Tag Archive for: technology

The Journey of Data Management with Adam Roderick

Empower Solve Protect – Adam Roderick

Adam Roderick, CEO of Datateer, joins us to discuss all things data. In this episode Adam guides us through the stages of a company’s data and how it’s managed and utilized, how to start your data journey, what are some data privacy practices, and much more. Watch the full video podcast here.

Empower Solve Protect – Bjoern Nordmann

Bjoern Nordmann, Senior Vice President of Sales & Partnerships at Datava, speaks about the struggles of data silos, the power of data warehousing and data activation, and how solution providers can really benefit institutions. Watch the full video podcast here.

What Can You Learn From A Cyber Insurance Application?

Cybersecurity is one of the most critical concerns for small business owners today. A single cyber-attack can bring down a business, causing financial losses, reputational damage, and even legal liabilities. Business owners increasingly turn to cyber insurance policies to help mitigate cyber risk. These policies transfer some risk by providing resources, such as money and services, to deal with data breaches, network outages, and cyber extortion. However, cyber insurance is rarely sufficient to deal with the havoc that can ensue when a small business experiences an incident or breach.

Cyber insurance applications can teach small business owners a lot about effective cybersecurity risk management. Cyber insurance applications have grown from a few questions to many pages of questions as carriers seek to better assess risks based on the cybersecurity posture of their customers. This blog post will explore the key lessons that small business owners can learn from the questions asked on a cyber insurance application.

Current cyber insurance applications focus on the following topics:

  1. Endpoint Management
    Endpoint management refers to the management of laptops, desktops, servers, and mobile devices. Cyber insurance applications focus on endpoint management because endpoints are often the entry point for cyber attackers. Implementing endpoint management practices such as vulnerability scanning, patch management, and device encryption.
  2. Phishing Prevention
    Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where attackers use social engineering techniques to trick users into divulging sensitive information such as login credentials or credit card details. Phishing attacks are widespread and can be devastating for small businesses. Cyber insurance applications focus on phishing prevention because it is one of the most common types of cyber attacks. Small business owners can implement phishing prevention measures such as employee training, email filtering, and multi-factor authentication.
  3. Identity Management
    Identity management refers to managing user identities, access rights, and privileges. Identity management is critical for ensuring that only authorized users can access business data and networks. Cyber insurance applications focus on identity management because compromised user credentials are a common entry point for cyber attackers. Small business owners can learn from this and implement identity management practices such as password policies, enterprise password managers, user access control, and single sign-on (SSO).
  4. Data Backup Solutions
    Data backup solutions refer to the process of creating copies of business data and storing them in a secure location. Data backup solutions are critical for ensuring business continuity during a cyber-attack or other disaster. Cyber insurance applications focus on data backup solutions because they are critical for mitigating the impact of a cyber-attack. Application questions center around the segregation of backups because insurance companies know that cybercriminals will delete or encrypt backups if they can access systems. Small business owners can learn from this and implement data backup solutions such as cloud backup, offsite backup, and developing disaster recovery plans.
  5. Endpoint Detection & Response
    Endpoint detection & response refers to the process of detecting and responding to security incidents on endpoints through software and monitoring services. Endpoint detection & response is critical for detecting and responding to cyber-attacks before they cause significant damage. Cyber insurance applications focus on endpoint detection & response because it is a critical component of effective cybersecurity risk management. Small business owners can learn from this and implement endpoint detection & response measures such as threat hunting, incident response planning, and security monitoring.

The good news is that most IT-managed service providers and managed security service providers offer services to cover 100% of the risks cyber insurance companies focus on. If you cannot mitigate your cyber on your own, fast-track your risk mitigation and insurance readiness by contacting a managed security service provider like Go West IT.

Empower Solve Protect – Jeff Mostek

Jeff Mostek, VP of Alliance Insurance speak with us about digital transformation and AI, finding where your business risk lies, what you have to do to diminish it, and the importance of cyber insurance. Watch the full video podcast here.

Empower Solve Protect – Dana Sednek

Dana Sednek, Founder of Dana Sednek Consulting, speaks about leading companies through adapting new technology at every level of a business. Watch the full video podcast here.

Business Class vs Consumer Grade Hardware

With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to select a new PC or laptop that will meet your needs and perform reliably over the next few years. You may be familiar with the terms “business class” and “consumer grade” hardware but are not entirely certain of the differentiators. We have provided an accessible list that will help you and your users identify which choice is better for your organization.

Business Class Hardware

  • Business class hardware is built to withstand the rigors of a full work week. PCs and Laptops are built using the same components throughout the lifecycle of each model.
  • Laptop battery life is optimized to last throughout the workday. 
  • Business class hardware is highly configurable and built to last, including 3-year on site hardware warranties. 
  • Laptops are fully compatible with business class docking stations, providing access to dual monitors, additional ports, and charging.

Consumer Grade Hardware

  • Consumer grade hardware is designed to meet a specific price point set by the manufacturers marketing department. 
  • Components will vary based on availability. and configurations are limited to a few specific options (price points). 
  • Often loaded with unnecessary applications, trials, and demos (bloatware), these models will require additional setup time to remove those sometimes dozen or more unrequested applications. 
  • Consumer grade hardware typically includes a 1-year “mail-in” warranty vs 3-year onsite service.

While selecting a consumer grade product can appear more practical for your budget, it can end up costing the company more in the long term. If you are looking to buy new hardware for your company and are unsure which models will work best for your users, Go West IT maintains partnerships with Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, and other business class hardware vendors. Our account manager and procurement team are here to ensure that your company acquires the right tools for your specific needs. Please reach out with any specific questions or hardware requests. Acquiring the proper equipment will help to ensure lower support costs over the lifetime of the hardware.