Businesses have a lot riding on the reliability of IT systems. Various software programs support internal operations, and others support online business transactions as well as communications with vendors and clients. Data is exchanged in a fast-paced environment relying on the proper structure and support of an IT network. In this day and age, IT networks act like the central nervous system of a company.

With so much at stake, businesses must properly maintain and monitor the viability of their information technology. Controls should be incorporated within company IT systems to limit access to sensitive information and protect the IT infrastructure. Network security measures should be evaluated, updated, and monitored.

Without proper upkeep and monitoring, vital data and sensitive information may be lost or stolen. Many times, companies don’t realize just how much of this information is essential to daily operations until disaster strikes and employees are struggling to remain productive while data recovery efforts take place. Recovering in the aftermath of lost or compromised company records can be both time consuming and expensive.

Network solutions are available to evaluate and configure the software, hardware, wiring and cabling, and all aspects of network performance. Optimum network performance must also include built in measures to proactively support secure operations and prevent disruptive data loss. Network security solutions should include data backup and recovery solutions to secure company files and prevent catastrophic loss.

Data backup and recovery measures provide life support to businesses in the aftermath of a corrupted system, natural disaster, or other event that results in potentially crippling data loss or destruction. Instead of piecemeal efforts to reestablish a business after disaster, an uncompromised backup of all company data can restore operations to normal in short order. Recovery time is minimized, productivity is enabled, transactions resume, and money is saved.

To stay competitive and generate revenue, companies often look for high-tech solutions to streamline business and gain efficient productivity. IT solutions can save time and money while providing access to world-wide markets. Office environments can be improved with computer and network support solutions to ensure systems are working properly and are backed up to prevent corrupted data.

Technology can be mystifying to many businesses. Conceptually, the technology designed for businesses can be difficult to comprehend for the average layperson. Most people want technology in place that works reliably, but aren’t sure about how to install and configure the myriad components. This is where IT solutions are able to help.

IT solutions companies provide support and service to make sure technology is working to your company’s advantage and not creating more hassle than it’s worth. From wiring and cabling to software installation and network maintenance, specialized businesses providing IT solutions make sure your business has the proper technology in place to suit your business purpose.

Network security is critical to business success at this time. Digital information requires protection from unwarranted access and negligent handling. Complicated layers of defense should be in place to prevent criminal infiltration of your company’s network and files, as well as the consequences of simple human error. IT services can provide network security solutions to minimize the risks of digital business transactions.

Network support through managed services gives companies access to state-of-the art software and network security for far less investment than an in-house team of tech support. Businesses receive the benefit of professional specialists providing tailored IT solutions. IT services can evaluate your company’s requirements to then improve and adapt existing hardware and software. The end result should be network systems that are more user-friendly with increased overall effectiveness of technology in the workplace.

The technology that supports business operations is rapidly evolving in response to network security concerns and the demand for more efficient and scalable systems. Despite the clear advantages of improved systems, it can be cost-prohibitive for businesses to stay current with advancing technology. Companies can benefit from managed IT services to stay up-to-date with the latest technology without exorbitant expenditures. Managed IT services provide businesses with solutions to keep them running efficiently, competitively, and profitably. Often, smaller businesses cannot afford an in-house IT staff, despite the need for reliable and well-orchestrated computer networking. Companies may also be looking to reduce overhead costs. Contracting with an information technology company can assist businesses with tailored services at far less cost than maintaining IT in house.

Managed IT services work with individual businesses to determine cost-effective solutions to networking needs. These services offer repair and maintenance solutions for hardware, software, email systems, wiring and cabling, troubleshooting, and help desk capabilities that support day-to-day business operations. In effect, managed IT services help companies gain all the advantages of an in-house IT department for a fraction of the cost.

Information technology companies are in the business of keeping up with technology. IT expertise through managed services affords businesses to opportunity to focus on critical aspects of their own industries with the confidence of professional network security and functionality. Many industries are required to meet regulations governing network security which can be conveniently incorporated into a tailored IT plan with managed services. In this way, managed IT services take the worry out of keeping up with the latest threats and regulations.

Managed IT solutions for small to medium-sized businesses provide the security and reliability to help companies grow and become more profitable. With managed IT services, downtime is minimized and networks are supported by experts in the field. Instead of being distracted by technology and worrying about the expense,  the computer network solutions and cutting-edge technology provided by an IT company can help businesses become empowered.

Time and again we urge businesses to evaluate their network security for weaknesses. The simple reason is that preventing an attack is better than sorting out the aftermath of an attack. Ongoing fallout from the LizaMoon mass SQL injection attacks in the news about a year ago has affected over a million web pages and the potential for future exploits looks likely. It is a disheartening fact that simple security measures could have prevented the effectiveness of these cyber attacks.

The LizaMoon attack infiltrated computer systems using scareware. Unsuspecting computer users downloaded fake anti-virus software, opening the door to hackers. Since the initial LizaMoon attacks began over a year ago, similar injection attacks have capitalized on the same user ignorance and sloppy network security. Recent reports of continued exploits of the same lax network security measures indicate a critical need for companies to take notice of ongoing cyber attacks and take action.

This past October, reports indicated that thousands of SMB websites had fallen prey to mass SQL injection attacks that found inroads based on irresponsible network configurations. A Google search indicated that over a million web pages were infected with the offending injected script. The similarity in approach to the LizaMoon attack is particularly troubling, because the first round of attacks didn’t result in preventative measures. Wayne Huang led the team that uncovered this particular injected script. His forecast of the potential for hackers to exploit mass SQL injection attacks is ominous:

“It’s like an Internet-wide vulnerability scan. You go out and blindly inject SQL like this into a class of Web servers like ASP.NET, and then use Google now or later to look at which sites you manage to inject your SQL into. That’s now a road map to vulnerable sites. You can go back and pick which ones might have interesting, valuable data sitting on them for you to go back and steal. So there may be more to this; this may lead to a bunch of targeted attacks on folks foolish enough to be this insecure with databases that are actually storing something that’s worth stealing.”

Only time will tell the full extent and expense of this ongoing method of cyber attack. Businesses and individuals alike should take a few moments to make certain that input validation is not disabled on their web servers. This simple measure limits the effectiveness of mass SQL injection attacks. To address this ongoing threat, companies should make it a priority obtain a professional network assessment for proper configurations and network security measures.

If you are using password1 or any other password on the list of bad passwords, change it now. It’s that simple. One of the biggest threats to your network security at home and in business is a bad password. Why leave your valuable information wide open to any run of the mill hacker that can guess with a weak password? That’s right, guess. These common passwords don’t even require fancy algorithms and hacking skills.

One of the easiest ways to improve your network security is to change your bad passwords to something a little more challenging to frustrate simple hack attacks. Figuratively speaking, if you find your password among the ranks of the most readily cracked, you may as well hand deliver your personal information and account numbers to your friendly neighborhood crook tied up in pretty ribbons. I repeat, change it now.

Bad password protection is among several internal threats to a company’s network security. A network security assessment will uncover and evaluate such internal threats and provide businesses with safeguards. The costs associated with a breach in network security can be devastating to a business or individual, but building defenses to manage security risks can be remarkably cost-effective.

Businesses and individuals should take ownership of their network security and protect their sensitive information. Be empowered to take a strong first step on your own. Change your passwords. This is the easiest way to eliminate a huge problem in your network security, and it’s free. Distribute information on bad passwords to anyone with access to your network, and ask for them to change any violating passwords.

Each digit you add to your password makes it exponentially more challenging to crack. Avoid the obvious configurations such as 123456 and password###. Your name and birthday are also obvious, so don’t even think about it. Once your password is altered to become the network security defending tool it was meant to be, schedule a security audit to eliminate other vulnerabilities.

Recently in the news, Google’s Pwnium contest offers a million dollars in reward to hackers that find issues with the Google Chrome browser. This brings attention to not only network security, but also the importance of IT support and monitoring. Google aspires to attract the interest of creative, world-class hackers to find problems with their browser so measures can be taken to address issues and make improvements.

In addition to rewarding exploits of Google Chrome, the Pwnium contest will pay incentives to anyone that can find bugs in systems or security problems that affect all browsers and IT networking. Google Chrome has not fallen victim to hackers that have successfully exploited other household names in the internet realm.

Google is pushing for outside experts to find problems with security in order to design better IT solutions. Just as Google is taking steps to strengthen network design and omit flaws, all businesses should consider the functionality, design, and security of their computer network. IT solutions can streamline the efficiency and minimize the expense of keeping business IT networks up and running.

Similarly, just as Google went to the experts, in this case hackers, to identify and address e-tech concerns, so too should businesses rely on experts for IT solutions addressing their computer networking needs. In the case of their computer networks, businesses need not rely on such nefarious characters as hackers. Reputable information technology services will do just fine.

Hiring professional IT services may not be as headline catching as baiting hackers. It is, however, a smart solution to fixing or avoiding problems with the technology that keeps your business functioning. Businesses rely on IT networking services to keep operations running effectively and reliably. Part of setting up and maintaining a business’s computer network involves IT security solutions to keep operations running smoothly. It’s important that a company’s network is configured to handle current demands and easily upgrade with increased load. Computer monitoring is an important service in keeping IT networks fully operational.

In search of a competitive edge, businesses are increasingly adding social media strategies to marketing plans to bolster company branding, image and avenues of communication. Boosting business presence through social media is becoming a standard operating procedure more and more. The result of implementing a social media strategy can quickly turn from boon to bust if your company’s accounts are hacked. Taking proactive steps to improve network security should go hand in hand with a presence on social networks.

It may be challenging to contemplate just how vast the amount of information to be discovered through social networks is. Consider that the FBI is looking for systems to scour social networking sites for reasons of national security and you may begin to realize the extent of information available through social media. With this enormous source of information available to the public, the necessity for businesses to make sure that their image is protected and disseminated securely becomes obvious.

It’s not challenging at all to imagine the degree of devastation a breach in network security may be to an individual business. A malevolent hacker with access to a business’s social media can wreak havoc on the company’s image and data security. The risks associated with social media sites are similar to many other dangers to your network security.

Network security is at risk not only through corporate presence. Employees taking advantage of social networking sites compound the chance for a breach in network security. External threats such as malicious coding and hackers can be guarded against with IT consulting.

To prevent the pitfalls of utilizing social media, have your network security evaluated. A good IT consulting company can look for weak spots in your data protection as well as server and network security. The potential for malicious breaches in your network security is nothing new, but underhanded attacks targeting social networking sites are vulnerabilities for which smart businesses must be prepared.

The rules of the technology world are constantly changing at a rapid rate. If systems are developed to help protect data and enhance security measures, it seems that cyber criminals have figured out how to adapt within a matter of weeks. For their part, computer software companies are constantly adding updates with security patches and other bug-erasing measures into their programs. However, when you look beyond your home computer, stronger measures need to be taken to ensure security.

Recently, there have been stories about lacing security among some of the world’s most important servers and computer-controlled networks. As it stands, the problem may be deeper than once thought. According to a story from Discover Magazine:

“A researcher has just revealed that about ten thousand systems controlling water plants, sewage plants, and other infrastructure are online, mostly unprotected and findable with a simple search. Manufacturers of such industrial control systems…have taken comfort in the fact that they aren’t supposed to be connected to the web, and thus protecting them from hackers isn’t necessary…”

This discovery was made by a grad student, who built a tool that seeks out these systems and investigates their security flaws, the article says. The ease of such a discovery should inject some concern into the minds of the authorities controlling these essential network systems. Although the student wasn’t sure how capable a virus would be in controlling a utility database, it is still a major concern to national security issues. In this same light, consider your own business’s network and how it might be infiltrated by a malicious cyber crook.

By having a network security company come in and run controlled tests on your network, you will be providing your business and its customers with a valuable service. With IT services from ASG Technologies, you will be well protected from possible cracks and flaws in your own data network.

Computer security is becoming more important than ever before, primarily due to the overwhelming amount of cyber crimes taking place day by day. This is particularly concerning to small businesses and other offices that haven’t begun considering a data security system as the centerpiece of a secure interoffice network.  Let’s be honest though – it can be overly expensive to hire your own team of IT professionals and keep them in-office for any troubleshooting. It can be sometimes even be too expensive to bring in one specialist for computer security.

That;s why a number of smaller businesses are looking to outsource network security to outside firms, according to a story from Fox Business. Managed security services are experiencing a boom right now:

“…a growing number of smaller companies are outsourcing the job to so-called managed security services providers. They offer…seasoned security pros at affordable prices because they spread the costs across many clients. Indeed, small- and medium-sized companies are expected to drive a near doubling in spending on managed-security services to $14.9 billion in 2015 from $8 billion in 2011, according to Stamford, Conn.-based research firm Gartner Inc.”

The problem remains that many business owners and managers are wan to give over access to their network, the article says. In most cases, these firms not only offer the protection you need, but also charge rates based on the services you choose. The billing can usually work to your advantage:

“The size of your bill is typically determined by the number of computers and other devices being monitored or some other measure of the volume of work involved. For a small business, such flexible pricing is often appealing because expenses can grow or shrink along with your business.”

Make sure your small business is being shielded from the realities of cyber crimes. Hire an independent IT solutions company – you’ll be doing your business a favor.

While we talk about malware adversely affecting your network and the importance of network security numerous times on this blog did you know that malware can also infect your smartphone? If you own a smartphone you probably download various applications, use the helpful features, and you may have even scanned a QR codes to reveal promotions or information about a company. Malicious hackers and coders are jumping at the chance to spread malware that they can profit from and QR codes offer them this opportunity. When smartphone users who scan QR codes see a new code they may scan it because they think it’s a promotion that they want to participate in or they are merely curious where the code will lead them.

Malicious hackers are creating QR codes that lead to malicious sites that will execute illicit actions on your phone, reported Dark Reading.

“QR codes are growing in popularity and seem to be popping up everywhere — magazine ads, newsletters, real-estate signs, newspaper ads, and in trade-show booths,” says Paul Henry, security and forensic analyst at Lumension. “In the simplest of terms, a QR code is a 2D bar code that can store data which can then be read by smartphone users. The data is an easy way to direct a user to a particular website with a simple scan of the QR code, but it could also just as easily be a link to a malicious website.”

When you see a QR code you simply take a picture of the code with your smartphone with a QR code reader and it will lead you to a site. It is a simple concept but its simplicity can be dangerous because QR codes, much like a standard barcode, don’t reveal information about the site you will be visiting until your phone loads the page and by then the malware may be spreading to your phone.

“The big problem is that the QR code to a human being is nothing more than ‘that little square with a bunch of strange blocks in it.’ There’s no way to tell what is behind that QR code,” says Damon Petraglia, director of forensic and information security services for Chartstone. “And the biggest risk is that people cannot deny their own curiosity. If people see a random QR code that’s not connected to anything, just a sticker on the wall, they’re going to scan it because they want to know what the heck it is.”

The next time you see a QR code make sure you think twice before scanning it and only scan codes that you feel confident are trustworthy. While QR codes are a great and useful tool they can also cause unnecessary and possibly irreparable damage to your phone or various online accounts.