e-mail or the information on your PC. How devastating would that be?

What if a major storm, flood, or fire destroyed your office and all of your files? Or if a virus wiped out your server…do you have an emergency recovery plan in place that you feel confident in? How quickly do you think you could recover, if at all?

If you do not have good answers to the above questions or a rock-solid disaster recovery plan in place, you need to start thinking about this. With the number of threats constantly growing, it’s not a matter of if you will have a problem, but rather a matter of when.

Having a reliable backup in place can save you from disaster. This will give you peace of mind and protection in case something where to happen with your server.

Do you have a cell phone policy in place?

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:53:29 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Do you have a cell phone policy in place?

Using a company cell phone or your personal cell phone for work is something that happens a lot in today's world. They are great devices that help us streamline processes and work more efficiently. Is your company ready if one of your employees lets someone into your network unknowingly because you didn't have a mobile device policy in place? Here are five tips to help keep you, your business, and your employees safe when using company cell phones.

Implement a mobile device policy

Require STRONG passwords and passcodes to lock mobile devices

Require all mobile devices be encrypted

Implement a remote wipe software for lost or stolen devices

Backup remote devices

While these five are a good start, many organizations that are heavily using mobile devices and need to be far more diligent about monitoring and securing all mobile devices. Making sure you have and implement a mobile device policy that will keep you, your customers, and your employees safe. If you have any questions or would like to learn more great tips reach out to us. We are always happy to help.

[IT Security Tip] Simple cyber tips to help keep you protected

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:47:29 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Simple cyber tips to help keep you protected

Cybercriminals are becoming better equipped with more advanced technology. Small-business websites are the most at risk for a cyber-attack.

Cybercriminals use malware, ransomware, phishing scams, bot attacks, and even direct attacks to get to your data. If you don’t have protections in place against these kinds of incursions, you are putting your business in harm’s way. By implementing the below four items you will help protect your business and protect your data.

Create A Culture of Awareness: Every employee should do cybersecurity training, along with ongoing education. This helps keep everyone informed and ready to combat threats.

Monitor Threats 24/7: Staying on top of everything that is going in and out of your network.

Make Sure Protections Are Up-To-Date: Practically every piece of hardware and software you use needs to be updated at some point. Stay on top of it!

Have A Plan: Talk about what you would do if something terrible did happen. Then create a simple plan and talk about it with everyone that needs to know.

Taking these simple steps will help keep you protected if disaster strikes. Let us know if you have any questions or need help.

PrintNightmare and Recent Microsoft Patches

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 18:11:11 GMT

PrintNightmare and Recent Microsoft Patches

It has been brought to our attention that Microsoft has released some very intrusive security patching in the lasts batch of patches releases. The patching is directly related to windows printing vulnerabilities and is causing a lot of issues for our clients as well as everyone else in the Microsoft Windows world.

Back in June Microsoft addressed a minor privilege escalation vulnerability within the windows print spooling service (this windows service is responsible for how windows manages printing). Almost two weeks after they made their initial find the vulnerability impact was changed from local privilege escalation to remote code execution making a it a much bigger issue. This vulnerability was dubbed the name Print Nightmare because the print spooler service fails to restrict access to functionality that allows users to add printers and related system drivers thus allowing remote or local hackers to execute any code they desire on a system with FULL unrestricted system privileges.

To mitigate the issue of this vulnerability Microsoft made a change in the way that printers are deployed as well as changes to the security requirements for the installation of printer drivers. After applying patch KB5005652 non administrator users are no longer able to install network print drivers without administrator privileges. One would think that this is not an issue as the print drivers have been previously installed to most systems prior to this patch. However, what we are seeing is that print servers that are running server operating system 2016 or earlier (2012 and 2008R2) are prompting end users to reinstall the existing print driver especially if they are running V3 print drivers from the manufacturer. Given the print drivers are being required to be reinstalled due to this patch end users are being prompted for administrator credentials to be entered to allow the install of the driver that previously didn’t require this level of credentials.

It is still highly recommended to not to give end users full administrator rights to either their computer or the windows domain as that allows their account to do anything on the system and if compromised via malicious means the end users account can be leverage for nefarious purposes.

Several fixes have been being explored by systems administrators and by our engineers as well. We are working hard to implement the fixes with our clients and our field engineers will be communicating results and mitigation efforts with our points of contact.

Here is a Microsoft support article with the required fixes we will be implementing.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5005652-manage-new-point-and-print-default-driver-installation-behavior-cve-2021-34481-873642bf-2634-49c5-a23b-6d8e9a302872

We are highly anticipating that printer manufacturers will be adjusting their drivers for most of their current products to help mitigate the problems with the new patches. As new drivers become available Peak Technologies staff will test and deploy new printer drivers as needed to our clients.

Thank you for your understanding and support

[IT Security Tip] The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make Your Computer Network

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:51:00 GMT

[IT Security Tip] The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make Your Computer Network

As a business owner or key decision maker, you have a lot on your mind. You probably have a hand in most things that happen where you work. Is keeping your network safe one of the things you think about? Want to avoid the most common and expensive computer problems most businesses experience?

We’ve compiled a list of 5 things you should be doing to save yourself a lot of time and money, by avoiding a big, ugly computer disaster.

Have an automated off-site back-up system in place.

Centralize your data on your server.

Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, and perform weekly spyware scans.

Create an acceptable use policy and enforce it!

Perform regular maintenance.

Keeping on top of your network safety is a great step in the right direction. Understanding what you need to look for and prepare for is a great start to keeping your business network safe.

[IT Security Tip] Why upgrading and updating your computer is important

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:50:58 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Why upgrading and updating your computer is important

When running a secure business, it is a good practice to update your computers every 3 to 5 years based on how well they are operating and performing. At a certain point, your computer might not be able to keep up or run some of the updates. Sometimes this can be a minor inconvenience like not being able to use a specific feature. In other instances, it can mean you might not be as protected as you need to be.

Not having your computers running at their optimal performance could be a strain on your pockets. When running older computers, you have the inevitably of having to repair and update your aging equipment. Paying your support team whether internal or external will cost you money and time better spent on projects to improve your company. This directly affects how your business grows and competes in today's market. One of the most important factors in keeping your equipment updated is keeping you and your business safe. When you use older computers the features and the security of them get outdated. This can be a huge risk when cybercriminals find weaknesses through outdated software.

So, in the long run spending money now to update your outdated computers will help save you money. With older equipment the risk of a cyber-attack increase. The maintenance and general upkeep with older equipment take your staff off task and off more important projects. Operating older computers can be time-consuming and will only increase as the equipment ages. We are happy to help ease the pressure of updating your equipment and keeping you safe.

[IT Security Tip] The long-forgotten piece of security for road warriors…

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:50:52 GMT

[IT Security Tip] The long-forgotten piece of security for road warriors…

Do you connect to the office network or VPN (virtual private network) to get some work done in the evenings, on the weekends, or when on the road? For many, the answer is "yes."

One of the most frequently forgotten pieces of network security is making sure that personal devices used in employee homes conform to the standards in your office. Make sure your road warriors and remote workers have up-to-date antivirus software on the computers they are connecting in from and that a good firewall is in use when possible. It’s generally safe to connect into work from public hotspots as long as your office VPN is in use. The VPN secures the connection between the computer and the office. Remote login software such as ‘GoToMyPC’ and others may not use the same type of security as your VPN and therefore may not be safe to connect from a public hotspot. It is always a good idea to exercise caution whenever dealing with public hotspots.

VPNs are a great tool for business owners and individuals alike. They help keep you and your information safe while giving you peace of mind.

[IT Security Tip] Guarding Your Interior

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:50:49 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Guarding Your Interior

The weakness of any door – no matter in the cyber or real world – is that legitimate people need to be able to get in and out. Oftentimes we help people to develop a highly secure and functional door to the Internet, but they give little thought to the physical door into their building.

You should develop a strategy for verifying that service personnel are legitimate via official corporate-issued IDs. It’s also important to be able to track visitor movement through the office. Locking the server-room door becomes especially important when it’s across the hall from an office that people frequent. It’s also incredibly easy to monitor the temperature and whether there is any water in the server room. Consider a closed-circuit camera system.

Think about everyone who has access to your office – the cleaning crew is often forgotten about as they spend hours in your office alone around sensitive data and documents. Ultimately YOU could be left holding the bag if they notoriously performed identity theft based from information in your office. It happens every day and it happens locally. Make sure to consider ALL aspects of keeping your office secure in your disaster recovery plan and update it regularly.

Multi Factor Authentication and How It Will Keep You Protected

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 15:25:22 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Multi Factor Authentication and How It Will Keep You Protected

If you're like most people, you have multiple variations of the same password and use whatever one fits the criteria for whatever account you are using. This practice gets many people into trouble because when one of these sites gets hacked it leaves you and your many different accounts vulnerable. Multi-Factor Authentication is a great solution to this common problem.

A simple multi-factor authentication software will help keep your accounts safe. They require the user to provide two or more verifications before giving them access to the computer, app, VPN, etc. These have been great tools that are used by businesses across the world to help keep everything safe. How many of these work is, you have a secure app on your phone, a card, or token you swipe, or you have biometric authentication. Many people use the app option as it is the easiest to implement and most cost-effective.

In most cases, you log in with your username and password and you will be prompted to enter a code. This constant refreshing code will help give you the security you need since your account can only be accessed by the person that knows your login information and has access to your app. Tools like these are the reason businesses can keep control over their data and stay safe from cybercriminals.

[IT Security Tip] VoIP Phone System and How They Save You Money

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 15:41:37 GMT

[IT Security Tip] VoIP Phone System and How They Save You Money

VoIP is becoming more popular and widely used in the last 5 to 10 years. Even though many businesses that use it still don’t utilize its full potential. Analog phones are becoming a thing of the past and are slowly being phased out. With this shift in technology, it is important to understand VoIP and how to get the most out of it for your business.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and has been around since 1995. VoIP transmits everything through the internet which gives you many advantages and features landlines cannot. It is extremely cost-effective when compared to analog. A typical business saves 40% on local calls and up to 90% on international calls. The quality of the call will drastically improve when you make the switch to VoIP as well.

A VoIP phone system is versatile as well. You can turn your cell phone to have these capabilities with the download of an app or software offered by many providers. These phone systems also have the ability to integrate with CRM’s and other software. This will be extremely beneficial to your company and streamline many of your processes. This, in turn, will increase productivity and help your business grow.

[IT Security Tip] What is a VPN and Why Should I Use One?

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 15:07:52 GMT

[IT Security Tip] What is a VPN and Why Should I Use One?

A VPN or a Virtual Private Network is a software that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the server at a different location. VPN's are used for many different applications but mainly are used for businesses to stay protected with remote or traveling employees.

A VPN typically allows you access to your documents or other information you might need to be stored on the server. These have been a great tool for many businesses and individuals. When you are connected to a VPN everything you do is ran through it. A VPN is similar to a firewall that is runs everything through that software to keep your device and information safe. Like a firewall, a VPN acts as a gateway to prevent unwanted information, documents, or data to leave or enter your device. A VPN protects and hides your IP address from your internet service provider as well as websites you visit. This helps protect your identity and your sensitive data. Your VPN creates a private connection from your device to the internet. This protects and hides your data through encryption.

VPN's are a great tool for business owners and individuals alike. They help keep you and your information safe while giving you peace of mind.

[IT Security Tip] Start Today and Protect Your Future

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:48:34 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Start Today and Protect Your Future

How important is computer and cyber security? Let’s take a look at some facts to put it in perspective.

Did you know that, according to a National Small Business Association Report, 44% of US small businesses were the victim of a cyber-attack, with each attack costing the business on average $9,000? The National Cybersecurity Alliance’s StaySafeOnline.com recently reported 59% of small and midsize businesses do not have a contingency plan that outlines procedures for responding to and reporting data breaches? Also, 77% of small firms believe their company is SAFE from a cyber-attack even though 83% of those firms don’t have a written security policy, according to the National Cybersecurity Alliance?

Did you know that an overwhelming number of people don’t consider that a large company can absorb the costs of a cyber-incident while those costs may suffocate a midsize or small business? Oftentimes, we forget the type of threats we all most commonly face. If you don’t have a security plan and a disaster recovery plan, today’s a great day to start. Consider every scenario. You’ll remember details that need to happen and would be totally forgotten in the middle of a crisis.

[IT Security Tip] Why Staying on Top of Your Updates Can Help

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:05:16 GMT

[IT Security Tip] Why Staying on Top of Your Updates Can Help

If you’ve used a Windows computer for any length of time, you notice the little pop-up bubbles telling you X or Y needs to be updated. To complicate matters, updates can be frustrating. They require reboots, they can arbitrarily change settings and functionality, and something that behaves one way may behave differently post-update.

Are these updates really needed? While that topic can be debated for hours, consider these facts:

In early 2017, Microsoft released a particular “0 day” update to resolve a security bug that was discovered the same day. Microsoft reported that one week after the update was released, there were hundreds of thousands of machines infected – because while prevention was possible, those machines just hadn’t installed their updates. Adobe Flash, which almost everyone uses in their web browser, is a notorious security risk , and Flash updates are released several times a month. There have been situations where someone had all of their data and the data on the server they were connected to encrypted and held for ransom – the breach originated because they visited a website that was compromised, and their computer had an outdated version of Flash.

Regular updates will only become more prevalent in our lives. Take care of them right away or let us take care of your updates!

[IT Security Tip] What is a Firewall?

Tue, 18 May 2021 15:19:28 GMT

[IT Security Tip] What is a Firewall?

When you are using the internet for your work or personal use, you are susceptible to an attack. Having a reliable firewall in place will help keep you protected. Being proactive when it comes to cyber security is key to keeping your business and employees safe.

When thinking about what a firewall is and how it works it's best to think of it as a filter. The firewall filters out all data based on settings and rules you put in place regarding what you want coming in and going out. It acts as your first line of defense against potential attacks. Firewalls can prevent malicious software from gaining accessing to your computer or network via the internet. They are set up to stop unwanted traffic from specific locations, applications, websites, or specific users.

Firewalls can either be a hardware or software. Both options for a firewall are great, it's just figuring out what works best for your needs. Hardware tends to be the safer choice since it's a separate device. The software versions of firewall are integrated right into the computer or operating systems. Some routers now come with a simple firewall integrated into them to help keep you safe. This is a great option with many companies with remote workers or employees working from home.

Firewalls are a necessity in today’s world if you want to keep your business and employees safe. They are simple to have an IT company manage and keep your firewall working and updated. Staying safe in the digital world can be challenging.

Technology Projects: The Choices at Hand

joey.martin@peakitgrp.com (Randy Golla) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 17:34:50 GMT

Technology Projects: The Choices at Hand

Here at Peak Technologies, we take great pride in everything we have to offer. Whenever we are approached with a new project, we will always try and make sure that we have a good conversation with our clients.

Every client wants their project completed in under 24 hours and they also want to have it shaped to their operation without any kind of training for their users. This isn’t impossible, but it will require a senior development team. This causes the price of the project to go up.

At the end of the day, you might have staff who are able to embrace change well and who can keep things moving without any problems. In this instance, you may be able to move to a more affordable system so that you can track your deployment without any training at all. If you’re not an expert however then you need to make sure that you are hiring people who are.

Peak Technologies makes sure that we explore every aspect of your business operation, ensuring that we have a solid understanding of your offerings. We also partner with the leading technology companies learning the ins and outs so you don’t have to. Want to find out more about our services or what we can do for you? We can then give you the help and support you need.

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

joey.martin@peakitgrp.com (Randy Golla) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:54:42 GMT

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

Keeping your company up and running is expensive to say the least. If you are a business owner then you have to make sure that you pay your staff, the rental costs for your space and your marketing too. On top of all this, you have to make sure that you are able to generate some profit. All of this combined can make it very difficult for you to think about investing in your IT department.

Your IT System

It may be that your IT system needs to undergo a huge overhaul. It may be that you require new servers, workstations and even networks too. On top of this, you may think that the system you have now is fine because your staff are productive and because you don’t have too many interruptions. The main thing that you have to remember here is that your IT system, as it stands, could fail at any moment. When this happens, you will have an utter catastrophe on your hands.

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The Right Approach

As a business owner, you might think that you are taking the right approach but at the end of the day, this is not wise. Every piece of tech you have has a lifespan and if you happen to exceed it then you will be putting your entire company at risk.

If you want to upgrade your system or if you want to explore the potential risks of not upgrading your system, then we are here to help.

Is Your Mobile Workforce as Connected as It Should Be?

joey.martin@peakitgrp.com (Randy Golla) — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 20:18:13 GMT

Technology is advancing all the time, and it’s important that you change with it. So many companies have opted to decentralize their operation so that they can establish a worldwide presence. They have also completely mobilized their workforce as well, in an attempt to increase efficiency and flexibility. Even though mobile workers don’t operate in a central office, it’s even more important to make sure that they are connected.

If you want your mobile workforce to be connected, then it’s vital that you find the right tools and utilities. You have to make sure that your mobile workforce is on-point and that they are operating like a well-oiled machine. This can easily be achieved by investing in a sound connective system, where your mobile workers can talk with one another without compromising the level of collaboration they once had.

By investing in the right communication channels, you can give your company a sense of identity and you can also help each team member to achieve their full potential.

Here at Peak Technologies, we always make sure that we do a full assessment of the workforce you have, while pinpointing any connectivity weakness. We will then recommend a cost-effective solution that more than meets your company requirements. If you want to find out more, call us at (833)-673-PEAK.

Free Security Awareness Training

joey.martin@peakitgrp.com (Randy Golla) — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 03:49:19 GMT

October Cyber Security Month

In recognition of Cyber Security month Peak Technologies is offering our business partners the wonderful opportunity to provide their end users with free unlimited security awareness training. This training is simple to navigate and easy to understand. It is an effective tool in providing your employees with a basic understanding of the following topics.

Public WiFi Safety

Social Media Security

Mobile Security

USB Safety

Shadow IT

Password Safety

Phishing

Insider Threats

Here at Peak Technologies we believe that the best and most effective defense against cyber attacks is education. Through our boosted cyber security platform we can provide additional compliance required end user training, policy acknowledgement along with additional tools such as phishing testing and work from home training.

To sign up for the free training click over to Partners.PeakTechnologies.com and sign up today!

3 SEO Tips to Improve Your Keyword Research

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 19:36:00 GMT

Have you heard that improving your SEO will help you get found online more easily? You’ve probably heard that implementing keywords into the content on your website, blog, and URL are key strategies for improving your SEO ranking. However, including the wrong keywords or too many keywords can be just as detrimental.

Although you may not always notice them, keywords play an integral role when it comes to helping a small business get found online. So let’s get to it by breaking down the long and short (tail) of it.

Do Your Own Keyword Research

Keyword research should never be a one-time commitment, but rather an ever-changing process that involves a strategy and a comprehensive understanding of your business and your industry. Including keywords that are specific to your business and industry will help to ensure that the right customers are being driven to your door rather than just any customer. Although we want to increase our customer base, we don’t want to target consumers that may not find the value in our business.

Using the Right Keywords

Short-tail keywords, or keywords composed of very generic keywords, might seem appealing because they’re searched more often than long-tail keywords, however, they’re also a lot more competitive. So, unless you’re writing content for a large organization, like Apple or Macy’s, and consumers are likely searching specifically for your product, you don’t want to enter into a sea of competitors with big brands that have even bigger pockets.

Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, may not be as frequently typed into a search engine—think, “Egg” vs. “Poached Egg with Avocado and Bechemel”. By including more long-tail keywords into the content on your page, you’ll attract a larger number of customers who are likely to search for any combination of those long-tail keywords.

Location-based keywords are keywords that directly relate to your business’s physical location. For example, if your business is a bakery in a popular neighborhood in Charlotte, NC, you’ll want to include not only Charlotte, but also the name of that specific neighborhood. By doing so, you’re more likely to target visitors in your area rather than across town who may or may not ever make it to your location.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Speaking of misleading customers that may not find value in your business, adding practically any keyword under the sun is referred to as keyword stuffing and is largely considered a taboo in the digital marketing world. Like with any other digital marketing rule of thumb, less is more and quality will always conquer quantity. Ideally, a website’s content should include keywords in a natural way. However, by inputting keywords into a few sentences and repeating them over and over, you’re stuffing your content with keywords. Even if they’re good keywords, it’s still too much.

Now that you’ve read through these tips, you’re ready to become an SEO expert too!

The Value of Added Services for Your IT Department

Thu, 28 May 2020 17:52:00 GMT

Given the advancement of technology and its expected upward trajectory, a capable IT department is essential for your company’s survival in a competitive industry. While small businesses might not have more than two or three dedicated IT employees, large corporations can have teams in excess of 50 employees. Their function is to keep the company’s hardware and software systems running so that the business can continue its operations.

However, just as it happens in real life, unexpected situations arise, and your IT staff may lack the capacity to deal with them. Often, these situations need to be dealt with as urgent priorities. While your IT department may consist of skilled and knowledgeable people, they may not be able to address the problem quickly enough. The services of an external third-party service provider are the solution.

Peak IT Group has no intention of replacing your IT department. Instead, we will step in to supplement your IT and complement in times of need. For example, if your entire system needs to undergo a Microsoft Office 365 migration, it should not be performed by someone lacking the skills to do it without losing valuable data and records.

This might not be something anyone in your IT department knows how to do. But it’s something that is likely only to be necessary once. This is where Peak IT Group can assist you. We can offer you the services of our experienced, expert staff to do the job while your other IT employees get on with their regular duties.

Would you like to find out more about how Peak IT Group can help you with IT projects or supply its services to augment your staff during peak periods? Contact us and let us tell you what we can do for your business.

TCO, ROI, and NPV and Their Relation to Small and Medium Businesses

Wed, 20 May 2020 13:08:00 GMT

Business owners are confronted by dozens of abbreviations and acronyms each day. Keeping track of what they are and what they mean can be a challenging task. However, there are three they should know about if they want to drive their organization’s success. They are TCO, ROI, and NPV.

TCO (Total Cost to Company) is a financial term used in the purchase of any asset. But let’s look at it in terms of technology products. Your financial manager looks at the initial cost and the value attached to the purchase throughout its lifespan.

For example, you might buy a piece of hardware, such as a laptop, which comes with a five-year warranty. The computer will require support services and software upgrades during its lifespan. So, the TOC goes well beyond the purchase price, making the cost of the laptop higher. However, the TOC must be weighed against the ROI (return on investment).

ROI is the total amount of money that will be recuperated from that laptop after paying off the initial investment. The first point of departure is looking at how the laptop will save the company money, as this is an ROI. Perhaps, now that the company has a laptop, fewer employees will be needed, thus cutting the organization’s wage bill.

With a more effective operating system now that the business has that laptop, sales will increase, thereby generating more income. When you look at the bigger picture and see how much money will be flowing into the company as a result of the purchase of the laptop, you can see that it offers an ROI that will by far outweigh the TCO.

NPV still relates to our laptop scenario, but it goes beyond the TCO and ROI. The laptop could become part of a vital process or function in the company. How the laptop figures into this improved process has a financial value as well. Sound process management increases productivity, which in turn drives sales, thereby generating higher revenues.

At the Peak IT Group, we take TCO, ROI, and NPV into consideration, putting them at the forefront of any recommendations we make when our consultants work with your company. We analyze the purchases we are advising you to make so that we can show you what the TCO will be, and balance it against potential ROI and NPV.

Included in our services is a root cause analysis, which identifies areas in your processes that need improvement. We also consult on project management to make sure that your project is completed with minimal disruption and optimal revenue generation.

Are you looking for a trusted organization that will make recommendations about IT services that consider the financial aspects as well? Do you want to deal with a team of professional consultants who will show you not only what IT support you need but also what the long-term benefits will be? Contact us by telephone or email, and let us show you what the Peak IT Group can do for you.

The Importance of Presence Management

Thu, 14 May 2020 16:46:00 GMT

Presence management is not a concept a lot of company leaders know a lot about, although it has a significant role to play in organizational success. It is a strategic approach that allows managers, business owners, and leaders to know where employees are, whether they are on-site or off-site. It is vital to deploy a strategy like this to monitor staff productivity.

Presence management is essential to streamline daily operations, projects, tasks, and communications. These are factors that can affect an employee’s ability to do their job using their time optimally. Another function of presence management is that it allows an employee to monitor staff availability so that work or shift allocations are accurate.

An outcome of effective presence management is that it fosters a sense of connection for the employee who knows that the company is aware of where they are and what contributions they are making. Presence management also decreases the need for micromanagement by leaders who otherwise waste time on continuous follow-ups and inquiries.

A presence management system requires a financial outlay for the company. However, the cost should be measured against its impact. This would include the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Net Present Value (NPV), and Return on Investment (ROI). Taking these into consideration will put the cost of a presence management system into perspective.

The benefit of a presence management system is that it allows instant communication between staff, instead of people sending messages to others who are not even at work that day. The company can also schedule and host collaborative meetings, whether in person or online, based on the relevant people’s availability. Presence management preempts departments from working in silos instead promoting inter-departmental communication.

There are various presence management technology solutions to choose from, and each one has its advantages and limitations. Which one you decide on will depend on your organization’s needs. It can be a confusing process, especially if you are not that tech-savvy.

Have you been thinking about a presence management system for your company? Are you struggling to decide which one will suit the organization best? At Peak IT Group, we have extensive experience in identifying and implementing presence management systems. Contact us and let us talk about how we can meet your presence management system needs.

The post The Importance of Presence Management appeared first on | Peak Technologies | Managed IT Services | Digital Media | Technology Support.

A Document Management System is About More Than Paper Management

Mon, 11 May 2020 10:33:00 GMT

The root word of organization is organize, and there’s an excellent reason for that. A business that lacks organization won’t last very long, and one of the first aspects you should be looking to organize is your documents.

The paperless trend has led to more companies relying on online document management systems to keep their paperwork in order. This technology is not exactly new, but there are trends that keep it changing and evolving.

While document management systems are something many business owners see as a luxury, they are essential for organizational success. The initial cost might seem prohibitive, but there are several ways in which it will pay for itself, including increased productivity among employees who are no longer burdened by an onslaught of paperwork.

The idea behind an effective document management system goes beyond maintaining records. It also requires a system that is user-friendly and allows you to find and access documents efficiently. This requires a degree of flexibility and versatility in the document management system a company chooses. The decision will rest on the size and nature of the business, and a document management system should be tailor-made to its unique requirements.

Choosing which system will best serve your organization’s needs is something best left to an expert. At Peak IT Group, we have strategic partnerships with various service providers that offer document management systems to suit any company’s needs. From personnel records to contracts, invoices to receipts, we will find the right system for you.

Do you want to know more about what Peak IT Group can do for your company’s document management system? Contact us and let us tell you what we can do to revolutionize your paperwork storage.

Technology Projects: The Choices at Hand

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 19:56:00 GMT

Whenever we are approached with a new technology project, we always try to have this conversation with the necessary stakeholders. When it comes to technology projects and your business, you need to keep three simple principles in mind: good, fast, and cheap and you can only choose two of these three.

Every stakeholder wants their project completed in 24 hours and have it perfectly shaped to their business operations with no training necessary for their end users. I am not saying it is not possible to do this, but I will say that this project will most likely requires senior level development or engineering. We all know what comes along with that level of staffing. The cost for those Sr level people causes the project price to go up.

Deciding which two factors to choose may revolve around many aspects of your business. You may have staff that embraces change very well and challenges with system changes get addressed with no stutter in your operational stride. In this scenario you may be able to move to a little more affordable system that you can fast track deployment without official training. Ultimately the correct choice for your business is a critical decision, and it should not be taken lightly. If you are not an expert on the systems or project you are looking at deploying or building you should rely on those that are.

At Peak IT Group, we analyze your business operations and processes so that we have a thorough understanding of them before we make any recommendations. We partner with many leading software packages and spend the time learning the ins and outs of them all so we can make good educated decisions on what is best for the customer. We also break down all the costs involved with your projects so that you feel less like you are taking a shot in the dark and more like you’re making a choice in your organization’s best interests.

Are you looking for a strategic partner for your IT solutions? Contact us and let us show you what Peak IT Group can do for your company.

The post Technology Projects: The Choices at Hand appeared first on | Peak Technologies | Managed IT Services | Digital Media | Technology Support .

Navigating Today’s Tech

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 15:51:00 GMT

Navigating todays small business technology can be without a doubt full of challenges. With an industry that has every vendor claiming to have the next best thing for your company large or small, it’s always a good idea to take a step back, focus on the basics and get your bearings before diving into the tech pool. Peak IT Group offers these simple all-around useful suggestions to help navigate the world of legal technology.

Technology Should Be Planned

Good technology costs, but it does not have to be a surprise cost. Develop a budget and plan for your technology needs before you need them. Peak IT Group works with our clients to develop a plan for tech costs over the long term. We do not wait for the server to fail before we know what it will take to replace it. Hard costs are not all that goes into this budget. Additional costs can include business shutdowns for upgrades if needed, consultation and labor cost increases, and increased costs to backup new or expanding platforms may all be part of a good IT budget. Business needs drive technology costs. For example, remote access requirements can vary across teams and even business platforms. Understanding the underlying operational needs that are driving the technology costs can help with creating an accurate technology budget.

Cyber Security is a Business Function

Technology being driven by business operations means that cyber security becomes a business function. The days of security planning and implementation being the sole responsibility of the technology team is over. Security is a business function and should involve everyone in the business to some degree. With advances in today’s malware and the perseverance of the malicious hacker comes additional complexity in protecting against it. A solid security approach that incorporates multiple protection points within your network as well as well-designed and mandatory security training is needed. Design the system around protecting your business needs and risks not just the data housed on a server somewhere. Once you have a good security approach in place it is time to educate your entire team on basic cyber security best practices. Budget for an annual cyber security training session for your team. This helps to get them on board with the policies and best practices you have in place.

When In Doubt Back It Up

With ransomware attacks at an all-time high it is critical that backups be effective and able to give you the recovery times and recovery points you need to maintain your business operations if disaster strikes. Backup and disaster recovery are not just functions of your information technology team. They are more a business decision to choose what your business can be with or without and for how long. Don’t forget items like communications platforms Email is important but so are your phones. There is a lot of mis understanding on how backed up a cloud platform is. A lot of common cloud systems may not be backed up at all unless you set that up and or enable that feature. Some common email systems don’t back up your items unless you pay for it or implement a 3 ^rd party to do it for you. Are you aware of what is on everyone’s local system? Do you need to back up key employees’ local desktop? All of these are questions you should be thinking about.

A Never-Ending Journey: Technology Evolution

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 14:09:00 GMT

Moore’s Law originated in the 1970s, and it accurately predicted that the speed of computing would double every second year. The applications businesses demand more from the systems they run on than ever before.

It is an accepted reality that the technology a company uses will have a profound effect on its bottom line. More advanced technology drives increased sales to generate higher revenues.

However, some business owners turn a blind eye to this fact, preferring instead to rely on outdated systems because they do not want to spend money on upgrading and staying abreast of the latest technological developments. The result of this lack of forward-looking vision is reduced income, reputational loss, and decreased brand recognition.

At Peak IT Group, we believe in helping you keep your business at the cutting edge of technology without it costing you an arm and a leg. Our consultants keep themselves up to date on the latest technological advances so that they can share them with you.

Our aim is to make sure your IT system keeps making you money. Our solutions will add value to your customers’ experience, thereby generating more sales. Not only that, but we also want to see your staff being more productive and happier in their jobs.

Are you interested in finding out how the latest technological advances can help your business grow? Contact us and let us share with you what we can do for your company.

What is the Real Cost of Your Technology Purchases?

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:54:00 GMT

This is a valuable question for your accounting department to ask. After all, they need to make sure that the company can afford the technology purchase while adhering to a budget. However, a technology purchase isn’t about a price tag alone. There are several other factors that need to be considered that will inflate the price significantly.

Of course, the first thing to consider is what the technology purchase costs when bought from the supplier, including its warranty. This is the price tag, as mentioned earlier. Next, you need to look at training and what it will cost to make sure your staff can work with this technology.

After that, look at the support costs that the company will continue to incur well after the warranty expires. Other specifics to consider include organizational downtime during the implementation and transition phase and the lifecycle of the product being discussed.

Keep in mind that any technology purchase will offer the company a return on its investment in terms of time saved, increased productivity, and improved sales of products or services. It would be unwise to factor these issues into the calculation to see that the initial outlay will pay for itself over the long-term.

Are you planning a new technology purchase and struggling to determine its real cost to your company? Consult with Peak IT Group as any solution we propose includes a real cost calculation that you can rely on to be accurate. Contact Peak IT Group today and let us show you what your investment in technology will really cost.

Cyber Attacks Amid COVID-19

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:15:00 GMT

To further enhance our client’s cyber defenses, we want to highlight a common cyber-attack. Given recent COVID-19 events and the increased number of work at home users, hackers are getting clever by emailing and even calling people impersonating technical support staff offering to assist people with their work at home functions.

This type of attack is known as Phishing.

“Phishing” is the most common type of cyber-attack that affects organizations like ours. These attacks can take many forms, but they all share a common goal – getting you to share sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card information, bank account details, or even tricking you into granting a hacker access to you PC.

Although we maintain controls to help protect our networks and computers from cyber threats, everyone should be on the first line of defense.

We’ve outlined a few different types of phishing attacks to watch out for:

Phishing: In this type of attack, hackers impersonate a real company to obtain your login credentials or access to your PC. You may receive an e-mail asking you to verify your account details with a link that takes you to an impostor login screen that delivers your information directly to the attackers. They are even being bold enough to call you impersonating IT support staff and are requesting remote access to your PC.

Spear Phishing: Spear phishing is a more sophisticated phishing attack that includes customized information that makes the attacker seem like a legitimate source AKA a fake email account with an owner or coworkers name on it. They may use your name and phone number and refer to other people you work with in the e-mail to trick you into thinking they have a connection to you, making you more likely to click a link or attachment that they provide.

Whaling: Whaling is a popular ploy aimed at getting you to transfer money or send sensitive information to an attacker via email by impersonating a real company executive. Using a fake domain that appears like yours, they look like normal emails from a high-level official of the company, typically the CEO or CFO, and ask you for sensitive information (including usernames and passwords).

Shared Document Phishing: You may receive an e-mail that appears to come from file-sharing sites like Dropbox or Google Drive alerting you that a document has been shared with you. The link provided in these e-mails will take you to a fake login page that mimics the real login page and will steal your account credentials.

What You Can Do:

To avoid these phishing schemes, please observe the following email best practices:

1. Implemented a code word for use in remote access and support. If someone calls to assist you, they will know that code word.

2. Do not click on links or attachments from senders that you do not recognize. Be especially wary of .zip or other compressed or executable file types.

3. Do not provide sensitive personal information (like usernames and passwords) over email.

4. Watch for email senders that use suspicious or misleading domain names. your IT department should not email you from a Gmail account

5. Inspect URLs carefully to make sure they’re legitimate and not impostor sites.

6. Do not try to open any shared document that you’re not expecting to receive.

7. If you can’t tell if an email is legitimate or not, please forward it to tech support and ask for analysis. If it is a bad email, they can block the sender.

8. Be especially cautious when opening attachments or clicking links if you receive an email containing a warning banner indicating that it originated from an external source.

9. If in doubt, ask your IT department!

Thanks for helping to keep our network, and our people, safe from these cyber threats.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.