Why Backup Your Data with Office 365 Office 365 offers some great data protection, but it doesn’t actually provide for all personal data storage needs -and does not come close to all business data archiving needs. Why back up your data when working with Office 365? Office 365 Backups Only Last 30 Days The first and most important reason is that Office 365 only backs up data for 30 days, typically, or 90 days in some circumstances. This is a long time for collaboration, but not long at all for backups and archiving. 30 days means that you can’t restore backups or rollback changes made over 30 days ago. It also means that mistakes and accidental deletions that aren’t noticed for over 30 days are lost. There is no restoring data that Office 365 drops after 30 days. This includes version control from recent and old changes and the archives. Working with Hybrid Storage Hybrid storage is when you store some of your project assets in Office 365, and some on local computers or servers. This is very common for business  usage where not all your data is used in Office 365 or you work with file types and editing software outside if Microsoft Office. If you are using hybrid storage, anything stored locally should also be backed up locally. After all, Office 365 can’t create cloud backups if your files aren’t within its duplicated file system. Likewise, if you set up One Drive to back up a specific local folder, this can get tricky. Changes to the cloud folder and the local folder will need to sync, including deletions, which can result in lost data. In general, if you are working with a hybrid workflow with files inside and outside cloud syncing, then backing up everything is the best way to avoid data aberrations between the two file storage systems. Compliance Archiving Office 365’s backup system also does not prepare you for compliance archiving. Many regulations require a business to keep certain documents archived for potential audits in the future. This includes things like payroll and certain employee records. Having these documents available and properly stored is essential, should they ever be needed. Every now and then, an audit will mean pulling out all of your archives for review. With Office 365 alone, there’s no guarantee that all those historical backups will still be available. Fortunately, there are other ways. Landmark Version Control You may also want to be able to roll back your projects to specific landmark points – before certain decisions and changes were made to the design and stages along the way. This is not doable with Office 365 temporary backups, but can easily be done by taking your own backups at landmark points in each project.   How to Backup Your Data Alongside Office 365 How can and should you handle data backups while working with Office 365? Microsoft 365 Cloud Drive Backups The best solution is to pair your cloud-based Office software with Microsoft’s cloud storage solution. Microsoft 365 is inheriting the system from Office 365 and also offers specialized Microsoft Cloud storage. From Microsoft 365 Backup, you can choose the amount of cloud storage you need and rely on Microsoft to keep the backups in your separate cloud storage readily available for […]

  Defining IT Management for Entirely Virtual Companies What is IT management for entirely virtual companies? In short, it’s the process of protecting and preserving your client and company information, regardless of how you store or transmit it. IT management for entirely virtual companies refers to managing and protecting a company’s data and information that exists solely online. This can be challenging, as many potential cyber threats can target virtual businesses. However, by taking the proper precautions, you can help to keep your client and company information safe. As a virtual business owner, there are a few key aspects to consider when designing your company’s IT management strategy. For example, you’ll need to think about how to secure your data both in transit and at rest, back up your information, and access it in the event of an emergency. If you’re just starting out as an entirely virtual company, it’s important to take the time to plan and implement a strong IT management strategy from the get-go. Doing so will ensure that your company’s data is always protected and accessible no matter what happens. The Importance of Data Security You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not if, but when.” And this is especially true when it comes to data security. No matter how small your business is, you can be sure that cybercriminals are always looking for their next victim. That’s why it’s so important to have a comprehensive data security plan in place. This includes everything from password protection to data backup and recovery. And it’s not something you should take lightly?according to a study by Keeper Security, Inc., more than 60% of small businesses have previously experienced a data breach. So what can you do to protect your company and client information? Here are a few key tips: Use strong passwords and change them regularly Install a firewall and antivirus software Back up your data regularly Restrict access to sensitive information The Best Ways to Protect Client and Company Information You can protect your client and company information in many ways, but the main one is to implement a security plan. A comprehensive security plan should include: A password policy A password policy is integral to any security plan, especially for entirely virtual businesses. After all, with all your data and information stored online, it’s crucial to ensure that your passwords are strong and unique. Antivirus software Antivirus software is also a critical part of any security plan, as it can help to protect your data from malware and other threats. Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date to ensure that it is effective against the latest threats. Access control Access control refers to the process of restricting access to data and information. Make sure to properly configure access control to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive data. Anti-spyware software Anti-spyware software should also be a crucial part of your comprehensive security plan. This type of software allows you to protect your data by detecting and removing spyware, which is a type of malicious software that can steal your information. Data encryption Data encryption helps protect your data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals. For maximum client data security, ensure to encrypt your data at rest and in transit to keep it safe. […]

What is the CMMC? The CMMC, fully known as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, is a security evaluation and verification benchmark for defense companies working for the Department of Defense (DoD). Several bodies created the CMMC, which was targeted at many businesses that make up the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The CMMC was first introduced in January 2020. The goal is to evaluate each DIB company’s security posture to safeguard them from cyberattacks and prevent sensitive information from being stolen by foreign adversaries or cybercriminals. How Is CMMC 2.0 Different From CMMC 1.0? The first version of CMMC (V1) featured five degrees of security compliance: Basic (Level 1), Intermediate (Level 2), Good (Level 3), Proactive (Level 4), and Advanced (Level 5). Over time, all five levels proved very costly for most small organizations, which is how CMMC Version 2 came to be. With the launch of CMMC 2.0 at the end of 2021 in November, the prior standard was updated and consolidated into just three levels of security: Foundational (Level 1), Expert (Level 2), and Advanced (Level 3). The ability of an organization to defend itself against cyberattacks is evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with level 5 in the older CMMC version or level 3 constituting the highest in the new CMMC version. CMMC 2.0 Objectives Like CMMC 1.0, the main objectives of the new CMMC version are to secure sensitive data and assess your institution’s security procedures. In contrast to CMMC 1.0, CMMC 2.0 aims to: Clarify cybersecurity legislative, policy, and contractual obligations and streamline CMMC. Urge DoD to increase monitoring of the standards of conduct for third-party evaluations. Urge organizations that assist crucial initiatives in the aviation and defense industries to emphasize third-party audit regulations and the most effective cybersecurity safeguards. CMMC 2.0 Levels Level 1: Foundational This fundamental certification level entails several procedures that closely correlate to the essential safety requirements established in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The 17 fundamental cybersecurity procedures that comprise Level One include establishing access control, identification, and authentication. Anyone wishing to secure a DoD contract must comply with the requirement, whose primary goal is to safeguard federal contract data. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) suppliers who do not acquire intelligence about federal contracts are the only ones who will not be required to reach Level 1. Level 2: Advanced In level 2, you need to offer documented guidelines for every one of the 17 procedures included by the accreditation in the first level. It also requires proof that the guidelines have been completed for every practice. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST SP 800-171 prerequisites, a subsection of this complete set of security procedures, safeguard government classified data in the information technology of federal subcontractors and suppliers with 55 additional security practices. For any institution with CUI, which necessitates better security levels than a company having only FCI, the objective is to create a fundamental understanding of internet security. Level 3: Expert The last level requires a company to create and sustain a strategy to implement CMMC’s standards. All of the processes from the prior levels are included in Level 3, along with 58 more practices. They are specifications from NISA SP 800-172 and NISA SP 800-171. The main goal is to strengthen the security procedures set up in […]