However, many small and medium-sized businesses were also victimized by ransomware attacks, often under the mistaken impression that they were too small to be considered worthwhile targets by the perpetrators. Unfortunately for many of these small businesses, this impression ends up costing them big when ransomware strikes. Ransomware works by encrypting the data stored on a device, demanding that the victim pay a sum in cryptocurrency for their files to be decrypted. This is usually paired with a time-sensitive threat to delete the data if the ransom isn?t paid post-haste. When attacking large corporations, cybercriminals go for the gold, trying to extort as much as they can from their victim. With small businesses, on the other hand, they take advantage of the common inability many have to afford the solutions that would protect them against such attacks, and ask for a smaller ransom. Considering the relatively high costs many solutions have for a small business, combined with these smaller, more ?reasonable? ransoms–plus how much damage even the smallest amount of downtime can cause these businesses–it should come as no surprise that many small businesses see themselves as having no choice but to pay up. This is problematic for a few reasons. First, paying the ransom inherently requires entrusting the ones who attacked you to remain true to their word and actually unlock your systems once the funds have changed hands. Are you willing to assume that your attacker is a trustworthy person after they?ve threatened your business? Second, consider what effect a successful heist against an SMB would have on the cyber criminal. They would naturally be inclined to target more SMBs, possibly returning again to those who proved willing to pay up with a new attack. Think about it–which would you choose: a possible large payday, or a lot of almost-guaranteed smaller payoffs that quickly add up? Regardless, it is always better to avoid paying the demanded ransom and to instead rely on proactive measures, such as an off-site (or ideally cloud-based) data backup solution that you can restore your systems with that has been kept safely away from the ransomware. You also need to make sure your staff is well-versed in recognizing ransomware attacks in order to better avoid them, and what to do and who to contact if their workstation contracts one. If your SMB needs help protecting itself against the threat of ransomware, reach out to White Mountain IT Services for assistance. We can advise you on best practices to keep ransomware out of your systems. Give us a call at (603) 889-0800 to get started.

Traditional telephone lines were once extremely important for your business?s success. You had to have dedicated phone lines in your office running to each and every desk so that each of your employees had access to a phone when they needed it. Nowadays, however, virtual telephone systems have become popular with businesses of all size. How does this new way of handling your business?s communications hold up compared to the more traditional model? You might be surprised to hear this, but virtual telephone solutions that utilize the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology are exceedingly more beneficial and dynamic than your traditional telephone system. We?ll discuss some of the ways in which the two differ so that you can make the best, most educated decision regarding the future of your business. FlexibilityImagine that you?re on the phone with someone, but you have to step away from your desk for some reason. While cordless phones certainly are a thing, you can only go so far with them. Plus, you don?t have much choice in how you use this phone–if you?re not comfortable with it, you?re out of luck. How can VoIP change up the tradition of corded and cordless handsets in the office? VoIP frees your employees from their desks and allows them to communicate with any connected device, whether it?s a laptop with a VoIP client or a smartphone with a mobile app installed. Employees no longer have to leave a conversation just to step away from the desk for a moment. Business owners can stay connected to the office even when they are across the country on a business trip, or settling down at the home office to pull an all-nighter to meet a deadline. FunctionalityWhat exactly does your telephone system come equipped with in the first place? Often times, your telephone system will come with some other bells and whistles, like your Internet or television for residential accounts, or nickel-and-dime features for businesses like conferencing. Unfortunately, depending on what it comes attached to, you may find that you have no need for certain features or functionality–or they may just not have any business functions in the first place. VoIP allows your organization to achieve more with fewer resources that can be added for additional costs or agreements. For example, in addition to all of the features that you?ve come to know and love, like call forwarding and conference calling, you could add in video chat or instant messaging for your VoIP client, depending on the solution you?re using. These features allow your business to be much more productive with its time, and can enhance the work experience significantly by offering multiple modes of communication depending on the situation. CostWith a traditional telephone system–as mentioned before–you might wind up paying for services or features that mean nothing for your business. Many phone companies add must-have features and services for additional costs. Plus, long distance calls tend to rack up additional charges. You?ll ultimately be spending more money for services that you don?t use, which isn?t good for your budget. You?re just wasting resources that are better spent elsewhere. VoIP uses your business?s Internet connection to transmit your voice. Since you?re using your Internet in the execution of day-to-day business, using it for your company?s telephone system will result in […]

Here are three ways that managed IT services can help your business improve operations. Managed IT Lowers CostsLet?s say that you don?t have a dedicated IT department that resolves issues as they happen, as it is rather expensive. You generally only contact tech support when you have already experienced a problem, reacting to an issue rather than preventing it altogether. This is what managed IT services attempt to resolve. By taking proactive measures that keep issues from happening in the first place, you spend less on hardware replacement, service fees, and downtime, making it practically imperative if you want to cut unnecessary costs. It?s like having a full in-house IT department without paying all of their salaries. Managed IT is Hands OffOne of the biggest perks of managed IT is that the issues are often resolved without you even knowing they existed in the first place. Through the power of remote monitoring and management, your managed IT provider can keep an eye on your systems without even being on-site, which allows them to identify and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Rest assured that you will be notified of major issues that need your attention and awareness, but know that most problems can be resolved without an on-site visit. Managed IT is FlexibleThere are so many services offered by managed IT providers that you can practically pick and choose the perfect service level agreement that suits your needs. Whether you need something as simple as implementing a new email solution or the management of an entire infrastructure, managed IT services has a solution that can make your organization?s operations run just the way you want them to–if not better! Your business shouldn?t be wasting time managing its own IT infrastructure–not when you have much more important things to be doing. After all, you?re a business owner, and you need to be running your business, not focused on resolving technology problems. Still, this doesn?t diminish the importance of proper IT maintenance. Managed IT services from White Mountain IT Services is one of the many opportunities your organization has to improve your return on investment for your technology. To learn more, reach out to us at (603) 889-0800.

Businesses can benefit from the use of personal mobile devices in the workplace, yet there are also potential dangers in allowing mobile and Internet of Things devices to access your network. In order to reduce these dangers, you need to put some limits and guidelines on the use of such devices in the workplace. Defining Limitations and Acceptable DevicesIn order to avoid your network being used for purposes that don?t apply to your business, you should set limitations as to what kind of devices are able to access it. Take, for example, the Internet of Things. While the security of some IoT devices has been improved, there are still many with no defense of which to speak that pose considerable risk to your network. Limiting network access to devices that can specifically be used in a professional manner can help protect your network. However, even if devices are allowed in the workplace, they can still serve as a distraction. Assume that each of your employees has a smartphone, laptop, tablet, and wearable device that is in the office with them every day. Not only can these all serve as interruptions and distractions, they can take up valuable bandwidth in the office, reducing the efficiency of the office as a whole. However, you can also limit how many devices each person can have linked to the network at a time, so that strategy can help as well. Develop An Access PolicyHuman error is one of the leading causes of data loss. To help combat the ill effects that irresponsible or abusive mobile device use can have to your business, help your employees to grasp their role in–and their importance to–the company?s success in keeping your network secure. Access policies can assist you in achieving this outcome. Remind your employees of their accountability to the rest of your team by instating password requirements and privacy terms, antivirus expectations, and data loss reporting processes. You could even discuss penalties that they are apt to face if caught using a company device as they are driving. Using A Mobile Device Management SolutionTo truly ensure that your company is not at high risk due to the mobile devices your employees use every day, consider implementing a mobile device management (MDM) solution. MDM applications give you the control you need to ensure your business is protected, allowing you to enforce the device?s proper use and to ensure that all necessary maintenance and patching takes place. Many MDM solutions also allow you to preserve your data security with remote wiping capabilities, should it turn up missing, or worse, stolen. Mobile devices have been cemented permanently into today?s business-as-usual, allowing for greater productive mobility and job satisfaction. However, they can?t be adopted without preparation and forethought. Cybercrime forces SMBs to keep close tabs on who can access their network and what device they?re using to do so. Want to learn more about mobile device management, and how White Mountain IT Services can assist you with yours? Call us at (603) 889-0800.

Managed IT has its roots in the 1980s, which saw a deal between Eastman Kodak and IBM that would create a large data center for Kodak?s needs. IBM?s role in this endeavor was to design, build, and implement a data center specifically for Kodak. This is a significant moment in the history of IT outsourcing specifically because it?s one of the first times that a company outsources a project of this scale to an external provider. During the implementation of this project, it?s said that Kodak transferred many of their staffers directly to IBM–and if such a major figure can do something like this, the industry would take notice and grow in an entirely different direction because of it. Where companies preferred to keep their services in-house whenever possible, they now sought to find value in the service of other organizations. IBM became a major service provider for its time and ushered in an era unlike anything ever seen before in the business technology environment. Eventually, application service providers called ASPs were brought to the forefront in response to businesses? evolving software and service needs. Examples of such software solutions include payroll software or timesheet keeping solutions, while others include productivity suites such as Microsoft?s coveted word processing and spreadsheet solutions like Microsoft Word and Excel. Sometimes these services were offered through a download by the user, while other times they were accessed through an online interface. Regardless, the end result was the same–the business acquired a solution that solved a very specific need. The need for professional technology assistance gave way too many organizations offering what are called managed IT solutions. This was due largely in part to break-fix IT being such an inconvenience for small businesses due to restrained budgets and a general inability to manage IT as effectively as can be. Often times, companies would have their own employees perform IT responsibilities in an attempt to save some money. This could have unforeseen circumstances, including responsibilities not being performed adequately, forcing companies to undergo the same project multiple times (and losing money each time). Managed IT solves these problems by providing a single point of contact for the various needs of your company. Cloud computing, network security, data backup and disaster recovery, you name it–if you can think it, it can be outsourced for your company?s IT infrastructure. To learn more about what a managed IT service provider like White Mountain IT Services can provide for your organization, reach out to us at (603) 889-0800.