A Refresher Many will likely remember when it was discovered last year that Equifax, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, had been breached. As a result of this breach, approximately 143 million people were potentially affected, with various forms of personally identifiable information made available for cybercriminals to use. Doing the math, this meant that 44 percent of the United States? total population could have their information out and available to those who would misuse it. Then, in October 2017, it was announced that an investigation revealed that 2.5 million more people were exposed than first thought. This brought the total number of potential victims up to 145.5 million. Unfortunately, it would seem this is a running total. Equifax has since discovered 2.4 million more victims, whose names and partial driver’s license numbers were accessed and stolen. Fortunately, this data – while not worthless – is of limited value to a cybercriminal, especially when compared to the data that other victims lost, like Social Security numbers. Regardless, it is still important to view reminders of events like the Equifax breach as what they are: reminders. As such, they serve as an opportunity to reflect on what is to be learned from events like these. Lessons from the Breach There are a few takeaways to be had from a data breach event, the first of which being: there?s always going to be another data breach. The unfortunate reality is, with valuable information stored by so many entities, data is always at risk of being stolen. So much information is shared, in fact, that it is not only possible for one?s data to be breached, it is now probable. As a user in such a world, there are steps you need to take to prepare for this paradigm. First and foremost, you need to prepare yourself on a personal level. Regardless of how cautious you are about your personal data, you need to accept that, yes, it will probably be stolen one day – and not necessarily from you. As the Equifax breach and countless others have proven, the companies that collect your data aren?t always storing it in the most secure way. So, even if you shred your bank statements and follow all the rules when it comes to your passwords, there?s still a chance that your data could find its way into the wrong hands thanks to someone else?s negligence or bad luck. This is why you also need to be prepared to both prevent and detect attempts of crimes like identity theft. This can be accomplished through the use of credit freezes, locks, and alerts. You also need to be sure that you are prepared to share this information with your clients and customers, should you find that your records were breached. Taking ownership of the event and doing everything possible to help those involved through it will help reduce the ill will that is felt toward your company. Unfortunately, data breaches aren?t going to stop happening. As a company, it is up to your organization to best prepare for them, and should one strike, handle it as best you can. White Mountain IT Services can help. Call us today at (603) 889-0800.

Why They Matter When you first come into possession of a new device, whether its a PC workstation, laptop, tablet, or other mobile device, it comes with certain protections against threats and malware. However, these threats are constantly improving in order to overcome these protections, and furthermore, these protections aren?t always perfect. As a result, if nothing is done, your device will swiftly become vulnerable to threats, and you will experience the ill effects that this malware causes. This is precisely why manufacturers and software developers work to improve their creations, releasing their improvements in the form of security updates and software patches. These updates and patches are their retaliation against the malware developers and distributors who actively work to overcome the security that the devices you use have in place. The Difference between Updates and Patches While they serve largely the same purpose, there are a few key differences between patches and software updates. While both ultimately are intended to resolve security issues, the scope of these processes are different. Patches are more or less what they sound like: a quick fix that covers a hole in your business? security until a more permanent solution can be implemented. The software update is the relatively more robust solution, taking the patch and incorporating what it fixes into the new version of the software. It isn?t uncommon for you to be prompted to install these enhancements as they are released. This only makes sense, as the developers of patches and updates don?t want to be held responsible for a user falling victim to whatever the patch or update was supposed to fix simply because the user wasn?t notified that a fix was available. We?re Here to Help Admittedly, when faced with the choice to install an update or patch and wait for the process to complete, or take that time and make progress on some of your work tasks, it can be very tempting to let the patch or update wait for a more opportune time. At White Mountain IT Services, we?re available to install these crucial updates and patches when your workforce isn?t active at their workstations. For more information on how we can assist you in your patching and updating, reach out to us at (603) 889-0800!

What is a Proxy Server? Simply put, a proxy server is a computer that acts as an intermediary between the computer you use and the Internet. It masks the IP address of your machine with the IP address of the proxy. It is designed to provide business networks with additional security and privacy benefits. Proxy Server Security Network breaches and other security lapses can be major problems for any business. The proxy server can work to limit problems like these by adding the additional layer of security between the servers you depend on and the traffic coming in from the Internet. While the proxy server isn?t a comprehensive solution to keep unwanted entities out of your network, it does provide a barrier that can work to keep your network from being infiltrated, and your data from being stolen. Proxy Server Privacy Most organizations utilize proxy servers to protect their network and data from the stream of traffic that comes in and out of their network. In protecting the anonymity of your systems, proxy servers protect the data by limiting your organization?s direct exposure to this traffic. By masking your actions from public view, you go a long way toward protecting not only the data; but, indirectly, the people that depend on your business. Here are some ways proxy servers provide security: Usage Controls – Your employees are people with lives. The more leeway you give them, the more they will take. A proxy server can help network administrators prevent devices or users from accessing material, both inside and outside the business? network. It also provides a construct to keep detailed logs about what interactions people have with outside data. Agility – Proxy servers allow for more agile business by saving bandwidth. Since the proxy server will repel any of the information it is designed to propel, your organization?s computing speed for relevant tasks will likely improve. That?s just the tip of the iceberg, but it should give you a better idea about what a proxy server is and how it is deployed. For more great technology information, tips, and tricks, visit our blog regularly. For more information about technologies you can utilize to make your business better, contact the experts at White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.

It?s easy to fall into the trap of outsourcing, though, especially if you don?t know what the ideal way to outsource your IT looks like. Take the break-fix model as an example. Since it?s mostly responsive to your IT issues rather than preventative, you might find that it?s not quite as effective at saving your business time and money as another alternative might be. By outsourcing, you will ultimately wind up spending much more capital on resolving issues rather than preventing them outright. Furthermore, your employees who are rendered unable to work as a result of this maintenance will further increase the cost of this downtime. A more preventative approach is ideal to eliminate unnecessary waste. When you work with a managed IT service provider like White Mountain IT Services, you can feel like you?re investing in your company?s future by taking a preventative approach to technology maintenance and management. By preventing issues from developing into larger, more expensive problems, you?re cutting costs by eliminating downtime and replacement expenses. Here are some ways that we can help your business save both time and money through managed IT. Security: If you?ve ever been the target of an online data breach, we?re sure that you never want to be on the receiving end of it again. Unfortunately, hacking attacks are so common that it can be tricky to avoid–and considering how costly and embarrassing it can be, you should be taking every opportunity to mitigate this risk. If you add in the considerable chance that your organization must comply with data privacy regulations, there?s no reason that you shouldn?t see security as a priority. Working with a managed service provider can provide the tools necessary to pull this off. Hardware problems: A workstation or a server unit breaking down presents a major issue for your business. Not only does this mean that your staff can?t do their work properly, but it also means that you have to replace this hardware before operations can resume. Remote monitoring and management from White Mountain IT Services can alleviate this problem by keeping an eye out for warning signs. This helps you avoid unexpected hardware failure and provides an opportunity to either resolve the issue, or prepare for the worst-case scenario. Either of these is better than the alternative–being unprepared entirely. Data backup and disaster recovery: If the entirety of your data infrastructure were to be wiped out immediately by a natural disaster, user error, or data breach, what would you do? More importantly, what would your business do in order to stay alive? If you don?t have Data Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR), you are in for a rough restoration process. Without the ability to suffer from minimal downtime and data loss, your business? future could be in jeopardy. We can help you implement a business continuity strategy that can help you ensure the odd disaster doesn?t wipe your business off the face of the map. For all of your business? technology needs, and to ask us about our managed IT service offerings, reach out to White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800.

You work on important things. Let?s all work together to make sure they stay safe and secure. Don?t Share Confidential Information Don?t provide sensitive company or customer information in unsolicited emails or phone calls. It?s important to remember that the bad guys can be very convincing and what they do tricks a lot of users. Being on the lookout for anything suspicious will help protect confidential information. Emailing usernames and passwords is never a good idea. Be especially cautious of suspicious emails that look like they are from PayPal or a bank. Use Strong Passwords Don?t reuse the same password for multiple accounts. Passwords should contain capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Passwords should not contain personally identifiable information like social security numbers or dates of birth. Avoid Accessing Sensitive Information on Unprotected Computers Hotel business centers and Internet cafes typically aren?t regulated or secure. Accessing sensitive information on public devices could allow others to access it as well. Malicious software could allow others to snoop on what you are doing, and gather usernames, passwords, and credit card information. Ask your IT department about establishing a VPN to allow safe access while traveling. Avoid Leaving Sensitive Information Lying Around Don?t keep passwords on sticky notes. Shred documents that contain confidential information. Don?t leave mobile devices, laptops, or desktops unlocked when you aren?t at them. Use Windows key + L to quickly lock your computer when stepping away. Small devices like phones, portable hard drives, and flash drives are easy to lose or steal. Be wary of this while traveling. Report Anything Suspicious to IT If we know about it, we can fix it quickly before it becomes a bigger problem. If you?ve lost your smartphone or another device, report it immediately. **Note: If you have a service agreement with White Mountain IT Services that includes end-user support, don?t hesitate to provide our number and support email so your staff can put in tickets. Phone: (603) 889-0800 Email: su*****@wh******.com