What You Need To Know About Managed IT Services

The term used to relate to IT support is referred to as managed IT services and every day, an increasing number of businesses are using it. However, what does it really mean and how can you tell if an IT support company isn’t only using the word as a tool for marketing, but is really providing flat rate services that are presented as managed services.

Managed IT servicesGreenville lets businesses to offload IT tasks to a service provider, referred to as managed services provider, which takes on the responsibility to monitor, manage, and solve problems related to the IT systems of a business round the clock.

History of Managed IT Services

Managed services started with break fix services. The firms that helped service small networks before have been hamstrung by the insufficiency of tools to fix the problem. The networks they service developed as basic systems, typically made by a self-taught network amateur turned professional. The maintenance was break fix only, which means if something is broken, the company calls and they come running to repair it, hopefully.

As time went by, the people who provided this support came up with programs and procedures to visit the site regularly to perform a system review of the user information and logs searching for indications of issues well before they turn into big problems. In some instances, a complex checklist was utilized to monitor processor usage, disk usage, and more.

The issue was that the support people can only see what was taking place on that specific day. In case something happened later on, they will never know about it unless the customer calls and informs them about it.

Backup Issues and other Errors Continue To Happen

The professional test of the back up unit was on the visit, which often resulted in at least a few days of missed backups. The unit was prone to other human mistakes when the on site tech support, trying to be as accommodating as possible, would handle the end user symptoms and won’t have time to deal with the real issues. This resulted to a constant battle for the support people as they tried to persuade customers that they were just causing themselves more dangerous issues later on by not being proactive.

It Paved The Way For Fortune 500 Companies As Well As Their Huge Networks

Meanwhile, the software and hardware vendors have added new and better methods for the systems to signal issues as soon as possible. Simple Network Management Protocol had started to be developed since the 1990s and was being integrated to personal computers. The first systems that can watch these tools and convert all of the data into usable details were complex to manage, were geared only to huge networks, and were prohibitively costly for small firms. In 2005, systems began to mature that led smaller firms to make the most out of the same features and advantages just like the large companies. This triggered the Managed Services movement.

Managed Services Were Finally Made Available For Small and Medium Sized Companies

Today’s managed services software lets provides work towards two primary goals"

1.     All the things on the network that will lead to a user symptom or risk will trigger an alert before or when it occurs, and the managed service provider will be informed about it.

2.     Every alert they obtain is something crucial and requires to be dealt with.

3

      The more closely a managed services provider can get these two objectives, the more perfectly they could accomplish a truly managed service and the more they could get away from “everything becoming an emergency” situation.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Greenville, SC  29601
(864) 326-5914

https://spartantec-greenville.business.site/

Cities Served
Greenville, Spartansburg, Mauldin, East Park, Overbrook, West Greenville, Greer

New Malware Hidden In Emails About Flu Protection

Fear is a fantastic way to spread malware, which is why hackers around the world are using the fear of a flu pandemic as a hook to install a nasty strain of ransomware. It is one of the many reasons why companies employ managed IT services to prevent such malicious software from taking over.

Researchers at MyOnlineSecurity have detected a cunning email campaign which spoofs the Centers for Disease Control and bears headlines warning of a Flu Pandemic.

The message is short and to the point, explaining that a flu pandemic has been detected and urges recipients to read the attached document for further instructions to protect their families and help keep it from spreading.  The instructions also helpfully include the note that in order to view the document properly you'll need to click the 'Enable Editing' button.

The attachment bears the name "Flu Pandemic Warning," which reinforces the message itself. It's an excellent choice from the perspective of the hackers, because they know that a relatively high percentage of those who receive this message from what appears to be a trusted agency will open it. This tactic will likely have a higher victim count and could affect businesses severely, which is why it is important to have managed IT services Greenville in place.

Unfortunately, the moment they open the file and click to enable editing, they doom themselves.  The word document is poisoned and contains scripts that will install the GrandCrab v5.2 ransomware on the victim's machine, which will promptly lock their files and demand a hefty payment.

While this is a nasty and especially effective campaign, it's not the only one that the creators of Grand Crab are engaged in.  Recently, the Chinese government issued their own alert, stating that beginning on March 11, various government departments were bombarded with phishing-style emails intent on installing ransomware on their servers. The incident highlights the need for a more comprehensive computer security system that prevents such cases from happening.

All that to say, vigilance is more important now than ever.  There's no telling how long this campaign will run, or what may come after it, but one thing you can be sure of.  They're not going to stop.

Does your company need a complete technology solution provider? Call SpartanTec, Inc. today.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 326-5914
https://spartantec-greenville.business.site/

Cities Served
Greenville, Spartansburg, Mauldin, East Park, Overbrook, West Greenville, Greer

Criminals Are Also Tapping Into Social Media

Just over a few years ago, establishing global presence was a very hard thing to do especially if you’re a small startup company. Getting known meant shelling out a lot of money on advertising. However, the times have changed and a new mainstream means of advertisement is now ruling the internet, social media. Businesses and your everyday person can make it big in social media. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones who are taking advantage of social media. Criminals also want to make it big on social media and they’re getting good at it by the day. That is why businesses must have managed IT services in place to protect their presence online.

The reason why cybercriminals are turning to social media is the limitless amount of money it can generate. Attacks on social media alone can generate up to $3.25 billion each year and this figure keeps on rising. Since 2013, the number of attacks on social media rose 400%. The malicious incidents vary in form, but follow a pattern of abusing the social media ecosystem.

Bromium CEO Gregory Webb highlighted the dangers that await business owners. Webb said that hackers are using social media to infiltrate corporate networks through employees of a particular business who are on social media. Hackers could gain access to a backdoor that leads to valuable company assets. This is the reason why many major businesses nowadays have managed IT services Greenville set in place. Malicious attacks evolve rapidly, which is why businesses must also have update protection.

Information security is a major factor that businesses must focus on. In the end, social media is a powerful tool that can generate income for businesses and private individuals alike. However, hackers are also making their way into social media, making safety a priority. This is why businesses must take precaution, telling employees to limit the workplace information they share on social media.

Is your business in need of a complete technology solution provider? Call SpartanTec, Inc. today!

SpartanTec, Inc.
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 326-5914
https://spartantec-greenville.business.site/

Cities Served
Greenville, Spartansburg, Mauldin, East Park, Overbrook, West Greenville, Greer

Identity Theft A New Norm For Americans According To New Survey

America is quickly becoming a commonplace for hacking and identity theft. But how problematic is identity theft in America? Based on the findings of a recent survey done by nCipher, 17.6% of the respondents claimed that they had been victims of identity theft. Although it may not be that huge of a number, a big part of the community is still affected which is still reason for alarm. Businesses are also at risk. Employees could have their identities stolen which could not only endanger their personal lives, but other aspects like their business as well. That is why businesses must have managed ITservices for complete protection online.

17.6 percent may sound a little small, but considering it is the United States, it’s still a big deal. Overall, around 58,080,000 would have been affected by identity theft if the survey results would speak for the entire country. However, it is still a dilemma due to the number of people involved in such cases. After all, identity theft can change lived in an entirely negative way.

When compared to data in 2017 where around 16.7 million identity theft cases were recorded, the growth is quite alarming. What’s even more bothersome is that 16.5% of the respondents said they are uncertain whether their identity has already been compromised or not. Though it wouldn’t be fair to assume that these people did have their identities stolen without them knowing it. However, the mere fact that people are starting to be bothered about their information security is quite disturbing.

 With the rapid growth of identity theft in the country, companies need to step up their game and add more security measures like managed IT services Greenville for added protection. Hackers nowadays have become more sophisticated and more capable of stealing data from people online. This only means businesses and everyday people should find ways to protect themselves and their data online.

Want to secure your business online? Call SpartanTec, Inc. today!

SpartanTec, Inc.
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 326-5914
https://spartantec-greenville.business.site/

Cities Served
Greenville, Spartansburg, Mauldin, East Park, Overbrook, West Greenville, Greer