Just to bring you up to speed if you didn’t read our introductory article on this subject, Cyber Essentials is a government backed scheme that provides cybersecurity certification to both small and large businesses.
Cyber Essentials is a government backed scheme providing cybersecurity certification. The scheme sets out five focus areas where up to 80% of cyber-attacks can be nipped in the bud. If you’re keen to illustrate to your customers, investors, and insurers that you have taken essential preventative measures against cyber-attack, then Cyber Essentials is for you.
GDPR is to be a very similar beast to the Data Protection Directive with which we’re already familiar. However, the intention of GDPR is to tighten up on some of the elements already being adhered to. In some instances, this means introducing more specific elements within the definition of the regulations. And in some instances, this means extending the definition of specific elements to keep up with the fast-moving world of data.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is introducing updated regulations regarding data protection. This will be known as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). These changes are due to come fully into effect May 2018. But though that may seem a way off yet, there are some important changes that data controllers need to prepare for in advance.
Let’s just say from the start that both online and offline backups have their place. At Blue Sky Computer Solutions we have extensive experience in implementing each strategy, sometimes in combination, for businesses. However, in order for you to decide what is right for your organisation, we thought it might help to give you some information on both.
Phrases like ‘The Cloud’ and ‘Office 365’ are becoming familiar terms now. However, the spectres of data security breaches and cyberattacks are also being referred to more and more as well. Office 365 offers tremendous benefits to SMEs (see our article on the subject here), but how does it really stack up when it comes to privacy and security? We reckon there are ten rock solid reasons why your data is safe with Office 365…
We wrote an article introducing you to Office 365 not long ago. So now we thought it would be a good idea to highlight the benefits of Office 365 in a little more detail… because there are lots of them.
Cybersecurity matters for SMEs. Even if you suffer a minor security breach it can affect both your business and your customers’ businesses. That’s troublesome from a short-term perspective, whatever, but with regard to damaging trust in your brand and reputation, it can be a lot more problematic than that in the long term.
Cyber-attacks are happening all the time. And though an SME owner might think that their business is just small fry and not of interest to a cybercriminal, the opposite is actually the case. Large organisations with big budgets are too much of a challenge for some, so easy pickings elsewhere is where they turn.
It sounds a somewhat sophisticated thing, doesn’t it? Powerline networking. Something that the big boys would use, and possibly a medium sized business. But not an SME. And certainly not a home-based micro business that has a side-line desire to get BT Sport working on their son’s TV…
It’s not just big business that is under attack. SMEs need to watch out too! Did you know that 50% of small businesses have been breached in the past 12 months, according to a report by Keeper Security and the Ponemon Institute.
There are many types of malicious email and they come in many guises. Regular email users are getting better at spotting suspicious emails as they come in, but we all still get caught out sometimes. So what can you do to improve your chances of stopping a malicious email from wreaking damage? First off, let’s have a look at the types of malicious email that you may come across…
If you’ve seen our first article describing what ransomware is, and how it’s come about (click here to read it…), you’ll know that the best solution is to prevent the beast infecting your PC in the first place.
But there is more to it than that, of course. So we’ve compiled a list of actions one can take to either mitigate its impact, or stop it hitting, to get you thinking and taking action.
What is ransomware? Imagine this… You wake up one morning, make yourself a coffee and boot up your laptop. As the thing sparks into life, you take a sip expecting to see your usual desktop screen, with icons and that lovely background picture of you on holiday. What you’re greeted with instead, though, is a skull and crossbones… accompanied by a demand for money in the next 24-hours. You press your keyboard – nothing. All your work, pictures, emails, everything is locked down… possibly gone forever… unless you pay.
If you’ve decided that powerline networking is right for you, here are some simple tips that will help you get the best from your setup.
We wrote an article not long ago detailing five ways that online backups can save you money. In this article, we’re expanding on that to highlight a whole raft of good reasons why you should consider using online backups… full stop! And here they are…
You may well have come across this new(ish) buzz phrase being bandied around – powerline networking. And for some home based businesses it’s a must. But what on earth is it?
Do you remember the good old days when one bought a laptop or PC either with Microsoft Office already installed, or accompanied by discs (many discs!) to install the various applications yourself? And do you remember that sinking feeling as time ticked by and you began to realise it would all soon need upgrading?
So you’re already aware of the benefits of carrying out regular backups. You’re also now convinced they’re a good idea. And you want to implement a backup procedure for your business. But you’ve only got so much budget you can allocate to it. External hard drive or online? What route do you take?
