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The Risks of Consumer Cloud Storage

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You’ve undoubtedly heard the names and would recognize the logos of the biggest players in the current cloud storage market. This widely used software provided by GoogleDrive, Dropbox and Amazon Cloud Drive have millions of users between them. Just because they’re popular, doesn’t mean you should trust them with your company’s important data. We recommend ignoring the hype and doing some research before signing up. 

The convenience of consumer cloud storage: inexpensive syncing among employees and their devices, isn’t necessarily a fair trade off for the risks your company takes. These file share solutions answer a single problem while opening you up to many more. Here are three big risks you take when using cloud storage for your company: 

  1. No Tech Support:

    Users of cloud-based storage technologies must deal with slow to non-existent tech support. Many of these large companies divert frustrated customers (you) to a robot chat box or delayed online support for answers. That means, there will be little help and potential long-term downtime when you or your team has trouble accessing important data.

  2. No Control Over Data:

    Data is nothing to play with. If your employees and customers trust you with sensitive information, it’s your responsibility to keep it out of the wrong hands. You allow data to be stored in servers around the world by using third-party cloud-based services. That means, no assurance of what laws are protecting it or when. One thing you can be sure of, it’s only a matter of time until someone unauthorized attempts to access it. 

  3. Remote Devices:

    Using a remote staff will save on traditional costs associated with running a business. However, allowing remote workers to use their own devices introduces a significant security risk, especially if you’re using cloud sharing software. Remote employees’ devices are rarely adequately protected and easily become another portal for cyber criminals and hackers to access information. 

 

It’s critical that organizations keep the above security issues in mind before making the switch. Instead, hire a company like BCS Voice and Data, who will design and implement a secure wireless network to meet your specific needs. The cloud may be right for your business, but there are alternatives that significantly help mitigate the risks. Contact us today for a consultation or with questions about our services.

Protect yourself by creating a safety culture at work

Creating a Cyber-Safe Culture 

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In this cyber environment, business owners and employees must be aware of the horrors of an insecure system. Criminals can hack into corporate property and compromise customer information, sometimes even holding it for ransom. Methods such as these recently brought the entire city of Baltimore to a halt for multiple days.

Although it’s everyone’s duty to assist their organization against targeted attacks and security breaches; the importance of cyber security should be strongly delivered from your top management team at all times. Here are three tips to build a sound cyber security culture in your workplace.

1. Maintain a sound password policy
The most common passwords of 2018 were “111111”,  “12345678” and “password”. Many of us, including your employees, will forgo a safe password for one that’s easy to remember or quick to type into their login screen. With data that must stay secure, you can’t risk anyone using something easily guessed. Avoid this issue by instituting a proper password policy. This policy should make common passwords off-limits and create a required framework for combining numerals, letters and punctuation. It should also force frequent password changes.

2. Train employees on Workplace security
Conduct regular training for employees to learn how to identify suspicious cyber activities and report them. Educate teams on how to use their resources to analyze emails and attachments and be wary of activity they did not do or request. Additionally, make it easy for employees to report anything out of the ordinary. Share incidents of cybercrimes with your employees and discuss how your organization is equipped to combat similar attacks.

3. Act as a Role Model
If you are a manager or business owner, it is up to you to enthusiastically communicate security objectives and adhere to them. Practice what you preach and lock your system whenever you leave your desk. Doing so will encourage your employees to contribute to a positive and secure environment as well.

If you have any questions about how to better protect your systems, don’t hesitate to contact us at BCS Voice and Data. We offer solutions and support for any business with safety concerns, and provide additional services depending on your business needs. Contact us today for a no-obligation conversation about how we help keep data safe.

Costs of Choosing Reactive IT Services

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Profit is normally the end goal for businesses, so it makes sense that owners look for the most cost-efficient options when it comes to outsourcing work. But sometimes frugality results in costly mistakes down the road. We often find that’s the case with IT support services, particularly when we are called in to fix problems that could have been avoided.

When technology works, it’s tempting to believe it always will. That belief can make it hard to see the value in a long-term IT service, so many businesses cut costs by forgoing them. In its place, they respond reactively tech problems, only calling professionals when there is an issue. Even then, many owners will put off calling support thinking the problem will fix itself. Unfortunately, this approach leads to temporary patches, poor security and inefficient billing, creating more issues and higher costs over time. 

Here are some of the typical costs associated with reactive IT methods:

Temporary Solutions: Finding support sporadically means inviting someone with a minimal understanding of your network into its delicate environment. They attempt to rectify an issue without knowing the underlying cause, resulting in patch or temporary fix. These methods leave your internal systems haphazardly chopped together, creating more issues. Without a doubt, you will need to call again. An IT service like BCS creates a finely tuned and fully functional system that’s maintained by a professional familiar with your network.

Poor Security: Viruses and Ransomware don’t download themselves. User must facilitate it. Disgruntled or unknowing employees and anonymous visitors commonly introduce malicious software into networks. Not every IT company is equipped to step in when these disasters hit. If you only hire support reactively, you’ll waste time finding a capable provider while your network collapses. This severely limits what you’ll recover. Not only will long-term IT help defend you against disaster better, but they will be on call for you when it hits. 

Additional Hourly Time: Most outsourced IT companies have hourly or block billing. That means you’re billed during the time a technician is learning about your network before solving the issue. They may use hours of paid time to research your problem and educate themselves at your cost. Avoid these costs by investing in a consistent service, with a team who provides ongoing monitoring and understands your system, and can therefore work quickly. 

Don’t cut corners by only hiring IT help during a problem. You’ll get inadequate protection in the least cost-effective way. BCS Voice and Data provides managed IT support for any small to large business with monthly proactive services. Learn more on our Managed Support page or call us today for more information on what we can do for you. 

 

Growing Your Business With Technology Basics

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All business owners begin their venture with a mind for growth. In the past, growth wasn’t easy. Expansion sometimes presented more problems than opportunity. That’s because issues like managing larger teams or keeping costs low were difficult obstacles with limited solutions.  

With modern advances in technology, come improved methods for businesses to scale effectively and create opportunities for increased profit at the same time. Much of what presented obstacles 30 years ago are now problems of the past. That doesn’t mean growth is always easy, though.  

Here are some of our best suggestions for growing your business with new technologies on the horizon:

Utilize the Power of the Cloud

There are many benefits of using cloud-based programs and applications, but it’s especially conducive to growing companies.  

With these scalable tools, you and your employees have the freedom to manage operations from anywhere, any device and at any time. That means your team expands but your facility expenditure doesn’t have to, thanks to a remote workforce. For example, cloud-based phone systems can maintain the impression that your employees are on-premises by granting them a phone line wherever they are based. While cloud-distributed software means employees can access the systems they need, wherever they are.

Additionally, the cloud updates easily. Once you implement these types of systems, staying up-to-date is much easier.

Shifting your business to the cloud is a great approach to increase employee coordination, reduce spending and stay current, while growing the business.

Leverage the WIFI

These days, people wish to stay connected everywhere they go. Therefore, offering free WIFI to your customers is an effective marketing tool. We mentioned many of these benefits in a previous post but in terms of growth, it’s an instant win. Free WIFI increases client satisfaction meaning more business and increased profit. This applies to retail spaces, hospitality and even office environments – happy guests and visitors lead to happy customers, clients, partners and vendors.

Hire an IT Firm

No matter what your industry is, increased dependency on technology is inevitable. Unfortunately, new tech isn’t foolproof. A crashed telephone system or network brings business operations to a halt. Fixing these issues require a professional technician, but companies don’t need an in-house team. Maintain the bottom line by hiring IT consulting firms who will monitor your network and spot issues before they become show-stopping problems. Leading IT firms maximize the potential growth of your company by implementing and maintaining new technology correctly. The great ones can help you plant for the future and provide scalable solutions as well.

If you are a growing company and want to know how a firm like BCS Voice and Data can help, visit our website or call us today.  

 

Critical Elements of a Business Backup Systems

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There are countless ways to lose your important data, especially if it isn’t backed up regularly.  Information stored on devices falls victim to accidental deletion, hard drive crashes, theft or virus and malware infections. Storing information on paper runs the risk of losing it to fire, flooding or other natural disasters. By saving data on a single device or in one place and not backing up, you gamble on losing it forever. Without critical data, many businesses cannot perform, making a backup system crucial for protecting your business.

There are two steps to creating a proper backup system. First, identify the types of data you need to protect and second, make sure it’s performed regularly.

Identify Critical Data
What needs to be in a data backup? Anything you’ve created or modified. This includes everything from accounting files to emails. When deciding, live by this rule: If losing the data interferes with doing business, protect it.

It’s rare that you need to save applications. Most modern business software deploys through a browser, meaning they aren’t installed on the computer. This software is accessed online through any device. If you lose the device, simply reopen the application with another.

Implement Backups on a Regular Schedule
We recommend backing up your data nightly. There is software that allows you to set a schedule and perform these tasks automatically.  Software that also zips and encrypts files saves space and increases security.

Consider the Cloud
Now that you know the key elements of a backup system, it’s time to consider the best way to implement it. One of the many benefits of cloud storage is for safe, secure off-site backups. By using the cloud, your files live in a secured online account and you don’t depend on a single computer or server open to attacks or accidents. The cloud has other advantages, as well, like automatic backups, minimal infrastructure and quick recovery.

It isn’t easy finding the proper protection method, especially if your business quickly accumulates important information. Hiring a professional IT service like BCS helps navigate the confusion and find the best solution for your business needs. If you need assistance on backing up your data or moving existing archives, contact BCS Voice and Data services today.

Reasons Why Cyber-Security is Never an Afterthought

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Small businesses tend to believe they fall under the radar for a sophisticated cyber-attack. With that thinking, they operate with minimal or no cyber-security. The truth is, these businesses are known for lacking security measures and often targeted. Almost half will experience at least one cyber-attack during their business lifetime. If you’re on the fence about adding security to your operations, here are four reasons to make it a priority.

1. Prevent Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, designed to deny access to a system or data unless a ransom is paid. It spreads through phishing emails or by unknowingly visiting an infected website. These attacks are especially hurtful to businesses without backups. Prevent your data from being used against you by installing software that protects you from ransomware attacks and have a robust backup program.

2. Defend Mobile Devices
Now, more than ever, professionals conduct business on the go. Cellphones, computers and tablets often connect to your network in a variety of ways. If lost or stolen these devices can become a gateway to an attack. A proper security system allows you to lock, wipe and locate any connected or company-controlled devices, remotely.

3. Protect You and Your Employee’s Data
All companies have sensitive data that needs to be protected, regardless of size or industry. That includes not just your information, but that of employees and customers. Hacking software is easily available and its users look for the social security numbers and banking information entrusted to an organization. A business owner is potentially held accountable for any breach of that trust. Implementing a security solution bolsters encryption, protecting you from hackers and subsequent legal and financial challenges.

4. Block Spam Downloads and Emails
Email communication is a staple for daily business dealings. While most of us are aware of the signs from phishing and spam mail, it’s still easy to miss. It only takes one click for an unprotected PC to suffer the effects of these culprits. Added security protects your business from infections by automatically blocking malicious emails, removing unsafe browser extensions and preventing suspicious downloads.

The bottom line is that IT security shouldn’t be an afterthought. At BCS Voice & Data, we offer solutions and support for any business with safety concerns, and provide additional services depending on your business needs. Contact us today for a no-obligation conversation about what we offer and how we help keep your data safe.

The Great Facebook Outage of 2019: A Lesson in Avoiding Downtime

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On Wednesday, March 13, Facebook, as well as its subsidiaries Instagram and WhatsApp, experienced an unprecedented eight-hour long outage that caused many of their 2.3 billion monthly users to settle into an entire workday without a complete social media feed. While some people took the outage as an opportunity to detox a bit from scrolling, others defected to other working social channels like Twitter. Even if they hadn’t used their Twitter account for years, users migrated to the next best functional thing when faced with downtime on their favorite channels. Even the Facebook tech support team took to Twitter to update users on the progress resolving the outage. Read more

Why You Need an IT Support Company That’s Been Around as Long as the Oldest Millennials

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Did you know that BCS was founded “way back” in 1983? We started by offering business telephone systems and structured cabling (services and products that are still important parts of our business). We grew through the 80s and 90s and evolved alongside the rapidly changing technology, increased Internet usage, and rode the waves of just about every IT trend that came along. (read more about our history here). Read more