Myth-Busting Monday: Office 365 is not just Office “Online”

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Office 365Even with the growing adoption, many still see Microsoft Office 365 as “Office in the Cloud”.

In fact, Office 365 is an entirely different suite of services.  Yes, Office 365 Business Premium and Enterprise licenses include the MS Office apps we know and use — Outlook, Work, Excel, Powerpoint, and more.  But Office 365 is not just a suite of productivity tools.

Microsoft Office 365 is a business communication, collaboration, and information management ecosystem.

Office 365 licenses can include:

  • OneNote – Multimedia note taking from any platform
  • SharePoint – Collaboration platform for file sharing, intranets, document management, workflows, and information management
  • OneDrive – Personal and shared file storage
  • Skype for Business – Voice, secure IM, video meetings, and presence management
  • Yammer – Social collaboration for business
  • Power BI – Wizard driven business analytics
  • Sway – Web 2.0 publishing to tell your story
  • Planner – Project and task management

As important as the suite of tools, Office 365 can change the way your team works together.  With your data secure and in the cloud, you share information rather than attaching files to endless chains of emails. Your team has the ability to work anytime, from anywhere, from nearly any device. Your people are connected because the data and information they use is connected.

So if you haven’t moved into the cloud, stop thinking of Office 365 as hosted email and some apps. Start thinking about how you want to improve your business. Then use Office 365 to make it happen.

Already on Office 365 and feel like you’re not using it to its fullest potential? Ask us about our adoption and engagement programs.

This is the first of a multi-part series designed to help companies better assess the opportunity and value of cloud-based solutions.  Contact Us for more information or a free Cloud Advisor session.

 

iOS 10 is Budget Risk for Schools

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ipad2On September 13, 2016, Apple will release iOS 10 and will stop providing updates for iOS 9.  While iOS 10 is reported have some great new features, the real story for schools — particularly those with iPad programs — is the impact on existing devices and budgets. ZDnet remotes that as many as 40% of existing iPads will become obsolete — a statistic that will certainly push many schools to consider accelerating new iPad purchases and/or move to other devices.

With the release of iOS 10, the following devices will no longer receive iOS updates:

  • iPad 2
  • iPad 3rd Gen
  • iPad Mini
  • iPhone 4s
  • iPod Touch 5th Gen

Schools committed to using iPad 2s, and iPad 3s through the 2016-2017 school year now face the prospect of increased security risks and loss of application support.

Apple is shortening the lifecycle of its devices.  Sold from March 2011 through March 2014, schools may find their devices becoming obsolete in less than their planned 3 year lifecycle.  Looking forward, this trend will impact lifecycle planning and budgets for schools with iPad classroom and 1:1 programs.

Prepare Your Business for Hurricanes and Storms With Our 3 Effective Models

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Storm Preparedness Tips for Your Small Business
What can often begin as a mild tropical storm season can quickly become quite active, with multiple significant storms expected to impact the southeast and Atlantic coast and the Hawaiian islands. And while every storm may not be a major hurricane, your business is at risk because our infrastructure is at risk, making it vital to prepare your business for hurricanes.

Power outages, local or regional flooding, and disruption of communication services continue to increase in frequency as our infrastructure ages faster than our upgrades and as our economy rewards utilities for trimming staff and services rather than trimming trees and keeping current with maintenance.

Are you protecting your business from the damage and risk of disruption?

You have seemingly infinite choices on the types and cost of business and data protection, each with benefits and limitations. Your challenge: pick the solution that is most cost-effective, meaning the time it takes to Return to Operations (RTO) is acceptable given the cost.

To simplify your search for a solution, we propose you consider one of three models to help prepare your business for hurricanes:

  • Restoration
  • Recovery
  • Continuity

3 Ways to Protect Your Business from The next Hurricane

1. Restoration

Restoration is the least expensive option to protect your business from a hurricane.  You backup all of your data and critical systems, including full system images, off-site.  In the event of a disaster, you restore your systems once you have fixed or replaced any damaged or lost equipment.

  • Cost Structure:
    • Scales with the size of your system images and the amount of data you keep in offsite backup
  • RTO:
    • 1 to 3 days once replacement equipment arrives
  • Admin:
    • Must ensure backups include all images and data needed to recovery, including Bare Metal Restore (BMR) for key servers and systems.
    • Must periodically test restore for data integrity and to ensure the recovery process is documented and understood.

2. Recovery

In addition to keeping an off-site or cloud backup covering all of your data and critical systems, you have the ability to access replicas of your network and servers in a remote data center.  In the event of a disaster, you “spin up” your latest system snapshots and restore any incremental data. You access your mirror network via remote desktop, VPN client, or LAN-to-LAN VPN.

  • Cost Structure:
    • Scales with the size of your system images and the amount of data you keep in offsite backup
  • RTO:
    • 1 to 18 hours, depending on your configuration and needs.
  • Admin:
    • Must ensure backups include all images and data needed to recovery, including Bare Metal Restore (BMR) for key servers and systems.
    • Must periodically test recovery for data integrity and to ensure the recovery process is documented and understood.
    • Once primary systems are repaired or replaced, snapshot backups and recovery move your data back for normal operations.

3. Continuity

Continuity means your IT and cloud infrastructure keeps running, even in the face of disaster or significant local events.  You have multiple options for continuity, including: mirrored networks and systems in remote data centers, remote desktops, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) models. In each scenario, your servers, applications, and data live in a redundant, remote cloud data center. You access your environment via remote connection, using a web browser or a small local app known as a receiver.  In the event of an emergency, you only need to provide a browser and Internet connection to be up and running.

  • Cost Structure:
    • Scales with the size of your systems and networks
    • Offsets day to day costs of owning and managing on-premise hardware and software
  • RTO:
    • Immediate, based on Internet availability
  • Admin:
    • Providers typically include standard server admin and management, reducing local need for IT resources
    • Application and data management are similar to on-premise systems
    • Backup/restore capabilities are still recommended to protect against application and/or human error.

Bottom Line on Preparing Your Business for Hurricanes and Storms

Using these models as a guide, you can select a solution that balances cost, convenience, and complexity against the operational needs of your business. We’re happy to help you come up with the best plan to prepare your business for hurricanes based on your budget and needs.

Want to setup or improve your disaster recovery/business continuity capabilities? Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

 

Verizon Acquires Yahoo! — Trouble for Business Subscribers?

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Yahoo SignWith Verizon’s acquisition of the Yahoo! core business services underway, subscribers to Aabaco Small Business — the business email solution from Yahoo! — face uncertain times. While there is no indication of what Verizon may do with the Aabaco Small Business services, the focus of the Verizon acquisition is clearly Yahoo! services that Verizon can roll into its upstart digital media business.  As reported by The Wall Street Journal and others, Verizon is acquiring Yahoo! for the content and audience.  Business email and ecommerce services are clearly not top of mind.

Priced from $34.95 to $119.40 per year, Aabaco’s email service is as a basic webmail solution. The service includes spam/virus protection, filtering, and forwarding, although the web interface is simple and the service only supports POP email clients (no IMAP service). The service does not include calendar, IM/Chat, video calling services, file storage, and other services typically found in more robust email and communication suites.

Many Aabaco customers may choose to wait and see how the acquisition plays out and, therefore, how long they can continue to get support and service on an aging platform that lacks competitive features.

For many others, the acquisition is a great time to explore other solutions for cloud-based services. Both Google for Work and Microsoft Office 365 expand upon basic email services with robust communication and collaboration features and tools, and both integrate with a variety of marketing and ecommerce platforms.

For those with Aabaco websites and ecommerce service subscriptions, exploring Shopify, ProStores, and others may offer more robust, modern, and cost-effective solutions. The migration, however, is more complex as it involves multiple services.

We recommend that Aabaco subscribers begin looking at alternatives.  Whether or not you make a change now or in the future, understanding your options along with the relevant merits and costs, empowers you to make better decisions. You can also be ready to make your move if/when the time is right.

Are you an Aabaco customer interested in exploring alternatives?  Offering both Google for Work and Microsoft Cloud solutions, our Cloud Advisors can provide you with an unbiased assessment of your options. Contact us for a free consultation.

 

 

Ransomware is Front Page News (Again)

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Over the past several weeks, we have been aggressively communicating with our customers and others about the sharp rise in ransomware hitting small and midsize enterprises.  We have blogged about the need for preparation against attacks and for recovery just in case, as well as the full cost of ransomware attacks. While some organizations are taking action, others still see the threat as a low risk.

This weekend, the Wall Street Journal emphasized the critical nature of the threat with a front page article reinforcing the severity and scope of the problem. The article reiterates the rapid growth of Ransomware, the increasing ransoms, and the ease by which computers become infected.

To help organizations better understand the risks, strategies for prevention, and preparation for recovery “just in case”, we recently published our Business Guide to Ransomware.  Written for the non-techie, it is a must read for any small or midsize enterprise with an Internet connection.

Want help with your Ransomware strategy, contact us for a free consultation.

 

Resource Center Helps Small and Mid-Size Businesses Make Better Cloud Decisions

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Westborough, MA – The volume of information about cloud computing can be overwhelming for small and mid-size enterprises as owners, executives, and IT professionals look for the best solutions.  To ease their burden, Cumulus Global launched a new online resource center to help SMEs learn and make better decisions.

“Much of the discussion about cloud computing focuses on the infrastructure and platform services used by larger enterprises,” note Cumulus Global CEO Allen Falcon. “Our Resource Center focuses on information most useful for small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, and government entities.”

The resource center (https://www.cumulusglobal.com/resources/) includes access to a library of whitepapers and eBooks, upcoming webcasts and live events, blogs, and recordings of past webcasts and events.  In addition, visitors can subscribe to daily and weekly online newspapers that deliver cloud computing ideas, innovations, and news stories to your inbox.

“Our goal is to provide decision makers with perspective and knowledge,” stated Falcon. “If we can help small and mid-size businesses see past the hype, they will make better decisions and will be happier with the results.”

Pokemon Go is a Security Game?

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No Pokemon Go
While the news coverage has trailed off, the Pokemon Go phenomenon continues as kids and adults continue to play, and the game expands to new locations.

Also in the news, but with less coverage, was the security hole that gave the companies behind Pokemon Go completely unfettered access to users’ Google Apps and Gmail accounts.  This access was not just to read your contacts so you can “share”, Pokemon Go had full read/write access to all user data.

In a short but sobering report, our friends at CloudLock assess and quantify the risk posed by Pokemon Go. Click here to access the report; it serves as a great example of the risks posed by 3rd party apps.

Contact us if you want to learn more about protecting Google Apps from 3rd party app risks.

 

The Cost of Ransomware

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The cyber criminals behind ransomware see their efforts as a volume business.  Charge too much, and victims will not pay. Targeting businesses and organizations in wealthier countries and in cities where people and businesses are most likely able to pay, the typical ransom is often about $500.  More recently, we have heard of ransoms between 1 and 2 bitcoin (about US$600 to US$1300).

The Ransom Payment is Only Part of the Cost

The cost of ransomware can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the size and type of the targeted organization, the extent of the attack, the data that is compromised, and the specific ransom demands. It is challenging to determine a typical cost as each incident is unique. However, the costs associated with a ransomware attack can include:

  1. Ransom Payment: The primary cost is often the ransom amount demanded by the attackers, which can range from a few hundred to millions of dollars.
  2. Recovery and Remediation: Organizations affected by ransomware must invest in forensic investigation, data recovery, system restoration, and strengthening their security infrastructure. These costs can include IT services, incident response teams, and cybersecurity consultants.
  3. Downtime and Productivity Loss: Ransomware attacks can result in significant disruption to business operations, leading to lost productivity, missed opportunities, and potential reputational damage.
  4. Legal and Regulatory Consequences: Organizations may incur legal fees and potential fines if the attack involves compromised customer data or violates data protection regulations.
  5. Reputational Damage: Ransomware attacks can erode customer trust and damage a company’s reputation, potentially leading to long-term financial consequences.

Every victim loses productivity from the start of the attack until it is fully resolved. Whether or not you pay, you still need to conduct a full sweep of all of your systems to ensure the ransomware has been removed. Otherwise, you risk reinfection.

Organization Who Pay the Ransomware Cost

For organizations respond and pay the ransom, they still suffer the time and cost of decrypting and validating files, a process that can consume days or weeks of IT resources. If you choose not to pay, you have the cost of recovering data from before the attacks and re-creating lost information across all of your servers, systems, and applications. We recently spoke with a company that lost less than 6 months of data. After three months, they are still working to recreate lost files and transactions as they have no way of knowing if they have missed any.

A ransomware attack can cost tens of thousands of dollars to clean up. Attacks may also damage valuable customer and vendor relationships and result in higher bookkeeping, accounting, and legal fees.

The Cost to Prevent a Ransomware Attack

The costs associated with cyber protection and prevention and the ability to recover quickly (should an attack breach your defenses) is relatively minor. The value of prevention and preparation is well worth the cost.

Organizations should invest in proactive cybersecurity measures to mitigate the risk and potential cost associated with ransomware attacks.

Learn more

You can protect your business against ransomware attacks. In our new eBook, a Business Guide to Ransomware, you will learn how malware spreads, the different types of ransomware proliferating today, and what you can do to avoid or recover from an attack. Hiding your head in the sand does not work, because today’s ransom seekers play dirty. Make sure your organization is prepared.

For a 1:1 consultation and assessment of your risk, contact us today.

Be Ready for Ransomware

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Ransomware continues to emerge as a major threat to individuals and businesses alike. Ransomware, a type of malware that encrypts data on infected systems, has become a lucrative option for cyber extortionists. When the malware runs, it locks victims’ files. The cyber criminals demand payment in return for the decryption key needed to release the files.  

You are probably well aware that ransomware is a hot topic in the news these days as attacks target all types and sizes of organizations. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to attacks as ransomware is on the rise. Researchers identified more than 4 million samples of ransomware in Q2 of 2015, including 1.2 million new samples. That compares with fewer than 1.5 million total samples in Q3 of 2013 (400,000 new).

The rate of attacks is also on the rise. While Q1 2015 had a 165% increase in ransomware attacks from the prior quarter, the number of ransomware attacks in Q1 2016 was 300% greater than Q4 2015.

Cyber criminals distribute ransomware in a variety of ways. Protection is difficult because, just like the flu virus, ransomware constantly evolves. Between 14% and 17% of attacks in Q1 2016 were new variants, indicating that cyber criminals continue to be creative in finding new ways to do harm.

Over $325 Million was paid by businesses to recover their data in 2015. This number is expected to exceed $1.2 Billion in 2016. The real cost might be 3 times or 4 times these figures when the labor and lost productivity is added up.

You can protect your business against ransomware attacks. In our new eBook, a Business Guide to Ransomware, you will learn how malware spreads, the different types of ransomware proliferating today, and what you can do to avoid or recover from an attack. Hiding your head in the sand does not work, because today’s ransom seekers play dirty. Make sure your organization is prepared.

For a 1:1 consultation and assessment of your risk, contact us today.

 

3 Email Encryption Options for Google Apps

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Security KeyIn the Google Apps ecosystem, we see three primary players with integrated email encryption services.

  • ZixMail
    • A comprehensive message encryption service that includes user tagging of messages for encryption and heuristics and business rules to auto-encrypt. ZixMail also includes the ZixGateway of other ZixMail users, enabling automated end-to-end secure communications.
  • Google Apps Message Encryption (GAME)
    • A private-label of Zixmail run in Google’s data center. GAME uses the ZixMail encryption engine and services, matched to the email rules capability of Gmail.

 

  • Virtru
    • An encryption-in-place service that integrates with Google Apps which runs in the Chrome Browser, Outlook on Windows desktops, and on mobile devices. Virtru includes features such as forwarding blocks and email expirations. Data loss prevention rules for HIPAA compliance are available at an additional cost.

To learn more about these solutions in depth, read our new eBook: Email Encryption in Google Apps.