November 2018 - DNA IT Solutions

Monthly Archives: November 2018

News

Stay Safe on Cyber Monday

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Cyber Monday Stay safe DNA IT Solutions
26
Nov

Today is one of the biggest online shopping days in Ireland.  Black Friday may be the day we queue outside shops to pick up a bargain, but Cyber Monday is when we become keyboard warriors in search of great deals.

Cyber Criminals Love it

While the retailers love the extra revenue and we certainly love the deals, unfortunately the hackers also love this special day.  They can really catch us off guard today.  We can get caught up in the drama of the day and in a frenzy we may click on dangerous email links leading us to dodgy websites.

New websites

On this day we know time is limited and there is a real FMO (fear of missing out), our friends may get the bargain of the day.  So we are more likely to be on new websites searching for the best offers.   Most of these websites are absolutely fine but we can end up on a dangerous one very easily if we don’t take care.   We are watching social media for offers and when we click we arrive somewhere that looks kind of familiar but on closer inspection it can be a website that is collecting payment details for products that don’t exist.   Many of these sites are created to look very like a popular retailer so you must be vigilant.

Phishing emails

While looking for bargains, all sense goes out the window.  We might get an email telling us about this amazing deal and normally we would be wary but on the day that is in it, we will probably just click without thinking.  Stop!  Phishing emails, social engineering, identity theft are all rife on a day like today.  Offers that are too good to be true, are normally not genuine.

What to do  

Ensure your security software is up to date and all patches have been updated.  Check that the firewall and antivirus is working.  In the office, share your cyber security knowledge with your team to help them stay safe.

It seems obvious but here is a reminder:  Think before you click, only visit trusted sites, check carefully before you give any payment details, look for any signs that the email might be fake or spam.  Stay safe this cyber Monday.

News

Hybrid Cloud and Your Business

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Hybrid Cloud & your business DNA IT Solutions
19
Nov

Hybrid is described as ‘a thing made by combining two different elements’.  As a business you might be willing to embrace the cloud but there may be a reason to hold back just a little.  In some circumstances it may be more beneficial to have some data remain on the ground.  When you choose Hybrid Cloud as an option, you can have the best of both worlds.  Getting access to all the benefits of regular cloud but also managing some of your data on premise.

Flexibility

Those who do not move with technology can be left behind so flexibility is required both in attitude and planning.  Planning for the future of your business is key and wrong decisions can have significant negative impacts.   With a hybrid cloud strategy, you can make key decisions to reduce costs, increase flexibility and put in place solid plans for future success.

Organisations are looking to hybrid cloud because it is widely known that not all businesses fit nicely into the same box.  Hybrid adapts to the different requirements for a mix of public or private cloud combined with on-premises to give broader choices.

Increased Data

With more and more data within every business, maintaining in-house data centres is too expensive and the move to cloud becomes attractive.  When hybrid is involved it is not a straightforward ‘on-premises or cloud’ option but a combination of both which still reduces costs.  Cost reductions vary from one organisation to another depending on the mix which is decided on its operational and technology strategy combined with business goals.

Security of data will be a concern for all businesses.  With hybrid the business can choose what is positioned where depending on compliance or regulatory needs.  Greater control is needed for certain workloads and that is where private cloud may come in as part of hybrid offering.

Disaster recovery and backup services would be a priority when deciding on hybrid cloud.  Availability and security of information will determine what goes in private and what goes in public cloud and what does not stay on premises.

When you decide to start your journey to the cloud you may want to find out more about hybrid cloud.  Future proof your business and get the flexibility you need to grow, talk to a member of the DNA IT Solutions team to look at your options.

 

News

Why is Technology so Important to a Business?

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Why technology is important DNA IT Solutions
12
Nov

Regardless of your business sector, we live in times when technology cannot be disregarded anymore. If you plan on making your company successful and survive in today’s market for as long as possible, you will depend on technology.

Of course, not every kind of technology is necessary. You need to find precisely that type of technology that can bring the biggest number of advantages for your business. Luckily, technology has advanced so much in the past years that it is easy to find a solution tailored according to your company’s needs. You just have to be willing to be open-minded when it comes to tech solutions and embrace them as soon as possible.

Why we depend on technology

If you’re still not sure about the importance of technology for your business and why you should use it, there are several strong points that you simply cannot ignore:

It will enhance and facilitate communication with your customers

Both your employees and customers will benefit from the improved communication channels technology offers. If you want things to be done in a fast and effective manner, your employees must be able to communicate in real time whenever they need. Also, you should give your clients the chance to contact you in case they have any questions, with the help of a website and social media profiles. The availability of platforms that allow virtual meetings and communications makes the world a smaller place.  This is how you set the base of proper customer care services.

The workflow will become more effective

Using technology will make all processes run smoother and help complete tasks in a shorter period. Just think about the things you can achieve by simply using the software you already have, then imagine what else is possible.

Your business will enjoy more protection

Security is a must and technology has all the answers. From securing the perimeter of your offices and company headquarters, to surveillance systems in your warehouse, and security solutions for your business’s sensitive data, everything helps you establish a good level of safety. That same level of security is needed across all your systems and platforms to protect against cyber-attack.

It allows employees and team members to stay in touch at all times

The best part about using advanced tech solutions is that it allows your employees to stay in touch no matter where they are. Advanced sharing platforms that allow the team to access and share data in a secure fashion will improve efficiency and protect information.

It opens the doors to new markets

Old technology can hold your business back.  When you are ready to launch into new markets or offer new services you need to know your IT will support your efforts.  Investing in the right systems can help take your company to another level.

It might be the right time to take a look at your technology and have a discussion to see if it is fit for purpose, both for today and the future.   You can always contact the expert team at DNA IT Solutions for a consultation.

News

Security Made Simple for Retail

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Security Made Simple For Retail DNA IT Solutions
05
Nov

Sophos – A complete security solution for traditional and online retail

Your entire company, starting with your employees, those in charge of the distribution, collaborators and business partners can all benefit from the presence of Sophos. Besides creating the best connectivity environment and increasing POS security, Sophos makes sure that everything is extremely safe.

POS network that is secure together with protected databases

Sophos is a solution that offers a high degree of security for every aspect of your business, by practicing prevention methods. Your server, endpoint, and the network will all benefit from the preventative measures of Sophos, so even the newest developed threats won’t be able to produce any harm or damage. The Sophos Security Heartbeat™, a feature that can be provided only by Sophos, keeps malware at bay by detecting and isolating threats as soon as they are noticed, with the help of health status and telemetry measures.

Security for retail businesses of all types

You can easily develop your retail company with the help of Sophos, opening up new headquarters, creating new branches, increasing your number of stores, as this solution will continue offering the same degree of protection. To make sure that the new extensions are under the safe armor of Sophos,  just make the necessary changes to customise it according to your needs.

All threats can be blocked right away

It doesn’t matter what kind of threat you are dealing with, whether you know what it is or not, with Sophos you can block it before it has the chance to cause any damage. This complete solution offers a powerful XG Firewall and APTs to keep everything in control at all times. Thus, you can forget all about worms, hacks, ill-intended bots, and more. You will also have the possibility to keep an eye on the potential threats by monitoring and analysing the status of your networks around the clock. This way, you will be able to take proper measures in a timely manner.

Safe Wi-Fi services for guests

We all know that offering Wi-Fi services for free to potential clients is recommended. But free Wi-Fi services are often seen as not secure, so you need to rise to the expectancy of your store’s visitors and enhance their experiences in a secure manner. With the help of a Sophos firewall, visitors and customers will enjoy better connectivity and security, regardless of the devices they will use.

To find out more about Sophos and protecting your retail business you should speak to the expert team at DNA IT Solutions.  We work with Sophos to keep our clients protected at all times.