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My First Blog Post

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

How to Avoid COVID-19 Scams According to Austin IT Support Companies

When the world experiences a crisis, phishing email and malware creators try to capitalize on whatever the current issue may be. Although unfortunate, this practice is rampant during the COVID-19 outbreak, making businesses extra susceptible to cyberattacks. Read on to understand the forms these attacks can take on and how Austin IT support companies like TARC Technology can help you keep your network secure.

Spam & Phishing End Goals

Spam is not a new concept. In fact, hackers have been employing spam, phishing, and spear phishing techniques for years. Below are some of the ways that bad actors try to get the information they want.

They might try to trick users into clicking on an attachment laced with malware to infect the system. This gives the attacker the ability to gain a foothold in a network so that they can come back later and perform tasks like data exfiltration or ransomware deployment.
They could try to convince users to go to a website that will execute scripts to install malware.
They might disguise themselves as a charity to get users to donate funds or provide credit card details.
They could impersonate the user’s employer and trick them into providing login information and other credentials.
They might create an email that mimics the appearance of an invoice to get users to pay the fraudulent bill.

COVID-19 Scamming

When you look at the specific scams that are happening during this global pandemic, they are usually targeted at areas that have been heavily affected by Coronavirus. People have a tendency to act quickly and even panic during times of high stress (like now), so it is easy to see how the following forms of spam are so successful. These are some methods to look out for:

Emails from state and local authorities with alleged guidance on the situation in your area with attachments or links to other documents
Communications from HR or internal employees that ask users to log in to view documents
Fake news notifications about someone that may have the virus in your region
Emails that pose as invoices from a vendor that sells medical supplies

Ways to Prevent Cyber Attacks

As firms are implementing new remote work policies, employees who are not accustomed to working at home may be more tempted to click on email attachments or engage in risky behaviors because of the change in their work environment. To prevent this, you may want to consider doing the following:

Establish an official communication channel from the get-go to ensure that all employees know the email address and format of communications.
Give your users a way to report suspicious emails, communications, or other potentially dangerous activities that they notice.
Enlist the help of one of the best Austin IT support companies to ensure that endpoint security, email protection, and other security controls are up-to-date and constantly being monitored.

If you thought IT security was an issue before COVID-19, you might be disappointed to know that cyber attacks are spreading just as quickly as the actual Coronavirus is. However, help is out there. Here at TARC, we know that this tumultuous time can be overwhelming. Let us help you by providing top-notch IT security solutions tailored to your business so that you can focus on staying safe, healthy, and productive while working from home. Contact us today to get

How VOIP Phone Service For Small Business Can Be Used to Benefit Remote Workers

Remote work has become the norm across many industries in the face of the global pandemic. As small businesses adapt to this change, they need tools and technology to unite their remote workers and achieve collaboration and productivity.

One of these tools is VOIP phone service for small business. While this type of phone service works very well for small businesses of all kinds, it is particularly valuable at a time when many businesses have remote workers.

How VOIP Phone Service For Small Business Can Be Used to Benefit Remote Workers

Here is a look at some of the biggest benefits VOIP phone service offers remote workers.

VOIP simplifies collaboration.

Remote teams must collaborate in order to produce the best results. Meetings, brainstorming sessions, idea sharing, and discussion all need to take place in order for the team to accomplish its goals successfully.

Achieving this level of collaboration is possible with VOIP. VOIP does more than provide a way to make phone calls over the Internet. It also provides a way to connect remote workers with each other through a variety of tools and features.

For example, VOIP can provide a teleconferencing or video conferencing solution that allows team members to share ideas visually instead of just verbally or over written communication. Communication happens in real time so ideas can flow and employees can solve problems more quickly.

VOIP is also often used for file sharing among team members. As a result, they can work on projects in real time together, despite being separate by miles (or even countries). With speedy collaboration solutions at hand, remote workers can deliver results and stay on top of projects even while they are out of the office.

VOIP phone service for small business allows for on-the-go communication.

Remote workers are often on the move. Whether they are working while caring for children during the pandemic, traveling for sales, or staying on the move in other ways, they need a way to communicate clearly and effectively with you and with each other.

VOIP solutions allow for this mobile connection to the office. For example, VOIP solutions can often be integrated with smartphones. This integration means that workers have access to the same tools and information as they would have at their computer or their desk.

This means that they can see and complete new tasks, take phone calls, engage in conference calls and achieve other important communication goals all while away from their home office or computer.

VOIP removes cost concerns.

Phone calls, video calls, teleconferences, and other tele-solutions can quickly eat away at a small business budget. Employees who are concerned about exceeding monthly budget limits may not communicate as often as they need to complete projects efficiently. A lack of communication can also lead to miscommunications that delay a project or lead to undesirable outcomes.

VOIP phone service for small business, on the other hand, makes tele-solutions available at a greatly reduced cost. Often, you can obtain the equipment necessary for VOIP for significantly less than other solutions. You do not need to put forth the expense needed for an in-house telephone solution.

In many cases, employees also incur far fewer costs for implementing and using these solutions. For example, often, internal communications are free. As a result, employees can communicate with each other freely. This freedom leads to more frequent, and more effective, communication. More effective communication leads to more efficient and productive work on the part of your remote workers.

VOIP allows for real-time communication.

Remote workers often work on varying schedules. This is particularly true if they are working in different time zones. Achieving effective communication can be challenging when you must navigate among different schedules, time zones, breaks, and meetings. Scheduling meetings can also be complex if employees must try to find a time that works for multiple people who are all working at different times throughout the day (or even the night).

Achieving streamlined communication and completing projects effectively is easier with VOIP phone service for small business. These services often make it possible for team members to see the status of their colleagues. A colleague can put themselves away, or busy. The service can show the colleague’s current time or indicate whether they are online or offline.

Employees can then use this information to more effectively arrange communication. Perhaps they take their question to another colleague who is available. Perhaps they take advantage of a colleague’s availability to ask an impromptu question. Being able to reach each other when needed leads to more productive, and happier, employees overall.

VOIP phone service for small business has many advantages for businesses dealing with remote workers. This type of phone service goes beyond simply the ability to make phone calls to embrace a whole suite of communications solutions. From teleconferencing to call waiting to smartphone integration, these features allow businesses to connect remote teams in a way that is efficient and workable for them.

If you need assistance with creating a VOIP solution for your remote team, reach out to TARC. We offer customizable VOIP packages to fit a wide variety of needs. As remote working continues to grow, particularly now, achieving a way for team members to communicate effectively is critical. Do not be afraid to implement a proven, and cost-effective, solution for your small business.

Sources:

Here is a look at some of the biggest benefits VOIP phone service offers remote workers.

VOIP simplifies collaboration.

VOIP phone service for small business allows for on-the-go communication.

This means that they can see and complete new tasks, take phone calls, engage in conference calls and achieve other important communication goals all while away from their home office or computer.

VOIP removes cost concerns.

VOIP allows for real-time communication.

Sources:

Do You Need to Hire Cyber Security Consulting Firms? Consider These Statistics.

As a business, you know that keeping customer data secure is a priority. What you may not realize is just how tricky that task can be, and just how much security failures can cost. Consider, for example, the fact that about $2 trillion were lost to security breaches in 2019. That is a staggering amount of money that could have been used to advance the goals of the affected businesses.

One solution is to hire cyber security consulting firms for your business. These professionals can help you to implement a robust security infrastructure that meets your company’s needs. But are they really worth it? The answer is yes, and there are statistics to show you why. Here are a few of the biggest reasons to consider hiring professional security help for your website.

Cyber attacks target businesses of all sizes.

Small businesses are often especially hesitant to use professional assistance to secure their sensitive data. Money is tight, and hackers really just want access to the prodigious data resources of large companies, right?

Unfortunately, the reality instead is that hackers like targeting small businesses because these companies are generally unprepared for such attacks. One estimate from the 2019 SMB IT Security Report found that about 29 percent of small and medium sized businesses spent less than $1,000 a year on cyber security.

The result? Almost half of all attacks (43 percent to be exact) target small businesses. Businesses of all sizes need to take cyber security seriously.

Cyber attacks are expensive.

When data breaches do occur, they become costly very quickly. In 2019, according to a report from IBM and the Poneman Institute, the average cost of a data breach was almost $4 million. In 2019, data breaches accounted for a total cost, as mentioned above, of $2 trillion. That number is expected to rise. By 2021, according to Forbes, more money will be lost to cyber security failures than to natural disasters.

Cyber attacks are frequent.

Cyber security consulting firms can, clearly, save you money by preventing data breaches that could cost your business financially. They are especially important because such attacks are not just costly. They are frequent.

In fact, one study at the University of Maryland found that there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds. That is more than 2,200 times every single day. Ransomware attacks targeting businesses occur every 14 seconds, according to the 2019 Annual Cybercrime Report. The world is connected digitally, and hackers are making the most of it. Businesses need to be prepared to prevent and counteract these attacks instead of assuming that they will never make mistakes that lead to data breaches or suffer from cyber security attacks that leave their sensitive data exposed.

The healthcare industry suffers the most from security breaches.

Any business in any industry can experience security breaches. However, the healthcare industry in particular suffers from cyber attacks. One study by SecurityScorecard in 2016 found that 75 percent of organizations in the healthcare industry had been infected with malware. They suffered the most expensive data breaches, as well, with each breach costing an average of $429 per record. Any healthcare-related business must consider enlisting the support of cyber security consulting firms to protect themselves against becoming part of these troubling statistics.

Data breaches affect many personal records.

Data breaches are frequent and expensive. Unfortunately, they also impact many, many personal records. The largest data breaches have hacked millions or billions of accounts (The Yahoo! Breach in 2013 affected a staggering 3 billion accounts). A 2017 Facebook breach impacted 50 million accounts. In 2018, hackers accessed 500 million personal records.

While most data breaches do not get quite that large, and even if they occur small businesses, they still have a serious impact on the sensitive data of customers. In 2019, the average data breach impacted more than 25,500 records, according to IBM. Every single stolen record or impacted account is a customer you will need to inform, apologize to, and try to win back.

Data breaches often go unnoticed for long periods of time.

Cyber security consulting firms do more than improve data security. They can help to identify and shut down these breaches more quickly when they do occur. This is a more difficult task than you might imagine. On average, according to IBM, it takes about 314 days for a data breach to be recognized and shut down. That is 314 days that sensitive information is available to unauthorized individuals.

Cyber security is a critical component of a safe, secure, and effective online presence. Data breaches cost you more than money. They can cost you relationships with your customers. If people cannot trust you to keep their data safe, they probably are not going to frequent your business.

Do not assume that your business will not fall prey to security breaches. With cyber attacks targeting businesses of all sizes, racking up enormous costs, and occurring frequently, the help of cyber security consulting firms is a must. With the healthcare industry particularly affected, any healthcare-related business must create cyber security processes and protections that will work.

If you need assistance with your cyber security, reach out to TARC. We have years of experience helping businesses prevent data breaches and hacks of all kinds, and we also offer healthcare-specific solutions. We can help you do everything, from setting up secure Wi-Fi, to finding secure cloud storage solutions, to cutting down on mistakes that lead to data breaches. With the right security support, you can prepare your business to weather any security concerns that come your way.

What to Look for in Managed IT Services in Austin, TX

Managed IT services can be a boon to businesses looking for the professional support of an in-house IT team but without the resources or the space to create these teams. The right services can give businesses tailored, professional, expert solutions for an affordable price. The key, of course, is finding the right provider. For Austin and San Antonio-area businesses, there are a few qualities to look for in managed IT services in Austin, TX, and in San Antonio. Here are some of the most important ones.

Round-the-Clock Support

Technology problems can arise at any time of the day or night. When issues occur, you cannot wait hours for your support services help desk to open. Every minute your website stays down, a data breach is active, or a webpage malfunctions is a minute you are losing business. You need support that is available as soon as you experience a problem.

To that end, look for managed IT services in Austin, TX, or in San Antonio, that offer you round-the-clock support. By allowing you to reach out 24/7, and by responding to issues immediately at any time of the day or night, these services will ensure that your business thrives and that any issues you face are resolved as quickly as possible.

Responsiveness

Managed service providers may have many clients to handle, but you should always feel as if you are a priority. You should expect, and look for, responsiveness. Look for these signs that your MSP is responsive to and interested in your needs and requests:

They have a stated response time policy.
They follow that response time policy.
You can reach a real person quickly.
Methods of contact are clear and accessible.
You receive a satisfactory resolution when you contact the MSP.
The MSP is kind and interested instead of curt and dismissive.
References confirm the MSP’s responsiveness.

Whether you have a question about your setup, a concern about some aspect of your technology, or an idea or a need that you want them to address, you should be comfortable reaching out to your MSP and you should find that those questions, concerns, ideas, and needs are addressed and respected every single time you interact with them.

Proactive Approach

IT problems can wreak havoc even if they are addressed promptly. Downtime for a website, for example, can cost thousands of dollars an hour. Data breaches can lead to lost trust with customers, even after you close the breach. In some fields, like healthcare, a technology glitch could literally be a matter of life and death.

When you look for IT managed services in San Antonio or Austin, then, you should look for a company that actively prevents problems rather than simply reacting when they arise. A proactive approach, such as that adopted here at TARC for our clients, involves constant monitoring of your IT infrastructure. This monitoring allows us to anticipate and prevent problems before they arise. This approach can be particularly useful for industries, like healthcare, that rely on uninterrupted technology in order to protect patient lives and data.

Tailored Solutions

Because your business is different from any other business out there, your IT solutions need to be different too. Every company needs IT security, for example, but the form that security takes may differ from business to business. Every business needs reliable hardware, but the form that hardware takes will depend upon the company’s needs and how they plan to use it.

Look for an MSP that can offer you solutions tailored to your needs. The right MSP will not try to force a pre-packaged solution on you. Instead, they will sit down with you to discuss your IT needs and offer solutions that work for those needs.

Also make sure that, as part of these tailored solutions, the IT managed services in San Antonio or Austin that you choose can also offer you scalability. Your business may grow over time. You may encounter seasonal changes in your technological needs.

These changes will require changes in the IT services you utilize. An MSP that can offer you scalable solutions can handle these increases and decreases in your IT needs. With tailored, scalable solutions, you will end up with a package that is helpful to your unique business.

Proven Security

Security is a critical element in any IT infrastructure. You must be able to protect sensitive data, no matter what business you are in. Choose an MSP who has a proven track record of providing security. Also look for one that has specific security protocols in place, like Layered Security Architecture, methods of encryption, and other security solutions. If the MSP you are considering can explain how they can keep your data safe, and if their references report a track record of success in the realm of security, you may just have found the right business for your needs.

Broad Experience

Finally, when choosing managed IT services in Austin, TX, or San Antonio, look for a business that has broad experience. The longer a company has been providing reliable IT support to its clients, the more likely it is that they have the tools you need for your own company.

In addition, make sure that the MSP has experience serving businesses in your industry. Their experience may be wide-ranging, but if they have never served clients in your field, you may not benefit from the type of experience you need for your business. Choose an MSP that has experience in general, and expertise specifically in your field as well.

Here at TARC, we bring years of experience in managed IT services to each of our clients. We offer services to businesses across a wide range of industries, including healthcare and small businesses. We can provide constant, proactive, responsive support that is tailored to your needs. We are happy to sit down with you and discuss how our services might benefit your business.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.