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Who can you trust???

Who Can You Trust?

New data has come to light that shows how important it is to put the right controls in place when providing third-parties with access to your data and resources and when letting your IT staff go:

·         One study http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/aug08/6652 shows that trusted third parties are responsible for 44% of break-ins (both intentional and unintentional). This number is rapidly approaching the number of hacker-related break-ins.

·         Another study finds that 88% of exiting IT employees will steal confidential data. And, one-third use administrator privileges to access sensitive personal and salary information and confidential company financial and strategic information. http://www.cio.com/article/446669/Firing_or_Laying_Off_IT_Workers_Can_Cost_You_Big_So_Watch_Out_?contentId=446669&slug=&source=nlt_cioresearch

WWhat is your company doing to protect company, client, and staff data/information??

Where is your IT Staff?

Do You Know Where Your IT Team Is?

Many IT service companies are starting to outsource their clients’ network support to engineers in other countries—without notifying their clients. These off-shore engineers (who might be half a globe away) often have full access to servers, data and files without the client’s knowledge or approval.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the use of off-shore resources for IT management.  Do IT Service companies need to tell their clients who is performing the services??

Virus alert

Antivirus XP 2008, also known as Antivirus 2009, is also listed under several similar names and has been infecting computers at a VERY rapid rate. 

This malicious software is installed in error and takes control of the computers it infects. 

You will know this has happened by the following symptoms.

1)      System performance degradation - severe slowing of computer performance - very noticeable

2)      Pop-up messages within the browser start popping up uncontrollably

3)      An infected PC will try sending out e-mails to infect other PCs by sending BULK e-mails to your contact lists without you knowing it.

The cost of resolution to a company can be quite salty.

1)      Bulk e-mails being sent without your knowledge will cause the Internet Service Providers to Blacklist your company as a spammer and no longer allows you to send ANY e-mails from your company. Effectively shutting down your e-mail system.

2)      Blacklisting will take DAYS, and many hours to remediate.

3)      The infected computer will have to be completely rebuilt to eliminate the malicious software. (Costs: Four to Six hours of labor, and lost productivity)

ACTIONS, if infected:

TURN OFF the SYSTEM ASAP - an off computer can't send e-mails and spread.  Call a professional to repair the system.

Business Tip

Crossroads Business Solutions, LLC

Quote:

Grandpa always said, "FIX THE ROOF WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING."

Get your business operations in order while the economy is good. Great companies increase market-share and grow in down economies.

Accountability:

How do you, as a business person, manage your Information Technology staff, vendors, software developers, etc.?  What metrics are in place to evaluate and benchmark your IT Staff or IT Providers so they know they are meeting your expectations?

People spend a lot of money and time hiring. I want to hear how you manage and evaluate your IT staff and IT Outsource providers after the hire. What metrics tell you the IT team is delivering successfully?

These metrics hopefully are discussed in the hiring process. When hiring look beyond feature and functionality of the hardware or software.  Additional criteria you should look at are:

�   Technology Competence: Education, Certification, Experience and SME (subject matter expertise) - no one person or company can do everything

�   Process and Methodology: ask for frameworks, and actual samples of work

�   Resources Available: size of company, various staff roles, partnerships, access to original manufacturers for additional support

�   Financial Stability: several IT firms collect service revenues up front through blocks of hours, and lease arrangements. Clients entering into this arrangement take on unsavory risk. Remember 2000, 2001 when IT companies went broke and never fulfilled service contracts?

�   Responsive and accessible: ease of doing business with the vendor

�   Vision, Leadership, Research and Development (R&D) Spending: what are they spending to further develop their product/software

�   Measurable: improvement to your business in measurable ways

Security issue:

Top security threats to business are found in web applications, if you have web projects read this article:

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38658&dcn=todaysnews

Burglary - most common business disaster

“Scott, our office was broken into last night. All of our desktops and laptops are gone. They even took our phone server. What do we do now?”  So began a call from a distressed client one Sunday afternoon. 

Often, business owners don’t consider burglary as one of the “disasters” covered by a “disaster recovery” plan. Typically, they’re thinking of tornado's, fires and floods. Because they don’t believe these will happen, they choose not to plan for them.

The reality: theft can be even more disastrous, because of liabilities associated with compromised customer financial and personal data. And, burglaries of businesses is a growing threat – in Indianapolis,  this type of theft increased 20% between 2003 and 2005. 

When Crossroads designs client networks, we plan for such scenarios. We were prepared to respond quickly:

1. Because a detailed equipment inventory is a key component of our technology management process, we were able to provide serial numbers, receipts and other details to the insurance company within hours. Because this information was available, the insurance company reimbursed our client for full replacement value.  
2. We rented temporary equipment and restored the latest backups to it, enabling our client to be fully operational the next day.
3. We ordered permanent replacement equipment. Having rental equipment in place enabled us to take the time to spec and purchase the appropriate equipment. In situations like this, companies often run to their local computer super-center and buy whatever is available, regardless of whether it’s right for their business.
4. When the permanent equipment arrived, we set it up, restored the latest data and returned the rentals.

Because our client had a disaster recovery plan in place, the costs were minimal:

§  One day of lost productivity

§  Minor data loss (information on a laptop that hadn’t been backed up yet)

§  Several hours of IT support time

The moral of this story? Disaster planning pays off, regardless of the nature or sizes of the “disaster.”

Ever given a thought to what happens if your Accountant is burglarized? Or your Veterinarian?

Ask them and see if they're prepared.

Scott Cunningham

WiFi for PDA's - why's it matter?

"Blackberry enters Wi-Fi game"

I recently saw this headline in Network World magazine (a technology trade magazine). Translated for us non-techies, this means that RIM has introduced a new BlackBerry, the 8820, which is their first dual-mode device with Wi-Fi wireless LAN connectivity and built-in GPS access (and a whole host of other cool features). The bottom line: BlackBerry users can connect to the Internet much faster wherever there is a Wi-Fi connection.

Why does this matter, I wondered? 

Keith Shaw, the writer, explained how the addition of Wi-Fi makes the device more powerful than ever before. "BlackBerries are often thought of as 'just a wireless e-mail device and a cell phone'", he writes. "While the device handles these features extremely well, the lack of speedy Internet access often leaves users wanting something more--like an iPhone, for example." He added that "enterprise users who could use the additional boost of Wi-Fi for faster e-mail downloads and corporate network access should be happy with the 8820." 

But wait, there is more.

While these are nice "technical" features, I want to share several "business benefits" that that could make a PDA/cell phone with Wi-Fi capability a worthwhile investment for business owners:

1)        Enabling warehouse personnel with PDA/cell phones to connect to the company VoIP phone system through Wi-Fi in the warehouse. The benefits? No cellular charges for calls forwarded to the cell phone from the desk phone. And, workers are free to walk away from their desks and work hands-free with a headset but still be able to answer calls and handle communication needs.

2)        Using the PDA/cell phone (a hand held) device as a bar-code scanner. It could scan and capture inventory information or pick-lists and wirelessly (via Wi-Fi) update the shipping, receiving and inventory database in real time.

3)        Reducing cell phone bills for sales reps that travel extensively or work from home offices. If calls are automatically routed through the FREE Wi-Fi network, businesses might find their cell phone bills dropping dramatically because the cell phone carrier backbone is used less. Disclaimer: this scenario has yet to be proven worthwhile.

4)        Enabling productivity through the use of instant messaging and text messaging, which are free over Wi-Fi.

5)        Using PDAs to manage the corporate network and systems. This could help IT staff save time, by eliminating the need to boot-up a desktop while on the road to handle computer and network problems.

Higher-speed Wi-Fi delivers better connectivity, performance and access to get the job done.

How do you think your business could benefit from this new technology? I'd like to hear your ideas.

Scott

dispose of old electronics correctly

Cascade Asset Management is having an open house at their NEW Indianapolis facility. This is a great company for the Indianapolis community to have as they will properly recycle or re-purpose electronics for residents or businesses. This includes computers, microwaves, TV's, or any electronic equipment. 

Being that Indiana ranks 49 out of 50 states as the least environmentally friendly of states, this can only positively impact Indiana's effort to improve their ranking and take a responsible stance with recycling dangerous and toxic equipment.

Scott

Protect your company through insurance

I often tell business owners that my job is to help them manage their risks. Use of insurance is a cost effective tool to do this.  You need proper coverage, but so do your partners and vendors.

Your IT service provider should carry liability insurance in addition to general Errors and Omissions insurance. This can cover you if the vendor who hosts your data or applications experiences a security breach, extended downtime or loss of data. To ensure that you're covered in such an event, ask to see your vendor's certificate of insurance and have your insurance agent and/or attorney review it.

Contact Conor-Patrick insurance if you have specific questions insurance questions. www.conor-patrick.com  

For more about IT liability coverage, visit http://www.hfpinsurance.com/pr/pr020917.htm

Scott Cunningham