When targeted by a DDoS attacks, the organization?s network is overloaded with traffic. This is a deliberate action that is perpetrated by a party looking to take down your organization?s network. It is typically performed by a botnet that has been created by hackers. It quickly shifts from being an unruly inconvenience to a major operational problem, as these robots take down your ability to access your data and applications. One major difference between a DDoS attack and your traditional hack is that the former can be carried out by almost anyone. There have been tales of individuals, including young people, successfully bringing down company networks. We?re here to tell you that you don?t have to give up to a seemingly relentless DDoS attack. By understanding your network, its traffic, and what to do if you are at the unfortunate end of one of these attacks, you won?t have to deal with the downtime that is typically associated with this type of interruption. Understand Your NetworkDo you know how much traffic comes through your network? If you don?t, you can?t immediately assume that you?ve been the target of a DDoS attack. In order to best detect abnormalities with your network traffic, familiarizing yourself with your typical network traffic is a must. Beyond the DDoS attack, by understanding your organization?s network, you will be in a much better position to react to the most common issues your network may face. With this information, the minute you see traffic that looks out of place, you can react to the issue quicker, avoiding costly downtime. Be ReadyThe unpredictable nature of DDoS attacks leave many IT administrators unprepared. Identify your critical systems and take action to protect them from being compromised. There is definitely a reason why you are under attack, but it’s extremely difficult to know what that reason is. Even if you are facing dire circumstances, it is essential that operations are sustained. One way this can be mitigated is by hosting some or all of your organization?s computing infrastructure in the cloud. If yours is like most small and medium-sized businesses, you can?t afford to accept large chunks of downtime. To ensure your organization is protected, one solution is to call the certified technicians at White Mountain IT Services. We have the knowledge of industry best practices and years of experience warding off cyber criminals. For more information about how we can help your organization protect itself from web-based threats, call us today at (603) 889-0800.

Back Up With Care Although this sounds like a safe-driving motto, it actually applies to ransomware, a type of data kidnapping. This type of malware infiltrates your system by way of social engineering techniques, then encrypts your important files, rendering them inaccessible until you pay the “data-nappers” a ransom. The Cyber Threat Alliance Analysis of Crypto Wall v.3,  found that CW3, a recent ransomware, impacted the operations of hundreds of thousands of worldwide internet users and resulted in over $350 million dollars being handed over. Please see our recently published Crypto Alert for more information about the dangers of ransomware. Resolution #1 If you want to call the bluff of “data-nappers”, back up your files religiously. A little redundancy goes a long way. So does constantly reminding your staff to exercise caution and forethought when using the internet. Ignore Phishers Phishing schemes that worm their way into your system clothed in the guise of official, authentic-appearing email messages are growing more sophisticated with each passing year. They have to, since they are often intended to trick CEOs and other high-ups into opening them. Once they do, network-wide havoc ensues, spreading viruses, and exposing sensitive data. Resolution #2 Take time to conduct educational meetings for all employees, institute a strict security policy, and if you don’t already have one, look into a real-time monitoring and scanning system with blocking capabilities. Keep Swatting Those Bugs Most likely your company makes use of off-the-shelf software solutions rather than employing someone to develop your own programs. The code behind these popular software suites was written years ago and contain vulnerabilities that regularly, rise to the surface. Hackers are often the first to catch on, and before software developers have a chance to issue a patch, quickly exploit these freshly exposed holes to gain access to user’s files. Resolution #3 As soon as they become available, download software patches to repair the vulnerable hole. Does your business take data and cyber security seriously?  Do you encourage and promote security awareness and safe computing practices?  Get the conversation started with our FREE Cyber Security Toolkit. We have compiled a series of free downloads and links that include educational tools such as: Security awareness posters.  Hang these in the lunch room and rotate them throughout the year, keep security on peoples mind every day. Educational videos. Many users don’t really understand the role that they play in keeping your network safe, or NOT SO SAFE. Whitepapers, handouts and info graphics. More tools to use at company meetings and training sessions. Links for free software and tools to keep your users home computers and mobile devices safe. General tips and guidelines for safe computing best practices. Interested in a free Cyber Security Review? If you have questions about network security, or you are facing a compliance review or audit, contact us today at 603-889-0800 for a free confidential conversation about how White Mountain can help.

  The FBI recently published a warning to alert the public about a recent rise in the spread of ransomware in the U.S. Click HERE to see FBI alert I-062315-PSA. Due to an outbreak of CryptoWall and CryptoLocker in the Nashua area this fall, we have published a Crypto Alert with more information, but here is some basic info you need to know. #1. What is Ransomware? Quite simply, ransomware is a form a malware which locks your computer and puts it at ransom. The hacker then demands a sum of money, and if it’s not paid within a certain amount of time, all data is wiped clean from your device. It’s more complicated than it sounds, though. Compared to the average form of malware, it encrypts and locks all the files on your hard drive, making it very difficult to remove. This leads to most victims paying up and giving in to the hacker’s demands, instead of looking for a solution.  #2. What Can Be Done? First of all, it’s important you know how to avoid this cyber scam. Ransomware spreads through e-mail attachments, infected programs and compromised websites. With that said, don’t open any emails that seem suspicious, and avoid websites that look untrustworthy. However, if you do become a victim, make sure your data has been backed up on a constant basis. You never know what might happen to your computer, and ransomware exploits this. People who don’t have their data on a separate hard drive, will face the consequences and have no option but to pay up. On the other hand, users who’ve backed up their information, will have a better sense of security. Does your business take data and cyber security seriously?  Do you encourage and promote security awareness and safe computing practices?  Get the conversation started with our FREE Cyber Security Toolkit. We have compiled a series of free downloads and links that include educational tools such as: Security awareness posters.  Hang these in the lunch room and rotate them throughout the year, keep security on peoples mind everyday. Educational videos. Many users don’t really understand the role that they play in keeping your network safe, or NOT SO SAFE. Whitepapers, handouts and info graphics. More tools to use at company meetings and training sessions. Links for free software and tools to keep your users home computers and mobile devices safe. General tips and guidelines for safe computing best practices. Interested in a free Cyber Security Review? If you have questions about network security, or you are facing a compliance review or audit, contact us today at 603-889-0800 for a free confidential conversation about how White Mountain can help.

Users who continue to use Internet Explorer 8 through 10 past January 12th 2016 will be issued a warning, declaring that Microsoft will no longer be issuing patches and security updates for the browser, forcing users to switch to IE 11 or a competing browser. If users are still working with these versions of Internet Explorer, they?re likely still using an antiquated operating system, or are at the very least eligible to upgrade to Windows 10. Doing so would give them access to more recent versions of IE, as well as Microsoft?s latest web browser, Edge. While the end of support doesn?t mean that Internet Explorer will completely disappear from user PCs, it does mean that these versions of IE could become more vulnerable to threats. But why would you want to use a different browser when Internet Explorer is such a quality piece of software? The answer is simple. IE had a great run, but it?s simply lost its spark in recent years. As reported by CNet: IE’s worldwide browser market share on desktops dropped from 58.2 percent at the start of 2014 to 48.6 percent in December, according to tracking company NetMarketShare. During the same period, Google-owned Chrome’s share rose from 16.4 percent to 32.3 percent. Again, we want to emphasize just how important it is that you use supported software and operating systems with your workstations. Failing to do so can leave your business?s sensitive information vulnerable to hackers of all varieties. Hackers love to take advantage of any weak points they can find in your network, and they?ll gladly leap at the opportunity to do so without a second thought. This is why it?s so important to stay up to date with your infrastructure?s maintenance. Keep in mind, there are rare cases of mission-critical software that depend on certain parts of outdated versions of Internet Explorer. If a piece of software has prevented your business from upgrading a workstation in the past, there?s a chance it might be related. It?s important that you compare the risks and costs of updating your operating system versus not. Unfortunately for many businesses, keeping technology up to date is challenging and borderline impossible due to heavy workloads and lack of technical expertise. This is why SMBs benefit greatly from outsourcing this responsibility to professional technicians. White Mountain IT Services can help your business fully leverage its technology by applying crucial patches and updates remotely, without expensive on-site visits and tying up your staff with the process. For more information about our remote monitoring and maintenance solution, give White Mountain IT Services a call at (603) 889-0800.

One of the main reasons that business continuity might be neglected is because your business has more ?pressing? matters to tend to. Small issues that pile up over time can eventually outweigh the importance of large problems, like implementing preventative measures to stop the loss of data. As IT professionals, we adhere to Murphy?s Law when handling technology: ?Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.? All the same, your business needs to make sure it has what it takes to endure, even under the worst circumstances. Natural DisastersSometimes it feels like the world is out to get you, especially if you?re suffering from a natural disaster. Nature has the overwhelming power to topple businesses with a single blow. Floods, fires, and electrical storms can cause damage to both your physical and virtual infrastructure. Tornadoes can send your business skyward, literally. Bad storms can bring down power lines and cause power outages. No matter where you are in the world, there?s a chance that a natural disaster can occur. Plus, natural disasters don?t even have to physically destroy your office to ruin your plans for success; all they have to do is make it virtually impossible for you to continue normal operations. You can make dealing with natural disasters less daunting by looking into some relatively common technology solutions. For the normal thunderstorm, you can use an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), which allows your technology to shut down safely in the event of a power outage. Once all work and applications are properly saved and closed, the UPS sends a signal to the server, which informs it that it?s safe to shut down. Succession PlanningThis is one part of business continuity that might not seem immediately apparent. All organizations have important staff members that are crucial to the success and forward momentum of the business. If certain staff members suddenly aren?t available to work anymore, it could have devastating side-effects, assuming that you don?t have a contingency plan to replace them. This includes making sure that you?re prepared for situations like an employee quitting, falling severely ill, or simply being absent for an extended period of time; and, in the worst case scenario, if the employee unexpectedly dies. We don?t want to sound negative or macabre, but you hear about car accidents, health problems, and other calamities that strike businesses when you least expect them to. Establishing clear succession guidelines can help to make this process easier. Even some simple cross-training can go a long way toward making it easier to deal with the void left by an experienced employee. Data Loss and Disaster RecoveryThe inability to recover lost data following a disaster is one of the top reasons that an organization goes out of business. Most businesses that fail to restore their data following a data loss disaster are likely to go out of business within a year following the incident. This is why data backup and disaster recovery are critical components of a business continuity plan. Thankfully, White Mountain IT Services is great at helping small and medium-sized businesses plan for data backup and disaster recovery. Our BDR service is built specifically for the SMB, helping them avoid unnecessary downtime at an affordable monthly rate. Data backups are sent to a secure, off-site data center, where they can quickly be restored […]