3 Steps to Zero Trust Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

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The prevalence and complexity of cyberattacks have escalated significantly in recent times. As a result, even a minor oversight in your network security can set off a sequence of events that may have disastrous consequences for your enterprise. To prevent such occurrences, it is advisable to adopt a robust cybersecurity framework like the zero-trust approach.

The zero-trust concept maintains that users and applications cannot be trusted by default. Instead, it urges companies to authenticate every access while considering every user and application a possible risk. Zero trust is an excellent foundation for companies looking to establish strong cybersecurity measures. It can handle the intricacies of today’s work environment, including hybrid workplaces, and safeguard individuals, devices, applications, and data regardless of location.

It’s essential to note that despite how security vendors may promote it, zero trust isn’t a one-stop solution or platform. It cannot be acquired from a vendor and activated with a click of a button. Instead, zero trust is a strategic approach – a framework that requires a systematic implementation process.

Implementing zero trust: Three core principles to remember

If you are planning to adopt a zero-trust framework to enhance your IT security, it’s crucial to bear in mind three fundamental principles:

1. Assume breach and minimize the impact

Rather than waiting for a security breach to occur, adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity by assuming risk is advisable. This entails treating applications, services, identities, and networks (both internal and external) as potentially compromised. Doing so can enhance your response time to a breach, minimize the damage, boost your overall security, and, most importantly, safeguard your business.

2. Limit access 

The misuse of privileged access is a leading cause of cyberattacks. To mitigate this risk, it’s crucial to restrict access to the minimum necessary level without disrupting day-to-day operations. Here are some specific security measures that organizations adopt to limit access:

• Just-in-time access (JIT): This approach restricts access to users, devices, or applications for a predetermined period. This limits the time individuals have access to critical systems.

• Principle of least privilege (PoLP): This approach grants users, devices, or applications minimum access or permissions required to perform their job functions.

• Segmented application access (SAA): This approach restricts users to permitted applications, preventing unauthorized users from accessing the network.

3. Continually verify

It is advisable to adopt a “never trust, always verify” strategy for security and constantly verify the identity and access rights of users, devices, and applications. To achieve this, deploying robust identity and access management (IAM) controls that define roles and access rights may be beneficial, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access relevant information.

Need help? We’re here for you. 

Implementing zero trust compliance on your own can be a challenging undertaking. Fortunately, partnering with an IT service provider like us can alleviate the burden. By leveraging our advanced technologies and expertise, you can establish a zero-trust framework within your business without recruiting additional talent or procuring additional tools.

Top 4 Co-Managed IT Myths

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When it comes to technology management, business owners must weigh the pros and cons of leveraging an in-house IT staff or outsourcing the services. But there is a third way to approach the situation – co-managed IT. This strategy is beneficial because it combines the advantages of having your in-house staff with specialized insight from outsourced professionals.

By utilizing a “best of both worlds” approach, companies can bridge any existing technology-based gaps without needing to put in the time and money for qualified personnel.

Unfortunately, many myths surrounding co-managed IT can hinder the ability to make an informed decision. This blog post aims to highlight these misconceptions and help you realize the immense advantages of adopting this approach for your business’s growth.

Myths debunked

Myth #1: My business isn’t big enough to need outsourced co-managed IT.

Though it is often assumed that outsourced IT services are reserved for larger enterprises, co-managed IT solutions are available to businesses of any size. By working with a reliable service provider, companies can access customizable support that covers gaps and allows them to meet their goals better. Furthermore, even small organizations can suffer from cyber threats, making using an IT partner’s advanced security measures all the more crucial.

Myth #2: An outsourced IT specialist is less vested in my business’s success than my internal staff.

This is not true. When selecting an IT service provider, ensuring a commitment to your business and its success is vital. A co-managed IT services model is a great way to ensure that the service provider becomes an integrated part of your team. In contrast, the internal team maintains ultimate control over the relationship. In such cases, the external provider will be focused on helping you achieve your goals and objectives for maximum success.

Myth #3: My business won’t be able to afford co-managed IT.

Many people wrongly assume that co-managed IT is a costly solution. The cost efficiency of partnering with an external service provider to share the workload cannot be understated. The financial impact from potential downtime caused by internal IT staff attempting to deal with unanticipated problems or malfunctions can also be much greater than what you would pay for co-managed IT services.

Myth #4: My internal IT staff will lose their jobs.

Rather than swap out existing resources, a more collaborative approach is implemented through a “partnership” solution. With this model in place, internal IT personnel and external IT providers each have well-defined duties that mutually reinforce one another. This alliance focuses on shared corporate objectives without any need for redundancies within your internal tech team, instead providing them with the chance to collaborate with specialist and expert-level technicians, enabling your firm to secure optimal results.

Need help?

When considering co-managed IT, it is essential to remember that not all IT service providers are the same. Therefore, selecting an experienced partner can make a big difference in accomplishing your plan. That is why it is essential to partner with a vendor who comprehends your company’s unique needs before making any decisions.

And that’s where we come in!

Achieving success through the use of co-managed IT is within reach for your business. Our tailored services are designed to meet your requirements and goals so that you can make the most of this path. Get in touch with us now to assess how co-managed IT could benefit you and find out about our aid in meeting your firm’s IT demands.

The Dangers of Running Outdated Software

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When software reaches its end of life, it no longer receives critical patches and updates, leaving users vulnerable to various problems. While some may not see the need to upgrade immediately, outdated software can lead to security risks, data loss, compliance issues, and more. In this blog, we will discuss the primary implications of running outdated software and explain why taking action is crucial when reaching EoL.

Implications of using outdated software

The implications of running outdated software can be divided into three categories:

Security implications

Old software can be a considerable security risk. You might not get security patches from the vendor anymore, leaving your system open to known exploits. Also, attackers may have already reverse-engineered the software and developed exploit code, making it easier for them to compromise your system. Outdated software can also cause compatibility issues with other software and hardware, leading to data loss or corruption. And finally, running old software may violate your organization’s security policies, hindering a secure future and operational excellence.

Productivity implications

Software that is not up to date can negatively impact a company’s productivity. For example, outdated software can run slowly, crash often, or be challenging to use, leading to employee frustration and workflow disruptions. This can harm a company’s reputation with customers and bottom line. Therefore, it is important to keep software up to date to avoid these problems.

Privacy implications

The implications of using outdated software can be severe, especially when it comes to sensitive information. Without support from the vendor and proper security measures, you could be at risk for data breaches and fines.

For example, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission is taking action against Chegg Inc. for failing to patch vulnerabilities that exposed sensitive information about millions of its customers and employees, such as Social Security numbers, email addresses, and passwords. Chegg allegedly couldn’t address problems despite four security breaches over five years.

According to the FTC’s proposed order, the company must immediately address vulnerabilities and take additional steps to limit the amount of data it can collect and retain. Additionally, to provide users with multifactor authentication to secure their accounts and allow users to access and delete their data.*

Collaborate for success

As a business owner, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of using outdated software. While it may be a challenge to upgrade your systems, partnering with an IT service provider can help ease the burden.

At Istonish, we can assist in identifying outdated software and hardware, as well as keeping your company up to date on the latest security threats. We can also update your systems to the latest versions, ensuring optimal protection for your business.

3 Technology End-of-Service Myths

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As cybercrime continues to be a significant threat, businesses must do everything possible to maintain optimal security. This challenge means keeping all software and hardware up to date. However, many companies must realize that expired software/hardware is one of the most prominent security risks hindering their success.

Using unsupported software and hardware until it doesn’t work anymore can be a severe hurdle to your organization’s daily operations and reputation.

Many myths surrounding End of Service or End of Life need to be clarified for businesses. This blog is intended to help you clear things up.

Demystifying the myths

Let’s dispel some of the most common myths.

Myth #1: End of Service means I can still use the product until it breaks
It’s essential to know the End-of-Service dates for your software and hardware, so you can plan and make sure you’re not left without support. Being in an End-of-Life or End-of-Service state means there is no longer a team working on improving the product or creating and releasing patches for new security vulnerabilities. This could leave you vulnerable to attacks and unable to use new features and capabilities that are released.

Myth #2: If it’s not broken, don’t fix (or replace) it
It’s popular to say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but when it comes to software and hardware, that’s not always sage advice. Failing to update your software and hardware can expose your network to security vulnerabilities, bugs, and other issues.

There are several reasons to keep your software and hardware up to date. First, newer versions are usually more stable and less prone to crashes and bugs. Plus, new updates frequently include security patches that help protect against cyberattacks. And finally, updates may include new features and enhancements that can make your life easier.

Next time you’re tempted to skip an update, remember you could be kickstarting a chain of events that’s not good for your organization.

Myth #3: End of Life means the product will no longer exist
Although the product will still be available, it will no longer receive security updates, new features, or tech support from the manufacturer. This means that it will become increasingly vulnerable to security risks and may be unable to keep up with your workload.

It also implies your IT team will find it harder to keep your IT network and devices secure from cyberthreats. If you’re using a piece of hardware or software that has reached the end of its life cycle, you should consider upgrading to a newer model or investing in a new software license.

Join hands for success

Updating your software and hardware is essential to keep your business running smoothly and avoid potential consequences. However, trying to do everything alone can be difficult and time-consuming. This is where an experienced and professional IT service provider can help.

We can support you by offering vital guidance and expertise so you can decide what steps to take to keep your IT systems running smoothly and securely. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out for a consultation.