Have You Outgrown Your Accounting Software?

When you started your business, your accounting software did a fine job of handling basic bookkeeping needs. It probably still does. But now you’re growing. That means more business, more customers, more products or services to sell, more employees, more data, more regulations, more competition, more complexities.

Here are six questions you should ask to determine if you’re ready to upgrade to a modern business management solution. Do you need to:

Make smart decisions quickly and efficiently?

When data is spread through separate spreadsheets and siloed systems, it is difficult and time-consuming to create reports that support key decisions. Business management software that integrates all of your information and processes in one place is the first step toward improved decision-making.

Streamline your operations to improve productivity and profitability?

Automating business processes improves information accuracy and accelerates data flow, streamlining day-to-day tasks and freeing your staff to focus on more complex issues requiring more personalized attention. As a result, you can improve productivity while dramatically reducing operating and overhead costs.

Adapt and scale your processes and systems with your business?

Your business management solution should not only support your business today but also be flexible enough to accommodate future needs. Look for configurable workflows, multisite support, and the ability to easily configure your system.

Collaborate more closely with partners?

The likelihood of needing to team with multiple partners and rely on third-party providers will only increase as market conditions change and competition increases. This will require swift and efficient communication with your partners via a web-native platform, automated workflows, and reliable, secure systems.

Expand your business—even globally?

If you’re planning to grow your business regionally or globally, your system needs to support that growth by accommodating global currencies, multiple languages, and widely different regulatory requirements.

Comply with government regulations and requirements?

Your business can reduce costs, inaccuracies, and delays by using a modern business management solution that automates compliance processes. These solutions centralize data management—providing a convenient and efficient way to gather and monitor relevant information and eliminate manual procedures.

Transition to a solution that meets your business needs

Unlike traditional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that are costly, complex, and difficult to use, modern business management solutions address the needs of today’s competitive small- and medium-sized businesses. These solutions:

• Connect your purchasing, manufacturing, inventory, sales, customer service, and financial management data to deliver a complete view of your business.
• Integrate with cloud-based services to enable greater team collaboration and create a true platform for growth.
• Deliver accurate, real-time information and insights—anytime, anywhere—to provide the type of visibility that enables faster, smarter decision-making.
• Are affordable, easy to use, and highly adaptable—helping you work better.

Ready to learn more? Contact Yeo & Yeo Technology.

Information in this article was provided by our partners at Sage.

One of the most critical services that companies benefit from is the protection and monitoring of networks and servers by cybersecurity companies. When a company opts to outsource any work, they are receiving the best quality of work from other industry professionals. When it comes to outsourcing cybersecurity, there should be no hesitation. Here are five reasons that explain why.

Cost Efficiency

You might think that outsourcing work will cost more than finding a way to do it in-house. However, outsourcing to a cybersecurity company is the way to go when it comes to protecting important information within your network of devices. If you are considering building your own SOC in-house, you should know that the cost can reach as high as three million a year. Instead of hiring a team of security analysts, implementing training, going through turnover, and installing a variety of security solutions, you can turn to a reliable cybersecurity company for a few thousand dollars each month.

The Work of Professionals

Not only is relying on the service of a cybersecurity company cost-efficient, but it is also more effective when it comes to reading and creating security solutions. Some companies rely only on software to protect their information, but that is not enough; you need a team of human analysts working alongside the software. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and security analysts have the deep knowledge needed to combat attacks. They are continually reading complicated reports, searching for problems and finding solutions. If that doesn’t sound all that hard, just think about the fact that individuals can now earn college degrees in cybersecurity.

Real-Time Monitoring and Instant Analysis

With the quality software and work of real security analysts that you get from cybersecurity companies, you will be able to detect potential breaches in your network as soon as they happen instead of days, weeks and months later.

Advanced Monitoring

Diving further into what outsourced services can do for your company, you need to know what different software can do for you when managed correctly. With things like SIEM solutions, you can customize your security defense to watch out for specific threats that are common in your line of work. With constant updates in servers, computers and other electronics, you can have a team of professionals managing your SOC and preparing your network for new threats. They will pinpoint potential problems and threats as soon as they become dangerous.

Time Efficiency

As with just about any service you outsource, when you eliminate one line of work or task, you free up time to focus on more important matters. The company you work with is most likely not a cybersecurity company and therefore has other things to worry about. Outsourcing your cybersecurity needs will give your company one less thing to worry about.

Outsourcing your cybersecurity will ensure that you follow the compliance guidelines and get the protection you need. These five benefits will truly make a difference for your company. If you are looking for a reliable cybersecurity company, look to us at Yeo & Yeo Technology — we can provide you with all the benefits we hit on in this blog. For questions or inquiries, contact us today.

You can never be too sure when it comes to online safety, and if you don’t take the necessary steps to protect your company from malicious online threats, you can find yourself, as well as your customers, in a world of trouble.

Businesses can lose up to $1.33 billion annually because of cybercrimes, which can easily disrupt your company’s spending plans. You need to be ready to take on these attacks, but to do that, you have to take a step back and see if you’re currently at risk.

So, how do you determine if your company is vulnerable to cyberattacks? Here are some risky behaviors that could be putting your company at risk.

Out of Date Malware Protection

Outdated anti-virus software is a sure way to invite unwanted malware and viruses into your network. Cybercriminals are constantly creating new viruses and ways to infiltrate your firewalls, so it’s crucial for cybersecurity companies to update software so that it can effectively fight off online threats.

Weak Passwords

Take a look at the passwords that your team is using; are they strong enough to keep out strangers and other online cybercriminals? Having a weak password is essentially like leaving your front door unlocked. All it takes is one person who really wants to get in, and you’re compromised. It may be hard to believe, but even some of the largest companies in the world stick to the traditional “12345” password. If it’s not safe for a home computer, why would it be safe when it comes to professional systems that safeguard customer, employee and client’s personal information?

Strong passwords go a long way when it comes to cybersecurity, and lazy password creation is detrimental to a business’s online safety.

Believing You are “Too Small” to Target

Cybersecurity companies see attacks happening to every type of business, no matter how small. Thinking that you’re invulnerable to cyberattacks simply because you are not a nationwide franchise is dangerous. Apathy is one of the most dangerous things facing companies today, and cybersecurity companies know this. Your business should always be prepared to avoid a catastrophe.

These are just some ways to tell if your company is at risk of a destructive cyberattack, but the list goes on. If you’re unsure about your company’s safety, consider looking into cybersecurity companies like Yeo & Yeo Technology to help protect your network. From our customizable SIEM and SOC solutions to XDR and EDR security, we’re prepared to safeguard your company’s most important assets.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its annual report.

The 2021 Internet Crime Report includes information from 847,376 complaints of suspected internet crime and reported losses exceeding $6.9 billion. State-specific statistics have also been released and can be found within the 2021 Internet Crime Report and in the accompanying 2021 State Reports. 
 
The top three cybercrimes reported by victims in 2021 were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams and personal data breaches. Victims lost the most money to business email compromise scams, investment fraud, and romance and confidence schemes. 

According to the report:

• Victims lost more than $6.9 billion to cybercrime in 2021
• More than 2,300 complaints of cybercrime were received each day
• Those 60 years or older reported the most losses from cyberattacks
• The top three industries targeted by ransomware were healthcare, financial services and IT

Cybersecurity must be an ever-evolving aspect of any successful and sustainable company. The best way to defend against a cyberattack is to take preventive steps – incidents are less likely to happen and can be less damaging if they do happen.

To get started now, download our 13 Ways to Protect Your Business Against Cyberattacks checklist.

If you need help – from an initial security assessment or implementing additional cybersecurity measures to examining a cybersecurity incident – please contact us. Yeo & Yeo Technology provides full cybersecurity solutions.

If a cyber incident has impacted you, it is encouraged to report the incident. Reporting the incident can help render assistance and prevent other organizations from falling victim to a similar attack. File a complaint with the FBI at www.ic3.gov and contact CISA via email at report@cisa.gov or call the 24/7 CISA Central Operations Center at (888) 282-0870. 

Source: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-the-internet-crime-complaint-center-2021-internet-crime-report

It’s convenient to hop on a video chat with a colleague to discuss a problem or clear up details on a project. You don’t think twice about it anymore, do you?

But are you using your video conferencing software effectively? Here are our suggested rules for video calls:

1. Create and share a meeting agenda

If you schedule a meeting with several others, let everyone know what the meeting is about and give them a chance to prepare. If you use Teams, there’s a text box at the bottom of the new meeting invitation where you can add details.

2. Make sure your background is suitable

Seeing people is a significant benefit of video calls. While people may be intrigued about where you are, blurring your background or working in front of a plain wall will ensure the focus is on you and not your house.

3. Don’t overshare

Ever been caught out when screen sharing? Maybe you’ve received a notification for a personal message or even forgotten to close down a website before joining your meeting?

You can share only the application you want to show by clicking ‘Share’ and choosing the thumbnail shown in the ‘Window’ category.

4. Stand up

Want to keep your video calls focused and productive? Then get everyone to stand up for them. This might seem strange, but it works really well in real life as well.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at MSP Marketing Edge.

Do I need a second monitor?

That’s a personal preference. A second monitor has the potential to save each person more than 2 hours a day. When set up correctly, it allows you to seamlessly use multiple applications and keep several documents open at once.

How can I use my calendar more effectively?

Start by sharing it with your team, so they know when you’re free and when you shouldn’t be disturbed. It also makes it much easier to schedule meetings if everyone can see your availability. Save time by using a voice assistant to add tasks to your calendar and to invite people to meetings.

Is a password manager really a good idea?

The average person wastes 12 days of their lives searching for passwords. That’s not to mention the huge extra levels of security you get from a password manager.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at MSP Marketing Edge.

New data from the Anti-Phishing Working Group shows cybercriminals are stepping on the gas, focusing phishing attacks on credential theft and response-based scams.

Last quarter was a busy time for cybercriminals, according to APWG’s Q4 2021 Phishing Activity Trends Report. In total, nearly 900,000 phishing attacks occurred – a 23% increase over Q3 2021 and over three times that of Q1 2020. Last December saw the highest number of recorded attacks at just under 317,000.

According to the report, cybercriminals are shifting to more social engineering-based attacks over malware-based:

• 8% of attacks were focused on stealing credentials
• 6% of attacks were BEC attacks, gift card scams, and other response-based scams
• Only 9.6% of attacks involved the delivery of malware

The most targeted industries continue to be SaaS, Financial, eCommerce/Retail, Social Media, and Payments.

New data from Barracuda’s recently-released Spear Phishing Top Threats and Trends Report shows that small businesses are also a target of attacks using social engineering tactics that reach the mailbox 3.5x more than their enterprise counterpart.

According to the data, the average number of attacks per mailbox in organizations greater than 2,000 employees is 5 per year. But in organizations with less than 100, that number more than triples to 17 per year.

Further analysis of attacks shows that the SMB is targeted with largely the same breakout of attack types:

• 49% are phishing attacks
• 40% are scams
• 9% are business email compromise attacks
• 2% are extortion attacks
• <1% are vendor email compromise (also called conversation hijacking) attacks

It also appears that ransomware attacks are getting more effective across all industries, as the number of companies falling victim to these attacks rose 36% in Q4 alone and was the highest number of successful attacks in the last two years.

Phishing is not just remaining a problem for organizations today. It’s an ever-growing concern that should have every business’ focus as a primary source of risk. Security solutions provide solid coverage for most phishing attacks. Still, for that small percentage of attacks that make it to the Inbox, it’s only Security Awareness Training that will be the difference between a protected organization and an enabled attack.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at KnowBe4 and Barracuda.

A new analysis of attacks in 2021 shows massive increases across the board, painting a very concerning picture for 2022 cyberattacks of all types.

New data from security vendor PhishLabs provides a sense of what last year’s state of cyberattacks looked like and unveils the increases in efforts by cybercriminals that we saw throughout 2021 looks like they’re here to stay for the time being.

According to the report:

• Phishing attacks grew by 28%
• Social Media-based threats grew by 103%
• Attacks with malware nearly tripled
• Vishing that begins with a phishing email jumped 554%
• 52% of phishing attacks focused on credential theft
• 38% of phishing attacks are response-based (e.g., job scams, tech support, BEC)
• Only 10% focused on malware delivery

The overarching theme here is that email is the delivery mechanism of choice – because it works. Organizations must put layered security measures in place to stop email-based attacks – keeping in mind that some percentage of malicious phishing emails will make their way to your user’s Inbox.

This means that users must also participate in your organization’s security strategy, interacting with emails with a sense of vigilance and skepticism should an email seem unexpected, suspicious, out of the norm, etc.

This can be taught with Security Awareness Training, where users see themselves as a part of the organization’s layered security, helping stop attacks before they do damage.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at KnowBe4.

Cyberattacks on businesses surged 40% in 2021, and 2022 is predicted to be an even more dangerous and expensive year when it comes to defending against cyberattacks. Most recently, cybercriminals globally are looking to profit from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with small to mid-size businesses and organizations among the most vulnerable.

Cyberattacks on all businesses and organizations are becoming more complex and costly and are happening every day. According to a recent Cost of Cybercrime Study (Accenture), 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, especially those in the legal, insurance, retail, financial, healthcare, government and education sectors, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves. Cybercriminals are targeting the human layer – the weakest link in cyber defense – through increased ransomware, phishing and social engineering attacks as a path to entry.

Cybersecurity must be an ever-evolving aspect of any successful and sustainable company. The best way to defend against a cyberattack is to take preventive steps – incidents are less likely to happen and can be less damaging if they do happen.

Unfortunately, 88% of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack, according to a recent Small Business Association survey. Many companies can’t afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to cybersecurity, or don’t know where to begin.

Be proactive in this battle – don’t wait to be the victim of a cyberattack. We recommend you start by:

1. Learning about common cyberthreats. While there are many, among the most common are phishing, malware, spear-phishing, ransomware and Zero-day exploit.

2. Understanding where your business is vulnerable. A cybersecurity risk assessment performed by an experienced cybersecurity service provider is the most effective way to identify areas of concern and security gaps.

3. Taking steps to improve your cybersecurity. Developing a comprehensive cybersecurity program that includes a plan for educating your workforce is the best defense.

To get started now, download our 13 Ways to Protect Your Business Against Cyberattacks checklist.

If you need help – from an initial security assessment or implementing additional cybersecurity measures to examining a cybersecurity incident – please contact us. Yeo & Yeo Technology provides full cybersecurity solutions.

If a cyber incident has impacted you, it is encouraged to report the incident. Reporting the incident can help render assistance and prevent other organizations from falling victim to a similar attack. File a complaint with the FBI at www.ic3.gov and contact CISA via email at report@cisa.gov or call the 24/7 CISA Central Operations Center at (888) 282-0870. 

Review the Checklist: 13 Ways to Protect Your Business Against Cyberattacks

UCaaS (Unified Communication as a Service) powers communications and collaboration for many industries. Its features drive significant benefits for teams, and healthcare can reap them, too.

If your healthcare organization is considering new technology, UCaaS should be a top priority. Let’s look at why it delivers so many advantages.

Connecting Multiple Teams

You can bring everyone together through UCaaS. Consider how much easier it would be for billing to easily communicate with the lab department and others to streamline activities by patient. Your employees likely spend too much time chasing information or trying to connect. With the right technology, you can alleviate many of these pain points.

UCaaS Delivers Financial Advantages

If you’re currently using multiple systems for telephone, chat, online faxing, file backup and sharing, and video conferencing, then you’re likely overpaying. With UCaaS, you bundle all these things into one system and get one bill.

Systems Are Always Up to Date

Healthcare has many requirements around data security and sharing. Cybercriminals are constantly attempting to breach systems, and a leading way they exploit is via software that’s not updated. When you deploy UCaaS, your provider automates these updates.

Remote Workers Have the Same Access and Experience

UCaaS ensures remote employees have the same tools. They simply need an internet connection and login. UCaaS sits in the cloud, and as long as you have end-point security in place, this shouldn’t increase risk. Remote employees can take calls from their desktop, send IMs to co-workers, and start a video call with a click.

Unified Communication Systems are the Future

YeoVoice, powered by Elevate, delivers on all these benefits and more. It’s secure, reliable, and easy to deploy. Our strict adherence to healthcare compliance means you can trust it. You’ll enjoy award-winning support and industry-leading uptime.

Want to learn more? Contact Yeo & Yeo Technology.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at Intermedia.

This is a question we often hear. And the answer is always a big YES!

Software can only protect you to a certain level. Humans are the first line of defense against cybersecurity attacks.

If you can teach someone to spot a bad link in an email and not click it, then you don’t need to worry about mitigating the effects of a cyber-attack.

Regular training doesn’t just help your staff help you. It can also build a culture of security awareness within the business.

Staff find it hard to act against a culture. They’ll think, “if no one else bothers to check links before clicking them, why should I?”. That way of thinking also works the other way.

Regular training will help you identify areas where your security isn’t as robust as it could be and make appropriate changes.

If you don’t already invest in cybersecurity training, please think about it this year. The benefits are massive.

Learn more about Yeo & Yeo Technology’s Security Awareness Training services.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at MSP Marketing Edge.

Webinars are a powerful marketing tool. They increase engagement and generate warm leads for sales. And with digital experiences becoming normalized over the past couple of years, the use of webinars is accelerating – according to the ON24 Webinar Benchmarks Report 2021, the use of webinars went up 162% last year. But what about using them internally? Are webinars effective for training employees?

When well implemented, webinars can be just as useful for employee engagement as they are at engaging your company’s external stakeholders. Let’s unpack what an effective employee training webinar looks like to understand why webinars are such an excellent choice for training.

The benefits of using webinars to train employees

Because they are online, training webinars offer both employers and employees a level of flexibility and convenience that’s not possible with traditional training.

• Your company can open up a training session to dozens – or even hundreds – of participants and offer the same level of quality for all. This is game-changing for larger companies that provide regular safety classes or other recurring training to all employees.

• Everyone doesn’t have to attend in real-time. You can make your webinar available for people to view later. This is a significant benefit for people who couldn’t be there because of a meeting or other scheduling conflict.

• Online training for new team members can save time and increase productivity. With a recorded webinar, your new hires will have a resource they can review later if they have questions or didn’t absorb all the information shared in the initial training session. This means less time wasted on new employee confusion and less stress.

What to look for in a webinar platform

• Quick polls
• Easy screen sharing
• Rich chat
• Post-webinar engagement
• Cloud recording

Webinars are a great resource when it comes to employee engagement in the post-pandemic world. If your company doesn’t already have an advanced webinar solution or if you’re looking for a more efficient option, try out YeoVoice, powered by Elevate. It has all the tools you need to empower your company to give employees an excellent training experience.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at Intermedia.

Business leaders, how often do you think about your HR and system?

Cast your mind back to pandemic: Did you consider how your HR technology performed for your company? Did it help you manage the switch to remote working fluidly? Were your systems flexible and robust enough to handle the changing expectations of your employees?

To feel the full benefit of an HR system, it needs to satisfy your business’ growing need for information across the whole company, so you can make informed financial decisions and react to changing circumstances.

Here are three things to look for in an HR system.

1. Actionable insights

When organizations have to evolve to meet the changing needs of remote and flexible working, the ability to quickly access and interpret data is critical to teams – and it’s something that should be high up on your agenda for your new HR system.

By analyzing this data, you can find out how productive your employees are and how they’re adapting to the changes, so your HR team knows what their next steps need to be.

By switching to an HR system like Sage HRMS, teams can spot trends before they happen and keep an eye on flight risks and churn, cost-to-value ratios of new hires, and productivity statistics.

2. Increased productivity

The right HR tech gives leaders more time to focus on business-critical objectives such as strategy and communication through automation.

Your HR team benefits, and so does the rest of your workforce. By increasing the range of tasks that can be automated and simplified, a robust HR system should help to improve productivity across your entire organization. It means less time on paperwork, process, and admin – and more time on the things that matter, for your HR team and workforce alike.

Self-service is key to this. From booking annual leave to accessing company policy documents, self-service portals give any employee in your organization direct control over their HR needs.

3. HR compliance

With laws and regulations around the world constantly changing, many global organizations find themselves re-writing policies to ensure the company is compliant with employment labor and tax rules.

A global HR system could make your life much easier by standardizing and consolidating HR and People data into a single place. This will allow your teams to manage everything with a single global overview while giving you the flexibility to allow for local variations in legislation and regulation.

Furthermore, a robust HR system can seamlessly integrate with your third-party payroll software, taking the complexities out of pay and making life easier for your payroll department too.

Investing in an HR solution is a huge decision for any business. HR, IT, and business leadership will likely need to work together to make the right decision.

Looking to implement a new HR system? Contact Yeo & Yeo Technology.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at Sage.

Many businesses have become more flexible with a mixture of office-based workers, hybrid workers, and fully remote workers.

Work doesn’t look the same as it did in 2019. And because of that, cybersecurity in 2022 doesn’t look the same either. When you have people working away from your office, you need to take additional security measures to keep your data safe.

1. Help your team secure their home routers

The router is the box that spreads the internet around the house. You might know it as the Wi-Fi box. You can give every member of your team advice and direct support to keep their router secure. Things like:

• changing default admin passwords to randomly generated long passwords;
• making sure the router’s operating system, known as firmware, is always up to date;
• and disabling remote access, so no one can change anything in the router unless they are physically on the property.

You could create a policy to make it clear that your team must follow standard security guidance for their home network if they want to work from home.

2. Make sure your systems are monitored

Your IT support partner should be monitoring your systems. That doesn’t mean having a quick check that everything is working as it should be and waiting for you to flag up any issues. It means they should constantly monitor your network 24/7, looking for anything unusual that may cause an issue—and preventing problems from escalating.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals don’t work to our schedules. They certainly don’t work a 9-to-5 job. It’s more likely that they’ll make changes when they believe no one is watching. And they may launch an attack at three on a Sunday morning to give them as much time as possible to do what they need to do. Your IT team needs to be ready.

3. Reassess your VPN

Virtual Private Networks have been invaluable over the last couple of years. But while they’ve allowed remote access to your business network, the large-scale use of VPNs has created a higher risk of a data breach. If a hacker breached a device using a VPN to get onto your network, it means they could have full access to everything without needing to pass further security measures.

An alternative option is to ditch the VPN and take a zero-trust approach. This means the credentials of every device and person trying to access the network are challenged and must be confirmed. If a hacker does gain access, they can only cause damage to the specific system they have accessed.

4. Carry out a security audit

The best way to ensure your business is protected from this kind of attack is to get a security audit. Take a look at the security you already have in place and identify what’s missing to keep your business as safe as possible without getting in the way of everyday work.

If you’re working with an IT support provider, they should already have a fully detailed account of your security systems. It’s worth asking them what weak areas they have identified and your options for improving them. An expert will assess your business and how your people work and make suggestions on the security measures that will work best for you.

Protecting your data while employees are working from home is not straightforward. However, a layered approach to security can lower your risk of an intruder getting into your business network via an unsecured home network.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at MSP Marketing Edge.

During the period the world has dubbed “the great resignation,” phishing scammers are shifting tactics to take advantage of those looking for a new career or place of employment.

When phishing scammers are coming up with a new campaign idea, they want a brand they can impersonate that has a significant reach to improve their chances of a successful attack. With an estimated 67 million monthly active users, LinkedIn is a pretty great choice. According to new data from security vendor Egress, a significant rise in the number of attacks since February 1, 2022, impersonating LinkedIn are being seen.

The attacks use verbiage very familiar to anyone who uses LinkedIn as the subject lines:

• You appeared in 4 searches this week
• You appeared in 9 searches this week
• You have 1 new message
• Your profile matches this job

The emails come from an unassociated email address but leverage LinkedIn branding, logos, colors, etc. The links in these emails connect victims to lookalike websites intent on harvesting the users’ credentials that can later be used to impersonate the victim in future attacks on others.

Seeing an enticing “job match” email could be just the thing to catch an employee’s interest. And while the attack above only harvests credentials, we have seen others that end up infecting business endpoints. 

Don’t get hacked by social media phishing attacks!

Many of your users are active on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Cybercriminals use these platforms to scrape the profile information of your users and organization to create targeted spear phishing campaigns in an attempt to hijack accounts, damage your organization’s reputation, or gain access to your network.

Security awareness training can enable your employees to recognize phishing and other social engineering attacks. Learn more about Yeo & Yeo Technology’s security awareness training solutions.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at KnowBe4.

Can I print straight from my Android device?

Yes, if your printer has Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. On your phone, switch on Default Print Service in the settings. Open the file you want to print. Tap the menu (the three dots), print, and select your printer.

How do I see how much space apps are taking up?

In Windows 10 and 11 go to Settings -> System -> Storage. Tap on Cleanup recommendations to see what software you’re not using and could remove.

Does turning it off and on again really work?

Often, yes. Restarting any device allows it to refresh every process, often solving minor annoying problems.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at MSP Marketing Edge.

The current geopolitical climate is driving ordinary cybercriminals to devise new ways to seek victims. The unrest only gives them another pretext to dangle in front of the unwary.

That’s happening right now. Avast warns that criminals have begun to exploit people’s sympathies for those in Ukraine. “As cybercriminals seek to take advantage of the chaos,” the company writes in its blog, “we have tracked in the last 48 hours a number of scammers who are tricking people out of money by pretending they are Ukrainians in desperate need of financial help. We have seen similar scams in the past for people stuck while traveling or looking for love. Unfortunately, these attackers do not operate ethically and will use any opportunity to get money out of people willing to help others in need. What’s suspicious is the immediate mention of Bitcoin, as well as the usernames that consist only of letters and numbers.”

Other criminals are hawking “UkraineTokens.” In this scam, the crooks are combining sympathy with fashion. It’s easy to imagine the marks thinking, well, we’d like to help, and didn’t we see ads for tokens or something on TV? Maybe that’s how things are done nowadays. The UkraineToken scam is relatively easy to see through since it’s marked with poor grammar and loose idiomatic control that usually distinguishes fraudulent pitches.

This kind of social engineering hasn’t been confined to any one channel, Avast points out. “There have also been reports of similar scams spreading on TikTok and other social media sites. In general, we strongly advise not to send any money to unknown people directly, especially in any form of cryptocurrency, as it is virtually impossible to deduce if it is a person in need or a scammer.”

If you’re moved to help, Avast advises doing so through well-known, credible, trusted organizations, and doing so through those organizations’ official websites, not through links shared in social media.

Are you concerned about keeping your data safe?  

Do a full assessment of your cybersecurity posture and capability, review your cyber insurance coverage, ensure your vendors are secure, and firm up your incident response plan. Regardless of the disruptions taking place in the world, these are the most prudent and impactful actions your organization can take.

Information in this article was provided by our partners at KnowBe4.

Phishing attacks on social media doubled in 2021, according to a new report from PhishLabs by HelpSystems. Most (68%) of these attacks targeted organizations in the financial sector, followed by the telecommunications sector in second place at 24%.

“According to the findings, the number of social media attacks per target increased 103% from January 2021, when enterprises were experiencing an average of just over one threat per day,” the researchers state. “In December, enterprises averaged over 68 attacks per month, or more than two per day.”

The researchers also observed a significant rise in phishing emails that attempt to trick victims into calling scammers.

• Hybrid Vishing (voice phishing) attacks initiated by email increased 554% in volume from Q1 to Q4.
• Phishing volume has grown 28% year-over-year, with half of all phishing sites observed in Q4 being staged using a free tool or service.
• Malware delivered via email nearly tripled in Q4, led by a resurgence in Qbot and ZLoader attacks.
• 70% of advertisements for stolen data took place on chat-based services and carding marketplaces in Q4.
• The percentage of attacks targeting financial institutions increased from 33.8% in Q1 to 61.3% of all phishing sites observed in Q4.

John LaCour, Principal Strategist at HelpSystems, stated that organizations’ security teams need to be aware of social engineering attacks on social media.

“2021 was another record-setting year for social media as a threat channel,” LaCour said. “Threat actors use social media to commit fraud, impersonate brands and executives, and launch a variety of cyber threats, forcing security teams to monitor a variety of platforms for activity targeting their enterprise. Financial Institutions were the most actively targeted by threat actors since their services are often used broadly across several business sectors.”

Security awareness training can enable your employees to recognize phishing and other social engineering attacks. Learn more about Yeo & Yeo Technology’s security awareness training solutions.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at KnowBe4.

For most employees, your desk is a daily home base for meetings, focused work time and sometimes socializing. Considering you probably spend more than eight hours a day at your desk, it’s important to find a desk that fits you.

The right desk depends on each person’s workspace and body type, but one thing is universal—it should add movement and comfort. Sit-stand workstations bring ergonomics into the equation to create a comfortable space that helps maintain your health, focus and productivity.

With lots of sit-stand desks on the market, how do you decide?

• Evaluate your space. Consider how much room you can dedicate. If space is a concern, prioritize a deeper desk rather than a wider desk to keep all your desk essentials within arm’s reach. Shallow desks place your monitor too close to your face, which can cause eyestrain and bad posture.
• Full desk or desk converter? Choosing a full sit-stand desk or a converter depends on your preference. If you have a sturdy desk, a sit-stand desk converter will be a more sustainable choice since it sits on top of your current desk. A full desk gives you more surface area while standing but is often more expensive and takes up more space.
• Look for quality: A sturdy desk is the foundation of your workspace. It’s an important and often overlooked quality when customizing a working environment. You don’t want to watch your screen bounce every time you type. A stable sit-stand desk uses professional-grade materials and undergoes quality testing to ensure it’s stable after being adjusted throughout the day.

If there’s one thing to take away, make sure the desk you choose fits you and helps you work more comfortably.

Interested in learning more about sit-stand workstations? Here are two of our favorites:

Custom LearnFit Wider worksurface than the standard LearnFit Favorite for administration Sit-stand, mobile desk Available accessories: backpack hook, cupholder, storage bin	LearnFit Mobile Desk Maple worksurface Favorite for administration Sit-stand, mobile desk Available accessories: backpack hook, cupholder, storage bin

 

Information in this article was provided by our partners at Ergotron.

Spring cleaning in your home may be an annual ritual, but consider spring cleaning for your company’s systems and computers too. Read these tips — the security of your data is at stake.

Best practices for strong passwords

Now is a good time to revisit your security procedures and review your password policies. It is recommended that users choose secure passwords which are at least eight characters. Passwords should be easy to remember, but hard for others to guess. Refrain from using common phrases, personal information which is public, and repetitive passwords. Do not share passwords or give your password to anyone, even if you trust them. Below are some recommendations for acceptable-use policies for passwords in your company.

• Remove the option of using commonly used passwords.
  
  • You can limit the type of passwords users can have by “blacklisting” the following:
    • Passwords that appear on frequently used lists, including breach lists.
    • Repetitive and sequential characters, such as “1234” or “1111.”
    • Context-based words, such as characters in their username or in the name of the service being logged into.
• Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • MFA requires the user to know their password, as well as approve that they are attempting to login. Some forms of MFA include things you “know,” “have,” and “are.”
    • Know – You must know your password
    • Have – You must have access to your phone, or token, to approve a login.
    • Are – You must have your fingerprint (or other biometric) to approve the login.