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How Intrusion Prevention Systems Sniff out Sneaky Cyber Attacks

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It’s 2018 and in the world of cyber security, this will be an unprecedented year. Of course, last year was also terrifying, but experts warn that what lies ahead is an increase in the quantity and variety of cyberattacks. As a business, the security of your data is vital to your operations, business continuity, and most importantly your reputation. A cyber attack can be trouble for any business. For a small or medium-sized business, it can be devastating. While there are many options for dealing with the ever-present threat of cyberattacks, one method that often goes under the radar is an Intrusion Prevention System , or IPS. What Is An Intrusion Prevention System? An intrusion prevention system is an automated and proactive form of network monitoring. Everything that comes into and goes out of your network is monitored and analyzed with AI. An IPS isn’t foolproof, but it is one of the best ways for your IT support to uncover suspicious activity in real time.
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3 Things You Must Be Doing If You Allow Employees To Use Their Own Mobile Devices

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Many businesses in Saint Paul provide employees with company-owned devices such as tablets and smartphones. But as time goes on and people collect more personal devices, many businesses are letting employees use their own smartphones to save money on equipment purchases and simplify hardware management. If you’re one of the businesses that see value in this approach, there are certain steps that must be taken to safeguard company data. You need rules. You need guidelines. You need a plan. You need a mobile device management policy. What Is Mobile Device Management? The term mobile device management (MDM) broadly refers to the rules, guidelines, and policies dictating the use of mobile devices for work-related activities. With the rising threat of security breaches and cyber attacks, smartphones and tablets represent one of the most vulnerable kinks in your network’s armor. Many businesses store sensitive data in apps that can be accessed remotely. With a fleet of
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The Small-Business Owner's Guide to Cloud Phones and Their Benefits

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Even in today’s online, fast-paced, text, social media, and email world, everyone still relies on telephones. However, many businesses neglect to keep their telecommunication systems up to date. What’s more, repairing or upgrading an outdated telephones is costly. Across the country, many Americans are cutting the cord when it comes to landlines. As society at large moves away from analog phones, there’s no reason your small business can’t do the same. Cloud Phones For Small Business A cloud phone system is an internet-based phone system that is physically located in a service provider’s datacenter and delivered as a service over the internet (the same as any cloud solution). Internet-based phones replace traditional systems with a sleeker, more modern approach to voice communication that can easily integrate with email, SMS, fax, and more. There’s a lot to like about cloud phones, and a lot of ways your small business can benefit from them. Here are just a few:
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Questions to Ask Yourself Before Signing Up For A Disaster Recovery Plan

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Having a disaster recovery plan is the most important step in salvaging your IT infrastructure when catastrophe strikes. If you don’t have an in-house IT department, your next best move is to turn to a managed services provider. However, not all disaster recovery plans are created equal. The advanced level planning may be intimidating, and there are a few questions you should ask yourself (and your provider) before signing up for any disaster recovery plan. What Is My RTO / RPO? RTO and RPO may sound like technology mumbo-jumbo, but they actually stand for: ·          Recovery Time Objective: In simple terms, the amount of downtime and the estimated recovery time. ·          Recovery Point Objective: In simple terms, the amount of data loss you can tolerate. In other words, the point in your system’s history that you can expect to return to. Both terms are related, but have different meanings. Your RTO is basically how long your business can last with a specific s
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4 Ways To Do More With the Cloud

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  The cloud has opened a world of opportunities for businesses of all sizes. In fact, cloud technology can improve business processes, increase productivity and efficiency, and even save money in the long run. There are several ways that a cloud-based approach can help your business, especially in an increasingly technology-driven and competitive business environment. Here are four ways your business can do more with cloud. Desktop Solutions Cloud desktop solutions are gaining in popularity -- and for good reason. Microsoft’s Office 365 is a suite of programs that both you and your clients are probably using already. From Word and Publisher to Excel and PowerPoint, Office 365 can be accessed from any computer, anywhere, and at any time. Similarly, Adobe’s Creative Cloud is ideally suited for businesses with intense graphic design and document service needs. Teams of all sizes can access programs remotely and collaborate on much needed projects with ease. With a ma
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A 7-Point Checklist for Unbeatable IT Security

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It’s no secret that cybercrime has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that affects businesses and individuals all over the globe. Unfortunately, that includes organizations right here in Saint Paul as well. However, while there might not be much you can do to stem the tide of attempted data breaches, managed IT solutions can eliminate their impact on your business. #1. Hosted Email You probably can’t imagine running a modern business without email. As the primary means of communication in the modern world, it’s imperative that you have a system that you can depend on. By migrating to a hosted email service like Vodigy’s, you can enjoy better scalability, redundancy and reduced dependence on in-house IT resources. You’ll also have the measures in place necessary for ensuring regulatory compliance. Migrating to an email solution hosted by and IT provider means being able to take advantage of security measures that would otherwise be beyond your budgetary reach.
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8 Ways Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

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Businesses small and large are becoming more reliant on their IT for everything from customer relationship management to marketing. However, maintaining an in-house IT department that’s large enough to fulfill every technology goal of your business is thoroughly impractical. Managed IT services providers (MSPs) are a better alternative. MSPs help you overcome the limitations of your IT department by giving you access to a broad array of talent at a fraction of the cost. Here are a few ways we’ve helped small businesses right here in Saint Paul. #1. Reduce Labor Costs Computers might be getting easier to use, but that doesn’t mean that the underlying infrastructure of a corporate network is any less complex. By outsourcing the bulk of your computing infrastructure to an MSP, you’ll greatly reduce the need for the on-premises expertise needed to look after your technology. In fact, by enrolling with an MSP, small businesses can negate the need of an in-house IT departm
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