Technology Advisor Blog

 Modern cybersecurity threats don't always begin with malware or a suspicious link. Sometimes they start with a conversation that seems completely legitimate. Here's what one recent social engineering assessment can teach small businesses about protecting themselves. 

When most people think about phishing attacks, they picture an email filled with spelling mistakes, suspicious links, and obvious red flags. 

Unfortunately, that's not how many modern attacks work.  "Don't click on a suspicious link" doesn't cut it anymore for security awareness training.

A recent social engineering assessment conducted by security researchers at NetSPI demonstrated just how sophisticated today's attackers have become. Instead of sending a traditional phishing email, the researchers spent time building trust before ever introducing a malicious link.

The scenario they created was simple - and highly believable. Too many people think they'll never fall for a

Summer is here and most small business owners are thinking about time off.

Microsoft released its June 2026 Patch Tuesday security update yesterday and this one is historically large.

June 2026 marks the largest single Patch Tuesday release in the program's history, addressing 200 security vulnerabilities across Windows, Office, Azure, Exchange, Hyper-V, and related products. For small businesses in Massachusetts that rely on Windows devices, there are several things worth understanding before the end of the week.

At Ekaru, we provide managed IT services for small businesses across greater Boston. Staying ahead of security patches is one of the most important things a small business IT support provider can do for its clients. Here is what matters most this month.

Every year, Verizon publishes its Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), one of the most respected cybersecurity reports in the industry. The 2026 report analyzed more than 22,000 confirmed data breaches across 145 countries, making it one of the largest collections of real-world cybersecurity data available.

At Ekaru, we pay close attention to reports like this because they help us separate trends from headlines. Instead of relying on assumptions, we can see exactly how attackers are succeeding, where businesses are struggling, and what organizations can do to better protect themselves.

Before we dive into the findings, it's helpful to understand two terms you'll see throughout cybersecurity reports:

Incident: A security event that disrupts business operations, compromises systems, or creates a security risk.

Breach: A type of incident where sensitive information is actually accessed, stolen, or exposed to someone who shouldn't have it.

In other words, every breach is an incident, but not every incident becomes a breach. For example, a ransomware attack or website outage may be considered a security incident even if no customer or company data is stolen.

The biggest takeaway from this year's report is surprisingly simple:

Cybersecurity fundamentals matter more than ever.

While artificial intelligence, ransomware, and sophisticated cybercriminal groups continue to dominate the news, most successful breaches still come down to a handful of preventable issues. Here are the lessons small businesses should take away from Verizon's findings.

What It's Like to Work With Ekaru

When many people picture cybercrime, they imagine hackers breaking into giant corporations with sophisticated tools and complex code. But for most small businesses, cybercrime today looks much more ordinary - and much more personal.

• It looks like an email from a trusted vendor asking for updated payment information.

• It looks like a voicemail that sounds like a company executive requesting an urgent wire transfer.

• It looks like a Microsoft 365 login page that appears completely legitimate.

And increasingly, thanks to artificial intelligence, these scams are becoming harder and harder to spot.

The FBI recently released its latest Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report, highlighting billions of dollars in losses tied to cybercrime, including growing losses from AI-assisted scams and cryptocurrency fraud. While the numbers themselves are staggering, the bigger takeaway for local businesses is this:

Cybercriminals are getting better at pretending to be someone you trust.

Microsoft released its May 2026 Patch Tuesday security yesterday. Update KB5089549 is now rolling out to all Windows 11 devices. While this update isn't the flashiest release of the year, it includes improvements that small business owners and their teams will actually notice day to day, along with a critical security deadline that cannot be ignored.

 We hear this all the time: 

“We already have email security in place - we’re good.”
“We’re on Microsoft 365 (or Google Workspace) - they take care of that.”

And it’s easy to see why at first that feels like enough. 

 Platforms like Microsoft and Google provide a powerful foundation - offering the infrastructure, built-in protections, and security features that businesses rely on every day. 

But here’s the part that often gets misunderstood:

They provide powerful tools - but they don’t replace a complete security strategy.

And even with strong protections in place…

No system catches everything.

What happens if something does get through?

Ekaru earned the GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark, recognizing its commitment to secure, compliant IT practices and trusted client protection. 

Ekaru, a leading provider of IT support, cybersecurity protection, cloud services, proudly announces its achievement of the Cybersecurity Trustmark issued by the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA). The Trustmark confirms that Ekaru has undergone a rigorous review of its cybersecurity policies, procedures, and controls.

“Achieving the GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark reinforces our promise to our clients: security isn’t a feature - it is our foundation,” said Dan Wensley, CEO of GTIA. “This recognition assures our partners and clients that their data is in trusted hands.”

The GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark follows a detailed evaluation aligned with frameworks such as NIST and CISA. In addition, CREST-accredited third-party assessors ensure audit integrity to the Trustmark standard.

April 2026 Updates Released Today

If your computer prompts you to restart today, you might be tempted to click Remind Me Later and move on with your day.

You wouldn’t be alone.

But that small pop-up is tied to one of the most important cybersecurity habits a business can have: staying current with updates.

Today is Patch Tuesday - the second Tuesday of each month, when Microsoft releases security updates, bug fixes, and system improvements for Windows and other Microsoft products. It happens quietly in the background for most people, but for IT teams and cybersecurity professionals, it’s a date we watch closely every single month. Microsoft publishes these releases through its official Security Update Guide each month.

At Ekaru, we pay attention to Patch Tuesday because these updates often fix the kinds of weaknesses attackers look for first. And while updates may seem routine, falling behind can create real risk.