In the malware ecosystem, few strains are more terrifying than those that target industrial control systems. Think Stuxnet, Industroyer and IronGate. Recently, security researchers from FireEye have identified a new threat in this class of malware. Alternately called "Triton" or "TRISIS," this new code targets Triconex Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) controllers, which are manufactured by Schneider Electric. These control systems are found in a wide range of industrial equipment. They are, in … Read more
Always Connected Laptops Could Be The Next Generation Of Hardware
What's the next big thing for the PC world? If the industry's major players have anything to say about it, it will be the "always-on" PC. Forget about plugging into your company's network. Forget about free WiFi Hotspots. With an always-on PC, you won't have to worry about either. If they're not available, your PC can connect via the same cellular data network your smartphone uses, which means you'll always be just a few mouse clicks away from your data. It sounds fantastic, but there is, … Read more
Are Your Employees Working or Web Surfing?
Surfs Up, Productivity Down? The growing trend of employees inappropriately using Internet access to check personal email, social media and browse the web is costing local businesses valuable project time, money and overall productivity. In fact, recent studies have shown that as much as 80% of employees are using the Internet at work for purposes that have nothing to do with work. Browser Blind A major issue with employees wasting productivity on surfing the Internet comes from businesses … Read more
How Will the End of Net Neutrality Affect My Small Business?
You may not realize it, but the end of net neutrality is a serious concern for small businesses. Larger companies will now have an advantage over small ones. What is net neutrality? According to Google, network neutrality is "the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites." What does it mean now that net neutrality is dead? Internet service … Read more
Understanding Managed Services
Managed Services - Proactive IT Support The IT Support buzzword of today is "Managed Services". It's a concept that's picking up increasing traction and for a very good reason. Every day, more and more businesses are evolving from a reactive IT model to a proactive IT model to save money and run more efficient operations. But what does the term "Managed Services" actually mean? And how can you tell if an IT Support company is truly offering Managed Services or just using the buzzword as a … Read more
How Fast Can You Be “Backup” And Running?
Data Disaster Averted Having appropriate data backup solutions isn't the only concern when it comes to an IT disaster for your business. Depending on what your method of data recovery is, in the event of a data loss event, you could be putting your business on hold as you put the pieces back together. Not all Data Recover is Created Equal While there are multiple methods for data backup solutions, they aren't all a safe choice. While hard copy backup solutions such as flash drives and servers … Read more
Businesses Make Assumption That Bank Security Keeps Their Money Safe
To the surprise of many business owners, banks often cannot reclaim money stolen from accounts due to fraud or cyber crime. That means when a hacker, phishing attack or identity thief strikes, they have no chance of getting that money back. Business owners would also do well to remember that the FDIC is not a fraud fighter. The FDIC insurance is to protect against bank failure, NOT fraud. So if a debit card or account information gets accessed by a hacker and it isn't noticed within the same … Read more
Many Businesses Found To Be Running Old Microsoft Office Versions
When an operating system reaches the end of its supported life, such as Windows XP, NT and Vista have, it's big news. It makes headlines. When other forms of software reach the end of the line, there's just not as much fanfare. It's not that it's not important; it's just not something people think or care very much about. They probably should, at least according to a recently released survey by Spiceworks, which revealed statistics that were both shocking and dismaying. Here are a few of the … Read more
Are Your Employees Wasting 3 Hours of Productivity?
Time is Money In the age of the Internet, instant information, social media, smart phones, tablets and much more, the business world has seen great leaps and strides in the ability to reach an audience, clients and customers, but at what cost? Well, it turns out that cost may come in the form of productivity in the work place, as recent research has shown that a majority of employees with access to the Internet are wasting between 1-3 hours surfing the web or checking their social media. Along … Read more
Cloud Computing – How Will it Affect You?
What is cloud computing? Cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive. With an online connection, cloud computing can be done anywhere and anytime. We are always on the watch for the ‘next best thing’ when it comes to technology and the Internet. Certainly no one can doubt that the next generation of the Internet (known as Web 2.0) has had a dramatic affect on how people interact and connect with each other – both … Read more
