Reach Out to IT Consultants in Los Angeles If You Fall Victim to a Phishing Scam

Phishing scams are an all-too-common problem in today’s workplace. Reaching out to IT consultants in Los Angeles is essential if you ever fall victim to these schemes. A phishing scam can trick even the most tech-savvy individuals. Educating employees on how to recognize these threats is critical in staying proactive against cybercriminals.

Here are a few of the top things employees need to do if they take the bait on a phishing scam.

Contact an IT Professional

A phishing scam can result in a significant data breach and ruin your reputation with your customers. Contacting an IT expert as soon as possible is critical in limiting the damages of a phishing scam. IT professionals can further investigate these scams to prevent additional problems. Failure to contact an IT expert can result in significant damages to your business.

Change Your Passwords

Another important factor in recovering from a phishing scam is to immediately change all of your passwords. Creating a unique password for each one of your online accounts is essential in giving you an added layer of protection. Using a password manager from IT consultants in Los Angeles makes it a lot easier to create strong passwords for all of your online accounts, as you will only need to remember the master passcode.

Scan Your Computers

Scanning your computer system is essential in dealing with the aftermath of a phishing scam. Antivirus software can identify any signs of viruses or malware that can result in additional damages to your computer or network. Scanning your computers on a regular basis is a great way to stay proactive and limit the chance of your confidential data falling into the wrong hands.

Report the Scam

Reporting a phishing scam to the government is important in educating the public about these dangers. You can report these scams by visiting the FTC website. You can also check out additional instructions on how to keep your data safe and avoid falling victim to these ever-evolving scams in the workplace.

Phishing scams will remain a major issue in today’s digital work environment. Advanced Networks is one of the leading IT firms that work with a wide range of small to mid-sized businesses. Our goal is to always provide the best IT security services available, whether it’s through network monitoring, employee education, or around-the-clock support. We also take pride in meeting the unique needs of our client base.

Feel free to reach out to our IT consultants in Los Angeles to learn more about how to protect your business against any types of cyber-attacks!

Choosing the Right Mouse; IT Consultants in Los Angeles Can Help

Finding the right mouse to use for work or personal use is often overlooked by many people. However, using the right type of mouse is essential in avoiding discomfort to ensure you can use it for several hours without any problems. IT consultants in Los Angeles can provide you with an overview of the various types of mouses available to ensure you are more than well-satisfied with your purchase.

Here are a few things to consider while you are looking for a new mouse.

Cable or Wireless?

One of the first things to consider is if you need a wireless mouse or prefer to use a mouse with a cable. Typically, a wireless mouse is more comfortable, as your range of movement isn’t limited. A wireless mouse is also more travel-friendly, as you don’t have to worry about any wires getting tangled. However, one of the drawbacks of a wireless mouse is that it can be less responsive, and it can also interfere with other wireless devices that are nearby.

On the other hand, a wired mouse is often cheaper and it’s simple to plug into any computer. You also don’t have to worry about batteries or if you lose your USB receiver while traveling. Ultimately, choosing between a wired or wireless mouse comes down to your preference. It helps to consult with IT consultants in Los Angeles to help you with what’s best for you.

Ergonomics Always Matters

You will be using a new mouse for a long time, as it’s important to ensure you find a mouse that is comfortable and easy to use in your hands. One way to determine comfort is to consider the size and grip of the mouse. For example, someone with bigger hands will need to use a bigger mouse for the best comfort.

You can also choose a mouse that focuses on a certain type of grip, whether it’s palm, claw, or fingertip grip. A palm grip is an excellent option if you are focused on comfort, while a fingertip grip is more beneficial if you prefer high-precision control. A claw grip mouse also combines the best of both worlds for an optimal experience.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

Higher sensitivity is especially important for anyone looking for precise mouse movements. A mouse with 1200 DPI or higher offers finer and sharper control. This is beneficial for anyone editing videos, images, or audio files.

If you need anything tech-related, Advanced Networks can help. Our goal is to help businesses reach their full potential with the help of the latest tech. Feel free to contact our IT consultants in Los Angeles to learn more about our services!

Cybersecurity Threats to Watch in 2021, and Why You Need the Assistance of IT Consultants in Los Angeles

In 2020, the pandemic doubled system vulnerabilities as organizations rushed to implement remote working and cloud solutions. Following the increased risk and frequency of breaches in the past year, many institutions have worked with IT consultants in Los Angeles to strengthen cybersecurity systems and digital transformation programs. But what do cybersecurity and the emergence of threats in 2021 look like?

Increased Phishing Attacks

Social engineering is set to increase this year. The latter is a non-technical strategy that often involves tricking people into violating common safety practices. Microsoft reports that attacks like these have increased from 20,000 to 30,000 a day in the U.S. as criminal cyber gangs gain more financial success, they will improve their engineering strategies and procedures.

Network detection and assistance from IT consultants in Los Angeles can help your organization identify when and where malware has entered the network. Your employees should be educated on good cybersecurity practices to reduce the threat further. By training people who use the network to detect the crime of identity theft and other engineering attacks, you can raise their security and raise awareness of threats.
Heightened Internet-Facing Vulnerabilities

Anything connected online is exposed to internet threats, including any program with an IP address or hostname publicly resolved on the DNS. Therefore, remote users using VPN, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), or other accessibility tools are at risk – especially as organizations continue to increase their internet access with more efficiency and use of accessible online programs.

In 2021, cybercriminals will increasingly exploit vulnerabilities in unpatched servers or targeting potential persons with exposed remote desktop or FTP servers. Businesses with inefficient, outdated security frameworks are at risk – currently, perimeter defenses and endpoint security controls are not enough.

To combat online and unknown threats, consider the following best practices:

• Perform systematic scanning regularly and establish fragmenting policy
• Use strong password controls
• Use two-factor authentication
• Implement zero trusts and enable network-level authentication (NLA)

Use of System Management Tools

Cybercriminals have long used system management and other legal tools to manage and hack into business networks. According to a study, more than 50% of threat groups use public pen test and system management tools to develop attack strategies.

As systems become more interconnected in 2021 and beyond, exploitation of system management and access tools will also increase. Threat actors will continue to use these tools, already installed on targeted computers, to run malicious software directly into computer memory – greatly reducing their recovery chances.

While it is nearly impossible to manage IT infrastructure without management tools, your business can vigorously protect devices from infection by staff training, adopting machine learning controls, state-of-the-art anti-virus software, and limiting access rights.

Strengthening your cybersecurity in advance can help you gain a strategic advantage. At Advanced Networks, we provide a large spectrum of IT services, including cybersecurity solutions. Let’s help you improve your cybersecurity posture with proactive monitoring and leading-edge controls. Contact us now! Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are ready to help you!

The Alarming Rise of Cybercrime During the Pandemic | Partner with IT Consultants in Los Angeles for Protection

The number of cyber-attacks has significantly increased over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These attacks have resulted in significant hours of downtime while also costing businesses countless dollars. Looking at ways to keep your company safe against these security threats is essential in today’s work environment, and that’s where IT consultants in Los Angeles can help you.

Huge Financial Losses

Corporations have lost billions of dollars due to hacking attempts in 2020. The past 12 months has resulted in $1.8 billion being redirected, which is more than $600 million from last year. These dollar figures don’t even include the $380 million paid by various firms in ransomware attacks. Many of these hackers focus on attacking larger corporations. The most popular targets include energy, manufacturing, and financial services. These companies are often targeted due to the significant amount of money involved compared to a small business.

Frequency of Attacks

Millions of people are now working from home, as cybercriminals have significantly increased their number of attacks against remote workers. Many of these workers do not have adequate protection against these threats. There’s nearly a 400% increase in reported cyberattacks in the past year, as they are coming from nearly every direction.

Types of Cyber Attacks

Cyber-attacks are wide-ranging against remote workers. Ransomware is one of the most common types of cyberattacks, where cybercriminals use a variety of methods to trick employees into downloading infect email attachments. New forms of ransomware have also been created, such as the “double extortion” hack, which allows cybercriminals to encrypt the data multiple times until additional cryptocurrency is sent.

How to Respond to These Threats

Training employees on how to recognize these scams is essential in keeping your data safe and avoiding downtime. Always backing up your information is important in not having to give in to the demands of ransomware. Enabling automatic software updates is also a great way to stay proactive against these threats. And it helps to reach out to IT consultants in Los Angeles to safeguard your business further.

Get in Touch with Us at Advanced Networks

Our IT consultants in Los Angeles can help you keep your business safe from all types of cyberattacks during these challenging times. We offer around the clock support, and we take pride in giving you the best IT security available. Contact us now to learn more about how we can help protect your business.

3 Ways IT Consultants in LA Protect Against OneDrive and SharePoint Attacks

Cybercriminals are always finding new ways to exploit software programs. Choosing to partner with IT consultants in Los Angeles is critical in giving your company much-needed protection. OneDrive and Sharepoint attacks are increasingly growing in popularity, as users are much more likely to click on malicious links hosted on a Microsoft domain. Educating your employees on these ever-evolving threats is essential in staying ahead of cybercriminals and keeping your information safe.

Here are three ways IT consulting professionals can keep your company safe against these cyber threats:

1. Stay Aware of Phishing Scams

SharePoint attacks usually happen once a cloud account is compromised due to a phishing scam. An attacker will upload a malicious file and change the sharing permission to “public,” which makes it possible for anyone to click on the infected link. The attacker will also share this link to your entire contact list, which further spreads the malware. Educating employees on how to recognize common signs of a phishing scam is critical in staying one step ahead of these cyber threats.

2. Monitor Your Network

Malware from a phishing scam can quickly spread throughout a network and impact each user in the workplace. The best way to defend against these cyber threats is for an IT service provider to monitor your network and find the source of the attack. Real-time network monitoring from IT consultants in Los Angeles can prevent many cyber threats from spreading in the workplace, which is essential in limiting downtime and keeping your information safe.

3. Create Secure Passwords

Cybercriminals often take advantage of weak passwords to gain access to OneDrive and Sharepoint accounts. One of the best ways to protect against these threats is to create a password policy for each employee. A password needs to contain a minimum of 10 characters while also including numbers, symbols, and uppercase or lowercase letters. Enabling multi-factor authentication also gives your account added protection.

Let’s Strengthen Your Business’ Cybersecurity

Advanced Networks will give you the best cybersecurity solutions. Cyber threats are constantly changing, and staying one step ahead of cybercriminals should be your top priority. Staying up to date with these cyber schemes is an excellent way to stay proactive. Our IT consultants in Los Angeles will give around the clock support to meet the needs of your business. Contact us now to learn more about how we can keep your business safe from all kinds of cyber threats.

5 Ways IT Consultants in Los Angeles Can Help You Migrate to the Cloud

Smoothly transitioning to the cloud is a top priority for small business owners. IT consultants in Los Angeles can play a key role in guiding your business during this transition. These IT professionals will develop a detailed plan to minimize downtime and help your business switch over to the cloud as quickly as possible. Challenges can always arise during cloud migration, but an IT service provider is available to offer immediate assistance. Here are five ways IT professionals can help your business migrate to the cloud:

1. Analysis-Based Approach

Understanding your business objectives is key before you switch to the cloud. The use of cloud computing offers immense benefits, such as data backups, scalability options, and access to information in real-time for remote workers. Cloud computing can also help you reduce the costs of purchasing new software.

2. Develop a Cloud Migration Team

One of the key aspects of a smooth transition is to use a migration team for the cloud. Typically, a cloud migration team consists of a business analyst, project manager, application specialist, vendor manager, and an IT security specialist. IT consultants in Los Angeles will ensure your business is well-prepared to minimize any problems during this transition process.

3. Evaluate Organizational Readiness

IT specialists will also assess if your existing technology and legacy applications are optimized for the cloud. Taking inventory of your applications and hardware is essential in creating a smooth cloud migration process. IT experts will analyze your entire IT infrastructure to minimize downtime and make any necessary adjustments.

4. Choose a Cloud Vendor

Finding the best cloud vendor for your business is an important decision. A few of the most popular vendors include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. IT consultants will help you find the best vendor that meets the unique needs of your business. Creating a data migration plan is also essential in limiting problems and ensuring everything works out smoothly.

5. Testing Process

One way to limit problems before switching to the cloud is to use a group of users to test the new environment on the cloud. IT professionals can run a series of tests to ensure your business has a solid foundation on the cloud. A detailed testing process will give you peace of mind while also limiting potential mistakes during cloud migration.

At Advanced Networks, our IT consultants in Los Angeles can help your business fully take advantage of the cloud. Reach out to us to learn more about our cloud migration services!

Ways IT Consultants in Los Angeles Can Help Keep Your Computers Up To Date

A computer plays a key role in the daily activities of any business. Typically, it is a good idea to replace your computers at least every four years for the best results. New computers operate much more efficiently while also providing your business with additional protection from cyber threats. However, it may not be time to replace your computers, and maybe what you need is to update them.

Here are a few ways IT consultants in Los Angeles can keep your computers up to date.

Patch Management

Outdated software exposes your business to a variety of cyber threats and makes your system operate much less efficiently. You can easily avoid this situation by using a managed service provider (MSP) that offers patch management services. These updates will be automatically downloaded as soon as they are available to ensure your IT system is working at an optimal level at all times.

Tech Support

Understanding the age of your computer system is important if you ever need technical support. IT consultants in Los Angeles can help you determine the age of your Windows computer by looking at the date of your files on your hard drive. The date of the oldest folder will give you a general idea of the age of your Windows computer. You can easily verify the date of a Mac computer by clicking on the Apple icon near the far left top of your screen. Simply, select “About this Mac” on the pull-down bar to find the model and year it was manufactured.

Boost Productivity

Finding ways to improve productivity is always a top priority in the workplace. A brand new computer operates much faster than a computer that’s a few years old. Employees will be able to perform job tasks much quicker, which creates a much less stressful work environment while also allowing you to better meet your customers’ needs. Ultimately, a new computer is a worthwhile investment that can play a key role in improving productivity for your company.

Keeping up with the latest changes in technology isn’t always easy for small business owners. Advanced Networks is a managed service provider that can help your business reach its full potential by gaining access to the latest computers available. Feel free to reach out to our IT consultants in Los Angeles to learn more about our IT services.

Top COVID-19 Cybersecurity Measures as Detailed by Our IT Consultants in Los Angeles

Businesses’ private data is chock full of valuable information that cybercriminals will target in due time. These are particularly desperate times, meaning your company’s information is squarely in hackers’ cross-hairs. If you have not yet implemented the necessary cybersecurity measures, it is time to do so with the assistance of our IT consultants in Los Angeles.

Recognize the Threat of Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks are on the rise, yet plenty of businesses assume their current digital safeguards will suffice or their organization will not be targeted. The last thing your business needs is for your network and servers to prove ineffective due to a ransomware attack that essentially freezes everything in place until a considerable ransom is paid, likely in the form of Bitcoin.

Consider the ramifications of such a successful digital attack. You would not be able to serve your clients in the proper manner. Furthermore, many of your clients would be frustrated to the point that they shift their business to competing enterprises.

It Is Time to Secure Your Network

If your network is even slightly vulnerable, it will eventually be exploited. It is not a question of ‘if’ such exploitation will occur but ‘when’ it occurs. Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are here to help you conduct a thorough digital security analysis of your network and implement the necessary alterations and improvements.

The bottom line is your business and every other organization needs a system of digital checks and balances with numerous layers of security in place. The proper firewall is necessary for truly unified digital threat management. Even something as subtle as the details of portal logins has the potential to lead to a breach that is identified in a timely and accurate manner and one that proves financially crippling.

Every single device that connects to the web should be secured properly. Furthermore, if billing information or other sensitive data is stored on workstations, the network devices should be separated from them to ensure operations will not be affected if there is an attack on one part of the network.

Train Your Employees

Above all, employees must be trained in the appropriate manner. Employee awareness of threats is essential to identifying digital attacks and thwarting them before they wreak havoc. Our IT consultants in LA are here to train your team on the latest digital threats, prevent the unauthorized use of your network and keep your operations humming along without external interference.

Advanced Networks is on Your Side

Our IT consultants in Los Angeles will help your organization fend off all digital threats amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Contact us now to find out more about our cybersecurity and IT services.

Our IT Consultants in Los Angeles Can Help You Prepare for COVID-19 Tech Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to last quite a while considering the fact that a vaccine will only prove effective if everyone takes it. Otherwise, the virus will undoubtedly morph and continue to spread as scientists feverishly attempt to create yet another vaccine. In other words, it might take some time to fully restart the economy. Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are here to assist with your tech hurdles during the pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Businesses

The most significant change the pandemic has brought about is a transition to remote work. Business owners and managers should anticipate remote work being the norm for the foreseeable future. Even if the curve is flattened, employees and plenty of employers will continue to favor remote work. Remote work is favorable as it reduces overhead costs, provides a quiet work environment, and reduces travel.

However, working from home (WFH) requires some flexibility. Your team will need new hardware and software along with a willingness to collaborate on the web. Implement collaborative tools such as Zoom videoconferencing and Microsoft’s Teams, and it will prove that much easier to work in unison while outside of the office.

Data Analysis for Better Decision-Making

You must make sound business decisions based on data. Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are here to help you collect data in an efficient manner and analyze it, setting the stage for truly prudent decision making. Keep in mind that even more data will have to be collected within your IT as additional employees work remotely. Use this data wisely and your business will benefit across posterity.

Mind Your Digital Security

Now that employees will be working from home, there is a heightened chance their network or computing devices will be compromised. As long as the proper digital security measures are in place, your BYOD policies will prove effective. Above all, employees should be provided with ongoing digital security training and education.

Acknowledge Weaknesses and Address Them

This is not a time to sweep your company’s shortcomings under the rug, insisting everything is flawless. If you were to ignore your company’s flaws, it would only be a matter of time until they become glaring problems that wreak havoc. Even if you do not have the capacity necessary to comprehensively address your company’s weaknesses, putting the more challenging ones on the back burner will suffice until you have the resources required to solve those problems.

Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are here to help you adjust during these difficult times. Tap into our tech expertise, and you will make the most of your tech investment. Contact us now at Advanced Networks for more information.

Our IT Consultants in Los Angeles Explain How to Provide Remote Employees with the Best IT Support

The coronavirus has resulted in nearly half the employees in the United States working from home (WFH). However, some businesses are woefully unprepared in terms of IT support and IT security for this transition. Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are here to help your employees work with maximum efficiency while at home during and after the pandemic.

Consider the Computers Employees Will Use

Some employees have their own computers as well as the necessary software for WFH. However, most employees will need at least one type of hardware or software upgrade to prove effective while WFH. Do not hesitate to give your employees the tech tools they need to work with efficiency from home. Employees need everything from desktop computers to laptops, smartphones and beyond in order to prove productive while away from the office.

Ongoing IT Support

Even if your team is quite tech-savvy, they will eventually need assistance. Our IT consultants in Los Angeles can help you determine exactly what your employees need in terms of tech, develop a plan to meet those needs, and ensure they work with true efficiency while outside of the office.

As an example, the use of tech tools ranging from Zoom Video to Microsoft Teams and Amazon Web Service will help your team get their jobs done right. An Amazon Web Service server migration has the potential to prevent a lengthy and costly deployment, boost availability, and hike efficiency.

Additional Equipment Needs

Aside from hardware and software, employees are likely to need a couple of other tech tools to work with a high level of efficiency at home. Do not hesitate to provide your staff with webcams for video conferencing, video cards, microphones, and whatever else is necessary to get their jobs done right. This way, if an employee does not perform up to expectations, you can terminate him or her with due cause. Fail to provide your WFH employees with the tech tools necessary to get their work done with efficiency, and they will have a much more convincing argument that they were unlawfully terminated.

Our IT consultants in Los Angeles are here to help your business maximize the efficiency of your WFH employees as well as on-site workers. For more information, contact us at Advanced Networks.