OnSite I.T. Blog

Quick—how many passwords do you have to remember? Chances are, it’s more than you might expect… especially when you factor in both your personal ones and those you maintain for your business.

After all, it is risky to the point of irresponsibility to repeat your passwords across accounts, especially those you maintain for your business. This kind of repetition can easily lead to financial losses and reputation damage, as it facilitates a data breach.

Running a business today presents unique opportunities and challenges. For instance, safeguarding business information and systems—both physical and digital—is no longer just an IT department concern; it is fundamental to operational continuity and overall success.

The real question is whether or not you are prepared to deal with the threats you’re practically guaranteed to face.

In the interest of communicating how critical proper business cybersecurity is to manage, we’ve decided to take a different approach and put forth a scenario in the form of a daytime soap. As such, please feel free to read this post with dramatic music playing in the background and all dialogue imagined with elevated intensity.

In the town of Oak Falls, life seems peaceful… but under the surface, tension persists. Secrets run amok, and with so much information to take in, everyone has to worry about the Strength of Our Passwords.

How much data do your devices contain about your life? What would you do if law enforcement suddenly wanted access to it? Even if you’re a typical law-abiding citizen, you want to prioritize data privacy, but businesses also have an obligation to handle consumer information in a responsible way. Here’s what you need to know about law enforcement and access to your data.

We’ve made it to the point where humans need to prove they’re real people to access systems, and one of the most common ways to do this is through the use of CAPTCHA technology. Completely Automated Public Turing test(s) to tell Computers and Humans Apart (try saying that with your mouth full) are everywhere, yet computers still struggle to actually crack these tests, unlike other methods of security. Why are they so successful at detecting automated bots?

We live in a moment in time defined by connectivity, which also means we live in a time defined by unwanted correspondence. It’s never been easier to reach you by phone, email, and even social media—even when you don’t want to be reached. Today, we’re talking about how social media, in particular, presents opportunities for scammers to target you and your loved ones.

Cybersecurity is one of those things everyone in a workplace should know about, no matter their role. But here’s the problem—turns out, a lot of people don’t.

A recent survey in the UK found that about one in three adults flunked a cybersecurity test. And get this—the test was designed for 11-year-olds. Yikes.

Security is one of those things that every business owner worries about—no matter how big or small your company is. But the good news? It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, there are three simple steps you can take right now to make your business more secure.

Have you ever wondered how you can binge-watch Netflix, jam to Spotify, and accidentally fall into a three-hour Instagram scroll without your phone melting down? Thank the cloud for that. These apps don’t hoard all their data on your device—they store it online, so everything runs smoothly. And guess what? Businesses are using it too, because honestly, why wouldn’t they? Let’s take a look at some of the top benefits of the cloud. 

What’s the plan if you ever lose your phone—or worse, some sneaky thief swipes it right out of your hands? Panic? Cry? Retrace your steps like a detective in a crime drama? Let’s be real—losing your phone is a nightmare. Not only are you cut off from memes, group chats, and your entire digital life, but your data, privacy, and security are also suddenly up for grabs. The usual solution? Wipe the device, cross your fingers, and hope for the best.

Working remotely has given employees flexibility and work-life balance, but it also presents businesses with unique challenges—for example, security. When your network is spread out over several different locations, like with the at-home office, the threat surface increases. Today, we want to cover three ways you can take the bite out of remote work security and make it more effective for all involved.

People leave their jobs for all types of reasons. Sometimes they move on to different opportunities, sometimes they retire, and sometimes, the change is initiated by you. Regardless of the reason for their departure, they’re gone, and you have some loose ends to tie up before you can begin the process of finding their replacement. Let’s look at five things you need to do immediately when someone leaves your organization.

Happy Valentine’s Day! While this holiday is all about love, it just so happens to fall smack in the middle of tax season in the United States. So, while you’re hoping to get a sweet message from that special someone, there’s a chance you might also receive a text or an email from the Internal Revenue Service… or is there?

As it turns out, you won’t… but that’s a fact that scammers are hoping you won’t know.

Cybercrime is a real problem for businesses and individuals alike. Today, there are more threats than ever and even if you are careful, data theft can affect you. In our blog today, we thought we would go through the ways that data theft can affect you, even if it isn’t stolen directly from you. 

What happens to all the data that gets stolen by hackers during their despicable campaigns? Sometimes it gets destroyed, but more often than not, it ends up on the Dark Web, where it’s put to other nefarious purposes. Today, we want to discuss the Dark Web and why it’s so important you monitor it for your business’ data.

Have you ever thought about whether a hacker could secretly read your emails with your clients and coworkers? If you handle your own email system, it's really important to know about email encryption. Encryption helps keep your emails safe and private so you can focus on running your business without worrying about hackers.

Here are three big problems you could face if you don’t encrypt your emails:

Technology is so ingrained in business that it’s nigh-impossible to operate without it. For this reason, cyberattacks on businesses are even more devastating, as they can halt operations and expose important data. Today, we want to highlight five common problems you might encounter with your cybersecurity.

Digital security cameras have changed the game when it comes to keeping places safe. They can be beneficial in all types of situations. Offices, retail spaces, warehouses, and other properties should be covered by some type of surveillance. This not only allows for real-time security, it can reduce liability and have a positive effect on an organization’s bottom line.  Here's a breakdown of three big reasons why they’re better than old-school analog cameras.

News flash: just because you’re a smaller business doesn’t mean you’re a smaller target for cyberattacks. You’re not immune, and you can certainly fall prey to the unfortunate reality of the modern cyberthreat landscape. If anything, small businesses are the perfect target, and we’ll explain why.

While now may not be the most dangerous time to run a business, it is arguably a contender. Businesses are more reliant on digital technology than ever, meaning that these businesses also have to deal with more threats than ever. One such threat: the phishing scam.