Risk Assessment Archives - LI Technology Solutions

10 Things to Consider Before Hiring an IT Support Company in Long Island, NYC

litechsol on December 4, 2023

Deciding on the right IT support company is like making a significant investment; you’re putting your resources and trust into someone else’s hands. For businesses based in Long Island, NYC, the options are extensive, but selecting the right partner for managed IT services is crucial. This guide outlines the top ten factors to consider before hiring an IT support company.

1. Quick Response Times

In the fast-paced world of business, especially in a bustling hub like Long Island, NYC, efficiency is king. A system failure or software glitch can throw your operations into a tailspin. That’s why you need managed IT services that treat your emergencies with the urgency they deserve.

Callout 1: Male IT engineer using laptop in server room- quote from text about deciding on the right IT support company

A company’s average response time is a good indicator of how seriously they take this responsibility. When you discuss potential contracts with IT support companies, ask them to outline their protocols for responding to urgent and less-urgent issues.

2. Comprehensive Managed IT Services

It’s not just about putting out fires. Great managed IT services can prevent those fires from starting in the first place. While most people focus on repairs and troubleshooting, there’s a lot more value in hiring an IT firm that offers advising services, as well.

They should perform routine assessments of your current infrastructure, software, and hardware to recommend upgrades or changes. This kind of advisement is invaluable for staying ahead of the competition and planning your IT budget effectively.

3. A Team of Experts

If you’re entrusting a company with the technological backbone of your business, you want to ensure that they have the skills and expertise to handle it.

So, when you’re evaluating potential IT support companies, inquire about the expertise that their team brings to the table. Are they certified in the systems and software that your company uses? Do they have experience working with businesses of your size and type?

Remember, this team will be a close partner in maintaining and upgrading your company’s tech infrastructure. As such, you’ll want a team whose qualifications inspire confidence, not just today but as your technology needs evolve.

Callout 2: 1- quick response time. 2- comprehensive managed IT services. 3- a team of experts

4. Availability of Managed IT Services

In a city like Long Island, NYC, you can’t afford to have your IT systems take a dive. Managed IT services that offer 24/7 support are not just beneficial; but mandatory in the modern era. A solid IT support company understands that system errors and server crashes don’t punch a timecard.

Ask about their on-call protocols and what kind of support you can expect during non-business hours. Ensure you’re not relegated to automated service or an offshore call center when you need urgent help.

5. Budget Planning

Money talks, but your IT budget has to do more than chat; it needs to make a powerful statement about your enterprise’s capabilities and future.

While many cybersecurity companies focus on their technical offerings, the best cybersecurity company will partner with you to tailor an IT budget that aligns with your operational needs and financial realities.

Financial acumen is equally as crucial as tech skills for managed IT services. The company should provide a comprehensive analysis of your current IT expenditures and offer recommendations for maximizing ROI.

6. Security

With cyber threats looming larger every day, you need an IT support company that specializes in more than just fixing broken computers. Your chosen managed IT services should offer a multi-layered security strategy, incorporating the latest in email security tools, cloud security best practices, and even LinkedIn security.

Whether it’s safeguarding confidential client data or ensuring uninterrupted service, the role of security in your IT strategy is non-negotiable. Make sure your IT support company understands that and acts on it.

Callout 3: IT engineer at laptop providing network support. 4- availability of managed services. 7- budget planning. 8- security

7. Managed IT Services Reputation

In a digital landscape where your choices seem endless, the reputation of managed IT services can serve as your guiding light. Don’t just skim the surface by listening to their sales pitch or the testimonials they’ve cherry-picked for their website. Dig deeper.

Utilize professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to gauge how they interact with the industry and their clients. Reviews and recommendations there are generally less manicured and more candid. If you’re feeling particularly meticulous, ask for references to get first-hand accounts. A company confident in its reputation won’t hesitate to connect you with previous or existing clients.

8. Excellent Communication

Top-notch communication is a make-or-break factor in a lasting business relationship, especially when entrusting the tech infrastructure of your enterprise to managed IT services. Transparent, dependable communication is a must. With that in mind, here’s what you should look for:

Transparent Costs: No surprises, just clear, upfront information about all charges.
Realistic Timelines: A commitment to deadlines ensures that your projects stay on track.
Customized Solutions: The company should listen to your unique challenges and adapt its services accordingly.
Two-Way Dialogue: Open channels for feedback and queries ensure you’re never left in the dark.

The managed IT services company you choose should be fully aligned with these communication standards to meet your business objectives effectively.

Callout 4: 7- managed IT services reputation. 8- excellent communication

9. Training and Support

You’re not just hiring a company to fix things when they break; you’re entering an ongoing relationship to improve your business’s technological posture continually. And an essential part of this relationship is training.

A company worth its salt will offer training programs on email security tools and cloud security best practices. This serves a dual purpose: it empowers your team to handle minor issues themselves and also establishes a culture of cybersecurity awareness within your organization.

10. Network Monitoring

The last thing you want is for your network to crash, bringing your business operations to a grinding halt. Network monitoring and maintenance are essential services that your IT support partner should offer, ensuring maximum uptime for your business.

Choosing the right partner for managed IT services in Long Island is crucial. Make sure you keep these factors in mind to ensure you’re making an informed decision, one that will benefit your company in the long run.

Callout 5: training support. 6- network monitoring

Take Control of Your IT Needs with LI Tech Solutions in Long Island, NYC

In the fast-paced business world, aligning with the right managed IT services provider can set you apart from the competition. LI Tech Solutions is your ultimate partner for comprehensive IT support services in Long Island and the greater NYC area.

From ensuring rapid response times to offering a tailored blend of repairs and advisory, our team of experts has you covered. Don’t let IT interruptions disrupt your workflow. Reach out to LI Tech Solutions today, and let’s discuss how we can tailor our services to fit your business like a glove.

Understanding IAM in the Modern Cybersecurity Landscape: Challenges and Solutions

litechsol on November 13, 2023

Identity and access management (IAM) is no longer the unsung hero of cybersecurity companies; it’s a headliner. As technology takes over every facet of business operations, the need for robust and versatile identity and access management solutions becomes increasingly urgent.

If you’re a midsize company in Long Island, NY, or frankly, anywhere else, it’s high time to explore what IAM can do for you. This article will examine the challenges and solutions in IAM, specifically focusing on modern-day demands and trends.

Callout 1: cybersecurity concept with icons- Identity and access management (IAM) quote from text.

What Is Identity and Access Management?

Identity and access management, or IAM, serves as the cornerstone for secure access to your organization’s digital resources— emails, databases, or even things like spreadsheets.

It’s not just about keeping the bad actors out; IAM makes sure the right people can do their jobs without tripping over digital security barriers. That’s where having effective identity and access management solutions pays off big time for not just tech companies but businesses of all types.

The Two Pillars: Identity Management and Access Management

IAM is a two-sided coin. On one side, we have Identity Management, which maintains a continuously updated record of all the entities that should have access to your systems.

This involves details such as employee names, their designations, mobile numbers, and much more. When someone tries to log in, this is the database that gets consulted.

The process of confirming this information against the credentials provided is known as “authentication.”

Now, let’s flip the coin. The other side is Access Management. This is where the system ensures that once inside, users only have access to the resources they’re supposed to.

It’s not a free-for-all. Factors like job title, length of service, and security clearance influence what a user can and cannot access. This selective granting of privileges is what we refer to as “authorization.”

Callout 2: Identity management- 3 facts. Access management- 3 facts.

The Extra Layer: Multi Factor Authentication

Many organizations take authentication up a notch with multifactor authentication (MFA). For example, Microsoft identity and access management works like this: After entering the username and password, a user receives a one-time code sent to a secondary verification method.

Could be a mobile phone or a personal email. Enter that code within the stipulated time, and you’re in. This extra step significantly amplifies the security of identity and access management companies.

Long Island Cloud-Managed Services Company Discusses Microsoft’s Vision for IAM and Cloud Security

Not Just for On-Site Employees

IAM isn’t just for your 9-to-5, in-office crowd. With the advent of hybrid work models, IAM extends its secure arm to employees working remotely, contractors, vendors, and even business partners.

The beauty of IAM is its adaptability, ensuring the right level of access is granted on the right machine, irrespective of location.

It’s clear that IAM is not merely a luxury but a necessity in our increasingly interconnected and perilous digital landscape. It offers a robust framework that not only streamlines authentication but also administers fine-grained access control based on real-time conditions.

Callout 3: two-factor authentication and face identification security concept- multifactor (MFA) fact. IAM facts

The Compelling Advantages of Identity and Access Management Solutions

IAM isn’t some passing fad. On the contrary, it’s a robust system offering a host of benefits that modern organizations can’t afford to ignore. Here’s why:

Tailored Access Through Role-Based Control

IAM’s role-based access control (RBAC) is the gatekeeper you didn’t know you needed. RBAC ensures that users have just the right amount of access to perform their jobs effectively.

It’s all about customizing access based on a user’s role within the organization. Whether fixed or custom permissions, RBAC is built for scalability and precision.

Boosting Productivity While Keeping It Secure

Say goodbye to the days of juggling multiple logins and passwords. With features like Single Sign-On (SSO) and unified user profiles, IAM brings secure access into one convenient package.

The result? Employees can navigate across on-premises resources, cloud data, and third-party apps effortlessly.

Fortified Defenses Against Data Breaches

We’ve all heard the horror stories of hacks and data breaches. While there’s no foolproof plan, identity and access management tools like multifactor authentication and passwordless authentication considerably improve your security game.

These features provide more robust ways to verify identity beyond just a username and password, effectively reducing risk.

Encryption: The Invisible Security Guard

Many IAM systems come equipped with encryption tools that guard your data while it’s in transit. Plus, features like Conditional Access enable IT administrators to set conditions such as device or location for access.

So even if a breach occurs, your data remains locked in an impenetrable vault, only accessible under verified conditions.

Trends and Predictions in IT Outsource Services for Microsoft AI

Callout 4: cybersecurity concept with person at laptop- six advantages of identity and access management solutions

Streamlining IT Operations

There’s no denying that IT departments regularly have their plates full. Identity and access management solutions offer a helping hand by automating tasks such as password resets and account unlocks.

It’s not just about making life easier for IT; it’s also about paving the way for more strategic tasks, like implementing a Zero Trust security framework.

Facilitating Smooth and Secure Collaboration

Speed and security don’t always go hand-in-hand, but with IAM, they do. The system ensures quick yet secure interactions between stakeholders like employees, vendors, and contractors.

Plus, automated workflows make role transfers and onboarding a breeze, saving time and energy.

From tailored access to streamlined IT operations, IAM is a powerhouse that ticks a lot of boxes on an organization’s wish list.

Boost Your Identity and Access Management Solutions With LI Tech Solutions

You get it—consumer identity and access management is essential. But understanding IAM and implementing it are two different ballgames. That’s where LI Tech Solutions steps in.

As the go-to managed IT services provider in Long Island and New York City, we specialize in everything from data protection to cloud infrastructure—exactly what you need for a digital upgrade.

We invite you to get in touch with LI Tech Solutions today. We’re the managed IT services Long Island trusts. And we have identity and access management solutions tailored just for you.

4 Dangerous Ransomware Myths Proven False

litechsol on September 12, 2023

What Is Data Protection? Why It’s Important and Why Cybersecurity Can’t Be Separate

Ransomware is one of the most pervasive and dangerous forms of malware or computer virus. Not only is it dangerous for individual desktops and mobile devices, but it can be positively catastrophic for businesses of all sizes in Long Island, NYC.

A ransomware attack occurs when a virus installs itself on a device, like a desktop or phone. It finds and encrypts sensitive data or locks down the device completely unless a ransom is paid, usually in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

Unfortunately, many business owners believe that they are safe from ransomware, or believe other harmful myths about this digital threat. Today, we’ll bust four myths about ransomware so you’re better equipped to protect yourself and your business in the future.

Callout 1: Ransomware words in all caps- ransomware quote from text.

Myth 1 – Ransomware Attackers Only Target Big Companies

Many small to mid-sized business owners erroneously believe that their enterprises are safe from ransomware attacks. They think ransomware cybercriminals only target big businesses with tons of customers and lots of extra money in the bank. This is not true in the slightest.

In truth, most ransomware attackers don’t know the identities of their victims. They send out ransomware attacks, such as phishing emails, rather indiscriminately. If they get anyone to install the virus on a computer terminal, they’ve succeeded. Most individuals don’t know what to do, and will pay the ransom out of desperation.

According to a Cybersecurity Special Report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and RSM, 23% of middle-market company executives reported at least ransomware ransom or attack in 2022. This demonstrates how any brand can be vulnerable to ransomware attacks, not just big businesses.

If you think your small business is safe just because you’ve been fortunate enough not to run into a ransomware attack yet, think again. Sooner or later, you and your employees will know what to do when you’re targeted (albeit blindly) by a ransomware-armed cybercriminal.

Myth 2 – Paying a Ransom Demand is Safer

By nature, each ransomware virus demands a ransom from its victim. Some business owners and individuals think that paying the ransom demand is safer, especially if the ransom message says that the criminal will delete sensitive data or expose sensitive files if payments aren’t made ASAP.

In truth, you should never pay a ransom demand if a device is infected with a ransomware virus. Ransomware creators can’t be trusted – they’re criminals, after all. More importantly, there’s nothing stopping those criminals from carrying out whatever ill ideas they have in mind after you fork over the cash.

It’s a much better idea to work with incident response or IR cybersecurity specialists. They can deal with ransomware attacks, evaluate the situation, and help you get access to sensitive data quickly without having to pay the bad actors. Even if paying the ransom is the right move, you should only do it with a cybersecurity negotiator on your team.

Whatever you do, don’t keep a ransomware attack to yourself. Inform your employees or your cybersecurity specialists so the proper response can begin at the earliest opportunity.

Callout 2: Myth 1 box- 2 facts. Myth 2 box- 2 facts.

Myth 3 – Antivirus Will Always Keep You Safe

Strong antivirus software is certainly a great tool in your overall digital defense toolkit. However, it won’t universally keep yourself or your company safe from ransomware and other malware attacks.

The truth is that digital defenses must constantly keep up with newly evolving viruses and cyber attack threat vectors. Even the best antivirus firewall can have gaps in its armor from time to time. Therefore, a new ransomware virus that hasn’t been detected and studied before might slip through and attack your business’s sensitive files.

Furthermore, many ransomware attacks occur through antivirus software because of employee negligence. One of the most common vectors for ransomware is a phishing email, which is a scam email that installs a virus onto a user terminal when it is opened.

Therefore, you can’t just rely on antivirus to keep your enterprise safe. You must also:

Use regular cloud security monitoring for your sensitive files. Such monitoring and alert you as soon as a cyber breach is detected
Train your employees to recognize and avoid ransomware threats. For instance, teaching your employees basic cyber hygiene skills, like not opening suspicious-looking emails, can do wonders to reduce the vulnerability of your business to ransomware attacks

Myth 4 – Backups Are Enough to Protect Against Ransomware

It might be tempting to think that backing up your sensitive data is enough to protect you if the worst comes to pass if your business crashes with a ransomware attack. However, backups can’t always be relied upon to save the day, nor can they always protect your brand from reputational damage amongst your customers.

In fact, many cybercriminals now have advanced malicious tactics to compromise backup files, locking them down or deleting them if ransomware victims don’t pay the fines.

So-called double extortion attacks involve cybercriminals encrypting and stealing data at the same time. So even if you do have a backup of key data ready to go, the criminals can still leak that sensitive data unless you pay the demanded ransom.

Given these threats, you shouldn’t merely rely on backups to protect your business and its reputation. Instead, keep the above tips in mind – such as training your employees and hiring cybersecurity specialists – to shore up your business’s digital defenses as much as possible.

Are You Properly Backing Up Your Business Data?

Callout 3: Myth 3 box- 2 facts. Myth 4 box- 2 facts.

Contact LI Tech for Cybersecurity Assistance

As you can see, ransomware is far more dangerous than you may have initially realized. Even though some of your ideas about ransomware have been busted, remember that you can protect your business and your personal files by working with the right security partners.

At LI Tech, our capable specialists can draw up a list of security best practices for you and your employees to follow. We also offer a spread of managed cloud security services in Long Island, NYC. Contact us today to see how we can keep you safe from ransomware.

Ramping Up the Fight Against Ransomware

litechsol on May 3, 2023

If you own a small or medium-sized business in Long Island, NYC, you may already know that ransomware could present a significant threat to your business. What is ransomware, exactly? Ransomware is software designed to render your files impossible to use. If you’re infected by ransomware, you won’t be able to use the information on your device or network until you pay what the attackers demand. This article details actions to help your business stay protected from ransomware.

Ransomware is constantly on the rise. It affects large corporations as well as smaller businesses in the Long Island, NYC area and across the globe. Ransoms are getting higher, too–the average payment rose 82% in 2021 from the previous year.

Working with an experienced IT team like LI Tech Solutions can help you protect your assets from ransomware attacks. However, there’s also a lot you can do to minimize risks. Let’s take a look at how you can effectively partner with your IT team and keep your business safe.

Callout 1: Quote from text about ransomware design to render files impossible to use

What are some basic things can I do to prevent ransomware attacks in the first place?

You can do a lot to keep ransomware attackers from impacting your business in the first place. Here are a few common-sense precautions you should never overlook in the fight to keep your business protected from ransomware.

Keep your software updated

Don’t ignore that software update prompt! Patches and updates can be annoying, but they are necessary to protect your devices and networks. It’s much harder for attackers to target a device that’s up to date. Automated patch management can make this much easier since you won’t have to remember to check for updates.

Keep your data in a secure location

Storing important data on just one device is asking for trouble. You should keep information on a separate device as a back-up. If ransomware attackers successfully target your primary data source, your information won’t be lost forever–and you won’t be stuck playing their games.

Educate everyone in your organization about social engineering strategies

What is social engineering? Simply put, it refers to techniques that trick users into giving attackers access to your information or systems. Social engineering can take many different forms. Here are a few of the most common.

Phishing is a deceptive message, such as an email, that tricks users into clicking on a malicious link
Baiting is any technique designed to use curiosity or greed to get users to grant restricted access to systems or information
Pretexting occurs when a person with malicious intent pretends to be someone else, like an IT professional or auditor

Remember to avoid opening messages or clicking on links that seem suspicious. Frequent training will help everyone on your team know how to watch out for new strategies. Also, be sure to require proper email inbox filters to keep emails from attackers at bay.

Be proactive about following password guidelines

Using the same password everywhere you go is a good way to fall prey to ransomware attacks. Everyone in your organization should change their password frequently and follow proper complexity guidelines.

Callout 2: What are basic things I can do to prevent ransomware attacks? - 5 actions listed

Where can I learn more about taking basic precautions?

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is an American government agency devoted to cyber defense. Their website offers guidelines, resources and tools to help you stay protected.

What are some more advanced steps I can take to protect my business from ransomware?

You know how to spot scam emails a mile away, and you’re aware that “12345” is not an acceptable password. However, there are also some less familiar steps that you should strongly consider to protect yourself from ransomware.

Monitor networks and endpoints to spot threats

What is an “endpoint”? In this context, it’s a device like a laptop or phone that might fall prey to attackers. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a process that can help you spot attacks on these devices quickly. You should also monitor your network routinely to avoid any blind spots. It’s important to perform routine scans to check for vulnerabilities in your systems that you may have overlooked.

Limit access to systems and data as much as possible

If everyone in your organization can access all of your information, you may need to improve your identity and access management techniques. Making sure your users have only the access they truly need is a great way to minimize threats.

Break your network into smaller parts

The more spread out your network is, the harder it is for attackers to deal a crushing blow. Segment your network into small pieces so that malicious attacks can only do so much damage.

4 Dangerous Ransomware Myths Proven False

Callout 3: Computer code - What are advanced steps to protect business from ransomware? 3 actions listed

How can my organization stay protected from ransomware while using devices that connect to the internet?

Everyone knows that the internet can be a dangerous place. When someone from your organization connects to the internet, they should take several precautions to prevent attacks.

Install antivirus software and update it as needed
Only use secure browsers to access the internet
Always browse the internet with a firewall enabled
Never use a public network to connect to the internet
Never download a file if you can’t verify the source’s credibility

How can I find the right professional partners to stay protected from ransomware?

When you partner with LI Tech Solutions as your managed service provider, you’re working with industry leaders in data protection. We can help you effectively respond to attacks, but we can also ensure you take the proper protective measures to avoid ransomware attacks in the first place. Call us at 516.210.6400 today, and start working with the top IT service providers in Long Island, NYC.

How to Know It’s Time to Outsource IT Support for Your Small Business

litechsol on June 27, 2022

Your company has a lot on its plate. Whether you offer products, services, or both, odds are you don’t have the manpower or the specialized personnel to handle modern IT solutions and evolving malware threats. As a business leader, it’s important to know when it’s time to outsource IT support for your small business. If you’re not sure that now’s the time, read on – the below signs can tell you that it’s a good idea to call LI Tech Solutions right away.

You Need to Reduce Labor Costs

Firstly, it might be time to outsource IT support for your small business if you need to reduce labor costs. Let’s face it; having a 24/7 cybersecurity team costs a lot of money, especially if you have to have several employees working overtime to meet digital security needs.

One of the easiest ways to cut costs is in cybersecurity, but doing so could cost you much more in the long run if private consumer information or important company data is ever stolen or ransomed.

Instead, it might be a good idea to reduce labor costs by redirecting your workers toward other tasks and having managed IT services providers handle security needs for you.

Callout 1: You need to reduce labor costs- 3 ways managed services providers help

Even better, managed IT services providers can handle all of the IT tech support you might require. This includes updating software, ensuring that software programs work well together, handling cloud downloads, and more.

You Need to Reroute Work-Hours Elsewhere

Similarly, you should outsource IT support for your enterprise if you need to reroute the work hours of your current employees to other goals. Say that it’s coming up on the busiest quarter of the year and you don’t want anyone on your team focusing on IT support tasks when they should be focusing on marketing, product creation, and so on.

You don’t have to hire completely new individuals to handle the increased workload. Instead, you can simply outsource your IT support needs to LI Tech Solutions.

Managed services providers can handle all of the IT tech support tasks your team might be used to. At the same time, you can then have your workers focus on what they do best, whether that’s making products, designing customer experiences, or creating effective marketing campaigns for future users.

You Don’t Want Tech Upgrades to Slow Your Business Down

Technology always marches forward, and it seems that tech upgrades come out at breakneck paces these days. It can cost your business a lot of time and money to keep up with tech upgrades, especially all the patches that appear for security software and other major company applications.

In fact, tech upgrades are one of the number one sources of IT tech support tasks, and they’re a massive drain on your labor pool. If you don’t want tech upgrades to slow your business down, you can instead outsource those upgrade tasks to managed service providers.

That way, you can ensure that your software is always upgraded, up-to-date, and ready to go without having to divert important resources from your primary business objectives.

You Want to Focus on Your Niche

Speaking of primary business objectives, you might just want to focus your people more on your niche, specialty, or industry. That’s a fine business goal! Your small business can achieve it if you outsource your IT support needs to others.

Not only does this free up resources so your workers can focus more on their original tasks, but it also ensures your IT support work will be of a higher average quality.

When you leave IT support to the experts like LI Tech Solutions, you don’t have to worry about an employee accidentally downloading the wrong patch or causing a compatibility problem the day before a big software launch.

You Want to Minimize Business Risk

It’s also a good time to outsource IT support if you want to minimize business risk – and you should always want to do that! Given that some sources indicate that a data breach can total up to $4 million in damage, there’s no reason to leave your money and the trust of your customers up to chance.

Especially in light of legislation like the GDPR and CCPA, companies just like yours could face heavy fines and penalties if customer data is lost due to a malware attack. Even if you take steps such as installing antivirus software, you could still find yourself on the hook and your business floundering after a single breach.

Long Island managed IT services companies like LI Tech can provide you with the peace of mind and business stability necessary to achieve your long-term goals. With our help, you won’t need to worry about malware-related business risks sinking your corporate ship.

You Want to Double Down on Security

On top of that, managed IT services can provide you with the cybersecurity focus you’ve always wanted, but perhaps haven’t been able to achieve in the past.

To maintain top-tier, 24/7 cybersecurity protection, you need trained professionals working around the clock, constantly checking your business systems, and monitoring for malware attacks. That’s a lot to demand, especially if your workforce is already stretched thin.

Managed IT services can shoulder this burden for you by:

Monitoring your business systems for attacks
Updating antivirus and other cybersecurity software promptly and reliably
Anticipating cyber threats and taking steps to neutralize breaches before they occur
And more

Callout 4: Minimize business risk and double down on security with managed services providers like LITech Solutions

This is doubly true when you contract LI Tech Solutions. As committed managed cybersecurity providers, we’re well trained in data protection, security monitoring, and other cyber-safety best practices. We can even offer training for your staff, so they know how to avoid cyber threats, such as phishing emails or vulnerable public servers.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, any and all of these signs could indicate you need a quality managed IT services Long Island company. With our many years of service and dedication to other Long Island clients, LI Tech Solutions is the best choice for small businesses just like yours. Contact us today.

How to Fix CVE-2022-30190 Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool Vulnerability

litechsol on June 20, 2022

Modern computer systems are incredibly complex. Even individuals with lots of IT experience know that security breaches slip through the cracks all the time. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the latest Microsoft CVE-2022-30190 diagnostic tool vulnerability.

This vulnerability was only recently discovered. Fortunately, no major breaches or security disasters have occurred due to it so far. That said, your organization needs to know how to close this vulnerability – and how to prevent future cybersecurity breaches from affecting you in the future.

CVE-2022-30190 Vulnerability Explained

CVE-2022-30190 refers to a recently discovered vulnerability in the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool or MSDT. This is potentially dangerous since many organizations use the MSDT regularly to identify issues with their software or computer systems.

The vulnerability works like this:

When a user calls the MSDT using a URL protocol, the CVE-2022-30190 remote code execution vulnerability appears. MSDT can be called from many different applications, like Microsoft Word, and may be called intentionally or unintentionally
The CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability allows attackers to run or apply arbitrary code strings with any of the privileges included within the calling application, even if the attacker doesn’t have those privileges personally.
In theory, an attacker could run code that could widen the vulnerability and cause other problems. For example, an attacker can install programs, change or delete data, create new accounts, and more

In other words, the CVE-2022-30190 MSDT vulnerability allows hackers far greater access to computer systems than they would normally receive. As a result, many managed security services providers, like LI Tech, have worked quickly and effectively to find and apply solutions.

Current CVE-2022-30190 Workaround

Currently, there is a Microsoft-endorsed workaround for the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability. It operates by disabling the MSDT URL protocol.

By disabling the URL protocol, troubleshooters cannot launch as links, including links that launch through the operating system (OS). Note that troubleshooters may still be accessed by computer operators using the Get Help application or through standard system settings. Other troubleshooters may also allow troubleshooting access.

To disable your system’s MSDT URL protocol:

Run the Command Prompt as an Administrator
Then back up the registry key. To do this, execute this command: “reg export HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/ms-msdt filename”
Then execute this command: “reg delete HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/ms-msdt/f”

Once applied, the MSDT troubleshooter may not be launched through standard means, and the vulnerability should be closed until a longer-term solution is discovered and implemented.

Should you need to undo this workaround, you can:

Run the Command Prompt as an Administrator
Then execute this command: “reg import filename”

In both cases, replace “filename” with the file you wish to troubleshoot.

For more information about this workaround and the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability, visit Microsoft’s official page.

How to Fix the CVE-2022-30190 Vulnerability Long-Term

Although the above workaround is very beneficial, it does not solve the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability in the long term. The only way to solve these vulnerabilities is to ensure that you have IT staff on hand constantly scanning for potential problems and closing breaches before they become issues.

That’s a tall order, especially if your business focuses on another industry or niche aside from IT security. But what if you didn’t have to assign people to do this critical task themselves?

Instead, you can rely on experts in IT security and managed software services: LI Tech Solutions.

The Benefits of LI Tech’s Managed Services

As the go-to managed IT services provider in Long Island for many companies, LI Tech is well equipped to assist with your security and vulnerability patching needs.

In fact, we’ve already got on top of the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability. As soon as it was announced, our experts got to work:

Identifying what the problem was
Determining how best to close the issue
Using Microsoft’s workaround where appropriate

To the benefit of our clients, we rapidly applied a patch to close the vulnerability. We did this after confirming that none of our clients had suffered data losses or other security breaches due to the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability in the first place.

That’s because, as a dedicated Long Island-managed IT services company, LI Tech is proactive compared to reactive. What does this mean?

Callout 3: Hooded hacker in cyberspace in front of black laptop - 2 facts given about important of managed services like LI Tech Solutions to monitor for problems

In short, our proactive approach allows us to identify and solve security issues before they negatively affect our client companies. We prioritize developing new approaches to security problems and evolving alongside malware and other cyber threats rather than letting those malicious parties set the pace of the digital arms race.

In contrast, a reactive approach usually leads to much higher costs in the long run. Companies must first become aware of security breaches, oftentimes after the damage has already been done, and then patch those breaches after the fact.

LI Tech’s proactive approach is exactly why you should rely on us to patch the CVE-2022-30190 and similar vulnerabilities for your company in the future. Instead of waiting for official Microsoft recommendations or trying to discern the right course of action yourself, why not leave it to the experts?

Even better, when you hire LI Tech Solutions, you don’t just get vulnerability patching. You also receive expert assistance and services like:

Cloud infrastructure services, enabling you to benefit from the best software access without having to increase your on-site costs
24/7 data protection and backup services, thus ensuring the security and fidelity of vital company data and customer privacy information
Security best practices training for your staff. This training can ensure that your organization will not remain vulnerable to basic cyber threats, like phishing emails
And more

Wrap Up

Ultimately, the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability demonstrates the importance of having managed services providers working around the clock for your organization. To make sure your company doesn’t suffer any adverse effects from the CVE-2022-30190 vulnerability, contact LI Tech Solutions today.

6 Questions to Ask Before Implementing a Technology Change

litechsol on April 18, 2022

It can be exciting to introduce new technology into your business. Finding a solution that will help your team members do their jobs more efficiently and effectively by filling a gap in your technology infrastructure is certainly an achievement. However, before you get carried away with quickly implementing your new solution to reap the benefits, there are a few things you should know before a technology change.

When introducing new technology into your IT infrastructure, keep in mind that change can be difficult for individuals. It can be hard to predict whether end-users will readily accept or resist the change. Before implementing new technology, you need a well-planned change management strategy to help you achieve success and get the most out of your investment.

Change management is an approach that deals with changes or transformations in organizational processes, objectives, and technology. The goal of change management is to devise strategies to implement and govern transformation while helping people adjust to it.

There are a few factors to consider before beginning your change management journey.

Ask These Questions Before Making a Technology Change:

What is being changed?

It’s critical to review your business environment first to identify critical areas that require a technological refresh as soon as possible.

Assume you are starting a transition from backup solution “X” to backup solution “Y.” Before implementation, spend some time assessing what the backup solution “X” lacks, why it needs an update, and how important it is.

What will this change mean for people, processes, and technology?

Communication is essential for successfully driving technological change. Make sure you develop strategies to help your employees adapt to any changes.

Examine technology mapping and dependencies to ensure you understand the implications of pulling systems offline for updates. Also, determine the processes that need to be modified and the individuals who oversee them.

Who will manage the change?

Identify change leaders and include their contact information in all change communications. It’s a great idea to have an executive sponsor guide your project forward and hold you accountable for deviations from your objectives.

When is the best time to implement this change?

It’s critical to determine the best time to implement a change. A lot of care must go into deciding when to introduce a transformation.

If you’re about to embark on a new transition, but your employees are still dealing with the effects of previous changes, it may be a good idea to postpone the planned transformation if possible. On the flip side, if your employees have adjusted well to a recent change, then introducing a new transition could work out just as well.

How long will the change take?

A change must not be too quick, causing confusion and employee frustration, or too slow, diluting the entire purpose of the transformation. Setting a realistic deadline and striving to meet it is critical.

Who will reach out to support if something goes wrong?

No change is immune to unexpected setbacks. That’s why it is critical to have emergency contacts of people with various skillsets to call upon in the event of a mishap. However, finding people with the necessary skillsets and knowledge base is tricky.

Collaboration with a managed service provider (MSP) who can support you in emergency and non-emergency situations can be a good idea.

Find the Right Partner

Change is a challenging experience. You risk damaging key processes and losing valuable team members to burnout if you don’t have a good change management strategy in place. As experts with years of experience and subject knowledge, we may be exactly what your company needs.

Feel free to contact us for a consultation on change management. LI Tech Solutions offers comprehensive solutions for companies of all sizes that are ready to scale. Call us today. 516-210-6400

First Step to Compliance: A Thorough and Accurate Risk Assessment

litechsol on August 16, 2021

Complying with data privacy and protection regulations wouldn’t give several business owners sleepless nights if it only meant installing a predefined list of security solutions. Compliance goes way beyond this and for good reason. In principle, regulators, local or international, want businesses to:

assess the type of data they store and manage
gauge the potential risks the data is exposed to
list down the remediation efforts needed to mitigate the risks
undertake necessary remediation efforts regularly
and most importantly, document every single step of this seemingly arduous process as evidence

Each of the above steps are mandatory and non-negotiable. A closer look will tell you that installing a list of expensive security solutions comes only after the first three steps in the process have been followed. Skipping past these initial steps and acting merely on presumptuous knowledge is tantamount to leaving your business’ future to sheer chance. It’s anyone’s guess what that would lead to.

That’s why we’re going to explain to you why a thorough and accurate risk assessment is truly the first step towards achieving compliance. Moreover, when repeated regularly, it can help you demonstrate continuous compliance while keeping cyberthreats at bay.

Security Risk Assessments Unearth Crucial Insights

A thorough and accurate risk assessment can unearth a host of crucial insights from even the deepest and darkest alleys of your IT environment to ultimately empower your decision making. Having actionable insights at your disposal can help you build strategies to reduce risk levels in practical ways instead of shooting in the dark by testing various tools.

Here are some of the most important details that become more apparent and unambiguous with every risk assessment.

Baseline of the System

A risk assessment helps you chart out the lifecycle of all data that is collected, stored and managed in your entire network.

Identification of Threats

A meticulous risk assessment identifies all the possible threats, such as intentional, unintentional, technical, non-technical and structural, that your business data is exposed to.

Identification of Vulnerabilities

With each assessment, you get the latest list of vulnerabilities prevalent in your network with respect to patches, policies, procedures, software, equipment and more.

Current Status of Existing Controls

From the assessment report, you can also understand the existing security and privacy controls protecting your business against vulnerabilities.

Probability of Impact Is Critical to Compliance

An accurate assessment report is fully capable of anticipating the probability of a threat that might exploit one of your network’s existing vulnerabilities.

Strength of Impact

Risk assessment also helps you gauge the possible impact of any threat hitting your business.

Imagine how easy it would be for you to build and implement a strategy to fix the security loopholes in your business while maintaining a well-documented record of your efforts.

Why Risk Assessment Is Needed for Compliance

While assessing whether you did everything in your capacity to ensure full compliance with the regulations, you also need to keep in mind that a regulator seeks evidence of compliance – documented reports. Besides helping you chart a successful path to compliance, a thorough risk assessment adds great weightage to demonstrating evidence of compliance. When you present the risk assessment reports along with other documentation, you demonstrate how your business carried out due diligence in upholding principles of data privacy and protection.

Please remember that no regulator expects you to have a fail-safe strategy. What matters is uncompromising intent, informed action and undeterred consistency. If you can demonstrate all this, you will most likely avoid any punitive action as well as a long list of problems could that surface afterwards.

Compliance Help Is Just a Conversation Away

Contrary to what is often claimed, there are no shortcuts to compliance or to any of the steps that lead to it. At the outset, achieving compliance might seem grueling. However, it isn’t as bad as it seems when due process and expert guidance is followed.

A conversation with us is all you need so we can help you walk through the complexities of risk assessment with diligent and customized guidance.

Article curated and used by permission.

Regulations for Securing the Internet of Things

litechsol on August 5, 2021

We are living in the era of Digital Transformation and witnessing first-hand the proliferation of assistive technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT). It is estimated that the global count of IoT devices will reach around 80 billion by 2025 — a figure that will outnumber the human population across the globe tenfold.

This IoT network of physical devices — “things”— designed with embedded sensors, software and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet, has generated greater access to data and analytics across all industries and can increase the efficiency and agility of business operations.

The downside of this rapidly emerging technology is in the ability to secure and protect the integrity and privacy of the personal and sensitive information being collected, processed, stored and shared by these IoT devices every day.

Cybercrime is also growing at exponential rates, increasing the risk at which IoT devices and the data they access could fall victim to cyberattacks and unauthorized exposure. To date, security for IoT technology has not been a priority or a required part of manufacturing.

However, as hacking incidents and data breach disasters continue to flood the headlines, we are starting to see many global regulatory bodies take action to implement some comprehensive guidelines and security standards aimed at improving the security of IoT devices in order to ensure that the data they interact with is protected.

Some noteworthy global IoT regulations already in effect include:

The EU Cybersecurity Act and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute ETSI TS 103 645 technical specification are currently leading the charge in European standard frameworks on cybersecurity controls for digital products and services, including consumer Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

In the USA, the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 is a key milestone in securing IoT by establishing minimum-security requirements for any federal procurement of IoT devices. Additionally, it requires NIST to publish guidelines and standards on the management and use of IoT devices.

In the UK, the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security includes 13 guidelines recommended for IoT devices aimed at protecting consumer privacy and safety, simplifying their secure use.

Best Practices and Strategies to Manage IoT Risks

While more new regulations are being implemented around the world, no global or industry universal standards or requirements for Internet of Things (IoT) security currently exist. Nevertheless, your business network and information assets are still at risk. It is imperative that you proactively begin implementing more preventative security controls to block unauthorized access to your IT network and ensure the protection of customer data or business IP connected to IoT devices.

Adopt Ongoing or Regular Risk Assessments

Every business using IoT should undergo a thorough risk assessment to identify and address any security gaps that might expose their network environment and systems to a cyberattack. A Business Impact Analysis will also help evaluate and measure the potential impact of disruption or downtime stemming from a data loss or breach incident — as well as identify which of your business-critical operations or processes need the most priority.

Establishing ongoing risk assessments and impact analysis as a standard part of your business operations is the best way to maintain strong cybersecurity defenses. However, these should be performed annually at a minimum. You can determine the frequency of these assessments based on the unique risks/needs of your business.

Keep Inventory of Your IoT Devices

One of the most important best practices to ensure safety of your Internet of Things (IoT) environment is to discover and maintain an updated inventory of all the IoT devices on your network and those connected to any remote or mobile devices. Make a point to regularly check for security patch updates for all devices manually, but leverage automation whenever possible. Integrating a solution that helps you discover, manage and monitor all systems and endpoints, including IoT devices, will increase visibility and enable better control of your business infrastructure and security posture.

Implement Principles of Least Privilege and Zero Trust as Standard Policy

Implementing the principles of least privilege and zero trust ensures that the right users have only the minimum access and permission settings necessary to perform their job responsibilities. It also ensures that no internal or external threat actor can take control of your network or IoT devices using compromised credentials by taking advantage of a user with excessive privileges within your organization. This is a good security practice to follow in general since it provides layered chokepoints for a hacker trying to establish a backdoor foothold.

Provide Thorough and Frequent Security Awareness Training for Users

The human factor has always posed a challenge for IT and data security. However, while employees can be a significant weak point in cybersecurity systems, a frequent and comprehensive user training program can prepare your entire workforce to become your secret weapon against cyberthreats. Regular training across a variety of IT security and data protection topics will arm your users with both knowledge and confidence, making them more cautious and vigilant in their daily activities, thereby reducing your overall risk and vulnerabilities.

Prioritize Security & Data Protection in Your Business

Loss of private customer data or business-critical data can not only result in major operational disruptions but also lead to reputational damage and even loss of customers. That said, doing your part to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the data collected, processed and stored by your IoT devices is vital to long-term success.

Given the speed at which IoT is penetrating our everyday lives, it only makes sense to ensure that your business and its users follow the best practices needed to keep your IoT environment guarded against emerging cybersecurity risks and threats.

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help secure your IoT environment.