Spot Fake Links In Your Emails

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Opening unknown links can be a risk factor for your business and staff. As a result, more and more business owners have incorporated fake link prevention strategies into their security training. We’ve come up with a few tips to help ensure that your staff members have the critical information on how to spot fake links. This training can help prevent hackers from gaining access to your business. In cases like this, it is better to be proactive rather than reactive after a breach.  

How to Spot Fake Links: Brief Staff Security Training Guidance

If you have been considering covering bogus links with your staff security training, you’ll want to consider the following how to spot fake link prevention tips. These security training tips will help to give your staff the tools they need to stay safe and protected against the dangers posed by malicious links.

Staff Security Training Tip #1: Check URLs Before Following Them

One important tip for your staff as part of their security training is to check all URLs. A URL is the web address that you follow when you click a link. A common trick used by hackers to make the URL seem authentic is to use a similar URL mimicking a legitimate website. For example, one switch would be disguising bogus links by changing the website name from ‘example-site.com’ to example_site.com.’ This tiny change often goes unnoticed but could lead to your staff getting caught by a fake link.

Here are more examples:

If you regularly deal with Amazon, you’ll notice that their URLs look like these: orders@amazon.com, service@amazon.com, or membership@amazon.com But bogus URLs will look like these: hurry@amazon-$75.com, buddy79@my_amazon.com, or service@amazon-helpmenow.com Often, the URL won’t contain the name of the sender at all. You may see URLs like these: clickhere@davisneedsshoes.org, holographic_iris@$9di4!wow.net Question any link that seems out of place. If your staff doesn’t check these carefully, it can be easy to fall into a trap. As part of this staff security tip, make sure they’re aware to check both the name of the link and check where the hyperlink goes. Hackers can easily disguise malicious links as legitimate links by using a website name as the anchor text. But, instead of taking you to the legitimate website, the link redirects you to a fake site. Luckily, checking the destination of a hyperlink is easy, especially on computers; simply right click and you’ll get an option to see or edit the hyperlink.

Staff Security Training Tip #2: Don’t Open Unknown Emails

A second crucial tip is to ensure that your staff does not open unknown emails. For many people, this is not easy to do. After all, how can you tell whether a sender is legitimate or not? It’s easy to understand why this is so difficult. Some people struggle to decide whether the contact details for a firm are legitimate addresses or not. Luckily, we have a few tips for this. Firstly, for text messages and telephone contacts, look up the telephone number from the source. A quick search will often give you the information you need to know. Most companies will have these numbers listed on their website’s contact details. Alternatively, if the phone number is not legitimate, many sites now exist to display shady phone numbers; as such, searching the phone number alone may be enough information to help you decide if the text was legitimate. As part of checking a sender’s identity, you can also search for a specific email address to see if any information comes up. Most companies will have their contact email addresses displayed on their website. Check If the email address in question is on the website so you can confirm that the links are legitimate. If the exact email address does not appear on the website, you should question its authenticity. If you struggle to find the correct information directly from a search, don’t be afraid to contact the company in question. Most companies are more than happy to help if it means preventing a scam from occurring in their name. Checking the legitimacy of the phone number or email address is one of the best ways to check whether a link is legitimate or fake. Ensure that your staff knows to do this for any communication containing a link.

Staff Security Training Tip #3: Get the Best IT Support and Antivirus Software

As a third and final tip for your security training, we cannot stress the importance of good anti-malware and antivirus solutions highly enough. Having these in place and installed on all of your devices can provide a good security backup. This practice is vital in case someone accidentally follows an illegitimate link that tries to download harmful software. Antivirus software is highly affordable nowadays and doesn’t take long to set up in your office. If you have any questions about this, contact us today. We will help you find the best antivirus software for your needs, as well as offer training to your staff.

Is Your Company Already on a Hacker’s Watchlist?

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As a business owner, you are already aware that your company might be vulnerable to attacks by hackers. Your concern is justified because 65% of cyber-attacks are aimed at small businesses. There is a good chance a hacker is using sophisticated software to try and hack your network right now.

 

Even if hackers haven’t found a way into your system yet, you can be sure that they are trying to find a way to:

  • send emails from your email servers that destroy your company’s reputation (spam, porn, confidential customer information, etc.)
  • gain access to your accounting and banking systems
  • or steal your data and hold it hostage (ransomware) until you pay them an exorbitant amount of money to get your data back.

 

Did you know that it takes an average of six months for businesses to realize that they have been, or are being, hacked?

 

After the hack is discovered, it can weeks 6 – 8 weeks disable and remove all the threads of the attack. The attack is removed, but the damage has been done. How long does it take to restore a damaged reputation, or to be trusted again by a vendor or customer who was affected by your hack?

 

 

So, why do hackers target small businesses? Some of the reasons are obvious, and some may surprise you.

Here are 4 reasons why small businesses get hacked:

 

  1. Under the Radar

Not every hacker wants to be famous. Most don’t care about getting their conquests splashed all over the news.

 

Hackers attack small businesses because these companies are less likely to report security breaches and more likely to pay the ransom.

 

Reporting a breach is damaging to the company’s reputation. A company might prefer to deal with the damage or pay the ransom rather than go public. In fact, in one study, 53% of companies paid the ransom immediately. In addition, what many companies find out is that, even if they report the breach to the police, law enforcement agencies are not cybersecurity experts and can’t be of much help.

 

  1. Complacency

Every business has to prioritize spending. Initiatives that grow the company’s revenue and profitability are the priority. IT upgrades and advanced cybersecurity services and tools aren’t an immediate need so they don’t make the top of the list.

 

Unfortunately, the reality is that your old security software is not “good enough” to stand up to today’s sophisticated cyber-attacks. “Good enough” makes you an easy target.

 

  1. Employees inviting viruses and hackers

This one is shocking. Research from Stanford University found that 88% of ALL data breaches are caused by employees. Here are a few of the most common ways employees invite trouble:

  • Weak/reused passwords – Weak and/or reused passwords are asking for trouble. Because of our bad habits, it’s best to require strong passwords that must be changed periodically
  • Access control – When we start working with a new client, we frequently find that front line employees actually have access to company financial and payroll information even though they’ve never looked for it. Their access has not been restricted to only what they need.
  • Failure to install updates – Installing updates is a pain and occasionally cause problems, so updates are put off indefinitely.
  • Email attachments – An employee opens an email attachment that unleashes a virus on the entire network and they don’t even realize it.
  • Unlocked doors – Your system may not require new files to be scanned for viruses/malware (i.e. files received in email or on flash drives). It’s like having a flashing neon WELCOME sign.

 

Small companies don’t have the advanced skills required and training happens rarely, if ever.

 

  1. You’ve been hacked before

Hackers are like sharks: they can smell blood in the water from miles away. Once the word gets out that you’ve been hacked, and that you’ve paid the ransom, you’ll have hackers lined up around the block. Like a lot of criminals, hackers are looking for the path of least resistance. Once they hear you’re an easy target you’d better prepare yourself for all kinds of cyberattacks.

 

Take Action

It takes work to be ready in today’s cyber landscape. The steps include:

  • a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy
  • staying up to date on the latest hacking practices
  • acquiring, maintaining and using the latest cybersecurity tools
  • a scheduled data backup system that also verifies the backup up data is not corrupted
  • training your employees on what to look out for and what to do

 

Almost every day there are news stories about companies getting hacked, big companies paying millions in ransom. Companies like Apple, Amazon, Target, and Facebook can afford the best security available, yet they still get hacked.

 

What you don’t hear about is the small businesses shutting down because they’ve been crippled by a cyber-security breach. A shocking 60% of small businesses that are crippled by a cyberattack will not recover.

 

 

Make cybersecurity a priority for your business and you’ll increase your chances of staying off a hacker’s watchlist.

 

Information technology is a tool. If we can help you navigate your way to a more productive, efficient and safe operations, accounting and/or IT system, then you can focus on growing your business.

 

If you’re serious about protecting your company from being crippled by a cyberattack, check out our website or contact us. Ask for Tim Adornetto to get your no-cost, no-obligation system analysis.

 

IT Benefits and Threats – A Quick Guide to Being Prepared

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Technology is changing at a rapid pace and technology threats are coming fast and furious.

 

How well is your company doing to keep up with these changes and challenges – especially the threats that you don’t even know about yet?  Some threats to your IT well-being are simply failures to identify the warning signs.  Other threats are more severe.  You may already have malware inside your IT system and you may not even know it.

 

For example:

  • Is one of your servers sending messages about an imminent hard drive failure to a log file that no one reads?
  • Has one or more of your computers been infected with a virus that is waiting for the right time to unleash the damage?
  • Is a hacker logging every key pressed on an employee’s keyboard including passwords for your operations and/or accounting system?

 

Even if you are a small business, your IT network is the lifeblood of your business. It’s not recommended to put your network in the hands of an employee who has had to learn how to add users or change passwords. The safety and security of your network is at risk.

 

Even if you have an IT team maintaining your systems, when is the last time they did a training session?  Six months ago? 2 years ago? Can’t remember?

 

Because the technology and the risks are changing constantly, IT people need regular training on security, networking, server operations, desktop operations, software, etc.   Very few IT people have the capability of absorbing and mastering all of the different specialties.   Just like you don’t expect a foot doctor to perform brain surgery, you don’t hire a desktop person to secure your network.

 

There is a Better Way

 

Consider using a Managed Services Partner (MSP). There are many benefits:

  • You get the entire MSP team and all their combined knowledge and experience in their areas of expertise. They know how to maximize your team’s productivity and protect your IT system from the latest technology threats.
  • Many MSP agreements are fixed price agreements (read the fine print as to what is included). You can budget for a fixed price each month and know that your technology is being managed and that threats are being prevented or detected before they cripple your company’s network.

 

  • You want no downtime. Downtime costs you money. Your MSP doesn’t want you to have downtime either because it costs them more to fix a problem than it does to prevent a problem. The MSP’s interests are aligned with your interests. You both want a well-functioning system with no downtime.

 

At first glance, an all-inclusive MSP agreement looks expensive. However, consider what you already pay for less service, the costs for your IT system to be down for one day – or three days and the expense to fix what is broken.  And, if you get breached, the costs will multiply.

 

A fixed fee, all-inclusive MSP agreement is friendly to your budget and it provides peace of mind. You have a knowledgeable IT partner making sure your IT assets are healthy and protected.

 

At CCS, we don’t want to benefit from your business pain. We want to share in your increased productivity, profitability and your success.  If you are looking for an IT partner and not just the low-cost computer fixer, check out our website.

 

In the meantime, check out our latest video below (1 minute, 17 seconds) for a quick look at the benefits of finding the right managed service partner.

 

Are You Happy With The ROI of Your Information Technology Person/Team/Provider?

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One of our clients (for the sake of privacy we’ll call them Acme Distribution) started with a “break-fix” IT strategy. Acme had computer equipment, a network and some knowledge about how to fix simple issues (resetting passwords, adding a user, etc.).

However, when more complex issues came up (e-mail not working, printers not printing, hardware failures, viruses and network issues), Acme paid service providers to fix those issues. Some months the cost was minimal. Some months the cost was tens of thousands of dollars.

One month a relatively new computer virus cost the company $28,000 because all but a few computers were infected, including their server. Their systems were down for 3 days and only partially working for 3 more days. The costs of system downtime, lost productivity and customer dissatisfaction was in addition to the $28,000 in fees paid to fix the problem. Acme estimated their total cost for this incident was more than $70,000.

There is a Better Way– But Beware!

Acme wanted to find a way for their IT expenses to be stable and predictable. They looked into managed services contracts. They interviewed three companies and entered into an agreement with a provider at what they thought was a reasonable price.

Unfortunately, what they found out was that managed services providers provide two levels of service. In the fine print of their agreement, they discovered they had entered into a network “monitoring” agreement.

Acme’s provider “monitored” their network and provided support up to five hours per month. In the third month of their agreement, after a problem that involved both hardware and a network problem, Acme received an invoice for $18,134 for support above and beyond their “fixed price” agreement.

Beware of the low-priced managed services “monitoring” agreement.

In the following few months, Acme considered hiring two IT employees because they believed it might be less expensive than paying an outside provider. However, they soon realized that their internal solution would be expensive and limited to the knowledge of their two IT employees.

Acme’s CFO attended a webinar about managed services agreements that were truly flat fee, no-surprises agreements. He asked for a proposal and experienced sticker shock when reviewing the proposal. The agreement included everything including hardware replacement for a flat monthly fee – guaranteed.

As he read the proposal, he was shocked to discover that the network assessment done on their IT systems by the professional level managed services provider showed:

• Out of date virus software
• a Trojan horse virus that had given hackers remote access to their accounting system.
• 4 viruses (not yet active) that got into the network by employees copying files from flash drives
• Three network hard drives that were sending alerts about their imminent failure (all at least five years old)
• a cloud-backup solution that had stopped working

If there was any good news, Acme was lucky their system had not (yet) been attacked by ransomware. Ransomware locks and encrypts the company’s data and then demands payment to unlock and decrypt the data.

In the end, after adding up all the costs, lost productivity, risks and likely future issues/costs, Acme found that an all-inclusive, flat fee professional level managed services agreement was far less expensive than any other solution. In addition, it’s a much better solution than relying on the current knowledge of two IT employees with limited knowledge.
Consider your options:

• With “break-fix” agreements, you get low cost, but you take all the risks
• With a “monitoring” agreement, it’s no different than the CHECK ENGINE light on your car’s dashboard
• When you consider:
o the risks, potential downtime, data loss and lost productivity
o along with the assurance that you IT system is always protected and up to date
o AND the peace of mind you’ll have instead of wondering what will go wrong next
a fixed price, no surprises managed services agreement is probably the most cost effective route to go.

If you’re interested in exploring your options, contact us. We would be happy to help.

Natural Disasters and Data Recovery Plans

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We don’t want to think about possible negative situations when it comes to our lives or our businesses. Planning for disasters means that we’re able to quickly recover from their consequences. In our previous blogs on data disaster recovery, we’ve covered how to plan for disasters and what types of disasters to consider when writing a data recovery plan. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the main points as a refresher.


The key elements of data recovery plans

A good disaster recovery plan will have assigned roles and responsibilities to different team members in advance. Planning ahead should ensure there is no time wasted when a disaster occurs. Having clearly defined roles means that team members can get on with their tasks quickly to mitigate the effects of a disaster.


Another important point is the identification of which assets are critical to operating the business. In a disaster, you need to know which things to protect and sort out first to enable business operations to continue. If someone spends too much time dealing with a puddle on the floor instead of dealing with customer calls, for example, your business could be in turmoil.


Backing up data is a must for every business. You’re on a dangerous path if you don’t have a plan in place for regular data backups. After all, you can’t recover your data after a disaster if you haven’t backed it up. Businesses must also consider whether they need to back up their IT infrastructure using a ‘cold site’ (a basic version of their infrastructure off-premises) or a ‘hot site’ (up-to-date data backups). As you can guess, the more data you back up, the better off you’ll be.


Types of disasters to plan for

It’s difficult to plan for any eventuality; however, there are certain things that all businesses should consider.


Disasters can include technological disasters like:


• Data breaches
• Hacking
• Ransomware

Or natural disasters like:


• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Volcanoes
• Flooding
• Tornados
• Pandemics

The impacts of any of these disasters are huge. Essentially, they can result in a business completely folding. Depending on the type of disaster, there could be all sorts of consequences. For example, the loss of supply chains, loss of assets and buildings, loss of life or personnel, and the loss of data. Since these consequences can be disastrous, it’s important for all businesses, regardless of size, to have contingency plans for disasters.


Planning for disasters

Businesses need to have contingency plans for dealing with disasters of every possible type. Different companies will, of course, have different needs.  However, some things are necessary for all businesses to include in their data recovery strategy plan. These include data, insurance, finances, resources, personnel, technology, compliance requirements, and the supply chain.


Types of disaster data recovery

There are a variety of options when it comes to data recovery. Perhaps the simplest method is backup. Your data is stored on or off-premises, or both for extra safety. However, relying solely on data backup gives minimal protection for businesses. If there is no backup of the IT infrastructure as well, there could be even bigger issues.


An effective data recovery plan needs strategies and procedures for backups. You should know who will perform the backups and how often they will be done. Those responsible for data backups must also work out the business’s recovery time. Calculate the amount of time the organization can be ‘down’ after a disaster and work from there.


The data recovery strategy should be tested and updated continually to protect the business from new threats. In this way, the business will be able to navigate challenges successfully. Planning a response to a cyberattack ahead of time will make sure your team will know what to do.


Final thoughts

Whatever your business and size, the ultimate aim is to ensure you’re well protected and have plans in place for any type of disaster. If you’re struggling to finalize your plans or even start writing one, get in touch with us for a free consultation.

Do You Have A Data Recovery Plan?

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You might be aware that disasters of varying types can have devastating consequences on businesses. The key to mitigating such occurrences is to have a data recovery strategy plan in place. This means that you have a structured and documented approach detailing how your organization can resume work quickly after an unforeseen disaster. This is an essential tool for your company’s continuity plan and applies to all parts of the organization that is dependent on your IT infrastructure. This data recovery plan will help you resolve any data loss and will allow the recovery of your system’s functionality. This means that you can continue operating your business with minimal disruption.

Types of Disasters to consider

Potential disasters are plentiful. We’re not just talking about hacking and data breaches, but natural disasters too. Being able to handle disasters efficiently means there will be minimal impact financially. Having a data recovery strategy plan will allow you to ensure that all requirements for compliance are met. The plan will also provide a clear recovery roadmap. Here are some of the potential disasters that might affect your businesses:

• Building disaster (Fire, power outage, etc.)

• Communication failure (Due to data breach, hacking or natural disaster)

• Application failure (Outdated hardware, viruses, etc.)

• Datacenter disaster (Hacking, data breach, natural disaster)

• City disaster (Earthquake, tornado, flood, etc.)

• Regional disaster (Power grid outage, wildfires, etc.)

• National disaster (Epidemic)

• Multinational disaster (Pandemic, computer viruses, ransomware)

You can see that this list covers lots of different types of disasters. It’s worth noting, however, that it’s not exhaustive. When making data recovery strategy plans, businesses need to consider their potential individual circumstances. If you’re based in the Midwest, for example, it’s very unlikely that your business will be affected by a volcanic eruption. But there are other natural disasters like floods or tornados that are more likely to happen. With that said, the 2010 Iceland volcanic eruption had repercussions worldwide, so you never know!

Considerations for your Data Recovery Plan

A data recovery strategy plan should begin at the business level. You need to determine what infrastructure is most important to your organization. The plan should implement an RTO (a recovery time objective), which describes how much time each application could be down for as a target.

A data recovery strategy defines your business’s plan for incident response. To determine your optimal data recovery strategy, you must consider the following issues:

• Resources (both facilities and personnel)

• Finances

• Insurance

• Data

• Technology

• Risks

• Compliance requirements

• The supply chain

How to write a Data Recovery Strategy Plan

A business can start its plan by prioritizing a list of contacts and vital software programs so that the most important information is easily and quickly accessible.

The data recovery plan should define each team member’s role and responsibilities in the recovery process. This is so there is no panic or time wasted should an unexpected disaster occur.

There are many important points to write into a data recovery plan. These include:

• A policy statement or statement of intent.

• Specific tasks assigned to staff.

• Goals of the plan.

• Passwords and other authentication tools essential to data recovery.

• Geographical factors and risks appropriate to the local, regional or national area.

• Advice on dealing with the media.

• Legal and financial information with points of action.

A history of the plan – and any amendments that have been made to it.

As you can see, being prepared for these events is not difficult, but it will take some time. It is, however, very important that you take the time to complete it. You should also run through the plan in a mock rehearsal. That way you’ll find out if you’ve missed any steps or if there are gaps in your plan.

The bottom line is, you want to be as prepared as possible for any disaster that causes data loss. After all, keeping your doors open when other’s can’t sure makes you the popular choice over your competitors.

If you need advice or want help to build your data recovery strategy plan, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can book a consultation at any time.

How Natural Disasters, Breaches, and Hackers Affect Businesses Big and Small

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The success of a business is often attributed to the strong decisions of its management. Yet, that is not the entire story. Often, both failure and success can be determined by how a business deals with situations out of its control. A business may fail because it wasn’t prepared for an unexpected event. Conversely, another business might be able to survive a natural disaster simply because it had a plan in place for such an event.
All businesses, whether large or small, have lots of potential threats. If one of these threats happens, it can have devastating consequences. According to ZDNet, the top three threats to society include cyberattacks, natural disasters, and extreme weather. Interestingly, they put cyberattacks on the same level of devastation as extreme weather and natural disasters. It is unfortunately true. The consequences of natural disasters, breaches, and hackers lead to threats to businesses and data loss. Since many businesses rely on connected services and the internet, the damage from cyberattacks can be huge. It’s one of the biggest risks the world faces today.

Types of natural disasters

There are many types of natural disasters. All of them can affect businesses and data loss. Here are some examples of natural disasters:
• Earthquake
• Fire
• Tsunami
• Flooding or extreme precipitation
• Hurricane, tornado, cyclone
• Volcanoes
• Lightning
• Famine and drought
• Landslide
• Extreme temperature (heat or cold)
• And, as we’ve seen, pandemics

Impact of natural disasters

Before we delve into exploring businesses and data loss from natural disasters, we can’t ignore the devastating results of these natural phenomena outside in general. According to Our World in Data, there are around 60,000 deaths from natural disasters worldwide. The deadliest of natural disasters is usually an earthquake. Typically, natural disasters affect poorer populations more heavily. This is often due to a lack of protective dwelling construction or adequate response to the event.

How does disaster impact businesses? 

No one is ever 100% prepared for a disaster. Whether the disaster is an earthquake, tornado, or flood, an organization’s plans can be thrown into disarray. There might be a breakdown in supply chains. Maybe employees are unable to reach the premises. Or there may be damage to the facilities, equipment, or the power or internet may be down. In any disaster, including the technological kind, a business will need to find ways to deal with the situation at hand. This is why it is important for all businesses, regardless of size, to have contingency plans for disasters. It should be a priority.

How can businesses plan for natural disasters?

Businesses should ensure they look at their entire operation and consider how a natural disaster might disrupt every branch. It’s not just about planning emergency evacuation routes or having emergency supplies. Businesses also need to consider things like how to contact employees if connections are down.
Depending on the business type, an organization might also need to think about how to sort out their supply chain if they are unable to access the major transit routes due to natural disasters. Having an alternative plan if facilities can’t be used is a must for survival.

Natural disasters, data breaches, and hackers for businesses, and data loss

While we’re talking about disasters that affect businesses, we must also consider technological disasters like hackers and data breaches. These can have just as much of an impact on businesses and data loss. In some parts of the world, these events are more likely than a natural disaster. According to Forbes, hackers and cybercrime are more devastating to business operations than a Transit Strike, a Fire, and even Floods for small and medium-sized businesses.

Final thoughts

While we can’t prevent any of these disasters from causing problems for businesses and data loss, there are steps that we can take to reduce their impact. The main takeaway is to plan for all possible scenarios. For the impact of events to be reduced, there must be a detailed process in place. One solution is an on-site BDR (Backup, Disaster, Recovery) unit. A BDR automatically backs up all your data every 15 minutes. It is connected to an auxiliary power unit so it can back up everything when the power goes out. There are also Cloud solutions that backup your data safely, in multiple locations. This ensures that your data is always available, no matter what happens. If you have any questions about Backup solutions or would like to change the ways you are currently saving your data, contact us any time. As your Managed Service Provider, the safety of your data is our concern too.

Why is Disaster Data Recovery Important For Business?

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What does disaster data recovery mean? This term describes the method businesses use to regain access to stored information after a disruptive event. Any event, like a cyberattack, ransomware, a natural disaster, or even something new like the Covid-19 pandemic. When data is lost, businesses can employ a variety of methods for their disaster data recovery plan.

How does disaster data recovery work? 

Disaster data recovery relies on the data being replicated in an off-site location that has not been affected by the outage. When a server goes down due to a cyberattack, equipment failure, or a natural disaster, businesses can recover their lost data from a backup location. When the data is backed up on the Cloud, businesses can access their data remotely so they can continue to operate.

What are some key elements of effective disaster data recovery plans? 

We need a plan! A data recovery team will assign specialists to create, implement and manage the data recovery plan. Should a disaster occur, the data recovery team will facilitate communication with employees, customers, and vendors.

Risk evaluations. An effective data recovery plan needs to assess all potential hazards. Depending on the type of disaster, the risk assessment will dictate what needs to happen for the business to resume operations. For example, if there were a cyberattack, what measures will the data recovery team use in response? A natural disaster will require a different response.

Identification of critical assets. For a disaster data recovery plan to be effective, it needs to include a list of all assets. Vital resources, systems, and applications that are critical to the business are at the top of the list. Next, it’s important to have the steps that need to be implemented to recover the data.

Backing up your data. An effective data recovery plan needs strategies and procedures for backups. You should know who will perform the backups and how often they will be done. Those responsible for data backups must also work out the business’s recovery time. Calculate the amount of time the organization can be ‘down’ after a disaster and work from there.

Optimization and testing. The data recovery strategy should be tested and updated continually to protect the business from new threats. In this way, the business will be able to navigate challenges successfully. Planning a response to a cyberattack ahead of time will make sure your team will know what to do.

Types of disaster data recovery 

There are a variety of options when it comes to data recovery. Perhaps the simplest method is backup. Your data is stored on or off-premises, or both for extra safety. However, relying solely on data backup gives minimal protection for businesses. If there is no backup of the IT infrastructure as well, there could be even bigger issues. For example, are your critical programs backed up as well?

 Using DRaaS – Disaster Recovery as a Service

DRaaS is another way in which businesses can protect their data and infrastructure in the event of a disaster. Your business’s computer processing happens on the DRaaS cloud infrastructure. This means that the business can continue to operate seamlessly, even if its servers are down. A DRaaS plan can be either a pay-per-use or a subscription model. A similar solution is Back UP as a Service. But this only backs up data and not infrastructure.

 Why is IT disaster recovery important? 

There exists no business that can ignore disaster data recovery. Having a plan in place for this means that businesses can protect themselves from closure. Most businesses can’t even afford to close for one extra day. With a strategy in place for disaster data recovery, businesses will be able to get back to normal operations much more quickly. They might even be able to continue operating as normal. Why would anyone risk their business without a Backup Disaster Recovery plan?

As your Managed Service Provider, we can assist you with your Backup Disaster Recovery (BDR) plan. You know how valuable your data is. Don’t run the risk of losing it! Contact us today and we can go over our data recovery solutions.

True Cloud vs. Fake Cloud

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If you are thinking it is time to embrace a fully integrated ERP system, or replace your aging ERP system you will find an overwhelming number of choices.  How do you know which is best for you?  You will find expert advice for comparing solutions, but they may miss one of the most critical choices that should be at the top of your criteria list. Is the solution truly a cloud based solution, or is it a wolf in sheep’s clothing?  Many “cloud” solutions are simply repackaged older technology on-premise solutions that are being run on a cloud server, but lack True Cloud features.

 

It is more than using mobile devices

True cloud software supports all mobile devices without requiring additional software. However, just being mobile doesn’t provide the benefits you need to compete.  When it comes to growing your business, speed is the name of the game. Your bottom line depends on your ability to exploit new business opportunities before your competitors do.  Post Covid distribution businesses are getting squeezed in the supply chain and  keeping up with customer demand.  New warehouses are springing up everywhere and one is bigger than the other.  Skilled labor is impossible to hire and you will have a wide variety of computer skills levels in your employee base.

 

It is about making more with less

As a distribution Business Owner you are looking for ways to fill more orders faster – with less people.  Your purchasing department needs to know what is selling, what stock is in low status and they have to do that without having a 2 hour meeting with the warehouse manager.  Centralized information is key, and a True cloud system that is easy to use and accessible to all employees all the time is the vehicle to make that happen.  When cloud technology is deployed to its fullest potential, it can remove the biggest obstacles to productivity at all stages of the business. Removing the barriers to getting information into the system improves the executive decision making process.  After all, the best decisions are made when you have better information with which to weigh those decisions. Deciding to take a hit or stand while playing blackjack is easier if you know what cards have already been played from the deck.

 

Get your complimentary white paper

CCS Technology and Acumatica want to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Our True Cloud vs. Fake Cloud: How Companies Can Tell the Difference in Distribution whitepaper breaks down what it means to be a true cloud solution—and how its distinct advantages define truly effective ERP software.

You’ll learn:

  • Why mobile devices alone can’t meet the need for real-time information
  • The 4 ways an industry-specific cloud solution can enhance your productivity
  • Not all clouds are equal—“hosted” legacy software poses risks
  • How to identify a true cloud software for maximum ROI

DOWNLOAD IT NOW

What does “built for the cloud” really mean–and why does it matter? Find out in our complimentary whitepaper.

Acumatica – The Cloud ERP #1 in Customer Satisfaction and Usability

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Is your current accounting/ERP system delivering the actionable business insights you need?

 

The right ERP system uses the latest cloud technology, is easy to use and works the way your company does business.

 

“Acumatica achieved high levels of user satisfaction compared to similar ERP products in the market.” – Rob Light, research principal, G2.com.

 

  • G2.com has published over 1,000,000 authentic and unbiased reviews about thousands of software products.

 

“Acumatica received the highest overall customer satisfaction score in our survey their customers” – Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Core Financial Management Suites for Midsize, Large and Global Enterprises 2018

 

Download the Gartner analyst report.

Acumatica offers your company a modern ERP with:

  • Custom reporting and analysis tools
  • Unlimited user pricing
  • Cloud and on-premises deployment options
  • Integrations to many third-party industry and eCommerce software solutions

 

Acumatica’s two major releases every year offers users the latest features, functions, tools, and capabilities to improve usability and productivity.

 

Former Everest CEO, Ryan Brown (now CEO of xByte), said switching to Acumatica:

  • “Dramatically improved visibility into financials
  • “Helped xByte connect with third-party software, such as FedEx
  • “Increased sales responsiveness and productivity
  • “Shaved three hours a day from daily invoicing
  • “Streamlined warehouse operations”

 

We hope you’ll explore these unbiased reviews to learn why we chose Acumatica Cloud ERP over all the other options.

 

Your ERP system should help you make actionable business decisions that create competitive advantage for your company.

 

Contact us to learn more about how Acumatica might be the solution you’ve been searching for.