Technology Advisor Blog

Data security in Boston, and other major business centers, is becoming a pillar of business readiness, as leaders look to proactively protect their business data.

Vulnerability scanning is a cybersecurity service designed to identify, assess, and help manage security weaknesses in your computer systems, networks, and software. Think of it as a health check-up for your business's digital environment. This service uses specialized software tools to scan for known vulnerabilities, such as outdated software, missing security patches, or configurations that could easily be exploited by hackers.  We talk to a lot of small businesses in the greater Boston area, and we're seeing more and more insurance companies and banks ask for vulnerability scans.

QR codes, short for Quick Response Codes, are the gateway between the physical and digital realms, offering a seamless bridge in our interconnected world.  Just point your camera at a QR Code and you'll be conveniently directed to a website.  Easy, right?   However, their simplicity and widespread adoption have opened the door for innovative cybercriminals to exploit. These tech-savvy fraudsters ingeniously manipulate QR codes, turning them into tools for executing scams, potentially leading to significant security breaches and financial damage. As a small business owner in the digital age, it's imperative to understand the nature of QR code scams and the strategies to effectively recognize and thwart them. This article will arm you with essential tips and insights, empowering you to safeguard your business against the hidden dangers of these seemingly innocuous codes.

The award winners were hand-selected by ScalePad's Sales and Success teams as leaders in the industry.

As small business owners, it's crucial to be aware of the increasing risk of cyber crime, a concern that's rapidly escalating in today's digital world. Experts from Cybersecurity Ventures predict that by 2024, cybercrime could result in global costs of up to $9 trillion each year. This alarming figure highlights the importance of protecting your business. The question is, how will this financial impact affect local small businesses? Cyber incidents at big businesses make the national headlines, but small businesses are getting hit just as hard, it's just these incidents don't make the headlines.  The goal isn't to make everyone scared - that just makes us overwhelmed.  What can you do?  The significance of regular training to develop strong, cyber-secure habits cannot be overstated. Such training is key to defending your business against these evolving digital threats.

Cybersecurity is in the news just about every day!  The balance between cybersecurity and convenience is always tough, and sometimes cybersecurity can even get in the way.  

As summer winds down and the back-to-school season ramps up, it’s the perfect time to review the importance of safeguarding children’s online presence. In a time characterized by the prevalence of social media and digital sharing, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks associated with posting and sharing personal  information about your children on these platforms. This applies to both you and them! It can lead to potential cybersecurity breaches, and it can also have long-lasting consequences for your child’s privacy and safety. Here are some vital pointers and tips to assist in upholding your family’s online safety as your children return to school.

The new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT is all over the news these days!  ChatGPT was created by OpenAI, and it's an AI language model that can understand human language and generate human-like responses.  It's the fasted growing tech platform ever, hitting ONE MILLION users in just FIVE DAYS!  You can ask a question and get a response.  Need help writing an email or a letter to a client?    You can automate a lot of repetitive tasks like writing an introductory email, an online ad, or even an outline of a book.  It's a tool that can save you a lot of time when used right.  If you have writer's block, or just can't think of how to start a response, just ask ChatGPT.  The responses will require some fact checking and fine tuning, but you'll never have to stare at a blank sheet of paper again (a computer screen these days).

Building on annual success Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022 is set to highlight the growing importance of cybersecurity in our daily lives and look to empower everyday individuals and business to take cybersecurity steps by making cyber more accessible.

"I'm a small business.  Why would a ransomware gang be out to get me?"  This is a question we hear a lot working with local businesses.  Everyone sees the big cyber crime headlines in the news, most recently with Uber, and last year quite visibly with the Colonial Pipeline, but what many people don't realize is that half of these kinds of threats hit small businesses - the events just don't make national news.  Why are so many small businesses impacted when there are bigger targets out there?  It's Ransomware as a Service.  What's ransomware as a service? You’re likely familiar with software as a service (SaaS) but ransomware? What does that mean?

First, let’s do a quick review of what ransomware is. It's a type of malware that holds the victim’s files and folders for ransom.  This sounds like something out of a Tom Cruise movie, but basically a giant warning shows up on your screen with a ticking clock that says pay the ransom, or you won't ever access your files again.  Most typically, malware gets on your computer network through human error with someone inadvertently clicking on the wrong link or opening the wrong email attachment (like a fake resume).   The malware is deployed and encrypts network data, with a safe return of your data being promised when the ransom is paid. And with payments usually made through cryptocurrency, these crimes are can be committed anonymously.  Cybercrime is big business!

The "Ransomware as a Service" business model was developed for criminal purposes to make it even easier for criminals to conduct crimes. Ransomware requires little effort to deploy with potentially big payouts.  Criminals with little or no technical know-how can now blast out millions of emails to potential victims.  All they need is a few mouse clicks to make a lot of money.

Ransomware as a Service