Regardless of what your business does, or how it does it, the data your business has is valuable. After all, a lot has gone into its creation… just consider the combined effort that your sales and marketing team, your human resources department, and the rest of your staff rely on and generate during their respective operations. Add to that all the data you’ve collected from your clients and customers. Now imagine the repercussions of losing any of that data. So Yes, Data is a Big Deal… … and as such, it needs to be protected. While antivirus, firewalls, intrusion detection, and all the other security tools we always recommend are a necessary part of this, a real disaster will require more. It will require a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery strategy to be fully planned and implemented. Of course, a “disaster” can come in many forms, like: Human error Malware attack Sabotage and theft Hardware malfunction Power surges Software corruption So, with all of the different ways that your business could experience disaster, it is imperative that you create a business continuity strategy that, by incorporating a backup and recovery plan, prepares you to sustain your operations through even the worst possible scenarios. In theory, a business has options to consider when making these preparations. Technically speaking, backup solutions like tape and removable hard drives could work for you, as could a cloud backup. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how your data is handled, and how you would need to scale your backup in the future. Having said that, we typically recommend a BDR solution. This is because the BDR covers both your backup and disaster recovery needs. As a network-attached storage device, it is configured to incrementally backup files, preventing the large chunks of data created between backups from being lost. The BDR can also act as a temporary server, should your original experience malfunctions. To provide the needed redundancy, the BDR will also save a copy of your backup in an offsite data center. As a result, a disaster that wipes your business’ data as well as the BDR still won’t eliminate your data entirely. To learn more about the BDR, reach out to SRS Networks by calling (831) 758-3636.
What Divides IT and OT? Nowadays, the difference between these two categories has become slim, largely thanks to the Internet of Things. IT is the technology used to manage any of the business’ collected data, while OT is the technology that facilitates the business’ operability. As the two have merged, it has become critical to protect both from the threats to businesses out there. Now, IT and OT work in tandem to keep a business effective and operational, which can put decision makers in a tough spot. With both sides needing protection, costs have swelled and now their technology demands more of their focus. Let’s go over a few reasons why: Targeted Attacks While the IoT can be increasingly useful as innovation moves technology forward, it can be equally problematic to attach additional devices to your IT network. As the typical IT department often doesn’t think of OT systems when considering your endpoints, they are left vulnerable to cyberattacks directed towards them—including ransomware attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, and others. To avoid downtime in your OT, you need to include protections for these technologies in your security strategy. Complex Compliance Attacks also aren’t the only thing that modern businesses need to worry about. Various government bodies, industry authorities, and local regulations have set constraints and standards for businesses that fall under certain industries must follow. Of course, this leads to expensive equipment maintenance and other challenges for businesses to deal with. To help alleviate these costs, many IT solutions are now used to automate tasks, but in doing so, sometimes exposing their OT to greater risk. Growing Security Issues The Internet of Things is actively being innovated upon, which businesses see as an opportunity to improve some aspect of their operations. Unfortunately, many don’t consider the fact that each device added to their processes adds another potential access point for a threat. How to Better Protect Your IT and OT We have assembled a brief list of activities that will help you ready yourself against the risks that the merging of IT and OT is causing. If you want or need assistance with any of these considerations, don’t hesitate to reach out to SRS Networks: Hardware inventory controls Software inventory controls Ongoing vulnerability management Measured use of admin privileges Secure hardware and software configurations Audit analysis and maintenance Our team can help you keep your business secure, while still boosting its operational effectiveness. To learn more, give us a call at (831) 758-3636.
These methods vary wildly but can effectively be split into a few overarching categories: instruction-based, active training, experience-based, and technological. Instruction-Based This is the approach to learning that most are most familiar with, as modern education systems largely rely on it. With the help of visual aids, an instructor presents a lesson to a large group in a classroom setting. Think conferences, seminars, lectures, or presentations, and you’ll have the right idea. This form of training is very efficient to deliver but can be ineffective for the same reasons that make it so efficient. Due to the size of the group, a lot of people can absorb the lesson at once, but there is the chance that the impersonal nature of such a lesson won’t allow the information to be retained… which means that the person delivering the message has to work to keep the attention of the group. If the right energy level can be maintained in proportion to the size of the group, this can be an effective way to teach fundamentals. Active Training Active training is very similar to instruction-based, with one key difference: active training relies quite a lot more on the participation of the person being trained. As a result, active training sessions may have a loose outline of materials to cover, but the lesson relies on the active (hence the name) participation of the person being trained. Harvard University has conducted studies that have shown that active learning techniques result in greater outcomes despite participants feeling as though more traditional teaching methods worked better. A few examples of active training scenarios are workshops, where a relative expert guides the class through a topic, and brainstorming sessions, where participants must contribute thoughts and ideas to overcome a challenge. This version of training can present quite a few benefits, like increased engagement and collaboration between coworkers. However, some people may be reluctant to work in a group, which could potentially limit how effective the lesson really is. Therefore, an instructor’s job also involves monitoring these groups to ensure that everyone is on task and participating. Experience-Based Training This approach is basically the practical application of “practice makes perfect,” as learners are exposed to the situation that the training applies to during the training itself. Because they are observing and participating in the process to learn it, this is a very effective way to teach an employee a process they need to follow and develop the skills in context. This approach can often be fast-paced and high pressure, so it often helps to give trainees additional resources to prepare themselves beforehand. This kind of training can happen through simulated scenarios and role-playing but is most seen in someone shadowing an assigned mentor. Mentorship has often been perceived as more effective amongst existing employees who will soon be elevated to a leadership position, while on-the-job training is most effective with new hires. As a result, different kinds of experiential training could – and perhaps should – be employed at different levels within your organization. Technological Training Of course, we must discuss how technology provides opportunities to train your employees, and how its benefits (like accessibility, efficiency, and progress tracking) can make the entire process simpler for you to manage. The key ingredient that technological training offers is the […]
Uptime and Capacity Optimization An efficient business doesn’t have to deal with a lot of downtime. This is made possible by reliable and well-maintained systems. Technology doesn’t maintain itself, after all, and it takes a dedicated strategy to keep technology updated, patched, and maintained. This strategy is typically to update systems when organizational productivity slows. With the help of a managed IT service provider, you don’t have to schedule these fixes. The MSP has powerful remote monitoring and management software that allows professional technicians to keep an eye on your network, your infrastructure, and your data storage systems to ensure that all are functioning optimally. Additionally, using innovative automation technologies, we are able to better patch, update, and protect your network than any other method of IT support. An MSP’s service is a fraction of the cost of a comparable solution: paying multiple IT technicians to monitor and maintain your business’ network and infrastructure. The value of an MSP is clear. Your business will see more uptime, and less overall IT-related issues, while also having access to useful methods of IT support. Business Management Optimization The small and medium-sized business owner has a lot of responsibilities. Adding the health of a company’s IT to that list may not be ideal. Running a business means making tough decisions, but if you could move some of them off of your plate, wouldn’t it make you more effective at dealing with your other responsibilities? Definitely. Managed IT Services makes this possible. Besides freeing up capital that typically would be allocated to payroll, an MSP puts you in position to focus your efforts on other endeavors. Your IT, therefore, will be a strength, as it will have trained professionals focusing on it, allowing you to focus on everything else. IT Budget Optimization Speaking of shifting capital. Managed IT services, even with every machine your business has covered by a managed services agreement, is a fraction of the cost of hiring the corresponding number of IT professionals. Having IT technicians that live and breathe IT working for you is advantageous, but having them working under contract for a small percentage of the cost you would expect, is a positive development for any business. Furthermore, an MSP can help you direct the saved capital to make your business better. When people have years of experience dealing with business-centric information technology issues, they can help you design and implement the technology that will help your business make gains in efficiency and productivity. Security and Compliance Optimization Sure, managed services bring a lot of value to your organization. Nowhere is this more evident in combating cybercrime and maintaining organizational compliance. With the ever-expanding knowledge base in cybersecurity that an MSP’s technicians have, your business will see some major benefits. Firstly, you are sure to get the most comprehensive and dedicated security consulting. Secondly, an MSP can help you implement a training regimen that can do wonders for keeping your business’ IT secure. Finally, an MSP can present you with innovative tools to keep your data, network, and infrastructure safe. As far as compliance goes, the more secure your IT resources, the better your organization will be at operating up to compliance standards. Since compliance isn’t all about keeping your information secure, our expert consultants can help your organization […]
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