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Archive for category: Cloud Security

Prepping Your Cybersecurity Strategy for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

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By 2020 augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will be mainstream.

In terms of technology and security updates, that is no time at all, as 2020 is literally around the corner.

It is essential that your cybersecurity strategy reflects the benefits, as well as the challenges of AR and VR.

Innovations will flood the market, and along with them, new cybersecurity risks for organizations and individual users.

Understanding AR versus VR

Cybersecurity Strategy for Augmented Reality and Virtual RealityVR is better understood at this moment when compared to AR.

VR is a virtual environment that is projected onto a closed environment, generating a three-dimensional image for the user.

Special equipment can create a more “real” experience by supplementing a visor with a screen or gloves with sensors.

AR, on the other hand, merges virtual reality with the real environment.

The virtual content is accessible by users in any environment and can be blended flawlessly.

Initially, the only application that users connected with VR and AR was gaming, but professionals in every industry are understanding the unique benefits offered by these technologies.

Training, health care, manufacturing, and cybersecurity will all be affected, among others.

Modern technology will enhance performance

For cybersecurity professionals, in particular, AR and VR will dramatically change processes.

Organizations will no longer need to rely on a geographical location for security infrastructure, and IT professionals will be unnecessary in-house.

Threats will be detectable by any professional or executive monitoring the systems, regardless of location.

Performances will be enhanced across the board, as people in every industry will be able to collaborate with the use of virtual statistics, designs, and systems.

Practical approaches are needed to secure AR and VR

The danger, however, for both organizations and individual users, is very real.

Hackers will certainly find means of exploiting these new technologies for their own benefit.

Cybersecurity strategies need to be developed now to secure future networks, and there are steps an organization can take to prepare.

  • Implement a centralized content system and carefully encrypt inbound and outbound connections.
  • Use multi-factor authentication systems to confirm identity.
  • Enforce data-encryption for secure storage of AR and VR content.
  • Secure communication between devices, regardless of location.
  • Install tamper detection and other alerts regarding breaches.

New opportunities for your organization also offer new opportunities for hackers, and it is important for those in the cybersecurity industry to consider preemptive steps such as those listed above. AR and VR have incredible potential benefits, but they are not without risks. Strategies must be ready for implementation before the mainstream introduction of AR and VR, to keep both organizations’ data and individuals protected.

The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada businesses. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

Patch Programs Are a Poor Substitute for Comprehensive Cybersecurity

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Many data breaches occur as a result of a business failing to install a recommended patch.

If an organization had only taken the steps to update their software or apply the patches that had been made available, problems could have been avoided.

What is missing that prevents follow-through on these fundamental IT tasks?

There is a substantial gap between when a patch is available and when that patch is applied, which is a common enough problem that even Equifax suffered the consequences.

Patching is a losing battle

Patch Programs: Not An Ideal SolutionThe process of installing patches (also referred to as software updates) may seem achievable for smaller businesses with only a few programs.

However, patch management is very time-consuming for smaller and larger organizations alike – and needed patching is often procrastinated.

The very term “patch” trivializes the level of difficulty that IT departments endure when installing these security updates as if the undertaking was as simple as sewing a patch onto torn jeans.

With various programs and software utilities to manage within a single organization, it is nearly impossible to monitor, discover, and patch for every vulnerability.

Patch programs are rarely prioritized

All levels of staff within an organization must strike a careful balance between existing risk versus the costs of addressing that risk.

However, there is reluctance, despite IT professionals stressing the importance of staying up to date with patches.

Installing patches is often manual processes that require critical systems to be offline.

This can slow down coordinating networks and halt work that needs to be done.

This is frustrating to employees who are trying to complete projects and to management staff who are monitoring deadlines.

Missed deadlines and slow productivity are more easily perceived as a threat to the business that is the looming risk of a breach.

Patches are commonly delayed for a more “convenient” moment that rarely occurs.

What is the solution?

Given the pushback or lack of diligence in terms of installing security updates, patches are not a viable strategy for a robust cybersecurity policy.

An infrastructure that mitigates must stem from more than quick fixes to an overall problem in your security network.

Patches rely on manual processes and humans are inefficient.

New automation technologies are what will make identifying vulnerabilities and applying patches more effective strategies, but such tools must be integrated into systems.

It’s not a simple software that can be installed, but instead an entire shift in how digital programs are run and a proactive culture of action to protect data.

Switching to a comprehensive managed security protocol is the most effective way to manage vulnerabilities. Many breaches are the result of human error, and patch programs are not excluded. Even a high-functioning vulnerability management system, which prioritizes patches based on the level of risk, cannot address when a patch might suddenly move from a low priority to one that is higher. They can only alert the proper staff and hope that a patch can be applied in time with minimal inconvenience. Remaining cyber secure demands an aggressively proactive approach, and the practice of installing security patches largely amounts to playing a game of cat and mouse. If organizations are constantly on the run from the next attack, then the realization of a data breach becomes a matter of if, not when.

The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada businesses. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

Insider Threats are Top Concern in Cybersecurity

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Organizations are often so focused on establishing an IT infrastructure that will defend against external data breaches, such as ransomware and phishing scams, that they neglect those threats that are most pervasive: insider threats.

Security threats that are a direct result of employees’ actions occur more regularly than most companies would like to admit.

What is an insider threat?

Insider Threats are Top Concern in CybersecurityAn insider threat is a threat to on an organization by people who work for, or used to work for, the company or by people who have access to the company’s data because they are contractors, vendors, or third-party stakeholders with access to a company’s network.

It is an action, whether intentional or not, taken by an employee who has legitimate access to organizational systems, that results in a data breach.

Insider threats can be the most detrimental to an organization, simply because many occurrences are the fault of employees who have no idea that they are putting the entire network at risk.

The most common sources of insider threats:

  • Accidental – Phishing attempts are successful because many employees do not know how to recognize malicious attacks when they see them. As well, organizations make the mistake of allowing too many users access to privileged information. They also are not aware of the security practices of third-party vendors. Each of these loopholes poses a risk to your cybersecurity framework. Lack of education results in mistakes that could be easily prevented.
  • Negligent – There are also breaches that occur because employees do not realize the extent of the damage that may result from ignoring basic security practices. The desire to complete a project could lead an employee to send critical data to an unsecured home network or to use an unapproved mobile device. Convenience and the desire for increased productivity are the leading causes of negligence in terms of cybersecurity, and despite good intentions, such actions can have devastating results.
  • Malicious – The most obvious form of insider attacks are malicious actions taken against the company. Terminated or disgruntled employees may seek to benefit from selling personal data on the black market, or they may simply expose sensitive information to the public as a political or social statement. Furthermore, it is not unheard of for current employees to be recruited by those wanting access to the network, with offers to pay generously for secure passwords.

How can you manage insider threats?

Managing insider threats does not involve viewing all employees as potential nemeses.

However, precautionary steps must be taken to prevent leaked data and unauthorized access.

Organizations can easily limit the number of privileged users, thereby reducing the number of employees who have access to private data.

Those who do have access should use stringent controls, employing strong passwords and limiting access to shared accounts.

Educating your entire workforce, from the CEO to all lower-level staff, is a must for the successful implementation of smart cybersecurity practices.

As well, it’s important to consistently monitor cyberactivity, using systems that can alert you to unusual patterns or access points.

Taking these steps can prevent insider threats from taking advantage of your systems.

Security tends to be more relaxed within the walls of your own business, which is why organizations are more at risk from insider threats.

Many breaches are accidental, but an honest mistake does not change the fact that millions of dollars could be lost.

A strong cybersecurity strategy starts with those within the organization.

Ensure that your employees are an asset, not a liability.

The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

3 Benefits of a Cloud Strategy with Microsoft Azure

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If you were an early cloud strategy adopter, you may have migrated to the cloud years ago when the trend was still in its infancy.

The benefit of being an early adopter is that you can be the first to take advantage of the cost savings and increased productivity.

The drawback is that you’re often the one out front helping identify the bugs and quirks that keep the system from working the way it’s expected to work.

Some organizations weren’t willing or able to take that kind of risk and are only just now considering the cloud.

It’s the perfect time to do so – and if you were an early adopter of cloud strategy, now can be a great time to learn about innovations that can save you more time and money and keep you more secure.

There’s no avoiding the fact that the cloud is here to stay.

3 Benefits of a Cloud Strategy with Microsoft Azure

3 Benefits of a Cloud Strategy with Microsoft Azure

In Canada, it’s become even simpler now with Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive solution for organizations that are moving to the cloud and need scalability and a multi-pronged platform.

It offers a reliable, scalable, and secure infrastructure environment with Canada-based data cloud services and storage.

The benefits of Microsoft Azure include:

Security

In addition to being fast and reliable, Azure offers a secure cloud solution.

According to Microsoft: “Security and privacy are built right into the Azure platform, beginning with the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL).

The SDL addresses security at every development phase and ensures that Azure is continually updated to make it even more secure.”

Flexibility

To improve the flexibility – and speed – of the cloud service delivered by Azure, Microsoft has acquired flash storage company Avere.

What does this mean for businesses moving to the cloud using Azure?

According to the press release announcing the purchase, not only does Avere support large-scale media needs, but it also supports the high-performance computing needs of organizations “in life sciences, education, oil and gas, financial services, manufacturing and more.”

Cost Control

Azure is an extension of the idea that turning costs into more-predictable monthly expenses rather than unplanned, unexpected capital costs is a smart business strategy.

This allows organizations in any industry to improve customer experience, drive innovation, and manage costs.

Investing in Azure might be right for your business.

However, to really obtain the ROI you’re anticipating, be sure to choose an Azure MSP who will help you:

  • Implement and manage your Azure operations
  • Manage your hybrid cloud
  • Migrate your systems
  • Ensure that you have the most comprehensively secure IT strategy possible to meet your operational needs

Whether you need help evaluating storage needs, configuring data, or ensuring compliance, having the right MSP partner is more important than ever.

The ITeam is an authorized partner MSP for Microsoft Azure. Contact us to learn more.

Protecting Your Business from Office 365 Brute Force Attacks

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The modern workforce, with its need for remote work locations and mobile applications, has certainly been good for productivity, but it has also opened new doors for hackers.

Malicious attackers are always looking for new opportunities to compromise your data.

Office 365 is an essential business tool, hackers have seen it as an effortless means of gaining access to company networks.

Recent O365 brute force attacks against multiple organizations highlight the ingenuity of attackers and the need to address the vulnerability of Office 365.

What Is a Brute Force Attack?

Protecting Your Business from Office 365 Brute Force AttacksA brute force attack occurs when hackers use automated scripts to cycle through as many attempts as possible to crack someone’s password.

While cloud service providers are ever on the lookout for brute force attacks, the concerted effort against Office 365 has been causing the most issues lately.

Hackers, to remain undetected, have been attempting to fly under the radar with their attacks, exploiting user accounts and passwords obtained from earlier breaches suffered by Dropbox and LinkedIn.

Knowing that some people use the same password on multiple accounts, hackers slowly and methodically try every conceivable email and password combination, in the hopes of finding one that lets them in.

All it takes is one person reusing the same password and username on more than one site to give hackers access, which is why hackers have generally been successful.

In the last attack, there were 100,000 failed logins from 67 different IP addresses and 12 different networks.

This demonstrates a coordinated effort against high-value targets in a strategic manner that avoided detection, also suggesting that hackers already had access to some personal information.

Username–Password Authentication is Not Enough

Many businesses continue to rely on username-password authentication for login purposes, but given current cybersecurity threats, that is no longer adequate.

An organization’s security infrastructure must involve multi-factor authentication, due to attacks stemming largely as a result of weak identity security and phishing email scams.

Although current versions of Office 365 support basic two-factor authentication, older Microsoft clients and third-party email applications do not have this feature.

Furthermore, multi-factor authentication must be manually activated and updated. It is critical for all businesses to take the steps necessary to protect their sensitive data linked to Office 365.

What You Can Do

  • Use built-in security features – Although built-in features aren’t always enough to prevent malicious attacks, they do provide an added layer that can boost overall security. Office 365 is equipped with an intuitive junk-mail filter that can help distinguish between spam, phishing, and legitimate emails. You can also upgrade to Advanced Threat Protection, which is an extension of an Office 365 subscription.
  • Upgrade your system – Make sure that your security system, as well as your Office 365 subscription, is up to date. Failure to install an update can leave your cyber doors wide open.
  • Disable email hyperlinks – This option is not the most user-friendly, but it can be effective. Disabling links within an email can reject a hacker’s attempt to bury a false URL.
  • Educate users – Human error is the crux of most successful phishing attacks. Educate your employees and clients on how to identify phishing attempts, and you can prevent a major breach in your systems.

The ITeam supports all of your Office 365 needs and partners with you to make sure you can make the transition and manage the service effectively. Because of the risk, these O365 brute force attacks represent, we now require our clients using RDP implement multifactor authentication with O365. To learn more about our Microsoft O365 services, visit https://theiteam.ca/office-365/ or contact us.