imageits-blog

[imageits-blog]

5 Common Cloud Security Myths That Could Be Endangering Your Business

In the modern business world where everything starts with digital, cloud computing has emerged as a preferred choice to achieve flexibility, scalability and efficiency. Whether it is email hosting, file storage or entire infrastructure, an increasing number of Irish business are moving to the cloud.

However, as the benefits of the cloud platform are enormous, the security is one of the most significant concerns. Regrettably, several businesses continue to believe in cloud security myths thus exposing their systems to the risk of attacks, data loss, and expensive downtimes.

Here at Image IT we have witnessed how the speculation and untrue stories about cloud security can materialise into actual danger.

This blog will dispel five of the most harmful cloud security myths and will give an explanation of how you can secure your business against threats that can be avoided.

Myth 1: The Cloud Is Self-Secure

Too many businesses operate under the assumption that, simply by engaging the services of a reputable cloud provider (such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or AWS), they have accomplished all they need to in order to keep their data safe. It is a perilous supposition.

Reality: Cloud providers do offer substantial security measures, but they are run on a shared responsibility basis. That is, they provide the security of the infrastructure, however, you still have to secure your data, user access and endpoints.

For example:

When your employee has a weak password and his account is compromised- that is your fault.

And when sensitive files are shared without access control, that also will be your fault.

At Image IT we assist Irish companies with layered cloud security plans, including multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, firewalls, and monitoring.

 Do not make assumptions. Get your portion of the responsibility.

Myth 2: Large Companies Only Are Targeted

Small businesses believe that they are too small to be of interest to a hacker- why bother?

Fact: In fact, small and medium-sized companies are favorites of cybercriminals. Why? Since they usually do not have the sophisticated security mechanisms of bigger organisations, they are easier to abuse.

Global cyber security reports show that more than 40 percent of cyber attacks are aimed at small businesses, and the financial losses can be disastrous, ranging between ransom payments and reputational loss.

A poorly secured cloud environment is an invitation to attackers; these may be improperly secured cloud databases or even uncovered cloud login portals.

Myth 3: It Is Sufficient to Protect Cloud Data by a Firewall.

Most businesses believe that as long as they have a good firewall installed at the office, they do not need to worry about anything even when they are using cloud services.

Realty: Firewalls comprise only a partial solution to security, and they are perimeter devices to secure your network. However, cloud systems can be accessed remotely, usually through the home network of employees or their mobile phones.

When your staff is remote, or accessing cloud-based services in the field, not all vulnerabilities will be covered by a classic firewall.

This is why the contemporary business should have a layered approach to security which encompasses:

Next-gen firewalls

Device encryption

Endpoint protection

Secure VPNs

Identity access management

Threat monitoring in real- time

Image IT Network Security Services do more than just firewalls. We assist you to secure all entry points- be it a laptop in the office or a smart phone in a cafe.

Cloud security must go where your team works.

Myths 4: Cloud Providers are Going to Back Up Everything on Your behalf

Many people believe that when files are stored in the cloud, then they are secure, recoverable and are automatically backed up. However, relying on defaults of your provider might be dangerous.

Reality: Basic redundancy is provided by the majority of cloud providers, yet they do not guarantee an opportunity to recover all of your data unless you implement a specific backup plan.

What might go wrong is this:

An user deletes some important files by mistake and you find out about it after the recovery window.

Your cloud files have been encrypted due to a ransomware attack, and unfortunately, the backup copies are also compromised.

An authorized person overwrites some crucial documents by accident.

So unless you have an active backup system, you could be losing weeks, or even months of valuable information.

 At Image IT, we can assist your business to set up secure and automated cloud backup system so that you can be sure you can access your files, regardless of what happens.

Myth 5: Cloud Security Is One Time Set Up

You’ve got antivirus software, a configured firewall, and access controls in place—excellent work on your security setup! And there is more to it.

truth: Cyber security is not a “set-it-and-forget-it” procedure. You’ve got antivirus software, a configured firewall, and access controls in place—excellent work on your security setup!  When you have a static cloud security, you are just waiting to be found out.

Securing cloud, today needs:

Regular audits

Software updates

Patch management

User training

Policy reviews

Threat monitoring

With proactive security services at Image IT, you get real time threat detection and vulnerability assessment as well as automatic updates to ensure your systems are secure- 24/7.

The cloud is dynamic- your security must be as well.

The Difference Smart Businesses Are Making

Having busted these myths, you may be thinking: how do the most secure businesses treat cloud security?

What we have seen is this:

They train their personnel. workers are educated to avoid phishing attempts, utilize effective passwords and security best practices.

2. They deal with specialists. They collaborate with their trusted IT experts to create and sustain safe cloud surroundings.

3. They observe round the clock. They do not wait until a problem occurs, they watch out to see if there is trouble.

4. They prepare to the worst. Their backups are onsite and tested disaster recovery plan.

At Image IT we assist companies in Drogheda, Louth, Meath and nationwide to develop cloud-first strategies without sacrificing on security.

Myths can be very dangerous to a business, so remember:

The cloud is a mighty instrument- provided it is secured in a suitable way.

There is a severe risk of believing in these old myths and putting your business into jeopardy. And in the present-day environment, a single data breach can lead to the loss of clients, GDPR fines, and the tarnishing of the reputation of the brand on a long-term basis.

It is not a matter of chance. Protect your systems against a qualified IT partner who knows the technology as well as the threats.

Cloud Security: Let’s Talk

Image IT can assist you whether you are already utilising cloud services or are still in the process of investigating your possibilities. Whether it is tailor-made network security, or complete cloud backup and threat monitoring- we have you covered in business.

[imageits-blog]

Why 24/7 Network Monitoring Is Critical for Uptime

Now that everything is digital, even a short time when the site is down can cause businesses to lose money, anger their customers and harms their brand’s reputation. For organizations in Dublin or elsewhere, it is not ideal but essential to maintain constant availability of their IT network. This is the reason why it’s so important to use 24/7 network monitoring.

At Image IT, we are aware that keeping businesses online around the clock is very important in Ireland. The way we monitor servers and networks means we catch, handle and solve issues before they interfere with your operations, giving you security and a smooth workday.

Here, we will discuss how 24/7 network monitoring is essential, understand why it’s more significant today and learn how it maintains your business’s smooth operation day and night.

What is the meaning of 24/7 network monitoring?

24/7 network monitoring is a proactive IT service that continuously tracks the performance of your servers, devices, and network to ensure everything runs smoothly at all times. It consists of instant monitoring of data flow, error messages, security problems, status of machines and so on.

It does not just react to problems, but also prevents them from happening and addresses them ahead of time.

Important parts of network monitoring are:

Watching the server and network remain available

Reviewing the ways that traffic moves and how heavy it is

Getting instant notice when your account has unusual activity

Locating causes of hardware malfunctions and software bugs

Following cyber security threats and breaches

Why Uptime Is More Important Now

For numerous companies, the amount of time their systems are working properly determines how much money they can make, how clients rate their service and how efficient the company is.

That may result in hundreds of dollars in missed sales by the online store.

Facing slow internet connection at the time your business is open? Such a problem can bring about delays, miscommunication or bad customer care.

Latest reports suggest that an hour of downtime for a small to medium business could easily result in thousands of euros lost, plus lower productivity.

1. Reducing Risks of Downtime

Preventing any shutdowns is the most distinct advantage of continuous monitoring. Routinely checking your systems helps you catch and deal with problems early.

At Image IT, we are always ready to take care of your IT needs without you having to call first. Even before you notice, we’re looking for issues and fixing them so your IT runs smoothly.

2. Increasing How Smoothly and Efficiently Things Work in the Business

Any problems with the network cause difficulties for everyone on the team. Employees have difficulty viewing files, servers crash and cloud tools become unavailable.

Having 24/7 monitoring will ensure your staff has a dependable and efficient workspace online. With technology handled well, your team can concentrate on their core responsibilities.

For staff working onsite or remotely, keeping the network stable increases happiness, makes operations run smoothly and leads to better results for the business.

3. Strengthening Security

Since cybersecurity dangers don’t stop with the end of the business day, we must stay vigilant at all times. Since many Irish businesses use cloud platforms and access their systems remotely, keeping threats from happening in real time is very important.

At all times, network monitoring involves checking the system actively for different problems.

Attempts to log in with uncommon usernames

Malware intrusions

Firewall breaches

Phishing activity

Should anything concerning be discovered, the following happens right away: warning your team or stopping the threat from reaching your systems.

Using network monitoring in your cybersecurity scheme greatly cuts down the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.

4. Helping the Business Sustain and Expand

When your business succeeds, you depend more on technology. Adding more people, starting an online store or migrating more services to the cloud means your network will be more complicated.

Because your infrastructure is always being monitored, it can handle additional traffic and use smoothly. It lets you estimate the demand for computer resources and decide on upgrades, software installations and replacing hardware.

In other words: there are no painful side effects of growing.

5. Giving a Sense of Security

Your server logs and backups run according to the schedule and you can relax knowing this.

At Image IT, we think that IT should be easy for you, helping your business instead of adding anxiety. Having our team and tools watch over everything allows you to stay relaxed as everything is managed in real time.

Example of a Major Client’s Success

A SME customer in Dublin was experiencing problems such as slow email response and irregular network drops that made it hard to operate smoothly. Once we started 24/7 network monitoring, we detected that the cluster of delays was because of a broken router and the rush of data during peak hours.

The faulty hardware was replaced and we put traffic management policies into place. Because of this, the business continues to experience 100% uptime during working hours and boosted productivity by 30%, due to steady software systems.

Active IT support systems can manage these sorts of situations successfully.

The methods Image IT uses for dependable monitoring

Generic solutions are not a part of what we do at Image IT. We create monitoring programs that meet your requirements, ambitions and budget.

Here are the resources that we give you:

Real-Time Alerts - Be alerted right away if there is a problem

Automated Responses – Common issues are handled right away without manual assistance

Performance Reports – Know how your systems are running from one period to another

Expert Intervention - Our IT specialists are available anytime to identify and deal with any issues remotely

Working Together – Security integration allows monitoring to team up with your firewall, antivirus and backup software

Our service will adapt to your business size and provide monitoring around the clock, no matter how big or small your organisation is.

Always keep your systems monitored for constant business operations.

Final Thoughts:

Modern companies depend on internet access to function well. When your network fails, you are losing time to competitors, disappointed clients and upset employees.

Most Irish businesses that depend on technology to work properly need ongoing 24/7 monitoring of their networks.

Keeping your systems in good shape, preventing stoppages and securing your infrastructure allows you to concentrate on your business, without worrying about technical issues.

Wanting to Get Maximum Operation and Minimise Interruptions?

If you need good network monitoring and IT support, choose Image IT to be your trusted partner.

[imageits-blog]

Preventative IT Maintenance: Keeping Your Business Running Smoothly

With technology moving forward so fast, your business can’t operate without it. Computers, servers, cloud systems and software platforms have to be running smoothly to keep your team productive, defend confidential information and make sure customers receive a good experience.

Unfortunately, IT systems don’t manage themselves without attention.

This is why we need preventative IT maintenance. Regular car servicing makes sure your car avoids breakdowns and preventative IT support does the same for your systems. Here at Image IT, we know that companies who focus on IT before issues arise benefit a lot. We’ll now look at what preventative maintenance means and understand why it helps your business run smoothly.

What Does Preventative IT Maintenance Mean?

Taking care of your IT infrastructure ahead of time is called preventative maintenance. With preventative maintenance, you take action to make sure your systems are in good shape all the time, so you don’t have to rush to solve emergencies.

Such tasks refer to:

Tracking how the system is running

Putting security patches and new versions of the software into use

Regularly using antivirus and malware software

Testing the use of backup options

Updating both your device’s drivers and firmware

Checking the configurations for firewalls and networks

Exchanging ageing equipment to prevent any breakdowns

At Image IT, we set up specialized maintenance services that guarantee your technology remains in top condition and reduces the chance of risks and downtime.

Why Taking Care of Problems in Advance Is Crucial for Companies in Ireland

1. Minimize any time when your business is not working effectively.

Problems with your IT systems such as servers failing, networks breaking or bugs in software, may bring your work to a halt and cost you in both time and money. Doing preventative maintenance lets you catch and manage issues early and this means your business avoids the stress of dealing with major problems.

If a server begins to overheat, it’s possible to handle the issue before it crashes, so you won’t have to deal with expensive downtime and loss of data.

2. Prevent or Stop Cyber Attacks

More and more, businesses in Ireland are facing cyberattacks, most often small and medium-sized companies. Many attackers use old software, unpatched versions and networks that have not been properly set up.

Ongoing upkeep of security tools such as firewalls, antivirus software and system updates, makes it much less likely for your system to become a victim of ransomware, phishing or a data breach.

3. Increase the Lifespan of IT Assets

Just as changing the oil in your car lengthens its engine’s lifespan, looking after your IT equipment in the same way will help it work longer. Regularly taking care of computers stops them from wearing out and prevents too many replacements.

4. Raise the effectiveness of your staff.

This kind of slow work is frustrating and influences how your team feels about their work. If technology runs smoothly, your team won’t have to worry about systems or spend time finding IT solutions.

5. With time, the cost of IT will decrease.

Though it might feel like a pricey addition, upfront maintenance helps save money and prevents serious IT problems. One data breach, meeting replacement or lasting period of downtime can often be more expensive than all your ISP’s services put together.

Important Parts of a Well-Made IT Maintenance Plan

We create preventative maintenance strategies for your business that fit its individual requirements at Image IT. The method we use is:

We watch your systems around the clock.

We watch over your systems around the clock, spotting problems early and fixing them so they don’t impact your work.

Timely Updates and Patch Upgrades

We make sure your operating systems, applications and antivirus are always running on the latest versions.

Test the backup and recovery of your data.

We ensure your backups are properly configured and we regularly perform tests to see how fast you can recover data.

You can do a Network Health Check here.

We examine your network for good speed, serious security flaws and technology issues to confirm your system operates safely and properly.

Managing Assets and Deciding on Their Life

We watch over your equipment and make sure you can update your technology before it starts causing issues.

Support from the users and helpdesk

If your team has any IT questions or concerns, our friendly team is there to lend a non-technical helping hand.

Why Is Image IT a Great Solution?

Operating out of North Dublin, Image IT has been supporting company’s in Ireland for about 15 years. Our knowledgable team delivers helpful, consistent and friendly IT assistance to the companies here in New Zealand.

We are dedicated to forming long-term relationships with clients so we can do more than just address issues; we can help avoid them.

You will gain the following benefits when you work with us:

Transparent pricing

A quick response from the team

Customized maintenance services

Expert opinions offered in a personal way

If you have just a few devices or a complex IT structure, our solutions are designed to match your requirements and your budget.

Benefits You Can See in Life: An Example

There were many issues at one of our clients, a small financial services firm in Dublin, involving downtime in the network and software that was past its update. Following their sign up for our preventative maintenance, we set up a monitoring system, cleaned their network and ran scheduled updates.

The result? A 90% drop in IT issues reported by staff, faster systems, and peace of mind for their management team knowing their data and systems were protected.

Your Next Step: Secure Your Business with Preventative IT Support

Don’t wait for a system failure, data breach, or productivity drop to remind you of your IT vulnerabilities. Preventative maintenance is one of the smartest investments you can make in your business.

Let Image IT take the stress out of managing your technology — so you can focus on what you do best.