Managed IT services in Orange County can do much to help you make exactly the right choices when it comes to technology for your business. Mistakes can be exceptionally costly in IT, so it makes sense to avoid reinventing the wheel when clear guidance is easily available.

Beyond this, the cybercriminal industry mirrors “white hat,” public technology applications in terms of economic impact. If you try to go it alone too long, you could be leaving yourself vulnerable to cybercriminal attacks.

Irvine IT support experts show where you need improvement, and how best to improve. Such solutions can provide in-depth insight based on clients they’ve serviced similar to you. You can get clear answers concerning relevant tech issues, like the following:

Determination of Necessary Tech

Managed IT services in Orange County can give your company a once over, tell you what you need, what you don’t need, how much it will cost to make a transition, and how best to go about such transitions. Again, this is something it’s better to do through professionals than on your own.

Tactics to Conserve IT Budgets

Irvine IT support experts is also fundamental in helping you maximize existing IT budgets. While you certainly don’t want to spend too little on tech, it’s really easy to overspend on equipment with the horsepower you’ll never need. Balance is the key, and sometimes that doesn’t necessarily have to be cutting edge.

Solutions in Technology Training

Training personnel on new technology is a lot easier through the auspices of a known tech agency than it is through a purely internal pursuit, further recommending MSP services to SMBs.

Maximizing Potentiality of IT Through MSP Options

Managed IT services in Orange County through Advanced Networks can help your SMB maximize tech budgets through training, individualized IT conformed to your budget, and professional determination of actual IT needs. Contact us for more information on technology solutions, and which may be best for your SMB.

Managed IT services firms in Orange County often try to help management personnel get their heads around the need for clear cybersecurity. When leaders understand what is so integral about such discipline, businesses avoid many troubles, cut costs, expand profitability, and streamline operations.

Working with an Irvine IT support can help get everyone on your management team in a place where they understand the total value of cybersecurity. Additionally, such consultancy can help you maximize operational effectiveness. Common things managers need to know about cybersecurity include:

Cybersecurity Enables Business

Managed IT services firms in Orange County can help your business avoid downtime and “playing catch up” through cybersecurity education. When your team managers understand that non-secure “shortcuts” put your business at risk, they’ll avoid them.

When they understand the threats of the industry, they’ll additionally help keep the unknown from impacting you. Cybercrime is a multi-trillion-dollar industry that targets SMBs. You’ve got to have the right attitude toward defending operations internally as regards cybersecurity.

Overconfidence Will Diminish Security Effectiveness

No security solution is so robust as to have no vulnerabilities whatsoever. Human beings are imperfect, so is the technology they create. Accordingly, the best system has a weakness somewhere and overconfidence will allow that weakness to be exploited by cybercriminals.

Best Practices and Education Pertaining to Responsibility

Working with an Irvine IT support can help appraise your management staff pertaining to best practices. Continuing education is necessary for best security. Employees need to understand their responsibility as regards network security— any one of them could be a breach avenue for cybercriminals. Education helps instill best practices fundamental to operational success over the long-term.

Optimized Cybersecurity

Managed IT services in Orange County through Advanced Networks can help your managers understand the value of cybersecurity. You’ll have better business, more effective security, and continuous best practices applied to operations as a result. Contact us for more information on cybersecurity and how to best enable this throughout your business.

Malicious KBOT

Managed IT services experts in Orange County have recently identified a new sort of “smart” virus which relies on antiquated methods of delivery. Many times, delivery of KBOT comes through a website which has been designed for malicious intent. A phishing email will use varying underhanded methods to trick those who have been messaged into clicking on the URL. When they do so, the malicious website then sends malware to the device which accessed it.

Ways to Prevent KBOT Infection

Irvine IT support experts suggest a number of different tactics be used to help keep your network and the devices on that network safe. KBOT can steal all login data, and it can truly wreak havoc on your system. It can deliver itself through both traditional and non-traditional means as well. Accordingly, several tactics to help keep you safe include:

Get the Strongest Security Software and Update It Regularly

Managed IT services experts in Orange County can help you determine the best security software and additionally automate patches to that software. Viruses like KBOT transition in terms of their delivery methods to outpace antivirus software. You’ve got to keep yours updated or it’s useless.

Assure All Integral Files Are Properly Backed Up

You must adopt regular backup practices–if you can continuously backup data, that’s best. If you can’t, backing up at intervals is a good step. Whatever you do, assure your most important files are properly protected, and keep that up.

Monitor Network Operations

Monitoring network operations and individual devices helps you detect anomalous activity. Such activity often indicates some sort of virus. The right MSP can provide you with effective monitoring solutions.

Keep Your Network Safe

Managed IT services firm in Orange County like Advanced Networks can monitor networks and devices, help you backup your most important data, and provide you with patching solutions including automated update options. Such techniques are key in preventing KBOT from impacting your operation, as well as other malicious viruses making the rounds. To learn more get in touch with us!

Partner with Managed IT Services Firm in Orange County to Protect Your Business Against New Cyber Threats

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and pose significant risks against small businesses. However, partnering with managed IT services firm in Orange County gives your company the best protection against these cyber attacks. Here are a few examples of the most recent trends in cybersecurity and the best way to keep your company safe and secure.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is a type of malware that continues to grow in popularity. It uses processing resources to mine for cryptocurrencies. Stealing your computer’s processing power is much cheaper for cybercriminals than purchasing a computer built for mining cryptocurrency. Cryptojacking viruses differentiate themself from other forms of malware, as they are designed to remain hidden from the user. However, you will notice a significant drop in performance and a much slower internet connection if your computer is infected with a cryptojacking virus. Installing the latest anti-virus software is essential in keeping your computer safe against these threats.

Formjacking

One of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to gain access to your financial information is known as “formjacking”. Formjackers install malicious code onto unsecured websites to steal information that is inputted on each form. All of this data is highly valuable on the dark web, as the victim remains completely unaware that their information has been compromised. Conducting a vulnerability assessment from managed IT services firm in Orange County is an effective way to prevent formjacking by looking for any areas of weakness within your website. Keeping employees mindful of cybersecurity each day is another key step in keeping your data safe.

Understanding the latest cyber threats in the workplace is essential in keeping your business well-protected. Managed IT services firm can play an important role in keeping your business in Orange County safe from these ever-evolving cyber threats in the workplace. Cryptojacking and formjacking are only the latest types of cyber threats that pose significant risks for small businesses. Staying up to date on these threats is key to staying protected and avoiding a cybersecurity incident.

Contact our Irvine IT support team at Advanced Networks to learn more about the importance of cybersecurity!

All Businesses Need Backup Options; Managed IT Services Providers in Orange County Provide Them Reliably

The Worst-Case Scenario Is a “When”, Not an “If”

Managed IT services providers in Orange County highly recommend the development and maintenance of a secure backup strategy as one of your first lines of security defense. User error can crash your system. International intrigue can send viruses around the world which digitally damage any network they touch. Natural disasters can backhand your operation.

What Solid Backup Looks Like

Between legitimate mistakes, cybercrime, and natural disaster, there are plenty of reasons your system could be compromised. To not experience a network crash is more remarkable than to experience one. Accordingly, you should prepare. Following, we’ll briefly cover a few features of solid backup strategy you want to factor in:

Backup Strategies Need to Be Made In Advance, and Tested

You should take careful stock of all your data, develop strategies built around managing it over the long-term, and test them. You want more backup space than available data. You don’t want to stress your backup solution. As you plan out your network initially, you should simultaneously be planning for backup management, testing, and future upgrade. Consultation through managed IT services experts in Orange County can be a key factor in this process.

What Data Develops Off-Site? Account For It If Possible

Some employees will work from home. Some will take data home with them. Some viruses specifically seek out data and destroy it, steal it, or encrypt it for ransom. You need to know what information integral to your business is generated off-site and how you can protect it in terms of backup. There are automatic options which can immediately store information on an on-site server or hard drive configured for the purpose.

Prioritize Important Data, Use Multiple Backups

Generally, there’s a threefold strategy you’ll want to incorporate as pertains to backup. You’ll want no fewer than three separate backups. You don’t have to use the cloud to backup, but this can be a good idea. Regardless, you want at least two of your backups to be on different sorts of media. One should be located off-site should there be some sort of disaster that impacts your operation’s physical premises. This is comprehensive.

Effectively Securing Your Data

A managed IT services provider in Orange County like Advanced Networks can help you develop effective backup strategies, test them, prioritize data, maximize off-site data management, and incorporate multiple backup solutions. Contact us now for more information on the right backup strategies for your business.

Managed IT services firms in Orange County advocate not only firewalls, but those most appropriate to your particular IT situation. Essentially, firewalls enable network security through the monitoring of traffic as it comes into and leaves from a network.

Data packets will either be allowed through or blocked based on in-set algorithms and other protocols which “check” the data. Think of it like a security guard keeping guys who live in RVs out of corporate parking lots. The better the bottleneck security, the fewer “bad actors” can slip through.

Primary Types of Firewalls

There are a number of different firewall options presently available, and you will likely have to update as you scale out or IT innovations shift. Here are the primary types of firewalls:

• NAT Firewalls
• NGFW Options
• Proxy Firewalls and SMLI Firewalls

NAT Firewalls

NAT stands for National Address Translation. NAT hides individual IP addresses, allowing multiple diverse devices on separate networks to unify under a single network IP. Those trying to get the addresses that are now under one IP aren’t able to. Basically, they’re a “barrier” or “protective layer” between a conglomeration of devices and exterior traffic. Irvine IT support providers advise the use of NAT firewalls for businesses with a lot of devices on separate IPs.

NGFW Options

NGFW stands for a Next Generation FireWall. NGFWs use older tech and newer tech for the best overall result. Encrypted inspection of traffic occurs, as well as systems designed to stop intrusion of viruses. DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) comes with NGFWs.

Proxy and SMLI Firewalls

SMLI stands for Stateful Multilayer Inspection firewalls, and managed IT services firms in Orange County advise such options for best security. Essentially, SMLIs examine total data packets at each individual layer for maximum security.

Meanwhile, Proxy firewalls filter traffic at the level of applications. A proxy firewall may cordon off one computer on your network from another. It’s a firewall within your larger network; a circle within a circle.

Managed IT services firms in Orange County through Advanced Networks may advise Proxy, SMLI, NGFW, or NAT firewall solutions; even some combination of all four, depending on your circumstances. Contact us for more information to make the most informed choice.

Business Email Compromise Explained by Our Managed IT Services Team in Orange County

If you have heard of business email compromise, or BEC for short, yet do not know what it means, you are not alone. Most people have a vague idea of what BEC stands for, yet few comprehensively understand the magnitude of this threat. In plain English, BEC is manipulation through email for monetary gain. The overarching goal is to compromise the target to make money. However, you are not defenseless against BEC. Make your team aware of this threat, lean on our managed IT services team in Orange County for assistance and you will sidestep the vast majority of digital attacks.

How BEC Occurs

BEC is not limited to the impersonation of an executive or the transmission of a phony invoice. Rather, BEC is typically conducted with a combination of digital manipulation and attacks including malware, phishing, domain spoofing and other techniques to convince the business email user to perform an action he or she should not, such as revealing login usernames and passwords. In other cases, BEC targets are convinced it is necessary to wire money to a party when the truth is that party is actually a con artist.

Identifying and Deceiving Targets is Easier Than Most Assume

Those who perform BEC use careful deception, in-depth planning and a remarkable amount of patience to pull of this scam. In short, BEC is centered on establishing a rapport with the target then exploiting that trust for financial gain. BEC scam artists research potential targets, learn about their business and professional network then zero in on compromising their email account. From keyloggers to phishing, malware and social engineering, numerous tactics are used to obtain the victim’s email password. This email account is then compromised by creating the impression that urgent action is necessary.

From account takeovers using the target’s login credentials to user impersonation, data theft and false invoice schemes, there are numerous forms of BEC that ultimately leave targets vulnerable. Fret not, you can reach out to our managed IT services team in Orange County to help your business combat this threat and protect your email and safeguard what is most important: your finances. We will educate your team about the nuances of BEC, train them to avoid this trap and also sidestep additional digital pitfalls as time progresses.

Business email compromise has the potential to trip up professionals regardless of their tech expertise, educational background and role at their unique business. At Advanced Networks, our managed IT services team in Orange County will help you avoid this digital trap as well as other emerging threats. Reach out to us how we can keep your business stay safe and protected.

Managed IT services firms in Orange County advise its customers to carefully update security best practices pertaining to phishing. As old phishing “bait” is recognized by the “phish” in the digital “pool” represented by your business, new means of stealing data are developed. These tend to trend for a while until measures overcome them and something new develops. Accordingly, you’ve got to stay on top of security or risk being undermined, as new phishing “bait” is out there all the time.

Irvine IT support experts often advise a few common tactics to defer phishing. Some phishing methods that are trending represent variations on old themes, some require totally new strategies. A few you would do well to anticipate going forward from 2020 include:

Phishing as a Service (PaaS)

Managed IT services firms in Orange County have noticed a trend called Phishing as a Service (PaaS). This is where one cybercriminal pays another cybercriminal $50 to $80 a month for their services. Essentially, they can acquire known solutions very cheaply, then apply those solutions toward data theft. PaaS is ideal for corporate espionage, it’s ideal for fraud, theft, surveillance, and many other illegal digital activities. Protecting against it often requires the latest anti-PaaS options through the right tech solution.

Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Irvine IT support experts additionally advise educating upper management pertaining to BEC. This is sometimes called “spear” phishing and it represents a targeted attack against higher-ups who have unique information access. This is an older phishing technique that has become refined and is still trendy today.

Deepfake Social Engineering Hacks

Social engineering hacks are plain old con jobs— like a woman pretending she’s the wife of an employee to steal data. Deepfake tech uses machine learning to design computer-generated imagery or voice so detailed it appears real. 2020’s trend is using social engineering hacks in conjunction with deepfake tech. Institute policies and procedures requiring additional security measures that digital pretenders can’t anticipate.

Don’t Take the New Bait of Cybercriminal “Phishermen”

Managed IT services firms in Orange County like Advanced Networks can help you avoid modern social engineering hacks, deep fake phishing, BEC, and PaaS. Contact us for more information on today’s trends in phishing and the best strategies to offset them.

Managed IT services firms in Orange County can help you save costs in terms of technology overhead by guiding you to the best solutions for your business. You may be surprised at what your operational profile indicates is the best fit. This is especially true as pertains to cloud ERP as opposed to on-site ERP.

Cloud ERP Solutions

In terms of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, you could choose the cloud or go with an on-site solution. Many businesses, even smaller ones, find much benefit through the cloud. Here are some benefits to consider in that regard:

Everywhere Access, More Reliable Backup, Reduced IT Costs

Orange County managed IT services that provide cloud-based ERP make it so you can monitor operations wherever you’ve got a secure internet connection. Additionally, you can make the same changes you would at the office. In-house ERP will be restricted to your on-site intranet.

Additionally, the cloud can more securely backup both ERP data and that which is collected during normal network operations. Lastly, all these things can be automated through professional solutions, reducing IT costs over on-site options.

A Less Complicated Update Process

Managed IT services firms in Orange County can help you apply automation to ERP through the cloud. Certain software updates can take place automatically. Additionally, you can determine operational thresholds, automatically updating when goals are met. Also, the ERP software itself can be updated automatically through the cloud with less hassle than doing so on-site.

Reduced Initial Expenditure

Orange County managed IT services assisting in cloud ERP are generally going to source solutions where you pay a monthly fee and have access to the software you need. Doing things on-site requires the purchase of costly software.

Is Cloud ERP Right for You?

Managed IT services in Orange County through Advanced Networks can help you find cloud solutions in terms of ERP, allowing for everywhere access, automated software options like updates, better backup, IT cost reduction, and low up-front costs. Contact us to find more information on cloud ERP and whether this is right for your business.

5 Simple Password Tips from Managed IT Services Experts in Orange County

Creating a strong password is essential in keeping your data well-protected at all times. On the other hand, the use of a simple password is a major security risk that can lead to a data breach and ruin the reputation of your business.

Here are five simple tips shared by managed IT services experts in Orange County to help you create much more effective passwords in the workplace:

1. Avoid Using Personal Information

Avoiding the temptation of using personal information in your password is important to make it much more difficult for hackers. Social media makes it simple for cybercriminals to find out detailed information about you, which can help them guess your password if you use any of this personal information.

2. Use Longer Passwords Mixed with Letters, Numbers, and Symbols

One of the most effective ways to create a password is to include various uppercase and lowercase letters while also including numbers and symbols. Making the password much longer is also a good way to further protect your account and make it much more challenging for hackers.

3. Make it Memorable But Not Simple

Constantly having to reset your password wastes a lot of time and exposes your account to hijacking. Creating a memorable password that is easy for you to remember without being too simplistic is essential in avoiding the frustration of always resetting your password.

4. Avoid Re-Using Passwords

Many people are guilty of re-using the same passwords for multiple accounts. However, it is important to avoid this temptation, as it exposes all of your accounts to a hacker if he or she successfully guess your password. Reaching out to managed IT services providers in Orange County is a great way to learn how to create effective passwords for multiple accounts by using a password manager.

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Using two-factor authentication gives your account additional security from cybercriminals. Two-factor authentication requires an employee to verify their identity by responding to a text message or an email within a certain time period. This method is especially effective at protecting accounts because it is unlikely that a hacker will also have access to your phone or email address.

Understanding how to create secure passwords is essential for any employee. Advanced Networks is one of the leading providers of managed IT services in Orange County. We can help you create a strong password to keep your accounts well-protected at all times. Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about the importance of using secure passwords for all of your accounts!