Cyber threats continue to rise and pose significant risks to businesses of any size. Many of these cyber criminals focus on exploiting IT vulnerabilities on employees that use smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices in the workplace. These cyber-attacks can ruin the reputation of any company and lead to substantial financial damages. However, an IT service provider can help you develop an effective endpoint security strategy that monitors all devices in the workplace to give you the ultimate protection against cyber threats.

Five Ways to Improve Your Endpoint Management Strategy to Keep Your Data Safe & Secure 

#1 Inventory Management and Antivirus Software

The use of BYOD policies and IoT devices continue to grow in popularity in today’s work environment. An IT provider can help you manage all of these devices to ensure that your network remains secure from malware and other potential cyber threats. Requiring each device to install the latest antivirus software and malware protection is essential in developing a strong endpoint protection policy.

#2 Automatic Updates

New security and software patches are continually being released, but many users delay installing these updates. However, an IT service provider will automatically install these updates to ensure that your business remains well-protected at all times. These automatic updates play a crucial role in preventing cyber security incidents and limiting downtime in the workplace.

#3 Proactive IT Security

A compromised device can lead to a wide range of security problems and requires a significant amount of resources to repair the issue. However, a managed service provider can prevent the vast majority of endpoint infections by offering around the clock network monitoring. These proactive IT services will automatically scan the network for any suspicious activity to prevent any potential cyber threats from developing into a large-scale problem.

#4 Remote Asset Management

Tracking each device remotely is essential in today’s digital work environment. A stolen device can lead to data loss and damage the reputation of any company. However, an IT service provider with remote access can disable any device and wipe it clean. Endpoint management also includes options such as factory reset, remote inventory, and resetting user passwords.

#5 Monitor User Access Rights

One of the best ways to reduce the number of security breaches is to limit the user access rights for each employee. For example, only a select few employees should have administration rights and access to confidential areas. Restricting user access can keep sensitive information protected while also playing a key role in preventing malware from spreading throughout the entire network.

Endpoint management is essential in today’s age of BYOD policies and IoT technology. A managed IT service provider can limit the number of vulnerable access points across the entire network by implementing these effective cyber security strategies. Cyber-attacks will only continue to be more sophisticated, and an IT service provider can help your business avoid data breaches and stay one step ahead of these cyber criminals through these endpoint management strategies.

Contact us to learn more about our Secure IT services for your business!

Catastrophe will strike, it’s just a matter of when. Here’s what to look for when weighing a DR Service Provider.

Hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, even ransomware — these devastating events can strike almost without warning. Does your business have a plan to not only safeguard sensitive data but contingencies for recovery should a catastrophe occur?

Management should acknowledge their company’s potential exposure to disasters, natural and otherwise. These events can endanger the accessibility and support of an organization’s IT systems and networks.

It’s trite but true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So how does a business protect the integrity of its IT processes before cataclysm strikes? An effective option is to collaborate with a reputable data center, one with the resources to protect valuable data while keeping it secure and accessible.

Now that you recognize the utility of a data center, what should you look for? Below is a laundry list of essentials your DR service should provide.

Proactive Planning for Emergencies

An effective disaster recovery plan starts long before storm clouds gather. You want your IT partner to customize a comprehensive and ordered strategy that maintains and monitors network infrastructure and ongoing processes. Too, your employees should be trained and evaluated on how to reduce or avert system downtime.

Proactive planning also encompasses preventive maintenance. Your DR provider should regularly schedule tests of fire detection/extinguishing systems, power supplies/generators and HVAC systems.

Redundancy and Safety

How do fiber optic networks provide such outstanding redundancy and protection? In large part, due to bidirectional line-switched architecture. This means that in the event of network element failure, optical signals can be rerouted, either with “protection” spare fibers or by backhauling.

You want the same from your DR provider. Does it offer alternative facilities should its primary data center be offline? Are their data centers sited to prevent damage from floods, fires, winds or earthquakes?

Power failures and loss of environmental cooling can wreak havoc on vulnerable infrastructure elements. Look for facilities with redundant uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), supported by generators that switch seamlessly online if utility power fails. Seek the same redundancy within the data center’s HVAC configurations.

Redundancy also includes instantaneous access to multiple “core” or “Tier 1” long-haul networks should the primary carrier interrupt service.

Facility Security

Is the DR provider’s data center monitored at all times? Are employees required to wear visible ID whenever onsite? Nowadays, constant surveillance of network assets is a must to maintain network integrity and data security.

Emergency Ops Team

Your DR provider should have a cross-trained and experienced emergency ops team in place, ready at a moment’s notice to restore operational functionality to networks and systems in case of a disaster. They are the “cavalry” riding to the rescue, freeing local employees to see after their families and homes.

Now that you know, consider Aperio IT as your partner in disaster recovery planning. We provide cloud hosting and backup services to small and mid-sized businesses like yours. It’s never too early to prepare before catastrophe strikes.

Contact us to learn more about planning your Disaster Recovery Plan with Aperio IT.