Business Archives - Page 2 of 2

How Small Businesses Attract Large Enterprise Talent

glitchbusters on May 2, 2023

It is a goal for all companies, big or small, to attract and keep large enterprise talent that is suitable for the different areas of the business. After all, the more competent your workforce is, the more chances you have of successfully growing your business. But attracting talent is not always easy, especially for the SMB sector.

The Challenge of Attracting Large Enterprise Talent to SMBs

For large, multinational corporations, there is no problem because everyone is eager to work for them. These companies usually offer attractive benefits. We are not just talking about monetary compensation. There are also many other perks, like a prime office location, free training, travel opportunities, and many more.

For the SMB sector, it can be a big challenge to attract and keep large enterprise talent. The main reason for this is the limited funds. As a small or midsize business owner, what can you do to pique the interest of enterprise talent and get them to work for you? It will please you to know that there is a lot that you can do.

Effective Ways of Attracting and Retaining Large Enterprise Talent

While you might not have the prestige of working for a multinational company, you can build a highly competent workforce through other means. Here are some ways to help attract large enterprise talent.

Partnership with Local Institutions

One of the most effective ways to attract large enterprise talent is to partner with local institutions, particularly schools or community projects. You can launch a mentoring program or an internship and invite top students from the local college to sign up. Fresh minds have much to offer and can be a precious addition to your company.

Make the Hiring Process a Wonderful Experience

If you hope to lure and attract large enterprise talent into signing with your company, you must give them a wonderful experience throughout the hiring process. From the interview to onboarding, you need to make them feel valued. This increases the odds that they will want to work with you and stay with your company for a long time.

Maintain Communication with Qualified Candidates

A lot of the candidates that show up might be qualified, and you can only hire so many. In that case, keep in touch with the ones you did not hire. Let everyone know you are expanding and there might be open positions available soon. By doing so, you are essentially creating a filtered talent pool that would be precious for future hiring.

Offer a Hybrid Work Environment

One of the silver linings of the COVID pandemic is that most employees got to experience the many perks of a remote work setup. Because of this, it is now a smart move to offer a hybrid work environment, which is a mix of both remote and in-office work. Candidates will find this highly attractive because of the flexibility and improved work-life balance.

How a Managed Service Provider Can Help Attract Large Enterprise Talent

As you can see, there are plenty of things that you can do to attract and keep large enterprise talent. Some of these things need more preparation, and others might require the help of a professional. Switching to a hybrid workforce, for instance, might cause changes in your network and data infrastructure. No worries because a reliable managed services provider can take care of all that for you.

Here at our company, we have specialists that can help make the acquisition of top talent for your business a much easier task. We can set you up so well that the best candidates will soon swarm to you like bees to honey. Call us and we can talk more about how we can help you build the workforce of your dreams.

The Role of Technology in Businesses in 2023

glitchbusters on April 25, 2023

Technology has always played a key role in businesses across different industries in 2023. But recently, this role has grown even more because IT is used more and more in businesses around the world. To draw more customers and stay ahead of the competition, you should understand all the changes and use them to your advantage.

Technology Trends in Businesses to Look Out for in 2023

Many trends in technology are useful in growing businesses in 2023, as discussed in our first blog this month, 8 Ways Technology Will Grow Your Business in 2023. You don’t need to use all of them – just take your pick depending on your industry and the nature of your business. There are some kinds of technology, however, that can add value to just about every industry, like the following:

Artificial Intelligence

Commonly used today for online shopping, digital assistants, and fraud prevention, AI can make your operations faster and more efficient while freeing up a lot of time and other resources for your business.

Cloud Computing

Cloud-based solutions virtually take away the boundaries to how you operate your business. It gives you access to software, infrastructure, and other resources you could only dream of before.

Automation

So many processes that used to be done manually are now automated through technology in businesses, especially in 2023. This transition speeds up operations, reduces the risk of human error, and makes for a much better customer experience.

Internet of Things

Now that software, sensors, and other things can connect almost everything, we are living in the age of connectivity. The IoT provides many ways for businesses to save time and increase efficiency, but it also opens up new security risks, so we must exercise due caution.

Vendor Management Technology in Businesses in 2023

Working with vendors is a more complicated task than many assume. To reduce risks, you need to keep costs low and get the most out of your vendors. With the aid of a good VMS, all this is possible without breaking a sweat.

The Importance of Cybersecurity Technology in Businesses in 2023

As technology in businesses advances in 2023, so does the risk of online threats. For this reason, it is more important than ever to protect your business with a dependable cybersecurity solution.

As we talked about in our blog post on week 2, Top 8 Technology Trends and How They Impact Cybersecurity, each current technology trend has its own impact on cybersecurity. Some are good, and some are not so good. You can read more about it by checking out our blog here.

Perks of Working with a Managed Service Provider

Changing your IT provider — Tired Caucasian bearded 40s middle-aged businessman employee man typing laptop feels failure upset with loss of information online error stressed looking at the computer screen suffering from headache pressure. High-quality photo

Staying updated on all the changes in technology in businesses can be tiresome in 2023. Typically, business owners would not have the time to do it themselves. But there is a way to enjoy the benefits of technology for your business—by partnering with a managed services provider.

If you currently already have an IT provider but are not always happy about the service you are getting, it might be time to make a change. Changing your MSP is a bold move that must not be taken lightly. In our week 3 blog entitled When Is It Time to Change Your IT Provider? we list some signs that tell you to find a new provider.

A reliable MSP can give you all that IT offers and make it work for your business, just like we do at Our Company. We can provide everything from simple IT consultation to business automation, vendor management, cybersecurity, and anything technology-related that can help grow your business.

One of our areas of expertise is vendor management. This is quite an underrated aspect of business that needs more attention as it deals with crucial business expenses that impact growth. Click here for more about our vendor management services and how they can benefit your business.

When Is It Time to Start Changing Your IT Provider?

glitchbusters on April 18, 2023

Changing your IT provider is not an exciting task. Finding a new one can be stressful. You need to find one that will serve your needs to the highest standards and that you can trust to keep your best interests at heart. Because of the difficulties, many companies choose to slug it out with the one they have even though they are no longer satisfied with the services they are getting.

For some businesses, this kind of setup might still be manageable. But what if you are when your company is already taking losses because of poor service, and you don’t even realize it? How do you know if changing your IT provider is already a must? Here are five signs that you should look out for.

No Dedicated IT Team

When working with an IT provider or managed services provider, you should have a contact person or team you can work with. This plan contrasts with just relying on whoever answers your call. A dedicated team would understand your business and your corporate goals and know how to tie it up with the right IT services to produce the best results.

No Monthly Contract

If you need to pay your provider by the hour, or for every time you require their services, this will not be very economical for your business. When they do not address the problem, and you would need to call them again and pay them again, it makes little sense. You should change your IT provider to one that offers a fixed monthly contract, regardless of how many times you call them.

Use of Outdated Resources

Technology changes constantly. Just because the software or equipment your provider initially used was innovative at the time doesn’t mean that it won’t need to be replaced. A good MSP knows to upgrade resources so that the service they give you is always better or, at the very least, at par with current industry standards.

Inadequate Data Security is A Sign to Start Changing Your IT Provider

Cybersecurity can never be emphasized enough, especially in the world of business nowadays. The threats are getting more rampant and dangerous each day, and companies need to be vigilant. Switch If you feel that your IT provider is not giving you the best cybersecurity solutions your business requires. It doesn’t matter how much they excel in other aspects. It’s not worth it if your business does not have protection.

Changing Your IT Provider Who Is Slow to Respond

When you contact your IT provider, they should give you a prompt response. Every second wasted during a critical network issue or system failure can cost your business greatly. They should at least communicate clearly with you regarding the issue and their proposed solution for a problem.

Final Thoughts on Changing Your IT Provider

The temptation of staying with your current provider can be strong. At least you already know their limitations rather than take the risk on a new provider altogether, right? But then, this would mean continuing to take losses, waste resources, and miss out on great business opportunities.

If you are considering changing your IT provider, Our company is ready and capable of taking over. We have a wide range of managed services for many different industries. We’d be happy to be your IT partner. To learn more about the services we offer, click here.

If you’re looking for help managing your vendors, download our Free Infographic for helpful tips. You can also call us so that we can discuss the best IT solutions for your business.

What Is IT Security and IT Compliance?

glitchbusters on March 13, 2023

IT security and IT compliance are two essential matters for any business or organization. Many people think they are the same, while others frequently confuse one for the other. They are not the same thing, but when implemented together, they can provide maximum digital safety and minimize the risk of data breaches and other online threats. In this article, we’ll explain which is which and why both require your attention.

What Is IT Security?

As the term implies, IT security refers to ensuring the security of a company’s or organization’s IT infrastructure. When creating a security strategy for your business, IT security experts usually have two goals to achieve. First, it should be able to thwart cyberattacks that will damage the system or put the company’s data in danger. Second, it should give attackers a way to do as little damage as possible if they get through the defenses.

When developing an IT security strategy, a few key points must be considered. Some of the most important ones are the confidentiality of sensitive data, the integrity of the system, and the accessibility of vital information and systems.

With these goals in mind, it is easy to see that IT security involves best practices to guarantee the safety and protection of an organization, regardless of the industry or size of the business.

What Is IT Compliance?

IT compliance is about meeting the needs of a third party so that the business operations or services are accepted. For example, governments have rules about technology that companies must follow if they want to do business legally in the government’s territory. Some industries also have specific IT guidelines that we must follow. IT compliance also includes meeting the contractual terms of a client or customer.

Most times, IT compliance overlaps with IT security. Many of the requirements have to do with protecting the system and data. However, the purpose of IT compliance is to meet specific requirements. If you can’t meet these requirements, you might not get a license or certification that you need, or a potential client might not choose you for their project.

What Are the Differences between IT Security and Compliance?

Although they have some similarities, IT security and IT compliance have three major differences.

1. What They Protect

IT security protects your business’s data and IT infrastructure. This is done by using best practices and the best protection possible. IT compliance safeguards your company’s operations by ensuring that all rules are followed. This protection lets your business run smoothly and without problems.

2. Who They Benefit

Your company is the one that benefits from IT security procedures because it is your data and your network that are guarded from online risks. With IT compliance, you have some benefits, but its primary purpose is to meet the demands of a third party.

3. How They Are Implemented

IT compliance is when a third party sets specific requirements, and once these requirements are met, the job is considered done. But IT security requires ongoing upgrades and maintenance to fight current threats. It needs to change with your business and may need to be updated and improved all the time.

If you need help with either of these aspects of your business, it is best to enlist the services of experts rather than attempt to tackle it with limited skill or experience.

We can prepare a solid strategy to keep your company protected, and we can help your business recover quickly if you become the victim of a cyberattack. Just give us a call, and we’ll be on it right away! In the meantime, download our FREE Infographic to learn Ten Tips on what to do after you’ve been hacked.

What Is IT Compliance?

glitchbusters on March 6, 2023

The term IT compliance is frequently heard these days in relation to running an organization and making sure that they keep within the regulations of a third party or a specific client. It is essentially a process that companies go through in order to keep within these predetermined guidelines or boundaries. The main goal of IT compliance is to satisfy the minimum requirements when it comes to security implementation and risk reduction.

IT Compliance versus IT Security

There is a blurry line between IT compliance and IT security, with many people confusing one for the other. While both aim to ensure the security of a company or organization in the digital environment, the level of commitment involved can be very different.

With IT security, the implementing body will go to great lengths to keep the assets of the organization as protected as can be. They will utilize the most cutting-edge technology solutions to safeguard against any and all possible online threats known to man. In other words, IT security aims to follow best practices for the protection of the system or network.

IT compliance, on the other hand, simply aims to satisfy the minimum requirements of a third party, like the government or a contracting agent. Such third parties might have their own set of regulations that a company will have to fulfill in order to continue with operations. Such fulfillment of these regulations is what IT compliance is all about.

The Importance of IT Compliance in Cybersecurity

Although it does not necessarily guarantee that your company will be completely safe from online mishaps, IT compliance is a must. For starters, you won’t be able to continue operating if you fail to comply with even one small regulation.

Much more importantly, complying with IT rules and guidelines greatly reduces the risk that you face online. Of course, it is the third party that determines the standards of risk reduction. If you feel that the security procedures that they require are not enough to completely protect you online, you are free to implement even more advanced security measures that meet your needs.

In many cases, though, the simple act of IT compliance will already put you in a much safer place. In your own company, you can create your own compliance program that will effectively manage online risks and avert online attacks that could potentially lead to a dangerous data breach.

How a Managed Services Provider Can Help

Many companies, particularly those that are not directly operating in the IT industry, are not well-versed when it comes to IT compliance and such matters. In this case, the best move would be to partner with a reliable managed services provider that can take care of all the hard work and technical stuff for you.

We will guarantee that you comply with all the IT requirements that apply to your industry, region, or whatnot. We can also design and implement your own IT compliance program to further protect you from online dangers. Furthermore, we will train your employees on the best practices for ensuring IT compliance and protecting your network and data.

If, however, you feel that you have already been hacked, we have provided a free 10-step guide on what you should do to quickly remediate and be on the fastest road to recovery.

Many companies tend to be lax when it comes to IT compliance, only to learn their lesson after becoming victim to a data breach, by which it would be too late. Don’t wait for this to happen to your organization. Give us a call, and let us take care of your IT compliance requirements today and give you the best cybersecurity solutions so you can continue running your business in peace without having to worry about online threats.

A Guide to Protecting Your PII

glitchbusters on February 20, 2023

PII is short for Personal Identifiable Information, which refers to any data that can identify a specific person. A hacker can exploit your PII to gain access to restricted areas, make unapproved purchases under your name, or even steal your identity entirely. To keep these incidents from happening, you must know about protecting your personally identifiable information. This is a practice that you must do both online and offline.

Physical Ways of Protecting Your PII

Although we now do most of our business online, there is still a lot of tangible data that hackers can get their hands on if you are not careful. Mail, account statements, and utility bills all have PII like your name, full address, and account numbers on them. Thus, you need to keep these documents safe from data thieves.

Secure Storage

One of the crucial steps in protecting your personal identifiable information is the safe storage of your documents. You can start by having a lock on your mailbox, which is a must. You can also use a secure PO Box where only you can access your mail. It is also advisable to keep your important documents in a fireproof safe at home instead of carrying them around in your purse.

Scrutinize Your Mail

When you get bills or account statements, go through them carefully and check for items you might not recognize. Even better, check your financial statements online regularly instead of waiting for the paper bill. Mail is notorious for including your PII, and is why mail theft is so common.

Use a Shredder

Never throw away bank statements or any financial documents, even if you don’t need them anymore. Hackers are not beneath the practice of dumpster diving, trying to recover any data that can help them do their dirty work. Invest in a personal shredder that you can use to dispose of sensitive documents.

Digital Ways of Protecting Your PII

It is now much easier for hackers to get access to people’s data because almost everything is online. Be very careful when traversing the web to keep your PII safe.

Choose Strong Passwords

Good passwords are hard to figure out because they use a combination of letters, numbers, and other special characters. Change your passwords at least once a month for more security.

Use Only One Credit Card

You are at greater risk of having your credit card information stolen if you frequently shop online. Don’t use more than one credit card when shopping online, this will keep your PII safer and less likely to be stolen.

Be Mindful

Whether you are browsing the web, checking your email, or checking your social media accounts, always keep your guard up. Do not click on suspicious links or attachments, and ignore pop-ups because these are all likely to contain malware.

PII: Steps to Take If You Think You Were Hacked

Despite all your precautions for protecting your personal identifiable information, you may still feel that someone has compromised your data. There are a few critical things that you need to take care of right away. Instead of going into a full-blown panic, we strongly recommend that you follow our FREE 10-step guide on what to do if you think you have been hacked. You might feel helpless at first, but by following this guide, you will get on the road to recovery much faster and have a good chance of recovering your data and regaining control of your network. To learn more about protecting your personally identifiable information and keeping your network safe, you can check out the many useful resources we have or give us a call!

Importance of a Reliable Disaster Recovery Plan for Your Business

glitchbusters on December 5, 2022

Running a business is not always a smooth-sailing operation. There are often things that could go wrong regardless of how cautious you are or how hard you abide by the so-called rules. Because of this, you should have a good backup and disaster recovery plan in case a disaster happens, like an accident or a cyberattack.

There are plenty of BDR solutions for different businesses. You must find the one that fits your needs and will protect your network and data in the best way possible.

Understanding Backup Disaster Recovery

All businesses deal with important information, like details about transactions, private information about employees and customers, and so on. Part of good business management is providing ample protection for all the data.

As you run your business, there will be a lot of things that can cause you to lose or damage data. Natural disasters are among the reasons, like severe storms, flooding, fires, and similar events. Equipment failure can also damage your system, like if an unexpected electric surge fries your hard drives.

These days, however, the most common cause of network and data disasters is cyber-attacks. Malware can lead to the theft or destruction of sensitive data. We’ve seen terrible things happen that forced businesses that weren’t ready or protected to close.

Why Are Backup Disaster Recovery Solutions Important?

Reliable BDR solutions play several roles in the security and protection of a business. One of the best ways to use them is to be sure that you can keep running even after a disaster. Depending on the damage, your business might not run at all or only partially after a disaster. But once you roll out your disaster recovery solution, your business can operate as usual.

Likewise, having a sound disaster recovery plan will minimize financial losses for your company. For example, it will reduce expenses on data restoration if you have secure backups. It will also reduce the time that you can’t conduct transactions and generate sales, like when you temporarily don’t have a website that works properly.

Competent Disaster Recovery Specialists

To create a successful recovery plan, you must recognize the essential elements. First, you need to find a team of experts that you can trust and who can give you the technology, protocols, and training you need to prevent data loss and fix any damage caused by disasters. Part of their function is to get your business back on its feet in the event of such disasters.

Risk Evaluation System

Businesses face varying degrees of risk that a specific disaster will occur. A reliable risk evaluation system will help you understand which disasters are most likely to happen and what the best plan of action would be if something were to happen.

Identification of Critical Assets

In the aftermath of a disaster, your business will go through a recovery and rebuilding process. You must identify quickly and prioritize the most critical assets in this recovery process.

Secure Data Backup

Before anything happens, you should already have safe copies of your data, preferably in multiple places. In a disaster, your backup recovery process must be able to get to your data. This step is important, as a result, it can help you restore lost or damaged files.

Final Thoughts

Now that you are aware of why disaster recovery is such a crucial part of running a business, waste no time and start planning your business recovery strategy today. Better yet, locate a managed services provider that specializes in backup and recovery.

And don’t forget that training your employees in cybersecurity is an important step to your protection. You can start by having them watch our Free Webinar or having them take our BDR quiz!

We have the most reliable backup and disaster recovery services that are tailored to fit your business. Call us today, and we’ll start working on the best solution for your business.

Quiz Time: Can You Handle Social Media Phishing Attacks at work?

glitchbusters on November 21, 2022

Our last three blogs have discussed cybersecurity threats and how they affect businesses. We have talked about the dangers that stem from various types of malware. We have warned about the newest cybersecurity risks expected to wreak havoc on businesses soon. And in the face of the continuously growing popularity of remote work setups, we have delved into the cybersecurity threats associated with working from home.

The common denominator of all these discussions is that they are all linked to phishing. A successful phishing attack can make a network susceptible to the online threats that we have talked about. Thus, you and your employees must know how to handle social media phishing attacks at work. To find out just how prepared your staff is to circumvent phishing attacks on social media, you can have them take the following quiz.

A Brief Quiz on Social Media Phishing

Here are ten statements that have to do with phishing in social media. Read each one carefully and decide whether it is TRUE or FALSE.

It’s safe to click on social media links and messages at work.
A lot of phishing attacks use publicly available information.
Social media phishing attacks target only individuals, not organizations.
A cybersecurity risk assessment reveals the weak areas in your company’s security strategy.
A ransomware attack occurs once every 40 seconds.
Smaller businesses have a lower risk of being attacked by hackers.
Malware and virus protection is more important than employee cybersecurity training.
Cybersecurity insurance can save your business.
Two-factor authentication is better for account logins.
Working from home and working from the office are equally safe.

Quiz Answers

False

Even if your company has a reliable cybersecurity system in place, it’s never 100% certain, so be conscious and vigilant if you want your data and network to stay secure.

True

Most of the time, cybercriminals use information already available to the public. We should be prudent in revealing information, even if it seems harmless. Hackers might use anything that is made public as a tool for infiltrating your confidential files.

False

Phishing attacks used to target individuals, but the hackers that use this method have now leveled up and are also targeting organizations, even multinational companies.

True

You don’t have to wait for an actual phishing attack to gauge the strength or weakness of your defenses. An MSP can give you a thorough cybersecurity risk assessment to identify the weak spots you need to work on.

True

Ransomware attacks are much more frequent than people realize. Most businesses are on a hacker’s hit list, but they have not launched an attack yet.

False

Smaller businesses are at a greater risk because they often have weaker defenses against online threats,

False

Both are very important and go hand-in-hand with an effective cybersecurity strategy.

True

Some business owners forego getting cybersecurity insurance, thinking it is unnecessary and expensive. But if you fall victim to a security breach, it can cost you upwards of $50,000, and cyber insurance can help cover such amounts.

True

Two-factor authentication is much harder for hackers to penetrate than single-step login, making it more secure.

False

While there are plenty of things we can do to make working from home safer, it is still not nearly as secure as working from the office, where software updates and router upgrades are easily done.

Evaluating the Results

Did you get a 10? If so, you are equipped with the knowledge and skills to deal with any online attack! Warding off phishing attacks on social media will be a cinch!

A lower score means more training is needed, which is something that we can do for your company. As a comprehensive managed services provider, we have a highly competent cybersecurity team that can train your entire staff and get your company ready to face cybersecurity risks. Contact us today to learn more!

If you want to be more thorough with testing your Phishing knowledge, we have another quiz for you to take! After taking your quizzes, if you feel you need to learn more about cybersecurity please watch our cybersecurity webinar, so you can better protect yourself and your business!

Addressing the Cybersecurity Risks of Working from Home

glitchbusters on November 14, 2022

A remote workforce has become the norm since the pandemic. Even now that we consider it safe to return to the office work environment, many businesses have maintained the remote work setup because of the advantages. However, working from home also brings cybersecurity issues that need attention so as not to jeopardize the company’s network and sensitive data.

What Are the Cybersecurity Dangers That Come with Working from Home?

When working from home, employees lack the usual protective measures used in an office network. Many workers use their home networks and may also use the same device for both work and personal transactions. Because of this, there are a lot of security issues that can arise and potentially cause damage to the company.

Vulnerable Personal Networks

You can keep your home network protected by regularly updating your antivirus software. However, most people do not realize there is also a need to update their router software. Without doing this, you will make your home network, and ultimately your work data, susceptible to the prying eyes of online criminals.

Greater Reliance on Technology

Now more than ever, we rely heavily on online tools for doing all kinds of business procedures. Besides the basic emailing and sending of files, practically everything else gets done using digital technology, from video conferencing to banking to fulfilling orders. This widespread use of online tools gives hackers more opportunities to hack company records.

Lack of Cybersecurity Awareness

In the office environment, IT people take care of any cybersecurity issues. Thus, employees do not take such matters too seriously as it is not their primary responsibility, although they are still liable. You must train them in cybersecurity and be sure they are fully aware of potential issues when working at home. Unfortunately, this is not the case since most employees still lack adequate skills and knowledge to circumvent these cybersecurity threats.

Fatigue and Lack of Focus

Human error is still the most common cause of data breaches, and this is especially true in the remote work environment. Studies have shown that almost 40% of work-from-home employees feel exceptionally tired in the remote work setup. In addition, they also need to juggle home chores, which reduces their focus on implementing cybersecurity protocols and makes them lax in their judgment. All these things combined can significantly increase the chance of remote employees inadvertently exposing the company’s confidential files to hackers.

Weak Passwords

In trying to infiltrate company networks through remote workers, hackers will try to crack the user’s passwords. It is the easiest method, and it just so happens that many people still use weak passwords, even for sensitive accounts.

Use of Personal Devices

In the typical office environment, employees will use company-issued computers with current malware protection. When working at home, however, many people use their laptops or smartphones, which are likely to have less than adequate IT security measures installed, like data encryption.

Making Remote Work Safer From Cybersecurity Risks

There are many benefits to working from home. If you feel this is the best strategy for your company, go for it. However, make sure that all remote processes are completely secure. This step is where we can help!

Since we are focusing on cybersecurity this quarter, we have developed a little Quiz for you and your employees to take. Not only is the Quiz fun, but it counts toward your Employee Cybersecurity Training! Access the Quiz Here!

Our cybersecurity experts can equip your company and your remote workers with the skills and technology to stay protected from malware attacks and other online threats. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive and fully customizable cybersecurity services today!