Managed IT Services Blog

IT organizations are under constant pressure to optimize resources, increase efficiency, improve security and reduce expenses, but aging technology often gets in the way. It’s estimated that outdated systems make up nearly a third of the typical organization’s IT environment, which makes it extremely challenging to achieve the potential benefits of rapidly evolving technologies.

“Trust no one.”

That was one of the taglines for The X-Files, the popular science-fiction television series about FBI agents who investigate a series of bizarre, supernatural cases. It’s also becoming a mantra for modern network security.

“Maturity” might seem an odd word to apply to security. As attacks become more frequent and complex, organizations need the agility to respond to new forms of cybercrime. Old ways of thinking are seldom useful in the ever-changing world of IT.

Security analysts are alarmed about a bug in software few people know about — the Log4j logging utility for Java applications. In November, researchers identified a zero-day exploit that affected the Java version of the Minecraft video game. Hackers were able to trick Log4j into storing specific character strings that allowed them to take control of the compromised machine. The hackers could then execute malicious code remotely, spread malware or steal sensitive information.

Cryptojacking has surged in the last two years as the value of the cryptocurrency market has skyrocketed. There were more than 51 million cryptojacking attacks in the first half of 2021 alone, according to the SonicWall Cyber Threat Report. Many attacks go unreported.

Cybercriminals have accumulated a vast amount of personally identifiable information over the years. Almost any information you might want is available on the Dark Web, often for a relatively small fee. But according to the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, fraudsters are shifting their focus from consumers to businesses.

In a previous post, we discussed five important cybersecurity lessons we learned in 2021. Growing numbers of endpoints used outside the security perimeter have created significant new risks. Cloud misconfigurations are also a leading source of security threats, and protecting data across the extended environment is increasingly difficult. Users need more effective training so that they understand their cybersecurity responsibilities, and organizations are struggling to hire enough security experts to meet their needs.

With the shift to remote and hybrid workstyles, organizations are relying on technology more heavily than ever to link users, applications and data. This has given malicious actors new ways to gain unauthorized access to the network.

The demand for video surveillance technology continues to increase as organizations seek to protect critical infrastructure and provide a safe, secure environment for employees, customers and guests. Operators of office buildings, hospitality venues, retail establishments, hospitals and schools are implementing video surveillance solutions to protect against a variety of risks — from physical violence to theft and fraud. Surveillance solutions are also being deployed as part of “smart cities” projects.

Despite the widespread adoption of cloud platforms and services, organizations continue to maintain mission-critical applications in onsite data centers. IT teams need the ability to remotely monitor on-premises equipment to optimize performance, troubleshoot problems, and take proactive measures to prevent downtime and business disruption.

Despite record levels of cybersecurity spending in 2021, senior IT leaders remain pessimistic about their organizations’ overall security posture. Nearly 80 percent of those polled recently by IDG said their organizations aren’t adequately protected against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Ransomware attacks have skyrocketed. An IDC study found that approximately 37 percent of organizations have fallen victim to some form of ransomware. Phishing, denial of service attacks and cryptojacking are also on the rise, with damages related to cybercrime expected to exceed $6 trillion globally in 2021.

With the rollout of 5G networks moving at a rapid pace, major wireless carriers are phasing out their old 3G technology. Verizon plans to sunset its 3G network on Dec. 31, 2021, while AT&T will turn off 3G sometime in February 2022. T-Mobile will shut down the 3G network purchased from Sprint on Jan. 1, 2022, and its own network sometime in April 2022.

Infrastructure improvements, expanded cloud adoption, enhanced cybersecurity and advanced analytics are expected to be among the top IT priorities in 2022 as companies around the world continue to refine their visions of the future of work. Gartner analysts expect IT budgets to grow by 3.6 percent — the fastest rate in more than 10 years.

Long before Halloween was over, the candy and goblins were shoved aside to make room for Christmas gifts and decorations. Many consumers are starting their Christmas shopping early this year amid concerns of supply chain bottlenecks and inventory shortages.

There’s no such thing as bulletproof security. It simply doesn’t exist. Even organizations with world-class security controls can fall victim to zero-day exploits, weak or stolen passwords, or user error.

Many security experts agree that ransomware is the greatest cybersecurity threat organizations face today. Ransomware attacks nearly doubled in the first half of 2021, compared to 2020. In a recent Sophos survey, 37 percent of respondents said they were affected by ransomware in the past year. The National Security Institute estimates that the average ransom demand is now $200,000, compared to $5,000 in 2018.

In August, the Louisiana coast was devastated by Hurricane Ida, which damaged thousands of businesses along with homes and basic infrastructure. Many of those businesses experienced extended downtime that severely impacted their operations.

For decades, the term “telecom provider” was just a fancy way of referring to the phone company. Now there is a wide range of options for voice and data connectivity, and choosing the right one is critical to the success of business operations.

For most organizations, the shift to remote work is not a temporary fix to meet pandemic-related social distancing requirements. It’s now a permanent feature of modern workstyles — and that is creating IT challenges.

Phone calls represent just 5 percent of all business communications, according to some estimates. Organizations have a wide range of alternatives, including email, online chat, text messages and conferencing platforms. Voice communication may seem slower and more cumbersome than these newer technologies, but it still has tremendous value.

One of the biggest dilemmas organizations face is whether to manage IT in-house or to outsource to a managed services provider (MSP). In-house IT management often seems like a good idea. The organization maintains control over IT processes and can prioritize support according to business needs.

The inland marine sector is increasingly reliant on computing technology. Tugboat and towboat operators use an array of systems and applications to automate processes, track cargo and collect valuable data on the performance and maintenance of their vessels. While some of these systems are housed on board, others are hosted in shoreside data centers and the cloud.

Ransomware and other cyberattacks targeting the global maritime shipping industry have increased by 900 percent over the past three years, according to the World Economic Forum. The numbers reflect both the increasing value of maritime targets as well as the unique challenges of securing ship-borne IT systems.

Data breaches continue to skyrocket. According to the 2021 Mid Year Data Breach QuickView report from Risk Based Security, there were 1,767 data breaches in the first half of this year, exposing almost 19 billion records. The severity of breaches is also increasing, with two incidents exposing more than 1 billion records.