Email systems are often attacked as they form the entry point of getting access to valuable company or individual information. Hence, ensuring safety of your email system via email security solutions should be a priority. Today, let us help you understand the benefits of this solution. 

Stop at the Entry Point!

When you join a company, you get a company email address. Once you start communicating via this email, you start exposing it to cyber attacks. Phishing, spam, spoofing, and ransomware are some of the common threats to email security. Opting for email security helps ensure that you do not lose data, that your email is not exposed to fraudulent systems, and that you can safely use your email to exchange valuable information.

Protect Sensitive Information

Many times, you exchange very sensitive information via your email, such as passwords for accounts, credit card numbers, account login details, etc. Companies use emails to send vital information via emails at times including confidential info which, if leaked, can cause havoc. Having an email security solution system in place helps reduce such possibilities by protecting  important data.

Safeguard Your Brand

Your business’s good reputation in the market and your brand value is dear to you. As an individual also, you have a certain standing in your social circle and will not want anyone to defame you. Cyber criminals can do that and within a matter of minutes! They can change information on your email and send it to your contacts, creating miscommunication and pulling down the image of your company or brand. 

SkyViewTek (SVT) provides IT support and consulting for business with 10 to 100 employees. SVT’s primary focus is to provide an expanded offering of proactive managed IT services, cyber security solutions as well as computer and server maintenance and support. They also specialize in ensuring that your business is IT compliant with third party organizations like HIPAA and PCI. Contact the experts today. Visit www.skyviewtek.com to get quotes for the email security solutions that they offer.

Proactive monitoring has been around for years, but it has more recently gained popularity with the rise of managed IT. Proactive monitoring is a method to identify potential problems before they occur and disrupt operations.

Managed IT services offer proactive monitoring as part of their service packages. This service continuously monitors computer networks to detect threats and issues that may affect your company’s performance.
Think of proactive monitoring as a form of preventive maintenance – the process of monitoring, reviewing and repairing IT infrastructures before they fail or impact performance and efficiency. Proactive monitoring helps ensure the availability of critical systems, increases the reliability of IT infrastructures, and decreases downtime.

Many businesses do not have the resources to dedicate to managing their IT infrastructure 24/7/365. This shortfall often leads to bad habits like ignoring problem indicators or waiting until after a failure occurs to address issues, leading to unnecessary time spent troubleshooting problems, lost productivity, and potential revenue loss. Automated monitoring of your network 24/7/365 for problem indicators such as slow server speeds, failed backups, high CPU utilization, low disk space, etc, allows you to get notified when potential issues occur so they can be addressed before they become critical problems.

Examples of Proactive Monitoring

Proactive monitoring is a broad term for a number of different IT maintenance tasks. The best example of proactive monitoring is software patching.

Patching is the process of updating software (including operating systems and applications) to fix security vulnerabilities, improve performance, and add new features.

One famous example is the WannaCry ransomware that hit organizations in May 2017. WannaCry exploited a vulnerability in Windows, which was patched by Microsoft on March 14th — almost two months before WannaCry started spreading. If organizations had applied that patch, they would have avoided being affected by WannaCry.

However, many organizations didn’t apply that patch because they were focused on fixing problems only after they became apparent — rather than proactively identifying and fixing potential risks before they became actual issues.

Other types of proactive monitoring solutions to consider include

Network Monitoring

If your network allows users to access sensitive information remotely, it can be a prime target for a data breach. Network monitoring identifies vulnerabilities and helps you and your employees keep your network as secure as possible.

Vulnerability Assessment

A vulnerability assessment identifies security gaps in your organization’s systems and determines how attackers might use those holes to gain access to data.

Network Auditing

Audits identify areas where you should improve security processes and procedures related to hardware, software, compliance and other factors.

How Does Proactive Monitoring Help Businesses Avoid Cybersecurity Breaches?

Cybersecurity breaches are more likely when a network has vulnerabilities businesses face threats from different types of cyberattacks. One of these types of attacks is called Ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s data, preventing them from accessing it. The attacker then demands a ransom to be paid to decrypt the user’s files. Ransomware attacks are rapidly becoming the most common type of cyber attack and are one of the biggest threats to SMBs today.

The proactive monitoring process includes working with a business’ team members to actively seek potential issues before they impact business operations. This includes security alerts and error messages from your servers and workstations, and monitoring backups to ensure they are actually working.

In addition to routine monitoring, managed service providers (MSPs) and company employees should collaborate to perform regular audits of systems and infrastructure. The goal of these audits is to identify security vulnerabilities and areas for improvement, such as outdated software, server misconfigurations, or processes that aren’t being followed correctly. These types of vulnerabilities can make it easier for hackers to break into a network and gain access to critical systems.

Benefits of Proactive Monitoring

There are several reasons why Proactive Monitoring is better than traditional IT support alone, including:
Improved performance: Your network will run more efficiently without the threat of looming downtime hanging over your head.

Better security: Working collaboratively with your provider, you may avoid potential data breaches caused by unforeseen vulnerabilities in your network.
Lower costs: If your systems are running smoothly, you won’t waste money dealing with crises as they arise or paying for emergency services.

The proactive monitoring process includes working with a business’ team members to actively seek potential issues before they impact business operations. This includes security alerts and error messages from your servers and workstations, and monitoring backups to ensure they are actually working.

In addition to routine monitoring, managed service providers (MSPs) and company employees should collaborate to perform regular audits of systems and infrastructure. The goal of these audits is to identify security vulnerabilities and areas for improvement, such as outdated software, server misconfigurations, or processes that aren’t being followed correctly. These types of vulnerabilities can make it easier for hackers to break into a network and gain access to critical systems.

Contact SkyViewTek for Exceptional Full Service Proactive Monitoring as Part of Our Managed IT Services

So what is proactive monitoring and how can it help your business? When done correctly, proactive monitoring keeps your IT up and running, prevents issues from happening and saves you money in the long run. Subscribe to SkyViewTek’s proactive monitoring and IT support services and gain all of the benefits, including a partnership with us to create a collaborative cyber security plan designed to meet the needs of your business and the potential types of cyber attacks you could face. SkyViewTek is an IT management and cyber security firm that offers services to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond. Our experienced, highly qualified professionals provide a wide range of IT services, such as managed services, computer and server maintenance, cyber security, and more. We also specialize in ensuring that your business is IT compliant with third party organizations, such as HIPAA and PCI. For more information, contact us today.

Blog is originally published at: https://www.skyviewtek.com/what-is-proactive-monitoring/

It is republished with the permission from the author.

We get questions all the time, so today we are taking a deep dive into the question “What is cyber security? Cyber security protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of a businesses’ networked systems in order to protect its data and services. Using a combination of human defense and technology we work to keep your information safe, private and accessible. While cyber attacks may seem unavoidable, their impact can be lessened with a comprehensive cyber security plan that includes protection of critical infrastructure and a disaster recovery plan.

Evolution of Cyber Security

In the early days of computing, the focus on cyber security was limited to protecting a company’s mainframe or computer system from external threats. Now we know that companies need network security as well data security and employee awareness training. Today, companies must protect their data both at rest (data being stored) and in motion (data being transferred), and employees are an important piece in the process of minimizing risk.

Why are Businesses at Risk?

With the increasing use of technology by businesses, more and more data is available online. Businesses need to understand the importance of cyber security and have the right security measures in place to protect their digital assets. With a large number of mobile devices and their applications being used for business transactions, ensuring that the data used by these devices is secure from cyber threats has become very important for businesses. Some of the ways businesses are at risk are

• websites could be infected with malware or viruses that can corrupt your data or steal information from you and your customers
• cyber criminals may deliberately try to gain unauthorized access to your computer systems to steal or misuse personal information you hold about your staff, customers or suppliers
• vulnerabilities may exist in internet-connected devices that allow malicious attackers to take control of them

Why is Cyber Security Important for Your Business?

Cyber security is important because government, military, corporate, financial, and medical organizations collect, process, and store unprecedented amounts of data on computers, in the cloud, and on other devices. And, a significant portion of this data can be sensitive information.

Cyber security measures protect that information from theft or damage by controlling physical access to the hardware, as well as protecting against harm that may come via network access, data and code injection.

In this sense cyber security is a form of cyberterrorism and/or cyberwarfare. Cyber-attacks are a serious risk for businesses of all sizes. In fact, 60% of small companies go out of business within six months after a data breach. Most organizations have adopted some form of cyber security measures to guard against attacks—but businesses have to avoid becoming complacent about their security operations.

How Does Cyber Security Work?

With increasingly sophisticated hacking techniques, now more than ever businesses need to take steps to protect themselves from cyber attacks.

Cyber security for a business works through the partnership of that business and a cyber security and managed IT company like SkyViewTek. Cyber security includes monitoring of applications, processes, user practices and protection of systems from unauthorized access, disruption, or modification while maintaining the accessibility and usability of the system by its intended users. Working together with a cyber security company, businesses’ networks are monitored in real time, increasing cloud security, information security, application security and all other aspects of a company’s information system. In addition, it is important to keep cybersecurity top of mind with employees, since our services work in tandem with employees’ awareness and collaboration with IT. That’s why we provide our clients’ employees with training in the form of an annual training test, weekly training videos and quizzes, and regular lunch-and-learns.

Contact SkyViewTek for Exceptional and Collaborative Cyber Security Programs

Subscribe to SkyViewTek’s proactive IT support services and gain all of the benefits of doing so, including a collaborative cyber security plan designed to meet the needs of your business. SkyViewTek is an IT management and cyber security firm that offers services to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond. Our experienced, highly qualified professionals provide a wide range of IT services, such as managed services, computer and server maintenance, cyber security, and more. We also specialize in ensuring that your business is IT compliant with third party organizations, such as HIPAA and PCI. For more information, contact us today.

Blog is originally published at: https://www.skyviewtek.com/what-is-cyber-security/

It is republished with the permission from the author.

Do you desire to optimize the IT infrastructure of your company and reach new business goals? You can use the help of a local information technology consulting company in order to achieve the same. Why? Read on to learn more about the top benefits of engaging an IT consulting services company.

Cost-Effective

Your business can save money and time by hiring an IT consulting service. The overhead costs of hiring a full-time IT department is very high. You can save on taxes and overhead expenses by outsourcing your IT-related jobs to an experienced IT consulting company. An outsourced IT company acts as your IT department.

Improved Maintenance

IT system integration, regular maintenance, monitoring, identifying problems before they snowball into a big issue is crucial to ensure that you face no glitches and that the functioning of your system is as smooth as ever. Your IT consulting services company can provide all of this and more!

Ensures Expertise

Local information technology consulting companies have experts that are educated, trained and experienced in all aspects pertaining to IT management. They can provide services like giving IT advice, estimating IT budgets, doing competitive analysis, developing IT corporate strategy, implementing and managing IT systems. You can trust their expertise and concentrate on boosting your business profits!

Focus on Core Business

When you engage an IT consulting company, your employees can focus more on their duties and the process gets organized. The plan they put together will give you the scope to work productively. Their advice and expertise will help your organization grow and better the management process in the long run.

SkyViewTek(SVT) is one such local information technology consulting company which offers services primarily to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area. They offer a wide range of services which include managed IT services, cloud solutions, cyber security, wireless and wired network setup, email, spam and compliance archiving management and more. Contact them to understand how their services can increase the efficiency and productivity of your business.

The threat of cybersecurity has been heightened, due to the global conflicts surge. Cyber Security is much more than antivirus. Has your small to mid-sized business (SMB) subscribed to the Cyber Security services of SkyViewTek? If you’re a client of SkyViewTek, please schedule a review of your account. If you would like more information on Cyber Security services for your SMB, please email support@skyviewtek.com.

Also, we recommend you contact your business insurance provider to ensure you have cyber insurance. In addition, be sure to check with your bank and financial institutions. Businesses, small and large, should stay alert and be prepared for a cyber security incident.

Sincerely,
Bernie Orglmeister, CEO

What your business needs to know regarding potential Russian cyberwarfare

Intelligence finds that Russia has initiated cyberwarfare techniques against Ukraine as military engagement escalates. Given the potential for similar attacks on US-based targets, we want to provide an update on what we know so far, and the steps we are taking to ensure the ongoing fidelity of the cybersecurity services we deliver to you for the protection of your business.

What we know so far: cyberattacks targeting Ukraine

• Malware — New malware dubbed WhisperGate requests ransom payment and destroys files even if the ransom is paid.
• Website Defacement — 70 attempts have been made to deface Ukrainian government websites with 10 being successful.
• Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks — Targets include Ukraine’s armed forces, defense ministry, public radio, and 2 large banks. Several vital services were turned offline, and people were unable to access their bank accounts, use mobile apps, or issue online payments.
• Many suspect a potential attack on the Ukrainian power grid as was executed during the 2015 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Actions to ensure protection of your business

We are in active communication with all our technology partners to exchange real-time threat intelligence that may impact our operations and are conducting ongoing audits of our infrastructure and processes to ensure defense against possible exploitation from Russian state-sponsored threat actors. The protection of your business is our number one priority, and we will update and advise you as circumstances necessitate.

In the short term, we recommend the following:

• Remind employees of the role they play in keeping your business secure. For example, employees should actively look out for indicators of a potential business email compromise attack
• Be skeptical—Last-minute changes in wiring instructions or recipient account information must be verified.
• Double check that URL—Ensure the URL in the email is associated with the business it claims to be from.
• Spelling counts—Be alert to misspelled hyperlinks in the actual domain name.
• Be sure to subscribe to SkyViewTek’s Cyber Security services, including employee training.

Blog is originally published at: https://www.skyviewtek.com/cyber-security-heightened-alert/

It is republished with the permission from the author.

Do you wish to reduce the strain on your in-house staff and focus them on strategic growth? Maybe the time is right to utilize managed IT service providers. Why? Read on to learn more about the major benefits of hiring a managed IT firm.

Boost Productivity

Outsourcing IT related jobs to a managed IT services company helps your employees focus on the tasks that they are meant to perform. As a business owner you can leave your IT tasks and management to the firm and pay attention to improving your core business and drive profits. While you do this, the outsourced firm can focus on their core competencies and ensure seamless technological operations for your business.

Enhanced Security

Your organizational networks are always exposed to new threats that can cause widespread damage. This threat is reduced or even at times nullified when the managed IT service providers remotely manage network security risks by preventing malware from entering the network and hackers from stealing confidential information or damaging critical systems.

Lowers Cost and Makes Planning Costs Easier!

You can pay managed services on a subscription basis, making the expense an operating cost rather than a capital expense. This makes it easier for you to plan your budget and gives you the flexibility to invest in other areas of business.

Also, you may not always get the desired result by going through the expensive process of hiring and training an internal IT staff for your company. An outsourced managed IT services provider with the required personnel and expertise can help you save a lot on IT labor costs.

SkyViewTek (SVT) is a computer and IT firm offering services to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area as well as firms across the United States. Their wide range of services includes managed IT services programs, cloud solutions, computer and server configurations, etc. Contact SkyViewTek, a top-notch managed IT service provider to learn more.

It is virtually impossible today to think of a reputable company without well-organized help desk services. The help desk support specialists are the first point of contact for many of the customers looking for a company’s products and services. Let’s have a look at the role of computer help desk support provided by phone or e-mail or via the internal ticket system.

Basic Information

A company’s help desk services assist customers or end-users to get basic company information and up-to-date details regarding the products and services of the company. An internal help desk also answers technical questions within the company.

Customer Data

The initial role of this first level of support maintained by the company itself or outsourced is collecting customer data such as name, contact and information regarding the customer’s query or concern and creating a ticket. This documentation is normally made in detail to ensure the best possible service to the caller and transfer of the inquiry to the next support level if needed.

Resolving Issues

With a tolerant and patient disposition, the members providing help desk services often resolve a customer concern or issue on their own, either by their level of knowledge or consulting external databases. They provide aid to a user faced with hardware, software or system issues. As soon as the customer’s inquiry exceeds their expertise level, they forward the concern to the next level of technical experts.

Following Up

In addition to recording events, problems and their resolution in logs, help desk executives also follow-up and update customer status and information for extended queries. They pass on feedback and suggestions by customers to the appropriate internal team. They stay up-to-date with updates or changes within the company, they also research questions on available resources (FAQ manual) for customer and employee benefit. SkyViewTek is a managed IT service provider offering a wide range of services including help desk services and IT support. They ensure that your network runs smoothly while you concentrate on growing your business. You can count on them 24/7! Contact these IT experts today at 610-590-5006.

Well planned and properly executed project management services produce consistent results, reduce costs, improve efficiencies and deliver customer satisfaction. The project management service for a technology and computer company involves software development, hardware installations, network upgrades, cloud computing, and virtualization rollouts and implementing the IT services. It has the following steps, which are universal to all projects. Keep reading!

Initiation

The first step towards completing an IT project is the understanding and identification of the project’s purpose by the team. Then, after a thorough discussion, a project proposal that includes a business plan is written to describe the need of the project. Finally, a group also carries out a feasibility study to ensure that the proposal is all right.

Planning

After the project proposal has been approved, the project moves into the planning phase. The project manager and the project team chalk out all of the needed steps to complete the project. It is where the objectives of the project are finalized, and budgets are set.

Execution

The project team now goes about executing the above plan to create the deliverables of the project. It is often the most prolonged phase of the project management services of an IT firm. They set out to find the best solution for achieving the goal by creating multiple designs and prototypes. Various technicalities are outlined, and raw materials are requested for the smooth completion of the project in time.

Monitoring

When the project team sets out to complete their tasks, the manager monitors and controls the work, resources, cost, quality, and risk, it is an ongoing process to ensure that the project addresses each objective. This phase provides the project is executed on time and within budget.

Closing

At the end of the phase and the entire project, project closure ensures that all works have been completed and approved. The project is ultimately transferred to the operations team or the client. However, it is often followed by setting up support teams, training the end-users, and creating a postmortem for the project before the ultimate closure of the project as part of the company’s project management services. SkyViewTek (SVT) is an IT consultant, which offers services primarily to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area. They offer a wide range of services, including managed IT services, cloud solutions, cyber security, wireless and wired network setup, email, spam and compliance archiving management, and more. Contact them to understand how their project management services can increase the efficiency and productivity of your business.

Today, computers, applications, software programs and above all the internet, help run your business smoothly and boost your sales. If at any point one of these assets break down, you need to connect with a technology and computer company to resolve the issue. Wondering, how to choose the company most suited to your needs? Let us give you some quick tips. 

Skilled Personnel

A company is only as good as its employees. Hire an IT support company that has highly trained experts to address the technical snags that your staff may encounter. It will prevent your business from losing money and time.

Quick Response

It is essential to keep your employees productive with a quick solution to their IT-related problems. So, find a computer company that has quick response times.

Local

Look for a technology and computer company that is geographically located close to your business. Onsite support is a huge benefit, so choosing a local IT company can help you to get faster service when onsite support is needed.

Round the Clock Support

You are bound to benefit from an IT support team that is available 24 hours. Even if your business does not operate round the clock, your company may need IT help after hours to be ready to greet customers the next day.

Reputation

When outsourcing IT services, select a company with a good reputation. A thorough study of online and offline client reviews of the firm is necessary. SkyViewTek(SVT) is one such technology and computer company which offers services primarily to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area. They offer a wide range of services which include managed IT services, cloud solutions, cyber security, wireless and wired network setup, email, spam and compliance archiving management and more. Contact them to understand how their services can increase the efficiency and productivity of your business.

Part of an organization’s or business’s success is a productive and focused team. As technology is constantly advancing, employees may need to reach out for help from a tech expert for software updates or any technology-related problems they may encounter. While having an in-house IT support team is beneficial in today’s office setup, not all organizations are capable due to limited resources and talent pool. As a result, outsourced help desks have emerged to provide computers and IT support for small to medium-sized businesses. 

Here are a few of the many ways SMBs can benefit from computer and IT support outsourcing:

• Cost-savings: Hiring an in-house IT specialist is a hefty expense. Consider the professional’s compensation, insurance, paid leaves, and other benefits. Moreover, your organization will also be buying both hardware and software to run an efficient local network and implement necessary security measures. By outsourcing a help desk or a managed IT service, you can save as much as 70%, and you can freely choose the IT support your business needs based on your financial position.
• Focus on your core organization goals: Working with a third-party computer and IT support service provider means they will handle their team. It will enable you and your employees to focus on your core operations and stay efficient.
• Get professional IT support anytime, anywhere: Help desks offer 24/7 support to their customers. Whether your employees are within the office premises or working remotely, rest assured that they can contact IT support on-call to address any issues on demand. 
• Access to multiple resources: Investing in your cybersecurity and other licensed software is expensive. One of the best things an outsourced managed IT service firm can offer is the ability to have access to emerging technology solutions and advanced technologies.
• Statistical report and quality improvement: Due to the nature of help desks, they have the tools and the talent pool to provide IT maintenance and data. They can easily track performance indicators and give technical solution advice to address recurrent problems within your work environment systems. These data and reports are handy for quality improvement and decision-making when making hardware or software upgrades.

Outsourced computer and IT support is a sound investment for small and medium-sized businesses. This team aims to be a mediator and support between your business and its technological aspects. They are experienced and can keep your business fully operational to boost your employee’s productivity. Third-party vendors like SkyViewTek can provide effective IT management and support at an affordable cost. Visit their website at https://www.skyviewtek.com to learn more about their IT professional services.