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  • Strengthening Your Digital Identity: The Power of Email Authentication

    In an era dominated by digital communication, email remains a fundamental tool for personal and professional correspondence. However, the convenience of email comes hand in hand with the potential risks of cyber threats, making email security a paramount concern. To fortify your digital fortress, using email authentication is not only important, it is quickly becoming a requirement. Popular email service providers like Gmail and Microsoft 365 now require sender’s mail servers to have email authentication in place, or the message will be rejected.

    Email authentication emerges as a crucial line of defense in this landscape, ensuring that the messages we send and receive are from legitimate sources. Let’s delve into the types of email authentication and explore the myriad benefits they bring to the table.

    Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a widely adopted email authentication method. It works by allowing domain owners to specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on their behalf. This prevents cybercriminals from spoofing or forging the “From” address, a common tactic in phishing attacks. DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is another potent authentication technique that adds a digital signature to outgoing emails, verifying their authenticity. By validating the source, DKIM ensures that the content remains untampered during transit.

    Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) is the third pillar of robust email authentication. DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, offering domain owners a policy framework to declare their authentication practices and instruct email receivers on how to handle messages that fail authentication checks. DMARC provides valuable insights through reporting, allowing organizations to monitor and fine-tune their email authentication strategies.

    The benefits of adopting these email authentication methods are abundant. Foremost, they shield against phishing attacks by confirming the legitimacy of the sender. This not only protects individuals from falling victim to scams but also safeguards businesses from reputational damage. Additionally, authenticated emails contribute to enhanced deliverability, as reputable mail servers are less likely to mark them as spam. As we navigate an increasingly digital landscape, email authentication stands as a cornerstone in fortifying our online communication, fostering trust, and ensuring the integrity of our digital identities.

    Contact us to learn how implementing email authentication can improve your email deliverability while leveling-up your cyber security posture.

  • 3 Steps to Zero Trust Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

    Cyberattacks have become rampant and have also grown in sophistication. A simple lapse in your network security could lead to a chain of events that could prove catastrophic for your business. You can avoid this by implementing a robust cybersecurity framework such as zero trust.

    Zero trust asserts that no user or application should be trusted automatically. It encourages organizations to verify every access while treating every user or application as a potential threat. Zero trust is a great starting point for businesses that want to build formidable cybersecurity. It can not only adapt to the complexity of the modern work environment, including a hybrid workplace, but also protect people, devices, applications and data irrespective of where they are located.

    However, zero trust should not be mistaken for a solution or a platform, regardless of how security vendors market it to you. You can’t just buy it from a security vendor and implement it with a click of a button. Zero trust is a strategy — a framework that needs to be applied systematically.

    Implementing zero trust: Three core principles to remember

    As you begin your journey to implement a zero-trust framework to bolster your IT security, there are three core principles that you must remember:

    1. Continually verify
    You should strive to implement a “never trust, always verify” approach to security by continuously confirming the identity and access privileges of users, devices and applications. Consider implementing strong identity and access (IAM) controls. It will help you define roles and access privileges — ensuring only the right users can access the right information.

    2. Limit access
    Misuse of privileged access is one of the most common reasons for cyberattacks. Limiting access ensures that users are granted minimal access without affecting their day-to-day activities. Here are some common security practices that organizations have adopted to limit access:

    • Just-in-time access (JIT) – Users, devices or applications are granted access only for a predetermined period. This helps limit the time one has access to critical systems.
    • Principle of least privilege (PoLP) – Users, devices or applications are granted the least access or permissions needed to perform their job role.
    • Segmented application access (SAA) – Users can only access permitted applications, preventing any malicious users from gaining access to the network.

    3. Assume breach and minimize impact
    Instead of waiting for a breach, you can take a proactive step toward your cybersecurity by assuming risk. That means treating applications, services, identities and networks — both internal and external — as already compromised. This will improve your response time to a breach, minimize the damage, improve your overall security and, most importantly, protect your business.

    We are here to help

    Achieving zero trust compliance on your own can be a daunting task. However, partnering with an IT service provider like us can ease your burden. Leverage our advanced technologies and expertise to implement zero trust within your business — without hiring additional talent or bringing on additional tools yourself.

    Download our infographic “Why Now Is the Time to Embrace Zero Trust” to learn actionable steps you can take today to build a solid zero trust security framework. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

  • Be Aware of These Top AI Cyber-Risks

    Our third installment for Cyber Security Awareness Month focuses on the benefits and risks of AI.

    The rise of AI has sparked a revolution. Everyone, from industry giants to smaller enterprises, is captivated and eager to leverage AI’s endless possibilities.

    However, amid the celebrations of AI’s merits, let’s not ignore its potential risks. A new array of cyberthreats emerges when intricate AI algorithms cross paths with malicious cyber elements. From AI-powered phishing schemes to ultra-realistic deepfakes, these dangers serve as a reminder to stay vigilant and prepared.

    In this blog, we embark on a journey to explore AI benefits and risks. Our aim is to guide you in harnessing AI’s strengths while safeguarding against its potential pitfalls.

    AI’s positive impact on business

    The top benefits of AI include:

    Smart data analysis
    AI’s expertise lies in swiftly deciphering massive data sets to uncover patterns. This ability proves invaluable in traversing through modern markets. The insights derived empower you to make well-founded decisions, steering clear of guesswork.

    Boosted productivity
    AI’s automation prowess liberates your employees from mundane tasks, helping them focus on more critical tasks. Tedious and manual work can now be done seamlessly without human intervention, boosting productivity.

    Faster business maneuvering
    In an ever-evolving technological landscape, keeping up to date is paramount. AI empowers you to process and respond to real-time information promptly. This agility enables swift reactions to evolving scenarios, customer demands and opportunities.

    AI’s cyber challenges

    As we delve into the world of AI, we must also acknowledge the potential risks:

    AI-powered phishing scams
    Sneaky cybercriminals employ AI-driven chatbots to create impeccable phishing emails without the usual red flags, such as grammar errors. These attacks exploit human vulnerabilities, luring even the most vigilant to share sensitive information.

    To bolster your defense, exercise caution with emails from unfamiliar sources. Scrutinize sender details, avoid suspicious links and employ anti-phishing tools for added protection.

    Malicious AI-generated code
    Cybercriminals harness AI tools for swift code generation, surpassing manual capabilities. These generated code snippets find their way into malware and other malicious software.

    Defend against these intricate schemes by educating your team about them. Strengthen your defenses through layered security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus software and automated patch management.

    Deepfakes and impersonations
    AI-generated deepfakes can propagate misinformation, deceiving unsuspecting individuals and leading to fraud or character defamation. For example, in the current era, where many banks rely on online KYC (KYC or Know Your Customer is commonly implemented in banks to comply with regulatory requirements and mitigate the risk of financial crimes), malicious actors can create ultra-realistic videos using another person’s voice and image samples to open accounts for illegal transactions.

    Identifying deepfakes necessitates a discerning eye. Among other factors, anomalies in skin texture, blinking patterns and facial shadows help distinguish genuine content from manipulated content.

    Collaborative path to success

    At the crossroads of innovation and challenges, knowledge takes center stage.

    Our comprehensive eBook, “Protecting Your Business – Navigating AI Safety,” stands as your compass in the AI landscape. Delve into AI’s intricacies, uncover potential pitfalls and acquire strategies for responsible and secure utilization in your business.

    If navigating AI on your own seems daunting, don’t worry. Connect with us for a no-obligation consultation. Together, we’ll navigate AI’s realm, harness its power and ensure your organization’s safety.

  • How Social Media Misuse Can Harm Your Business

    Our second installment for Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on social media.

    Social media has significantly transformed the way we communicate and do business. However, this growing popularity also comes with potential risks that could cause harm to businesses like yours.

    Unfortunately, many organizations remain unaware of these rapidly evolving challenges. In this blog, we will explore the dangers associated with social media and share practical tips to safeguard your organization’s reputation and financial stability so that you can safely reap the benefits of social media platforms.

    Exploring the risks

    Social media presents several risks that you need to address, such as:

    Security breaches
    Cybercriminals can exploit social media to steal sensitive information by creating fake profiles and content to trick people into sharing confidential data. Social media platforms are also vulnerable to hacking, which can have a negative impact on your business.

    Reputation damage
    Negative comments from dissatisfied customers, envious competitors or even unhappy employees can quickly spread online and cause significant damage to your brand’s image within seconds.

    Employee misconduct
    Certain employees may share offensive content or leak confidential information on social media, which can trigger a crisis that can be challenging for you to handle.

    Legal accountability
    Social media has the potential to blur the boundaries between personal and professional lives, which can, in turn, create legal liabilities for your business. If your employees make malicious remarks about competitors, clients or individuals, the public can hold you responsible for their actions. Employees may also face the consequences if their social media behavior violates the organization’s regulations.

    Phishing threats
    Social media phishing scams can target your business and employees by installing malware or ransomware through seemingly authentic posts.

    Fake LinkedIn jobs
    Cybercriminals often pose as recruiters on LinkedIn and post fake job listings to collect data for identity theft scams.

    Securing your business

    Taking proactive measures is essential to avoid social media risks, including:

    Checking privacy settings
    Set privacy settings to the highest level across all accounts, restricting your and your employees’ access to sensitive information.

    Strengthening security
    Employ robust passwords and multifactor authentication (MFA) to bolster account security.

    Establishing clear guidelines
    Enforce clear social media rules for company and personal devices, customizing policies to fit your industry’s unique risks.

    Educating your teams
    Educate your team on social media risks, imparting safe practices to thwart scams and phishing attempts.

    Identifying impersonation
    Develop protocols to detect and manage fake profiles and impersonations swiftly. Remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

    Vigilant monitoring
    Set up a system to monitor social media, promptly addressing fraudulent accounts or suspicious activity that could stain your brand image.

    Act now to safeguard your business

    Understanding the risks and adhering to social media best practices are crucial for businesses of all sizes. By following these guidelines, you can reduce your business’s vulnerability while reaping the rewards of social media.

    For comprehensive insights into social media safety, download our eBook “From Vulnerability to Vigilance: Social Media Safety.”

    Navigating the intricate realm of social media threats might seem daunting; however, our expert team stands ready to guide you through the ever-evolving digital landscape. Don’t wait until trouble strikes — connect with us today and fortify your digital presence.

  • A Deep Dive Into Phishing Scams

    Phishing scams remain one of the most prevalent and successful types of cyberattacks today, so being aware of the danger they pose to businesses like yours is extremely crucial. Your business could easily be the next victim if you don’t clearly understand how threat actors leverage phishing emails.

    In this blog, you’ll learn the intent behind phishing emails, the various types of phishing attacks, and most importantly, how you can secure your email and business.

    The goal behind phishing emails

    Cybercriminals use phishing emails to lure unsuspecting victims into taking actions that will affect business operations, such as sending money, sharing passwords, downloading malware or revealing sensitive data. The primary intent behind a phishing attack is to steal your money, data or both.

    Financial theft — The most common aim of a phishing attempt is to steal your money. Scammers use various tactics, such as business email compromise (BEC), to carry out fraudulent fund transfers or ransomware attacks to extort money.

    Data theft — For cybercriminals, your data, such as usernames and passwords, identity information (e.g., social security numbers) and financial data (e.g., credit card numbers or bank account information), is as good as gold. They can use your login credentials to commit financial thefts or inject malware. Your sensitive data can also be sold on the dark web for profit.

    Be vigilant and look out for these phishing attempts:

    • If an email asks you to click on a link, be wary. Scammers send out phishing emails with links containing malicious software that can steal your data and personal information.
    • If an email directs you to a website, be cautious. It could be a malicious website that can steal your personal information, such as your login credentials.
    • If an email contains an attachment, be alert. Malicious extensions disguised to look like a document, invoice or voicemail can infect your computer and steal your personal information.
    • If an email tries to rush you into taking an urgent action, such as transferring funds, be suspicious. Try to verify the authenticity of the request before taking any action.

     

    Different types of phishing

    It’s important to note that phishing attacks are constantly evolving and can target businesses of all sizes. While phishing emails are a common method used by cybercriminals, they also use texts, voice calls and social media messaging.

    Here are the different kinds of phishing traps that you should watch out for:

    Spear phishing — Scammers send highly personalized emails targeting individuals or businesses to convince them to share sensitive information such as login credentials or credit card information. Spear phishing emails are also used for spreading infected malware.

    Whaling — A type of spear phishing, whale phishing or whaling is a scam targeting high-level executives where the perpetrators impersonate trusted sources or websites to steal information or money.

    Smishing — An increasingly popular form of cyberattack, smishing uses text messages claiming to be from trusted sources to convince victims to share sensitive information or send money.

    Vishing — Cybercriminals use vishing or voice phishing to call victims while impersonating somebody from the IRS, a bank or the victim’s office, to name a few. The primary intent of voice phishing is to convince the victim to share sensitive personal information.

    Business email compromise (BEC) — A BEC is a spear phishing attack that uses a seemingly legitimate email address to trick the recipient, who is often a senior-level executive. The most common aim of a BEC scam is to convince an employee to send money to the cybercriminal while making them believe they are performing a legitimate, authorized business transaction.

    Angler phishing — Also known as social media phishing, this type of scam primarily targets social media users. Cybercriminals with fake customer service accounts trick disgruntled customers into revealing their sensitive information, including bank details. Scammers often target financial institutions and e-commerce businesses.

    Brand impersonation — Also known as brand spoofing, brand impersonation is a type of phishing scam carried out using emails, texts, voice calls and social media messages. Cybercriminals impersonate a popular business to trick its customers into revealing sensitive information. While brand impersonation is targeted mainly at the customers, the incident can tarnish the brand image.

    Bolster your email security

    Emails are crucial for the success of your business. However, implementing email best practices and safety standards on your own can be challenging. That’s why you should consider partnering with an IT service provider like us. We have the resources and tools to protect your business from cyberattacks, helping you to focus on critical tasks without any worry. Contact us now!

    Meanwhile, to learn how to secure your inbox, download our eBook — Your Guide to Email Safety — that will help you improve your email security and avoid potential traps.

  • 8 Elements of a Business Impact Analysis for Compliance

    A compliance program helps businesses like yours minimize risk and increase business efficiencies. It also ensures that your business complies with relevant laws and industry regulations.

    An essential element of an effective compliance program is Business Impact Analysis (BIA). It measures the impact of a disruption (due to an accident, disaster, etc.) on critical business operations.

    You must conduct a BIA to:

    1. Identify gaps in the existing compliance agreements (whether regulatory like HIPAA, GDPR or CMMC).
    2. Ensure compliance with cyber liability insurance policies and other IT compliance policies unique to your
      organization, industry, geography, etc.

    Conducting a BIA for compliance

    There is no fixed method for conducting a BIA. It varies from one business to the next. However, to achieve compliance, a BIA must:

    1. Identify critical processes and functions.
    2. Draft a roadmap for business recovery.
    3. Find out resource interdependencies.
    4. Track the flow of sensitive data.
    5. Determine the impact of an incident on operations.
    6. Sort processes and functions based on their necessity for business continuity.
    7. Establish recovery time requirements.
    8. Evaluate the impact a disruption will have on compliance.

     

    To get started, you can ask challenging questions, such as:

    What steps do you need to take immediately to become compliant?
    This question helps detect the compliance gaps that need urgent attention. A few common compliance gaps you may encounter are:

    • Improper firewall management.
    • Lack of documentation of sensitive data flow.
    • Poor incident prevention practices.
    • Failure to document preventative measures.

    Do you have a data governance strategy in place that considers compliance requirements relevant to your organization?
    An effective data governance strategy ensures that data gets managed well, making data management compliant with internal and external regulations.

    How long will it take to bridge known compliance gaps?
    It is essential to fill compliance gaps as quickly as you can. If it’s going to take too long, you should consider outsourcing your compliance matters to an experienced IT service provider like us.

    Do you have in-house expertise?
    If you have a compliance specialist employed at your business, they can manage the compliance gaps efficiently.

    Even if you have in-house expertise, can the work be completed within an acceptable timeframe?

    Having in-house expertise won’t be helpful if filling the compliance gaps takes too long. The longer the issues remain unresolved, the more opportunity there is for vulnerabilities to result in data exposure and data loss incidents and could attract regulatory fines.

    Does it make sense to have a partner to accomplish your compliance goals?

    Sometimes, having a partner who can effectively manage your compliance-related issues will be more convenient for your business. With the help of a partner, you can address vulnerabilities much faster and reduce the likelihood of your organization suffering non-compliance-related fines.

    In addition to conducting or refreshing your BIA at least once a year, you must ensure that regular risk assessments are part of your non-compliance hunting strategy. Using BIA and risk assessments ensures that nothing inadvertently falls out of compliance.

    Regular risk assessments help detect, estimate and prioritize risks to an organization’s individuals, assets and operations. While a risk assessment lets you know your business’s risks, a BIA helps you understand how to quickly get your business back on track after an incident to avoid severe damages.

    Implement an effective compliance program

    Achieving and maintaining compliance on your own can be challenging, especially if you don’t have the resources and expertise to keep up with changes in compliance frameworks. This can lead to inefficient processes and increased risk. By partnering with an experienced IT service provider like us, you can effortlessly enhance your compliance program without spending a fortune. Contact us now to schedule a no-obligation consultation to see if we’re the right partner for your business.

  • Backup Strategies to Prevent Data Loss

    We live in a digital age where data has become one of the most valuable commodities in the world. Businesses collect huge volumes of data every day from their customers, and this data plays a critical role in their day-to-day operations. If business organizations happen to lose their data under any circumstance, the consequences can be quite catastrophic.

    This is the harsh reality of today’s digital business landscape. Businesses can experience data loss in many ways, ranging from natural disasters to cyberattacks. Should you suffer an unexpected data loss, your competitive advantage lies in how quickly you can get your operations up and running without experiencing major downtime.

    In this blog, we’ll take a brief look at the various dangers to business data and how you can prevent them with the right backup. We’ll also look at the different ways of backing up data and the advantages of using a robust business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) solution.

    Why Do You Need Data Backup?

    Before we look at the different ways of backing up data, you need to know why your business requires data backup. Businesses commonly encounter the following data security threats to data in their everyday operations.

    • Cyberattacks: As technology evolves, cyberattacks continue to evolve as well. The growing threat of ransomware is a testament to that. According to the latest Verizon report, 27 percent of malware incidents can be attributed to ransomware attacks. While antimalware and antivirus programs can certainly offer protection, businesses need to think about what might happen in case of an unavoidable security breach and eventual data loss when formulating a data security strategy.
    • Natural disasters: Natural disasters such as floods, fire, earthquakes and the like pose a big threat to the traditional form of data storage and security. Do you have what it takes to bounce back if these disasters catch you off guard and wipe out your company’s data?
    • Hardware issues: Mishaps originating from hardware issues play a major role in business data loss. With traditional data storage methods, data is stored in a physical location on hard drives and backup appliances. Any hardware issues arising in these devices can pose a serious threat to your valuable data.
    • Human errors: Human errors still play a major role in data loss. According to Verizon, as much as 30 percent of data loss incidents are caused by internal actors. This could be attributed to anything from poor password practices to falling for phishing scams.

    All these factors indicate that data loss can happen to any organization irrespective of their size or the security precautions they take. What you need is a solid data backup solution to make sure that your lost data is not completely unrecoverable.

    How to Back Up Your data

    As you understand the importance of data backup, it’s inevitable that certain questions may spring to mind – What is the best way to store data? How many copies should you take?

    With regards to the best way of storing data, both cloud backup and on-site backup appliances need to be considered. This is because both have their own advantages and limitations. On-storage devices are faster, giving organizations full control over their data. However, they are prone to physical mishaps and hardware issues. Cloud-based backup, on the other hand, is not vulnerable to natural disasters but requires a lot of bandwidth to backup large files.

    The ideal backup strategy is one that combines both these approaches, with multiple copies stored in different locations. When it comes to backing up your data, you need to consider the 3-2-1 rule, which simultaneously answers your questions on what the right approach to data backup is and the number of copies that need to be made.

    As per this rule, it is prudent to have at least three copies of data – one production copy and two backup copies on two different media (internal hard drive and removable storage media) along with one off-site copy (cloud) for disaster recovery. Newer variations of this rule suggest having at least two copies (3-2-2 rule) on the cloud depending on the importance of your data. Ultimately, the more copies you make, the higher your chances of recovery after a loss.

    Advantages of BCDR Over File-Only Backups

    In crude terms, data backup is simply the process of making copies of your files and storing them. However, the main purpose of a backup is to get your business up and running in no time following an unexpected disaster. Hence, an effective backup strategy is symbiotic with business continuity as well. Business continuity refers to the ability of your organization to get back in working order as quickly as possible following an unexpected data loss.

    When you think about business continuity, you must think in terms of Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). RTO refers to the maximum time an application can be down without affecting the business. RPO refers to the maximum amount of data that can be lost without harming the business.

    A good BCDR solution will provide you with the following benefits:

    • Significant reduction in RTO and RPO
    • Ability to predict business restoration following an unexpected disaster
    • Reduction in downtime and associated revenue losses
    • Lower interruption to critical business processes
    • Avoid compromise to business reputation
    • Ability to customize disaster recovery as per your needs

     

    Best Practices for Data Backup

    While incorporating an effective backup strategy, you need to implement the following best practices to limit data loss:

    • Increase frequency: Digitally-run businesses are required to back up their data multiple times a day. Doing it once a day, at the end of business hours, is no longer sufficient, especially with the number of threats gunning for your data.
    • Use cloud backup: The Cloud has become an indispensable component of data backup in this digital age. Cloud backup comes with a multitude of benefits such as easy recovery, easy scalability, better cost efficiency and more.
    • Use the power of automation: Automation has become a game changer with regards to various IT tasks and backup is no exception. When you automate your disaster recovery process, you can bounce back from serious disasters and continue business operations without suffering too much downtime.
    • Determine your retention span: Retaining all data backup versions forever is not a feasible solution for most small businesses. Due to this, you need to determine the duration for which you will retain your data. This requirement will vary based on your industry, needs and compliance regulations. You need to come up with a solution that ticks all parameters.

     

    To Sum Up…

    Backup should be a part of every organization’s business strategy, irrespective of its size, location or industry. Threats to business data are very real and are happening at an alarming rate. In this scenario, a solid data backup plan could be the preventative measure that saves your business when disaster strikes.

    Talk to us today so we can help you zero in on an effective backup strategy that’s tailor-made for you.

  • Busting 3 Ransomware Myths

    It’s Time to Bust These 3 Ransomware Myths

     In today’s digital age, ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly frequent, sophisticated and costly. With cybercriminals constantly evolving their tactics and targeting businesses of all sizes, organizations like yours must proactively safeguard your data and systems. Unfortunately, many companies fall prey to common ransomware myths, which can leave them vulnerable to attacks and unprepared to respond effectively in the event of an incident.

    In this blog, we’ll debunk three of the most prevalent ransomware myths and provide the accurate information you need to protect your business. Understanding the realities of ransomware and taking proactive steps against it can mitigate the risk and ensure you’re prepared to fight against cybercriminals.

    Top Myths to Bust

    Without further ado, let’s debunk the ransomware myths you should avoid at any cost:

    Myth #1: If my business gets hit with ransomware, I’ll pay the ransom and return to business.
    Many businesses believe that paying a ransom is the quickest and easiest way to recover encrypted data. However, that’s just a dangerous assumption.

    Paying a ransom does not guarantee that the attackers will keep their word and provide the decryption key. Also, paying a ransom only encourages cybercriminals to carry out more attacks in the future.

    The best way to protect your business is to have a solid backup strategy and a comprehensive security plan in place.

    Myth #2: My backups will get me back up and running if I get hit with ransomware. 

    While backups are essential to ransomware prevention, it’s a myth that backups will always save the day. Cybercriminals have upgraded their tactics to compromise backup files as part of their attack strategy.

    With the rise of double extortion attacks, cybercriminals not only encrypt data but also steal it. This means that even if you have a backup strategy in place, your data may still be at risk if attackers threaten to leak sensitive data unless a ransom is paid.

    Myth #3: My antivirus software (or any other security solution) provides complete protection from ransomware attacks. 

    Antivirus software is essential to a comprehensive defense against ransomware, but it’s not enough. Relying on a single security product to defend against ransomware is a mistake. There’s no silver bullet solution to ransomware. However, implementing a defense-in-depth strategy can help your business build the most.

    Partner to succeed

    While it’s true that no security measure is foolproof, taking proactive steps to secure your data and systems can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a ransomware attack. We can help ensure your organization is well-prepared to fight against ransomware and other cyberthreats. Feel free to reach out to us for a no-obligation consultation.

    To learn more about ransomware criminals and how to defend your business, download our infographic “The Anatomy of a Ransomware Attack.” It’s a valuable resource that can help you increase your basic understanding of ransomware, identify the signs if you’ve fallen victim and prepare you to defend against these attacks.

  • Using Mentions to Organize Your Inbox

    Use @mentions to get someone’s attention

    If you’d like to get someone’s attention in an email message or a meeting invite, you can type the @ symbol, followed by their name, in the body of the email message or a meeting invite. If you do this, not only will their name be highlighted in the message body or invite details, but Outlook will automatically add them to the To line of the email or meeting invite, and they’ll see the @ symbol next to the message in their Inbox.

    Use @ in the body of a message or meeting invite

    In the body of the email message or calendar invite, enter the @ symbol and the first few letters of the contact’s first or last name.

    Add the @ symbol and the first few characters of a person's name

    When Outlook offers you one or more suggestions, choose the contact you want to mention. By default, the contact’s full name is included and added to the To: line.
    The mentioned person's full name and email are shown by default

    You can delete a portion of the mention, for example, everything other than the person’s first name.You can choose to show only a person's first name

    Filter for messages that mention you

    If you receive a lot of email, you might want to filter the messages in a folder to see only those messages that mention you.

    In Outlook for Windows,
    Above the message list, choose All. Choose Mentioned Mail.

    Filter to Mentioned Mail in Outlook for Windows

    In Outlook for Mac,
    On the Home tab, choose Filter Email.
    Choose Mentioned.

    Use Mentioned on the Filter Email menu to search for emails where you're @mentioned
    In New Outlook for Windows,
    To the right of Focused and Other, select Filter. Select @ Mentions me.

    Note: The Mentioned mail feature is only available for recipients using Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online, or Outlook.com.  The @ (at symbol) indicator is only available for Exchange Online or Outlook.com.

    Add Mention to your email columns to see where you are mentioned

    If you use the full email list to view your emails, you can add the Mention column to quickly see if you are @mentioned in an email.
    Select View > Current View > View Settings. Select Columns.
    If Mention is not listed in the Show these columns in this order: list on the right side, change the available columns to All Mail fields.
    Scroll down to Mention and select it.

    View settings for columns in Outlook
    Select Add and then OK and OK again.

    Emails are an essential communication tool used to provide important information, make announcements and assign tasks. Full inboxes can take time to read and sort through. You should organize your inbox to help reduce clutter and easily locate important information.

  • PRESS RELEASE: NTELogic Joins JumpCloud Partner Program

    Businesses can easily adopt a zero-trust security model to improve identity access management and enhanced protection against cyber threats.

    Sonora, CA. – Mon.  May 15, 2023 – NTELogic announced today it has joined the JumpCloud Partner Program to secure their clients using JumpCloud, an Open Directory Platform provider that unifies identity, access and device management across cloud services, applications, IT resources and devices. JumpCloud’s mission is to Make Work Happen®, by providing people Secure, Frictionless AccessTM to the resources they need to do their jobs.

    By utilizing JumpCloud’s platform, NTELogic can provide their customers with secure access to the resources they need to get their jobs done, without sacrificing productivity or increasing their risk of a cyber-attack.

    Matt Kiolbassa, Chief Technology Officer at NTELogic said: “JumpCloud’s platform offers a comprehensive security solution that provides businesses with the peace of mind they need to focus on their core operations. By leveraging JumpCloud’s cutting-edge technology, NTELogic helps businesses strengthen their security posture and protect their valuable assets against cyber threats. With features such as multi-factor authentication, user identity and access management, and seamless integration with other security tools, JumpCloud’s platform is a game-changer in the world of cybersecurity. We are proud to offer businesses the opportunity to enhance their security and minimize their risk with JumpCloud.”

    “We’re pleased to welcome NTELogic to the JumpCloud Partner Program and our growing community of MSPs,” said Antoine Jebara, general manager MSP channel and co-founder, JumpCloud. “Today’s hybrid and remote work landscape continues to challenge businesses to remain productive and secure. JumpCloud partners like NTELogic are dedicated to enabling their customers to securely work from anywhere and from any device.”

    For IT admins with limited resources, JumpCloud puts simple, secure, and cost-effective user management within reach by consolidating identity across any and all IT resources without the complexity of other enterprise solutions. JumpCloud won the 2022 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Award as Identity Management Platform of the Year, was named one of America’s Best Startup Employers 2022 by Forbes, and named CrowdStrike’s 2022 Ecosystem Emerging Partner of the Year. G2 acknowledged

    JumpCloud across several categories for Best Software of 2022, and over 1300 IT admins have rated JumpCloud as an industry leader in an array of identity, device, and directory categories by G2, the business technology industry’s most trusted source for customer reviews.

    The JumpCloud Partner Program gives MSPs tools, resources, and easy-to-manage cloud directory solutions to effectively grow their business, including dedicated channel sales, technical, and marketing resources. Learn more about the JumpCloud Partner Program and apply to be a JumpCloud Partner at jumpcloud.com/partners.

    About NTELogic
    NTELogic is a Managed IT Services Provider based in Sonora, California that serves the small office and small to mid-sized business sector in California’s Mother Lode and Central Valley. NTELogic connects small businesses to the world with a suite of essential IT services that focus on voice, data, security, support, and service.

    About JumpCloud
    JumpCloud® helps IT teams Make Work Happen® by centralizing management of user identities and devices, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt Zero Trust security models. JumpCloud has a global user base of more than 180,000 organizations, with more than 5,000 paying customers including Cars.com, GoFundMe, Grab, ClassPass, Uplight, Beyond Finance, and Foursquare. JumpCloud has raised over $400M from world-class investors including Sapphire Ventures, General Atlantic, Sands Capital, Atlassian, and CrowdStrike.

    About JumpCloud for MSPs
    JumpCloud for MSPsTM provides MSPs an Open Directory Platform for delivering modern IT services that are identity-centric, cloud native, and vendor agnostic. Using JumpCloud, MSPs can centralize identity, access and device management capabilities under a single Multi-Tenant Portal. To learn more, please visit jumpcloud.com/msp.

    MEDIA CONTACT
    Matt Kiolbassa
    (209) 322-1639
    info@ntelogic.com

     

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