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A Password Manager Is Essential for Small Business IT Support

A Password Manager Is Essential for Small Business IT Support

While your employees might think their passwords are unhackable, an entire company’s future can rest on a single compromised password. Underestimating hackers leads to a loss in productivity and can cost a company thousands of dollars, maybe even millions. In the age of social media, hackers have many ways to access your network through your employees. This includes the seemingly secure passwords you and your employees use. Passwords are bought and sold on the dark web every day in a thriving marketplace for hackers. These days, passwords need to be more complex than the street you lived on and the name of your childhood pet. Throwing a “1” or your birth year at the end is not secure enough. The average person has over 150+ passwords, and while it may be easier to use a common password across multiple sites and accounts, one that’s easy to remember, hackers rely on you to do this. Remember, human error is the leading cause for cyber security breaches. The Importance of Security for Small Businesses Every day, there are new reports of Fortune 500 companies being hacked. Businesses like Facebook and Google struggle against hackers as much as small and medium businesses. They lose time and money trying to repair their systems and prevent future attacks. Since these are companies that handle massive amounts of personal data, there are often fines to be paid when user information is compromised. From a distance, it seems like everyone is dealing with the same headache. However, the reality is that these companies have an incredibly different experience from small- and medium-sized business owners. They have dedicated IT departments and a bigger budget for cybersecurity. An absence of these two things makes smaller businesses a prime target for hackers. With the support of an IT managed service provider, small- and medium-sized business owners can rest easy knowing their passwords and networks are safe. The Six Benefits of Using a Password Manager The coronavirus pandemic has changed many things about our world, including the way that businesses operate. Working From Home has been the norm for many employees in recent years, and while this has seen increases in productivity, there are still challenges to hurdle. With many companies considering the pros and cons of permanently working from home, it’s become increasingly necessary for them to utilize various methods to keep their networks secure. Did you know that 47% of individuals fall for a phishing scam while working at home? For hackers, the pandemic is an opportunity to take advantage of your employees. Don’t give them the chance! One way to prevent hackers from gaining access to your employees’ passwords is utilizing a password manager. Here are the six benefits of using a secure password manager: Centralized, encrypted, and secure password storage Organize and categorize passwords with folders Ability to manage all employees’ access rights Automated password rotation Google Chrome browser extension to streamline login Auditing and reporting tools for full password management It’s not hard to see the reasons people become lax with their password security. There are so many tasks and responsibilities during a person’s day; imagine finding the time to remember three, four, or even five unique passwords, each with a minimum of eleven characters. Nearly 81% of cyber security breaches for small- to medium-sized businesses are caused by compromised passwords. Fortunately, with the support of an IT managed service provider and a password manager, your employees and your business are safe from cybercriminals.

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Hackers Don’t Take Vacations

Are you excited for summer vacation? Be sure to pack your sunscreen! Before leaving your worries behind, remember to lock your doors, literally and metaphorically. Hackers never take a vacation, and your cyber security shouldn’t either. The summer holidays are a time that can leave businesses vulnerable. Here are a few types of cyber security threats to always keep in mind when traveling (and every day): Phishing Phishing attacks are one of the most common forms of cyber threat facing businesses. Business Email Compromised (BEC) scams take advantage of your employees by tricking a user into giving personal information to a source that only appears trustworthy. For hackers, the simple change of a letter or number is enough to bypass the human element of cyber security. In 2015, the employee of an Austrian aerospace company fell victim to a phisher posing as his CEO, and unknowingly sent $56 million to the hacker’s account. The employee was fired, as well as the CEO and CFO for failing to implement the necessary security protocols that would have prevented this incident. Malware Attacks While these forms of cyber security attacks have been around for ages, they continue to be a problem for business owners. Malware attacks—short for malicious software—are a type of software designed to disrupt and cause damage to your business infrastructure without your ever knowing. Their attacks are subtle, arriving in email attachments, infected apps, or software, and even advertisements on websites. Once inside, hackers can access your secure information and then hold your system hostage for ransom. In 2020, hackers took advantage of the pandemic and created CovidLock. From a website, users were prompted to download an Android app that would give them access to real-time updates about the virus. The app was laced with ransomware that locked users from their phones. They were forced to pay 100 bitcoin or lose everything. Insider Threats An unfortunate reality small business owners face is the security risk their own employees pose. While they do not share the motives of cyber criminals, their actions can have a disastrous impact on productivity. In fact, recent studies have found that 95% of cyber security breaches are caused by human error. Your employees have been hired to do a specific job. One of those jobs shouldn’t be IT support. Keeping your Business Safe While Traveling When you’re traveling, it’s far more likely for you to connect to an unsecure network or take a shortcut that would leave your computer and company more vulnerable to a cyber security attack. When members of your team are on vacation, other team members are covering their daily tasks. This means they could become more distracted and make a mistake like clicking on a link in a phishing email. Please remember this summer to keep cybersecurity in mind as you and your team travel and enjoy your summer activities. Hackers are just waiting for you and your team to let your guard down and leave “unlocked doors” to your network and files. Stay vigilant with cyber security and don’t make their job easy.

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St. Louis Based Computerease Adds Small Business Monthly’s Best IT Firms To 2021 Awards

St. Louis Based Computerease Adds Small Business Monthly’s Best IT Firms To 2021 Awards

Computerease adds an award by Small Business Monthly as Best IT Firms in St. Louis to the 2021 lineup In December 2021, one of St. Louis’s oldest IT companies, Computerease, added yet another recognition to its lineup of awards for 2021. The locally renowned publication, Small Business Monthly, released its list of Best IT Firms for 2021, including Computerease among its ranks. Earlier in 2021, Computerease was named as Best Cybersecurity Firm by the same publication, Small Business Monthly, and CRN’s MSP 500 of industry leaders in the IT support industry. Ryan Haislar, President of Computerease commented, “We are truly honored to be among our fellow top IT support companies in the St. Louis area. We commit to deliver exceptional IT support and cybersecurity for our clients. Receiving these awards reflects our dedication and commitment to putting our clients first.” Small and medium business owners throughout the St. Louis area trust St. Louis Small Business Monthly as a leading source for business-related resources.  There’s a few newcomers to the list of 2021 list of Best IT Firms for St. Louis featuring longstanding IT companies like Computerease. However, Computerease is unique in its longevity. Ryan Haislar said, “My father started Computerease in 1984 back when businesses were just starting to use technology in their day-to-day operations. He saw the future of technology as integral for running a successful business. I’m proud to keep his vision alive 37 years later.” A small business surviving for 37 years is an accomplishment, let alone in the IT industry where technology and IT firms have a flashpoint of a lifespan. Computerease is an IT support company that invests in the long-term success of its small business clients. It’s one thing to make computers and servers work well; it’s quite another to act as a trusted IT advisor that listens to a business’s priorities and long-term goals. Technology can make or break a business, so choosing the right IT firm is essential. Thankfully, business-focused organizations like the St. Louis Small Business Monthly make it easy for local business owners to identify which IT firms they can trust, like Computerease. About Computerease Small and medium businesses throughout the Greater St. Louis area trust Computerease with all their IT support, cybersecurity, and VoIP phone needs. As a 2nd generation family-owned and operated business founded in 1984, Computerease has grown and adapted in a constantly evolving industry. The company is a regional leader in helping small and medium businesses streamline technology while fueling business growth.

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Are tax bills burning up your profits for your small business?

Are tax bills burning up your profits for your small business?

Every penny counts for a small business. You pay a portion of each dollar towards taxes. This is money that’s drained from your bank account and goes straight to the government. Many business owners aren’t aware that there’s a tax benefit that allows you to invest your hard-earned money back into your business. There’s a special tax deduction for small businesses titled “Section 179 election”, the federal government allows you to buy up to 1 million dollars of computers, software, VoIP phone systems, office furniture, or other tangible goods to reduce your taxable income in your current year’s tax return instead of spreading the tax savings over multiple years. Please consult a tax professional to make sure you know the qualifications of the tax credit. In fact, the end of the year is the best time to reinvest into your business while taking advantage of Section 179 tax benefits. As an IT support company serving small businesses, we advise business owners on what projects can help to keep their business working efficiently and effectively. There’s 3 main areas that really help pay back and protect a business for the future: Increase network speed – A faster and more reliable performance of your computers and servers equals more productivity in your day-to-day operations VoIP phone systems – Save thousands in phone expenses every year and gain productivity boosting features with a VoIP system Cybersecurity upgrades – Firewalls and other security upgrades decrease the chance of becoming a cyberattack victim which could mean significant downtime and labor costs to get your business back up and running Are you looking to make a wise investment back into your business while saving on your tax bill? The Computerease team helps clients every day with making the best decision to invest wisely on technology that can drive your productivity and profitability. Fill out the form on the right to set up a 15-minute Discovery Call to learn more.

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