AhelioTech

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How to Choose a Provider Based on Your Managed Services Selection Criteria

https://www.aheliotech.com/?p=75599&utm_source=SocialAutoPoster&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Tumblr   According to CloudSecureTech, 78% of businesses worldwide are facing a critical tech skills shortage. To fill these gaps, many businesses are choosing to turn to a managed IT service provider (MSP). However, it’s important that you know how to choose a managed service provider who will align with your business. “Choosing an MSP requires careful consideration regarding why you want to work with an MSP before you decide which one to partner with.” – Eric Hullibarger, President, AhelioTech. A misaligned MSP may offer generic solutions that don’t cater to your business’s specific needs. This can cause missed opportunities for optimization and can limit the effectiveness of the services. Therefore, having set managed services vendor selection criteria is a strategic way to support your potential ROI. Our guide is here to help you tackle this process with confidence. We’ll show you how to plan your MSP search process and provide some good examples of questions to ask an MSP.   How to Determine Your Managed Services Selection Criteria   1. Define Your Business Goals First, identify your specific business objectives. Think about aspects like operational efficiency, enhanced security, or support for scaling. Make a list of priorities that any service should meet to align with your goals. Even if you’re not sure how an MSP can help, mark it down. Your IT partner may have ideas to help you solve your issue.   2.  Assess Your Current IT Environment Take a close look at your existing IT infrastructure and processes. Identify what works well and where there are gaps. For example, if you lack strong cybersecurity measures or data backup, note these as areas where you need support. This assessment will guide you in finding services that fill these gaps.   3. Determine Your Budget Constraints Set a clear budget for managed services based on your available resources and expected return on investment. Consider both immediate and long-term costs. Knowing your budget can help you choose only the services that fit your financial needs without sacrificing key requirements. Get 24/7 Phone Support From CISSP-Certified Specialists Start Today   4. Identify Essential Service Offerings List out the core services you need. Avoid extras that don’t add value to your operations. Think about which services are must-haves for your team’s productivity and security, and prioritize those.   5. Evaluate Your Security & Compliance Needs If your business handles sensitive information or must meet specific regulations, security and compliance should be a high priority. Look for services that align with your industry’s standards. This helps protect your data while keeping you compliant with regulatory demands.   6. Consider Your Support Requirements Evaluate your internal team’s skills and capacity to manage IT tasks. Identify areas where your team excels and areas where additional support is necessary. This assessment helps you decide which responsibilities to keep in-house and which to entrust to an MSP.   How to Choose a Managed IT Service Provider: Step-by-Step Your first step is to define your selection criteria as described above. However, once you have completed that step, here is what you need to do next to choose your ideal MSP.   1. Conduct Market Research Explore the managed IT service provider landscape by researching available providers online, reading industry reports, and comparing service offerings. Aim to find providers that specialize in areas relevant to your business needs. After all, with an estimated 40,000 MSPs in the United States, you can’t possibly book a call with everyone.   2. Evaluate Each Provider’s Cost Transparency Look for transparency in how providers present their services, pricing, and contract terms. A reputable provider should offer clear and understandable details about their offerings and pricing structure. Avoid providers with hidden fees or vague terms.   3. Review Data Protection Policies Examine each provider’s data protection practices, including their policies on data handling, storage, and access control. Make sure their policies align with your security standards to protect your information. It’s also important to assess an MSP’s internal protection policies. That’s because 29% of security breaches begin with a third-party connection. Dig Into Everything You Need to Know About IT on Our Blog Managed IT Service Pricing: What Drives the Cost? Small Business Technology Trends You Should Be Watching 7 Ways You Can Lower Your Cybersecurity Risks with Threat Modeling   4. Understand Contract Terms & Exit Clauses Review each provider’s contract terms, including details about service length, renewal policies, and exit clauses. Make sure you can adjust or exit the contract without heavy penalties if your needs change. This flexibility can prevent future issues.   5. Analyze Their Disaster Recovery Plans Ask potential providers about their disaster recovery procedures, including backup frequency, recovery time objectives, and testing practices. A solid recovery plan ensures that your business can quickly bounce back from disruptions.   6. Evaluate Long-Term Partnership Potential Consider whether the provider seems like a good long-term fit based on their stability, company values, and customer service. Choosing a provider with similar goals and values can lead to a smoother partnership as your business grows.   Potential MSP Qualifying Questions Question When to Ask What to Look for in MSP’s Answer What experience do you have in my industry? Ask this early, during initial discussions. Look for direct experience in your industry, an understanding of your specific compliance and security needs, and examples of successful projects with similar clients. What is your onboarding process for new clients? During the evaluation phase, when considering the transition. Expect a clear, step-by-step onboarding plan, including timelines, responsibilities, and support. A thorough, structured process shows the MSP’s readiness to support a smooth transition. How quickly do you typically respond to and resolve issues? When assessing support capabilities and responsiveness. Look for concrete metrics like average response times, escalation processes, and resolution benchmarks. Reliable providers often offer service level agreements (SLAs) with defined response times. How do you communicate updates and handle ongoing reporting? When considering long-term communication and transparency. Expect regular, clear reporting with metrics on performance, updates, and open lines for questions. Reliable providers offer customizable reporting and proactive notifications for issues. Do you offer scalability options as our business grows? When planning for future growth and flexibility. Look for a willingness to adapt their services to your evolving needs, with options for scaling up or down as required. Providers should detail available packages or modular services. What is the structure of your support team, and who will be our point of contact? During discussions about ongoing support. Look for a dedicated account manager or team with a clear escalation path. The MSP should offer a structured support hierarchy and easy access to contacts for assistance. What proactive measures do you take to prevent IT issues? When assessing the provider’s approach to proactive maintenance. The MSP should discuss regular monitoring, patch management, and preventive actions. Effective providers focus on preventing issues before they impact operations. How do you handle changes to the scope of services during the contract term? When discussing contract flexibility and adaptability. Look for flexibility to adjust services as your needs evolve, with clear policies for amending the contract scope without excessive penalties.   What Makes a Great Question to Ask During MSP Discovery Calls? A great question during an MSP discovery call helps you get clear, specific information about how the provider fits your needs. Good questions should go beyond basic information and focus on areas that affect your business directly, like operations, budget, and future growth. Ask open-ended questions that let the MSP explain their processes and give examples. This helps you understand how they handle daily support, security issues, and service changes. Effective questions also help you see how the MSP communicates, responds to issues, and shares information. Look for answers that show the MSP’s transparency and accountability. Discover AhelioTech’s Range of IT Services in Columbus, Ohio! IT Support Cybersecurity IT Network Support IT Consulting IT Helpdesk Services IT Outsourcing   Try Asking AhelioTech Your MSP Qualifying Questions Taking a proactive approach to your MSP search is your key to choosing the right partner the first time. Once you have your criteria set in place, we’d gladly see how we measure up against it. Reach out to AhelioTech today to start your MSP search. Our team already helps hundreds of businesses like yours across North America. We also provide flexible month-to-month contracts so you can try our services without the fear of vendor lock-in. Let’s talk!

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Outsource Smart, Grow Fast: The Hidden Benefits and Risks of IT Outsourcing

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Ready to Grow? Your Ultimate Managed IT Services Checklist

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EMAIL SECURITY SERVICES 

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EMAIL SECURITY SERVICES 

DKIM & DMARC

 Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication technique that allows the recipient to confirm that an email was sent and authorized by the owner of that domain by giving the email a digital signature. 

 Once the recipient determines that an email is signed with a valid DKIM signature and confirms that the body of the message and attachments have not been modified, it allows the email to be delivered. DKIM signatures are hidden from end-users and validation is done on a server level preventing potential user error of opening malicious emails. 

 Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) is an email authentication protocol. It gives email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as Email Spoofing. The purpose of implementing DMARC is to protect a domain from being used in email attacks. 

 AhelioTech has trained experts to assess your organization and determine the needed DKIM and DMARC protections. 

  Internal and External Security Scanning

 AhelioTech Network Scanning and Threat Detection, powered by Nessus Professional vulnerability, scanning provides a point-in-time vulnerability scan for all network assets. Performing these scans allows for tracking and remediation of any identified security issues, as well as satisfies scanning requirements for many Cyber Security and Cyber Liability Insurance requirements. 

  AhelioTech is Your Technology and Cybersecurity Tool

Cyber Liability Insurance requirements vary depending on a multitude of factors including your industry and your overall network structure. AhelioTech is here to help you navigate those requirements and protect your organization. 

  Contact AhelioTech Today for More Information

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Everyday Practices for Office Cybersecurity 

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Everyday Practices for Office Cybersecurity 

Cybersecurity is a critical aspect of our digital lives, and implementing strong everyday practices is essential for protecting sensitive information from cyber threats. While robust cybersecurity packages may seem appealing, it is more efficient to work with your Managed Service Provider to implement the services needed for your organization. Part of that begins with applying everyday practices that enhance your cybersecurity posture. Below, we have provided some suggestions for Best Practices. 

Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords that use a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or frequently used words such as the names of pets or children. 

Update Software Regularly: Keep all software up to date with the latest security patches. Cyber attackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain unauthorized access. 

Beware of Links: Think before clicking on links, especially those in unsolicited emails or messages. Phishing attacks commonly use deceptive links to steal personal information. Contact AhelioTech for more information about Phishing training services.  

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or an authentication app, in addition to a password. 

Conduct Cybersecurity Audits: For businesses, it is beneficial to conduct regular audits to assess and improve cybersecurity measures. Schedule your audit with AhelioTech today. 

Educate and Train Staff: AhelioTech offers services that train on cybersecurity best practices and current cyber threats that can help employees recognize and prevent potential security breaches. 

Backup Data: Whether you decide to store backups on or off site, it is crucial to regularly backup important data to secure locations. This practice helps in quickly restoring information in case of a ransomware attack or data loss. 

Implement a Firewall: A firewall can monitor incoming and outgoing network traffic to prevent unauthorized access to your network. 

Use VPNs for Secure Connections: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can provide a secure connection to the internet, especially when accessing the network remotely. 

Practice Cyber Hygiene: Just like personal hygiene, cyber hygiene involves regular check-ups and maintenance to ensure the health of your digital environment. 

By integrating these practices into daily routines, individuals and organizations can significantly reduce their vulnerability to cyberattacks and protect their digital assets. While cyber-attacks are always evolving, security measures are as well. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends and threats, as cyber attackers continually evolve their tactics. Cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of improvement and vigilance. 

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How to Establish a Culture of Security 

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How to Establish a Culture of Security 

Why is everyone talking about Cybersecurity?!? Cybersecurity is not a fad or a buzzword, rather it is a form of protection needed by every organization that uses data. It is crucial for business leaders to take this topic seriously while simultaneously creating a cybersecurity culture that employees understand and put into practice.

Establishing a cybersecurity culture within an organization is crucial as it forms the foundation of comprehensive security practices.

A Strong Cybersecurity Culture Must:

Ensure that every employee is aware of their role in protecting the organization’s digital assets and understands any potential risks and/or threats.

Equip employees with the knowledge to prevent, detect and respond to cyber incidents.

Promote a proactive approach to security, rather than reactive.

Embed security considerations into every business process and decision.

Ways to Foster a Cyber Secure Culture:

Talk About Security: Regularly communicate about cybersecurity with your team. Include security updates in email communications and set meaningful security objectives aligned with business goals.

Set Expectations: Create a clear and comprehensive cybersecurity policy that outlines the expected behaviors and security practices for all employees.

Select a Security Program Manager: Appoint someone (not necessarily an IT expert) to oversee the implementation of cybersecurity practices.

Review and Approve the Incident Response Plan (IRP): Ensure your organization has a well-defined IRP that covers actions before, during and after a security incident.

Encourage Employee Participation: The business owner should also foster an environment where cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, encouraging employees to report suspicious activities and providing them with the tools and support needed to protect the organization’s digital assets.

Include Training: Regular training and awareness programs to educate staff on the latest cyber threats and how to prevent them are essential.

Implementing Robust Security Measures: These measures should include multi-factor authentication, secure password policies and regular system updates.

This cultural shift can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches, protect against financial losses, maintain customer trust and uphold the organization’s reputation. Moreover, as cyber threats evolve rapidly, a robust cybersecurity culture can foster continuous learning and adaptation to new security challenges.

To Learn More About Establishing a Strong Cybersecurity Culture, Reach Out to an AhelioTech Representative Today!

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What Huntress Services are Right for Your Business?

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What Huntress Services are Right for Your Business?

Huntress is a proactive threat detection and response platform that provides enhanced detection through advanced process analysis, persistent foothold scanning, external recon and ransomware canaries to provide your business multiple layers of protection. This tool will automatically detect and isolate cyber-attacks on your servers and workstations. Unlike traditional anti-virus products that rely on signatures and patterns to identify malware, Huntress uses advanced behavioral analysis and machine learning to uncover hidden threats that are sometimes missed by other tools.

AhelioTech strongly recommends the following Huntress Products:

Huntress EDR & MDR Software

Huntress Microsoft 365 MDR Solution

Huntress Curricula Phishing Solution

Huntress EDR & MDR Software

Huntress provides more than just an anti-virus protection; it also offers a powerful suite of endpoint protection, detection and response capabilities. EDR and MDR is not an “either/or” choice. They are both important for enhancing cybersecurity, but they have different core focuses and solve security challenges in different ways. EDR is a tool that is deployed to protect a particular endpoint, while MDR is a service that provides security monitoring and management across an organization’s entire IT environment.

Huntress’s Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution provides advanced protection for endpoints, such as laptops, desktops and mobile devices. EDR solutions collect and analyze data from endpoints to detect and respond to potential threats, such as malware, ransomware or unauthorized access.

Huntress’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a valuable service that provides comprehensive security monitoring and management for an organization’s entire IT environment. MDR services use various tools and technologies, including EDR solutions, to detect and respond to cyberattacks 24/7. Some key benefits of MDR services are 24/365 monitoring, managed response, threat hunting and threat intelligence.

Why is Huntress’s EDR and MDR Solution Important for Your Organization?

Meets increasing cybersecurity and cyber liability insurance requirements.

Provides greater endpoint visibility.

Identifies enhanced threat intelligence.

Provides near real-time forensics to identify actively exploited systems.

Mapping of malicious and suspicious processes.

Provides persistent foothold monitoring and remediation.

Offers around the clock active threat hunting.

Provides access to monthly reporting and security overview.

Huntress Microsoft 365 MDR Solution

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a growing threat to businesses of all sizes. BEC attacks involve fraudulent emails to trick individuals into sending money or sensitive information to threat actors. These attacks can be highly convincing and difficult to detect, often suggesting urgency and involving impersonating a trusted contact or using compromised credentials to gain access to sensitive data.

Huntress MDR for Microsoft 365 leverages automated detectors and human analysts to monitor and respond to critical security threats such as unauthorized access, email tampering and privilege escalation in Microsoft 365 cloud environments.

MDR for Microsoft 365 continuously monitors for indications and behaviors of a BEC attack such as a user logging in from a suspicious location or a malicious email forwarding rule. The Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC) reviews any detections, instantly isolating any compromised users and supplies a semi-automated remediation plan for further necessary actions.

These attacks change every day and grow in sophistication. The 365 MDR Solution offers another layer of protection for users and the organization.

Huntress Curricula Phishing Solution

The best and most sophisticated cybersecurity technologies today are being rendered useless by one simple thing: employees. Unlike other IT services, security is not something you can set and forget. It requires constant vigilance, monitoring and training. Everyday users need to play an active role as you strengthen your defenses.

What are the Benefits of the Huntress Curricula Phishing Solution?

Easily customize, deliver and report on phishing programs that train employees and help build trust.

Provide detailed reporting that is easy to generate and share, working through audit or compliance needs.

Includes Huntress Security Awareness Training which keeps your employees ahead of the curve by teaching them about the specific tactics’ attackers are using when targeting your organization.

Security Awareness Training (SAT) delivers a powerful—and fun—combination of episodes, assessments, simulations and reports to help employees become more cyber savvy in the fight against bad actors.

Depending on the needs of your organization, any or all of these tools will enhance your cybersecurity culture.

 Contact AhelioTech Today to Determine Which Huntress Product is Right for Your Company!

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The Importance of an IT Business Plan

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The Importance of an IT Business Plan

An IT Business Plan serves as a detailed roadmap for operating a company. Such a plan is not a static document; therefore, it should be updated regularly to reflect the changing needs and circumstances of your business. By creating and following an IT Business Plan, you can enhance your business’s productivity, profitability and sustainability. Having a clear plan helps you stay focused on your goals, ensures that everyone in your organization understands the direction in which you are headed and most importantly, provides a plan on how to get there.

While it may seem tedious and even overwhelming, writing down your business plan forces you to think deeply about your business. This process is essential for making informed decisions and achieving success.

While each plan is unique to the specific business, key items should be included:

Identify Needs/Issues

Everyday Issues: Reoccurring issues that users are experiencing, basic trouble shooting tickets, etc. Immediate Needs: Malfunctioning hardware requiring immediate replacement, deactivating unused devices, implementation of cybersecurity, etc. Scheduled Needs: Ordering new hardware, onboarding employees, renewing licenses, implementing new levels of security, etc. Projects: Moving a server from on site to the Cloud, changing a phone system, an office move, etc.

Desired Goals

Goals are often determined by your business goals. Will you be expanding your workforce? Do you need to enhance security based on industry regulations?

Budget

Identify the IT expenditures over the last three years. Identify the estimated IT budget for the current year. Identify the estimated IT budget for the next three years.

Defined Schedule

This should include specific dates the company can adhere to in order to run daily operations and achieve long-term goals.

An IT Business Plan aligns your technology initiatives with organizational goals. It answers critical questions such as: What IT changes are needed to support our business strategy? How can we create value through technology? By focusing on the important (not just the urgent), an IT strategy ensures that your efforts contribute directly to organizational success.

An IT strategy provides an initiative-taking approach to handling changes in technology, market dynamics and/or business needs. By anticipating shifts and having contingency plans in place, you can respond effectively when unexpected events occur.

Once again, an IT Business Plan is not static; it should be revised regularly to adapt to market changes and emerging technologies. Contact AhelioTech today to begin creating your IT business plan. It will be an essential tool for achieving the goals of your organization!

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Why Archive Your Information?

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Why Archive Your Information?

Archiving is a critical component of any organization’s records management strategy. It involves the secure storage of inactive information for extended periods, preserving data that may be needed in the future according to retention schedules. Archiving allows your organization to tackle compliance issues and leverage opportunities that come with having a centralized system of record and the ability to store communications quickly and efficiently. This process is sometimes overlooked by organizations, but it is critical to business operations.  

  Why Does Your Company Need an Archiving Method?

Preventing Data Loss: One of the top benefits of archiving is preventing data loss within organizations. Effective archiving systems protect against data loss and ensure that valuable information is preserved. 

Decreasing Operating Expenses: Archiving allows you to store data on affordable devices, saving energy and data center costs.  

Improving Document Security: Archiving improves document security by ensuring that sensitive or valuable information is stored securely. This is especially important for compliance with various laws and regulations. 

Compliance and Legal Requirements: Organizations must comply with governmental regulations, legal obligations, and intellectual property requirements. Proper archiving provides audit and legal proof in case of related incidents. 

Enhancing Productivity: Access to archived data is easier and faster, allowing employees to focus on other important tasks instead of spending time managing archive data. 

Data Lifecycle Management: Managing data becomes easier when unused data is archived, leaving the organization with fewer records to process. 

  Why Archive Now?

 The need for compliance and industry regulations continues to increase. Businesses are discovering challenges regarding discovery, implementation, audits, litigation and sometimes personal liability for employees. While archiving does not prevent these scenarios, it helps a business stay ahead of changing regulations while maintaining an elevated level of compliance with a simple interface that is easy to access. Archiving also increases efficiency by removing unnecessary documents from everyday access.  

Contact AhelioTech today to learn more about our Archiving Solutions. We are here to help you implement and select the plan that meets the specific needs of your organization.   

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Cybersecurity and Hybrid Work Models

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Cybersecurity and Hybrid Work Models

Out of respect for employees, many businesses have adopted hybrid work arrangements that consist of days working remotely and other days in the office. While this has benefits, such as increased flexibility and productivity, it also poses some challenges for cybersecurity. Remote workers may use unsecured networks, devices or applications that expose the business to cyberattacks, data breaches or compliance violations. Therefore, it is essential for businesses to implement some best practices to ensure cybersecurity with employees working remotely or traveling to and from the office.  

Establish Clear Policies and Guidelines for Remote Work.  These should include the acceptable use of devices, networks and applications. 

Establish Clear Policies for Loss of Data or Devices.  If a device is stolen outside of the office, it is necessary to have a policy in place that states who is responsible for the lost device as well as any data that may have been breached.  This includes external drives or backup devices.   

Provide Training and Awareness Programs for Remote Workers. These should cover the basics of cybersecurity, such as password management, phishing prevention and data protection. 

Implement Security Tools and Solutions. These tools may include VPNs, encryption, firewalls, antivirus software and multifactor authentication. 

Monitor and Audit the Remote Work Environment. Organizations should regularly check the security status of the devices, networks and applications used by remote workers, and conduct audits to identify any vulnerabilities or risks. 

Communicate and Collaborate with Remote Workers. Organizations should maintain regular communication and feedback channels with remote workers and provide them with support and guidance on cybersecurity issues. 

By following these tips, businesses can enhance cybersecurity with employees working remotely and protect their data, assets and reputation from cyberattacks. 

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Disaster Recovery Data Growth: How to Manage Your Storage Needs

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Disaster Recovery Data Growth: How to Manage Your Storage Needs

Disaster Recovery (DR) is a vital process for any business that relies on data and IT systems. DR involves creating and maintaining backups of your data and applications enabling you the ability to restore them in case of a disaster, such as a cyberattack, fire, flood or human error. 

DR is not a one-time activity. It requires constant monitoring and updating as your data and applications change and grow over time. It is important that AhelioTech’s clients understand how DR data growth affects your storage needs and how we can help you manage it effectively. 

  DR Data Growth: What Causes It? 

DR data growth is the increase in the amount of data that you need to back up and store for DR purposes. There are several factors that contribute to DR data growth, such as: 

– Data Creation: As your business generates more data from various sources, such as transactions, customer interactions, analytics, general business activity, etc., you need to back up more data for DR purposes. 

– Data Retention: Depending on your industry and regulatory requirements, you may need to retain your data for a regulated period of time, such as months or years. This means that you need to store more data for longer periods of time for DR purposes. 

– Data Change: As your data and applications change over time, due to updates, modifications, deletions, etc., you need to back up the changes for DR purposes. This means that you need to store more versions of your data and applications for DR purposes. 

– Data Protection: As your data becomes more valuable and sensitive, you may need to protect it with encryption, compression, deduplication, etc. These techniques can impact the storage space required for your data, but they also add some overhead and complexity to your backup process. 

  DR Data Growth: How to Measure It? 

DR data growth can be measured by using metrics such as: 

– Backup Size: The total amount of data that you back up for DR purposes. 

– Backup Frequency: The number of times that you back up your data for DR purposes. 

– Backup Duration: The time that it takes to complete a backup for DR purposes. 

– Backup Window: The period during which you can perform a backup for DR purposes without affecting your business operations. 

– Recovery Point Objective (RPO): The maximum amount of data that you can afford to lose in case of a disaster. It determines how often you need to back up your data for DR purposes. 

– Recovery Time Objective (RTO): The maximum amount of time that you can afford to spend on restoring your data and applications in case of a disaster. It determines how fast you need to recover your data and applications for DR purposes. 

Below is an example of average data change and growth percentages over a single year.  If your source data size starts out at 3TB, within a single year that data could grow to just over 9TB of off-site storage.  That growth will result in increased storage costs as space is consumed at datacenter. 

    DR Data Growth: How to Manage It? 

DR data growth can pose several challenges for your business, such as: 

– Increased Storage Costs: As you need to store more data for DR purposes, you may need to invest in more storage hardware and software, as well as maintenance and support services. 

– Reduced Backup Performance: As you need to back up more data for DR purposes, you may experience longer backup times, larger backup windows, and higher network bandwidth consumption. 

– Reduced Recovery Performance: As you need to recover more data for DR purposes, you may experience longer recovery times, larger recovery windows and higher network bandwidth consumption. 

– Increased Complexity: As you need to manage more data for DR purposes, you may face more challenges in terms of backup policies, backup schedules, backup methods, backup locations, backup testing, backup verification, etc. 

  To overcome these challenges, you need to adopt some best practices for managing your DR data growth, such as: 

– Assess Your Current Situation: Understand your current data and application landscape, as well as your business and regulatory requirements. Measure your current DR data growth metrics and identify the sources and causes of your DR data growth. 

– Define Your Objectives: Define your desired RPO and RTO levels for each of your data and application categories. Align your DR objectives with your business objectives and priorities. 

– Choose Your Strategy: Choose the most suitable backup strategy for each of your data and application categories. Consider factors such as backup frequency, backup duration, backup window, backup location, backup method, etc. Consider the trade-offs between different backup strategies in terms of cost, performance, reliability, security, etc. 

– Optimize Your Storage: Optimize your storage utilization and efficiency by using techniques such as encryption, compression, deduplication, tiering, archiving, etc. Monitor and manage your storage capacity and performance regularly. 

– Test and Verify Your Backups: Test and verify your backups periodically by performing restore tests and audits. Update and document your backup policies and procedures regularly. 

DR data growth is inevitable for any business that relies on data and IT systems. Contact AhelioTech today for ways to manage it effectively. With Best Practice Policies, you can ensure that your business can recover from any disaster quickly and smoothly, while minimizing the impact on your budget and operations. 

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Why Quarterly Vulnerability Scans Are Essential for Your Business?

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Why Quarterly Vulnerability Scans Are Essential for Your Business?

Cybersecurity is a crucial aspect of any business in the digital age. Cyberattacks can cause significant damage to a business’s reputation, finances, operations and data. According to a report by IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million, and the average time to identify and contain a breach was 280 days. 

One of the best ways to prevent cyberattacks and reduce the risk of data breaches is to conduct regular vulnerability scans. A vulnerability scan is a process of identifying and assessing the weaknesses in a system or network that could be exploited by hackers. A vulnerability scan can help a business to: 

Detect and prioritize the most critical vulnerabilities that need to be fixed 

Comply with industry standards and regulations such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, etc. 

Enhance the security posture and resilience of the system or network 

Reduce the likelihood and impact of cyberattacks and data breaches 

However, conducting a vulnerability scan once is not enough. The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and new threats and vulnerabilities emerge every day. Therefore, it is recommended that businesses conduct vulnerability scans at least quarterly, or more frequently depending on the nature and size of the business. 

By performing quarterly vulnerability scans, a business can: 

Keep up with the latest threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their system or network 

Monitor the effectiveness of their security measures and identify any gaps or weaknesses 

Track and measure their progress and improvement in addressing the vulnerabilities 

Demonstrate their commitment and responsibility to protect their customers’ data and privacy 

To conduct quarterly vulnerability scans, a business needs to have a clear plan and process that covers the following steps: 

Define the scope and objectives of the scan, such as which systems or networks to scan, what types of vulnerabilities to look for, what level of detail to report, etc. 

Choose a reliable and reputable vulnerability scanning tool or service that meets the business’s needs and requirements 

Schedule and perform the scan at a convenient time that minimizes the disruption to the business’s operations 

Analyze and interpret the scan results, such as identifying the severity and impact of the vulnerabilities, ranking them by priority, assigning them to responsible parties, etc. 

Remediate vulnerabilities, such as applying patches, updating software, configuring settings, etc. 

Document and report the scan findings and actions taken, such as creating a summary report, sharing it with relevant stakeholders, storing it for future reference, etc. 

Review and evaluate the scan process and outcomes, such as assessing the effectiveness of the scan, identifying any challenges or issues, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement, etc. 

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Is There a Way to Prevent Spam?

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Is There a Way to Prevent Spam?

Spam is not only annoying, it also dangerous. Spam can expose your business to malware, phishing, ransomware and other cyberattacks that can compromise your data, reputation and productivity. Implementing a spam filtering solution is essential for any business that relies on email communication. A spam filtering solution is a software or service that scans incoming emails and filters out unwanted or malicious messages.

Do You Really Need a Spam Filter?

Save Time and Resources: Spam filtering reduces the amount of junk mail that reaches your inbox, saving you and your employees time and bandwidth. You can focus on the important messages and avoid wasting time on deleting or reporting spam.

Protect Your Data and Devices: Spam filtering blocks emails that contain harmful attachments or links that can infect your devices with viruses, spyware or ransomware. It also prevents phishing emails that try to trick you into revealing sensitive information or credentials.

Enhance Your Reputation and Compliance: Spam filtering prevents spam from being sent from your domain, which can damage your reputation and cause blacklisting by email providers. It also helps you comply with data protection regulations and industry standards by preventing data breaches and leaks.

How Does One Select a Spam Filtering Solution?

There are many spam filtering solutions available in the market, but not all of them are equally effective or suitable for your business needs. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a spam filtering solution:

Accuracy: A good spam filtering solution should have a high detection rate and a low false positive rate. It should be able to identify and block spam without blocking legitimate emails.

Security: A good spam filtering solution should have strong encryption and authentication mechanisms to protect your email traffic from interception and tampering. It should also have regular updates and patches to keep up with the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Scalability: A good spam filtering solution should be able to handle the volume and growth of your email traffic without compromising performance or reliability. It should also be able to adapt to changing business needs and requirements.

Ease of Use: A good spam filtering solution should be easy to install, configure, and manage. It should have a user-friendly interface and clear reports and alerts. It should also have a responsive and knowledgeable support team to assist you in case of any issues or questions.

Spam is a serious problem that can affect any business that uses email communication. A spam filtering solution can help you save time and resources, protect your data and devices, enhance your reputation and compliance and improve your email experience. However, not all spam filtering solutions are the same. You need to choose one that meets your business needs and expectations.

If you are looking for a reliable, secure, scalable, and easy-to-use spam filtering solution, contact us today. Our AhelioTech Spam Solution achieves consistently superior performance thanks to its unique ability to detect spam outbreaks as soon as they emerge as well as block all associated messages in real time.

[aheliotech]

Developing a Business Continuity Plan 

New Post has been published on https://www.aheliotech.com/blog/developing-a-business-continuity-plan/

Developing a Business Continuity Plan 

At AhelioTech, we pride ourselves on our preventative approach to protect and prepare your organization against potential disasters. As part of that approach, we highly recommend having a business continuity strategy in place. While a Disaster Recovery Plan includes the processes and tools in place to retrieve any lost or compromised data, a Business Continuity Plan outlines how a business will continue to operate in the event of a disruption, such as a natural disaster, cyberattack or pandemic. A Business Continuity Plan is designed to minimize the impact of the disruption on an organization’s operations, customers, employees and reputation. 

  What Should an Organization Evaluate to Determine Their Business Continuity Plan?  

Acceptable downtime/data recovery period. Can you perform daily operations from an onsite backup from the last 24 hours while the rest of the data is recovered from an off-site backup? What is that acceptable period for total recovery?  

Potential threats and vulnerabilities that could affect the business and their likelihood and impact.  

The business impact of critical functions and processes of the business and its dependencies.  

A recovery strategy of the actions and resources needed to restore the critical functions and processes of the business in the shortest possible time.  

Specific roles and responsibilities of the staff, stakeholders and external partners involved in the recovery process and the communication channels and protocols to be used.  

Testing and reviewing the process that validates the effectiveness and efficiency of the recovery strategy and plan to help identify areas for improvement.  

  Why is a Business Continuity Plan vital for all businesses?

  Protects the organization’s assets, data and reputation from potential damage or loss.  

Ensures continuity of service delivery and customer satisfaction.  

Provides a plan to have staff back up and running quickly.   

Reduces the financial losses and legal liabilities caused by the disruption.  

Strengthens the trust and loyalty of the customers, employees, and partners.  

  AhelioTech is here to help you prepare your Business Continuity Plan. 

 Contact us today to schedule a meeting! 

[aheliotech]

2024 Cybersecurity Outlook 

New Post has been published on https://www.aheliotech.com/blog/2024-cybersecurity-outlook/

2024 Cybersecurity Outlook 

Cybersecurity insurance is a type of coverage that protects businesses from the financial consequences of cyberattacks, data breaches and other cyber risks. Cybersecurity insurance requirements are constantly evolving as the threat landscape changes and new regulations emerge. In 2024, businesses can expect to face more stringent and complex cybersecurity insurance requirements.  

  

Some of the possible cybersecurity insurance requirements in 2024 are:  

Higher premiums and deductibles for businesses that do not meet certain cybersecurity standards or have a history of cyber incidents. For example, businesses that use outdated or unsupported software, have weak passwords or encryption, or have suffered previous cyberattacks may have to pay more for their insurance or face higher deductibles in case of a claim.  

Mandatory cyber risk assessments and audits by independent third-party experts or regulators. These assessments and audits may evaluate the business’s cybersecurity posture, identify vulnerabilities and gaps, and provide recommendations for improvement. Businesses may have to submit these reports to their insurers or regulators as proof of compliance or as a condition for obtaining or renewing their insurance coverage.  

Compliance with specific frameworks or guidelines. These may include the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001, or the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These frameworks or guidelines provide best practices and standards for managing cyber risks and protecting data privacy and security. Businesses may have to demonstrate that they have implemented these frameworks or guidelines in their operations and systems or face penalties or sanctions for non-compliance.  

Inclusion of cyber resilience and incident response plans in the insurance policy, as well as regular testing and updating of these plans. Cyber resilience and incident response plans outline how the business will prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks. These plans should also include roles and responsibilities, communication channels, escalation procedures, backup and recovery strategies and contingency plans. Businesses may have to include these plans in their insurance policy as part of their coverage and test/update them periodically to ensure their effectiveness and relevance.  

Coverage for a wider range of cyber risks, such as ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering, cloud computing and supply chain disruptions. These cyber risks pose new challenges and threats to businesses as they rely more on digital technologies and interconnected networks. Businesses may have to seek additional or specialized coverage for these cyber risks, as they may not be covered by their standard insurance policies.  

Exclusion or limitation of coverage for certain cyber risks, such as state-sponsored attacks, acts of war or terrorism, or intentional or negligent acts by the insured or its employees. These cyber risks are considered beyond the business’ control or responsibility and may not be covered by their insurance policies. Businesses may have to bear the full cost of these cyber risks if they occur or seek alternative solutions such as government assistance or legal action.  

  Cybersecurity insurance is not a substitute for good cybersecurity practices, but rather a complementary measure that can help businesses mitigate the monetary impact of cyberattacks. Businesses that want to stay ahead of the curve and secure their cyber insurance coverage in 2024 should start preparing now by assessing their current cyber risk exposure, implementing effective cybersecurity measures and reviewing their existing insurance policies.  

Contact AhelioTech for more information! 

[aheliotech]

START PLANNING TODAY

New Post has been published on https://www.aheliotech.com/blog/start-planning-today/

START PLANNING TODAY

Guide to IT Budgeting for 2024

  IT budget season is upon us. Similar to last year, inflation remains high, a possible recession looms, disruption persists in supply chains, and there is much unpredictability in the global market. What does this mean for your organization? Proactive planning is more important than ever.  

When Do You Need to Replace Aging Hardware and EOL Software?

Every technology investment has a life expectancy. The industry standard replacement cycle on servers is 5-7 years and workstations/laptops are 3-5 years. So, while your device may continue to operate, these assets will be utilizing parts that are likely to break down close to the end of that period or quickly after. These ranges are shorter if you purchase less expensive or “residential hardware” that is not built with the parts needed to run the number of hours required by a business. Once hardware passes these time frames, there is a significant risk of unplanned time for repairs or replacement resulting in increased downtime for your staff, impacting the bottom line.  

  

Software also has a life expectancy. Support contracts allow software developers to upgrade your investment, fix software issues (bugs) and provide security patches to protect your data. Microsoft support of their server operating system (OS) is ten (10) years. After that timeframe, your OS is no longer receiving updates, bug fixes or security patches, leaving your network and data vulnerable to outside attacks.  

  

To achieve maximum efficiency and protect your software from breaches, you should always operate on supported software.   

  

How Do You Establish IT Governance and Compliance?

Regulatory and vendor compliance requirements are constantly evolving. It is necessary to allocate the proper budget to ensure your IT assets and processes for reporting comply with industry regulations (e.g., FFIEC), vendor requirements (licensing compliance) and data protection laws (e.g., HIPPA and PCI). Failing to do so can result in hefty fines, unbudgeted true-ups and reputational damage. It is crucial to audit your IT governance practices and assets to identify and address any compliance gaps.  

  

Is Security a Necessary Priority?

In 2024, IT security and risk management will continue to be a top concern for organizations of all sizes. According to the Flexera 2023 State of the Cloud Report, 79 percent of organizations view security as a top challenge second only to managing cloud spend.  

  

Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. That is why it is one of AhelioTech’s top priorities (alongside licensing and usage of IT assets), with 61 percent of companies providing the data and analysis to support these security risk mitigation initiatives.  

  

Regular vulnerability assessments are vital to protect your data and systems from potential breaches. Our support teams also enhance your organization’s security by tracking end-of-life/end-of-service (EOL/EOS) assets to reduce the risk of exposure due to unpatched or obsolete software.  Our strong defensive approach protects your organization against cyber threats and can save your organization significant costs and reputational damage in the long run.  

  

How Do You Align IT with Business Goals?

The first and most crucial step in IT budget planning for 2024 is aligning your IT strategy with your overall business goals. This ensures your technology investments directly contribute to your company’s success. AhelioTech will work closely with your business leaders to understand their objectives and challenges, and then identify how IT can support those initiatives. By having a clear understanding of your business’s strategic direction and how your technology assets align to those business units, functions or initiatives, you can allocate resources to projects and technologies that provide the most value.  

   

Is Cloud Technology Right for You?

Cloud technology has transformed the way businesses operate, offering scalability, flexibility and, in many cases, cost efficiency. As you consider migrating more of your IT infrastructure and services to the cloud in 2024, it is important to understand what you have, what it costs to run and what advantages moving to the cloud could provide. It is important not to forget the licensing implications of running software in the cloud. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 50 percent of organizations will unify software asset management (SAM) and Cloud technology into a singular practice focused on cost management and governance, so aligning these teams now will provide dividends later.  

  

A valuable question to ask is, could we reduce capital expenditures, improve resource utilization or enhance business continuity by investing more budget into Cloud services?  It is imperative to carefully assess your cloud spending as costs can quickly add up if not managed effectively.   

  

AhelioTech is here to help you prepare your 2024 IT budget. 

 Contact us today to schedule a budget meeting! 

[aheliotech]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: AhelioTech Unveils New AI Phone System 

New Post has been published on https://www.aheliotech.com/blog/special-announcement-aheliotech-unveils-new-ai-phone-system/

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: AhelioTech Unveils New AI Phone System 

Starting October 2nd, callers will begin to experience AhelioTech’s new AI-driven phone system. This new upgrade will provide better efficiency, reliability, and accuracy. The system will utilize an artificial intelligence engine to automate and optimize opening tickets and intelligent call routing.  

  Avenues to Contact AhelioTech  

Call in to AhelioTech’s at 614-333-0000 and utilize the AI automated system  

Email [email protected]  

Use the client portal (contact your Team Lead for more information)  

On our website at https://www.aheliotech.com/report-an-issue/  

  Opening New Tickets in the New Phone System 

Our new AI-driven phone system can use speech recognition technology to convert spoken words into text. This technology will allow users to open tickets in our system and assign your support request to the appropriate team needing to be addressed.  

  Getting Status of Your Existing Tickets 

AhelioTech’s automated AI phone system uses natural language processing and machine learning to understand the caller’s intent to route them to the most appropriate agent or department. This can reduce wait times, improve customer satisfaction, and increase conversion rates.  

 When clients call in to get an update, you will be asked to provide your ticket number for the issue on which you want more information. Your ticket number is more important than ever and is the key to getting the latest status of what is happening on your ticket or getting you routed to the technician working on your issue.  

  Improve Analytics to Improve Service 

AhelioTech’s new AI phone system can use data analysis and predictive analytics to provide us with valuable insights regarding call performance, customer behavior, technician productivity and more. AhelioTech will use these insights to make informed decisions, optimize our processes and provide improved processes that will positively impact our service and resolution times.  

 AhelioTech’s AI phone system is a smart and powerful solution that we feel will take our business communication with you, the client, to the next level. While this system is an enhanced automated system, there will still be an option provided to opt out and be directed to a technician.   

  

Contact AhelioTech Today with Any Questions about this New Service.