cyber security Archives | MPR IT Solutions

We are aware that many of our customers are investigating a Hybrid Office for the future. Finding a balance between flexible home/office-based staff, those that prefer to be at home permanently, and others that prefer to be in the office permanently. Media articles are suggesting that 43 out of the top 50 companies in the UK, do not plan to bring staff back full time.

Last year when everyone made the mass exodus to home working, there was a clear focus on getting everyone online and the business continuing. The return to the office is not necessarily as simple as everyone just turning up to work at their desk. After almost 15 months away from the office some people may find adjusting to the office trickier than others. Individual working styles may have changed. After working in an environment with little distraction to suddenly being in an office with colleagues on the phone or just generally catching up, may mean that they feel they prefer to be at home for some of the week. From our own conversations with industry colleagues and customers, here are some areas that we believe you should be considering for your staff and business even if you are not considering a hybrid office.

Cyber Security

Internet Connections and Firewalls

Remote workers will require internet connections to be able to connect to the office network whether it is cloud-based apps or a VoIP phone system. The most important consideration is the router secured and has the password been changed since it left the factory? The standard routers issued by home broadband have basic security settings and it is unlikely that your employee has ever changed the router name or password. This puts your data at risk, as you have no control over this setup.

Another area to consider is that many home broadband connections state in the small print that they should not be used for business purposes. Although this has been overlooked during the lockdown, now is the time to consider if your employee is at risk from using their BT, Virgin, or Sky broadband connection. Finally is the connection reliable? Have they suffered, but put up with, outages until now? Or is their chosen home office space receiving a good signal, do they need a booster installed?

Installing a dedicated business internet connection to your employee’s homes gives you the control to secure the router and firewalls that connect your employee to your business network and data.

Back up Solutions

While cloud-based applications like Microsoft 365 are safe when left alone, they can’t protect you from yourself (or your employees). This is why the #1 cause of data loss in the cloud is human error.

Every day, users trigger data loss/corruption in cloud applications due to:

Accidental (and intentional!) deletion
Overwriting important data
Downloading malware/ransomware viruses
And more!

More and more businesses are using SaaS (Software as a service) such as Microsoft Business 365 or Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and it is often assumed that your data is backed up automatically and that these providers will hold all your data, BUT this is not the case.

For example, Microsoft states in their Service Level Agreement the following:

“Microsoft is not liable for data loss due to application outages, it is also not liable for data loss due to deprovisioned user accounts.
We recommend that you regularly backup your Content and Data that you store on the services or store using Third-Party Apps and Services.”

Recent reports show that it could cost your business upwards of £1million in ransom, fines, legal fees, loss of revenue and IT Support to get your business back up and running if you suffer a data loss due to vulnerabilities in your network. From as little as £2 per seat per month, MPR IT Solutions can support your business against Data Loss see our news article here.

Ransomware and Phishing Scams

Ransomware and Phishing scams are increasing and it is becoming more prolific. This is affecting all industry sectors whether your employees are at home or in the office. Employees using their own hardware are unlikely to have the same level of anti-virus or malware software to protect their data against phishing scams and ransomware. As it is a personal computer you do not have the control over this as you would with a business device. Implementing Security Awareness Testing across your business can identify individuals that require further training on how to spot a scam. For only £2 per seat per month, you can help to protect your business by ensuring your staff is more aware of the potential risks of email scams. See our blog articles on Network Security and Is my Network Vulnerable? for further information.

Hybrid Office Workspace and Risks

Suitable environment

Personally, I have worked remotely for 7 years. I am therefore well situated to understand the needs long term, as opposed to the last year. I have friends sharing the dining room table with their partner, or know of people that have been using a lap tray to balance their laptop and phone whilst sitting on the sofa. These don’t work short or long term. If your partner is in Sales and on the phone constantly and you are in an admin role there are going to be clashes. You can’t both be holding an MS Teams or Zoom meeting at the same time, it is unprofessional and distracting.

Your office is likely to have LED lighting to create a bright environment, and these are on all day long. At home, your staff are working in natural daylight and this can cause strain on their eyes when looking at their screen all day. Is their home in a busy street? If so, it can be distracting to hear vehicles or pedestrians going past constantly. These are all areas to consider along with lone working risk assessments. It is your duty of care as an employer to ensure that your staff when working remotely are safe, cables and power leads across the room are a trip hazard, and even though it is their own home you can still be liable if proper provisions and risk assessments are not offered.

Hybrid Office Equipment

Is there a clear separation of home and workspace? Is your employee expecting to be able to work from the kitchen or dining room table or do they have a desk? Not every home is large enough for a full office desk, however, there are many home office desks available on the market to suit most needs. Having a dedicated workspace, allows for your employee to define work and home time.

As a business, if you decide that you want staff to work from home, you need to consider that they have the same equipment and furniture available to them as they would in the office. Desk space, chair, printer, and office stationary. Often overlooked are ergonomic items such as wrist or footrests to allow them to sit comfortably and without risk of long-term injuries such as back pain or RSI. Be prepared that if staff are working part remote, part office based you will have to pay and provide these items for both home and office, the same as you would if they were in the office full time.

Computer Hardware

Are your staff working on business computers or personal computers? Last year the focus was just to get everyone online, many businesses invested in laptops for staff, others sent staff home with their desktop computer. However, for some, it was simply a case that staff would use personal computers (Bring Your Own Device – BYOD) as no one expected it would be this long. Linking back to cyber security, it is important to consider the security of the hardware as well as the lifecycle. If your staff are using aged or personal hardware you should consider upgrading or purchasing business hardware to secure your network and ensure employees are able to work remotely long term.

Alternatively, if staff are going to be working in a hybrid office routine, what are your plans for hardware? Whilst cloud platforms are great for being able to connect anywhere if your employee only has a desk PC, they are not going to be able to transport it back and forth.

VOIP Phones

Hosted telephone systems ensure a professional first impression for your customers, no matter the location of your employees or the size of your business. With a hosted phone system, staying connected to your customers by telephone is seamless for remote working or the return to the office – it is very simple to switch between the two. Bringing the ultimate in flexibility, with a minimal initial capital outlay, along with an easy to manage monthly subscription. A hosted telephone system will allow your employees to connect whether it be a hybrid office or at home with customers and colleagues. Flexibility comes with the option of using a softphone on your laptop or PC, a physical handset or an app on your mobile.

Employee Status

Re-integration to workplace

Expecting your employees to return to a hybrid office or any office, as if the last 15 months haven’t happened, is not an option. Everyone will have had different experiences and you need to accept that it won’t be smooth and there will be friction. For someone that may have been in the office for the majority of the lockdown, they will be used to working in the office, however, they are now used to almost silence. For someone that has not set foot in the office for 15 months, it will be daunting. Surrounded by people after being isolated at home with limited interaction to suddenly be around colleagues can be stressful.

Each individual needs to be considered separately. You cannot assume that everyone is the same. Some may have lost family or friends, some may have been in hospital themselves, whilst others may have thankfully escaped any such experience. Some may live alone and have had extremely limited interaction with the outside world due to restrictions. The return to the office will have an effect on mental health in some shape or form. For those returning from furlough, it will be a huge step to get back into a routine, whilst others that have worked all through may resent those that were furloughed.

Mental Health

Going forward, employees that want a flexible working approach will benefit mentally by being able to have a better home/work-life balance. Those that are parents will value the opportunity to be more available to their family without a long commute or staying late in the office. With the option to work from home they might stop to take a half-hour break to play with younger children. This doesn’t mean they won’t be making the extra effort to get the tasks completed. After all, for the last 15 months, much of it has involved homeschooling and they still got it done then, nothing will change on that front.

Staff returning to the office will also need to be accommodated. Suddenly being tied to a desk 8 or 9 hours a day will require regular breaks as they settle back in. They will be used to not being observed for every move they make and it really does make for a better environment overall when staff are trusted. In the past, many businesses were concerned that out of sight meant out of mind and that working remotely should never be an option. However, these last 15 months have proved that it can be done in most cases.

Communication, Collaboration, Concentration

I found that the last 15 months brought me closer to the team. I have worked at MPR IT for 7 years, all of it remotely, and am based in Berkshire my visits to the office are not regular. Initially, when we all started to work remotely and had weekly social gatherings on MS Teams, I suddenly got the opportunity to get to know some of my colleagues better. I would have regular quick teams calls to ask colleagues questions whereas before I would probably have dropped them an email. Using teams we were able to throw ideas around quickly and easily in a chat or quick call.

Now that they are all back to the office, I still feel that sense of connection, however, I do miss out on the ‘corridor conversations’ as some might call them. Where one person will mention something and it then becomes a discussion. They are great and do keep me up to date with any decision made and ask for my opinion, and with a small team, this is easy to overcome. For those businesses that are considering a Hybrid office environment, you will need to ensure that employees do not feel left out by being at home, as opposed to the office, and continue to hold regular sessions as a whole team.

How can we help?

Contact our team on 0800 030 20 30 option 1 or email sales@mpr-it.co.uk to find out how MPR IT Solutions can support your business with technical solutions for a Hybrid Workplace. Whether just one member of staff will be remote or the whole team, we can identify vulnerabilities in the network, support you in upgrading hardware alongside day-to-day managed IT Support.

At the end of every working day, you ensure your workplace is secure with windows and doors closed, an alarm set, and CCTV in place. So why don’t businesses consider that protecting their IT network is just as important? Many businesses are of the opinion that it won’t happen to them – when actually the statistics show it probably will.

Globally 30,000 websites are hacked daily
64% of companies have experienced some form of cyber attack
75 records are lost every second of the day
94% of malware is spread through email
24,000 apps are detected on the internet daily
300,000 pieces of new malware are created daily
70% of businesses that experience large data loss will go out of business within 1 year.

According to Government statistics on cyber security breaches, approximately 54% of businesses are now seeking information and guidance on cyber security. That leaves 46% that are not taking this seriously.

Business Continuity Plans often only investigate if the building is inaccessible and as we have all experienced in the last 12 months this can be solved. BUT if your network is compromised, your staff cannot even do that. You will most likely be locked out of the entire network and in turn, need to consider these points:

No access to data
All records potentially lost
All data potentially sold on the darknet
Held to ransom running into hundreds of thousands of pounds
Potential lawsuits
Large fines for breach of compliance
Staff unable to work
Loss of revenue
Extremely unhappy customers

Do businesses survive data loss?

Vulnerabilities in your network such as outdated hardware and operating systems put your business at risk and recent reports show that it could cost your business upwards of £1miilion in ransom, fines, legal fees, loss of revenue and IT Support to get your business back up and running if you suffer a data loss or network attack. It is expected that 70% of businesses that experience a large data loss will go out of business within a year. If your network is vulnerable so is your business.

With the increase in threats from ransomware, phishing, DDOS, and scams, the market for products in cyber security is wide and ranging. MPR IT Solutions invest time in researching the market and carrying out in-depth training to find the best products available, so you don’t have to.

Contact our team today to discuss your Network security and how we can support your business to reduce the risk – 0800 030 20 30.

By 2022 it is estimated that 70% of organisations will have suffered a business disruption due to unrecoverable data loss in a SaaS application.

More and more businesses are using SaaS (Software as a Service) such as Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) it is often assumed that your data is backed up automatically and that these providers will hold all your data, BUT this is not the case. For example Microsoft state the following in their Service Level Agreement (SLA):

MPR IT Solutions invests time and resources to research the Technology market for all of our products and services to establish the best market offerings for our customers so that you don’t need to.

Datto Saas Protection is a solution that will fit a large proportion of businesses using cloud platforms such as Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace (formerly G Suite).

For more information read our literature here Download

70% of businesses that experience a large data loss will go out of business within a year. By implementing a backup solution today, you will minimise your risk.

Keeping your network secure – this is a subject that should be carefully considered for any network whether business or personal. Technology is the main way that people communicate today and we increasingly rely on email communication. Cybercriminals are using this as an opportunity to send more and more scam emails, texts, and phone calls. Often all very realistic. Making sure your network has the best security systems in place will help to keep your network and data secure.

Password Security and 2FA

When it comes to password security the one main rule is NEVER EVER share your password with anyone. Then next is to ensure that your password is difficult to guess. 123456 or password are sadly still often used despite them being so easy to guess. Making sure you have a password that is harder for criminals to guess is vital. Alongside using different passwords for each account. With so many passwords to remember for your work and personal accounts, it is becoming harder to separate these out as well as remember them all. This is where 2FA(2-factor authentication) is an advantage. Many online accounts now require 2FA, where you will enter your normal password and are then required to confirm the login with an additional code generated by text, email, or an authenticator app.

Finally, if you are ever asked to reset a password via an email – check it is a genuine request. It is very unlikely that any organisation would ask you to reset a password unexpectedly. Many people unfortunately become victims of scams through realistic-looking requests to update passwords.

Firewall – why do you need one?

In the construction industry, a firewall is historically the protection between two buildings to prevent fire from spreading across adjacent buildings.

The computing equivalent works in a similar format. Acting as a security fence surrounding your network, a firewall observes and restricts information coming in via email or the internet. The firewall will only allow information from sources pre-determined by your firewall and can either be a network or host-based security system.

In most homes and businesses, routers are used to enable the connection of various devices to the internet. Prior to routers, each individual device would need to be plugged directly into the modem. When connected directly in this way, a device has a public IP address allowing information to be accessed by anyone on the internet. As technology has developed most devices will have their own firewall built-in. However larger networks will have a separate firewall to protect the security of the network.

Antivirus Software – why do you need it?

Did you know that the first computer virus was released in 1971? The Creeper virus was not designed to be malicious or cause damage but was an experiment to demonstrate a mobile application. Today, it is believed that over 6000 new viruses are released each month.

Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware, is a computer program designed to prevent, detect, and remove malware. Antivirus software can protect users from malicious browser helper objects, browser hijackers, ransomware, keyloggers, backdoors, rootkits, trojan horses, worms, malicious LSPs, dialers, fraud tools, adware, and spyware. There are various levels of protection available on the market. It is important that you choose the right anti-virus software for your network. Some products also include protection from other computer threats, such as infected and malicious URLs, spam, scam and phishing attacks, online identity, online banking attacks, social engineering techniques, advanced persistent threats and botnet DDoS attacks.

Security Awareness Training and Testing (SATT)

In addition to Firewalls and anti-virus software, MPR IT Solutions also offer SATT, Security Awareness, Testing, and Training. The purpose of this is to stop security incidents on your network, by providing your end-users with Security Awareness Training and regular Testing. SATT is a fully managed service that is bespoke and tailored to every individual organisation. It takes up none of your time or resources and is guaranteed to make a difference.

The SATT service combats the weakest cyber security link in any organisation – your end-users – and is delivered in three stages over a 12-month service agreement. The total cost for the 12-month SATT service is far less than the cost of just one security incident.

Contact our team today

Supporting companies from a wide number of industries, MPR IT Solutions is experienced in the multitude of options across the markets and can tailor the right security systems to keep your network secure.

For more information on protecting and securing your network contact our team today on 0800 030 20 30 or email sales@mpr-it.co.uk

During the last few months, the majority of our team has worked remotely from home. With the minimal coverage in the office to accept deliveries, or work on hardware. Whilst some of our team have had to carry out socially distanced site visits. All this has taken place with no reduction in level to service for our customers.

Now as restrictions relax, like many businesses we must now consider the options for staff to continue remote working or a return to the office. We need to ensure that this is as flexible as possible, to suit the needs of the business and our staff.

Here are a few key questions that we are having to consider:

Social Distancing – is there enough office space?
Do staff feel comfortable being back in the office?
Are some staff concerned about mixing with other people on their commute?
What if there is a local lockdown?
Can it be a flexible and seamless mix between the two?

As a result of using the right technology, these questions can be easily resolved.

Hosted Phone Systems

Hosted telephone systems ensure a professional first impression for your customers no matter the location of your employees or the size of your business. With a hosted phone system staying connected to your customers by telephone is seamless for remote working or the return to the office – it is very simple to switch between the two. Bringing the ultimate in flexibility, with a minimal initial capital outlay, along with an easy to manage monthly subscription.

MPR IT is highly experienced in both design and deployment of telecoms solutions for residential, commercial, and hospitality phone systems. Offering the ability to integrate with onsite services such as CRM or MS Outlook, contacts and caller details automatically pop up when they’re on the phone. Choosing an MPR IT Solutions hosted cloud-based telephone system is the ideal solution.

With the latest connected solutions, we ensure that the design meets your requirements and ensure it is correctly deployed to your organisation and end-users.

Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 has changed the way that many companies work over the last few years. A cloud-based solution combining collaboration, communication, and security tools at an affordable cost for everyone. Your staff can access their email and files anywhere with an internet connection. With 2 factor authentication, you can be sure it remains secure.

MPR IT has invested time and resources into becoming an official Microsoft Cloud Accelerate Partner and Small Business Specialist. We are trained in a number of Microsoft Competencies that directly relate to implementing, migrating, and configuring your Office 365 solution. MPR IT focus on a smooth and trouble-free migration ensuring your business has minimal disruption. Followed up with seamless ongoing support our team is on hand to advise and solve any problems should they arise.

Microsoft Teams

Superseding Skype for Business – Microsoft Teams was launched in March 2017. In November 2019, Microsoft announced that Teams was used by 20 million end users. Fast forward to April 2020 and 75 million people were using Teams. Integrating with Office 365, Teams is a platform combing communication such as video calls, workplace chat, and file sharing and storage.

All the staff at MPR IT have been using Teams over the last 4 months. With daily morning meetings, we can connect and be set up for the day’s task ahead, quick messages or video calls to teammates rather than emails. Having been a remote worker for a number of years, I feel more involved with my colleagues and more connected to the day-to-day activity within the business.

Flexible working

By using technology systems such as these, the question of enabling staff the flexibility of working either in the office or remotely is much simpler. Staff can connect to their files, email, and colleagues through Microsoft and your customer calls can be answered seamlessly.

If you would like more information on a more permanent flexible working approach for your staff that won’t affect the running of your business please contact us on 0800 030 20 30 or email us sales@mpr-it.co.uk