Recommended Best Practices to Reduce Cyber Supply Chain Risks

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Understanding the risks of a supply chain attack and how to manage them is an essential part of any successful organization’s strategy. A supply chain attack targets vendors and suppliers outside the organization, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and extensive recovery efforts. 

Cyber supply chain risk management includes:

  • Examining third-party security protocols.
  • Ensuring their products meet safety standards.
  • Putting safety mechanisms in place to prevent attacks from occurring.

With so much competition in today’s business climate, proper cyber supply chain management is essential to keep operations running smoothly. However, ignoring these risks can lead to the chaos caused by agents of malicious intent. 

Adopting best practices for risk mitigation is an effective way to reduce the chance of becoming a target for such criminals.

Recommended security practices

Having suitable security measures in place is always more beneficial than trying to repair damage after a cyber-attack. Therefore, businesses must take proactive steps when managing their data, systems, software, and networks. Here are some practices which can help protect your business from supply chain risks:

A comprehensive cyber defense strategy must be in place.

This means taking a holistic approach to defending against potential threats from within the supply chain. First, make sure you identify any weaknesses that may exist and then put into effect strong safeguards that will minimize the risk of danger as much as possible. Remember a contingency plan, too, in case you experience a breach.

Employees need regular security awareness training.

All company employees must realize how their actions could unintentionally end up putting their security at risk. By increasing their knowledge of identifying potential threats, they can take better steps towards avoiding malicious activity from coming through the supply chain.

Keep in mind that drafting current policies and procedures is paramount for successful protection against cyber risk – this is not a one-time affair. It should take place regularly to ensure all stakeholders are on the same page.

Access control is essential.

A secure access gateway provides a way for trusted users to access your business information, including that of the supply chain. Authentication and authorization go hand in hand in creating an effective access control system. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent third-party apps from gaining access without permission.

Constant security vigilance

Surveying the operations within the supply chain on an ongoing basis helps combat potential cyber threats ahead of time. Using tools such as sensors, tracking devices, and real-time data analysis makes it possible to identify any weak spots in the system so that corrective action can be taken. Security checkups may also unearth any roadblocks or bottlenecks in your supply chain, leading to improved efficiency and cost savings.

Installing the latest security patches

Keeping up with security patches is an essential part of protecting systems and devices from potential threats. These updates often contain fixes for bugs that malicious actors could exploit, so installing them as soon as possible is vital to minimize risk. In addition, doing so can help businesses protect against disruptions and other adverse outcomes.

Having an incident response strategy

An incident response strategy helps ensure your organization can react quickly in case of a supply chain attack or other security breaches. This plan should outline norms for responding to unexpected events and include identifying vulnerabilities, setting up communications protocols, and preparing contingency plans.

Working with a professional IT firm

Outsourcing to an experienced IT service provider is an effective way to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities. This kind of specialist support and advice can help safeguard against data breaches and other cyberattacks and ensure your systems are current and secure.

Moreover, enlisting the services of a reputable IT firm will assist in deploying reliable security measures that solidify your supply chain security posture and protect against potential harm to your company.

Adopt these best practices before it’s too late

Supply chain security is a complex and multifaceted issue, and the best practices mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what you should be doing to avoid security incidents. It can be overwhelming to try and implement all of these measures on your own, especially if you already have a lot on your plate.

One effective way to begin is by partnering with an IT service provider like us. We have a wealth of experience and expertise in this area and can provide the support and guidance you need to ensure a secure and safe future for your business. Don’t go it alone – get in touch with us today and let us help you take the first steps towards a safer tomorrow.

4 Practical Steps to Take When Hardware and Software Expire

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As a piece of software or hardware reaches its end of life (EOL) or end of service (EoS), support from the manufacturer ceases. This can pose a risk to organizations as unsupported technologies have no routine internal security measures.

However, a company can take steps to mitigate these risks and protect your business. Read on for more information.

Practical steps

Although there may be a sufficiently large list of practical steps, the four most impactful ones are:

Evaluate long-term needs

As you plan, it is vital to consider your critical systems’ long-term viability. What are your goals and which systems do you need to achieve them?

It is crucial to assess the risks of using End-of-Life systems before deciding whether to upgrade. For example, what would happen if you continued to use an outdated system? How likely will these consequences occur, and how severe would they be?

These factors can help you make the best decision for your organization, ensuring that you have suitable systems to support your goals.

Test compatibility before migration

Planning for a system migration should start long before its end-of-life date. By doing so, you can avoid disruptions that may occur during migration.

Testing compatibility is one of the first steps in migrating to a new system. Next, you must ensure that your IT team can transfer all your data and applications to a new system. Setting up a test environment and running some tests is the best way to accomplish this.

Prioritize security

As soon as you identify that you have EoL software/hardware, it’s important to prioritize security for your organization. First, work with a reputable vendor who can provide security protocols and tools to keep your data safe. Additionally, create a plan to minimize any potential security risks.

This might include implementing extra security measures, such as two-factor authentication or increased monitoring of high-risk areas. Taking these precautions can help ensure that your organization’s data is protected against threats.

Measure productivity

When your software or hardware is nearing the end of its life, it’s essential to keep track of its productivity levels to avoid negative impacts on your organization. Here are some things you can do to minimize any problems:

• Track the performance of the software or hardware over time. This will help you identify any potential issues early on.

• Keep employees who use it informed of its status. This will help them be more understanding and prepared in case of any problems.

• Have a backup plan in case the software or hardware fails. This will help you avoid significant disruptions to your organization.

Collaborate for success

EoL/EoS software and hardware can pose several risks to your organization. Implementing all the practical steps necessary to avoid these risks can be overwhelming, but assistance is available.

An experienced and reliable Information Technology service provider can help protect your company from the dangers of using outdated software and hardware. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

Are you struggling to budget for your IT needs? You’re not alone.

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Budgeting for IT can be challenging, especially for small businesses that must consider many different aspects, such as routine services, projects, refreshes, and accidents or incidents. With so much to think about, it can be challenging to prioritize everything and still have money for other crucial business areas.

One solution is partnering with an IT service provider. They can help you budget for all your IT needs, large and small. Additionally, they can help you save funds on your IT budget, which would free up financial resources for other areas of your business.

How can we help?

We can support you by:

Assessing your business
We’ll assess your business’s technology requirements and recommend solutions that improve efficiency.

As your business partner, we take the time to get to know your company inside and out. This way, we can provide comprehensive IT support that meets your needs.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, we tailor our services to fit your company’s requirements. With us by your side, you can rest assured that you have the tools and support to succeed.

Developing an annual technology plan based on your needs and goals
We can tailor-make a yearly plan based on the needs and goals of your business. This plan can help determine which technology solutions are best suited for your company and how to implement them to meet your budget and time constraints. We’ll even assist with troubleshooting issues and ensure your technology infrastructure is functioning adequately.

Facilitating compliance with a cyber insurance policy
Insurance coverage can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a long, drawn-out process in a cyber-attack. But with so many policies on the market, it can take time to know which one is right for you. That’s where we come in.

Our team of experts can help you understand your policy options and ensure you’re taking the necessary steps to comply with your chosen coverage. We’ll also monitor your policy compliance on an ongoing basis, so you can rest assured that you’re always protected.

Offering a flat monthly price for everything
We can offer a fixed monthly rate for our services, helping you create a budget and estimate your monthly IT expenses.

Let’s join forces to make sure your business succeeds

As tech changes and advances, it can be hard to keep up. However, having a budget for your company’s technological needs can help you stay ahead of the competition.

Our team can assess your company’s needs and put together a budget that will help you meet your business goals. Contact us today to set up a consultation.

Our checklist “IT Services You Should Consider” provides a list of critical IT services that need to be included in your IT budget. Download it by clicking here.

The Three Essential Technology Budget Categories

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Are you creating a technology budget? The following three key categories can often be easily overlooked.’

Technology is a critical part of any modern business, but it’s easy to focus solely on the routine services that keep the lights on. Unfortunately, this mindset can lead you to miss crucial budget categories, leaving you scrambling when unanticipated needs arise.

Keep reading to learn about three essential budget categories – projects, refreshes, and accidents/incidents – these areas are often overlooked and can impact your business.

Pay attention to these categories.

Budget for the following categories to ensure your business has what it needs to succeed. You may need to rethink your approach without these items in your budget.

Refreshes
Regularly refreshing your technology infrastructure is key to keeping up with the demands of a growing company. Upgrading hardware and software ensure that your employees are productive, and your bottom line is protected. Outdated security patches make you vulnerable to hacking, so it is essential to stay up to date. Regular updates to your infrastructure will keep your company running smoothly.

Accidents or incidents
As businesses increasingly rely on technology, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. For example, in the case of a ransomware attack, a “bad guy” might demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption code, which could overwhelm the business.

Without proper backup, businesses may have to pay a ransom to avoid data loss — and they still might not get their data back. These circumstances can be a financial and reputational setback for the business. To protect against these sophisticated threats, companies should invest in the right security solutions.

Projects
Organizations are vulnerable to attacks when they get busy and neglect critical IT projects. Hackers can easily access your network if your employees use unsecured Wi-Fi. Risks associated with free Wi-Fi hotspots include network compromise, evil twin attacks, and exploits. The best way to avoid these incidents is to provide your workforce with a secure VPN setup. VPNs allow employees to connect to a secure network, protecting your company from attacks.

Collaboration is key to success.

Are you concerned about cutting costs without overlooking important budget categories? Our IT service providers can help prevent this by collaborating with you to find more cost-effective solutions.

If you want more information budgeting for your IT needs, download our infographic “How to Budget for Your IT Needs.”