Whatever jeopardizes your primary data – malware, theft, or natural disasters – can also take out your backup.

Malware Can Target Your Backups

Malware doesn’t just stop at your primary files. Many ransomware attacks actively hunt for backups connected to your network. If your backup is easily accessible, either on a shared network drive or connected directly to a machine, it’s at risk of being encrypted along with everything else.

This is why relying on a network-accessible backup alone isn’t enough. A single breach could compromise your working files and the backup you thought would save the day.

Theft: Backups Can Be Stolen Too

A break-in doesn’t just put your computers at risk; it also puts your backups in danger. While thieves may primarily target laptops or desktops, they often grab whatever they can carry. A portable backup drive sitting on a desk or in an unlocked cabinet could quickly end up in the wrong hands.

Think about it: if someone steals your backup, they might not even realize its importance immediately. But once they do, your sensitive business data could be exposed.

READ MORE: 6 Reasons Access Management Has Become a Critical Part of Cybersecurity

Employee Access: The Double-Edged Sword

Who has access to your backups? It’s a question many business owners overlook. Good and bad employees can unintentionally or deliberately jeopardize your data.
1. Accidental access. A well-meaning employee could open a phishing email or download a malicious file, inadvertently granting attackers access to your backup.
2. Malicious intent. A disgruntled employee could deliberately delete or corrupt your backup data out of spite.
Limiting who can access your backups, both physically and digitally, is essential to keeping them safe.

Natural Disasters: When Backups Go Down with the Ship

Wild weather and natural disasters are becoming more common. Floods, fires, and storms can cause devastating damage, even in areas that don’t usually experience extreme weather. If your backup is stored in the same location as your primary data, it’s just as vulnerable.

Picture this: a fire breaks out in your office. Your desktop and your external backup drive, sitting conveniently on the same desk, are both destroyed. Without an off-site or cloud-based backup, you’re left with nothing.

The 3-2-1 Backup Rule: A Smarter Approach

To truly protect your data, we recommend following the 3-2-1 backup strategy:
1. 3 copies of your data. One primary and two backups.
2. 2 different types of storage. For example, an external hard drive and a cloud backup.
3. 1 copy off-site. To safeguard against theft, disasters, or other physical threats.
This approach keeps your data safe by diversifying where and how it’s stored. However, even the best backup strategy must be paired with limited access permissions. Controlled access is key, whether it’s preventing a trusted employee from accidentally introducing malware or stopping a rogue individual from tampering with your data.

READ MORE: How to Choose the Right Cloud Storage for Your Small Business

How We Can Help

Protecting backups can feel overwhelming, but that’s where we come in. As your managed service provider, we’ll:
1. Implement a robust 3-2-1 backup system tailored to your business.
2. Limit network and physical access to backups to minimize risks.
3. Monitor your systems to spot threats before they become disasters.
4. Provide ongoing support and recommendations to keep your data secure.
Backing up your data is essential, but it’s only the first step. Protecting your backups is what truly safeguards your business from loss. Reach out to Hopedale Technologies today at 508-478-6010, and let’s make sure your backup strategy is as solid as your data deserves.

The Assumption Trap: Are You Backing Up Everything?
Many business owners assume that their entire computer is being backed up. However, this is often not the case.

Typically, the backup system focuses on specific directories, such as your network drive or other shared locations.

READ MORE: Automated Data Backups Still Need Management

But what about the files saved on your desktop or the “Downloads” directory? These areas are often overlooked. For example, the “Downloads” folder is usually considered a temporary holding area for files, and may not be included in regular backups. This could be a risky oversight if you have important documents sitting there.

The Problem with Shadow IT
Shadow IT is another potential pitfall. This occurs when employees download and use software without the knowledge or approval of you. These unauthorized applications can generate important data that isn’t covered by your backup policies simply because you are unaware of their existence.

Consequently, any data generated or stored by these shadow IT applications might be at risk.

What About Your Business Applications?
Consider the applications your business relies on daily. Do you know how and where their data is backed up? If you use cloud-based applications, backups might be handled by the service provider, but for in-house hosted applications, the responsibility falls on you. Make sure that the data from these applications is stored in a central, backed-up location to avoid any potential data loss.

Take Control of Your Backup Strategy
To make sure you have a comprehensive backup strategy, it’s important to:
* Identify All Critical Data: Know what data is essential for your operations and make sure it is included in your backups.
* Review Your Backup Policies: Regularly check and update your backup settings. Make sure new files and applications are accounted for.
* Test Your Backups: Don’t wait for a disaster to find out if your backups are working. Perform regular tests to make sure that data can be restored effectively.
* Address Shadow IT: Work with your employees to understand what software they are using. Make sure that any new applications are integrated into your backup strategy.

Reach Out to an MSP
If managing backups sounds overwhelming, consider reaching out to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) like us. Hopedale Technologies specializes in creating and maintaining comprehensive backup solutions tailored to your business needs. We can help you make sure that all critical data, including that from shadow IT applications, is securely backed up and easily recoverable.

READ MORE: 10 Easy Steps to Building a Cultural of Cyber Awareness

Conclusion
Data backups are not just about peace of mind; they are about ensuring business continuity. As a business owner, understanding exactly what is being backed up on your computer is critical to your business.

By being proactive and working with Hopedale Technologies, you can safeguard your business against data loss.

Feel free to contact us for a consultation on your current backup strategy. We’re here to help you create a robust, comprehensive backup solution that keeps your business data safe and secure.

Ransomware attacks remain prevalent. Having a backup strategy can help you avoid paying the ransom to retrieve access to your data. But that only works if the attackers can’t discover, disable, or delete your backup data.

READ MORE:  Ransomware is a Risk for You, Too

Attackers will look to find and exploit any backup strategy gaps. Know the risks.

Backup strategy risks

Bad guys can leverage their access to your network to attack other connected devices, which can include network-connected backups. Most ransomware will attempt to encrypt any backups on the network, attackers may also turn the backups off or wipe them out.

Connecting to backup systems via remote access is also risky. Stolen credentials or an easily guessed password could give access to protected systems.

Giving many people the right to access your backup files is also dangerous. Each person represents a potential entry point for the bad actors. All they need to do is steal that individual’s credentials to gain privileged access rights.

READ MORE:  6 Reasons Access Management Has Become a Critical Part of Cybersecurity

Infrequent or untested backups are a problem too. When you don’t back up often enough, you could lose days’ or weeks’ worth of critical data when you need the files. Plus, you may think you have an effective backup, but you can’t be sure if you don’t test it.

Improve your backup safety

Unsurprisingly, we’ll start by suggesting you regularly test your backup to ensure it works. Also, determine the optimal backup timing for your purposes. Typically, a company should backup at least once a week, but you may be in an industry where a lot of data is created in just a few hours. Then, you’d want to backup more frequently. You can do this automatically or manually.

Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule. This means you want three copies of data (the live data and two backups). Keep backups on different media. Keep one off-site, isolated from your network and unable to establish external connections. Also, consider encrypting your backups for extra protection from the physical theft of the backup device.

Another good strategy? Backup everything. A complete system backup can help you recover faster after an incident.

Run anti-malware software on your backup systems and servers, and also protect them with multi-factor authentication. Then, give as few people as necessary access to the backup. Also, limit the responsibilities so that few people can purge backup data.

Better backups

Ransomware isn’t the only reason you need backups. Hardware or software failure or human error can also cause data loss. Ensure the reliability of your data backup strategy. We can help you secure backups to simplify file retrieval and operations resumption. Hopedale Technologies offers backup solutions for both home and business. 

Consider this jaw-dropping example. That’s how the Stuxnet malware virus that hit an Iranian nuclear facility started. It’s believed employees at the facility plugged in a USB drive they found in the parking lot.

READ MORE:  Data Backup Is Not Enough, You Also Need Data Protection

From there, the virus could reach the computers controlling the centrifuges, causing them to spin too fast and become damaged. The attackers couldn’t get in directly, as the computers were on a disconnected network.

Risk of Thumb Drive Attack

You might think, “But I’m not an Iranian nuclear facility.” But that doesn’t prevent cybercriminals from wanting to access your network and systems. USB drives are one more way that bad actors can do so. One study found that 60 percent of people were likely to connect random thumb drives found near their building. If the business logo was on the drive, the number went up to 90 percent.

READ MORE:8 Reasons Every Company Is Now a Technology Company

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. Even with cloud computing, these small, portable drives are used universally. They are compact and convenient. That also makes them an attractive target for criminals.

Hackers can pre-program USBs to act maliciously once connected to the network. They might:

• steal a user’s data;
• gain access to the user’s keyboard;
• monitor the user’s screen;
• encrypt user data in exchange for a ransom;
• spread infection.

Most of these can happen without the user knowing, as the malware runs in the background.

How to Avoid USB Thumb Drive Attacks

How do you keep your business safe from infected USB drives? First, don’t insert unknown flash drives. Hackers will try to exploit human curiosity or their desire to help.

Using different flash drives for personal and professional computers is also good. This helps cut the chances that you’ll spread an infection from one to the other.

READ MORE:  Watch the Little Things in Cybersecurity

You might also enable security measures on USB drives, such as fingerprint authentication. This, and keeping computer software and hardware up to date, can cut vulnerabilities. Also, keep your malware and antivirus protections current (we use Managed VIPRE Antivirus), and patch regularly.

Windows users can also disable the Autorun function. This prevents Windows from automatically opening removable media immediately upon insertion.

Hopedale Technologies is here to help. We offer a wide selection of security protection programs for home and business. Call us at 508-478-6010 if you suspect a security threat or want to update your security.

Having decided to back up data, you may feel confident you can withstand an attack or recover from unexpected downtime. But you might be surprised if you trust the backup to run at a particular time. Automated backups can make the job easier. Still, you should be monitoring these backups and checking them, too. There’s nothing worse than finding out months later that something went wrong with your automated backup.

READ MORE:  Could Your Backups Survive a Ransomware Attack?

Why you need to monitor backup

A technician can set an automated backup to run on a set schedule. They select a time that causes the least interruption while ensuring up-to-date data. Yet this is too important a process to leave unattended.

Things change. The automated backup is set up for the technology configuration when installed initially. A lot can happen in the meantime as the IT environment evolves.

Blindly trusting automated backup could leave you unaware of problems such as:

• an unplugged backup device;
• an altered device letter, which means the device isn’t found;
• moved folders;
• software updates that might have changed what needs to be done and how;
• the original plan not accounting for new servers or migration from on-premises to the cloud;
• insufficient capacity for the backup.

If no one is monitoring that backup, your business could assume it went smoothly. Then, when you need that backup, you could find out the hard way it didn’t go as planned.

READ MORE:  Recovery Test Your Data Backups

Keeping an eye on automated backup

It’s not that you can’t automate backup, and there is convenience in doing so. Automating the backup of a computer, network, or IT environment can save time and money.

Yet you need someone to pay attention too. Monitoring backups ensures that the process is running smoothly.

A managed service provider (MSP) like Hopedale Technologies will take a hands-on approach to your automated backups. We offer Business Class Managed Backup that features secure encrypted offsite protection, historical versioning, and pooled storage options for multiple devices. If there is a failure, we have the skills to address the issue quickly and alert you of any bigger issues. Plus, with us in your corner, you gain IT experts skilled at data recovery, too.

READ MORE: What is the Difference Between Managed and Unmanaged Backup?

Process automation helps businesses, but don’t rely on it unattended. Optimize data backup by adding the human element. Hopedale Technologies can ensure quality and help protect your business.

It’s easy to think cybersecurity is someone else’s responsibility, but IT may not be getting the attention it deserves, and that could be damaging to the business, your career, and your identity. Everyone plays a role in cybersecurity!

A data breach can destroy a business. Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that 60% of small businesses close within six months of a breach. It’s easy to calculate why. In Ponemon’s annual Cost of Data Breach report, the average cost was $161 per record. That adds up. If you’re at a business that can’t recover, you could be out looking for work again.

Of course, you care about your customers. You don’t want their personal information getting out to criminals. But their information isn’t the only thing at risk. Your employer has a lot of personal information about you, too. They’ll have your name, address, salary amount, and bank account details. Plus, they may have health information related to your benefits. They probably also have copies of your identification.

Not only about protection, prevention

If your business tech is outdated, you’re at greater risk of cyber vulnerability. But improving IT isn’t only about protecting data and preventing downtime. Having the right technology to suit your business can also help you be more productive. Speaking up about IT could see the company improve, grow, and gain resiliency. Working with a good managed service provider (MSP) like Hopedale Technologies can help both you and your business:

• We can help with data security or backup and disaster recovery if your company isn’t as protected.
• Are you frustrated by network failures, lagging conference calls, or error messages? Trust us to ensure the business technology is up to the task. When the devices you’re working with aren’t doing what you want them to do, we can suggest the right tools for the job.
• Feel like you’re wasting time on repetitive or mundane tasks?  Managed service could help you embrace automation. Allow machines to take on the routine and leave you free to focus on the more challenging and innovative work.

A slow system is painful to use. Waiting even a few minutes for a computer adds up over a 40-hour workweek. Worrying about the security of your data doesn’t help your focus at work either.

You don’t have to be an IT expert to understand that there is room for improvement with your technology. Connect us with your employer to schedule a free consultation for your business needs! Contact us at 508-478-6010.

NO!

Do not call the number! Microsoft NEVER includes a phone number on any of their security alerts. This phone number is the number of the people who installed the scammy browser popup. If you call them, the scammers will ask for a credit card number to pay for a tech support plan or service so they can “unlock” your computer and clean it of viruses. They could also install a remote access program on your computer so they can access your computer to remove the “virus.” This remote access allows them to install programs that may run in the background without their victim knowing. They can install malware and viruses to capture sensitive passwords, banking information, and other personal data remotely. Often if someone refuses to pay, they will use scare tactics. Customers have gotten yelled at by irate scammers.

How To Break Out of the Popup If You Haven’t Called

Chances are, if you haven’t called, your computer is not infected by this browser popup. This popup is a trick to get you to call the number. Here’s how you can remove it:

• Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard and then select Task Manager.
• Select your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.) and left-click on it. Then select End Task.
• The next time you open your browser, do not select “restore browser.”
• Check your browser extensions to make sure nothing new has been added without your permission.
• Do a deep scan of your computer with your antivirus program.
• Still worried? Give us a call at 508-478-6010. We offer over-the-phone tech support.

If You Have Called the Number
Your best bet is to shut down your computer, even if you have to do a hard shut down with the power button, and bring it into us asap. We will ensure your virus protection is up to date and active, remove unwanted remote programs, and check for hidden viruses and malware. 

What Else Should You Do?

• Run Microsoft updates when they become available. Microsoft offers patches and updates for operating systems to help keep your computer secure on the internet.
• Don’t use old operating systems like Windows 7, which are unsupported and obsolete.
• Make sure your virus protection is active and not disabled! Most virus protection needs to be renewed each year. If you have automatic renewals, make sure your credit card information is correct and up to date.

Need a reliable antivirus program? We recommend and install VIPRE. This annual subscription is available unmanaged (you run the updates) and managed (Hopedale Technologies runs the updates).

We also offer managed protection which blocks program installs until Hopedale Technologies approves the installation. This helps prevent accidental installations of rogue programs to your system.

Cybercrime has hundreds of millions of victims. Two-thirds of people online have experienced personal information theft or compromise. A 2018 McAfee Security study suggested that it represents more than 2 billion individuals!

If any of those people work at your business, it could mean trouble for your security, too. Why? People tend to think they have too many passwords to remember. So, they use the same login information again and again. That means a criminal could leverage employee data to access business systems, too.

Cybercrime is a global problem for both individuals and businesses. The bad actors, after all, can make big bucks from their crime with a low risk of discovery. The global cost of cybercrime is an estimated $600 billion a year. And no one and no business is immune.

More people are going online. Businesses are becoming more reliant on digital transactions. Cybercriminals are quickly adapting. They’re motivated, but are you?

Securing Your Business with an MSP

Ultimately, there is no better way to keep your systems secure than with managed services.

A managed services provider (MSP) helps your business stay ahead of security threats. Finding out about risks or vulnerabilities after the fact is no good. That’s like closing the barn door after the prize stallion has already bolted.

An in-house cybersecurity team providing 24/7 protection isn’t workable for most businesses. It’s cost-prohibitive for most small and mid-sized businesses.

Working with an MSP is a more affordable alternative. You avoid investing in the latest technology and building up an on-premises infrastructure. Instead, you pay a consistent fee for the MSP to handle technology patching, monitoring, and assessments.

The MSP uses well-tested, leading-edge tech to stay on top of cybersecurity threats. This strategic partner can:

• set up security on your infrastructure;
• oversee your company’s security systems;
• ensure regulatory compliance;
• track threats 24/7;
• maintain strong data protection.

MSP focuses on continuous monitoring. It keeps up to date on the global threat landscape and any industry vulnerabilities.

Still not convinced that paying an MSP is worth it? The average cost of a lost or stolen record was $148 per record in 2018. You might view working with an MSP as paying for insurance. With ongoing monitoring, an MSP helps your business avoid security breaches. And their devastating costs (including to productivity, compliance, revenues, and brand reputation).

With an MSP, you add dedicated security experts to your team. Secure your technology while gaining advanced threat intelligence and customized security strategies.

A managed services provider identifies vulnerabilities and secures your business environment. Stay ahead of cybersecurity threats with an MSP. Find out more today!

Resolutions to improve for the coming year are great ideas to aspire towards; whether cleaning your office, tidying your house, or taking control of your digital footprint.  The problem for many is motivation can quickly fall away by the time February rolls around.

If you manage to achieve only one of your new year goals for this year, make it to put a good backup in place for your digital files.

Storage failure, theft, accident, or natural disaster can impact at any time.  Many of us put these possibilities to the back of our minds.  We plan to get in control of our files ‘eventually’ and then never get around to it.  It’s easy to think ‘it won’t happen to me’, or make creating a backup something that is always to be done tomorrow.

Replacing Old Valuables

Almost anything you own can be replaced one way or another.   A broken laptop, tablet, or phone can easily be replaced with another model.  Even credit card or financial details, if stolen or lost, can be cancelled and replaced by the bank in under a week.

Losing data, however, is far tougher to face.  Without a safe backup, there’s no way to recover it once it is gone.  Backups provide a service which could be described as the world’s best insurance policy.

While an insurer will often give you some, even most, of the value of the previous goods lost; data backup provides you with your exact data, precisely how you left it.  It does this instantly, repeatedly, and without any additional charges or excess.  In some instances, it is even automatic and done behind the scenes.

Recovering Irreplaceable Data

There are almost certainly old essays, browser bookmarks, and notes that you can comfortably live without.  Equally, there are likely to be photographs, videos, and important documents that you couldn’t or should not part with.

For many, these files can be as valuable as the memories themselves: photographs of loved ones, long ago vacations, or milestone events in life. We commonly take critical data for granted; Assuming that because we can access it today, it will still be there tomorrow.  This is unfortunately not always true.

These irreplaceable files are too important to keep in just a single place.  Retaining only a single copy leaves your data vulnerable to luck and chance as to how long and if it survives.

Losing Data In An Instant

Data storage is liable to develop faults or failures at any time.  Often a storage failure isn’t made apparent until the device fails to turn on or dies suddenly.  These types of hardware failure become more and more likely as devices age. Similarly, modern devices are more and more vulnerable to loss or theft as they get smaller and lighter.  While criminals are not likely to be interested in your irreplaceable photographs and documents, they are vulnerable to being stolen along with the device they plan to sell.

Whether lost through natural disaster such as flood or fire, misplaced by accident, or stolen by criminals; important files are truly painful to lose.

If you were to lose these files in an instant today, how much would you pay to end that stress and get them back again?  Setting up a good backup is only a tiny fraction of the cost without any of the pain.

Backup For You

With the right backup solution, it doesn’t matter how many devices are lost or stolen.  Even without a device or away from home, the data important to you can be kept safe and sound to be returned to you when you’re ready again.

Regular, consistent backups can even be made for you, automatic and in the background.  Documents you create, photographs and video you take can be backed up and kept safe from the second they are captured or saved.