What is Scalable Infrastructure and Why is it Important?

While business owners and leaders often focus on the immediate aspects of their business, it is also essential to work on the company’s long-term viability. One of the most critical components of this is the scalable IT infrastructure.

Scalability is more than just moving to the cloud. It involves building an inherently stable system. Future development and expansion are made more straightforward to manage and safer for your business when scalability is incorporated as an essential component of your current infrastructure.

Effective IT operations and management depend on a stable IT infrastructure which is why companies should never undervalue its significance as this can lead to your business suffering if your data is ever exposed due to your system needing to be either fixed or maintained.

You can have an amazing product developed by a dedicated group of developers. However, if your technology isn’t up to the task, you will waste money on resources and fail to realize returns on marketing and development efforts.

Continue reading to find out what a solid IT infrastructure involves and why your company needs to prioritize it.

Scalable IT Infrastructure – An Overview

A scalable IT infrastructure is based on the idea that you can reduce the cost of operations by reducing your physical footprint when it’s not needed.

In the upcoming years, public cloud services are anticipated to represent a more significant portion of cloud infrastructure spending, reaching nearly 46% by 2024. ~Statista

You might have fewer servers, storage systems, or employees working within your data center. But, when you need more capacity, it’s easy to add back in these necessities and increase your use of the cloud.

Achieving this type of flexibility requires careful planning and management of your hardware, software, and applications so that they’re able to scale up or down without disrupting service delivery. A good example would be having multiple layers of redundancy built into your storage system so that if one component fails, another can take over seamlessly without any noticeable impact on users accessing their data.

Reasons for Having a Scalable Infrastructure

There are many reasons to have a scalable infrastructure, such as:

Growth

The most important reason is growth, which can happen in two different ways:

• Growth of your company or business
• Growth of your users or customer base

Growth is inevitable, and you need to be ready for it. You can’t just build an application and expect it to work forever without any changes.

Cyclical Demand

The second reason is cyclical demand. It means that there are times when more people use your application than others. An example of this could be heightened traffic during the holidays. To handle this situation, you will need a scalable infrastructure that can handle increased demand without sacrificing performance.

Why is IT Infrastructure Important for Businesses?

It’s no longer enough to have just a good product or service. The competition amongst businesses is fierce, and it’s not enough to be just good. You need to be great, which means having an infrastructure supporting your business.

Businesses need reliable IT infrastructure to operate efficiently and effectively.

The following are some of the reasons why having this IT infrastructure is crucial for businesses:

Productivity

The first reason you should invest in your infrastructure is that it will help to increase the productivity of your employees. The more efficient your employees are, the more work they can do in less time. This means that they will be able to get more done every day, which leads to an increase in revenue for your business.

Security

Another reason why infrastructure is critical is that it helps protect your data from cyber-attacks.

By 2025, experts predict that cybercrimes, such as phishing scams, spyware, ransomware, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks on small and large businesses, will total $10.5 trillion yearly.

If you don’t have a sound security system, hackers can easily break into your network, steal customer information, or even eradicate data. This can lead to devastating consequences for your company, so you must have a robust security system.

Compliance

Businesses must ensure that they comply with industry regulations, standards, and legal requirements such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) and SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act). An efficient infrastructure will allow businesses to quickly meet compliance requirements without negatively impacting their operations or productivity.

Efficiency

A company’s employees will be more efficient if they have access to an adequate infrastructure. For example, if you have an employee who works from home and needs access to your company’s servers or databases, you must ensure they can access them both quickly and easily. An inadequate infrastructure would lead to slow access times and frustration on both ends of the spectrum. Having an adequate infrastructure in place will ensure that your employees can access all necessary data efficiently, leading to happier employees!

Benefits of IT Infrastructure

The major benefits of a scalable IT infrastructure are:

Greater Ease of IT Operations

IT infrastructure is the foundation upon which all other components and services are built. Without it, there would be no way to perform the tasks that support an organization’s mission. This includes introductory emails and office productivity applications to complex ERP systems and CRM solutions. Considering how much time and money is spent on IT infrastructure today, it becomes apparent that any operational efficiency improvement will significantly impact a company’s bottom line.

Reduced Overall Capital and Operating Expenses

Since no upfront costs are associated with hosting your IT infrastructure with Cloud providers, your overall operating expenses can be significantly reduced. Your IT budget will also become easier to manage because it will no longer include capital expenses such as hardware purchases or upgrades and maintenance contracts for servers, storage devices, network equipment, and more.

Flexible Pricing Model

Cloud providers offer more flexible pricing models than traditional enterprise software companies because they don’t have to build physical infrastructures like data centers or server farms. They just have to buy enough capacity from their suppliers (e.g., Amazon Web Services) to offer customers the best prices possible.

Final Words

Focusing on scalability means you will not have to worry about the server’s ability to handle your website traffic or the potential of technical debt eating away at your budget. Scalable IT infrastructures are a good choice for scaling businesses and startups, especially in the beginning phases of growth.

Protected Harbor’s solution is designed to be a scalable, reliable, and flexible IT infrastructure optimized to support various data-centric workloads like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Business Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, and other data-centric workloads. Doing so enables enterprises and service providers to transform their businesses, drive new revenues and provide better, more efficient customer service.

Protected Harbor is here to serve as your reliable partner. We help keep your business secure without slowing you down by providing top-notch IT infrastructures that work for you. With real-time monitoring and capacity planning, integrated security, and on-demand scaling, our IT infrastructure or Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) is designed for data-intensive workloads and business-critical applications.

Get a free IT Audit today and learn why your business needs a highly scalable infrastructure without losing out on reliability and security.

Core Components of Data Center Infrastructure and Facilities

The data center is a critical part of any IT infrastructure. Data center infrastructure services include computing, networking, and storage resources necessary to support an organization’s virtualized applications and services.

Regardless of your company’s size or scope of operations, dedicating resources to a data center is essential for maintaining a secure, reliable IT infrastructure that can support your business for years.

This blog post will discuss the core data center infrastructure components and facilities and critical considerations when planning your own data center.

What is Data Center Infrastructure?

Data center infrastructure refers to the essential physical or hardware-based resources and components that make up a data center, including all IT infrastructure applications, devices, and technologies. It is modeled and named in a design plan that contains a detailed description of all the infrastructural parts required to build a data center.

Components of Data Center Infrastructure

We’ve determined that facilities house the environmental architecture (power, cooling, etc.) and the data center’s IT infrastructure. However, this article will refer to the server, storage, and network hardware as the “core elements.”

1. Data Center Components of Server Infrastructure

Rack, blade, and tower servers that store data and applications are called server infrastructure. Servers can also be fully virtualized environments inside actual machines, but because they are not physical infrastructure, they aren’t part of the data center components discussed in this article.

2. Data Center Components of Storage Infrastructure

Network Attached Storage (NAS), Direct Attached Storage (DAS), Solid State Drive (SSD) flash arrays, tape storage, etc., are all examples of storage infrastructure. Some well-known storage device manufacturers are HPE, Dell EMC, NetApp, and IBM.

3. Data Center Components of Network Infrastructure

Hardware like routers, switches, security devices, and firewalls make up the network infrastructure. The connection and integration of the various data center hardware systems depend on these data center assets. Some major network infrastructure brands are Cisco, Brocade, Juniper, and F5 Networks.

Types of Data Center Facilities

Numerous types of data center facilities have grown and been categorized as a result of the development of data center infrastructure.

Enterprise Data Center Facilities- Facilities with a traditional organizational structure, known as enterprise data center facilities, are run and owned solely by one company. These are often on-site; an internal team is in charge of network monitoring, hardware upgrades, IT deployments, and maintenance.

Colocation Data Center– These offers shared data center space businesses can rent for their servers and other hardware needs. The advantage of colocation over internal data centers is that the colocation facility handles the building, power, HVAC, internet bandwidth, and physical security; you (the customer) are still responsible for providing and maintaining the equipment.

Managed Data Center – In a managed service data center arrangement, a business leases the building’s physical infrastructure, and a third-party managed service provider looks after the facility’s hardware and operations. 

Cloud Data Center- Data centers with a cloud-based architecture have grown in popularity recently. A cloud data center is an off-premises location that your business may access over the Internet, but you are not liable for the infrastructure’s upkeep.

What is Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM)refers to the set of tools, software, and processes used to manage the physical infrastructure of modern data centers. This includes everything from uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and fiber channel switches to storage systems and data center security.

DCIM tools provide real-time visibility into the performance and health of all these components, enabling administrators to quickly identify and resolve issues before they can impact services. With the rise of cloud services and high-speed networks, DCIM has become increasingly important to ensure data center resources’ reliability, availability, and scalability.

DCIM is a critical aspect of modern data center management, helping organizations to optimize their infrastructure and achieve better performance and efficiency. It is a platform that mixes IT and Data Center Ops and may be used to achieve the best possible performance from a data center. Data center operations managers may better manage the physical components of the data center by using DCIM’s discovery, monitoring, reporting, and visualization tools.

Third-Party Maintenance, Managed Service Providers, or DCIM software can all be used in part or in whole to maintain the infrastructure of a data center.

Types of Data Center Components

The main components of any data center can be divided into the following categories:

Facility- The term “facility” describes the area used to set up all IT equipment. Data centers are the most energy-intensive buildings because they provide constant access to vital information.

Core Components- These are all the hardware and programs needed to run IT operations, store data, and run applications. Additionally, it could include servers, storage devices, network infrastructure, and information security components.

Support Infrastructure- This consists of all the hardware that helps provide the maximum uptime sustainability.

Operational Staff- The labor needed to monitor operations and continuously repair IT and infrastructure equipment is known as operational staff.

Conclusion

Digital transformation is a journey, not a destination. It’s a fluid process, not a one-time project. You must have a partner who understands this and stays on top of the latest cloud, software, and hardware technology developments. Only then can you ensure you’re getting the best technology to meet your business goals.

Protected Harbor partners with businesses to help them future-proof their data centers and transform their IT infrastructure with the latest technologies. By partnering with us, your business will receive the highest level of support and increase its reliability and scalability.

Contact us today to learn how we can serve your data center needs.

Protected Harbor Named Best IT Company of 2022 by Best of Small Business Awards!

Protected Harbor, a family-owned Managed IT Service Partner in New York, was named the Best IT Company of 2022 by the Best of Small Business Awards. The Best of Small Business Awards is an annual award recognizing the achievements of small and medium-sized businesses within the United States. This award acknowledges small businesses’ hard work and dedication to providing their customers with the best possible service. The award is based on customer feedback, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

“We are honored to have been selected for this prestigious award, and we are proud that our hard work and dedication have been recognized by the Best of Small Business Awards,” said Protected Harbor CEO Richard Luna. “We are grateful that our clients allow and entrust us to eliminate their technology problems, allowing them to focus on their business and mission.”

The Small Business Expo which is America’s largest and most popular Business-to-Business networking event, trade show, and conference, actually presented The Best of Small Business Awards. Coincidentally, while attending the Small Business Expo in New York this past year, Protected Harbor was notably one of the most popular exhibitors in attendance.

Previously, Protected Harbor was also recognized as a top cloud computing company in the US by Goodfirms, and as a top managed service provider by DesignRush.

Protected Harbor has been recognized by The Best of Small Business Awards for the company’s commitment to our customer’s happiness. During voting, Protected Harbors’ approach to customer service was recognized as going beyond just solving problems and closing tickets. The company aims to connect on a human level, getting to know its clients and their client’s business so Protected Harbor can function like an extension of their team.

Protected Harbor prides themselves on providing their clients with the best IT services possible. Their team of professionals are dedicated to ensuring that their clients receive the highest quality services and products. The company strives to offer their clients the most innovative solutions to their IT needs.

The organization has more than 14 years of experience implementing cutting-edge engineering solutions focused on managed services, cloud migration, networking, and collaboration. Protected Harbor’s staff is highly knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of IT, from network security to cloud computing. The company keeps up with the latest trends and technologies to ensure clients receive the most up-to-date solutions. They understand that technology is constantly evolving, and they strive to stay ahead of the curve.

Protected Harbor’s innovative approach to offering managed services is redefining business technology. The IT experts at Protected Harbor will help lessen stressful day-to-day tech challenges, decrease expensive downtime, and boost operational maturity through digital and technical strategies that complement your company’s goals.

Protected Harbor is one of the many IT companies in the area that specializes in various services, such as IT assistance, remote workforce support, IT infrastructure, cloud migration, VoIP phones, and data center hosting. The company differentiates itself from other MSPs by prioritizing customer satisfaction. They also offer 24/7/365 unrivaled customer service. If you run into a problem at any time, you can always count on them to address it, no matter how late in the evening or early in the morning.

Protected Harbor looks forward to continuing to provide their clients with the best IT services and products in the years to come. The company’s main objective is to create an interpersonal relationship and understand their client’s company so they can work as an extension of their client’s staff. The result of this connection is evident in the fact that customer referrals mainly drive their business, and they have a 98% customer satisfaction rate. Protected Harbor is the last IT company you will ever need to hire. Get in touch now to experience what effective collaboration and outstanding customer service looks like.

5 Benefits of Hiring a Managed Services Provider

Today’s businesses are faced with myriad challenges. The growth of digital technologies, the Internet of Things, managed services, and other connected devices have exposed organizations to new threats and accelerated the pace of change. As a result, organizations must adapt faster than ever to stay ahead of their competitors.

Users need to balance increasing responsibilities without sacrificing performance or security. Many businesses are moving from standard IT support services to managed services providers that can meet all their IT needs with a single vendor.

Managed service providers (MSPs) offer more than just essential managed IT support services; they provide strategic business services that integrate with the end user’s existing technology infrastructure. This article highlights the 5 benefits of hiring a managed services provider to leverage these benefits within your organization.

• Reduce Costs

A managed services provider can reduce the costs of your technology in several ways. First, by leveraging economies of scale, MSPs can obtain better pricing on hardware and software services than they can as an individual organization. This can be expensive if you are currently responsible for buying and maintaining all your technology. You can reduce your costs by 10% to 30% or more by using MSPs to meet your technology needs.

Additionally, MSPs provide better service than many in-house IT departments. And according to a recent study, managed services providers can reduce costs by an average of 14% in the first year. This can amount to a significant amount of money, depending on the size of your organization.

• Unified Platform to Manage All Services

An MSP can fulfill your business’s IT management services through a unified platform. All services are integrated through a single vendor that manages your technology. This can be especially beneficial when having all your systems and devices connected through a single system.

Unified platforms can link multiple applications and devices through a single system. This allows your organization’s employees to easily access their business applications from any location. This can result in improved productivity and more timely decision-making.

• Built-In Security Features

MSPs can offer several built-in security features, including identity and access management, intrusion detection and prevention, data encryption, and more. Building a secure network isn’t an easy task. If your organization doesn’t have the expertise you need to implement and maintain a secure network, you won’t be able to meet today’s security challenges.

Managed services providers offer many built-in security features to help protect your data from cyberattacks. They also provide security services that allow you to meet regulatory compliance requirements and protect your data from cyberattacks.

• Accelerated Problem Resolution

Because managed services providers are responsible for all aspects of your technology, they can respond to issues more quickly and with a more consistent level of service. They can meet challenges more rapidly because they have dedicated teams of experts responsible for each technology solution.

Hiring an MSP can accelerate the speed of problem resolution and reduce employees’ time without important services. The average time for managed service providers to resolve a problem is six hours or less, compared to three days for organizations that work their own IT.

• Better Service Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Compared to IT service providers or day-to-day service providers, Managed services providers offer better service continuity and disaster recovery services. Suppose your organization is currently responsible for handling its own continuity and disaster recovery services. In that case, you may need help to meet regulatory compliance requirements or keep your business up and running in the event of a disaster.

With managed services, you can be confident that your business will remain up and running if a natural disaster or other event disrupts your technology. MSPs can meet regulatory compliance requirements and offer more comprehensive continuity and disaster recovery plans than many individual organizations.

Managed services providers can help you meet regulatory compliance requirements related to cybersecurity and privacy. They also can provide 24/7/365 monitoring to detect potential outages and offer more advanced and redundant systems to ensure business continuity and continuity of operations in the event of a disaster.

Streamlining IT Management

Small businesses face an ever-growing array of challenges, from maintaining cybersecurity to ensuring seamless technological integration. Amidst these complexities, managing an efficient and secure IT infrastructure emerges as a pivotal task for sustaining competitiveness and growth. However, for many small businesses, navigating the intricacies of IT management can be daunting and resource-intensive. This is where Managed IT services for small businessses emerge as indispensable partners, offering tailored solutions to alleviate the burden of IT management and empower businesses to focus on their core objectives. Through strategic collaboration with IT managed services, small businesses can unlock new avenues of efficiency, resilience, and innovation, positioning themselves for sustained success in today’s digital landscape.

Maximizing Business Resilience

Companies must develop innovative business models to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment. This often involves leveraging the latest information technology to optimize operations, improve customer experiences, and achieve business goals. However, with the increased reliance on technology comes the increased risk of data loss, which can have serious consequences for businesses of all sizes. That’s why many companies turn to security service providers MSSPs, for assistance.

MSSPs are third-party organizations that specialize in providing various security services to businesses. They offer various services, including data loss prevention, incident response, and security monitoring, to help businesses stay protected against cyber threats. They also offer Service Level Agreements, or SLAs, which specify the level of service that a business can expect from the MSSP.

One of the key benefits of working with an MSSP is that they can help businesses develop a comprehensive incident response plan. This involves identifying potential threats, establishing protocols for responding to incidents, and regularly testing the plan to ensure it is effective. This approach can help businesses minimize cyber-attack impact and quickly return to normal operations.

Conclusion

The managed services model provides significant benefits over standard IT support services. It enables businesses to reduce costs, access better technology, and improve productivity. When organizations hire managed services providers, they can focus on their core business activities by outsourcing their technology needs.

When you think of an MSP, you might imagine a provider focusing on a limited set of products and services, with a technician who comes to your business on a set schedule to perform maintenance work. While many MSPs fit this description, Protected Harbor is different. Thanks to our customer-centric approach and experts, we can deliver peace of mind and a near-seamless customer experience.

It’s not an MSP at all. It’s more of a managed security service, providing monitoring and protection for your business’s critical IT infrastructure. What sets Protected Harbor apart from other MSPs is its tailored approach to each client’s unique needs. And with a team of seasoned engineers, analysts, and consultants, you can expect the utmost professionalism.

Contact our expert today to learn how we’re built differently. We are also giving away a free IT Audit; get one now!

What is Cloud Misconfiguration and How Can You Avoid It?

The increased usage of the cloud, intended to promote company agility and resilience, has recently increased cyber risks. It does not follow, however, that choosing to adopt cloud-based-hosted environments automatically increases an organization’s vulnerability to a cyberattack. Because specific security solutions aren’t designed to secure cloud-hosted environments, securing a cloud environment requires a different security strategy than securing on-premises infrastructures.

IaaS (infrastructure-as-a-service) solutions are becoming increasingly popular among businesses for their IT operations. According to Gartner, by 2022, double the number of corporate entities using cloud-managed products 2018 will be using them.

According to the NSA, cloud misconfiguration is the most significant vulnerability in a cloud security environment. Although these risks are frequently modest in sophistication, the occurrence of cloud misconfiguration problems is typically through the sky. In other words, 99% of businesses will have cloud misconfigurations that they are entirely unaware of.

What is Cloud Misconfiguration?

Any flaws, defects, or holes in your cloud setup that could put you in danger are called cloud misconfiguration. This cloud security risk may manifest as insider threats, cloud breaches, data breaches, insider threats, or bad external actors who use your network’s weaknesses to their advantage. This serious compliance risk might appear in a variety of ways, including:

• Granting public access to storage buckets;
• Unknowingly disclosing unencrypted data to the public internet without the necessary authentication in place;
• Improper network functionality generation;
• Exposing data saved in the cloud to all system users and storing encryption keys and passwords in publicly accessible repositories.

It can be either malicious or accidental.

• Malicious cloud misconfiguration is when someone deliberately sets up their cloud server to access someone else’s product or data. This is often done by hackers who want to steal information or even cause physical harm.
• Accidental cloud misconfiguration happens when a company puts its information on public clouds and does not secure it properly. This can happen because a company doesn’t understand its responsibilities in this respect or anticipate how much work would be required to ensure its data once it is moved into the cloud.

Leading Causes of Misconfigured Cloud Infrastructures

Most misconfigurations are caused by human error and elements like overly complicated infrastructure or inadequate knowledge of security procedures.

Malicious Insiders

While it is difficult to know who is responsible for a breach, the most common culprits are malicious insiders who have gained access to user credentials and have tried to use them to launch attacks on the cloud environment. As a result, users are often forced to change their passwords or reset their accounts’ entire passwords.

Denial of Service Attacks (DoS)

A denial of service attack occurs when an attacker tries to overload a system with data requests so that it cannot service legitimate requests from users or other applications. This can result in lost productivity, disrupted operations, and an inability to process payments, which can cause financial losses for companies with cloud-based eCommerce platforms.

Overly Complex Infrastructure

Cloud infrastructure typically consists of multiple components such as servers, storage systems, networks, and firewalls that work together to provide cloud services across various geographic locations worldwide. IT professionals may become susceptible to attack by hackers or malware distributors seeking entry into company systems when these components are not correctly configured or managed by IT professionals.

Unauthorized Access

An unauthorized individual can access your cloud infrastructure and wreak havoc on the AWS environment. In the case of a malicious actor, the consequences can be devastating to business operations, financial security, or even human lives.

Insufficient Understanding of Security

When creating and managing apps and infrastructure, the majority of developers and DevOps teams do not place a high priority on security. These teams primarily concentrate on ensuring that services perform properly and offer users functionality.

When selecting members for your development team, consider security. Ensure they comprehend crucial ideas like application hardening, least privilege, and encryption at rest.

How to Avoid Cloud Misconfiguration?

Here are some tips to avoid cloud misconfiguration:

Implement Log Tracking

The first step to avoiding cloud misconfiguration is to implement logging and monitoring. When a cloud service is misconfigured, it’s often difficult to identify what exactly went wrong. The best way to catch this type of issue is by using a detailed logging and monitoring system. You can determine the root cause of any misconfiguration incidents by tracking changes.

Add Layered Security

Layer testing is another way to prevent cloud misconfiguration issues. Layer testing involves placing multiple checks on your application before deploying it in production. For example, if you are deploying an application that requires authentication, you will use one layer of testing for authentication and another layer for authorization. This way, if something goes wrong during authentication, it does not affect approval.

Automate Configuration and Security Checks

Automation is an integral part of cloud security. A data breach can occur if the same settings are used in multiple environments. Automating the deployment of your infrastructure helps you eliminate this risk.

Simplify Your Environments

If you have multiple environments for your applications, then it’s essential to simplify them as much as possible. This is because every domain has different requirements and limitations. For example, if you have an internal production environment and an external staging environment, having two separate configurations will complicate things further down the line.

Document Everything

If you’re using cloud-based services, then they will require your information. So, ensure you have all the documentation ready before moving to the next step. This will help you in case of an issue with your service or a security breach.

Scan for Vulnerabilities

A scan will check whether your server has known security issues that could allow hackers to access it. If there are any vulnerabilities, ensure you fix them as soon as possible by following best practices such as patching software, updating third-party libraries, or installing anti-virus software on your server.

Adopt a DevSecOps Culture

The process of development and deployment has long neglected security. A DevSecOps culture is created by combining awareness and attention to growth, safety, and operations. This culture makes incorporating security as a crucial component of application design and development more accessible.

It helps to build security into your application’s framework to have competent security resources on your design and development teams. Avoiding issues in the first place will prevent the hassle of dealing with them afterward.

Conclusion

Misconfiguration issues are ultimately nothing new; they have moved to the cloud with the applications. Your organization’s ability to lower its cyber risk and the likelihood of being a victim of a cloud-misconfiguration-based breach will improve the more cloud security automation you can deploy in combination with human-backed services. Managing your security threats inside your expanding list of cloud services is crucial as cloud usage keeps accelerating. A significant data leak can result from a single configuration error.

An automated solution like Protected Harbor can help you reduce your attack surface and control third-party cloud exposures through real-time monitoring and optimized remediation workflows. We help businesses and enterprises protect their data and assets by offering cloud configuration solutions. We offer a full range of cloud services, including infrastructure, platform, and software solutions.

With a team of certified engineers and consultants, we help enterprises and businesses migrate, transform, and digitize their critical business processes. We work with our clients to understand their business requirements, design the best architecture, and execute the project with utmost care. We are a team of professionals who believe in integrity, honesty, and hard work.

With our solutions, you can focus on what matters most to your business. Contact us today to learn about cloud migration and configuration.

Why Cyber-attacks Are So Damaging

The digital world has made life easier for humans and opened up new avenues for exploitation and crime. Cyber-attacks have become increasingly common, and their damaging effects are felt everywhere.

We welcome you to another episode of Uptime with Richard Luna. In the cybersecurity minute today, we will discuss why cyber-attacks are so damaging, the cost, and how small businesses can protect themselves from cyber threats.

Why are Cyber-attacks So Damaging

Cyber-attacks are so damaging because they can do immense harm to businesses, governments, and individuals. Cyber threats can cause tremendous economic losses and compromise the security of sensitive information.

Businesses may lose sensitive customer information or confidential corporate data and bear the cost of replacing or restoring it. In some cases, they may even be fined by regulatory agencies for failing to protect their data. Cybercriminals can also steal money from businesses by hacking into their systems, leading to significant losses.

The Cost of Cyber-attacks

The cost of cyber-attacks can be immense in terms of money and reputation. Businesses that are targeted by cybercriminals can suffer significant financial losses due to theft, fraud, and other malicious activities. They may also be subject to fines and other penalties imposed by regulatory agencies.

In addition to financial losses, businesses can suffer reputational damage due to cyber-attacks. Customers may lose trust in the company and take their business elsewhere. This can lead to a decline in sales and profits, and it may take a long time for the industry to recover.

Another cost of cyber-attacks is the time and effort spent restoring systems and data. Businesses will have to invest in new security measures to protect their systems from future attacks, and they will also have to spend time and resources recovering from the attack. This can be a lengthy and costly process, and it can disrupt the business’s operations.

Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

Small businesses are especially vulnerable to cyber threats, as they usually lack the resources and expertise to protect themselves. Fortunately, there are several steps that small businesses can take to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.

The first step is to invest in robust cybersecurity tools and technologies. These tools can help to protect the business from various threats, such as malware, phishing, and ransomware. It is also essential to ensure that the business’s systems are regularly updated to protect against the latest threats.

Small businesses should also develop an incident response plan to prepare for cyber-attacks. This plan should include steps for identifying, responding to, and recovering from a cyber-attack. Training employees on cyber security best practices, such as avoiding suspicious links and emails and using strong passwords, is also essential.

Finally, small businesses should consider working with a cybersecurity partner to ensure that their systems are secure. A cybersecurity partner can provide enterprise-grade protection and help the company respond quickly and effectively to any threats.

Conclusion

Cyber-attacks can have severe and far-reaching consequences, and businesses of all sizes need to take steps to protect themselves. Small businesses should invest in robust cybersecurity tools and technologies, develop a comprehensive incident response plan, and work with a cybersecurity partner to ensure their systems are secure. With the proper protections in place, businesses can reduce cyber-attack risk and minimize its damaging effects.

At Protected Harbor, we provide enterprise-grade cybersecurity to businesses of all sizes. Contact us today for a free cybersecurity assessment and get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is secure. Keep watching the video and other resources to stay safe.

Protected Harbor COO Jeffrey Futterman Named to CP Unlimited Board of Directors

We are proud to announce that Protected Harbor’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeffery Futterman, has been appointed to the Constructive Partnerships (CP) Unlimited Board of Directors. Jeff will lead Information Technology and Operations for the nonprofit organization as they look to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve fulfilling lives.

“As CP Unlimited expands its IT capabilities, Jeff’s knowledge and contributions will help the Agency deliver services strategically and efficiently,” said Ross B. Levin, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

CP Unlimited, formerly the Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State, was founded in 1946 to make a positive difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential services, day habilitation services, adult education services, and Article 15 support and nursing.

As a new member of the board of directors for a nonprofit, Jeff will have several responsibilities, including employee hiring and mentorship, fundraising, plus financial and business planning. Jeff will also sit on the IT and Data Analytics Committee, providing oversight and guidance for the organization’s information technology deployments.

“I am honored and grateful to be a member of the CP Unlimited Board of Directors,” said Futterman. “I am passionate about our mission to ‘promote opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve fulfilling lives’.  I am hopeful my experience in information technology helps me guide the IT function to achieve that mission best each and every day.”

Jeff is currently the COO for Protected Harbor, a leading IT Company in New York. He is responsible for the company’s growth, client management, and positively shaping culture while leading a global team.  Before Protected Harbor, he served as the Chief Information Officer for IntegraMed Fertility and Cytec Industries. Jeff will use his extensive proficiency and exposure in the healthcare and consulting industries to help CP Unlimited reach its goals. Jeff graduated from University at Albany, SUNY, and has been volunteering at the Hi Tor Animal Care Center for the past 13 years.

Protected Harbor is a family-owned, managed IT service partner for organizations of all sizes. We take responsibility for the technology and applications that keep your business moving forward. Protected Harbor, recognized as a top managed service provider by DesignRush, specializes in IT Support for Nonprofit and Managed IT Services for Healthcare Organizations. The company’s approach to customer service goes beyond just solving problems and closing tickets. They aim to connect on a human level, getting to know clients and clients’ missions so that they can function like an extension of the internal team. Protected Harbor has a 98% client-retention rate, 90+ Net Promoter Score, and a 5-star rating on Google.

The Top 5 Risks of Cloud Migration

When it comes to cloud migration, there are plenty of risks involved. Every business considering migrating its IT infrastructure from a traditional data center to a public cloud must identify potential obstacles. After all, it’s not an easy transition, even with the many tools and resources available. A study by New Voice Media found that only 14 percent of companies that had begun transitioning to the cloud environment completed the process successfully. This means businesses have plenty of opportunities to get things right the first time. With so much information available about how and why companies should migrate their IT infrastructure to the cloud, it’s essential to understand which risks need addressing first.

When deciding about cloud migration services, one of the first things to remember is the risk involved with the process. There are many different types of risk, ranging from financial to technical. In this blog, we’ll learn the top 5 risks of cloud migration and how to mitigate them.

Cloud Migration is Only the Beginning

Cloud migration is the process of moving applications, data, and other business elements from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. When companies approach the decision for cloud adoption, they often think it will solve all of their problems. The most significant risk is that businesses assume they can put off addressing the issues they face today by migrating tomorrow. In reality, migration is only the beginning of a new set of challenges that businesses must overcome to ensure their data remains safe and secure in the long term. If a company has a poor security system today, it will have a flawed one tomorrow, regardless of whether the data is hosted on-premises or in the cloud. This is why migration should be seen as a way to improve the business environment rather than just a quick fix to a single issue.

There are four main types of cloud migration: Lift and Shift, Replatforming, Refactoring, and Rearchitecting. These four types of cloud migration offer businesses different levels of transformation and complexity, providing options to choose the most suitable approach for their needs.

Why is Security in the Cloud a Challenge?

Migration to the cloud should be considered a long-term investment, not a short-term solution. However, the fact that most organizations are new to the cloud platform makes it difficult for them to know what to expect. Often, businesses don’t fully understand the risk associated with, and the potential impact cloud migration could have on their business. Of course, security is the biggest challenge of all. Public cloud data centers are designed for maximum scalability and flexibility, so companies don’t have the same level of control and visibility as they do with their own data centers. Even if a business uses a managed cloud provider or hybrid clouds, it still has to ensure it applies the proper security measures to keep its data safe.

To mitigate the risks associated with cloud migration, developing a comprehensive cloud migration plan and carefully choosing a reliable cloud migration service provider is crucial.

Data Theft Causes Unauthorized Access

Data theft is a common problem with traditional infrastructure. If a company fails to protect its application and data, unauthorized access is always a risk. Businesses are no longer in control when that data is migrated to the cloud. When migrating to the cloud, companies often store their data in a third-party facility or premises data center. This creates a single point of failure; hackers will have access to all the data if they breach security. This can include all types of information, including personally identifiable and sensitive client information. If this data is stolen and isn’t encrypted, it can be used for malicious purposes, including identity theft and financial fraud. The potential economic impact on a business can be huge.

How to avoid it?

• Encryption: Implement strong encryption methods for data in transit and at rest. This ensures that even if unauthorized access occurs, the stolen data remains unreadable.
• Access Control: Utilize robust access control mechanisms to limit and monitor who can access sensitive data. Implement multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.

Third-Party Product Comes with Security Risks

Third-party products are needed in every aspect of the business. However, they present certain security risks. For example, a third-party VPN device could be easy for hackers to compromise. When migrating to the cloud, it is crucial to understand the security level of third-party products and services. Businesses must make sure the service provider uses a secure VPN connection when outsourcing. They should also consider hiring a third-party provider with a secure data center.

How to avoid it?

• Vendor Assessment: Conduct thorough security assessments of third-party products and services before integrating them into your cloud environment. Ensure that vendors adhere to industry-standard security practices.
• Continuous Monitoring: Regularly monitor and update third-party products to address any vulnerabilities promptly.

Hackers Can Compromise Vulnerable VPN Devices

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, provide a secure connection that keeps your internet data hidden from hackers and enables companies to safeguard their private cloud resources. Many cloud apps require a VPN to transport data from on-premises systems to the cloud. Although they are often bidirectional, VPNs are set up to only work in one direction. This frequently exposes your business to a cloud service provider attack. When hackers break into a VPN device, they can access the data transmitted between a remote user and the data center. This can result in data loss, stolen information, and financial losses.

How to avoid it?

• VPN Security Best Practices: Implement best practices for VPN security, such as regular updates, strong encryption protocols, and multi-factor authentication.
• Network Segmentation: Employ network segmentation to isolate critical components and minimize the impact of a potential breach.

Accidental Exposure of User Credentials

Cybercriminals typically use cloud apps as a cover in their phishing assaults.  Due to the widespread usage of cloud-based communications and document-sharing services, employees are used to getting emails with links requesting them to validate their credentials before accessing a particular site or document.

Businesses often collect user credentials on the premises, such as passwords and usernames. However, when these credentials are migrated to the cloud, they are stored the same way as the other data. If hackers can access this information, it can result in a severe security breach. If the credentials are stored in plain text, hackers will be able to see them. This is one of the most common ways for hackers to access secure data. A fast and secure migration process involves encrypting the user credentials. However, some companies don’t make this a priority.

How to avoid it?

• Education and Training: Provide ongoing cybersecurity education and training for employees to recognize phishing attempts and avoid falling victim to credential theft.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce MFA to add an extra layer of protection, even if user credentials are compromised.

Lack of Secure API

An API is essential for connecting different business components, including CRM, application migration, and billing systems. If a company doesn’t put security at the forefront when designing its API, it can pose a significant risk to the business. When creating an API or a cloud native app, it is crucial to understand the security requirements. This includes authentication, authorization, and session management. If a company overlooks any of these requirements, it can result in a severe breach of security. Hackers can access sensitive data in the cloud if the API is easy to compromise. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytical Scandal, which gave Cambridge Analytica access to user data, is the most common example of an insecure API.

How to avoid it?

• API Security Guidelines: Follow industry best practices and guidelines for designing secure APIs. This includes proper authentication, authorization, and encryption of data transmitted via APIs.
• Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits and assessments of APIs to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Conclusion

By incorporating these strategies into your cloud migration plan and partnering with a reliable cloud migration service provider, you can significantly reduce the cloud migration challenges. Regularly reassess and update your security measures to adapt to evolving threats and technology advancements.

Moving to the cloud platform can be your business’s best action. Before going further, be sure you have a clear cloud migration strategy and are aware of the dangers associated with potential incompatibilities with the current architecture, security threats, and reduced visibility and control. Additionally, make every effort to prevent data loss, incomplete data deletion, excessive spending, and additional latency. Cloud migration plan might benefit your company if you can avoid these problems.

If you are considering moving your business to the cloud, you might have concerns about data security and the potential for downtime that could impact your customers. With Protected Harbor, you can rest assured that your data will be secure and available whenever needed while we create a tailored migration plan. Our engineers are certified by every primary cloud provider, and our team members are dedicated to your business’s success. We are rated as one of the top cloud computing companies in the US by Goodfirms.

With our help, you can start enjoying the benefits of the cloud sooner rather than later. Contact our cloud migration expert today.

How does I.T. Support Student Success?

The role of information technology (I.T.) in supporting student success has become increasingly important in modern educational institutions. From online course management systems to virtual learning environments, I.T. plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations of educational establishments. It is no surprise, then, that an increasing number of universities and schools are investing in the latest I.T. infrastructure to support the learning and development of their students.

All online educational techniques are referred to as digital education. According to projections, the global e-learning market is expected to reach 243 billion U.S. dollars by 2022. The demand for self-paced e-learning products was worth 46.67 billion dollars in 2016 and is expected to fall to 33.5 billion dollars in 2021. A sizeable portion of academic staff worldwide has demonstrated a desire to support modern, digital education paradigms.

Higher education institutions are replacing traditional resources with educational technologies to stay up with their population of digital learners due to the adoption of remote learning. This article provides an overview of the role of I.T. in supporting student success, including the different types of I.T. services available and how they can be used to enhance the learning experience. By exploring the latest tools and technologies available, institutions can ensure that their students can access the resources they need to achieve their academic goals.

Technology as a Bridge Connecting Students and School

Technology has become an integral part of the educational system. It is used for many things, such as distance learning, teleconferencing, and video conferencing. The use of technology in schools has made it easy for students to learn from anywhere in the world.

The use of technology in teaching has been a big success and has helped many students gain knowledge. Teachers must incorporate technology into their lessons and activities to make the most of this opportunity. This way, they can reach out to more people and teach them at a greater level of proficiency.

Schools are already using technology in innovative ways across multiple platforms such as apps, e-books, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. These tools allow teachers and administrators to engage with students in previously impossible ways — especially when it comes to supporting those who may need extra assistance. At the same time, they’re out of school because of illness or other reasons beyond their control (such as family obligations).

Role of I.T in Student Success

Below are some ways to implement a student approach using innovative technology in the classroom to boost student success and promote engagement.

Help with Online Education

Students can learn at home or on their schedule with the right tools. If you’re unfamiliar with software programs like Moodle, which is used for online education, ask your school district about the available resources. You may even be able to get training from a local organization such as the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Data Security of Student Records

Schools should ensure that all student data is secure and that students can access their files whenever needed. Check with your school district about how this information will be kept safe on their computers and storage systems. It’s also essential that parents understand this information because if they don’t know what’s going on with their child’s information, they could be missing out on crucial learning opportunities!

Cleaned Up Every Summer & Winter Break

During the summer and winter breaks, students are away from school and often at home with family members or friends. It’s easy for distractions to creep into online life too! This can lead to poor grades on assignments or missed deadlines for projects due in class.

Active Participation

Students can now participate more actively in their educational experience because of technology. They no longer follow what is written in the book; instead, they are much more motivated to research other issues independently. Technology gives them the freedom they need to do so. This encourages active engagement, significantly increasing their interest in their subjects.

In-Class Tech Support

In-class tech support is crucial for students struggling with issues or questions during class. There are many ways a teacher can provide tech support in their classroom; however, one of the most popular methods is using Google Classroom. This application allows teachers to create assignments and assign them to students, automatically sending out notifications for problems or errors during class. Students will receive email notifications if there is an error with their assignment or if it needs to be rescheduled at another time due to lack of attendance or other issues.

Networking and Internet

Networking is a critical component of any educational institution’s technology infrastructure. Ensuring students have access to the internet, reliable connectivity, and wireless networks that meet their needs is essential for student success (and teacher retention).

It helps Connect Students to the Real World

I.T. can help students make connections between the natural world and the classroom. Many students had no experience with computers or the internet before starting high school. This can make it difficult for them to find ways to apply their knowledge in the real world. I.T. provides opportunities for students to engage with technology, which will help them become more well-rounded individuals who are prepared for college and career success beyond high school graduation day.

Help Desk for Teachers and Parents

A help desk for teachers and parents will help ensure everyone can access the student Chromebook whenever needed, regardless of where they are in the world. It’s an easy way to ensure students get access to their materials while ensuring teachers and parents can provide support when they need it most.

Increases the Enjoyment Element of Learning

Students use technology in every part of their lives outside of the classroom. Technology can enhance the learning experience in the school. Teachers can use interactive games and leaderboards to give lessons using teaching strategies like game-based learning (GBL). Does anyone enjoy playing games? Insight tools can be used to gather feedback and evaluate the effectiveness of these gamification activities, allowing you to go beyond anecdotal evidence and determine the true efficacy of these new technologies. Monitoring these initiatives is an excellent illustration of organizational adaptability in action.

Conclusion

As you can see, technology plays a huge role in education and has an increasing impact. However, because many conventional teaching methods should continue to be used, it is essential to use technology in education properly. It is up to educators to create a balance between preparing students for the future and the good old-fashioned offline classroom. Also, school management needs to be more crucial about security while e-learning.

With the ever-changing landscape of information technology, the education industry must stay ahead of the curve to provide the best service for its students. This is especially true for K-12 schools, which must meet strict data security requirements to keep student data safe. Protected Harbor Consulting provides schools with the best of both worlds — high-quality data security and low-cost solutions. It is a comprehensive solution for all educational institutions to manage their IT infrastructure, software, and content.

Employing I.T. experts like Protected Harbor saves you much hassle. The solutions they offer can help you have a risk-free learning environment. Get a free IT Audit and learn how we support student success.