Highly publicized events like hacked celebrity photos, credit card data theft from major retailers, and confidential business data loss from large corporations have drawn into question the security of Cloud storage, especially for businesses.
From customer payment information to internal pricing policies to large commercial and government bids, the data that businesses keep is critical, and its loss could be devastating – just ask Sony.
And it’s not only large corporations or financial institutions that should be concerned. One study showed that over half of the small businesses surveyed had experienced data theft, and half of those had experienced it more than once.
The corresponding business disruption can also cost companies big money. Even a simple file that takes an employee an hour to recreate costs you money, and it can snowball from there. Worse still, most insurance policies don’t cover data loss of any kind. And even if you can be monetarily compensated, it won’t change the fact that your data has been stolen.
In a post earlier this year we discussed the different file storage options for businesses (an on-premise server, public or private Cloud storage, or hybrid solution). Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. With on-site servers, your information is physically with you, under your direct observation and control. However, all it takes is a single bolt of lightning knocking out your server, or a cleaning lady clever enough to steal a password to simply walk away with your hardware. Viruses, stolen laptops, crashed hard drives, spilled coffee-all threats to your computing system also threaten your data.
The truth is, cloud computing is here to stay, so it is increasingly important to protect your data there. And guess what? With the right safeguards and protocols in place, it’s actually more secure.
Keeping your data secure in the cloud
Beyond 24/7/365 monitoring that should be the basis of any managed IT services relationship, here are five key ways that cloud storage provides greater security than on-site servers.
Controlled access: Know who accesses your data and when. Levels of access should be controlled and customizable by you, meaning that each employee should be given access only to the information that they need to get their work done. We also recommend two-factor authentication for an additional shield against cyber intruders.
Data encryption: The data you send to the Cloud should be encrypted during upload and encrypted again (and assigned a unique password) every time it’s opened on a device (smart phone, tablet, PC, Mac, etc.)
More robust firewalls and virus protection: Cloud storage facilities are constantly upgraded in response to the latest threats and to implement new technology. Besides malware detection and anti-virus software updates, make sure your IT service provider is able to detect and quickly remedy data breaches that may occur.
Sophisticated management and restoration capabilities: The right service provider can identify file changes between any two backup points on a system, and can see which files were created, modified or deleted at any point in time. This means your data can always be recovered to the latest version saved before it was destroyed by a virus or accidentally deleted. Off-site backups, built-in redundancies, fail-over protocols and fault-tolerant architecture that protects against power failures also prevent costly business disruptions.
Physical security: Cloud storage is located in highly secure data centers with restricted physical access, sophisticated burglar and fire alarms, backup generators and multiple redundancies and fail-overs. Many have multiple locations around the country, creating further redundancy in order to protect against a catastrophic loss in one location. On-premise servers rarely have this kind of fortress-like protection around them.
Is your data safe in the cloud?
Given the level of security measures, physical safeguards and redundancy, Cloud-based solutions can provide superior data protection if implemented and managed correctly. Our managed IT services professionals can help you assess and implement the best solution for your organization today-and develop a plan that makes good business sense for your future. Contact us to discuss your needs regarding data security issues and cloud storage options for businesses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=E_Speidel
Photo Credit: Super Famous
This term is used quite a bit in cyber security, it is the use of multiple security principles and countermeasures to protect information and assets within a organization. I think this same thought can be used for parents, we can use multiple tiered counter measures to help secure our kids safety online. Let’s start at the perimeter of our home’s Internet connection, the Router that was provided by your Internet provider. One way to keep all the devices safe is to use a Kid friendly DNS service, such as Open DNS’s parental control offering, basically we setup the OpenDNS servers on our router, and the settings will be effective for every device in our network, such as computers, tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii etc.
This service will also block adult Web sites without messy configuration changes. Let’s move further down the chain. For our computers, we definitely want to use a “smarter browser” such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox and add key free plugins that will block any inappropriate sites to our kids. If your home computer is a Mac or Windows, create a separate account for your kids, and enable parental controls on that account, this way you can limit the time they spend on the Internet, filter a list of words you do not want them to see, filter the sites that your kids can visit and a lot more. For personal devices such as iPads and android tablets, turn on restrictions on the devices so you can disable safari and YouTube, turn off app downloads, and turn off In-App purchases.
And incase you do need to install a particular app for your kids, install them via iTunes instead of on the device. On a android tablet or phone, I generally use a restricted profile (kitkat 4.4) or “Kid’s Shell – safe launcher” and create a separate account for my son, this way I can add specific apps that I want him to have access to and remove any that are not suited such as settings, notifications or any social media applications. Another really solid application that I rely on is called Mobcip, It is known as a parental software for all mobile devices as well as our computers. We create user profiles for our kids using their online interface and a management login that we use. We can monitor what apps are being used the most, view browsing history, set time limits, and custom filters, it is a really robust piece of software.
I hope these quick tips help you childproof your devices and computers, please check out other Cyber Security Tips for Parents
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vinny_Sinbad
For most companies, it is part of their protocol to back up important business documents. What is the sense of keeping two or more copies of the same file when it only adds to your costs?
Most computer experts would argue that a back up is done not only because its part of the standard procedure, but because it ensures the safety and integrity of your files. What if someone hacked your computer and modified its contents? How can you retrieve your original data without a backup? Also, there is a possibility of your computer being infected with a virus. Without a back up, you might not be able to continue your work, or worse, you’ll start again from scratch.
What to Back Up
It goes without saying that you should back up all the important files in the computer. Here are some examples.
* Documents, music, pictures and videos. Your documents in school or work, your favorite mp3s, your childhood memories stored in pictures, or your latest downloaded series: whatever personal file it is, keep a copy of it.
* Application settings and program installers. In case of a virus or a system crash, you can easily reinstall your frequently-used programs through these files.
* Bookmarks. If you have a list of websites that you visit daily, better back it up.
What Not to Back Up
* Not every file in your system needs to be backed up, such as the ones listed below.
* Windows operating system. If your operation system gets corrupted, you can reinstall it anyway. So why bother backing them up?
* System files. Likewise, you can get the system-related contents of your local drive upon reinstallation.
* Program files. You can also reinstall your programs so you don’t need to duplicate its folders in another place.
* Internet cache. Although these data may help you load web pages faster, you don’t need this. Your browser can just download these small files again once you access the webpage.
Where to Back Up
It is a matter of preference on where you want to back up your documents. There are three different areas which you can choose as your backup locations.
Local backup. This refers to another physical drive apart from your PC. Of course, the essence of backing up your files is that you will have a reserve copy of your data in case something bad happens in it. Therefore, creating a backup in the same location defeats the purpose of this process. As such, the most popular avenue for backups is through external drives or in a drive in another computer.
Online backup. During the dial-up days, backing up online is considered to be time consuming and expensive. Fortunately, with the level of internet speeds today, this has become a practical option for a lot of reasons. First, your file isn’t stored in a physical hardware, which can get corrupt. Also, an online backup removes the risk of losing your data from device theft. Thus, you don’t have to worry too much on finding your stolen computer as you have a backup online.
System imaging. You can also back up your system as well. This process is called system imaging. Unlike in a file backup where the backup location should be different from the actual file, in system imaging your computer creates a copy of your system in your drive. As such, you can completely restore your system in case it crashes. However, the only limitation is that you need to have a considerable amount of disk space in order to perform this process.
When to Back Up
You may not know when accidents will happen so it is better if you can back up your files daily. This is pretty much easy if you are using online backup, especially if you are configured to be on auto-sync with an online database. On the other hand, if you are using a local storage such as an external drive to store data, you may have a hard time sorting all your folders for new files. To make this process easier, you can just back up only your most important files on a regular basis. All the other files get another treatment; they can be backed up every month or so, depending on their size and importance.
As a saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure.” Don’t wait for your precious files to be damaged or deleted before you create a back up. And now that you’re well-equipped with the basics of backing up, you should start this process immediately.
It becomes easy to decide to replace a computer when it no longer runs the same way as the first time it was used. With developments and upgrades constantly appearing in the market, some people simply do not bother doing maintenance on their computers and simply dismiss slow computers as “past their prime” and immediately look for a better model.
Although buying a new computer can instantly solve an aged computer, this option is not available to people on a budget, but this does not mean they have to put up with long boot times, blue screens and instant shutdowns. A simple process known as defragging can improve performance and somewhat postpone decisions to buy another unit.
Defragmenting is known as the process of reversing the fragmentation of files on a hard drive. Fragmentation occurs with prolonged use and poor maintenance. This is when PCs tend to end up with plenty of files scattered across the free spaces within their memory, thus causing slower process executions and file opening and other bugs and errors. Defragmenting counteracts these issues, and in turn restores efficiency to the computer in several ways:
1. Faster Boot Times -This phenomenon occurs when the startup system takes too long to find certain files that are needed when the computer is started. These are known as boot files. Defragmenting organizes these files into a cluster and makes it easier for the computer to find and access them. The faster the processor finds the boot files, the faster the starting time.
2. Less “DLL, SYS and EXE” errors – The most common error associated with these file types are the ones wherein the computer cannot find them. This could be due to the possibility that these files could be hidden in inappropriate folders or duplicated in several locations. A good example will be.exe files. Sometimes, applications and programs take too long to open or do not open at all because the.exe file is missing. Defragmenting sorts out the files on the computer and allows the computer to access these files faster.
3. Discover problem areas in the hard drive – After defragmentation, the system provides a report of the changes that were made during the process. It will also report what areas it could not defragment due to corrupted files. These broken files take up space on the drive and may even affect processing performance just by simply being there. With this information, a computer owner can look at the program files for that specific area. The owner can then get rid of the problematic areas.
4. Less Effort on the Hardware – With easier to locate files, the internal workings of the hard drive do not have to go such lengths to reach and access the data they need to. This means a reduced exposure to wear and tear on account of exerting less effort and resources to complete certain actions. This immediately adds more time to the lifespan of your hard drive and in turn, the whole computer.
5. Tighter Security – With defragmented files, the efficiency of anti-virus programs increases as well. These applications take less time to scan areas of interest on the hard drive. It also allows for a higher chance of isolating and deleting viruses before the integrity of other necessary files and data is compromised. Detecting these problems also becomes less of a task because an unwanted virus is sure to stand out after defragmentation. The system is trained to sort files that it normally uses. A foreign element such as a virus that has no specific classification under the defragmentation will show up as unmoved.
These consequences make disk defragmentation a necessary step in making sure any desktop computer lasts a considerable amount of time. What makes defragmenting even more ideal is the fact that it is simply another command that is given to the computer. Windows Operating Systems allows users to start a defragmentation under the System Tools section found within the Accessories Menu.
A simple click will prompt the process. Depending on how much data is on the hard drive, the whole process should take a few hours to complete. This is why defragmenting is mostly done during off-peak hours when the computer is usually not being used.
Along with registry cleaning and anti-virus scans, disk defragmenting stands as another tool through which owners can take care of their units. Because these methods are both free and easy to use, owners have no excuse not to perform their responsibility to properly maintain their desktop computers.
If you are looking for a dll tool to restore missing corrupted files, you can download for free on http://www.dlltool.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_F_Morgan
The government is promising to make your credit cards more secure. In fact they are going to require that every card have an embedded chip built-in by fall of 2015. The goal is provide better security than the old swiping method and hopefully avoid the problems of fraud caused by hackers at Target and other retailers. The old swipe machines will eventually be laid to rest. So sometime probably after October, 2015, retailers will be liable for fraudulent purchases as a result of using one of the older swiping devices. Every other economic power nation uses these chip cards, the U.S. is the last to come online. Why? Credit cards companies have fought this due to the pricier expense of card production. Payment terminals are also costly to upgrade causing retailers to turn the other cheek. The complexity of the entire U.S. credit card system is also an area of concern as the two main credit card players, Visa and Mastercard, are interfaced between retailers seeking easy transactions and banks seeking secure transactions. While adoption of chip cards has slogged along, fraud in the U.S. has risen. Those magnetic stripe cards, in use in the U.S. since the 1970s, are easy to clone. According to a report from BI Intelligence, The U.S. accounted for 51% of global payment fraud costs in 2013. The cost of U.S. payment card fraud grew by 29% in 2013, from $5.5 billion in 2012 to $7.1 billion last year. Experts claim the chipped cards will make it all safer. Three firms have combined for the most widely used chipped card called “EMV”, representing those that developed the technology Europay, Mastercard and Visa. EMV cards include a microchip that creates single-use codes for every transaction instead of relying on the card number, making the data useless if it’s stolen. Some experts believe these this technology could cut some form of credit card fraud in half. Citing a United Kingdom study, a research firm, Aite Group, said following chip card adoption, counterfeit card fraud dropped in the U.K. to $67 million in 2013 from a whopping $151 million in 2004. Fraud from lost and stolen cards also dropped by a third during the same period. So how are the chip cards used? One way is to require buyers to enter a passcode personal identification number or PIN after the chip has been read. This effectively protects them from both counterfeit cards and the use of lost and stolen cards. The other type of transaction reads the chip, but then asks for the signature. A little like what we have today without the magnetic stripe. It appears the chip and sign method is what the U.S. will use first. Walmart is first on-board, currently the only major retailer accepting chip cards in its stores. Square has announced they are launching new technology that will use the chip and sign methodology on mobile devices, a boost for retailers. Some however believe thieves will adjust to this quickly and fraud will occur at current levels. Until the PIN and chip method are fully in place, don’t expect to feel fully secure from credit card fraud. Experts believe it could take several years for this system to be put in place unless another major breach occurs and consumers start screaming for a major change. George Rosenthal is a founder and partner with ThrottleNet Inc.. ThrottleNet offers an array of technology services and products to help business owners achieve their corporate goals and accelerate business growth. These include cloud computing, custom software and mobile application development, and outsourced Managed Network Services which helps companies improve their technology uptime and IT capabilities while, at the same time, reduces costs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8818285
Photo courtesy of: Jarmoluk
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