CYBERCRIME: BAD NEWS FOR MIDSIZE FIRMS

Two of the topmost concerns that appear in surveys of CIOs are cybercrime and data security. Rightly so. Nothing strikes closer to the heart of any client than the security of their data. No matter how excellent your product or service, if your clients feel their data is at risk, they are likely to go elsewhere. This fact is of special concern to medium and smaller sized businesses for two important reasons. First, smaller firms are the most likely targets of cyberattacks, and second, customers are harsher in their response to data breaches at smaller firms than they are about attacks on large corporations.

Let’s look first at the likelihood of attack. If you are a small business, then you are a strong target for cyber criminals. Last year, 71% of small to medium size businesses were the victims of cyber attacks. We hear on the news about big cyber attacks on large corporations, healthcare conglomerates, as well as government agencies. The trouble with this news coverage is that it creates a distorted view of where cyber attacks are taking place. These attacks are not solely hitting large organizations and being small by no means keeps you immune.

Smaller firms represent a significant portion of those who suffer from cyber attacks. In fact, small firms can be used as conduits to larger organizations. Smaller businesses have become vulnerable because they are often the inroad to larger, better protected entities. They may be sub-contracting as a vendor, supplier or service provider to a larger organization. That is likely what happened in the case of the Target Corporation in 2013, when over 40 million accounts were accessed.

What makes this even more serious is that smaller firms are less likely to be prepared to handle an attack. 31% of small to medium sized businesses do not have a plan of action for responding to IT security breaches, and 22% admit that they lack the expertise to make such a plan.

Research has found that customers affected by security breaches are generally less forgiving of smaller businesses, especially smaller online retailers, than larger companies. As a result, medium and smaller firms not only must contend with absorbing lost revenue and expenses, they also face a greater possibility of never regaining the customer’s trust.

What does all of this mean? Firms need to prove they are on top of their infrastructure’s security, or risk losing customers and not winning contracts with large businesses. CIOs need to keep on top of all the strategies available to protect their infrastructure. CIOs of large firms are deeply aware of this, but smaller businesses remain less likely to focus resources on anything not directly related to revenue production. Too often, this means less IT security investment. However, this is an area where you cannot afford to cut costs because the consequences are too critical for your business’s future.

HOW NET DIRXIONS CAN CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY

Every business, small or large, has 3 basic levels of technology support needs.

1. Make sure it works - Every organization, from enterprise to not-for-profit, needs IT staff who are able to offer routine maintenance and support, including the updating of hardware and software, handling maintenance, and putting out daily fires.

2. Make sure it works when needed - Technology supports business activity 24/7. Even when everyone in a small business has gone home, there are periodic non-negotiable staff needs at unpredictable times.

3. Make sure it helps make you more money - This top tier is the most important. This is the support that is helping you to proactively manipulate technology to improve revenue.

Why Net DirXions?

When you have no or only have a part-timer or one full-time IT person in-house, too much of this well-paid resource may be focused on putting out fires, doing routine maintenance, and handling software updates. Result? The IT staff member that best understands your business doesn't have the time to help you devise forward-thinking applied technology to grow your business. This is a waste of resources. Instead, use their expertise to develop your business: use Net DirXions to provide all of the below-ground support.

Here are some areas where Net DirXions can be your best business ally.

1) Specialized areas of support - Net DirXions specializes in specific business sectors and have deep knowledge of the their needs, the specialized software packages and the Federal, state or provincial level regulatory environment. We can help you make sure your technology stays in compliance with regulations, such as those requiring the maintenance of verified security procedures. ( e.g, HIPAA)

2) Help desk support - For all of the various questions, problems, hardware and software crises that can happen anywhere, at any time, a 24/7 help desk means your IT staff isn't distracted by smaller problems, and dragged out of bed by a routine issue at 2am.

3) Security and data protection - With the increasing news about hacking and data theft, it is apparent that everyone will be compromised at some point or another. This is an area where you can benefit from the deep specialized knowledge of an expert. Because it seems new malware and hacking tools are invented on an hourly basis, Net DirXions can provide the support you need to protect your data.

4) Disaster planning and recovery - Smaller firms are the most vulnerable financially to the revenue damage that comes from downtime. However, they have the least resources to focus on this vague and seemingly improbable threat. Net DirXions can provide consulting resources to plan what needs to be done to minimize the effects of a disaster, and put into place procedures to ensure a speedy return to business-as-usual if something does goes wrong. 

5) Software updates - Software updates are a necessity, but can potentially create headaches for every user. Instead of distracting your in-house IT staff with this routine and time-devouring procedure, use the resources of Net DirXions on a scheduled or as-needed basis to handle all of this in the background.

6) Avoid expensive emergency upcharges and exorbitant one-off fees. Net DirXions can offer you a service plan that provides on-going levels of support and includes priority attention in the event of an emergency, so you avoid becoming just another client in the queue. To summarize, the Net DirXions model offers more than IT support. The model provides a different business model for the role of IT as an integral part of your entire long-term development strategy. Technology is more than just a low-level distraction that takes you away from the core issues of your mission as a business. Technology, when managed right, is a key driver of that mission.

Tech Quick Tips - Understanding Cloud Technology

1. What is the Cloud?

The cloud is virtual and therefore does not require any hardware of your own to deliver a service. Cloud technology can deliver that service to you, without having to install anything or have it on a server at your business. This is something that you can access remotely, or via the Internet through your web browser. Offsite, secure third party data centers manage all of your cloud data so that you can access it at your convenience. 

2. You May Already be Using the Cloud

Are you using Gmail? Amazon Music? A Kindle? Dropbox? These are all cloud services that store the data you access. All you have to do is log in to their servers to get what you need. If you use an Apple iPhone or iPad, then you're familiar with the iCloud service, the cloud technology that allows you to sync and upload your photos and contacts.

3. Why Use the Cloud?

The cloud is convenient for accessing and backing up data no matter where you go. With it, you can access servers anywhere, rather than just locally from your office. This allows you to perform your job duties at home and on the go! There is no need to carry around (and risk losing) USB drives with sensitive information on them. If you lose that USB drive, then your files are gone forever. If you back them up to the cloud or store them there, however, you can easily retrieve that data.

4. Why is the Term “Cloud” Used?

There is both a literal and figurative meaning here. Have you ever laid down in the grass, and looked up at the clouds in the sky? Oh, look, an elephant! A boat! Oh nice, a dinosaur! But the person next to you may not see the same shapes. They may see a sandwich, a skyscraper or an airplane in the clouds instead. The possibilities are almost endless, and not everyone has the same vision. Cloud technology is similar, offering a plethora of possibilities to help support and scale your business. Also, clouds are generally always above us. Just head on up, and grab whatever you need on-demand. The sky is always accessible. 

So, you can store and access files in the Cloud. You can use cloud-hosted applications, like Gmail and GoogleDocs. Finally, the cloud gives you access to your data anywhere with a network connection. This all sounds great, right? It is, but as with anything on the Internet, these services need to be used responsibly. Is your IT services provider helping to manage this?

Net DirXions Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Keep Your Employees Happy (And Your Data Secure)

Smartphones and tablets continue to flood the workplace, and businesses everywhere are racing to appropriately regulate and manage these mobile devices. To support today’s bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement, you’ll need a mobile device management (MDM) solution that keeps your employees happy – and keeps you in control.

Net DirXions Mobile Device Management is an affordable, easy-to-use cloud platform containing all of the essential functionality for end-to-end management of today’s mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads, Androids, Kindle Fire devices, Windows Phones and BlackBerry smartphones.

With MDM, you can provide users with fast and secure access to corporate data from their personal devices. And with the industry’s broadest device support, intuitive workflows, simplified deployment options, and advanced management and security features, we make BYOD simple.

• Powerful, secure monitoring & management of mobile devices

• Fast and easy deployment – enrollment takes just a few clicks

• Multi-device and OS support (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, etc.)

• Secure containers successfully separate work from play

• Selective & remote wiping of corporate data

• Jailbreaking and device rooting alerts

• Direct technical support – we’ll manage as much the MDM process as needed

Unparalleled Peace of Mind

Net DirXions answers the MDM challenge, with an easy-to-use platform that simplifies the management of personal devices – without compromising the user experience, security or privacy. Our solution provides flexible approaches for enrollment, asset management, policy enforcement and the distribution of profiles, apps and docs, all based on device ownership (whether corporate- or employee-owned). We’ll even handle day-to-day MDM monitoring and management, and only escalate back to you the alerts that you want. It’s truly a set-and-forget solution. 

Getting started couldn’t be easier. In just a few quick clicks, you can start enrolling devices and immediately manage the entire mobile device lifecycle — from enrollment to enterprise integration, configuration and management, monitoring and security, support, and analytics and reporting.

Separating Work & Play

Your employees want to maintain one device for both work and play – they want to access corporate email, then check Facebook, jump back to email and review an upcoming presentation over lunch. This need for “dual personas” is exactly what our MDM solution aims to address. So go ahead, let your employees leverage their devices – and rest assured that critical business data and applications will remain safe, secure, and accessible. On your terms!