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Should we fear the cloud?

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Should we fear the cloud DNA IT Solutions
11
Jun

Cloud can be seen as a risk or an opportunity by an organisation depending on their experience and knowledge.

While cloud has been around for some time and used by many large global companies it was often not accessible to the masses.  However, it is only in recent years that it has become more accessible to small and medium enterprises.

Risk or opportunity?

When weighing up the pros and cons of anything you have to take all the information that is available and decide what is relevant.   Once you have the knowledge only then can you make an informed decision.

Security Threats – old threats in a new environment

Let’s take an example to help us evaluate if the cloud gives us opportunities.  When we look at the risk of a data breach we will immediately start to imagine real business costs emerging.  The loss of information will cause downtime which in turn is a business cost.  However, the real cost could be loss in reputation which results in loss of clients and even bigger financial losses.   This risk was always in existence, even before the cloud came on your agenda.

Attacks on cloud are less likely than on traditional data centres or internal systems.  With cloud you have ways to help you increase security with innovative approaches designed to detect threats long before they threaten your enterprise.

Hackers are still operating in the same space as before but now they are coming up against more sophisticated cloud based security systems.  With data that is encrypted throughout its cloud journey this threat is lessened when the cloud is the solution.

Data Loss

Data Loss is where a company mislays or accidentally deletes information that is still critical to the business.  In this case it is usually human error or it can happen when a file gets corrupted.  In the past when a laptop was stolen the data contained within was lost forever, however, now with data stored in the cloud all is not lost to the business.  Plus, the files on the laptop will be encrypted so are useless to any would be criminal.

File corruption can be prevented by improving endpoint security options and email that is filtered protects users.  There are so many more security options available when the cloud is part of your IT infrastructure.

IBM Cloud is enterprise grade dedicated private cloud available to businesses in Ireland today.  DNA IT Solutions are one of a handful of partners in the market today that can offer your business this valuable solution.  If you are looking for added protection in the cloud market, don’t fear it, talk to us instead.

News

Layers rather than a single solution for IT Security

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Layers for IT Security DNA IT
05
Jun

A virus is a piece of code which is able to copy itself and infect a system and in turn destroy data.  This corruption can have an extremely detrimental effect on any business.

With each virus getting more sophisticated as they are created, it takes global leading technology to stay ahead of the game.   As the hackers get more access to resources it makes it easier to create an attack.  With users more dependent on IT to run their businesses, the hackers can take advantage of any small vulnerability.

Insider Threat

Your biggest asset could also be the biggest threat to the security of your data.  Your staff might end up doing you huge damage, without any intention and much remorse later.  Many attacks will happen as a result of an email to an internal end user.

An email can be the start of a phishing attack.  Many of the successful ones look very real with less of the wrong spelling, bad grammar and more of the good graphic design.  It’s big business so there is more thought being put into them by the cyber criminals.  They know they can generate big money so attacks are more sophisticated and new ones coming on stream all the time, spreading faster and wider than ever.

Single Solution

There is no single solution for the threat of ransomware.  However, you can work to prevent the attack and having processes in place to recover from an attack.   The solution is a combination of layers of security.

Antivirus – Having antivirus software that is up to date and fit for the task of checking all files against known threats is vital.  Network monitoring will ensure emails are filtered so most malicious ones will never even get to the user.

Patches – As vulnerabilities in software are identified the manufacturer will issue notification for a patch that is required for protection.  Your systems should be updated regularly with the latest ones, sealing the gap where a security leak could happen.

Back up – Regular backups that are stored securely and a full systems backup will form a solid back up plan.  Should an attack occur you need to have a plan in place to have a copy of your data ready to be uploaded so you can keep in business. For critical industries, this could include back up of devices in a real-time situation.  This is part of disaster recovery processes that guarantee business continuity should the worst happen.

Secure systems – Another must have is file encryption.  Use systems that are safe for sharing information, such as Autotask file sync and share.  This allows the team to collaborate securely from multiple locations with familiar programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  But without the worry of data being breached.

User training – Staff should be aware of the risks and management should have procedures in place to update skills.  Knowing what to look out for, how to spot something and also what to do if in doubt could divert a catastrophe.

For more information on Autotask as part of your security solution contact the team at DNA IT Solution.   We work with businesses just like you to provide you with the IT infrastructure that allows you to operate effectively in today’s world.

News

Taking care of IT

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Taking care of IT DNA IT SolutionsTaking care of IT DNA IT Solutions
16
May

In every business there are certain essentials that are common to all.  Electricity, phone lines and access to banking are just a few.  The other essential element to any modern business today is IT.

Reliance on IT

With an increasing reliance on technology to run a business, it can be a scary place for many businesses.  Most organisations will have experts in finance, sales and marketing but it would be rare for a medium sized business to be able to hire a full time IT expert.

Your own IT Expert

Outsourcing elements of your business will be a common concept for most.  Many smaller businesses will outsource their accounting function.  If you are looking for expertise in certain areas that you are not familiar with there is no need to employ full time staff when you can outsource the management of this function.

A managed IT service provider (MSP) will have a team that consistently keep up to date on all the newest technology that is available.  They will have expertise working in many industries and may already be knowledgeable in whatever sector you are in.  They will know your requirements and objectives and work with you to achieve them.

Service Offered

As well as providing and fixing issues with computers and equipment, your MSP will provide a service that will enable you to perform with confidence.  Some little known areas that you may need assistance in are:

Users:  Your team are your best asset but they can also be a threat to your security – without them even knowing it.  Your IT partner will set authorised access levels for staff to ensure they can only access what they need to on a day to day basis.  They will make them aware of security threats, help protect their mobile devices and offer training on cyber security.

Security:  There are many threats to your business, not just the burglar but cyber criminals are a bigger worry.  Your IT partner will ensure you have the right layers of security to help protect you from a data breach or various viruses and malware that can bring your business to a halt.

Cloud:  You may have been considering a move to the cloud, but is it right for you at this moment in time?  Your IT partner will help you decide if you should migrate or stay as you are.  They will also help you look to the future and provide a solution that not only works today but is flexible enough to scale when your business grows.

At DNA IT Solutions we are an independent managed IT Service Provider.  We work with a variety of world class vendors.  This means we have many options at our fingertips to create a solution without putting pressure on you to purchase something in particular.

We offer advice based on our experience with the most popular technology available today.   We work with businesses large and small and all will get access to whatever they need.  We also discuss disaster recovery and help you put the plan in place around business continuity.

DNA IT Solutions don’t just offer back-up – we have your back!   For more information or a consultation please contact our team today.

News

Why choose IBM Cloud?

Posted on by Sean Lucas
why choose IBM Cloud DNA IT Solutions
15
May

IBM was once seen as the option for the big multinationals only.  This private, dedicated cloud offering is now more accessible to mainstream businesses through their partner network.  As one of only a handful of their Irish partners, we have started to bring this innovative product to select clients.  These clients have specific needs, many around data protection and IBM Cloud offers the perfect solution for them.

Secure to the core

IBM Cloud is designed for business data, offering a solution for those organisations that may have complex needs.  Security is key and IBM Cloud is secure to the core.  They started with security rather than adding it on later which is why it is such a trusted brand.   IBM Cloud secures the movement of data on a network of networks. Public, private, and management traffic travel across separate network interfaces, segregating and securing traffic while streamlining management. IBM Cloud meets data sovereignty and compliance regulations with nearly 60 locally owned and operated data centres in 19 countries—that is more than any other cloud provider.

With emerging technologies, it is good to know that it is also AI Ready.  IBM Cloud powers AI-intensive workloads that demand data integrity, low-latency and parallel processing. It also offers a broad range of Watson AI and machine learning APIs to build your own applications

Wide Range

IBM Cloud offers the widest array of database options, from relational to NoSQL, while ensuring strong consistency, high integrity, and no delay.  IBM Cloud offers over 170 services to customers.  These range from bare metal, containers, and serverless computing to hyper scale infrastructure, blockchain, AI/ML, and HP, all with built in security at their core.

Migrate with confidence

Even the most complex migrations to the cloud including VMware, SAP, Oracle or your legacy workloads are made easier with IBM Cloud, allowing you to move faster and be more agile.  DNA IT Solutions have worked with many organisations in a variety of industry sectors to ensure a smooth migration.

Grow without hesitation

We all know that cloud is flexible and scalable but with IBM you reach new heights.  You can expand your footprint without ever changing your cloud provider, it will grow and move with you.  You can  extend from local hosting to full globalisation, and even brokerage in between multiple clouds.

The possibilities with IBM Cloud are endless.  When it becomes time to consider moving to IBM Cloud then DNA IT Solutions can be your partner.  Let us use our expertise to help get you where your business needs to be.   This is IBM Cloud the DNA way.

News

Say Yes to the Cloud

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Say yes to the cloud DNA IT
14
May

Not moved to the cloud yet?

It might seem that everybody else has moved on and you may be feeling a little left behind.  However, it’s never too late to consider a move and if you are looking at growth in the near future then it is something that really needs to be on your agenda.

At DNA IT Solutions, we have been working with businesses all over Ireland for many years helping them migrate to the cloud.  It has changed from a situation where it was something we had to push a company to do, to a new world where the customer is ready to make that move even before we meet them.

Why the Interest in Cloud?

There are many advantages in moving to the cloud including both flexibility and scalability. There can be significant cost savings if you choose the right option for your business. That is why it is critical to make the right decision at the start of your journey to the cloud.

Here are some of the benefits of Cloud Storage

COST EFFECTIVE – You only pay for what you use and there are no more server upgrades, server maintenance or deprecation.  Fixed monthly fees making managing costs easier.  No more fears over building security or environment suitability for servers on premises.

RELIABLE – The data centres involved are maintained by the finest back-up solutions and redundancy systems.  They are staffed by expert teams that keep everything up to date, reducing downtime for your business.

SECURE – Data stored in the cloud is given the highest priority to its security, with top class encryption options available for sensitive data.   Storing your information off site is also a sound decision when it comes to disaster recovery planning.

FLEXIBLE – Cloud means huge resources to hand whenever and for whatever you want to use it for.  Not only storage but applications so that a solution can be configured to meet your specific needs.

SCALABLE – When more storage space is needed you can increase the allowance with little effort.   Scale up and down as your business demands.  No need to buy more expensive hardware or reconfigure hard drives.  With cloud there are no limits.

Cloud is everywhere in business today, particularly for today’s modern mobile workforce.   Using cloud means allowing access to documents to them while on the road or working remotely.  With the correct security layers, data can be accessed as if you were in the office from anywhere without concern.

If you think your business is ready for a move to the cloud give us a call to discuss your options.

News

Protect your business from Ransomware

Posted on by Sean Lucas
protect ransomware DNA IT Solutions
08
May

All organisations are increasing their reliance on IT for the day to day running of their business.

There is more sharing of information and storage of data in a digital format.  There are more remote workers and that is the shape of the modern enterprise – people working from home, working remotely on site, working while on the go.   With this sharing of data comes great advantages but it is accompanied by increased risks also.

Cyber Criminals

Cyber criminals are on the lookout for businesses they can target.  They look for the ones that are vulnerable.  According to World back up day, 60 million computers will fail in the next 12 months, 30% of us do not back up and 10% of computers are infected with a virus each month.

Smartphones, tablets and laptops are especially vulnerable.  Users can unwittingly download malicious files that will infect a device or even put them in a situation where ransomware holds their data for hostage.

Ransomware   

We all remember WannaCry.  Once it had infected a device, it encrypted files, displays a “ransom note” and demanded bitcoin payment.  In a situation like that many panicked users just paid up making it more attractive for the cyber criminals to plan their next attack.

You might imagine that it takes much expertise, time and resources to create something like WannaCry.  However, ransomware kits are easily accessible and virus protection only recognises existing strains.  That is why back up is such an important element of your security solution.

Protect your business

The good news is that there are ways of protecting both your data and your business.  Security products that add a layer of security to email systems will help prevent malicious emails from arriving in the user’s inbox.  Security training for end users can be helpful in allowing them to identify an email that may cause issues.  Protection not just for the PCs in the office, but for all mobile devices is crucial with remote working practices.

Even if you do get attacked, you can put in place processes to ensure that the data that is lost is restored.  A proper backup plan will ensure you have copies of the files stored in another location that is secure and readily accessible by your IT team.  Restored within hours not days, enabling you to get on with your business.

Ransomware is a scary word but with the right IT Security you can reduce your risk and have methods in place to counteract an attack.  To discuss your options, talk to the team at DNA IT Solutions today.

 

News

5 IT Challenges your Business will Face

Posted on by Sean Lucas
5 IT challenges DNA IT Solutions
28
Apr

Starting your own business is a challenge, growing it to become a successful business is an even bigger challenge.   There are many business challenges that we face and overcome every week, that’s what makes it so exciting.

The challenge of hiring great staff, the challenge of financing your dreams, the challenge of building your brand and making money are common to most businesses.  When it comes to IT within a business, that also comes with its own challenges.

Common IT Challenges

Based on our experience over the many years we have been meeting new clients to discuss IT, we believe that these are the 5 most common challenges that a business faces in this area:

  1. To retain a competitive edge

In order to keep up with your competitors you need to have certain systems in place.  If you want to access new markets, streamline your processes or launch new services you will need IT agility.  When you have to catch up fast and jump on opportunities as they emerge you need the IT infrastructure in place to do so.

  1. Technology that works for you

IT should be there when you need it but something you don’t have to think about.  You need reliable systems, proven technology and access to the best available products in the market.  You don’t need downtime or issues holding you up and damaging your reputation.

  1. Data secure but accessible by team

With more fluid work practices it is essential that you team can access data remotely but in a secure fashion.  You can’t afford a data breach or loss of information.  You must consider disaster recovery planning and ensure you have your data backed up securely with layers of security protecting it at every stage.

  1. IT budget and resources

While IT is essential to your business you may not think you have the budget to afford the best systems.  However, when you have a solution that is tailored to your needs you will only pay for what you need.  Fixed monthly costs that are priced for SMEs and offer cost effective enterprise technology available to all.

  1. Ability to grow

Your business will probably look much different in 5 years’ time.  That is why you need systems that are right for today and ready to grow for tomorrow.  Built with the future in mind will save you time and money in the long term.

 

Are any of these challenges familiar to you?   If you are struggling with IT and the challenges seem to great, then it’s time you spoke to our expert team.  We are ready to offer you a consultation and come up with solutions to suit your plans.

News

Disaster Recovery for Financial Services

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Disaster recovery for financial services DNA IT Solutions
23
Apr

While each industry brings its own challenges, when it comes to Financial Services you have your own additional pressures.

The pressure of being ‘on’ 24 hours a day, every day for customers often at stressful situations is one.  Add to that the challenges of security of sensitive information, data protection and compliance and this all adds up to more pressure.

Banks, Insurance companies, Brokers, Credit Unions all operate in this area and are highly regarded so expectations are high.

A Solid Disaster Plan

As a financial service company, what would happen if you lost some data?  Or data was compromised?  Think about what the cost to your organisation would be.  Not only the loss of reputation, clients or money but the regulations in this sector could result in the closure of the business.  That is why it is so important to have a plan in place when it comes to business continuity and disaster recovery.

Cyber Criminals

The failure of hardware or software can be an issue but the more worrying risk at present is of cyber criminals attacking the business.  An attack can lead to loss of data, freezing of systems and demands for ransom with the threat of malware.  These attacks are real and all too familiar and if you suffer an attack you could lose everything.

What is Business Continuity

These cyber attacks can and do happen regularly.  However, having a plan in place to ensure your critical business applications can continue during a disaster is the best solution.  Attacks can be man-made, natural or via cyber criminals, you need a robust plan and systems in place that offer peace of mind should the worst happen.

A Solution

DNA IT Solutions work with Veeam to offer enterprise grade disaster recovery planning.   Some of the issues that we plan for are:

Recovery Time Objectives – We set the amount of time it will take to get you back up and running fully.

Recovery Point Objective – This is the point at which the last back up exists prior to the disaster, it could be 30 minutes or an hour.  Can you afford to lose that much?  Maybe it needs to be less than 5 minutes.  A lot of planning and resources are needed for that but it’s all possible.

Backup – A backup / recovery solution is needed that is robust enough to survive anything.  A secure secondary site location for storage will be in the cloud.

As a financial services organisation you need enterprise grade solutions and that is why we work with Veeam to offer this service.  You need the best technology and tools to make this a reality.  A system that has been tried and tested and is used all over the world by similar businesses.

At DNA IT we know about the need to test the solution to ensure it will work.  You don’t want the worst to happen and then be crossing your fingers that it will do.  We will test and see if there are any weak spots or areas that need attention.   DNA IT Solutions working with Veeam for the always on enterprise – that’s you!

To download a full guide explaining how this all works visit the Veeam website

To discuss Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity or any other aspect of IT security you can arrange a consultation with the expert team at DNA IT Solutions.

 

 

News

Cloud for Business

Posted on by Sean Lucas
cloud for business DNA IT Solutions
16
Apr

Why is it that so many Irish businesses are moving to the cloud?

It’s not just the large companies but smaller independent business with less than ten employees.  In the past these organisations would have run their programs from software they had downloaded on a PC or a server in their office.  Now cloud computing allows all this to be done via the internet.

Not sure what cloud computing means?

When you check your bank balance on your smartphone, when you check that weather app or when you comment on your friends Facebook post – that is all cloud computing.  It is using the power of the cloud to interact with platforms and programs.  Now with Microsoft 365 you no longer purchase CDs and download onto a PC.  It’s cloud computing at its best, providing automatic updates and access when and how you need it.

When you access the cloud here is what you get:

On demand – You get access to the resource right there when you need it.  No waiting around and you are only paying for what you use when you use it.  It’s a new mind-set to think that you are no longer paying for it whether or not you use it.   This cost effectiveness is the main driver for businesses to move to a cloud solution.

Resource Pooling – Once the domain of only multinationals, now an small business can access a huge pool of resources based on their user needs.  The resource is automatically assigned and with secure sharing there is little to be concerned about.

Rapid Elasticity – The space with cloud is limitless so resources can grow as you need them.  When you need them you can scale up or down in a quick time, not like before.  If it is more storage space or more power that you need, all can be spun up or down as required.

Broad Network access – It’s all there waiting for you when you are ready to access it.  With few barriers relating to adoption and no reason to avoid it, it makes sense.

When you are ready to consider cloud computing and cloud storage you should consider all the options available.  Talk to our expert team, we migrate businesses like yours to the cloud every day of the week.  Make your journey to the cloud a great one with DNA IT Solutions.

News

Web Security Threats

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Web Security threats DNA IT
16
Apr

There are many security threats facing organisations today.

They are not only the concern of large global companies but can effect even the smallest of businesses.  If you are aware of what may attack your business, then you can put plans in place to ensure you have the right level of cover to protect your systems and data.

Here are some of the most popular types of cyber security threats today:

Malware

Malware is software that is designed to gain access to a computer system in order to damage or disrupt.  Malware can appear on both the computer and the network and can cause significant damage.   Cloud based web security system prevents downloads which will stop the initial infection.  It can also stop the malware connecting to the internet to make more problems.

Spyware

This is software that allows the attacker to spy on the user’s computer activity.  It records activity to learn about the user, stalking it and then uses the information gathered to create some harm. Web security products can reduce the risk of this happening by preventing the users machine from interacting with installed spyware.

Ransomware

Ransomware is software designed to block access to the computer system.  In essence it freezes everything until a ransom is paid.  Many organisations will then pay to get their systems back which makes the hackers become more active.  Web security systems will implement sandboxing to help counteract this threat.  This is where all downloads are analysed off the network to check they are safe before delivering them to the network.

Phishing

Phishing is where a fraudulent email is sent pretending to be from a reputable person or company.  It is sent in the hope that the user will divulge personal and financial details.  Phishing call also be in the form of a website that pretends to be something they are not.  Web security services can check to see what websites or emails are trustworthy and stop the risk at source.

Social engineering

Also known as spear phishing, this is the gathering of personal information either directly or online to later target somebody for financial gain.  By having an additional layer of security on email systems, this can reduce or even eliminate such harmful issues.  Likewise, having security that prevents showing links to harmful websites will give additional protection to the user.

Zero hour Attacks

Also known as zero day attacks, these target well known but unpatched vulnerabilities in operating systems.  Security services will work with other layers of security on end point protection.  Fixes can be rolled out in a matter of hours to help protect against attack.  In addition, systems will detect any breach and block it.

These are only some of the threats to an organisations IT Systems, there are countless other ones that will cause significant damage.

One product that can form part of your security solution is Fusemail.  This is part of our security portfolio at DNA IT Solutions and will provide protection against many threats.  We only work with world leading technology solutions to protect our clients.  Fusemail can be part of your web security service that help protect you, talk to us about it today.