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.

Managed Services vs. Cloud Computing: What’s the Difference?

Suppose you’re a CIO of a company or just an employee. In that case, it’s likely that sooner or later, you will have to deal with two opposing forces: on the one hand, the demands of your organization and the increasing need for agility, and on the other, your team’s inability to manage everything in a digital world. These two factors often lead to a choice between having a managed services contract, which relieves some pressure from your technical department by allowing them to use third-party companies instead of managing services themselves or going all-in with cloud computing.

Managed services and cloud computing can help businesses streamline operations, automate processes, and make data-driven decisions. They also have several things in common that make understanding the differences between managed services and cloud computing more accessible. Managed services and cloud computing are two popular ways organizations outsource their technology needs. Managed services refer to outsourcing day-to-day technology management, including data management systems and IT infrastructure management. On the other hand, cloud computing refers to using cloud-based services to store and access data securely.

Whether you’re a business looking to cut costs or develop an online presence, knowing what these services are and how they can benefit your organization is essential. Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between managed services and cloud computing.

What is a Managed Service?

Managed services refer to a type of outsourcing where a company owns the technology and staff of another company, but not the business process or the customer relationship. A managed service provider (MSP) offers customers various types of managed services, governed by a service level agreement (SLA). This agreement outlines the expected level of service, including response time, issue resolution, and performance metrics.

One popular type of managed service is data management. This involves the storage, retrieval, and security of customer data. Another type of managed service is information technology services, which include the management of an organization’s technology infrastructure, such as servers, networks, and software applications.

Protected Harbor offers clients various managed services, including data management, cloud computing, migration, and information technology services. We work with our clients to develop customized SLAs that meet their specific needs and provide them with peace of mind knowing that their technology and data are in good hands.

There are several reasons why companies choose to partner with us for their managed services needs. One of the main reasons is our expertise in data management, which helps clients improve their data security and compliance. We also offer various managed services, including cloud-based solutions, which provide our clients the flexibility and scalability they need to grow their businesses.

For example, a hosting company outsources the management of its infrastructure to a third-party company. The customer’s website is hosted on the managed service provider’s cloud. The ordered service provider has managed the hosting for the customer for a fee.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of resources and services through a network of shared hardware and software that reside on remote servers and are accessed through a network. This means you don’t own or manage any technology but instead access it via the Internet cloud. You can, for example, use a shared spreadsheet on someone’s computer over the Internet without knowing anything about the computer’s technical setup.

It is also referred to as “virtual computing.” A cloud provider like Amazon offers various storage, computing, and software services. The advantage of using a cloud provider is that it saves you time by letting you outsource tasks that used to take up a lot of your time, like managing the technical setup of employees’ computers, to a service provider.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

Cloud providers offer several advantages over managed services providers. First, you get access to a broader range of services and benefits, like automatic backup and disaster recovery. The second is that you don’t have the costs associated with data center maintenance or power. Another advantage of cloud computing is that you are not limited to using the technology of a single provider since the cloud is an open network where anyone can offer a service. This means you can access a broader range of technologies and services without being limited to the ones a managed service provider offers.

Managed Services vs. Cloud Computing

Managed services and cloud computing benefits organizations looking to improve their technology capabilities. With managed services, organizations can benefit from expert monitoring and management of their technology infrastructure and data management strategies that can help them extract valuable insights from the data they collect. With cloud computing, organizations can benefit from scalable, cost-effective solutions allowing them to access their data anywhere.

Managed services can help organizations leverage machine learning and business intelligence to make informed business decisions. At the same time, cloud computing can provide the flexibility and scalability needed to support growth and innovation. Both approaches can offer high data governance and security, which is critical for organizations that handle sensitive information.

Ultimately, the choice between managed services and cloud computing will depend on an organization’s specific needs and goals. For organizations that require more control over their technology infrastructure, managed services may be the better choice. For organizations looking for more flexibility and scalability, cloud-based solutions may be the way to go. Regardless of the approach, organizations should seek a provider that offers a high level of service, data integration, and data warehouses to ensure they can make the most of their technology investments.

Managed vs. Platform as a Service

Managed services generally have a more limited scope and a more focused purpose than cloud computing. They are often used to supplement existing IT service delivery rather than replace it. A managed service usually has a defined scope and duration. The range includes the service type and the effort required to deliver it. The time of the contract is generally shorter than the scope. A platform as a service (PaaS) is a service that gives you access to an Application Programming Interface (API) that you can use to store your data and run specific programs, like a payroll service.

Conclusion

As you can see, managed services and cloud computing both have a lot of potential benefits, but it’s essential to know the differences between them to make the right choice for your organization. Both are effective ways to alleviate some of the pressure from your IT team and get access to resources that are not owned or managed by you. Suppose your organization is experiencing challenges managing the increasing volume of data created, the growing need for agility, or both. In that case, it might be worth analyzing the costs of managed services versus cloud computing.

The level of trust that Protected Harbor has received from its customers is evident from the fact that we have been recognized as the top cloud computing company in the US by Goodfirms. We have been rated highly among the people of the Internet because we offer a wide range of affordable cloud computing services at different levels of customization. With the wide range of cloud computing services we offer, every business can get the cloud computing services they need.

We are committed to protecting the safety and integrity of your data, no matter where it lives. Contact us today to learn more about your organization’s managed services and cloud options.

Top Phishing Email Attacks to Watch For

Attacks, including phishing, have increased over the past few years. However, since Covid-19 forced many businesses to adopt remote working, phishing assaults have sharply increased.

IRONSCALES’ most recent study indicates that since March 2020, email phishing assaults have increased in frequency for 81% of enterprises worldwide.

Even though phishing is a genuine issue for businesses today, just about 1 in 5 organizations provide their staff with phishing awareness training once a year. Financial institutions targeted 23.6% of all phishing attacks during the first quarter of 2022.

Additionally, webmail and web-based software services accounted for 20.5% of attacks, making them the two most often targeted sectors for phishing during the investigated quarter.

There is proof that most people are aware that phishing attacks exist. Many businesses offer training and simulations to teach staff members how to recognize phishing emails and messages.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is an email scam where the sender spoofs their identity and tries to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. Phishing can be either a social engineering attack or an information technology (IT) compromise.

These attacks are carried out by sending emails with URLs that look like they come from legitimate sites, but they lead to fake versions of those sites instead. Phishers aim to trick recipients into providing personal information or clicking on links that will infect their computers with malware.

Phishers often use websites that look like they belong to well-known companies but are not the real deal. The phishers use a technique known as domain spoofing to hide their identity and make it seem as if they are asking for personal information from other people on the Internet.

Why is Phishing Successful?

Phishing is a tactic used by criminals to obtain personal and financial information from victims.

It has become so popular and successful because of a combination of factors:

Users are the Weakest Link

Phishing is a popular and successful method of cyber-attack because users are the weakest link in the chain. They are the easiest targets for cybercriminals, who are often unaware that their personal information has been compromised.

Phishing attacks are often powered by bots that send thousands of emails or spam messages simultaneously so that victims may receive several notifications from different sources. This means it is harder to spot an attack, especially if you have received a phishing message from a trusted source like your bank or email provider.

Lack of Awareness

The lack of awareness among users is also one of the most significant factors contributing to phishing attacks becoming more popular in recent years. Phishing messages are sent to unsuspecting victims via legitimate websites and social media platforms, which makes them look real at first glance. People tend to trust these websites more than they should because they think they are using them legitimately.

Phishing Tools are Low-cost and Widespread

Countless websites provide free phishing kits – including fake websites that look exactly like the real thing – with step-by-step guides explaining how to create phishing sites. These kits make it easy for even amateurs with no experience in web development or IT security at all to develop convincing-looking phishing sites that get past most security checks.

Top Phishing Email Attacks to Watch For

Don’t let the sweet names given to these attacks mislead you. They can be devastating for victims and are serious. The following are the most typical methods used by cybercriminals:

1.    Email Phishing

Email phishing is a type of scam that involves sending an email to trick the recipient into entering their personal information into a fake website.

Email phishing primarily aims to obtain your username, password, and other confidential information. Once you enter this information, it can be used to access your account or steal money from your bank account.

2.    Smishing

One of the most common phishing attacks is the smishing attack, which exploits a vulnerability in a smartphone or tablet to fool the user into giving up their login credentials or other personal information. The attacker sends a message to the user’s mobile device pretending to be an official source of information, asking the user to click on a link to see more details. Smishing attacks can target all devices, including desktop computers and smartphones.

3.    Vishing

A vishing attack is a call-forwarding scheme where a caller posing as a legitimate person at an organization calls a victim and claims to be from the organization. The caller then offers up some product or service for sale and asks the victim to provide their personal information. The caller may also ask for sensitive payment information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, or PINs.

4.    Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a more targeted form of phishing that targets specific individuals at an organization by sending emails that appear to come from legitimate employees. These emails include a link or attachment that the attackers can use to steal valuable information or perform other malicious actions on behalf of the victim.

5.    Whaling

Whaling is another form of targeted spear phishing where attackers attempt to obtain personal information from high-value individuals within an organization. This attack often occurs on company websites, such as those owned by major corporations.

6.    Fake Websites

A fake website is another phishing attack that uses deceptive URLs, images, and logos to trick users into entering their data. These sites look legitimate and mimic popular websites like Facebook, Twitter, and PayPal.

They often ask users for sensitive data such as passwords or credit card numbers. Spammers often use fake websites to spread malware or links to malicious files.

Conclusion

Phishing attacks are a constant risk for businesses. Even if you can’t completely protect yourself from phishing assaults, you can generally prevent their success. The possibility that any phishing may harm your firm can be significantly decreased with a mix of defensive technologies to defend your systems and training to help your personnel recognize fraud.

Protected Harbor protects your company’s brand and reputation from phishing scams by allowing users to report phishing emails and block them from ever reaching your inbox. With the ability to deliver messages to your inbox based on rules, you can segment and prioritize essential emails.

With us, you can rest assured that your business communications are protected. You get advanced anti-spam and email filtering, anti-phishing and malware protection, and 24/7 support.

We are here to help with your every need, from risk assessments to network maintenance. Contact us today to get started.

Why Do My Servers Keep Crashing?

An organization’s worst fear is to have a server failure where essential data may be lost forever leaving your organization unable to function properly.

According to research, server failure rates rise noticeably as they age. The failure rate for a server within its first year is 5%, compared to a four-year-old server’s yearly failure frequency of 11%. Understanding server failure rates is helpful as it enables a more effective risk management as well as long-term planning for server administration and maintenance expenses.

Dealing with a server crash is never enjoyable. Users may encounter significant disruptions if a large company’s server collapses, resulting in significant financial loss. If your host’s server crashes and you are an individual with a single website, you are at the mercy of the host leaving you to pace away until the problem is fixed.

A server crashing is bound to happen at some point time so it’s a good thing to note what exactly a server crash is and why it happens.

What is a Server Crash?

A server crash is a catastrophic failure of a server that can affect the entire operation of a business as well as cause a severe financial loss. Server crashes usually occur when a server goes offline, preventing it from performing its tasks. There can be issues with the server’s numerous built-in services once it crashes. Additionally, the impact will be more significant, and the repercussions will be more severe because the server serves many customers.

• Video Website: A significant accessibility issue within a video website makes it impossible to watch any online videos. It would be a catastrophe if the server’s data was lost and many writers’ original animations and movies could not be recovered.
• Financial system: A rock-solid server is necessary for a financial plan that processes millions of transactions every second. Since everyone’s capital exchanges were impacted, the loss is incalculable.
• Competitive games: There may be tens of millions of participants online for most popular and competitive games. There will undoubtedly be a lot of upset gamers if they were all disconnected from their beloved game.
  

Reasons for Server Crash

A server may go down for various reasons, including occasionally, a single fault or multiple problems co-occurring at other times.

The following are the most typical reasons for server crashes:

• Startup Failure: This is the most common reason for a server crash. When your server starts up, the code must run before it starts doing its job. If some of these steps fail, your server will not start properly.
• A Software Error: The most common reason for a server crash is an application error, such as an unexpected exception or an operation that cannot be completed because of execution limits on the system.
• A Hardware Failure (such as a power outage): If the cause of your crash is a power outage, there may be no way to recover without restoring your backup data. If this happens, you should contact your hosting service provider and ask them what steps they recommend to restore service.
• Errors in Configuration Files or Other System Files: Sometimes errors occur in configuration files or other system files that result in incomplete or incorrect actions being taken by your application when it starts up, which can lead to crashes.
• Security Vulnerabilities: Security vulnerabilities are typically caused by hackers, allowing them access into your server. If you have a secured server, you should not be worried about this problem as your server is well protected from hackers.
• Overheating: If the server cannot keep itself cool, it will be unable to function correctly. If a server has an overheating problem, the system will shut down and restart itself. This may be caused by a faulty fan or power supply unit (PSU).
• Virus Attacks: Viruses can cause server crashes in many ways. One way is that they can infect your server’s operating system or hardware and cause it to crash when it tries to process requests from the internet. Another way is that they make your computer run slowly and eventually crash, which causes fewer requests for content from your server and makes it more likely that its hard drive will run out of space and have to be replaced.
• Expired Domain: Domain names are like URLs (uniform resource locators) for websites, but they have expiration dates set by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). When the expiration date passes, the domain name becomes available again, so any website using that domain must be changed manually. This can cause issues when your site goes offline due to a server crash because you no longer have access to the proper domain name.
• Plug-in Error: This happens when a server gets stuck in some loop and cannot exit it because it gets stuck in an infinite loop. For example, if you have two routers connected with a switch between them, but only one router works appropriately while the other one doesn’t, then both will be affected by this issue. If you don’t want this to happen, make sure both routers have enough power or buy a new one.

Server Crashes: Numerous Causes, Numerous Solutions

No two servers are the same and they all tend to crash for a variety of reasons. While some of them we have slight control of, others are out of our hands. There are, nevertheless, precautions we may take to reduce the risk. Although they aren’t impenetrable precautions, they can mitigate end-user disruptions and downtime.

Your server and surrounding network may go down for either a few minutes or several hours, depending on the skill level of your hired IT team managing them. You can also partner with a server expert like Protected Harbor.

Protected Harbor takes care of server maintenance and upgrades to keep your systems running at peak efficiency. We have a team of engineers to look after your servers and data centers to keep them safe from threats like natural disasters, power outages, and physical or cyber security issues. We also monitor your networks to ensure that your systems are always connected to the internet and that your data is secured with maximum efficiency.

Our engineers are certified in troubleshooting a variety of server hardware and software. We also provide 24/7 tech support, ensuring that your critical applications stay up and running.

We offer a 99.99% SLA (Service Level Agreement) plus have a proven track record with clients of various industries from e-commerce and SaaS to healthcare clients. We offer flexible, scalable plans to suit your business needs.

Let our team of experts assess your current server setup and get a free report today.