ThrottleNet

Managed IT services, support and cybersecurity

Staying Cyber-Secure When Working Remotely

Business & Technology

You’re working from home, now what? As more people are working from home these days, security issues with working remotely are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. How can you tell if network issues are due to being compromised vs technology hiccups? 

As people break from routines and start using new technology, it can be hard to keep things in line. Security issues with working remotely can be averted with good support and communication with your team. It’s critical not just to continuing service to your customers and clients in challenging times but to keep your business operating properly and smoothly.

As more work from home office jockeys are trading lunch breaks for fishing breaks, cybercriminals are phishing too. Check out this blog post about how to make your network a no phishing zone. Security issues with working remotely bring new challenges that we will address here.

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Spotting Email Scams

Keep in mind that Phishing attacks aren’t going away because of the virus. If anything, they’ll increase since cybercriminals love to exploit people in times like this. Make sure your team knows what to look for as well as what to do in the event of a phishing attack.

Things to look for include emails from unknown recipients with links or attachments, requests to make wire or financial transfers, tracking numbers from UPS or FedEx – especially right now given that this is how most people are shopping during this time – odd phrasing or misspellings.

You also want to check the sender to make sure it’s not a spoof email. A way to do this is simply to hover over the from address which will show you if the person is who they say they are. Check out our blog that goes into more detail about email scams and gift cards.

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Cybercriminals Are Preying on Fears of the Coronavirus

Another way hackers are exploiting this is via charities or websites claiming to be for the public good that are malicious sites which could download malware onto your computer, or steal passwords. These scams may claim to have a ‘cure’ for the virus, offer a financial reward, or by encouraging you to donate.

Like many phishing scams, these emails are preying on real-world concerns to try and trick people into doing the wrong thing.

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What to do if you think you’re the victim of a phishing attack?

If you feel you’re the victim of a phishing attack, please follow these steps in addition to providing them to your users.
  • If this is your home PC running your AV solution, open your antivirus (AV) software and run a full scan. Follow any instructions given.
  • If you’ve been tricked into providing your password, you should change your passwords on all your other accounts immediately.
  • If you’re using a work device, contact your IT department and let them know.

The sooner an issue is identified, the more effective we or your IT team can be in resolving it.

I’d like to take a moment to outline a few ways ThrottleNet can assist you in alleviating security issues with working remotely.

EverFuel

For those organizations that require secure remote access, we’ve introduced Everfuel Secure Remote Access. This solution is only $9.95 per user/per month plus a one-time setup and training fee of $10. There’s no commitment and you can cancel anytime. Take a deeper dive into Everfuel today.

Managed Network

Of course, for those of you on one of our Managed Network plans, most of what we’ve discussed is covered assuming you’ve kept your network current and have been heeding the advice of your vCIO.

For those that aren’t familiar, Managed Network is where ThrottleNet serves as your full time IT department by providing maintenance, monitoring, and management of your network in addition to a fully staffed help desk and dedicated team of IT professionals.

Remote Maintenance and Monitoring plus AV

If managed services aren’t for you, we’d recommend our workstation remote maintenance, monitoring, and AV combo as well as our server safeguard. This ensures your machines are protected in addition to sending alerts in the event of an issue.

Hosting

Finally, we offer a variety of hosting solutions via Microsoft including Office365 and Azure Cloud Hosting.

These solutions – when working in concert – allow you to work from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Couple this with a hosted VOIP phone system such as Ring Central and you should be good to go if this ever happens again.

How Can We Help?

If you need anything or are interested in learning more about our services, contact us today or give us a call at 866-829-5557

CONTACT THROTTLENET

There’s NO Time for DOWNTIME

When it comes to business continuity, there’s no time for downtime. Without top-tier security, even the best IT can be quickly rendered useless. Cyber-criminals use sophisticated tools to scan the internet looking for opportunities. Right now, as businesses scramble to make it work from remote home offices and reduced on-site teams, the internet is teeming with insidious opportunity.

32% of all businesses with 11-49 employees have reported a cyber attack within the last 12 months. - 2017 State of Cybersecurity, Better Business Bureau

Cyber-criminals don’t discriminate. Anyone can be a target. It doesn’t matter if you’re a non-profit, small business, or larger enterprise. if your business depends on technology to run smoothly (and nowadays, whose doesn’t?), it only makes sense to secure it properly.

Will IT Security Slow My Business Down?

“Thanks to the knowledgeable support team at ThrottleNet, our network is running faster and more efficient than ever before.” – Dr. Richard Goldberg

Having strong IT security doesn’t mean making every internal transaction require 2-factor authentication or that you need to install retina scanning to access your server. It means finding the right software and protocols for your needs and implementing them in smart ways that work for you. Often it simply requires that your staff and your policies follow some simple best practices, and your software is properly protected. ThrottleNet’s Custom IT Security Solutions Are the Perfect Fit

IT Security = Business Continuity

65% of all businesses could not remain profitable for more than three months if they permanently lost access to essential data. - 2017 State of Cybersecurity, Better Business Bureau

You’re in the business of staying in business. Do you have a business continuity plan? Is security is included? You know how much productivity is affected when your email goes down (we make sure it doesn’t). Now imagine not having access to your server or your essential files and data for a day. For a week? What if your data is held hostage with ransomware by someone demanding payment in bitcoin; would your business survive?

According to the Ponemon Institute, a leading private research organization that conducts independent research on privacy, data protection and information security policy, the average cost of cleaning up after being hacked stands at $690,000 for small businesses and over $1 million for mid-market companies. Most businesses can’t afford that kind of expense, especially in the faltering economy and uncertain future of COVID-19.

How Does IT Security Help You Keep the Lights On?

60% of small companies are unable to sustain their businesses over six months after a cyber attack. - U.S. National Cyber Security Alliance

The first key to IT security is prevention. Every network in the world shares a common weakest link – its users. Keeping your staff keenly trained on best practices and on the lookout for threats is your number one defense against cyber crime. Don’t overlook this crucial element in your IT security strategy!

The next key is protection. Getting targeted by a cyberattack might be inevitable, but getting penetrated is not. A proactive cyber defense plan will not only engage your employees as a security force, but use technology solutions to shield your network, databases, and communication systems from viruses, phishing, ransomware, malware, and all other tools criminals use attack your business.

Must-have IT security technologies include:
  • Firewalls
  • Offsite backups with cloud replication
  • Threat monitoring
  • Virus/malware/adware detection and removal
  • Software patches
  • Heuristic Threat Detecting Software

Don’t forget about your policies and procedures! Tools are only effective if you use them correctly. 

The third key is planning. In the event of a cyber-attack, you need your business to be part of the 40 percent that survives. This means having a complete disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place with technology at its core. In the old days, of paper and physical theft and destruction, what was lost was lost forever and there was no going back. But we live in the future now, and technology has mitigated that risk. Play your security strategy right, and your business can be back up, running, and recovering in no time.

ThrottleNet Keeps the Lights on For You

“Ultimately, ThrottleNet’s quick response and expertise has been crucial in supporting our infrastructure at RBO PrintLogistix.” – Jim Riley, CEO and President of RBO PrintLogistix

Backing up data is one thing; testing the backups is another. What good is a backup file if it’s infected with the same ransomware that’s holding your data hostage? The time to plan is before there’s an emergency; redundancies are now essential. By working together, we’ll make sure your business has a plan to stay up and running.

Explore a Managed IT Security Solution for Your Business

IT Support for Mac Computers & Apple Devices

Mac users really love their Macs. It’s easy to understand why: Elegant, intuitive, and high-quality product design. Fewer viruses and cybercrime. All the best accessories. More than anything else though, most Mac devotees will tell you it’s the simplicity of Apple, Inc. technology they love the best. From simple user interfaces to seamless integration across all their devices, everything about the Apple ecosystem is made to be easy. There’s one thing about Macs that isn’t so simple, however: supporting them in the workplace. Many companies, especially those with a strong Windows PC-based technology legacy, struggle to adequately support Mac computers and macOS at work.

Mac Strategies for Business - Avoidance Isn’t the Answer

In the old days, it was easy for a company to just purchase Windows software and PCs and force Mac users to conform. In the era of BYOD (bring your own device) IT policies, however, the avoidance strategy is no longer sufficient. Not that it was ever a great idea to begin with. All that famed Mac simplicity and security adds up to more productivity, lower maintenance costs, and less risk to your data and network. Even Microsoft’s old pal IBM has plainly stated on numerous occasions that Macs are very good for business.

IBM: Mac users perform better at work and close larger high-value sales compared to PC users

  • Greater productivity
  • Improved performance
  • Lower cost per user
  • Lower support engineer-to-user ratio
  • Better employee retention
  • Higher-value sales deals

Why Are Macs Challenging for IT Departments?

While the benefits of making Mac devices part of your business technology strategy are clear, the logistics of doing so are a little murkier. If everything about Mac is made to be easy, why are they so challenging for IT departments to support?

If you ask your IT manager, there’s a good chance you’ll hear a reply back about inflexible architecture, expensive cost, or availability of applications. They might try to explain why PCs are better. Many of these reasons will be based on inaccurate or outdated information. Technology has come a long way and Macs have, too.

Here’s the plain and simple truth: a lot of businesses and IT companies say no to Macs because they just don’t know how to handle them. Many IT departments – both internal and outsourced – simply aren’t equipped or qualified to handle Macs in the workplace. ThrottleNet is. We have Apple Certified Support Professional (ASCP) engineers and technicians on staff and a successful track record of helping companies integrate Macs in the workplace. We are one of only a few outsourced IT companies in St. Louis that can meet businesses’ needs for comprehensive Apple-related managed security, support and consulting services.

Mac Business Solutions from ThrottleNet - #1 IT Management Company St. Louis
  • vCIO consulting
  • Mac-based cloud & virtual environments
  • Managed macOS & iOS security
  • BYOD strategies
  • Google Apps & Office 365 software for Mac
  • Apple Certified Support

Supporting Apple devices and Mac computers can be a battle for your business, but it’s one that ThrottleNet can help you win.

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What is an outsourced IT company?

Outsourced IT companies are businesses you hire to manage your company’s information technology. Outsourced IT companies service some or all of your IT functions required for business, virtually. By outsourcing IT solutions, your company can meet all of its information technology needs today without the hassle of managing projects internally or hiring new employees.

As many St. Louis area businesses are now working partly or entirely from home during the coronavirus pandemic, now is a good time to assess whether outsourcing your IT is a good fit for your business. Let’s have a look at six big advantages of outsourced IT solutions.

Services Included With Outsourced IT Solutions

The tasks and services included withoutsourced IT solutions can vary depending on your business and the IT company you choose. The services can be broken into two main categories, IT Management and Cyber Security.

IT Management

The tasks and services included withoutsourced IT solutions can vary depending on your business and the IT company you choose. The services can be broken into two main categories, IT Management and Cyber Security.

What aspects of my business can an outsourced IT company remotely monitor?
  • Servers
  • Routers
  • Computers
  • Backups
  • Networks
  • Software
  • Printers
  • Cloud

Cyber Security

Security risks to your critical business data and your customers’ information is an ever-increasing threat. Ransomware attacks and phishing attacks are among the leading security risks. By outsourcing IT solutions, you can get cutting-edge managed protection against:

  • Ransomware
  • Malware
  • Viruses & Worms
  • Phishing Attacks
  • Brute Force Attacks
65% of all businesses could not remain profitable for more than three months if they permanently lost access to essential data.

Knowing that the threat is high, and the risk is even higher every business should have a dedicated staff to combat threats and manage security. There are options to protect yourself, such as hiring one dedicated employee to oversee all IT management and security. That option is a very tall order for one employee. A company that is large enough might be able to shoulder the cost of an entire team. For companies that cannot bear the cost of an entire team, outsourcing IT solutions is their best option. Let’s look at some of the advantages of outsourcing your IT department.

Advantages of Outsourcing IT Solutions

  1. Reduce Labor Cost
    Every business has the same goal to reduce cost and increase profit. Employees cost more than their salary. They take vacations, sick days, and mental health days. They need benefits and retirement packages.
  2. Decrease Risk
    Most companies cannot afford an entire team. A virtual IT company is a team of dedicated professionals that work around the clock to meet all of your needs. Experienced professionals at a Virtual IT company such as Throttlenet see related problems that you experience multiple times with other clients. An inhouse employee might be experiencing for the first time and on their own. Real-world experience is priceless.
  3. Quickly Implement New Technology
    Implementing new software or any new technology can result in downtime and long timelines. A quality outsourced IT service will have the resources to start right away without hiring new people and training them.
  4. Increase Competitiveness
    Large businesses have the advantage of having enough resources to implement cutting edge technology. By outsourcing, smaller businesses have access to those same resources for a fraction of the cost.
  5. Focus On Your Core Business
    You didn’t create your manufacturing, financial, real estate business, or a non-profit to spend time on IT management and security. Your passion is the core of your business. That is where your expertise is valued most and should be the focus of your time.
  6. Technical Support Is Always Available
    Peace of mind is priceless. By outsourcing IT solutions, there is a reliable team available for any unexpected crisis. Solutions to questions are a phone call, chat, or email away.

Outsourced IT solutions provide peace of mind from fax to cloud. If you’d like more information about what an award-winning Managed Service Provider can do for your business, get started with a free assessment of your IT network and cyber security.

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Phishing is a common cybercrime in today’s tech-savvy society. We’ve all heard the term and know that it’s bad, but how much do you really know about what phishing is, how to recognize a phishing message, and how to protect your network? This helpful guide has all the details to help you turn your business’s IT network into a “No Phishing Zone”.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a form of fraud that occurs when a target is contacted by either text, phone, or email by an individual acting as a legitimate person or company. The hacker uses phishing emails to administer either malicious attachments or links, which then allows them to extract private information from their victims, such as their account information and login credentials.

In many cases, these messages containing malicious links and attachments appear to be from an individual or company that they know. The objective of the phishing message is to either install malware on the victim’s device, or to guide them to a malicious website in order to mislead them into entering financial or personal information. This could include account usernames and passwords, credit card information, etc.

How to Recognize a Phishing Message

Email phishing is by far the most common type of phishing scam used to target businesses. The most successful phishing emails or messages are difficult to differentiate from legitimate emails. This is because cybercriminals will often pose as someone you know. Closer inspection of the email will often reveal the truth, however. Some indications of phishing could include misspelled URLs, names and email addresses, requests to verify personal or financial information, or messages with grammatical and spelling mistakes. However, if your network, email, or website have critical security vulnerabilities, it is difficult to prevent phishing and other types of cybercrime.

Know Your Technology Vulnerabilities

It is critical to keep your customer information and business data protected. Rest assured, hackers will work just as hard as you do to find ways to access your data through vulnerabilities in your network, website, and email system. You need to get and stay at least a step ahead of them. To help keep your valuable business information secure, ThrottleNet is offering a free External Vulnerability Audit to discover your weak spots before hackers do.

Discovering Your Network's Weak Spots

A Free ThrottleNet External Vulnerability Audit Checks For:

  • Domain vulnerabilities: ensures client information is secure and your URL is safe from malware and phishing.
  • Website weaknesses: scans your website for possible threats. This could include malware, blacklisting status, website errors, and software issues.
  • Email threats: searches for proper spam filtering to prevent malware and phishing attacks, and ensures your email server is not blacklisted.
  • Network security issues: looks your network to find all possible open external entryway threats, such as misconfigured services or ports.

Once your audit is performed, ThrottleNet will contact you to review the results and discuss possible solutions to safeguard your company’s data and IT infrastructure.

Get a Free IT Vulnerability Check in St. Louis, MO

Let ThrottleNet detect your weak spots before cybercriminals do. To get started, contact ThrottleNet to get your free audit. Don’t become phish bait! ThrottleNet will eliminate the hooks and network vulnerabilities to ensure your business IT is a “No Phishing Zone”.

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Scammers and spammers are always trying to find ways to steal in the cyber world. They steal money. They steal identities. And they steal data. Cyberthieves even chase individuals in companies like Throttlenet who specialize in IT risk management in hopes a member of our team will fall for their scam. Recently one of our newest team members, AJ, received an attempted gift card scheme email in her ThrottleNet inbox. Thankfully, she did not fall for it. We hope this story helps inspire you to identify and fight back against gift card email scams, too.

What Happens In a Gift Card Scam?

AJ’s experience is a textbook example of how gift card scams go down. The scammers sent her an email using our President’s name, George, but not the correct email address. In this case, the mismatched email is glaringly obvious, but your scammer may be more cunning. Always double check the “From” email address when you receive a request from your boss or coworkers related to money or data access. You cannot be too careful when your entire business is at stake.

In the first email AJ received, the scammer demanded that she purchase gift cards for hundreds of dollars. Once purchased they would have asked for the scratched off codes so they could immediately use them online. Thankfully, AJ looked at the from address and realized that George never talks that way and did not fall for the scam.

Example of a Gift Card Email Scam

Below is a recap of AJ’s email conversation with Gift Card Scammer “George” so you can see verbiage used and how it played out. She had a little fun with this one.

From: George Rosenthal
To: AJ
Can you spare some time to run a quick task
======================
From: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz> To: AJ
I’ll need you to purchase 3 eBay gift cards, with $500 increments on each card and all cards should be activated ($500 x 3, 1500). Scratch off the back of the gift cards, take a clear pic of each card and email them to me. Do get on this immediately, I’ll be waiting
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Oh wow, okay. I’m not sure where to get them though, or which card to use… can you call?
======================
From: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz> To: AJ
You should make use of the company card at walmart. Or better still make use of yours, would reimburse you. Do get on this immediately, I’ll be waiting
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
I don’t have a company card yet, but I can call my credit card company and see if I have enough available. How long would it be until I get reimbursed?
======================
From: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz> To: AJ
It will take 3-5 working days to reimburse you.
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Oh that’s longer than I expected, I’m not sure about putting that much on my personal card. Is this for something very important?
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
Would reimburse you in two days then. I need it ASAP! It’s important
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
So I would have it back on my card by Monday? I’m still planning to go out of town next week, so I definitely would need it back on my card by Monday.
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
Okay that’s fine.
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Okay good, I’ll go up to Walmart on my lunch break and see if they have any Amazon gift cards for you!
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
Try eBay gift cards first and if they don’t have that then you can go for Amazon gift card
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Hi George,
I went to Walmart on my lunch break but they didn’t have any more eBay gift cards OR Amazon gift cards! I was so shocked that I didn’t know what to do and just came back to the office. I know you said this was important, what should I do?
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
How come? What kinda gift card do they have? Get back to me. If you can’t get this done do let me know on time.
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
I don’t know why they didn’t have any more, I didn’t think to ask. I saw lots of restaurant gift cards though, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks, Taco Bell, things like that. Would any of those work? What are the gift cards for? Are they a client gift?
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
Starbucks is preferable. It’s confidential, Get on this immediately
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
I understand, I promise I’m trying to take care of it as quickly as possible! There’s a lot going on today though, Sarah brought all her rabbits in this morning and they have completely destroyed the breakroom and one of them chewed up the printer wires and everyone is completely freaking out. Richard said I was supposed to be keeping an eye on them, but it’s only my second week and there’s really no way I could’ve done that in addition to running all the service tickets, I’m still learning all this stuff! Please be patient with me, I don’t want to get fired…
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
You won’t get fired. I’ll be waiting on you to get on this ASAP!
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Are you sure? He’s really upset and since I was already going to go out of town next week, I’m really really getting worried I might come back and they will have given away my job. Will you talk to Richard for me?
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
I asked you to run an errand for me yesterday and you kept mute on me. It seems you want to be sack right ? I’m giving you 10mins to get back in touch with me.
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Are you sure? He’s really upset and since I was already going to go out of town next week, I’m really really getting worried I might come back and they will have given away my job. Will you talk to Richard for me?
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
George,
I’m so sorry, I left early on Friday because my son had the flu and I needed to pick him up from school. Everything was pretty hectic that day, but Sarah told me she would let everyone know what was going on. Did she not speak with you??
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
It took a while before I would hear from her. So have you gotten a way to get the gift cards ?
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
I honestly hadn’t thought about it, I figured Sarah would take care of it. To be honest, I’m so new here that I’m kind of surprised you are asking me to take care of this. Isn’t there someone else who would be better to ask?
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
Yes I want you to do it but if you can’t do it don’t worry.
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
Really? You said it was really important, and it definitely seemed very urgent…
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
You are questioning my order. So I’m not interested in letting you do this for me anymore.
======================
From: AJ
To: George Rosenthal <personalilipad@seznam.cz>
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to question you. Just wanted to make sure. Please let me know if you need help with anything else!
======================
From: George Rosenth
To : AJ
Go ahead and get the cards for me now. Purchase either eBay Gift card or Target Gift card. I’ll be waiting
…………………

Spotting Gift Card Scams Is Easy

Gift cards are for gifts, NOT for payments. You should assume that anyone who tells you to pay with a gift card is a scammer. You can and should report gift cards used in a scam to the companies that issued the gift cards. The Federal Trade Commission also offers a great video on their site to show how these types of scams are run.

How Secure Is Your IT Network?

Could a gift card scam hurt your company? What kind of damage could it do? Bring in an expert to assess your business risks with a FREE vulnerability audit. We can look for proper spam filtering to prevent phishing attacks and malware attacks. Interested in what ThrottleNet can do for your business? Contact us today!

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