Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication technique that allows the recipient to confirm that an email was sent and authorized by the owner of that domain by giving the email a digital signature. 

 Once the recipient determines that an email is signed with a valid DKIM signature and confirms that the body of the message and attachments have not been modified, it allows the email to be delivered. DKIM signatures are hidden from end-users and validation is done on a server level preventing potential user error of opening malicious emails. 

 Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) is an email authentication protocol. It gives email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as Email Spoofing. The purpose of implementing DMARC is to protect a domain from being used in email attacks. 

 AhelioTech has trained experts to assess your organization and determine the needed DKIM and DMARC protections. 

Internal and External Security Scanning

 AhelioTech Network Scanning and Threat Detection, powered by Nessus Professional vulnerability, scanning provides a point-in-time vulnerability scan for all network assets. Performing these scans allows for tracking and remediation of any identified security issues, as well as satisfies scanning requirements for many Cyber Security and Cyber Liability Insurance requirements. 

AhelioTech is Your Technology and Cybersecurity Tool

Cyber Liability Insurance requirements vary depending on a multitude of factors including your industry and your overall network structure. AhelioTech is here to help you navigate those requirements and protect your organization. 

Contact AhelioTech Today for More Information

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• Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords that use a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or frequently used words such as the names of pets or children. 

• Update Software Regularly: Keep all software up to date with the latest security patches. Cyber attackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain unauthorized access. 

• Beware of Links: Think before clicking on links, especially those in unsolicited emails or messages. Phishing attacks commonly use deceptive links to steal personal information. Contact AhelioTech for more information about Phishing training services.  

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or an authentication app, in addition to a password. 

• Conduct Cybersecurity Audits: For businesses, it is beneficial to conduct regular audits to assess and improve cybersecurity measures. Schedule your audit with AhelioTech today. 

• Educate and Train Staff: AhelioTech offers services that train on cybersecurity best practices and current cyber threats that can help employees recognize and prevent potential security breaches. 

• Backup Data: Whether you decide to store backups on or off site, it is crucial to regularly backup important data to secure locations. This practice helps in quickly restoring information in case of a ransomware attack or data loss. 

• Implement a Firewall: A firewall can monitor incoming and outgoing network traffic to prevent unauthorized access to your network. 

• Use VPNs for Secure Connections: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can provide a secure connection to the internet, especially when accessing the network remotely. 

• Practice Cyber Hygiene: Just like personal hygiene, cyber hygiene involves regular check-ups and maintenance to ensure the health of your digital environment. 

By integrating these practices into daily routines, individuals and organizations can significantly reduce their vulnerability to cyberattacks and protect their digital assets. While cyber-attacks are always evolving, security measures are as well. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends and threats, as cyber attackers continually evolve their tactics. Cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of improvement and vigilance. 

The post Everyday Practices for Office Cybersecurity  appeared first on AhelioTech.

Establishing a cybersecurity culture within an organization is crucial as it forms the foundation of comprehensive security practices.

A Strong Cybersecurity Culture Must:

• Ensure that every employee is aware of their role in protecting the organization’s digital assets and understands any potential risks and/or threats.
• Equip employees with the knowledge to prevent, detect and respond to cyber incidents.
• Promote a proactive approach to security, rather than reactive.
• Embed security considerations into every business process and decision.

Ways to Foster a Cyber Secure Culture:

• Talk About Security: Regularly communicate about cybersecurity with your team. Include security updates in email communications and set meaningful security objectives aligned with business goals.
• Set Expectations: Create a clear and comprehensive cybersecurity policy that outlines the expected behaviors and security practices for all employees.
• Select a Security Program Manager: Appoint someone (not necessarily an IT expert) to oversee the implementation of cybersecurity practices.
• Review and Approve the Incident Response Plan (IRP): Ensure your organization has a well-defined IRP that covers actions before, during and after a security incident.
• Encourage Employee Participation: The business owner should also foster an environment where cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, encouraging employees to report suspicious activities and providing them with the tools and support needed to protect the organization’s digital assets.
• Include Training: Regular training and awareness programs to educate staff on the latest cyber threats and how to prevent them are essential.
• Implementing Robust Security Measures: These measures should include multi-factor authentication, secure password policies and regular system updates.

This cultural shift can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches, protect against financial losses, maintain customer trust and uphold the organization’s reputation. Moreover, as cyber threats evolve rapidly, a robust cybersecurity culture can foster continuous learning and adaptation to new security challenges.

To Learn More About Establishing a Strong Cybersecurity Culture, Reach Out to an AhelioTech Representative Today!

The post How to Establish a Culture of Security  appeared first on AhelioTech.

AhelioTech strongly recommends the following Huntress Products:

• Huntress EDR & MDR Software
• Huntress Microsoft 365 MDR Solution
• Huntress Curricula Phishing Solution

Huntress EDR & MDR Software

Huntress provides more than just an anti-virus protection; it also offers a powerful suite of endpoint protection, detection and response capabilities. EDR and MDR is not an “either/or” choice. They are both important for enhancing cybersecurity, but they have different core focuses and solve security challenges in different ways. EDR is a tool that is deployed to protect a particular endpoint, while MDR is a service that provides security monitoring and management across an organization’s entire IT environment.

Huntress’s Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution provides advanced protection for endpoints, such as laptops, desktops and mobile devices. EDR solutions collect and analyze data from endpoints to detect and respond to potential threats, such as malware, ransomware or unauthorized access.

Huntress’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a valuable service that provides comprehensive security monitoring and management for an organization’s entire IT environment. MDR services use various tools and technologies, including EDR solutions, to detect and respond to cyberattacks 24/7. Some key benefits of MDR services are 24/365 monitoring, managed response, threat hunting and threat intelligence.

Why is Huntress’s EDR and MDR Solution Important for Your Organization?

• Meets increasing cybersecurity and cyber liability insurance requirements.
• Provides greater endpoint visibility.
• Identifies enhanced threat intelligence.
• Provides near real-time forensics to identify actively exploited systems.
• Mapping of malicious and suspicious processes.
• Provides persistent foothold monitoring and remediation.
• Offers around the clock active threat hunting.
• Provides access to monthly reporting and security overview.

Huntress Microsoft 365 MDR Solution

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a growing threat to businesses of all sizes. BEC attacks involve fraudulent emails to trick individuals into sending money or sensitive information to threat actors. These attacks can be highly convincing and difficult to detect, often suggesting urgency and involving impersonating a trusted contact or using compromised credentials to gain access to sensitive data.

Huntress MDR for Microsoft 365 leverages automated detectors and human analysts to monitor and respond to critical security threats such as unauthorized access, email tampering and privilege escalation in Microsoft 365 cloud environments.

MDR for Microsoft 365 continuously monitors for indications and behaviors of a BEC attack such as a user logging in from a suspicious location or a malicious email forwarding rule. The Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC) reviews any detections, instantly isolating any compromised users and supplies a semi-automated remediation plan for further necessary actions.

These attacks change every day and grow in sophistication. The 365 MDR Solution offers another layer of protection for users and the organization.

Huntress Curricula Phishing Solution

The best and most sophisticated cybersecurity technologies today are being rendered useless by one simple thing: employees. Unlike other IT services, security is not something you can set and forget. It requires constant vigilance, monitoring and training. Everyday users need to play an active role as you strengthen your defenses.

What are the Benefits of the Huntress Curricula Phishing Solution?

Easily customize, deliver and report on phishing programs that train employees and help build trust.

Provide detailed reporting that is easy to generate and share, working through audit or compliance needs.

Includes Huntress Security Awareness Training which keeps your employees ahead of the curve by teaching them about the specific tactics’ attackers are using when targeting your organization.

Security Awareness Training (SAT) delivers a powerful—and fun—combination of episodes, assessments, simulations and reports to help employees become more cyber savvy in the fight against bad actors.

Depending on the needs of your organization, any or all of these tools will enhance your cybersecurity culture.

 Contact AhelioTech Today to Determine Which Huntress Product is Right for Your Company!

The post What Huntress Services are Right for Your Business? appeared first on AhelioTech.

While it may seem tedious and even overwhelming, writing down your business plan forces you to think deeply about your business. This process is essential for making informed decisions and achieving success.

While each plan is unique to the specific business, key items should be included:

Identify Needs/Issues

Everyday Issues: Reoccurring issues that users are experiencing, basic trouble shooting tickets, etc.
Immediate Needs: Malfunctioning hardware requiring immediate replacement, deactivating unused devices, implementation of cybersecurity, etc.
Scheduled Needs: Ordering new hardware, onboarding employees, renewing licenses, implementing new levels of security, etc.
Projects: Moving a server from on site to the Cloud, changing a phone system, an office move, etc.

Desired Goals

Goals are often determined by your business goals. Will you be expanding your workforce? Do you need to enhance security based on industry regulations?

Budget

Identify the IT expenditures over the last three years.
Identify the estimated IT budget for the current year.
Identify the estimated IT budget for the next three years.

Defined Schedule

This should include specific dates the company can adhere to in order to run daily operations and achieve long-term goals.

An IT Business Plan aligns your technology initiatives with organizational goals. It answers critical questions such as: What IT changes are needed to support our business strategy? How can we create value through technology? By focusing on the important (not just the urgent), an IT strategy ensures that your efforts contribute directly to organizational success.

An IT strategy provides an initiative-taking approach to handling changes in technology, market dynamics and/or business needs. By anticipating shifts and having contingency plans in place, you can respond effectively when unexpected events occur.

Once again, an IT Business Plan is not static; it should be revised regularly to adapt to market changes and emerging technologies. Contact AhelioTech today to begin creating your IT business plan. It will be an essential tool for achieving the goals of your organization!

The post The Importance of an IT Business Plan appeared first on AhelioTech.

Why Does Your Company Need an Archiving Method?

• Preventing Data Loss: One of the top benefits of archiving is preventing data loss within organizations. Effective archiving systems protect against data loss and ensure that valuable information is preserved. 
• Decreasing Operating Expenses: Archiving allows you to store data on affordable devices, saving energy and data center costs.  
• Improving Document Security: Archiving improves document security by ensuring that sensitive or valuable information is stored securely. This is especially important for compliance with various laws and regulations. 
• Compliance and Legal Requirements: Organizations must comply with governmental regulations, legal obligations, and intellectual property requirements. Proper archiving provides audit and legal proof in case of related incidents. 
• Enhancing Productivity: Access to archived data is easier and faster, allowing employees to focus on other important tasks instead of spending time managing archive data. 
• Data Lifecycle Management: Managing data becomes easier when unused data is archived, leaving the organization with fewer records to process. 

Why Archive Now?

 The need for compliance and industry regulations continues to increase. Businesses are discovering challenges regarding discovery, implementation, audits, litigation and sometimes personal liability for employees. While archiving does not prevent these scenarios, it helps a business stay ahead of changing regulations while maintaining an elevated level of compliance with a simple interface that is easy to access. Archiving also increases efficiency by removing unnecessary documents from everyday access.  

Contact AhelioTech today to learn more about our Archiving Solutions. We are here to help you implement and select the plan that meets the specific needs of your organization.   

The post Why Archive Your Information? appeared first on AhelioTech.

Establish Clear Policies and Guidelines for Remote Work.  These should include the acceptable use of devices, networks and applications. 

Establish Clear Policies for Loss of Data or Devices.  If a device is stolen outside of the office, it is necessary to have a policy in place that states who is responsible for the lost device as well as any data that may have been breached.  This includes external drives or backup devices.   

Provide Training and Awareness Programs for Remote Workers. These should cover the basics of cybersecurity, such as password management, phishing prevention and data protection. 

Implement Security Tools and Solutions. These tools may include VPNs, encryption, firewalls, antivirus software and multifactor authentication. 

Monitor and Audit the Remote Work Environment. Organizations should regularly check the security status of the devices, networks and applications used by remote workers, and conduct audits to identify any vulnerabilities or risks. 

Communicate and Collaborate with Remote Workers. Organizations should maintain regular communication and feedback channels with remote workers and provide them with support and guidance on cybersecurity issues. 

By following these tips, businesses can enhance cybersecurity with employees working remotely and protect their data, assets and reputation from cyberattacks. 

The post Cybersecurity and Hybrid Work Models appeared first on AhelioTech.

DR is not a one-time activity. It requires constant monitoring and updating as your data and applications change and grow over time. It is important that AhelioTech’s clients understand how DR data growth affects your storage needs and how we can help you manage it effectively. 

DR Data Growth: What Causes It? 

DR data growth is the increase in the amount of data that you need to back up and store for DR purposes. There are several factors that contribute to DR data growth, such as: 

– Data Creation: As your business generates more data from various sources, such as transactions, customer interactions, analytics, general business activity, etc., you need to back up more data for DR purposes. 

– Data Retention: Depending on your industry and regulatory requirements, you may need to retain your data for a regulated period of time, such as months or years. This means that you need to store more data for longer periods of time for DR purposes. 

– Data Change: As your data and applications change over time, due to updates, modifications, deletions, etc., you need to back up the changes for DR purposes. This means that you need to store more versions of your data and applications for DR purposes. 

– Data Protection: As your data becomes more valuable and sensitive, you may need to protect it with encryption, compression, deduplication, etc. These techniques can impact the storage space required for your data, but they also add some overhead and complexity to your backup process. 

DR Data Growth: How to Measure It? 

DR data growth can be measured by using metrics such as: 

– Backup Size: The total amount of data that you back up for DR purposes. 

– Backup Frequency: The number of times that you back up your data for DR purposes. 

– Backup Duration: The time that it takes to complete a backup for DR purposes. 

– Backup Window: The period during which you can perform a backup for DR purposes without affecting your business operations. 

– Recovery Point Objective (RPO): The maximum amount of data that you can afford to lose in case of a disaster. It determines how often you need to back up your data for DR purposes. 

– Recovery Time Objective (RTO): The maximum amount of time that you can afford to spend on restoring your data and applications in case of a disaster. It determines how fast you need to recover your data and applications for DR purposes. 

Below is an example of average data change and growth percentages over a single year.  If your source data size starts out at 3TB, within a single year that data could grow to just over 9TB of off-site storage.  That growth will result in increased storage costs as space is consumed at datacenter. 

DR Data Growth: How to Manage It? 

DR data growth can pose several challenges for your business, such as: 

– Increased Storage Costs: As you need to store more data for DR purposes, you may need to invest in more storage hardware and software, as well as maintenance and support services. 

– Reduced Backup Performance: As you need to back up more data for DR purposes, you may experience longer backup times, larger backup windows, and higher network bandwidth consumption. 

– Reduced Recovery Performance: As you need to recover more data for DR purposes, you may experience longer recovery times, larger recovery windows and higher network bandwidth consumption. 

– Increased Complexity: As you need to manage more data for DR purposes, you may face more challenges in terms of backup policies, backup schedules, backup methods, backup locations, backup testing, backup verification, etc. 

To overcome these challenges, you need to adopt some best practices for managing your DR data growth, such as: 

– Assess Your Current Situation: Understand your current data and application landscape, as well as your business and regulatory requirements. Measure your current DR data growth metrics and identify the sources and causes of your DR data growth. 

– Define Your Objectives: Define your desired RPO and RTO levels for each of your data and application categories. Align your DR objectives with your business objectives and priorities. 

– Choose Your Strategy: Choose the most suitable backup strategy for each of your data and application categories. Consider factors such as backup frequency, backup duration, backup window, backup location, backup method, etc. Consider the trade-offs between different backup strategies in terms of cost, performance, reliability, security, etc. 

– Optimize Your Storage: Optimize your storage utilization and efficiency by using techniques such as encryption, compression, deduplication, tiering, archiving, etc. Monitor and manage your storage capacity and performance regularly. 

– Test and Verify Your Backups: Test and verify your backups periodically by performing restore tests and audits. Update and document your backup policies and procedures regularly. 

DR data growth is inevitable for any business that relies on data and IT systems. Contact AhelioTech today for ways to manage it effectively. With Best Practice Policies, you can ensure that your business can recover from any disaster quickly and smoothly, while minimizing the impact on your budget and operations. 

The post Disaster Recovery Data Growth: How to Manage Your Storage Needs appeared first on AhelioTech.

One of the best ways to prevent cyberattacks and reduce the risk of data breaches is to conduct regular vulnerability scans. A vulnerability scan is a process of identifying and assessing the weaknesses in a system or network that could be exploited by hackers. A vulnerability scan can help a business to: 

• Detect and prioritize the most critical vulnerabilities that need to be fixed 
• Comply with industry standards and regulations such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, etc. 
• Enhance the security posture and resilience of the system or network 
• Reduce the likelihood and impact of cyberattacks and data breaches 

However, conducting a vulnerability scan once is not enough. The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and new threats and vulnerabilities emerge every day. Therefore, it is recommended that businesses conduct vulnerability scans at least quarterly, or more frequently depending on the nature and size of the business. 

By performing quarterly vulnerability scans, a business can: 

• Keep up with the latest threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their system or network 
• Monitor the effectiveness of their security measures and identify any gaps or weaknesses 
• Track and measure their progress and improvement in addressing the vulnerabilities 
• Demonstrate their commitment and responsibility to protect their customers’ data and privacy 

To conduct quarterly vulnerability scans, a business needs to have a clear plan and process that covers the following steps: 

• Define the scope and objectives of the scan, such as which systems or networks to scan, what types of vulnerabilities to look for, what level of detail to report, etc. 
• Choose a reliable and reputable vulnerability scanning tool or service that meets the business’s needs and requirements 
• Schedule and perform the scan at a convenient time that minimizes the disruption to the business’s operations 
• Analyze and interpret the scan results, such as identifying the severity and impact of the vulnerabilities, ranking them by priority, assigning them to responsible parties, etc. 
• Remediate vulnerabilities, such as applying patches, updating software, configuring settings, etc. 
• Document and report the scan findings and actions taken, such as creating a summary report, sharing it with relevant stakeholders, storing it for future reference, etc. 
• Review and evaluate the scan process and outcomes, such as assessing the effectiveness of the scan, identifying any challenges or issues, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement, etc. 

The post Why Quarterly Vulnerability Scans Are Essential for Your Business? appeared first on AhelioTech.

Do You Really Need a Spam Filter?

Save Time and Resources: Spam filtering reduces the amount of junk mail that reaches your inbox, saving you and your employees time and bandwidth. You can focus on the important messages and avoid wasting time on deleting or reporting spam.

Protect Your Data and Devices: Spam filtering blocks emails that contain harmful attachments or links that can infect your devices with viruses, spyware or ransomware. It also prevents phishing emails that try to trick you into revealing sensitive information or credentials.

Enhance Your Reputation and Compliance: Spam filtering prevents spam from being sent from your domain, which can damage your reputation and cause blacklisting by email providers. It also helps you comply with data protection regulations and industry standards by preventing data breaches and leaks.

How Does One Select a Spam Filtering Solution?

There are many spam filtering solutions available in the market, but not all of them are equally effective or suitable for your business needs. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a spam filtering solution:

Accuracy: A good spam filtering solution should have a high detection rate and a low false positive rate. It should be able to identify and block spam without blocking legitimate emails.

Security: A good spam filtering solution should have strong encryption and authentication mechanisms to protect your email traffic from interception and tampering. It should also have regular updates and patches to keep up with the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Scalability: A good spam filtering solution should be able to handle the volume and growth of your email traffic without compromising performance or reliability. It should also be able to adapt to changing business needs and requirements.

Ease of Use: A good spam filtering solution should be easy to install, configure, and manage. It should have a user-friendly interface and clear reports and alerts. It should also have a responsive and knowledgeable support team to assist you in case of any issues or questions.

Spam is a serious problem that can affect any business that uses email communication. A spam filtering solution can help you save time and resources, protect your data and devices, enhance your reputation and compliance and improve your email experience. However, not all spam filtering solutions are the same. You need to choose one that meets your business needs and expectations.

If you are looking for a reliable, secure, scalable, and easy-to-use spam filtering solution, contact us today. Our AhelioTech Spam Solution achieves consistently superior performance thanks to its unique ability to detect spam outbreaks as soon as they emerge as well as block all associated messages in real time.

The post Is There a Way to Prevent Spam? appeared first on AhelioTech.