Category: Itechra

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What Is A vCIO And Why Do You Need One?

A Chief Information Officer (CIO) provides an invaluable service for your business. It’s their job to understand your organization completely and offer strategic IT planning, analysis, and overall IT management.
They’re dedicated to finding ways to grow your business through new technology and technology-driven processes. By keeping an eye on both your business and the tech industry landscape, your CIO can make sure that you are getting the maximum benefit from all of your technology investments.
However, finding an experienced CIO that is willing to carry out executive-level duties on a small business salary is a near-impossible task. Many businesses can’t even afford to even try to hire someone to fill this position—but just because the resources aren’t there, it doesn’t mean that the need for CIO services isn’t there either.
It can be expensive to hire someone just to take care of their IT and strategy. Payscale estimates the current average salary for a CIO in the US is $324,176. Can you afford that?
More often than not, strategy is left to the leadership in general. It’s everyone’s responsibility to talk about it at meetings, but no one’s specific job. How can you reconcile these two issues: the need for a CIO, and the difficulty that comes with hiring and employing one? By outsourcing the job altogether…

Hire A vCIO From Our Team

A virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) is an experienced IT professional who has an in-depth understanding of business strategy and technology. Could your business benefit from strategic IT planning that aligns your technology strategy and spending with your overall business goals?
A vCIO handles your firm’s IT needs.
As the vCIO, they will advise you on everything from IT security to operations. Their job is to keep your technology running efficiently, and with an eye to the future. A vCIO will also help you cut IT operating costs, and confirm that your technology is running securely and that it enables your people to work efficiently each day.
Your vCIO will work closely with your business to make sure that you’re making the right technology investments. Our focus is not just on what is best for your business today, but what will benefit your business down the road.
Our vCIO services include:
  • Analysis of business practices and existing technology to understand how YOU use IT.
  • Understanding how your staff uses IT on a daily basis to help them improve productivity.
  • Guidance on strategic IT investments and overall budgeting.
  • Creation of a 3-year IT plan focused on adopting cost-effective technology to streamline business operations.
  • Planning for technology refreshes and strategies in the long-term to maximize IT’s impact on business operations.
  • Regular reviews of your IT plan to discover new solutions to improve productivity and streamline operations.
Truly effective strategy can’t come from the occasional meeting. It requires real focus and ongoing effort—investing in a vCIO that will do that for you today.

Your vCIO Is Part Of Our Comprehensive Managed IT Services Suite

While a vCIO is critical to long-term success with your IT environment, they only play a role in the overall approach we deliver. As the strategic leader, the vCIO focuses on high-level strategy and budgeting, ensuring that the organization’s technology aligns with its overall goals and objectives. By understanding your business’s needs and objectives, the vCIO can develop a technology roadmap that supports growth and innovation.
While the vCIO handles the strategic aspects, our engineers, support technicians, and managers are responsible for ensuring that daily IT tasks are handled efficiently. These professionals work together to maintain your organization’s IT infrastructure, troubleshoot technical issues, and provide timely support to your end-users. With our dedicated team of experts on your side, you can trust that your IT systems are running smoothly, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.
The collaboration between the vCIO and the technical team is essential for a successful managed IT services arrangement. The vCIO provides guidance and direction to the technical team, ensuring that their efforts are aligned with the organization’s strategic goals. Regular communication and coordination between the vCIO and the technical team help to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day operations, resulting in a well-rounded and efficient IT environment.

We Will Be Your Expert IT Advisor

As your vCIO, we consult on every big decision that involves technology and answer all the other small questions along the way.
Proper planning not only helps you to avoid technological missteps that can often result in IT issues, but it also adds further value to your company as it develops. Having an experienced technology professional in your corner provides you and your organization with a key technology advisor
Get in touch with us to start strategizing your IT today.
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What You Need To Know About Technology Planning

If your IT budget isn’t going as far as you’d like, then you need to start planning it sooner rather than later. By understanding the value IT offers, you can learn how to better spend your IT budget.
IT planning is a key oversight in today’s business world…

Businesses Are Bad At Technology Planning

Despite the fact that 93% of surveyed businesses recognize that IT is strategically and operationally critical (Wakefield Research), very few are doing anything to properly plan their IT:
  • 66% find that the amount they’re budgeting towards IT isn’t enough to keep up with what they need from it.
  • 77% of those with less than 100 employees have found that their investments in IT are too limited
  • A third of those surveyed said that less than 10% of their strategic planning was about IT
That’s why you need to ensure you’re planning your budget properly. That means knowing what your priorities should be, and how to invest in them.

3 Key Considerations For Your Next Technology Plan

Keep the following in mind when planning your IT investments:

Cybersecurity

You cannot afford to underinvest in your cybersecurity. Even a single breach can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why you should arrange for a cybersecurity assessment to double-check for any vulnerabilities and remediate them.

Track Tech Lifecycles

Do you know how old your computers are? At a certain point, they will reach End Of Life, which means that you won’t get bug fixes or security updates from the developers any longer.
Over time, the security and reliability of these systems will make your computers vulnerable:
  • Your computers could be infected by malware
  • Your antivirus won’t be updated
  • Your online banking transaction protection may expire, and
  • Your financial data could be exposed to theft.
That’s why you need to have a detailed schedule of your hardware and operating systems’ lifecycles so that you can plan ahead of new purchases and upgrades.

Supply Chain Issues

Don’t forget that new technology is in high demand, and the available supply is especially low. Any new technology purchases you will make will likely take much longer to fulfill.

Don’t Put Off Your IT Budget

With IT shifting from just another piece of equipment in the office to the core of operations and a key aspect of how you defend your business, you should designate it as a central part of your budget. This also means that you must assess and clearly define how IT aligns with your business objectives to decide what you’ll need for the coming years.
Proper IT budgeting will help you lay a foundation for success for the future. Using the right IT solutions can help you:
  • Accelerate your business growth
  • Increase your operational effectiveness
  • Ensure optimal productivity from your employees
  • Overcome operational challenges
  • Increase collaboration and communication

We Will Help You Plan Your IT

IT budget planning doesn’t have to be a frustrating process.
Our team will develop a strategic plan specifically for your company to make sure you’re investing in the right solutions to truly help you meet your overall objectives and exceed your goals, in order to reach new heights within your business.
Effective IT planning should result in a wide range of benefits for any operation in any industry.
Benefits include:
  • Increased productivity
  • Minimized downtime and disruptions
  • Increased and customized security measures
  • Enhanced time management
  • More effective communication
  • The best possible return on your IT investments
Keep in mind, IT strategy isn’t a one-time thing. We can work alongside your team to provide ongoing guidance, support, and services. Get in touch with our team to get started on your next technology budget and overall IT plan.
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The Growing Significance of Endpoint Security

With the increasing number of cyber threats targeting endpoints, businesses must prioritize endpoint protection to safeguard their clients’ sensitive data and ensure uninterrupted business operations.
In this blog, we will delve into the growing significance of endpoint security and explore why you need to make it a top priority.

5 Reasons You Can’t Overlook Endpoint Security

Protection Against Malware

Endpoint security is crucial for businesses as it provides a robust defense against malware threats. With advanced detection and prevention mechanisms, it safeguards endpoints from malicious software that can compromise sensitive data and disrupt operations.

Data Loss Prevention

Endpoint security helps prevent data breaches and loss by implementing encryption, access controls, and data backup solutions. By securing endpoints, businesses can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their critical information assets.

Mitigating Insider Threats

Endpoint security plays a vital role in mitigating insider threats by monitoring and controlling user activities. It helps detect and prevent unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and malicious insider actions, reducing the risk of internal breaches.

Safeguarding Remote Workforce

With the rise of remote work, endpoint security becomes even more critical. It protects endpoints outside the traditional network perimeter, securing devices and data regardless of their location ensuring a secure remote work environment.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Endpoint security is essential for businesses to meet compliance and regulatory requirements. It helps enforce security policies, track and report security incidents, and demonstrate adherence to industry-specific regulations, avoiding penalties and reputational damage.

How To Select Your Endpoint Security

Evaluate Comprehensive Protection

Look for an endpoint security solution that offers a wide range of features, including:
  • Real-time threat detection
  • Advanced malware protection
  • Firewall capabilities
  • Data encryption
A comprehensive solution ensures holistic protection for your business.

Consider Scalability and Compatibility

Ensure that the endpoint security solution can scale with your business growth and is compatible with your existing IT infrastructure. It should seamlessly integrate with your network and support various operating systems and devices to provide consistent protection across all endpoints.

Prioritize User-Friendliness

Opt for an endpoint security solution that is easy to deploy, manage, and use. A user-friendly interface and intuitive controls will save time and effort for your IT team, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks.

Assess Performance and Resource Impact

Test the solution’s performance impact on endpoints and system resources. It should provide robust security without significantly slowing down devices or causing disruptions. Look for solutions that offer efficient resource utilization and minimal impact on user productivity.

Don’t Let Your Unsecured Endpoints Put You At Risk

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, businesses must adapt and prioritize endpoint security to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. By implementing robust endpoint protection measures, businesses can mitigate risks, protect sensitive data, and maintain a secure computing environment.
Remember, endpoint security is not just an option; it is necessary in today’s digital age. So, let’s embrace the growing significance of endpoint security and work together to build a resilient and secure IT infrastructure for businesses of all sizes.
If you need expert assistance deploying or managing your endpoint security measures, reach out to our team.
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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity

As organizations strive to protect their sensitive data and maintain a robust security posture, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity has emerged as a game-changer. AI-powered solutions offer a proactive and intelligent approach to identify, prevent, and mitigate cyber threats.
In this blog, we will explore the transformative potential of AI in cybersecurity and how businesses can leverage the expertise of IT companies to harness its power effectively.

5 Ways AI Is Changing Cybersecurity

Advanced Threat Detection

AI is revolutionizing business security by enabling advanced threat detection capabilities. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies that may indicate potential security breaches. This helps businesses proactively identify and respond to threats, minimizing the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.

Behavioral Analytics

AI-powered behavioral analytics systems can monitor user behavior and identify deviations from normal patterns. By continuously learning and adapting to user behavior, these systems can detect suspicious activities, such as unauthorized access attempts or insider threats. This helps businesses detect and mitigate security risks in real-time, enhancing overall security posture.

Intelligent Authentication

AI is enhancing authentication processes by incorporating biometric technologies such as facial recognition, voice recognition, and fingerprint scanning. These advanced authentication methods provide stronger security measures compared to traditional passwords or PINs, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business systems and data.

Automated Security Incident Response

AI-driven security solutions can automate the incident response process, enabling faster and more efficient threat mitigation. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, these systems can analyze security incidents, prioritize them based on severity, and initiate automated responses or recommendations for security teams to take immediate action.

Predictive Analytics for Risk Assessment

AI-powered predictive analytics can assess potential security risks by analyzing historical data, identifying trends, and predicting future threats. This helps businesses proactively address vulnerabilities, allocate resources effectively, and implement preventive measures to mitigate risks before they materialize.

What AI-Powered Cybersecurity Means For You

AI offers immense potential in enhancing cybersecurity by augmenting human capabilities, automating processes, and detecting and responding to threats in real-time.
With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns, AI can quickly identify anomalies and potential security breaches that may go unnoticed by traditional security systems. This proactive approach enables organizations to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
When it comes to selecting AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, it is essential to consider a few key factors. Firstly, the solution should have advanced machine learning algorithms that can continuously learn and adapt to new threats. This ensures that the system remains effective even as cyber threats evolve. Additionally, the solution should have robust data analytics capabilities to process and analyze large volumes of data efficiently.
Furthermore, the solution should integrate seamlessly with existing security infrastructure to provide a comprehensive defense mechanism. Compatibility with other security tools and systems allows for a holistic approach to cybersecurity, leveraging the strengths of both AI and human expertise.
It is also crucial to consider the reputation and track record of the AI solution provider. Look for established vendors with a proven history of delivering reliable and effective cybersecurity solutions. Consider factors such as their experience, customer reviews, and partnerships with industry-leading organizations.
Leveraging AI for cybersecurity is a matter of selecting the right solutions that are supported by AI capabilities. By choosing advanced AI-powered solutions with robust machine learning algorithms, data analytics capabilities, and seamless integration, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture and effectively combat ever-evolving cyber threats.

Don’t Overlook The Power Of AI

Overall, AI is transforming business security solutions and processes by providing advanced threat detection, behavioral analytics, intelligent authentication, automated incident response, and predictive risk assessment capabilities. These advancements empower businesses to stay one step ahead of cyber threats and protect their valuable assets.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, businesses must stay one step ahead of malicious actors. Embracing the power of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
By partnering with IT companies that specialize in AI-driven solutions, businesses can fortify their defenses, detect threats in real-time, and respond swiftly to mitigate potential damages. The future of cybersecurity lies in the hands of intelligent machines working in tandem with human expertise, and by harnessing this synergy, businesses can safeguard their digital assets and thrive in the face of ever-evolving cyber threats.
If you need expert assistance deploying or managing your AI-assisted security measures, reach out to our team.
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The Complicated Process Of Qualifying For Cybersecurity Insurance

Don’t assume you can buy coverage—insurance carriers may not want your money if your cybersecurity standards aren’t up to par. We will help you qualify for the cybersecurity insurance you need. 

During the past few years, as many of our client’s cybersecurity insurance came up for renewal, a clear trend has emerged.

Cybersecurity insurance carriers are requiring more sophisticated written cyber policies, tools, training, and disaster recovery systems before processing the renewal, and in many cases are also significantly increasing premiums for individual cybersecurity risk items that are not being addressed.  

This has nothing to do with whether there has been a claim or not in the past, and everything to do with what steps the applicant must now take to address cyber security risks. All the carriers now have additional forms filled with cybersecurity questions that must be answered accurately before the carrier will renew the policy. 

Furthermore, you can be sure that if a claim against the policy is ever submitted, the carrier will check the answers provided to determine if there is any way for them to deny coverage. This is why you have to ensure your cybersecurity is up to par; failing to do so can raise your premiums and put your coverage in jeopardy in the aftermath of an event. 

15 Questions Your Cybersecurity Insurance Carrier Is Going To Ask…

  1. Does your business have a policy against opening unverified email attachments?
  2. Does your business use an Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) solution?
  3. Does your business test cybersecurity standards with regular vulnerability scans?
  4. How many users have local administrator rights enabled?
  5. Do you have a content filtering solution?
  6. Does your business monitor traffic into and out of the network?
  7. Do you have recent and tested backups of all mission-critical data, applications, and configurations?
  8. Are your offsite backups protected by an air-gap and separate authentication mechanism?
  9. Is your cloud data backed up?
  10. Can staff members access business email on their personal devices?
  11. Do you have an email encryption solution in place?
  12. Is your staff regularly tested and trained on phishing and other social engineering attack vectors? 
  13. Do you have a Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) system in place?
  14. Do you have an update and patch management system in place?
  15. Do you work with a third-party IT company?

If you can’t answer these questions correctly (and prove your cybersecurity capabilities), be prepared to have your coverage denied or accept a significant premium increase. Regardless, it is abundantly clear that the days of the wild wild west in cybersecurity insurance are rapidly coming to an end.

3 Steps To Qualifying For Cybersecurity Insurance

Assess your infrastructure

The best way for you and your team to determine the kind of coverage that is best for your organization is to understand your IT infrastructure. By evaluating your systems from top-to-bottom, you’ll have a clear idea of all the different access points that could be leaving your network vulnerable to threats. 

Remediate your vulnerabilities and risks

Don’t forget to look into how investing in your cybersecurity could save you money on premiums. Open up a dialogue about it with your potential Cybersecurity Insurance provider and see what they suggest. 

Continually reassess

Next, it’s best practice to conduct a risk assessment and an impact analysis. Carefully review all your organizational assets—including financial data, customer information, and intellectual property.

Categorize assets according to risk and make considerations for the potential impacts that a data security event could have on all aspects of your business. 

It’s important to understand that the way you manage your cybersecurity can directly affect the coverage and premiums you qualify for. The more robust your cybersecurity posture is, the better you’ll do with carriers. Your investment can potentially return on lower insurance expenses.

How We Help Our Clients Qualify For Cybersecurity Insurance

Many of our clients attempt to fill out these questionnaires on their own, but more often than not, we have to make corrections before they’re submitted. The fact is that this sort of documentation can be very complicated for those who don’t have extensive experience with IT. 

We can manage the questionnaire on your behalf, identifying any areas that require changes in order to help you qualify for a policy or even a lower insurance premium.

We endeavor to make modifications and changes that cost as little as possible. In many cases, it’s simply a matter of developing the right documentation or changing settings in your systems to comply with your carrier’s cybersecurity standards. We also offer templates for cybersecurity management policies and statements of operations so that you don’t have to start from scratch. 

Need Help Qualifying For Cybersecurity Insurance?

Meeting the stipulations laid out by cybersecurity insurance providers may not be easy depending on the state of your cybersecurity posture. We can help you improve your approach to cybersecurity. 

Our team provides cybersecurity and technology services for businesses like yours—we are available to help you develop a robust cybersecurity defense. 

We can ensure you qualify for a policy and minimize the chance that you’ll have to make a claim on your cybersecurity insurance. 

Get in touch with our team to get started.

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Why You Can’t Ignore Cybersecurity Insurance Any Longer

Cybersecurity insurance is becoming more complicated, more expensive, and more necessary. Are you putting off getting a policy? You shouldn’t wait any longer. 

The cybercrime landscape is getting more unpredictable and complex every day. Cybercriminals are finding more effective ways to infiltrate business networks and steal critical business data—but you already know all this. 

Cybercrime is a serious and expensive threat. The average cost of a data breach in the United States is currently $5M—can you afford that? 

That’s why so many businesses are considering investing in cybersecurity insurance, which is designed to help businesses cover the recovery costs associated with any kind of cybersecurity incident.

What You Should Know About Cybersecurity Insurance 

First of all, it’s not a trend that’s going to go away. Over the past few years it has rapidly grown as an industry:

Cybersecurity insurance is a relatively new type of protection designed specifically to help cover the potentially massive expenses associated with an unavoidable data breach. It can be a worthwhile investment, so long as you know how it works.

The somewhat inevitable nature of modern cybercrime has led businesses to consider cybersecurity insurance as a final layer of reassuring protection. In fact, it’s becoming more and more necessary, as many insurance providers have begun drawing a clear line between normally covered losses, and those incurred by cybercrime-related events. 

That means that if your cybersecurity doesn’t meet the standards of your insurance provider, you may not be as well covered as you think. 

Types of Cybersecurity Insurance

Breach and event response coverage

A very general and high-level form of coverage, this covers a range of costs likely to be incurred in the fallout of a cybercrime event, such as forensic and investigative services; breach notification services (which could include legal fees, call center, mailing of materials, etc.); identity and fraud monitoring expenses; public relations and event management.

Regulatory coverage

Given that a range of organizations has a hand in regulating aspects of cyber risk in specific industries, there are usually costs that come with defending an action by regulators.

This covers the costs associated with insufficient security or “human error” that may have led to a privacy breach. Examples may include an employee losing a laptop or e-mailing a sensitive document to the wrong person.

However, this type of coverage is not just limited to governmental and healthcare-based privacy breaches. It can also be useful for non-governmental regulations that intersect with the payment card industry and are subject to payment and financial regulatory standards. 

Liability coverage

This type of coverage protects the policyholder and any insured individuals from the risks of liabilities that are a result of lawsuits or similar claims. If the covered entity is sued for claims that come within the coverage of the insurance policy, then this type of coverage will protect them. 

There is a range of types of cybersecurity insurance liability coverage, which include:

Privacy liability

This applies to the costs of defense and liability when there has been a failure to stop unauthorized use/access of confidential information (which may also include the failure of others with whom the entity has entrusted data).

Coverage can also extend to include personally identifiable information and confidential information of a third party. 

Security liability

On a higher level, this type of coverage applies to the costs of defense and liability for the failure of system security to prevent or mitigate a computer-based cyber attack, which may include the propagation of a virus or a denial of service.

An important note — failure of system security also includes failure of written policies and procedures (or failure to write them in the first place) that address secure technology use.

Multimedia liability

This type of coverage applies to the defense and liability for a range of illegal activities taking place in an online publication, such as libel, disparagement, misappropriation of name or likeness, plagiarism, copyright infringement, or negligence in content.

This coverage extends to websites, e-mail, blogging, tweeting, and other similar media-based activities. 

Cyber extortion

This type of cybercrime event is generally a form of a ransomware attack, in which a cybercriminal keeps encrypted data inaccessible (or, alternatively, threatens to expose sensitive data) unless a ransom is paid.

Coverage of this type addresses the costs of consultants and ransoms, including cryptocurrencies, for threats related to interrupting systems and releasing private information. 

Will Cybersecurity Insurance Completely Protect Your Business Against Cybercrime?

A common misconception is that a cybersecurity insurance policy is a catch-all safety net, but that’s simply not the reality. Without a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy in place, a business may not qualify for a policy in the first place. 

Furthermore, in the event of a hack, a business may not qualify for full coverage if their cybersecurity standards have lapsed, or if they can be found to be responsible for the incident (whether due to negligence or otherwise). 

The core issue is that as cybercrime becomes more common and more damaging, insurers will become more aggressive in finding ways to deny coverage. It’s in the interest of their business to pay out as little as rarely as possible, which means the policies will tend to rely on a series of complicated clauses and requirements that covered parties have to comply with. 

A key example of this is when Mondelez International was denied coverage for the $100 million of damage they incurred from the NotPetya attack. Their insurer, Zurich Insurance, cited the obscure “war exclusion” clause, claiming that Mondelez was a victim of a cyberwar. 

This is not an isolated incident. As discovered by Mactavish, the cybersecurity insurance market is plagued with issues concerning actual coverage for cybercrime events:

  • Coverage is limited to attacks and fails to address human error
  • Claims are limited to losses that result directly from network interruption, and not the entire period of business disruption
  • Claims related to third-party contractors and outsourced service providers are almost always denied

All this goes to show why business owners need to look carefully at the fine print of their cybersecurity insurance policy and ensure their cybersecurity standards are up to par. No one should assume they’re covered in the event of a cybercrime attack—after all, for every $1 million paid in premiums, insurance companies only pay out $320,000 in claims. 

We’ll Manage Assist With Your Cybersecurity Insurance Needs

Need help assessing and improving your business’ cybersecurity before you sign up for an insurance policy?

Our team provides cybersecurity and technology services for organizations like yours—we are available to help you develop a robust cybersecurity defense. 

We can ensure you qualify for a policy and minimize the chance that you’ll have to make a claim on your cybersecurity insurance. Get in touch with our team to get started.