Phishing continues to be the leading cause of data breaches, and these threats are targeting users everywhere, including the critical devices they rely on every day: their smartphones. Experts anticipate the threat will only increase in the years ahead.

Although many businesses continuously improve their email security filters, it’s important to remember that filters are not foolproof. To effectively shield a business from cyber threats, organizations should empower their teams to join the fight by deploying user-driven reporting of suspicious emails as an additional security measure.

Like driving, cyberattacks occur daily; new cyber events won’t subside any time soon. It’s not whether an organization will have a security event; it’s when.

Anyone who has personally experienced identity theft or fraud knows how challenging it is to fix — even if their credit is frozen. However, too often, businesses don’t consider the many fraud and cyber threats they face because they are frequent but “just not to us.”

For businesses, falling victim to a bad actor can mean the difference between staying in business or not. Instead, companies should shift their approach and invest in cybersecurity insurance.

Deploying TPx’s Managed Inbox Detection and Response (IDR), a predictive multi-vector detection, prevention and response technology that counters the growing cyber threats, users can eliminate the guesswork of deciding whether messages are suspicious by reporting emails with a single click from their inbox.

TPx’s Managed IDR service helps protect companies against phishing attacks, email compromises and advanced malware that traditional email filtering may miss.

Companies can further boost user security by incorporating IDR and Managed Security Awareness Training (SAT) services and providing online courses following National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines into their security strategy. By incorporating TPx’s SAT program, companies can mitigate risks by increasing alertness and educating employees on recognizing and avoiding cyberattacks. Phish rate reduction directly correlates to training completion.

TPx’s Managed IDR service allows users to easily submit suspicious emails from their inboxes, which are quickly and accurately validated to determine if they are malicious. Once reported, the emails are removed from the inbox and placed into quarantine while under evaluation.

The reported emails are continuously monitored and professionally evaluated using automated scanning and human threat analysis. This process relieves the burden on internal IT and security teams and improves accuracy and response times.

The emails are returned or permanently removed in just a few minutes, reinforcing good security habits. Furthermore, malicious emails are automatically and globally removed from the customer’s domain, preventing other users from falling victim to the same phishing attempt.

These solutions have proven to be effective at raising employees’ awareness, increasing report rates compared to the company’s old email method and reducing phishing events overall.

While no one can predict what challenges — and threats — will arise next, it’s never too early for companies to prepare for what they might face. Even if the fight against cyber-attacks won’t subside, companies are best served by bringing in reinforcements in the form of their employees. Get in touch with TPx to get started.

The post Leveraging Tech to Target Security Threats appeared first on TPx Communications.

While many fear these innovations, they shouldn’t. There are reasons to approach these latest innovations with caution, but outright avoiding them? Not the smart – or sustainable – approach.

Think of AI and ML as the latest iteration of continuously evolving technology, which often leads to businesses evolving and growing. Like many technological advancements before it, the responsible deployment of AI and ML won’t replace humans. Rather, those who know how to leverage these tools in their jobs will replace those who don’t.

Organizations should consider how any new technology solution can bolster their business goals and accelerate growth, including AI and ML.

Why would a company want an experienced, expensive human performing mind-numbing, soul-crushing tasks, especially if they don’t provide significant value, and amid an ongoing IT skills shortage? Instead, companies need people to focus on delivering value to the organization.

Consider the significant cost savings companies can realize by cutting 45 minutes of triage time for every network event. Imagine the cost savings to the business using AI to predict theft in stores or ML to self-diagnose network issues and reduce downtime. AI also has implications that enhance digital collaboration and reduce the need for minute tasks like transcribing, summarizing, and recording.

Predicting traffic flows, generating smarter analytics, and monitoring overall network health may save a few minutes per instance. But the savings could be significant over time.

Anyone who’s used ChatGPT knows it will get to an 80% correct answer today. It may not be perfect yet, but it’s improving daily. Think of AI and ML the same way – as powerful tools in their infancy with massive potential – especially for businesses wanting to maximize the value of their IT investment to focus on running and growing their business.

To evaluate the return on investment in security spending, consider the cost of a data breach, lost customers, or diminished stock value. Any possible scenario from a cyberattack should convince every company to make security an integral part of its IT posture.

New technology is scary. So is being left behind. Are you confident your foundation is built for whatever the business worlds bring next? TPx can help you future-proof your IT infrastructure. Get in touch to get started.

The post Why You Shouldn’t (Totally) Fear AI appeared first on TPx Communications.

Navigating the complexities of IT compliance is daunting. This article debunks prevalent misconceptions, clarifying why compliance is an ongoing process, crucial for businesses of all sizes, and a shared responsibility across the organization. Discover why simply meeting standards isn’t enough and how partnering with experts can enhance your security posture. Prepare to rethink your approach to compliance and gain insights on creating a robust, future-proof strategy.

Myth: Compliance is a (long!) checklist.

Truth: Compliance is a continuous process.

Compliance is never one-and-done, and it’s not a simple checklist to move through. Instead, an effective compliance program must constantly be monitored and improved, especially as regulations change. Don’t make the mistake of checking the box on one risk assessment and one employee training to assume you’re done. For example, even if you’ve implemented the basics of PCI DSS 4.0, continue improving access privileges, password management, and enhanced encryption.

Myth: IT Compliance doesn’t apply to me because I’m a small business.

Truth: IT compliance standards apply to businesses of all sizes, including small businesses.

Regulatory bodies do not typically exempt small businesses from compliance requirements because security threats and data breaches can affect any organization, regardless of its size. In fact, according to a Verizon survey, 46 percent of data breaches happen to companies with less than 1,000 employees. Non-compliance can lead to significant legal, financial, and reputational consequences. Plus, adhering to compliance standards helps small businesses build trust with customers and partners. Ignoring compliance can result in vulnerabilities that may be exploited, leading to severe impacts on business operations.

Myth: I need to hire an expensive expert internally.

Truth: Outsourcing compliance can be more cost-effective.

IT compliance is expensive because it’s complex, confusing, and time-consuming. But an in-house expert isn’t always needed. Many businesses partner with a managed services provider to maximize their budget and gain direct access to experts without shouldering the cost of salary, benefits, and training. For example, TPx’s Virtual Compliance Officer (VCO) Solution designs, implements, and manages your security program for less than an in-house specialist, and offers comprehensive IT compliance solutions to maximize your defensibility to compliance frameworks and cybersecurity threats.

Myth: Compliance is just too much to keep up with.

Truth: With the right help, it’s possible to become defensible.

While keeping up with compliance can feel like an insurmountable task, working with an expert in IT compliance gives your business a competitive edge when it comes to defensibility, since they can combine knowledge of key compliance standards with cybersecurity best practices. It also alleviates the manual, repetitive tasks of ensuring compliance. It’s all about having the right processes, resources, and partnerships.

Myth: Compliance belongs to a single team.

Truth: Compliance is a company-wide effort.

Relegating IT compliance to legal or IT bottlenecks your strategy and reduces its effectiveness. Instead, IT compliance is the entire company’s job because it involves policies, procedures, and behaviors that affect all employees and departments. Effective compliance requires everyone to understand and follow security protocols, handle data responsibly, and adhere to regulations. Cross-departmental collaboration ensures comprehensive risk management and fosters a culture of accountability. Plus, breaches or non-compliance in one area can impact the entire organization, making unified efforts essential for protecting the business and its stakeholders.

Myth: IT compliance is enough to keep my business safe.

Truth: Relying solely on IT compliance standards leaves you vulnerable.

IT compliance alone isn’t enough to keep your business safe because compliance standards often represent the minimum required security measures, not necessarily the best practices for your specific business context. Threat landscapes continuously evolve, and new vulnerabilities and attack methods emerge that compliance standards might not yet address. Comprehensive security requires a proactive approach, including ongoing risk assessments, employee training, advanced security technologies, and incident response plans. Relying solely on compliance can leave gaps that sophisticated attackers can exploit, so a robust cybersecurity strategy must complement compliance efforts.

Myth: Compliance requirements stifle innovation.

Truth: Effective IT compliance helps future-proof your business.

IT Compliance prepares your business for the future and supports your team in adopting new technologies easily. With the right frameworks in place, you’ll feel confident in outpacing competitors while following appropriate regulations. You’ll stay ahead of evolving threats, and as attackers become more sophisticated, you will, too.

To maximize defensibility and build trust with customers, work with an expert team like TPx, who understands your industry, threat landscape, and the ins and outs of major compliance frameworks like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC2, and more. Get in touch to get started.

The post Mythbusting IT Compliance appeared first on TPx Communications.

With a 60 percent reduction in operational costs, managed IT services are the ideal solution for businesses to maximize their IT budget for the highest value, especially in light of high inflation, decreased consumer spending, and higher-than-ever hardware and software costs. In tighter economic times, every line item counts on a business’s profit and loss statement, and IT is already a top expense. Get access to best-in-class technology and expertise with a managed service provider (MSP) who will act as an extension of your internal team and maximize your IT budget.

1. Reduce the cost of in-house employees while getting access to more specialized expertise for less

The average IT manager makes $152,916 annually, while a specialized cybersecurity analyst can make as much as $183,219 per year. Hiring and retaining top-tier professionals is incredibly expensive, adding up salary, benefits, ongoing training, and continuous certifications. Also, IT’s skills gap and talent shortage don’t make the competition any less fierce for highly experienced professionals. A serious cybersecurity talent shortage means you might not even be able to find the right people at all, regardless of job salary. Whether you want to outsource your entire IT team or augment a few niche skill sets, a managed service provider provides those experienced professionals for less.

2. Lower your overall cybersecurity risk

The only thing more expensive than cybersecurity employees, infrastructure, and frameworks is not having them during a cyberattack. Cyber incidents are crippling for most companies, with 60 percent of small businesses shutting their doors within six months. Ransomware payments exceeded $1 billion for the first time in 2023, and email phishing is getting more successful thanks to the implementation of artificial intelligence and sophisticated organized crime units. Reduce your overall risk and vulnerability by working with an MSP who can recommend, purchase, and implement exactly what your business needs.

3. Improve employee productivity and reduce turnover

The U.S. loses $1.9 trillion in lost employee productivity, and IT and admin teams are often overburdened with small, never-ending tasks like password resets, hardware fixes, and basic troubleshooting. Sourcing your equipment through your managed IT services provider is a smarter choice as they typically offer better pricing and terms thanks to their technology partners. This helps lower initial costs but also provides predictability to IT forecasting and budgeting. Plus, you’ll have clearer visibility on software and hardware costs for new technology in the future as your managed services provider knows multi-year plans for implementation.

4. Alleviate potential downtime

The average cost of downtime across industries is historically reported at $5,600 per minute, with recent studies showing an increase to a whopping $9,000 per minute. If critical systems went off for an hour, a day, or even multiple weeks, how long could your business afford to stay open? Consistent downtime also degrades customer experience and trust, potentially leading to churn. Managed IT providers support proactive backup and disaster recovery so that you can return to business faster and avoid alarming disaster recovery statistics.

5. Improved pricing on hardware and software

Hardware and software costs can quickly add up, especially if you’re upgrading multiple times a year. Sourcing your equipment through your MSP is a smarter choice as they typically offer better pricing and terms thanks to their technology partners. This helps lower initial costs but also provides predictability to IT forecasting and budgeting. Plus, you’ll have clearer visibility into software and hardware costs for new technology in the future as your MSP manages multi-year plans for implementation.

6. 24/7 support without overtime costs

Having human workers available 24/7 isn’t possible without massive overtime costs or a huge team. Managed services providers typically leverage both human and automated monitoring to protect your business around the clock, no matter the time zone. As your business grows and opens new locations, your MSP can scale for you instead of hiring additional staff, growing your company without incurring more hiring costs.

7. Access to best-in-class and emerging technologies to beat the innovation curve

Innovative technologies improve slow websites and applications, provide real-time inventory monitoring on supply chains, create a positive overall customer experience, and solve many other problems your business might face. Working with an MSP gives your organization unparalleled access to best-in-class and emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, threat detection, and automation. Plus, you don’t need to hire and retain experts in-house to utilize the latest technology trends.

Partnering with an expert managed IT services provider saves money across your entire budget while getting your company access to world-class technology and expertise. At TPx, we help companies figure out how to maximize their IT budget for the highest value. Show us your IT bill, and chances are, we can help lower it! Get in touch to get started.

The post 7 Ways to Save Your Business Money With Managed IT Services appeared first on TPx Communications.

Reputation and trust are paramount for the legal industry. And while data breaches have devastating consequences for law firms, clients are negatively impacted as well. Trade secrets, intellectual property, merger and acquisition details, confidential attorney-client privileged conversations, and personally identifiable information (PII) are just a few of the damaging assets potentially exposed to hackers and criminals.

6 Best Practices to Secure Law Firm Data

If hardware is outdated, data is not backed up, or the firm still heavily relies on paper, it might be time to take a hard look at your IT infrastructure – and data security is a core component. Here’s where to start to protect your law firm data.

1. Implement a Strong Data Security Policy

A comprehensive data security policy is the foundation of client trust, improved confidentiality, and enhanced regulatory compliance. It serves as the cornerstone for maximizing your cybersecurity posture and should include clear business objectives and priorities, along with formalized documentation on risk management policies, data classification, encryption, physical security, awareness training programs, and an incident response plan.

Sound daunting? It can be. Many law firms elect to engage a cybersecurity expert to build policies and cybersecurity frameworks that take into account the company’s budget, individual threats, and industry landscape.

2. Enforce Strong Passwords

Common password mistakes, like using the same password on multiple platforms, making passwords personal like a birthdate, and not storing passwords correctly, are simple errors with big consequences. To act as a first line of defense against data risks, implement key measures like multi-factor authentication, verified password managers, routinely changing passwords, and encouraging passphrases instead of simple passwords.

3. Regularly Evaluate Your Cybersecurity Posture

In 2017, global mega-firm DLA Piper paid its IT staff 15,000 hours of overtime to recover from a malware infection. Beyond the financial implications, DLA Piper’s reputation with clients took a major hit.

Cybersecurity is not one-and-done, especially as technology and threat vectors rapidly advance. As a highly-targeted audience law firms must regularly assess and audit their cybersecurity posture to prevent long-lasting consequences.

TPx recommends partnering with a reliable managed services provider (MSP) with deep experience in the legal industry to alleviate the burden on internal IT teams and ensure you have core components like regular security assessments and automatic backups in place to mitigate your risk.

4. Purchase Cyber Liability Insurance

For improved peace of mind, increased regulatory compliance, and financial protection and coverage, cyber liability insurance is a must-have. While it doesn’t reduce your risk on its own, cyber insurance for law firms can be instrumental in covering the costs of data recovery, restoring compromised systems, damages due to business interruptions, and any legal or regulatory defense.

But take note: cyber insurance providers are stringent when it comes to policy adherence and claims are often not paid out. Think of cyber liability insurance as a key layer of protection – like wearing a seatbelt – but not one that can singlehandedly save you – driving recklessly with a seatbelt is still dangerous!

5. Perform Regular Employee Security Awareness Training

Employees and clients can be your biggest weakness when it comes to cybersecurity, whether through accidental disclosures that lead to breaches or through falling for common attacks, like phishing.

This prevalent cyberattack method can be mitigated through proactive security awareness training. Proactive training helps users build vigilance against common threats. In fact, data shows that effective security awareness training can drastically reduce clicks on phishing emails.

6. Don’t Neglect Patch Management

More than half of all data breaches are due to poor patch management – the process of updating firmware and hardware to improve functionality, tighten security standards, and optimize performance. Patch management is especially critical for law firms because attorneys and employees use many devices and work on a wide range of devices.

Manual patch management can quickly fall behind and snowball, leading to weak links that provide attractive points of entry for hackers. Instead, implement an automated tool with continuous scanning to search for patches, reducing the need for human intervention.

TPx Gets Legal

TPx understands the unique challenges facing law firms, allowing attorneys to focus on client acquisition and relationships. Not only do improved IT and security functions automate manual activities and increase productivity when billing hourly, but enhanced data security helps maintain a competitive edge. For affordable, robust security implementations for law firms, get in touch with us today.

The post Six Best Practices for Protecting Law Firm Data appeared first on TPx Communications.

For IT professionals, cybersecurity is a critical (and obvious!) need. But making the case for large sums of money to be invested in cybersecurity can prove daunting — especially if the executives you’re trying to convince are not well-versed in technology. When presenting a business case for why the organization should invest in cybersecurity, refer to these eight best practices to make your ask convincing.

1. Speak the Audience’s Language

Leadership will expect a presentation emphasizing business outcomes rather than the details of how a specific cybersecurity tool or attack vector works. Executives rely on you to be the expert and translate why investing in certain tools or technologies is important for the business. Their main goal will be to understand the “why” – not the details on the “how.” Present your case in a strategic manner by focusing on how your proposed cybersecurity budget will minimize organizational risk and maximize investment. Be specific about risks your company and industry face and back your claims with recent data.

As tempting as it is to dive into what cybersecurity tools you hope to invest in and how they will be used, focus instead on the reasons you need them. The presentation should emphasize how cybersecurity solves a business problem

2. Share the Return on Investment

Executive leadership’s ultimate goal is maximizing profitable revenue and shareholder value – and cybersecurity is an expensive investment. What’s more expensive? Recovering from a crippling attack, losing valuable data, grappling with costly downtime, facing hefty fines and fees from regulatory bodies, and dealing with a major hit to your reputation. You understand that the benefits of preventing a ransomware attack or data breach far outweigh the initial investment. Your executive team may not. Provide data-backed cost/benefit analyses of what investing in cybersecurity can save you in the long-run. How much will it cost if your company goes down for a day or a week? How much does the average data breach in your industry cost? How long will it take to recover if key systems go down? Share those figures and explain how your proposed investment counters them.

3. Set the Stage with Examples + Data

Cybersecurity attacks create major headlines and damage a company’s reputation in addition to their major financial impact. Be prepared to provide concrete examples of cybersecurity attacks in your industry and their outcomes. Ideally, present a range of examples —recent and older. If you have access to examples where an attack was successfully mitigated thanks to cybersecurity measures, share those too. Finally, counteract your ripped-from-the-headlines stories with examples of how your current cybersecurity measures have helped prevent or mitigate incidents at the company. Maybe you invested in employee security awareness training and saw a drastic decrease in clicks on phishing emails. Maybe you have data on the number of breach attempts blocked by your firewall each month. Concrete examples from your company will make the investment in cybersecurity measures feel more worthwhile. If you’re proposing adding new cybersecurity measures to your tech stack, ask that they share effectiveness data that can help move the needle.

4. Underscore Regulations and Compliance

Compliance requirements are top of mind for many executives: They’re a mandate, not a suggestion. As the cybersecurity expert, it’s up to you to maximize your company’s defensibility to compliance frameworks. Your executive team doesn’t need to understand exactly how you’ll accomplish this goal, but they do need to be reminded of the stringent requirements you face, and how cybersecurity measures help them be defensible. Spend a few minutes in your presentation highlighting how your cybersecurity investments help maximize defensibility to compliance requirements, including any industry regulations, state and federal requirements, and mandates from your cyber liability insurance provider.

5. Prioritize Based on Need

Getting your full cybersecurity budget approved is the ideal scenario, but it’s often unrealistic. Be prepared for leadership to approve less, and expect to make concessions. Before the presentation, make a prioritized list of areas of greatest need. Do your firewalls need to be upgraded? Is the IT team in dire need of recertifying in key areas? Is it time to invest in managed security services to free up your internal team’s time? What is most important, and what can wait? Be mindful of what’s top-of-mind for your leadership team – the bottom line – and expect that you’ll need to make some tough choices. Being prepared with priorities will prevent having to scramble later and position you as a helpful business partner who understands the organization’s larger priorities.

6. Get Guidance from a Managed Services Provider

Sometimes, you just need an outside perspective. Managed service providers like TPx consult with hundreds of clients on their cybersecurity budgets and can offer expertise specific to your industry, company size, and total IT budget. They’re invaluable partners in helping companies set priorities, save on costs, and plan for the future. The right MSP can even assist with designing short- and long-term plans to illustrate how resources will be allocated and maximized.

Leverage a Partner During Presentations

Building a cybersecurity budget is no easy task. TPx can help build a robust strategy to maximize your defensibility while lowering your costs. Get in touch to get started.

The post How to Get Buy-In for your Cybersecurity Budget appeared first on TPx Communications.

In 2023, the healthcare industry experienced the most data breaches since 2009. Healthcare organizations also continue to be the most common victims of third-party data breaches, with most of the breaches resulting from hacking.

While third-party vendors provide essential services to healthcare organizations – think: IT services, clinical support, data management, supply chain logistics, and more – they also present security risks that IT leaders in healthcare must carefully manage through comprehensive vetting and regular assessments.

In fact, several of the biggest data breaches in healthcare history were the result of third-party incidents, such as the breach of Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE), a developer of electronic medical record software, which suffered a data breach that impacted at least 11 of its healthcare provider clients.

Vetting Third-Party Vendors

Healthcare organizations can’t function without third-party partners. But these vendors also create a greater attack surface – more ways for bad actors to access systems or data.

When vetting a new third-party vendor, consider key areas like business continuity, data security, and compliance with major frameworks like HIPAA and PCI-DSS.

Then, start with the obvious questions: What systems or data will the vendor truly need access to? What will happen if they go down or services are interrupted? How do they ensure compliance with HIPAA? Who on their team will have access to PII and PHI, and how do they enforce access control?

Say your billing contractor says they need access to patient records – seems like a reasonable request. It’s still crucial to investigate how and who will access your data to ensure compliance and cybersecurity, and ensure your vendor is restricting access to the highest level of need-to-know.

But don’t stop there: Vet each potential vendor by evaluating its business practices, financial health, and security controls. Set clear expectations regarding compliance and security, and ask to review all relevant security policies, including the vendor’s business continuity plan.

Once you have determined what factors are most vital in the vetting process, develop a framework to use consistently for third-party risk management.

Developing Contracts

Once you have successfully vetted your vendor, involve your legal and compliance experts to develop a clear-cut contract that protects data and adheres to HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and any other applicable frameworks.

Your contract should also include an agreed-upon offboarding process to terminate access to systems and data when the contract ends.

Following signature, establish a regular cadence of meetings with your third-party vendor and make sure there is an open channel to communicate risks or incidents in real-time.

Create Open Communication and Effective Assessment Processes

In addition to continuous monitoring measures, it’s critical to implement a regular assessment schedule (monthly, quarterly, yearly – decide based on your vendor’s level of access and their criticality) so that any issues are rapidly brought to light.

The depth of your assessments should be tied to the sensitivity of the data the vendor is handling, the criticality of its operations, and the level of integration into the organization. As part of the assessment, make sure that if an issue is found, there is a mechanism to rapidly track and remediate the issue.

When it comes to cybersecurity, no amount of oversight is too great. If the prospect of third-party risk management feels daunting, engage a managed services provider specialized in healthcare to help you navigate its complexities and maximize defensibility to threats.

As healthcare organizations continue to digitally transform and face increasing risks, managing and responding to third-party vendor risk must be top-of-mind for IT and operational leaders.

Third-party risk management is just one of the many cybersecurity concerns healthcare leaders share. At TPx,  we get it. Get in touch with our experts to get started.

The post Healthcare Guide to Third-Party Risk Management appeared first on TPx Communications.

With more than half of cyberattacks targeting small businesses, maximizing your defenses is mission-critical. Cyber insurance is one way to protect yourself from the large financial costs associated with a successful data breach or security incident. In this article, we’ll discuss some key things to remember for small businesses looking to purchase cyber insurance.

1. Cyber Insurance Can’t Protect Your Applications, Networks, Infrastructure, and Data

Cyber liability insurance isn’t a magic bullet to a fully protected business. To apply for and successfully obtain cyber insurance, your company must have robust cybersecurity measures in place – these will depend on the policy you are trying to obtain. But without them, your organization is simply too risky for an insurer to cover. Once you have the right structures in place, cyber insurance provides an extra layer of financial security and peace of mind if the worst happens.

You wouldn’t skip your seatbelt or run red lights just because you have car insurance. You wouldn’t leave the front door unlocked just because you have homeowner’s insurance. Similarly, think of cyber insurance as your last line of defense – not your first.

2. You’ll Need Comprehensive Cybersecurity Insurance Coverage

Many business owners wrongly assume their general liability insurance policy covers cybersecurity incidents. In fact, most do not. If you aren’t certain your existing policy covers a range of cybersecurity risks, you’ll need cyber liability insurance. Cyber insurance protection varies but typically includes cyber extortion, data loss, computer fraud, interruption of revenue due to breach, loss of transferred funds, and digital asset management. Cyber insurance may be more affordable than you think, and keep in mind that ransomware demands can be extremely high.

Small businesses are also a prime target for cybercriminals, because SMBs often have less time and resources to dedicate to cybersecurity compared to larger organizations.

3. Understand the Difference Between First-Party and Third-Party Cyber Insurance

First-party cybersecurity insurance covers breaches on your own network, while third-party insurance covers vendors, applications, or service providers who experience a data breach that affects you. Both are important types of protection, as you never know where an attack will come from. Plus, third-party cybersecurity insurance can help protect you from lawsuits levied by customers or employees who hold you responsible.

4. Work with a Leading Provider to Maximize Defensibility

To obtain cyber insurance, your business needs a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that helps protect your systems, data, and network. TPx is a one-stop-shop solution for small businesses to implement crucial cybersecurity measures like email security, managed firewalls, employee security awareness training, endpoint management, and more at an affordable cost. Not only does this make you more qualified for cyber insurance, but it can prevent successful attacks and breaches in the first place.

Get Cyber Insurance with Help from TPx

Cyber insurance is rapidly becoming a non-negotiable. Trust the SMB experts at TPx to help you get and keep coverage while maximizing your defensibility to cyberattacks. Get in touch to get started.

The post The Easy SMB Guide to Cyber Insurance appeared first on TPx Communications.

Worldwide, nearly 400 billion emails are exchanged daily, and the majority of users check their email multiple times per day. With email the primary mechanism for business communication, it’s mission-critical for organizations to prioritize robust email security. Especially because many data breaches begin with an email, as it’s an easy access point for cybercriminals to manipulate behavior and cause human error.

Benefits of Email Security

To thoroughly protect systems and data, business owners should leverage the latest cybersecurity tools along with employee training to reduce their vulnerability to email-based threats. Other benefits to strong email security include compliance with data privacy laws and other industry regulations (Think HIPAA or PCI-DSS), enhanced productivity, and protected brand reputation.

Data privacy laws are concerned with preventing personal information from being accessed and exploited by cybercriminals. But without proper protection, businesses can’t guarantee emails are safe from external threats, and the consequences of data breaches are severe, from loss of productivity to hefty regulatory fines, longstanding financial implications, and reduced consumer trust.

Methods for Enhancing Email Security

Enhancing email security is one step in implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. It starts with basic protections like strong password policies and multi-factor authentication – but they’re not enough. More sophisticated tactics like encrypted email, antivirus software, and managed firewalls provide a crucial second layer of defense. Work with an expert managed IT provider to build a security strategy that fits your specific needs.

1. Enforce a Strong Password Policy

Strong employee passwords are the foundation of email security. Protect your email from hackers by requiring long, complex, unique passwords or passphrases that are regularly updated.

2. Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication requires two or more forms of identification to gain access. This is especially helpful if passwords do become compromised. Multi-factor authentication requires the use of at least two of the following:

• A password, the answer to a security question, or something else only the user knows
• A security code or token that only the user has
• A physical characteristic scan, like a fingerprint or facial recognition

3. Adopt Employee Security Awareness Training

Human employees are both the first line of defense and the biggest point of vulnerability. Security awareness training helps employees protect themselves with an expanded awareness of potential threats, minimizing successful phishing attacks and reducing threats and liability. Individual user security consistently reinforces positive cybersecurity habits within your workforce.

4. Use Secure Email Gateways

Email gateway protection proactively identifies and blocks malicious emails before they ever reach your employees’ or customers’ inboxes. Supplement it with managed inbox detection and response, which allows employees to report suspicious emails in real-time and validate their authenticity.

5. Avoid Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is highly vulnerable to malware distribution, man-in-the-middle attacks, and other cybersecurity threats. If it can’t be avoided, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection.

6. Utilize Email Encryption

Encrypting email is another secure communication practice that protects emails in their most vulnerable state: transmission. Encryption ensures confidentiality and privacy, protecting sensitive messages both at rest and in transit. End-to-end encryption is the gold standard, ensuring that only the sender and recipient are reading the contents of any email.

7. Pay Attention to Access Levels

Admin email permissions should be carefully scrutinized and only given to employees who need access in order to do their job. Similarly, implement a policy that ensures any employee email is disabled (and their password changed) as soon as they leave the company to prevent unauthorized access to company data.

8. Consistently Patch Software and Applications

Outdated software and applications can quickly become major vulnerabilities. Maintain a consistent patching schedule and always immediately perform required upgrades. Legacy technology doesn’t have the latest cybersecurity protections, creating vulnerability. Especially for email security, don’t let old plug-ins or applications allow fraudulent messages to slip through. If keeping up-to-date with patches sounds like a lot of work, it’s because it is – that’s why many companies turned to managed services provider to automate patching and provide the invaluable peace of mind that you’re covered.

Protect Your Inbox With TPx

Email security is one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle – but it’s a big one. Work with TPx’s managed IT services to implement comprehensive measures that fit your budget. Get in touch with our team to learn more.

The post 8 Key Elements to Great Email Security appeared first on TPx Communications.

In addition to the high costs, according to Forbes, 14% of small business owners spend more than 20 hours per week complying with federal regulations – time that could be better spent running and growing a business.
SMB owners and IT leaders needed a solution designed to alleviate the burden and maximize defensibility to applicable compliance standards – no matter what they are.

Now, that solution exists.

Virtual Compliance Officer Solution

TPx’s Virtual Compliance Officer (VCO) Solution leverages IT, cybersecurity, and compliance expertise with customized tools to evaluate your organization’s evolving regulatory needs, weighing them against industry standards and best practices to maximize compliance.

VCO allows organizations to access IT, compliance, and cybersecurity experts without the need for adding to their internal headcount – or spending countless hours and endless resources trying to comply with evolving regulations. An added bonus? SMBs get access to the latest in regulatory and security technology, enabling quick adaptation to changing regulatory requirements.

Customers will also be assigned a TPx compliance expert to support their needs on an ongoing basis, including reviewing the potential impact of any regulatory changes, assessing your organization’s ability to defend itself with cybersecurity insurance, and evaluating your current security posture against applicable frameworks.

What to Expect

The VCO service begins with a Cybersecurity Gap Assessment against your applicable information security frameworks, and includes:

• Security Strategy – A review of your company’s security procedures, policies, and standards.
• Operational Security – An assessment of all technical security measures implemented in the environment.

Upon completion, TPx delivers an Executive Summary and a Best Practices report to aid companies in prioritizing their next cybersecurity and compliance steps.

As a follow-up to the gap assessment, a cybersecurity compliance review will be performed once per quarter. This review considers any updated regulations and applies them to your security posture.

Lastly, you’ll benefit from continuous monitoring with access to detailed analytics (all in one dashboard!) for proactive decision-making.

Why You Need It

The VCO solution was designed with SMBs in mind and enables them to maximize defensibility against applicable information security standards. Amongst others, benefits include:

• Save time and expense: Outsourcing compliance management will free up precious resources – not just money, but time.
• Customized, scalable solutions: What works for you today may not work tomorrow. VCO and TPx can scale with you to match growth and future needs.
• Data-driven insights: Leverage intuitive analytics to make informed decisions.

Leave the tedious, expensive compliance management to us, and get back to running and growing your business. TPx has experience with companies of all sizes and industries and is HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOC-2 compliant. Get in touch to get started.

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Navigating Unexpected Challenges

In the fast-paced world of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), where precision and reliability are paramount, a sudden disruption in cybersecurity can send shockwaves through the entire operation. For one EMS provider, the abrupt discontinuation of their firewall monitoring service by a third-party vendor posed an unforeseen challenge, requiring swift action to safeguard their network from potential threats.

The Quest for a Guardian: Navigating the Vendor Landscape

Faced with the urgent need to find a new partner for firewall monitoring, the EMS provider’s IT team embarked on a search fraught with obstacles. Despite reaching out to multiple potential vendors, they encountered silence or sluggish responses, raising concerns about future support reliability. Amidst the uncertainty, TPx emerged as a beacon of flexibility and responsiveness, offering a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of cybersecurity solutions.

A Seamless Integration: Forging a Partnership with TPx

With TPx at their side, the EMS provider embarked on a journey to fortify their digital frontiers. Collaborating to deploy Managed Firewalls with Fortinet devices, TPx provided not only cutting-edge technology but also a flexible approach to implementation tailored to the EMS provider’s unique requirements. By leveraging TPx’s partnership with Fortinet, the EMS team could seamlessly manage their firewall through a cloud portal while retaining control over on-site operations, ensuring a smooth transition without compromise.

Beyond Monitoring: The Importance of Proactive Support

Central to the EMS provider’s requirements was the need for robust customer support and 24/7 firewall monitoring with alerting capabilities. TPx rose to the challenge, offering not just monitoring but also prompt alerting, even during off-hours. This proactive approach to security assurance proved invaluable in meeting stringent compliance standards and maintaining a vigilant defense against potential threats.

A Unified Front: Strengthening Security Posture Across Borders

By deploying Fortinet Firewalls at domestic and international locations, the EMS provider achieved more than just localized protection – they created a standardized and robust security posture across geographical boundaries. TPx’s advanced monitoring and alerting capabilities facilitated swift intervention and minimized risks, reflecting a commitment to proactive security and comprehensive network safeguarding.

Transparency and Assurance: Fostering Trust Through Collaboration

Beyond technical solutions, TPx and the EMS provider emphasized transparency and collaboration. Regular audits and penetration tests conducted by TPx provided insights into IT infrastructure robustness, fostering trust with partners and customers alike. By sharing risk scores with suppliers, the EMS provider maintained transparency and bolstered confidence in their cybersecurity approach.

Fortifying the Future Together

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, finding a flexible and vigilant partner is paramount. The partnership between the EMS provider and TPx exemplifies the power of collaboration in safeguarding digital assets and maintaining operational resilience. Together, they stand as guardians of the digital frontier, ready to face whatever challenges the future may hold with confidence and determination.

The post TPx Customer Spotlight: Why Finding a Flexible Partner is Critical to Success appeared first on TPx Communications.

There’s a common misconception that small and medium organizations are less likely to be targeted by cybercriminals. The reality is just the opposite: SMBs often present a much easier target than large enterprises, making them even more likely to be attacked. Here’s where to start for SMB owners.

Why Threat Actors Target SMBs

Contrary to popular belief, studies show that malicious actors target SMBs more often than multi-billion dollar organizations, particularly if they’re in high-risk industries like healthcare. Larger companies can afford to spend more on cybersecurity and, thus, have become more difficult to attack than their SMB counterparts.

Plus, cybersecurity attacks continue to grow in variety and sophistication. They include the following, in addition to others:

• Malware
• Data collection and exfiltration
• Password breaches
• Insider threats
• Endpoint-delivered
• Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks
• Denial-of-service (DoS)
• SQL injections
• Zero-day exploits
• DNS tunneling

Critical Components for an SMB Cybersecurity Plan

When developing your cybersecurity plan, focus on being proactive rather than reactive, starting with measures that evaluate your current state.

Security Assessments

Understanding a business’s current cybersecurity state is critical – how else can you determine where to start? A security assessment uncovers vulnerabilities that could expose valuable data to malicious actors within your operations, network, and software. Once an initial evaluation is performed to determine a baseline for what cybersecurity measures to prioritize, regular assessments should follow to keep up with emerging weaknesses.

Patching

“Patches” fix security issues and bugs in software and operating systems. Vendors release them to improve performance and security. According to ZDNet, 33% of breaches result from unpatched vulnerabilities. Staying on top of security patching is crucial as a preventive measure. Regularly maintaining your security will also improve the overall functionality of your hardware and software and remove any existing bugs you may not have found otherwise. Patches are released either in bulk on a schedule or as needed by developers, but the key is to keep them regular and up to date.

In addition to the business’s proprietary software, any hardware or software updates from third-party providers should also be maintained. Examples include anything from Google’s latest Chrome update to installing the latest version of Microsoft 365. Even applications on employees’ personal devices are potential threats to a network, and patches should be automatically downloaded as often as possible.

Endpoint Security

An endpoint is any device connected to the network, such as a desktop, laptop, mobile device, or any Internet of Things (IoT) tool. Where these connections exist, so too does a weakness that could be used for exploitation. Endpoint security mitigates these attacks by constantly examining devices within your network to protect against viruses and malware.

Employee Training

Employees are some of the most effective mitigators against cybersecurity threats – and are also most likely to accidentally introduce a threat to your network. An estimated 90% of successful breaches were caused by human error. Therefore, all employees should be required to undergo regular security awareness training to empower them to take an active role against cybercrime.

User Security: MFA, Passwords, VPN

Organization-wide security is essential, but so is security at the employee level. Three of the best types of user security are:

• Password policies – Implement a policy that requires passwords to be complex, updated regularly, and difficult to guess. Ideally, take it a step further with passphrases.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) – Multi-factor authentication is a verification process that requires multiple credentials to log in to a system or perform a secure transaction. While simple authentication methods require just one factor (or evidence of a user’s identity), typically a password, MFA requires the use of at least two. Even if, for example, a cybercriminal obtains a password to access an account, MFA adds an additional barrier to prevent access.
• Virtual private networks (VPNs)— A VPN connection creates a safe link between you and the internet. Through the VPN, all your data is sent through a protected virtual tunnel. Because today’s workplace includes remote employees and employees across locations, VPNs are especially important.

Firewalls

A firewall monitors all traffic coming in and out of a network and can prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to anything they don’t have rights to. Next-generation firewalls are particularly effective and can be managed by a third-party managed services provider (MSP) to ensure they are properly installed, configured, and maintained.

Backups

Backups are crucial to keeping business operational. Outages are inevitable, and backups offer protection that ensures your data is not lost during a natural disaster, sudden network downtime, or other unforeseen issue. Should an attack or outage occur, an effective hybrid backup strategy (including both physical backups somewhere off-site and cloud backups) allows businesses to get up-and-running more quickly.

Physical Access

Physical access may seem obvious, but protecting access to your machines is as critical as any other component of cybersecurity. Keep a close eye on who is accessing computers and take it one step further with monitoring that encompasses your digital files to keep a log of who has accessed what.

Fight Back with Help from TPx

Cybersecurity is overwhelming. TPx understands the unique challenges of securing your SMB and can support you with managed security services designed specifically for SMBs. Get in touch with us to start your cybersecurity journey.

The post Cybersecurity 101 for SMBs appeared first on TPx Communications.