Dealing With Ransomware: Our Computer Tip of the Day

dealing with ransomware our computer tip of the day

Any basic computer user knows about the dangers that lurk on the Internet. From email scams, to generic computer viruses, and suspicious links, making smart decisions while surfing the web is important. As important as this is, however, one of the more common dangers lurking in cyberspace, is ransomware. A malicious tool that locks your computer and demands a ransom, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of once you’re infected. There are plenty of ways to avoid it, however. Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with ransomware.

dealing with ransomware

Be Careful While Surfing the Web

Ransomware is often found on suspicious sites, so always be careful when you’re surfing the web. It’s not always easy to know which sites are safe and which are dangerous, so be sure you have the right anti-virus software. Aside from protecting you while web browsing, it also gives you an indication as to which sites are dangerous, before you even visit them. Many anti-virus programs also have a feature where in the web browser search results, you can see which sites should be visited with caution. That’s part of dealing with ransomware.

Avoid Suspicious Links 

Aside from suspicious websites, always be careful when clicking links, especially in emails. Many times, the email may seem legitimate, and it might even appear to come from someone you know. Upon clicking the link, though, your device could end up getting infected with ransomware. Always be sure you know the link is completely valid, and don’t trust emails that seem too suspicious when you are dealing with ransomware.

For more useful computer tips regarding dealing with ransomware, feel free to contact us today at AE Technology Group. We look forward to hearing from you, and assisting you in the best way possible.

How to Prepare For a Disaster: Three Key Tips You Should Try

how to prepare for a disaster three key tips you should try

Learn how to prepare for a disaster. All businesses are vulnerable to costly IT disasters. For example, CSO Online reports that by 2021, cyber crime will result in $6 trillion losses every year. And cyber crimes aren’t the only kind if IT disaster businesses suffer through. Equipment failures, flooding and fires, and employee errors (such as accidental file deletion) are all alarming possibilities.

How to Prepare For a Disaster

You don’t want to get caught off-guard by an IT disaster. If you’re better prepared, it means you’re less likely to suffer permanent data loss and lengthy downtime. You’re more likely to recover quickly, saving money and preserving your business’s reputation.

The following are three key tips on how to prepare for a disaster:

  1. Comprehensive data backups. Make sure your data is backed up in a reliable way. This is critical for your most important files and programs: the ones you need for operating your business and the ones that contain sensitive information. With comprehensive, timely, and well-protected backups, you can easily retrieve and restore the latest versions of your most important data. In this way, you’ll quickly get your business up and running again and spare yourself from staggering financial costs.
  2. Don’t keep everything in one place. If you keep all of your data and other important assets in one location, a single concentrated disaster can inflict serious, lasting damage on your company. One helpful strategy is to rely more on the cloud and its off-premises solutions for software usage, data storage, and other IT functions.
  3. Invest in prevention. Preventative measures are cost-effective because they can often detect and address problems at earlier stages, sparing you from many kinds of full-blown disasters. For example, round-the-clock network monitoring can pick up on signs of impending equipment failure or evidence of suspicious activity that might be a cyber attack. IT professionals who take a proactive approach to IT support will help your business stay vigilant, plan for potential future threats, and catch problems early on.

Please contact us for additional information on how we can effectively prepare your business for an IT disaster.

Cybersecurity for Business: Here’s How to Secure Your Technology Now!

cybersecurity for business here how to secure your technology now

No matter what size business you run, adequate cybersecurity for business is likely at the top of your to do list this year. Cyber-criminals are targeting both small businesses and large businesses alike.

Cybersecurity for business

In addition, most people don’t realize that what’s attracting cyber-criminals to their targets is,

  • Simple and unprotected entry points,
  • Weaknesses,
  • Vulnerabilities, and
  • Outdated hardware and software

The only way to truly know where your business’ vulnerabilities lie is to work with an expert team.

In May of 2016, several large banks experienced breaches across the various financial networks they use to transfer money like SWIFT. Cyber-criminals transferred money illegally across these networks after they gained access to the data via old bank computers that had been compromised some time ago. The computers also had no modern protections installed. Staff never destroyed the computers or took them offline.

In addition to weak hardware, cyber-criminals spot weaknesses in human nature and gain easy access to your organization using social engineering tactics. In fact, higher-level executive employees are more likely to fall for phishing scams called whaling.

For the most part, handling your own IT is not the best way to handle modern risk.

There are new cyber threats every day. It’s financially impossible to hire all the staff you need to ensure your company’s bases are covered. When you work with an MSP, you work with a professional IT services company that manages and secures your technology.

This offers your organization:

  • Advanced productivity and technology performance,
  • The best security,
  • Reliable connectivity and redundancy. (Your staff can get more done with fewer outages and downtime).
  • Plenty of room for one or several servers in our world class data center, and
  • Support for all the devices and operating systems you use

At AE Technology, we believe in proactive tech support. That means we monitor your network 24/7/365, and complete routine systems maintenance every few months. Because of this, issues don’t catch us off guard. We apply patches and updates regularly; and your system is always updated with the latest tools and technology. We equip your software to resist all new cyber threats.

The only way to have access to the resources your business needs is to work with a qualified MSP. Contact us today to get started!   

Purchasing a New Device: What to Consider

purchasing a new device what to consider

Thinking of purchasing a new device? In the workplace, computers are one of the most important tools that anyone could use. They help you to access your important documents, respond to customer questions, and even collaborate with others via Skype. Not to mention some prefer to bring in their own laptops to the workplace. These devices don’t last forever, however, and it’ll eventually be time for you to purchase a new one. What are some signs that it’s time for you to buy a new laptop? Is it only when your computer starts showing signs of age? Here are a few things to consider.

purchasing a new device

What to consider when purchasing a new device

Expired Warranty

When your warranty expires, it’s not always a sign that your laptop will start experiencing problems. However, it’s still something you should always be cautious of. Nowadays, many developers build computers with cheap hardware. These laptops are made to last only a few years, and some will even start showing signs of age shortly after the warranty expires. Once you no longer have warranty, start making plans for buying a new device.

Slowdown on Your Computer

Another sign that it’s time to purchase a new device, is when your computer starts lagging. If you’ve had your computer for a few years, pages may start taking longer to load than usual, and there might be a lot of slowdown involved. This isn’t always the case, but many times, it’s due to problems with the hard drive and motherboard. After all, the more applications you download and run over the years, the harder your computer has to work. Think of it as someone running on a treadmill.

For more helpful computer tips, feel free to contact us today at AE Technology Group. We look forward to hearing from you, and assisting you in the best way possible.

Why Do Businesses Hire Managed IT Services?

why do businesses hire managed it services

Why do businesses hire managed IT services? When you are shopping around for IT services, you have probably seen many IT providers offer both hourly IT services and managed IT services. You may be wondering what the difference is and why managed services for Long Island businesses are a popular choice. Is it worth it for your company? Well here are two big reasons why we at AE Technology Group think it is.

hire managed IT services

So why do businesses hire managed IT services?

  • An established monthly cost: This may scare away some potential customers. You might be thinking, “Why would I want to pay a monthly fee when I don’t know if I will need IT services every month?” This is a fair question. But you also need to be realistic. Examine your IT costs from the past few months. If you find your individual IT expenses are adding up quickly, managed IT services would be right for you. With a monthly fee and no surprise fees, we take care of all of your IT needs. And if you aren’t ready for managed IT services at this point, we still want to help you. Our devoted IT experts are on-call for hourly support as well.
  • Preventative maintenance: You understand the value of preventative maintenance for your car, the appliances in your home, and even your own body. The same principle is true for the hardware and software at your business. When your technology is running optimally, you are more likely to avoid those meltdown scenarios.

A flat, monthly fee and preventative maintenance are two big reasons why we see more and more of our customers choosing managed IT services. For more information, contact us today at AE Technology Group.