Blog - Page 2 of 4 - Profulgent Technology

20FebFebruary 20, 2015

6 Password Tips to Protect Against Business and Identity Theft

Ah, those pesky passwords. If you work in the corporate world or in an office, you have one for your PC/Network. And, unless there is a password synchronization application that combines them, you probably have more than one for other applications. Then, add those to the ones that you have for your home Internet, your banking and other websites that require passwords? Well, before you know it you have a nightmare on your hands in trying to manage them. So how easy a target are you for business and identity theft? Part of the frustration has to do with the different requirements for password formatting. Some systems only require four characters, some require eight. And some need a combination of alpha and numeric characters. Lastly, others do the same with the addition of a few capital letters thrown in for extra security. It can be positively maddening. The worst thing you can do with your passwords is to place them in a text document which can be accessed on the hard drive of your computer. Your files are vulnerable to business and identity theft- even if you think they are not. If someone is intent on finding them, they can. Even if you place them into a password protected document, those can be cracked, too. Writing them down has its own vulnerabilities, too, and there are varying opinions on this practice. If you do write them down on a piece of paper, put the document in a locked location whether it is in your home or at work.

Here are 6 tips on how to handle your passwords to protect against business and identity theft:

1. Make them complex. People who use easy to remember or short passwords are inviting disaster. Use a little imagination and pick a password that is very difficult to attach to your life. Stay away from birth dates, phone numbers, house numbers, or any other number that is associated with your life. 2. Keep passwords unique. When you change your passwords, make them unique from each other. Do not use the same password on all of your sites. If you do, then you are open to having every site that you have a password to being vulnerable to hackers to log on and steal your identity, money or destroy your reputation. 3. Be obscure. So use a combination of letters, numbers, capital letters and special characters if possible. And the more you do this, the more secure your passwords will become. Finally, create an alphanumeric version of a term you can remember. Using this technique the word "Spaceship" becomes "Sp@ce5h!p". 4. Change regularly. This is the singular tip that can save you if you do not heed any of the other tips. How often should you change your password? How secure do you want to be? The frequency with which you change your password will determine how secure you are from becoming a victim. The more often you change it, the better you are. The longer you leave it the same, the more vulnerable you become. Three months is a good cycle for a password, but certainly if you fear for the security of your identity, then a monthly change is not out of the question. 5. Password-protect your PC. Be sure to give your PC a password on power-up. This will help protect your files unrestricted access to your PC. 6. Password-protect your wireless home network. If you have a wireless home network, be sure to password protect it as well. And use the same principles above in order to secure your wireless network. This will prevent others from accessing your connection and using it maliciously to hack the personal or business PCs and laptops you and your family use at home. Finally, there are password programs that can help with this important task, but the best advice is to start with the tips above right away. Password software can be useful as an organizational tool. But it is no match for using sound methods to manage and make your passwords difficult to crack. Click here to learn how [contentblock id=company] can help protect you against business and identity theft with our Network Security Services for your business in [contentblock id=location].

By Randy DrozdNetwork SecurityData Security, Encryption, Managed IT Services, Managed IT Services NJ, Network Security, SSLComments Off

19FebFebruary 19, 2015

The High Cost of Recovery from a Security Breach

Small to medium size businesses are what keep this country moving. Unfortunately, for many of these business owners, budgetary needs force them to make cuts that the mammoth corporations do not have to consider. These budget cuts can often result in reduced security and sub par IT services. And in the long run, this can end up costing the company even more money. Reacting to; and the recovering from, a security breach or attack is always pricy. And this is more after it has happened than what it would have cost to prevent it. This fact has been supported by recent surveys, and may come as a surprise to many small and mid-size companies who are under the false impression that hackers and other security threats target larger corporations. It has been discovered that companies that have less than 500 employees are actually more likely to be at risk of an attack or security breach than a larger corporation. Of course, this becomes a problem when the larger corporation has the resources to maintain higher levels of security at a time when smaller companies are dealing with restricted or; in some cases, frozen IT budgets.

The benefits of hiring a Managed IT Services Provider in preventing attacks and security breaches

Security breaches are a real concern for small business owners. Many are making the decision to bring on outside providers to address their IT needs. Managed services providers can offer an affordable solution to small business owners who are struggling to manage an internal IT staff. In some cases there isn't even an IT person on staff, which can be just as costly for the small business when they have to bring in a professional on an as needed basis. Considering the money and time spend recovering from a security attack or breech, more business owners are realizing the cost of not having this level of protection is too high to pay.

How managed services providers can help

Here we look at how managed services providers can help business owners level the playing field against those who would infiltrate their security systems.

Increased knowledge. Managed services providers are in the business of technology. They have trained staff who are able to prevent security breeches. They also spot any activity that could be perceived as a threat. Moreover, they have the expertise to stop threats that can lead to costly recovery measures.
Less expensive than in-house IT. Other IT professionals can provide the same security. But it will cost much more to the business owner. What many owners realize is paying a flat monthly fee for security and other services is more cost effective than paying an internal IT staff or outsourcing per incident.
Proactive is better than reactive. There's a big benefit to having a quality managed services provider in your corner. You act in a proactive manner to ensure all of your systems are managed properly. And this is less expensive and time consuming than waiting for something bad to happen first.

Any small business can benefit from a Managed IT Services provider. They can do so at a fraction of the cost. Therefore, this eliminates the fear and unnecessary cost of trying to recover from a breech in security. Click here to learn how [contentblock id=company] can help you prevent attacks and security breaches with our Network Security Services for your business in [contentblock id=location].

By Randy DrozdNetwork SecurityCloud Security, Managed IT Services, Managed IT Services NJ, Managed Security, Microsoft Security, Network Security, NJ Managed Services, PKI, SSLComments Off

17FebFebruary 17, 2015

Creating a Business Continuity Plan For Your Small Business

Is your business prepared for any type of disaster? Even though small businesses may not have as many employees or as much equipment, they are still as vulnerable to disaster as a large corporation. And if your business office were to be destroyed by a tornado, you could lose valuable business if you don’t plan ahead. But many businesses don’t want to take the time. And they don't want the expense to prepare a business continuity plan. But can you really afford not to make one?

Make a List of All Possible Disasters

The best place to start is to list different types of disasters. Try to determine what could be lost in each case. And list what you can do to prevent that loss. A flood will require different strategies from a power outage or a fire. Next, try to estimate how long it would take, and how much it would cost for you to get your business up and running again.

Communication

The middle of a crisis is not the time to frantically search for phone numbers. Even small businesses need emergency contact numbers. Have all emergency contact numbers posted or programmed into every phone. And do you have an alternate mode of communication should your main phone lines shut down? The same principal applies to email and fax. Make arrangements regarding communication. This is critical to keeping your business running smoothly. And communicating with staff and clients means the difference between complete shutdown or a minor interruption.

Preserving Your Data

In the event of a disaster, it is important to know that everything you need to function as a business is available. Identify all vital systems, documents, and data. While it is important for every business to backup their data on a regular basis, what if a fire destroyed your office? For this reason, offsite storage is critical to preserving your business’ valuable information. Offsite data storage allows to access to all of your stored data from any computer and from anywhere in the world.

A Temporary Worksite

It is also important to plan for a temporary worksite. Can you continue smooth operation if your office is shut down? Then, storing products in a second location can allow you to maintain your regular business schedule.

Test Your Plan

One of the keys to successful disaster recovery is testing your business continuity plan on a regular basis. It is important that you and your staff know exactly what to do. And it is important to know where to go. Or, how to access the necessary items you need to keep your business running smoothly to the outside world. Even if you are standing in the middle of a disaster! Schedule regular plan tests to ensure that everyone in your office is on the same page and ready should disaster strike. Hopefully, you will never have to use your business continuity plan, but it is smart business to be prepared for any emergency should one arise. Click here to learn how [contentblock id=company] can help keep your business running in the event of disruption or disaster with our Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning Services for your business in [contentblock id=location].

By Randy DrozdDisaster RecoveryBusiness Continuity, Cloud Backup, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery Planning, Disaster Recovery Products, Disaster Recovery Services, Disaster Recovery Support, Hosted Virtual Servers, Offsite Backup0 Comments

17FebFebruary 17, 2015

Benefits of Cloud Storage Services

Companies are lured to public cloud storage services. And this is due to some inherent benefits. They include improved flexibility and lower operational costs. Many companies realize the need to augment security availability services. They also determine which data is appropriate for public cloud environments. Furthermore, it is critical to understand the sensitivity of the data being considered. But also keep in mind the activity level or performance characteristics. Also keep in mind the advanced data management requirements (i.e. encryption, compliance, compression). These all factor to determine the true expense for utilizing public cloud.

Cloud storage services offer the ideal balance

The momentum is to move to the public cloud. But some apps and workloads may stay forever on the private cloud. Private cloud offers greater security, control and ownership. And public cloud provides flexibility and simplicity. This phenomenon has given birth to a new style of IT: Hybrid Cloud. And it is here to stay. Profulgent Technology can help you decide and maintain both to meet your needs. Get the ideal balance from hybrid cloud storage. Organizations leverage both private and public clouds. Companies maintain the control and performance of a private cloud. But, they enjoy the economics and elasticity of the public cloud. In order to reap the full benefits, companies integrate and optimize the lifecycle of cloud environments in a more holistic way. Data mobility is often the most daunting task. This is because it can be very time and resource intensive. Organizations must analyze and determine which workloads belong in an on-premise cloud. Also, they determine which workloads are well suited for public cloud. IT determines the real costs associated with this type of move. Lastly they leverage their existing investments as part of this new model.

Call Profulgent Technology today. See how we can leverage the cloud for your needs!

By Randy DrozdCloud ServicesCloud Computing, Cloud Services Provider, Cloud Storage0 Comments

12FebFebruary 12, 2015

How to Create a Basic Business Disaster Recovery Plan in 4 Steps

Loss of data is a common problem for businesses. Fortunately, it's a problem that can easily be avoided with the correct preparation. While devastating amounts of data can be lost during catastrophes like hurricanes, terrorist attacks, fires and floods - it doesn't take such large events to cause a business to lose important data. It can be as simple as dropping a laptop to the floor, or a power surge that results in burning out a storage device. If you don't have your crucial data backed up, even a small situation can turn into a disaster. That's when having a disaster recovery plan for your business can help.

The Statistics

If you still think natural disasters are the leading causes of data loss - and that the chances of it happening to you are pretty slim, take a look at the results from a study by Strategic Research Corporation of the leading causes of business continuity and disaster recovery incidents:

Hardware Failures (servers, switches, disk drives, etc) - 44%.
Human Error (mistakes in configurations, wrong commands issued, etc) 32%
Software Errors (operating systems, driver incompatibility, etc)14%
Viruses and Security Breach (unprotected systems are always at risk) 7%
Natural Disasters 3%

Establishing a disaster recovery plan can be done in the following four steps:

1) Take a potential risk inventory.

Make a list of every potential cause of data loss and the solutions to each. Your list should include losses that won't affect the business very much, and those that would shut the business down temporarily or permanently. Information Technology experts can assist you with creating the potential risk inventory - as they will have the knowledge and experience to identify possibilities that you are not likely to think of but need to plan for all the same. These IT experts will also be able discuss preventative solutions to guard against each type of potential data loss.

2) Rate each of your potential data loss situations.

How likely is it for each of the items on your risk inventory to occur? Well, rating them in order of importance and likeliness to occur will help you determine where to focus your disaster recovery plan efforts.

3) Develop your disaster recovery plan.

First, go through each of your potential risks and their solutions. Then, determine how long it would take you to recover. Could your business be offline for 24 hours? A week? Well, depending on the nature of your business, being offline for even just 24 hours could result in your losing customers to your competition. So look at ways to reduce the length of time it would take you to recover from each type of data loss risk.

4) Put your disaster recovery plan to the test.

Once you've created your plan of action for recovering lost data, you should test your solutions. A disaster recovery plan is just a plan until it can be tested and proven. Click here to learn how [contentblock id=company] can create a business disaster recovery plan for you with our Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Services for your business in [contentblock id=location].

By Randy DrozdDisaster RecoveryBusiness Continuity, Cloud Backup, Disaster Recovery, Offsite Backup, Operations ContinunityComments Off

12FebFebruary 12, 2015

Office 365 increases Productivity and Collaboration

Increase the productivity and efficiency of your employees.

Below is an actual case from one of our IT Support clients detailing how they utilize Microsoft Office 365 Cloud Services.

1. Introduction

It’s important to note that not all IT hosts are created equal. There are big differences between the features, reliability, and security. And there are three major things to consider. They are cost, updates, and accessibility.

2. Trends

As cloud computing matures, a growing number of organizations are moving to the cloud. This lowers IT costs and increase efficiency and flexibility. Well, many organizations benefit from timely trends analysis. Simple, well-organized information about their IT environment helps them understand their current IT state. Also, where they will be if they adopt a particular cloud service.

3. Problem

The key difference between Office 365 and all third party hosting providers is simply, Microsoft. Microsoft designed, developed, and distributed the software. There are many providers that have hosted these products successfully. But they are not the developers of the products they host. Why is this important? First, no third party hosting company can claim to match level of expertise in these products. Second, Microsoft’s products are in a constant state of development to improve. And the improvements made flow directly into their Office 365 and CRM Online offerings. Often they come online before their client-server apps. So you will automatically have access to them. However, updates may be available to third party hosting providers. But, you may be charged for them. Or the provider may not elect to deploy them at all.

4. Solution

Office 365 takes the familiar Microsoft Office desktop suite. Then, they combine with powerful cloud-based communications and collaboration services. So this allows web and mobile accessibility. Collaborate easily with anywhere access to email, web conferencing, documents and calendars. Office 365 enables your employees to work together effectively. This enables your IT team to focus on more business-critical tasks. And you can have peace of mind knowing that experts are managing your IT. Your services will be available when you need them. This includes business-class security. Also, this is backed by technology's most-trusted company. Office 365 includes:

Office Professional Plus 2013
Exchange Online
SharePoint Online
Lync Online

Microsoft Office 365 takes this industry to another level. And it delivers these results on a cloud-based subscription service. Gain access to Office 365 from virtually any device, any time, any place - with a financially-backed 99.9% uptime guarantee from Microsoft. Microsoft hosts an extensive marketplace. They highlights preferred cloud partners like SADA. And you can contract us directly for Office 365 services and support.

5. Benefits

Here are just a few key benefits of Office 365 we're most excited about:

Enterprise-class security and reliability. One of the best aspects of the cloud is the enterprise-class technologies. And they available at a price that smaller companies can afford. For instance, numerous layers of security help protect Office 365's data centers. Furthermore, stringent privacy policies help keep your data safe.
Additionally, the data centers provide first-rate disaster recovery capabilities. Also, they are fully redundant. And, they are global to help ensure your data is available. So this means no more worrying. You are backed guaranteed 99.9% uptime.
IT control and efficiency. On any given day, basic IT management tasks like retaining security updates and upgrading back-end systems occupy a great deal of your IT workers' time, preventing them from focusing their energy on business priorities. Office 365 will handle tasks like these, while still giving your IT staff control over user management and service configuration.
User familiarity and productivity. Creating an Office 365 workspace doesn't necessarily result in a large learning curve. If your business already uses programs like this, your employees will merely be transitioning to a similar. But this would instead be a cloud-based experience. Moreover, since these programs are hosted on the cloud, employees can access information while on the go, from any laptop or device.

Office 365 also brings some exciting improvements. For instance, MailTips-a feature of Exchange Online-acts as a friendly assistant. It alerts you of when you are about to send mail to individuals out of the office. Also, it tells you if you're accidentally replying to a large distribution list. Or, it notifies when sending confidential information outside the company. Additionally, Lync Online now works with SharePoint Online and Office, so that workers can quickly and easily communicate and collaborate.

6. Example

Dr. Fuhrman's Medical Associates is located in Flemington, New Jersey. It provides health care for both adults and children. We helped them migrate from multiple applications to just Office 365. Office 365 provided them with one simple solution instead of four. As their business grows, Office 365 helps them save them time, money, and resources.

7. Conclusion

Office 365 is an enterprise-grade service. So it was designed to meet the most rigorous requirements. It brings together their most trusted productivity solutions. These include Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint® Online, and Microsoft Lync™ Online with Microsoft Office across platforms and devices. There are lots of good reasons to choose Microsoft as your solution provider. But the most important one is trust. And for business-critical capabilities. you want a trusted partner. Microsoft has provided enterprise-class productivity solutions for more than 20 years. And Office is the number one productivity suite worldwide. So with millions of users, what better partner would you need?

About Profulgent Technology

An efficiently-run business helps keep you ahead. So we create ways to enhance your company. Our approach incorporates a comprehensive evaluation. We audit all of your existing technology and its processes. Additionally, we assess your needs for the future. Our fully-certified staff enables you to make informed decisions. And we also help your business cut costs on your overall spending. Lastly, we that your operations are streamlined. And this allows you to remain at the forefront of your respective industry. Our target market is small to medium sized businesses. Nowadays, most businesses have either a single PC or a multi PC environment. And all of these businesses need support. So we support and to monitor all of these systems on a regular basis. And we leave minimal chance of failure or data loss. Thus, you have more time to work on your business. Contact information: Profulgent Technology Phone: 732-242-9345 Email: info@profulgent.net Website: https://profulgent.net

By Randy DrozdWhite PapersCloud Email, Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Sharepoint Online, Office 365Comments Off

16JanJanuary 16, 2015

Disaster Recovery Planning

You Need A Disaster Recovery Plan

Consider last year's Hurricane Sandy. What about recent tornados? And other natural disasters? Well, they have truly put things in to perspective. So businesses need to prepare. And the safety of your employees is your top concern. Next, follow the disaster recovery plan! Protect your data and applications that run it. Call us about your disaster recovery plan audit. Disaster Recovery Planning

Tech is used to process data. Employees use e-mail and VOIP systems. Electronic data interchange (EDI) transmits data. And this includes orders and payments from one company to another. Servers store your info. They also store large amounts of data. Computers and other devices manage info for your business. So what do you when your tech stops working? http://www.ready.gov/business/implementation/IT

By Randy DrozdDisaster RecoveryCloud Backup, Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery, Hosted Cloud Servers, Hosted Virtual Servers, IT Planning, Offsite Backup, Remote BackupComments Off

15JanJanuary 15, 2015

Save Time and Money with Managed IT Services

Most small businesses can agree on one thing. Time equals money. But small business owners are in a position where they have to be a jack-of-all-trades. And they spend most of their day wearing different hats. This is the nature of the small business. So while expected, it is not always the best use of time. But to be successful and remain competitive in an industry, there should be time to focus on growing and building the business. And in many cases, small businesses fail. This is a result of being unable to handle emergencies. Or even other situations that are simply beyond their control or expertise. However, leveraging Managed IT Services can help.

Many Benefits

Any business relies on technology. And this covers almost every business operating today, can benefit from managed IT services. Managed IT Service providers understand that not every business has the ability to pay for an internal IT department which can be very expensive yet necessary to ensure all aspects of technology are supported. Without this backup, many small businesses find themselves in a position where they have to foot a very expensive bill to recover from a disaster or emergency. In other situations, using out-of-date or ineffective technology is simply a waste of both time and money on the part of the small business.

Get Managed IT Services

First, we look at how small businesses can make the most of their time and money by hiring a managed services provider.

Focus on running the business. One of the major benefits of outsourcing your technology needs is that the owner and employees of the company can focus 100% on their individual duties. And this keeps the business moving in the right direction. This is the most valuable use of time for all parties involved, instead of hours or even days lost when trying to deal with technological issues that in house employees are not trained to handle.
Offer expert advise. There are many small businesses that simply do not know what they need to improve the functionality of their business. The old adage, "what you don't know can't hurt you" does not apply in all cases. By consulting with a managed services provider you may discover areas of your business which can be improved that you previously thought were working "just fine". Expert advice may be able to help you improve the efficiency of your business while positioning you better within the industry.
Support when you need it. Managed IT Service Providers are there in the event of an emergency or recovery. But they also provide monitoring which can invaluable in preventing problems before they can impact the business.

Value and Money

It is important for every small business to carefully examine their technical needs. They can see what services will be most beneficial to the company. Managed IT Services Providers can be a great value. They can reduce tech costs over time. Also, they improve functionality. In turn, it turn saves time. Achieve this balance and get in position to thrive and grow. Click here to learn how [contentblock id=company] can help you save time and money with our Managed IT Services for your business in [contentblock id=location].

By Randy DrozdManaged IT ServicesHelp Desk, IT Help Desk, IT Service Desk, Managed IT Services, Managed IT Services NJ, Managed Service Provider, NJ Managed ServicesComments Off

24SepSeptember 24, 2014

Why use a local Support company?

Learn how your business can benefit from working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) like Profulgent Technology. We are a local support company in Laurence Harbor, NJ. And we use real people in our office. Our team responds to you personally and professionally for all of your IT support!

Support Local!

There are far-reaching advantages to deciding to “shop local.” By supporting local businesses, you are in turn supporting your local economy. More money stays in a community when purchases are made at locally owned. Rather than nationally owned – businesses.

Local businesses are more accountable to their local communities and donate more money to non-profits.
Supporting local businesses is good for the environment because they often have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies.

Get Started

So get in touch with us today. Support your local economy! Furthermore, get the help you need!

By Randy DrozdManaged IT ServicesApplication Support, Computer Support, Email Support, IT Support, Managed IT Services, Network Support, Remote Support, Server Support, Technical Support, Telephone SupportComments Off