Thursday, June 16, 2016

IT Services Atlanta: 7 Tips on How to Stay Safe from Inside Threats

Even with the best IT services Atlanta has to offer, inside threats can still be disastrous to a company. You don't only have to protect your data against hackers and viruses. You also have to make sure employees don't destroy precious data.


You may be thinking about rogue employees. Yes, they are a problem. However, the biggest inside threat is uninformed staff members who are likely to make security mistakes.


We are going to go over seven tips on how to protect your business from both:


1. Train Your Employees


Most cases of data loss or virus infections happen because staff members don't take the necessary precautions. Company policies are meant to eliminate that problem, but you need to make sure said policies are well-implemented.


Organize seminars for everyone whose work involves using the internet.


Explain what the potential threats are, and how to avoid them. Also, let them know about the consequences of misconduct.


Company-wide seminars should take place at least once a year. Any new employee should be trained before beginning work. One of the IT services Atlanta companies need the most is proper safety instruction.


2. Be Strict about Passwords and Account Management


You need to keep your employees' accounts safe. Having a weak password or forgetting to log off the account can be dangerous.


If an unauthorized person gets their hands on the account, they could not only compromise the computer but also the whole network.


3. Deactivate Unnecessary Accounts


When someone stops working for your company, make sure they no longer have access to your network. Former employees can become a threat in two ways:



  • Without policies and surveillance, their personal computer could get malware. If they can still access the network, viruses could spread to your company too.



  • If the employee harbors resentment for your business, they may try to harm it intentionally. Your business intelligence is valuable, and they could try to steal and sell it.



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4. Implement Privilege Regulations


The explanation behind this tip is simple. Employees should only have enough privileges and access to do their jobs.


There is no reason to give them more access. It won't improve efficiency, but it will increase the risks. Keep things on a need-to-have basis to maintain company safety.


5. Monitor the Network and Shut Down Suspicious Activity


Whether it's a rogue employee or just a forgetful one, they leave signs when endangering the business. Keep a constant eye on the network for such signs. The most sought-after IT services Atlanta offers are monitoring tools.


Make this a priority to your system admins, or get help from an IT company. They'll help you prevent and mitigate problems.


6. Perform Regular Backups and Have a Data Recovery Plan


Those two actions are different, but they have the same goal: to keep your files safe. You need both of them to be safe.


Backups should be done as often as possible. Save data on the Cloud, and in two separate physical locations. This way, you'll never lose it.


Recovery plans are for mitigating any problems that may appear. Work out a plan with the help of an IT company. Their advice can be invaluable.


7. Assess Risks at All Times


By following these tips and being vigilant, you should be safe from most threats. However, since a single breach can be disastrous, you need to take an even more proactive approach.


Perform occasional company-wide assessments. Identify the most relevant data you have and their levels of protection. Consider the weakest point in your infrastructure. Come up with a risk management strategy.


The key to protecting your company from any threat is to stay ahead of the curve.


How to Pick the Best IT Services Company Atlanta Has to Offer


Working with several IT companies can become hectic and put a serious strain on your budget. Your best option is to find experts in several fields. They should handle security and other tasks, such as network design and ongoing maintenance.


We happen to be such a company. Not only will we ensure that your data is safe, but we'll help you boost efficiency as well.


Get in touch with us and we'll take care of all your IT needs.


The post IT Services Atlanta: 7 Tips on How to Stay Safe from Inside Threats appeared first on 1iX.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Atlanta IT Support: a Guide to Email Security

Any business, no matter how big or small, uses emails regularly. Hackers and scammers know this, so dangerous emails have become extremely common.


We are aware you don't have the time to call Atlanta IT support every time an email looks fishy. That's why we are going to help you learn how to recognize and avoid malicious emails.


Email Types and Their Threat Level


There are several ways an email can sabotage you. Learning what each type does and how to spot them should be a priority.


Virus Emails


Malware has been around for almost as long as the internet. As time passed, viruses have become more sophisticated and dangerous.


They could destroy or steal all the data on a computer and spread to others. Some viruses can even make the computer virtually inoperable until the threat is removed. In short, you don't want one.


Be extremely careful with unsolicited emails. Unless you're entirely sure they can be trusted, don't open any attached files, don't click on any links, and don't reply


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More troublesome is malware that infects computers and sends more emails from the victim's account. If someone you know sends you weird emails, be cautious.


To be safe, consider getting IT support for your company in Atlanta. They can offer advice and excellent antivirus services.


Phishing Scams


Phishers pretend to be trustworthy individuals representing banks or companies. They ask victims for sensitive data like passwords or credit card information. They then use that information against you. These emails are generally sent in bulk and have no particular target.


Spear phishing is when a particular individual or group is targeted. This method is much more dangerous.


The sender may look for personal information to make the email more convincing. For example, they may pose as an Atlanta IT Support company or another service provider.


Never disclose valuable information in an email unless you are completely sure it's legitimate. Call the company to ensure that they asked for the data before sending it.


How to Spot Dangerous Emails


Usually, a virus or phishing attempt can be spotted. Some emails can be extremely convincing, but none is perfect. Here's what you should look out for:



  • Grammatical errors.

  • The sender has a different address than the person they're pretending to be.

  • The links in the email don't lead to the organization's official website.

  • The actual link URL is different from the printed text.

  • The email does not address you by name.

  • You are urged to go to a website or open an attachment.


Remember that a malicious email could have none of these signs. If it does, however, there's a good chance that it's a scam.


Other Dangers of Using Emails


We have covered the risks of opening suspicious emails, but there are other threats as well.


Picking a strong password is always important. Include numbers, upper-case and lower-case letters and make the password as long as possible. Otherwise, you increase the risks of having your account hacked.


Avoid using unsecured networks. If you connect to a public WiFi, like the one in a restaurant, you become vulnerable to hacks and viruses. Someone could gain control of the system and see any data you send or receive.


How an Atlanta IT Support Company Ensures Security


To make the workplace safe from cyber-attacks, it's best to get professionals on the job. An IT company can secure your network with firewalls, monitoring tools, and antivirus software.


It's hard to protect yourself against a determined hacker, but we will help you. We have years of experience in data security and other IT services. We will ensure everything runs smoothly while you grow your business, so get in touch with us now.


The post Atlanta IT Support: a Guide to Email Security appeared first on 1iX.