Cybersecurity Archives

Importance of Preventing a Security Breach

by blackbottledev | Nov 24, 2020 | Breach Response, Cybersecurity

Nothing can bring business operations to a halt faster than the words “security breach.”

Under the shadow of the GDPR, and other regulations put in place after major security breaches were discovered, every company now works under the understanding that it’s their responsibility to keep their customers’ data safe. Also, if a breach of data occurred, then it’s also their responsibility to act swiftly and inform their customers as soon as possible.

As you might have known already, these tasks are easier said than done. Did you know that, on average, a company will find out that there has been a security breach in about 197 days, and then work on containing the threat for 69 days?

Keep on reading for our little guide on how to prepare for a security breach. We’ll also highlight how preparation can transform your firm’s response time frame to a breach.

Security Breach 101: Setting up a Data Breach Response Plan

In the simplest of terms, the best strategy for dealing with a data breach is having a data breach response plan in place. After all, in 2020, there’s a multitude of cybersecurity compliance to keep in mind.

Basically, a data breach response plan is the blueprint protocol of damage control and diminishing the impact of a major security leak.

You’ll find that a well-tailored data breach response plan will have a role for every person in your company, and once a breach has been detected, your company will be working like a well-oiled machine to discover, respond, and contain the threat.

What’s great about having such a plan on hand is the peace of mind during a crisis, knowing that there is a well-thought-out plan in place that’s already underway. After all, you can’t expect to formulate a half-decent response in the middle of a breach.

The Importance of Preparation on Data Breach Response Time

There are very few factors that can impact your company’s response time to a data breach than having preparations ready.

According to a Centrify study, “highly secure” companies were able to show a quick reaction to data breaches, as well as showcases recovered stock values after —approximately— seven days.

Needless to say, it’s a strong indicator that having a cybersecurity plan in the wings can mean the difference between a mortally-injuring breach, and a minimal breach.

However, you might be wondering what does being prepared actually entail?

The Characteristics of a High-Security Posture Organization

For a company to secure its data, it needs to have planned for a separate budget purely for staffing and investing in security technologies.

For example, a well-prepared company will have training that tackles identification, containment, and eradication of security breaches. Besides, it needs to have cybersecurity awareness, that can work on combating employee negligence.

Furthermore, conducting regular audits and assessments of security weak points and vulnerabilities can be key to lowering the risk of dealing with a security breach in the first place.

Ready to Switch on Your Security Plan?

Whether you’re a data protection officer in a huge corporation, or you’re the CEO of a small business, you need to have a security protocol in place for the dreaded security breach that you may encounter as the cost of doing business in the 21st century.

Now, you’re more familiar with essential mechanisms like a data breach response plan, as well as response time. The next step is exploring your security options.

Check out our breach response planning section to learn more. However, if you’re currently dealing with an active breach, make sure to contact us via our breach hotline to get support as soon as possible.

3 Reasons Why Network Security Is an Investment

by blackbottledev | Oct 2, 2020 | Cybersecurity

The Business owners traditionally think in terms of profit and loss. Things that generate enough revenue that they yield a profit are good.

Expenses or activities that yield a loss are bad. Many business owners view network security as falling firmly in the expense category, which makes it bad in their view.

This perception of network security as an expense can prove dangerous for business owners. Let’s dive in and take a look at why network security is an investment, rather than an expense.

1. Network Devices Are Everywhere

There is a good chance that most devices at your business connect to or run on a network. Some of your core operations may even run off cloud-based applications.

For example, let’s say your store uses a cloud-based point-of-sale system. What happens if a network intrusion disrupts that application? Your sales grind to a halt until it gets fixed.

What happens if an outside party disrupts all of the network connections to every device? In a worst-case scenario, your entire business grinds to a halt.

Poor network security can cost you a lot of money. Good network security providers include network penetration testing to help you avoid these kinds of problems and the financial losses that come with them.

2. The Human Factor

You can bring a network security engineer for security testing. You can create a randomized alphanumeric network security key. You can install mighty network firewall security.

Yet, human beings represent the major threat to your network security. Good network security includes good cybersecurity training for all employees. It creates a security-minded culture.

The money you spend on training will stop breaches and prevent viruses or malware from ever getting onto your network in the first place. That will save you more money than you ever spend.

3. Working from Home Creates Risks

Your employees are assets in most cases. With 42% of people clocking in from their home networks, they can also prove an Achilles’ Heel.

You exert tremendous control over what happens on your business network. You can ensure security software is on every device and updated.

When people log in from their home, it exposes your network to anything untoward on those home computers or networks. Someone could introduce a macro virus just by sharing the wrong Word document.

Robust network security proves its investment value here by protecting your business network and data. Every problem it prevents from home networks saves you lost productivity and even spares you fines from data breaches.

Network Security Is an Investment

Network security will never end up a profit center for a normal business. That doesn’t make it an expense.

Ever time network security prevents a database breach or keeps your cloud-based POS system online, it’s profitable. In the first case, you don’t lose the money a breach always costs. In the second case, you actually make money you.

Black Bottle IT specializes in cybersecurity and work from home solutions.

If your business needs more robust network security or cybersecurity, contact Black Bottle IT today.

Are Your Employees Secure Working at Home?

by blackbottledev | Oct 1, 2020 | Cybersecurity

Both COVID-19 and changes in business and technology have several people today working remotely. When you’re punching the clock in your home office instead of your company’s office, you need to ramp up your cybersecurity and your overall safety.

So what tips should you put to use?

Work at home in peace and full safety by following the tips in this article.

Invest in a Quality Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a necessity no matter what sort of information you send and receive. This refers to a third-party private tunnel that you connect to so that your actual Internet Protocol (IP) address are hidden.

The VPN that you connect to lets you mimic IP addresses all over the planet so that prying eyes don’t find out your true location.

Encrypt Your Home Network and Internet

Encryption is key for every part of your internet use. Something as seemingly small as your Wi-Fi network password is a huge decision. Choose a smart password that keeps outsiders from connecting.

Maintain compliance standards with the type of encryption that you use. Compliance is especially critical if you hold a security clearance and now work remotely.

Get your home internet set up to Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and Department of Defense (DOD) standards. Maintaining these standards will protect your data and sensitive information.

Use Your E-Mail Wisely

You’ll also need some discretion with how you use e-mail. First and foremost, never open e-mails or click files from senders you don’t recognize.

Phishing attacks are set up to trick you into clicking things you shouldn’t, which then steals your information or infects your machine.

Even platforms like Twitter have experienced widespread, high-profile phishing attacks that garnered headlines. E-mail is vulnerable to hacks, so change your password regularly and remain mindful and aware of every e-mail you send and receive.

Adopt a Professional Quality Malware and Anti-Virus Software

Putting some good cybersecurity software to use can secure your home network better than just about anything else.

You need a quality, consistent way to sweep your devices of malware and viruses. Treat these malware sweeps the same way that you treat things like oil changes and inspections.

Some malware lies dormant or discreet on your machines, making it difficult to immediately notice. Running a sweep to quarantine or get rid of these attacks can spare you thousands of dollars in damage and harm in the long-run.

Make certain that your software is professional grade so you achieve the highest standard of protection.

Work With an Information Technology (IT) Professional to Secure Your Hardware

You’ll get more out of your home cybersecurity with the help of an information technology (IT) professional.

Work with these professionals so that they can set the standard of cybersecurity with your home office setup. They can send you devices that are already cleaned, secured, and preconfigured to stand up to even the toughest breaches.

Using a device that a professional IT contractor has already configured will give you the best safety when you work from home.

Work at Home Safely and Securely With These Tips

Let these work at home tips help you keep your home office as secure as possible. It’ll save you lots of stress and money, and will keep your business running smoothly.

We’d be happy to help you achieve these high safety standards.

Cybersecurity Meets Work from Home

by blackbottledev | Oct 1, 2020 | Cybersecurity

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was much uncertainty. As the country continued to learn and react to the changing landscape, most small/midsize businesses were reading daily news reports to determine if their business sector was deemed essential and how to quickly transition the relevant workforce to work from home.

Pre-COVID-19, most companies had some casual work from the home infrastructure. But as the demand for a more robust solution became a reality, some IT professionals scrambled to meet this new challenge. They quickly developed work from home solutions that enabled large numbers of in-office personnel to transition to work-at-home quickly.

In some cases, these solutions were never meant to be a permanent solution. But, as businesses all over the country continue to adapt to every changing landscape, the need for a robust, and possible hybrid solution, allowing employees to work from home and/or in the office all while having a seamless experience.

Statistics for employees working from have organically risen over the last 15 + years. According to Global Workplace Analytics (GWPA), work from home has grown 173% since 2005. The COVID-19 pandemic will only accelerate this trend. The GWPA estimates that 25%-30% of the entire workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021.

Potential Cybersecurity Weaknesses in the Home Office

Personal computers, smartphones and other devices aren’t secure beyond a simple antivirus program or firewall. Last month, the issue was so worrisome to experts that the International Association of IT Asset Managers (IAITAM) warned government agencies, businesses and other organizations of the risks involved with letting employees work from home without secure devices.

While many precautionary steps can be taken by the individual worker with the help of his/her IT department, companies should enact policies and take measures to further shore up their remote employees’ defenses.

Extraordinary Times

To be sustain or emerge during these extraordinary times, we believe that organizations should prioritize and formalize:

Develop a remote work program with policies and practice under a Risk Management umbrella
Establish a cybersecurity work from home policy that specifies cybersecurity training for every employee

Benefits when one Works from Home

While there are distractions while working from home and pressures to hit deadlines working from home also offers employees benefits beyond the safety from COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that employees save between $2,500 and $4,000 per year on things like gas and lunch out, which is the equivalent of 11 work days per year.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced both employers and employees to quickly adjust to remote working. Most of us believe that work from home is here to stay and data trends suggest it will continue to grow in the years to come. Companies must adapt to this new work environment by providing their workforces with solutions that give employees a seamless experience to collaborate with co-workers, access to all systems and allow for the servicing of customers.

Black Bottle IT is a leading cybersecurity team of experts who work with organizations to develop work from home cyber security protocol, tools and architecture, employee cybersecurity training and compliance checks.

We will meet with you to assess your workplace environment and what applications you use — both network and cloud-based. We will look at how your end users are deployed and what type of device support you require. Understanding the architecture, our goal is to keep remote employees protected and educated against malicious cybersecurity risks.

Let us help you make working from home safer.

Cyber Threats and Law Firms

by blackbottledev | Jan 25, 2020 | Cybersecurity

As a law firm, you think a lot about issues of privacy and security. You conduct confidential conversations with clients, ensure paperwork is handled in the most secure way possible, and protect your clients’ information at every turn. But what would you say if we told you your data could be stolen despite the strongest locks or most secure confidentiality measures?

Lawyers tend to be at greater risk of experiencing cyber threats. Read on to learn why and what you can do to protect yourself and your firm from these attacks.

Why Cyber Security Matters

Before we dive into cyber threats for law firms, let’s talk some about why cybersecurity matters. These days, nearly every aspect of our lives is online. This includes banking information, mortgage payments, school information, even health data.

When you’re working with a client, you need them to know they can trust you with their sensitive data. A strong cybersecurity system will assure them that their information is safe with you. This can help you build a stronger attorney-client relationship with them moving forward.

Why Law Firms Are at Greater Risk

Unfortunately, law firms are at a greater risk for cyber-attacks because they handle such sensitive information. A breach would not only compromise your client’s data, but it would also compromise their trust in you.

Some law firms allow their attorneys to work remotely. While convenient, this can represent further vulnerabilities to your system.

Many law firms are also running outdated or unsecured systems. If you’ve been in practice for a long time, you may still be in the process of switching over from paper to digital formats. And if you haven’t consulted with a cybersecurity expert, your firm and its data could be vulnerable to attacks.

How You Can Protect Yourself

One of the first things you should do when you’re stepping up your cybersecurity measures is to use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication in every area of your system. This means that in addition to a strong password, you should require employees to answer a security question. They can also provide a form of biometric identification to access restricted areas.

You may also want to look into putting breach policies in place. Having a pre-and post-breach policy and working with an MSP provider to monitor your network can help secure your system and your clients’ trust.

Black Bottle IT services can help you implement all these security measures and more to keep your clients’ information safe.

Protect Yourself from Cyber Threats

Cyber threats are a very real and dangerous part of our world today, especially for law firms. Keep your password systems up to date and secure and you’ll be much less vulnerable to these attacks. And look into hiring a company like Black Bottle IT to keep your clients’ data safe.

If you’d like to get your cybersecurity measures up to scratch, check out the rest of our site at Black Bottle IT.

We can provide fully managed IT support with both work-from-home and work-from-office solutions.

Contact us today and start working more securely the easy way.

Cybersecurity and Telecommuting Jobs

by blackbottledev | Oct 1, 2019 | Cybersecurity

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in many day-to-day changes in most people’s lives. A Gallup Poll reported on May 22, 2020, that almost 7 in 10 employees were working from home.

This shift has made cybersecurity the #1 concern across the technology industry. Employees working in telecommuting jobs often believe their home is safe. Companies must educate their workers about cybersecurity and provide protection.

Continue reading to learn more about this critical issue.

Increase in Remote Workers with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Safe-at-home and social distancing mandates forced companies to create a virtual work environment. This change is being called a “watershed moment” in the workforce configuration. The June 2020, Conference Board survey of 154 human capital executives showed that they see this as a long-term change.

This anticipated change is the result of both health and economic concerns. Factors include lower real estate costs and decreased access of employees to childcare.

Since the pandemic closed schools and daycares, employees no longer have childcare options. Thus, employers can keep their employees working by moving to remote settings.

Cybersecurity Risks Associated with Telecommuting Jobs

The pandemic not only brought health risks but an increase in cybersecurity attacks . Threats erupted via email and endpoint-security gaps. Much of this resulted from the rapid change to remote work.

In response to these threats, 38 states, including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, are taking action. They’ve introduced over 280 new cybersecurity bills.

You may ask why remote settings increase the risk. In the traditional office setting, IT managers control the Wi-Fi networks.

Most home networks have weaker protocols. This means that hackers can more easily access home network traffic.

The greatest cause of data breaches occurs through phishing attacks. These hackers appear legitimate. Their masterfully compelling emails contain dangerous links and attachments. It only takes one employee clicking on the link for the hacker to gain access to the computer.

When the employee connects to the company’s network, the cybercriminal can also gain access. One fatal click can bring the business to a standstill.

Another security risk involves cutting corners. This can occur when systems aren’t encrypted, lack two-factor authentication, or have lax password practices.

In today’s world, it’s not worth the risk. Make sure that all remote workers use encryption and two-factor authentications. This is vital if they access the main network.

Also, establish standards for passwords and enforce password changes on a set schedule. Most experts recommend moving from hardware-based legacy VPNs to cloud-agnostic and scalable solutions. VPNs can leave vulnerabilities in your remote security efforts.

Actions to Mitigate Risks with Remote Workers

Educate employees on cybersecurity and track the user’s compliance with security standards. Part of cybersecurity awareness should teach employees to watch for signs of breaches. This can include:

Unexpected installation of new programs
Noticeable slowing of computer processing
Odd pop-up ads showing on the screen
Losing control of the keyboard or mouse

The best practice is to conduct periodic virtual training updates for all employees. Provide updates on the latest cyber-attack strategies.

Also, reiterate the importance of maintaining vigilance as they work remotely. Remind them that no one else should use the company-provided computer for any reason. This can be tempting when working from home.

Do You Have a Remote Workforce?

Does your company have employees working in telecommuting jobs? Are you meeting the cybersecurity standards described in this article?

Black Bottle IT offers next-generation technology security solutions to ensure cybersecurity compliance. We continuously monitor for vulnerabilities and attacks.

We understand that protecting customer data is the highest priority.

Contact us today so we can learn about your cybersecurity compliance needs.

And, click on over to our blog on the Importance of Cybersecurity Training for Your Team.