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Phishing Beyond the Inbox

Phishing Beyond the Inbox

Posted By Go2IT Group
March 12, 2024 Category: General

Phishing Beyond the Inbox In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, it's crucial to remain vigilant to protect your business. Today, we’re focusing on one of the most prevalent and damaging threats facing businesses: email phishing.   What is Email Phishing? Email phishing is a malicious attempt to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and financial data, by impersonating a trustworthy entity in electronic communication. These attacks often come in the form of deceptive emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, colleagues, and even software you currently use.   Ways Hackers Target Employees and Businesses Hackers employ various tactics to target employees and businesses through phishing: Spear Phishing: Tailored emails designed to target specific individuals or organizations, often using personal information to make the message appear more convincing. Whaling: Targeting high-profile individuals, such as CEOs or senior executives, to gain access to sensitive information or financial assets. Clone Phishing: Replicating legitimate emails or websites to trick recipients into divulging confidential information. CEO Fraud: Impersonating company executives to request urgent payments or sensitive data from employees.   The Consequences of Phishing Attacks The consequences of falling victim to a phishing attack can be severe for businesses, including: Data

6 Common Technology Problems Small Business Owners Face

6 Common Technology Problems Small Business Owners Face

Posted By Go2IT Group
March 04, 2024 Category: Small Business, Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Best Practices

6 Common Technology Problems Small Business Owners Face With any business, knowing how to effectively utilize technology can drastically enhance operational efficiency and give your business a competitive advantage. However, small business owners often encounter several technological hurdles that impede productivity and growth. Today, we delve into six prevalent challenges facing small business owners and provide insights on overcoming each of them. 1. Failing to Meet Industry Compliance Requirements Many industries have specific regulatory compliance requirements that define how companies must organize and protect data. Common examples you might be familiar with include HIPAA, which regulates electronic medical data in the healthcare industry; FFIEC, GLB and SEC in the financial services industry; and CMMC for companies that work directly or indirectly with the Department of Defense.   For a small business owner wearing multiple hats, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest compliance requirements, especially if you don’t have an IT or cybersecurity employee on staff. Missing a requirement cannot only lead to hefty fines and legal issues, but it can also incidentally leave you vulnerable to a cyberattack.   The best thing you can do is work with a managed services provider (MSP) that has experience in compliance for your specific industry. While compliance is not exactly the same as cybersecurity, the two overlap, and an experienced provider wi

Watch Out for CyberSquatters!

Watch Out for CyberSquatters!

Posted By The Go2IT Group
January 10, 2024 Category: Cyber Security

Watch Out for CyberSquatters! You may have misspelled a domain name before and visited the wrong site, but have you ever not caught it? Perhaps you tried visiting YouTube.com, but ended up at YouTub.com? That’s cybersquatting for you! It’s not just an annoyance; it’s a threat to your online presence and a serious challenge in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. The scary part? You might fall victim without even realizing it.   Here‘s the scoop into this cybercrime: Understanding Cybersquatting Cybersquatting, or domain squatting, is the malicious act of registering a domain name that closely mimics a legitimate entity, whether it’s a business, organization, or individual. The motivation behind this is often financial gain, with cyber squatters exploiting the success and recognition of well-known brands. But the damage can exceed monetary losses – it can tarnish your reputation.   Common Cybersquatting Tactics 1. Top-Level Domain (TLD) Exploitation Cybercriminals register similar domains with different TLDs, such as “.com,” “.co.uk,” and “.org.” Because there are endless variations, it’s difficult for small to medium-sized businesses to register all of them for their brand, and it’s even more difficult for celebrities or famous individuals. Cybercriminals register similar domains with various TLDs. They demand payment to take down offensive sites or exploit these domai

Cyber Security Threat Alert - March 2022

Cyber Security Threat Alert   March 2022

Posted By The Go2IT Group
March 22, 2022 Category: Cyber Security

The US government has issued a warning about the possibility of foreign entities engaging in hostile cyber operations against the US, due to the severe economic sanctions that have been imposed. These entities engages in malicious cyber activities to enable broad-scope cyber espionage, to suppress certain social and political activity, to steal intellectual property, and to harm regional and international adversaries. Go2IT Basic Recommendations: Use strong passwords and change passwords to network systems and accounts on a frequent basis, keeping the password change duration as short as possible. Passwords for several accounts should not be reused or shared. Protect login credentials - do not store passwords on computers or servers Avoid utilizing public Wi-Fi networks and always utilize secure networks. Unsolicited communication via email, text, or social media from someone you don't know personally should be avoided. In these mails, do not click on hyperlinks or open attachments. Notify Go2IT immediately of any issues, even if you are unsure of the severity Training for your employees: We offer options for training users on information security concepts and procedures, as well as overall new cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities. This type of training should be done on a regular basis. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more. The key to securing your business's digital presence is to have a solid security procedure in place

Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2021

Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2021

Posted By The Go2IT Group
October 11, 2021 Category: General

The Go2IT Group is proud to be a Gold sponsor of The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce's 8th Annual Business Expo on November 4, 2021, at Tom’s Country Place from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm. This EXPO provides a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and attendees to learn about one another and network.   We look forward to seeing everyone this

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing

Posted By Go2IT Group
March 25, 2021 Category: General

WHAT EXACTLY IS CLOUD COMPUTING AND HOW DO YOU USE IT?   Cloud computing is the delivery of different services through the Internet. These resources include tools and applications like data storage, servers, databases, networking, and software.  As long as an electronic device has access to the web, it has access to the data and the software programs to run it. Cloud computing depends on resource sharing, rather than using local servers or individual devices to host applications. It mostly only allows the application software to function when internet enabled devices are used.   There are four types of Cloud Computing you should learn about because they serve a broad range of functions over the internet- like virtual and storage servers: applications and authorization for desktop applications.   THE PUBLIC CLOUD Public cloud is best for businesses which have requirements that require managing the load; host application that is, Software-as-a-Service and manage applications which are used by many users. Public cloud computing is very economical because it has few capital overheads and operational costs.   THE PRIVATE CLOUD This is also known as the internal cloud. In private cloud, cloud computing services are offered on a cloud-based secure environment. The environment is usually protected by a firewall governed by an IT department which belongs to a particular organization. In private cloud, the user is given a greater and di

IoT

IoT

Posted By Go2IT Group
March 18, 2021 Category: General

A promising new technology trend is on the rise. Internet Of Things, or IoT. Have you heard of it? Many “things” are now being built with WiFi connectivity, meaning they can be connected to the Internet, and to each other.  The Internet of Things is a way of the future and has already enabled devices, home appliances, cars and much more to be connected to and exchange data over the Internet.   As consumers, we’re already using IoT and may not even realize it. We can lock our doors remotely, preheat ovens on our way home, track our fitness on our watches. However, businesses also have much to gain now and in the near future. The IoT can enable better safety, efficiency and decision making for businesses as data is collected and analyzed. It can enable predictive maintenance, speed up medical care, improve customer service, and offer benefits we haven’t even imagined yet.   We’re only in the beginning stages of this new technology trend: Forecasts suggest that by 2030 an average of 50 billion of these IoT devices will be in use around the world, creating a massive web of interconnected devices spanning everything from smartphones to kitchen appliances. The global spending on the Internet of Things (IoT) is forecast to reach 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022.   If you wish to step foot in this trending technology, you will have to learn about Information security, AI and machine learning fundamentals, networking, hardware

Our Experts Are Just A Click Away

Our Experts Are Just A Click Away

Posted By Go2IT Group
March 12, 2021 Category: Technology, Managed IT, SEO, Marketing

Technology now allows businesses to go beyond their staff when seeking expert knowledge on everything business-related. Companies can hire outside contractors, perform specialized tasks such as SEO digital marketing, managed IT, network security, or just to run social media campaigns. These outsourcing and contracting tools provide businesses with flexibility, which changes the traditional dynamics of hiring long-term skilled labor. Thus, your staff can remain focused on their expertise and leave other tasks to the experts.   The first step in finding the ideal IT specialist is recognizing there is no such thing as finding an expert in everything. There are many roles within the IT industry with countless niches and specialties. Analyzing the needs of your business is key to determining the exact IT role you are looking to fill.   At the Go2IT Group, we have an expert for all of your needs. Specializing in Managed IT, Network Security, Cloud Solutions, Data Backup and so much more, we’re always here to help. Our service technicians work nationwide so you’re never alone when you have a problem or just a simple question.   To be truly successful in business, IT professionals need both the technical expertise and soft skills. You need to be able to effectively collaborate with others, interact with different personalities, navigate corporate politics, and be able to communicate the value of their services or ideas to the rest of the team. Passion

Cybersecurity Upgrades

Cybersecurity Upgrades

Posted By Go2IT Group
March 04, 2021 Category: Cybersecurity, Computer Upgrades

One of the biggest problems the average small business faces when it comes to cybersecurity is their reliance on consumer-grade technologies in their business networks. With minimal investments of time and money, small businesses can dramatically decrease their odds of being victimized by a cyber-attack. Of course, it's also a good idea to complement these measures with a training program that teaches all employees what threats to watch out for online. That way, both the infrastructure and the workforce will be able to work together to make sure that next year's small business cybersecurity statistics don't look as bad as they have to date. If all stakeholders work together, small businesses don't have to be under such an extreme threat ever again. There are a variety of comprehensive and low-cost business cloud backup solutions that can do the job, and they should remain isolated from things like ransomware attacks if configured the right way. You need to make sure that you have high-quality protection in place against digital threats. As if the pandemic has not caused enough challenges for businesses, it has also led to a sharp increase in cyber attacks, so businesses need to consider their cybersecurity. A few worthwhile upgrades might include: Password managers VPN Firewall Antivirus software / Endpoint Protection Offsite Data Backup In today's complex digital threat landscape, no amount of network-edge security will ever suffice. For t

Memory VS Storage

Memory VS Storage

Posted By Go2IT Group
February 25, 2021 Category: Memory, RAM, Storage

Have you ever been confused about memory vs. storage? Are they the same or different? Which is more important to the computer? Many computer users consider memory and storage to be the same thing. If you are unsure about the difference between them, this post should clarify for you.   The term memory refers to the component within your computer that allows for short-term data access. You may recognize this component as RAM, or random-access memory. Your computer performs many operations by accessing data stored in its short-term memory. Some examples of such operations include editing a document, loading applications and browsing the internet. The speed and performance of your system depends on the amount of memory that is installed on your computer.   Memory, as the link between the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and data in your computer, is the most essential element of a computing system. Memory consists of main memory and cache, while the main memory includes two types: RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The RAM is volatile memory while the ROM non-volatile memory.     Storage is the component of your computer that allows you to store and access data on a long-term basis. Usually, storage comes in the form of a solid-state drive or a hard drive. Storage houses your applications, operating system and files for an indefinite period. Computers need to write information and read it from the storage system so the

Energy Efficient Computing

Energy Efficient Computing

Posted By Go2IT Group
February 18, 2021 Category: Energy Efficiency, Smart Computing

When it comes to how computers waste energy, most consumption stems from personal habits. This is especially true when it comes to miscellaneous electrical load (MEL). MEL is a phenomenon that occurs when devices and electronics around the home or office burn unnecessary wattage, causing your energy bill to rise. The majority of computers are subject to MEL because they are often plugged in for extended amounts of time.   It’s been said that business owners should consider taking stronger steps to reduce their environmental impact. Switching to energy-efficient equipment and appliances is a smart way to reduce your environmental impact while also reducing your energy costs. You could take even stronger action by using solar power, which can be at a cost upfront but helps you to make enormous savings and will allow you to position yourself as a green company (something that appeals greatly to modern-day consumers.)   If this option is not feasible to your company, there are some other ways (even for your home) to reduce your PC power consumption:   Disconnect your external devices Use a smart strip, especially for computers you cannot turn off Adjust your computer's energy settings Shutdown and unplug your computer when not in use Use a charger only when charging your laptop And should you be in the market for a new PC, choose one that's Energy Star compliant   Most people con

Covid 19 Phishing Scams

Covid 19 Phishing Scams

Posted By Go2IT Group
February 11, 2021 Category: General

Scammers often take advantage of health scares to distribute phishing scams. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to produce dozens of such campaigns, scaring recipients into clicking on harmful links or attachments in emails, text messages or social media posts.    Examples of COVID-19 Scams   Fabricated notices from health organizations (e.g., the CDC or local/state health departments)  Fake updates from an employer about policies or procedures to address the risk Phony websites containing maps and dashboards  Information about protecting yourself, your children or your community that contains malicious links or attachments Charitable appeals to help victims of the virus, which are not legitimate Requests to send checks or change bank account routing numbers to different addresses because of working from home   How to Protect Against COVID-19/Coronavirus Scams   Be vigilant for COVID-19/coronavirus scams during the coming weeks. If you suspect a message may be a phishing scam, please report it by sending an email to helpdesk@go2itgroup.com, or calling us direct at 440-471-8210 option 4.  Always double check the actual sending address of an email, not just the name.  Legitimate email accounts can also become hijacked, so if any sensitive information is ever asked for, reach out to your contact on a verified phone number that you have worked with in the past.  If ever in doubt, never hesitate to reach out to

How To Keep Your Remote Employees Working

How To Keep Your Remote Employees Working

Posted By Go2IT Group
February 04, 2021 Category: Work From Home, Microsoft 365, VPN

  With the world discovering alternative ways to work without human contact, the work from home force is getting a facelift. Companies must cope with most non-essential workers completing their work at home. Amidst a pandemic, could your productivity working from home actually be better?   A recent survey by Mercer, a human resources and workplace benefits firm, showed 94 percent of 800 employers indicated productivity was the same or higher with their employees working remotely. Employees report feeling more productive. So how can you ensure your employees have the tools they need to complete their daily tasks?   Here are six ways you can keep your team productive while they are working from home or in the field   Equip your team with tech and productivity tools Establish daily check-ins Encourage dedicated workspaces Provide emotional and steady support Dress for success- even if at home Don't forget about non-work interactions and team building   When working remotely, employees can use tools, such as Office 365, to keep track of their time throughout the workday and to keep a detailed record of what they do throughout the day. Employees should also be overly communicative of their availability with their co-workers by letting them know their plans. Office 365 is a great platform for remote working. Stay in contact with all of your team members by using Microsoft Teams. Teams allows you to not only chat, but video conference, sha

What is a Managed Services Provider (MSP) ?

What is a Managed Services Provider (MSP)

Posted By Go2ITGroup
July 06, 2020 Category: Disaster Recovery, Risk Assessment, Network Analysis, Network Security

What is a managed services provider (MSP)? Why choose an MSP to support your business? Find out why businesses that partner with Go2IT are more secure, have less down-time and are more

Protect Your Company - Best Practices to Avoid Attacks

Protect Your Company   Best Practices to Avoid Attacks

Posted By Go2ITGroup
June 23, 2020 Category: , Phishing, Cyber Attacks, Best Practices

There has been a tremendous rise in the number of malicious attacks, including email accounts being compromised, malware attacks, and password hijacking.  We are seeing 3 main types of attacks although others are possible as this malicious human interference is always changing. Vendor or Customer email accounts becoming compromised. Once the attacker has access to a user’s email account, they will send emails to the user’s clients or contacts requesting changes of bank account payments.  These emails will come from legitimate accounts of people and vendors that you know, as the attacker has actually broken into the account and is sending email on behalf of that person.  They will usually hide their tracks, so the user doesn’t notice.   Emails embedded with a link that when clicked, will take you to what looks like a OneDrive, or other Microsoft service, and ask you to fill in your password.  They then log these passwords and use it to try to break into your accounts.  Again, these may come from legitimate senders that you know, but their account has been compromised.  Emails that look like they came from IT DEPARTMENT, Microsoft, Office 365, Exchange, or other systems that say your mailbox is full, or your account will be turned off.  These are not real and will again try to have you click a link that will ask for your password.  Below are some guidelines that need to be followed in order to pr

Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis

Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis

Posted By Go2ITGroup
June 16, 2020 Category: Risk Assessment, Disaster Recovery, Assets, Threats, Vulnerabilities

There is considerable uncertainty in today’s world including online hackers and ransomware to the COVID19 pandemic that is still ongoing.  Unfortunately, many SMBs do not realize that it is only a matter of time before their IT infrastructure and data might fail or fall victim to malicious human interference.  When that happens, SMBs not only lose revenue, they can also lose customer confidence as their reputation suffers.  Additionally, there can be legal ramifications is customer data is stolen. All SMBs needs to have a disaster recovery plan in place prior to experiencing any of these issues.  The Go2IT Group can help create a disaster recovery plan for your business using the methods described below. Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis What critical IT assets does your business own whose exposure to loss would be a detriment to business operations? What are the business processes that utilize these assets? What possible threats could affect the ability of those business functions to operate? Step 1:  Identify Assets – Inventory of Hardware and Software The Go2IT Group can help with identifying assets including servers, network infrastructure, sensitive documents, client information, phone systems, printers, etc.  It is important to keep the asset list update to date with any new assets being added.   Assets can be prioritized by importance level such as critical, major and minor. Step 2:  Ide

COVID-19 Update

COVID 19 Update

Posted By Go2ITGroup
May 26, 2020 Category: COVID19, Coronavirus

In the last several months, our country’s businesses have experienced upheavals that they were not necessarily prepared for and the impact will likely continue for some time.  The Go2IT Group made immediate changes for our internal employees in March when Ohio’s schools closed, including having internal employees work remotely from home.  This has allowed for us to stay safe while being able to maintain the same level of support for our clients. The Go2IT Group is currently working towards returning to normal operating procedure and we will continue to evaluate onsite visit requests on a case by case basis.  We will continue to provide emergency support but will follow the guidelines established by the State of Ohio to protect the health and safety of our staff. We are still able to assist our Residential Service customers by appointment only.  We have a touchless drop off procedure in place as well as the drop off location being held to the highest of standards by following the State of Ohio’s protocols. Our Field Services division continues to assign and place technicians across the country for various projects and positions, in accordance with each state’s and customer’s guidelines.  We have seen an increase in requests for service within the last week and believe this will continue.  If you are an experienced computer technician and would like to be contacted for opportunities, please submit your resume for

Ransomware In the Workplace

Ransomware In the Workplace

Posted By Go2ITGroup
October 08, 2019 Category: Ransomware

IT Firm that can remedy any ransomware needs. If you were attacked by ransomware please reach out to our IT firm to assist in fixing the

Server 2008 and 2008 R2, Microsoft Exchange 2010 End of Life

Server 2008 and 2008 R2, Microsoft Exchange 2010 End of Life

Posted By Go2ITGroup
August 05, 2019 Category: Microsoft, Windows

Server 2008 and 2008 R2, Microsoft Exchange 2010 End of Life

Windows 7 End of Life is Coming

Windows 7 End of Life is Coming

Posted By Go2ITGroup
July 08, 2019 Category: Microsoft, Windows, Upgrade

Windows 7 End of Life is Coming. What you need to know and what to do about it.

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Northeast Ohio

26260 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake, OH 44145

440-471-8210

Central & Southeast Ohio

2590 Kull Rd., Lancaster, OH 43130

740-681-9753

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