508-909-5961 [email protected]

Why your business should get SaaS-yBusinesses these days need different kinds of software to streamline and improve their operations. However, a lot of small businesses can’t readily afford these software. But there is a way to harness the power of such software without draining your resources. Learn more about Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and how your business can benefit from it. What […]

The post Why your business should get SaaS-y appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Why your business should get SaaS-y

Businesses these days need different kinds of software to streamline and improve their operations. However, a lot of small businesses can’t readily afford these software. But there is a way to harness the power of such software without draining your resources. Learn more about Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and how your business can benefit from it.

What is SaaS and what makes it appealing?

SaaS is a software delivery model that allows you, the user, to access software from any device through the internet. This gives you more flexibility since you don’t have to go to the office to use the software. You can work from anywhere as long as you can go online.

As opposed to a traditional on-premises setup where software is stored locally, SaaS is hosted in the cloud. By transferring software hosting to a third party, you’re outsourcing all the responsibilities that come with maintenance, such as upgrades and troubleshooting. In a way, getting SaaS is like renting a car: somebody else owns and spends for upkeep of the vehicle, but you get to drive it.

Shifting software ownership away from your business also changes how much you spend on it. With on-premises software, you purchase a license and pay yearly support fees, which can amount to 22% of the price of license fees (ouch!). With SaaS, you pay a monthly or annual subscription fee that covers licenses, support, and other fees. This is better since it allows you to spread out costs on a monthly basis, instead of purchasing expensive licenses outright and ending up with a huge maintenance bill every year.

Will my data be safe?

Some companies hesitate to switch to SaaS because of data security concerns. Who will own my data? Will my data be safe? What if the vendor goes out of business?

Here’s something for your peace of mind and safety: when you’re outsourcing your software to a SaaS vendor, you have to sign a service level agreement (SLA). This should specify that you own the data and that the vendor is obliged to provide access to your data even if the vendor suffers from extreme circumstances like economic difficulty or disasters.

Data hosted by a SaaS vendor will be more secure than that stored on the average SMB's network. That’s because SaaS vendors regularly undergo strict security audits, forcing them to invest more in security, backup technology, and maintenance than a typical SMB.

Should I switch to SaaS or stick to on-premises?

SaaS is an ideal solution for small- and mid-sized businesses that want to reduce upfront costs. Large businesses or those with complex processes will benefit more from a traditional on-premises solution since it offers more functionality and allows for full customization.

Still unsure about whether SaaS is the right answer for your organization? Want to know more about SaaS before making the transition? Call us today! Our experts are ready to answer any questions you may have about SaaS.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Why your business should get SaaS-y appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

Fileless malware: Are you at risk?Over the past few years, the security industry has witnessed a rapid evolution in attack techniques, including fileless malware. Now, cybercriminals use legitimate tools and services such as existing software, applications, and authorized protocols to carry out malicious activities like unauthorized data retrieval or data damage. Left unchecked, these types of malware can adversely affect […]

The post Fileless malware: Are you at risk? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Fileless malware: Are you at risk?

Over the past few years, the security industry has witnessed a rapid evolution in attack techniques, including fileless malware. Now, cybercriminals use legitimate tools and services such as existing software, applications, and authorized protocols to carry out malicious activities like unauthorized data retrieval or data damage. Left unchecked, these types of malware can adversely affect your business processes and the infrastructures that run them.

What is fileless malware?

Fileless malware is malicious software that doesn't rely on executable files to infect your infrastructure. Rather, it hides in your computer's random access memory (RAM) and uses trusted, legitimate processes such as Microsoft Office macros, PowerShell, and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

Fileless malware isn’t as visible as traditional malware. They use a variety of techniques to stay persistent, and can adversely affect the integrity of a business’s processes and the infrastructures that run them. Because there are no files to trace, fileless malware escapes detection from most anti-malware programs, especially those that use the databases of precedent threats. Most automated sensors cannot recognize illicit scripts, and cybersecurity analysts who are trained to identify them usually have a hard time establishing where to look.

Fileless malware by the numbers

In November 2016, attacks using fileless malware saw a 13% uptick, according to a report by Trend Micro. Also, in the third quarter of 2016, attacks were 33% higher than in the first quarter. During the first quarter of 2017, more PowerShell-related attacks were reported on over 12,000 unique machines.

Kaspersky Lab uncovered over 140 infections across 40 different countries. Almost every instance of the fileless malware was found in financial institutions and worked toward obtaining login credentials. In the worst cases, infections had already gleaned enough information to allow cyberattackers to withdraw undisclosed sums of cash from ATMs.

In 2018, Trend Micro also detected a rising trend of fileless threats throughout the first half of the year.

Is your business at risk?

It is unlikely that your business has been targeted in the earliest stages of this strain of malware, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Businesses should practice defense in depth, where multilayered safeguards are implemented to reduce exposure and mitigate damage. But apart from cultivating a security-aware workforce, what actionable countermeasures can organizations carry out?

While your business might not be in immediate danger, you should employ solutions that analyze behavioral trends. It is also wise to invest in a managed services provider that offers 24/7 network monitoring, proper patches, and software updates. Call us today to get started.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Fileless malware: Are you at risk? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

What private browsing can and can’t doAs you surf the web, it’s nearly impossible to keep your internet activity completely private. Certain websites collect personal information for marketing purposes and your browser keeps track of all the websites you visit. That browsing information can also fall into the wrong hands, which is why you should consider using private browsing if you […]

The post What private browsing can and can’t do appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

What private browsing can and can’t do

As you surf the web, it’s nearly impossible to keep your internet activity completely private. Certain websites collect personal information for marketing purposes and your browser keeps track of all the websites you visit. That browsing information can also fall into the wrong hands, which is why you should consider using private browsing if you want to keep your online activities to yourself.

What is private browsing?

Your web browser — whether it be Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, or Opera — remembers the URLs of the sites you visit, cookies that track your activity, passwords you’ve used, and temporary files you’ve downloaded.

This can be convenient if you frequently visit certain pages, can’t remember your login details, or if you’re trying to recall a website you visited a few days ago. But if someone else uses or gains access to your computer, your most private (and embarrassing) internet activities are exposed for anyone to see.

With private browsing — also called Incognito Mode in Chrome and InPrivate Browsing in Edge — all the information listed above does not get recorded. In fact, all the websites and information you accessed in the private browsing session are immediately discarded without a trace as soon as you close the browser. This can come in handy when you’re using a public computer because you’re instantly logged out of all the accounts you accessed after closing the window.

Your cookies also won’t be tracked. In a normal browsing session, sites like Facebook will display highly targeted ads based on the sites and pages you’ve visited. But in private browsing mode, your internet activity can’t be tracked by marketing companies.

Another benefit of private browsing is that you can use it to log in to several accounts on the same site, which is useful if you need to log in to two different online accounts at the same time.

What are the limitations of private browsing?

Although private browsing does prevent your web browser from storing your data, it doesn’t stop anyone from snooping on your online activities in real time. If your computer is connected to the company network, system administrators can still track what you’re browsing, even if you’re in Incognito Mode.

Also, if spyware or keylogger malware is installed on your computer, hackers will still be able to see what you’re doing online. Even though private browsing has quite a few benefits, you shouldn’t solely depend on it for online privacy. Instead, you should use a virtual private network (VPN) when you go online. These encrypt your internet connection and prevent anyone from intercepting your data. And don’t forget to use a strong anti-malware program to scan your computer and keep spyware and other malicious web monitoring software at bay.

If you want to know where you can get these solutions or learn more about web browser security, call us today. We have the tools and expert advice you need to prevent anyone from snooping on your internet browsing.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post What private browsing can and can’t do appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More