Multi-factor Authentication Demystified

You have probably come across the term multi-factor authentication of late. It is an IT buzzword today and is fast becoming one of the best practices of cybersecurity. So, what is multi-factor authentication, exactly? Read this blog to find out.

Multi-factor authentication, as fancy as the term sounds, is just multiple barriers to data access which adds to the security component. In simple terms, imagine, your data in a box and that box fit into another, and then into another--all with locks. It is basically adding layers of security to your data. In fact, we are already experiencing multi-factor authentication on a regular basis. For example, when you want to make a transaction online using your banking portal, chances are, it sends you an OTP (one-time-password) to your mobile number that’s registered with your bank. Some banking portals also ask you for the grid numbers on the back of your debit card, some online transactions using credit cards ask for CVV or expiry dates.

Even Gmail, Facebook, and LinkedIn use multi-factor authentication when they see unusual activity in your accounts such as a first-time log-in from a device you haven’t used before, or a log-in at a time that you don’t usually access your Gmail, Facebook or LinkedIn accounts. Going beyond OTPs, Facebook takes multi-factor authentication a notch higher by asking you to identify a couple of your friends on Facebook or your most recent profile picture.

According to Wikipedia, Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method in which a computer user is granted access only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence (or factors) to an authentication mechanism: knowledge (something the user and only the user knows), possession (something the user and only the user has), and inherence (something the user and only the user is). In simpler terms, that means,

• As the first layer of security, we have passwords, answers to security questions, PIN numbers etc.,
• The second layer includes authentication methods such as OTPs, security tokens, access cards, etc.,
• The third, and final layer is something personal to the user. Examples include biometric validation such as an eye scan, fingerprint scan, voice commands or facial recognition.

So, you see, even something as simple as withdrawing money from an ATM has you going through the multi-factor authentication process. You need to key in your PIN number and use your debit card to be able to transact successfully. With cybercrime being rampant, businesses cannot rely on the old school access authorization methods using a single password or PIN. Ask an MSP today about setting up a strong, reliable, multi-factor authentication system for your data.

Top 5 Things To Look For In IT Support Company

Any organization which takes its operations very sincerely indeed understands the importance of hiring an IT support company &ensures that they hire the best professionals to get the work done in the best possible manner. Nevertheless, in recent time there are many IT support companies operating in the market & each claiming to be the best in the market. But if you associate with a company without proper knowing the background of the company, then you might not get what you expect the company to do for you. the very first thing that you need to check when hiring an IT support company is whether the company is located close to you or within your locality. It is imperative if you have IT-related issues that need to be addressed frequently & you need the solution to be delivered timely.

Technological advancement is taking the world by storm & without the help of dedicated IT support professionals, no organization can thrive & operate smoothly. Irrespective of the size of the company, having 24*7 IT professionals at work help an organization to stay ahead of the competitors. There are several benefits to hiring an IT support company.

Let’s take a look at the following benefits:

1. Convenient

The major benefit of hiring an IT company is everything will get sorted in a phone call only. Other than getting in touch with various vendors, one IT support team will do everything.

2. Better security

With the increasing threats of fraud, hacking & identity theft, cyber-security is noteworthy for businesses. When you hire an IT support company, the professional can help to implement various security measures that will prevent your organization from being the victim of cyber-attack.

3. Enhanced productivity

If any organization is continuously facing downtime because of an issue with the IT infrastructure, there is a high chance that employee productivity will suffer to a great extent. When there is dedicated IT support which will maximize the productivity of the employees & there will be no or minimal interruptions to the business flow.

4. Access to new technologies

Proficient IT support team keeps the system of organizations up-to-date with advanced technologies; they are well aware of what will be most suitable for an organization & will help that particular company to reach their goals & will climb the stairs of success.

Things To Consider

When it comes to hiring an IT support company, there are many things that must be taken into consideration; here are some of the things that must be taken into consideration:

(a). Never go for long-term contracts

There are many IT support companies that put pressure on the organization to sign a contract for 2-3 years. It is beneficial for the IT support companies but not for the organizations signing the contract. If you do not feel satisfied with the work of your chosen IT support company, you cannot leave or change the contract at any time. So, look for an IT support company with a monthly contract.

(b). Hands-on management

The proactive management of an IT support company goes beyond only monitoring. The chosen IT support company must be familiar with your industry & your environment & will eventually come to your aid in choosing the appropriate tools for making your team productivity as well as reduce downtime. The top-notch IT support company will conduct regular meeting the organizations that have hired them for discussing business goals & will subsequently form technology goals.

Read original article: https://www.somait.com.au/five-things-to-look-for-in-it-support-company/

Best Cloud Computing Services in Gold Coast & Brisbane

What is The Cloud? A white puffy thing in the sky? Well yes, but it is also the term coined for internet accessed infrastructure, software, and data. You no longer need to purchase expensive server hardware and software and worry that it might crash at any moment leaving your business high and dry.

Looking for managed IT services and Cloud Services, Contact us. 

IT Solutions and Consultant in Gold Coast and Brisbane

We at SomaIt manage and support your computer systems, servers, routers, security, backups, printers, telephones, absolutely everything that makes your business function so you have the time to concentrate on what you do best. We provide affordable IT Solutions and Consultancy 24/7. Hire our dedicated IT professional for the smooth working of your devices. 

Website cloning: Don’t fall for that trap!

 

Website cloning: Don’t fall for that trap!

 

Have you watched one of those horror movies where the something impersonates the protagonist only to wreak havoc later? Well, website cloning does the same thing--to your business--in real life. Website cloning is one of the most popular methods among scammers to fleece you of your money.

As the name suggests, the cybercriminal first creates a ‘clone’ site of the original one. There can be a clone of any website, though retail shopping sites, travel booking sites and banks are the favorites of cybercriminals. The clone site looks exactly like the original one, barring a very miniscule change in the url.

Next, they will create a trap intended to get unsuspecting victims to visit the clone site. This is usually done via links shared through emails, SMS messages or social media posts asking them to click on a link to the clone site. The message urges the recipient to take an action. For example, a message that presents itself as though it is from the IRS, asking the recipient to pay pending taxes by clicking on a specific link to avoid a fine or business shutdown, or an SMS about a time-bound discount on iPads. Sometimes, they go straight for the target and masquerade as a message from your bank asking you to authenticate your credentials by logging into your banking portal--the only glitch, the banking portal will be a clone.

 

Staying safe

 

So, how do you identify a clone website and a dubious message?

• Does the email sound too good to be true? Well, then it probably is. Nike giving away free shoes? Emirates Airlines giving you free tickets to Europe? Apple iPhone X for just $20? All of these scream SCAM!
• Even if the message sounds genuine, such as an email from your bank asking you to authenticate your login credentials, check the email header to see if the sender’s email domain matches your bank’s. For example, if your bank is Bank of America, the sender’s email ID should have that in the domain. Something like customercare@bankofamerica.com could be genuine, whereas, customercare@bankofamerica.net is suspicious.
• Check the final URL before you enter any information to make sure it is the actual one. Most shopping/banking websites, where payments are made and other personal details are shared are secure (HTTPS)and will have a lock symbol at the beginning of the URL. Also, check the domain. For example, something like- www.customerauthentication.com/bankofamerica is not

Identifying a cloned website is tricky, but it is not something you can afford to ignore.Giving away your personal and financial information to a fraudster can cause a lot of harm to you and your business.

BYOD=Bring your own disaster?

 

BYOD=Bring your own disaster?

 

Workplaces today have changed. They extend beyond the working hours, beyond the cubicles. Whether you are commuting to work or even vacationing, chances are you or your employees take a break from the break to reply to those important emails that require ‘immediate action’. Plus, there may even be employees who are not even on the same continent as you. What does all this mean for your business in terms of IT security? Does BYOD translate to bring your own disaster to work? This blog explores the risks of BYOD culture and offers tips on how you can avoid them.

When you adopt a BYOD culture at your business, you are opening the virtual floodgates to all kind of malwares and phishing attacks. Your employee may be storing work-related data on their personal devices and then clicking a malicious link they received on their personal email or (even whatsapp in case of tablets or smartphones) and put your entire network at risk. Secondly, you cannot control how your employees use their personal devices. They may connect to unauthorized networks, download unauthorized software programs, use outdated antivirus programs etc,. Even something as simple and harmless as the free wifi at the mall can spell danger for your data.

 

What you can do?

 

First of all, if you have decided to adopt the BYOD culture in your organization, ensure you have a strong BYOD policy in place. It should cover the dos and don’ts and define boundaries and responsibilities related to the BYOD environment.

It also makes sense for you to invest in strong antivirus software and mandate those employees following the BYOD model to install it. You can also conduct device audits to ensure your employee’s personal devices are up-to-date in terms of software, security and firewall requirements to the extent that they are safe to be used for work purpose.

And one of the most important aspects--train your employees on the best practices related to basic data security, access and BYOD environments. This will ensure that they don’t make mistakes that prove costly to you. You can conduct mock drills, tests and certifications and provide the BYOD privilege to only those who clear your tests. You could also use positive and negative reinforcements to ensure everyone takes it seriously.

BYOD is great in terms of the flexibility it lends to both--the employer and the employee, and the trend is here to stay. It is up to businesses to ensure it helps more than it can hurt.

Why you need the cloud?

 

Why you need the cloud?

 

When talking to our clients, we have noticed that SMBs often think the cloud is something for their bigger counterparts to explore. We hear objections like, “But, it’s too complicated.”, “The cloud sounds expensive.”, “We are a small business, we don’t think we need the cloud.”, Hold on!

In reality, it is the SMBs that benefit the most from the cloud. Here’s how...

 

The cloud grows with you

 

Yes, you may be a SMB today and perhaps a few desktops and in-house hard-disks are sufficient as of now. However, as you grow, your data storage needs will increase and you will need much more than a few external hard-disks. Servers become expensive and wholly owning one is not very cost-effective.Change the dynamic:he cloud grows with you--you can scale up or down on cloud usage easily and save on costs. Plus, when using cloud storage, you are sharing your server space with others, so you essentially pay for only what you use.

 

Security is not your concern

 

When you store your data in-house, the headache of security, backups and updates falls on you. However, with the cloud, all of that becomes your cloud service provider’s responsibility. You focus on running your business and your cloud service provider will take care of your data’s security and accessibility. .

 

Accessibility

 

When you store your data on the cloud, it is accessible from anywhere using the internet. That lends a lot of flexibility to you. You or your employees don’t have to be in the in the office or have immediate access to their computers to be able to work. A quick order can be processed or an invoice can be raised even using an iPad or a smartphone!

 

So, don’t you think it may be beneficial to get a little ‘cloudy’? For more, download our whitepaper- Demystifying the cloud in layman’s terms https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0TD9Kobul-VcnNsNUk2djJqb2s