Cyberattacks are common place these days with an ever-expanding Internet of things. It is important to be aware of the potential for attack and to be prepared in the event that an attack on your systems or data does occur. The biggest trend in cybersecurity right now is that IT professionals and leaders are losing control of their technologies. Cybersecurity needs to be at the forefront of any businesses mind today, and oftentimes it is not and attacks occur. Let’s take a look at the constantly evolving threat of cyber attack and look at some ways that you can secure yourself.

Cloud Computing

Many people falsely assume that cloud computing is less secure than traditional methods of computing. This could not be further from the truth! First, where your data is stored means very little if there is a means to access it. People assume that since they have their servers on site they are more secure than if they were stored in a cloud, but what a lot of people fail to realize is that people who build cloud computing systems tend to have more of a focus on security and governance than people who build traditional enterprise systems that will sit behind a firewall. If you do not take the rigorous steps necessary to make security a priority when you build your system it does not matter if you are on the cloud or have a traditional set-up, you are just as vulnerable.

The future of computing is in the cloud. Back in 2010 the federal government of the United States of America embraced cloud and mobile technologies with its “cloud-first” policy. That was nearly ten years ago now, and more and more systems are moving to cloud-based networks because it is better technology. Security is your responsibility. You need to take the steps to ensure your safety, and newer cloud technology makes it easier than ever before to stay safe and respond to incoming attacks.

Prevention VS Response

There are a lot of different ways that a cyber attacker could potentially launch an attack against you. With a constantly evolving Internet, more and more devices being linked to the Internet, and a class of cyber attackers that is getting more intelligent all the time, stopping every attack is not very realistic. The good news is that you don’t have to stop them. In fact, it is better to have a fast-response prevention strategy instead. This way you are able to learn how an attack started and where it got in. Quick prevention allows you to evolve your defenses along with the evolution of the attack itself. A lot of security teams focus too much on total prevention instead of spending more time responding to real-time attacks. In a lot of cases they don’t even realize they are being attacked right away. A responsive defensive plan aims to know the second an attack starts, which is something that a preventative defense cannot do. It is important to have both strategies employed in your defensive plans, but it is time to put more resources and energy into response instead of prevention.

WannaCRY Recent Incident  

To highlight the importance of cybersecurity in a constantly evolving world of sophisticated cyber attacks one only need to look as far as the recent WannaCRY ransomware attacks. These attacks affected over 300,000 people around the globe. It got into people’s computers by exploiting a gap in Microsoft Windows operating system. It then locked people’s computers and information and demanded a ransom in untraceable Bitcoins for their return. These attacks also affected the UK’s NHS, Fedex, and many other large-scale organizations as well as regular people.

Bottom Line

Cybersecurity has never been more important than it is today. In such a volatile and quickly evolving area of business, businesses are building out their security teams and processes more than ever before. Your business is worth protecting; make sure you’re prepared with the most up-to-date security and best practices.

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Building out a cloud strategy is often a daunting process. There is a lot to consider for your business when making the shift to the cloud. And while there are numerous benefits for deploying cloud-based solutions, there are also challenges that arise in the process of cloud adoption. Let’s explore a few of these challenges.

1. Finding the right solution

Today, there are hundreds of cloud solutions available on the market that span all different use cases. Identifying the right solution for your business is the first challenge you will face. To make this process easier on you, first outline your goals and what you want to accomplish with a cloud solution. You will then be more successful in narrowing your options to the best solutions for your business.

2. Finding the right provider

Once you have identified the right solution for your business, you will need to choose the right provider. Often, this is more challenging than identifying the solution. There are a lot of cloud providers out there that offer a variety of services, and often it’s difficult to tell the difference. It is important to select a cloud provider that understands and shares your business goals. Additionally, ensure that your provider has the proper certifications that your business requires for data security (ex: HIPAA, PCI-DSS). Customer service is the main differentiator for these providers, so make sure to talk to some of their existing customers to find out why they chose them. 

3. Security

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to cloud computing is security. And often, IT professionals face a lot of push back from Chief Security Officers when they bring up a shift to the cloud. The challenge of security is one that cloud providers are hyper aware of, and actively take steps to ensure  their data centers are protected by top of line security parameters. For this reason, hosting your data offsite in a cloud repository can often be more secure than keeping it onsite.

4. 3rd Party Dependency

A big advantage of cloud adoption is that you no longer need to maintain and upgrade your systems, your cloud provider does this for you. However, for some companies, depending on a 3rd party provider for level of service can be a challenge. It is important to ensure that your service provider’s SLA is in line with your expected level of service. It is also a good idea to ask your provider about the accessibility you will have to your cloud environment. In a majority of cases, the cloud is easy to access from anywhere at any time, but as a precaution it is a good idea to ask these questions.

5. Vendor Lock-in

A potential challenge that cloud adopters might face is a lack of control over data and issues changing service providers. To avoid vendor lock-in, it is important to understand the policies of data ownership and transfer of your provider.

Bottom Line

When adopting a cloud strategy, it is inevitable that your business will face some challenges. The important thing is to find the right provider that will help you address and overcome these challenges. Additionally, it is worth noting that the benefits of cloud adoption often exceed the challenges. Learn why Otava is the right provider for your business today!

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More and more enterprises have been making the shift to cloud technology for the breadth of benefits it offers. However, many companies are still struggling with developing a cloud strategy and identifying workloads to move to the cloud. One of the easiest cloud investments to make is backup and disaster recovery. A low-cost investment and often easy to deploy, cloud-based backup and DR have a lot to offer companies of all sizes. Here are the top 10 reasons that you should move your BDR solutions to the cloud:

1. Low up-front costs 

While traditional backup and DR solutions may require large investments in infrastructure, cloud-based BDR does not. This means that you can still protect your business without having to shell out big bucks.

2. Change CapEX to OpEX 

Cloud solutions allow you to shift those high capital expenses to operational expenses. No more cumbersome hardware to manage and update. Instead your IT teams can focus on innovating and driving revenue.

3. Fast, Secure and Reliable Recovery 

With cloud BDR solutions you can achieve your RPO and RTO goals. You can easily restore files and recover entire workloads from your cloud backups.

4. Data Encryption  

With cyber crime higher than ever, one of the number one concerns of CIOs is data security. With cloud-based BDR solutions, your data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.

5. DR on Demand 

Knowing that you can easily be up and running in a disaster is the kind of peace of mind that CIOs need. With the cloud, DR sites can be spun up on demand and you can easily fail operations over to a cloud environment.

6. Geographic Redundancy 

Having multiple copies of your datais a best practice of backup and DR, and so is having a copy of that data offsite. With the cloud, you can ensure that not only is your data held securely in an offsite location,  it is far enough away that it will not be affected should a disaster hit your main location; yet close enough that latency is low.

7. Reduce Downtime 

With the ability to spin up DR environments fast, companies can effectively reduce the amount of downtime they incur. Not to mention reduce the overall cost of downtime, saving time, money and reputation.

8. Avoid Catastrophic Data Loss 

Without a proper backup and DR solution in place, companies face the risk of catastrophic data loss. Studies show that a majority of companies that experience downtime without a BDR strategy in place will never recover from the loss of data. For most companies, data is the lifeblood of their business, which is something that should be protected at all costs. Additionally, the cost of implementing a backup and DR solution is nominal in the face of the costs of data loss.

9. Legacy Solutions Don’t Cut it

Many companies out there take on the mantra “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and continue to operate legacy BDR solutions. Unfortunately for legacy solutions tend to be unreliable and can cause more harm than good in a disaster. Upgrading to a cloud-based backup and DR solution will help your company stay competitive, as well as ensure a fast recovery if disaster should strike.

10. Multiple DR sites 

Concerned that one location isn’t enough? With Cloud-based DR your company can spin up multiple DR sites in multiple locations.

The Bottom Line

Cloud solutions are not going anywhere anytime soon, and if your company still hasn’t gotten aboard the cloud train, it’s time. Making the move to cloud-based solutions for backup and DR isn’t only easy, it’s more affordable and more reliable than the alternative. Download our Disaster Recovery Guidebook to learn more about how the Cloud can bring security, reliability, and peace of your mind to your DR plan.

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Service quality

The first consideration is what services the provider offers. You already have a good idea of what will be on the private side of the cloud (here’s the difference between public, private, and hybrid cloud). The cloud provider needs to work well with the software your business currently uses on-premise. Does it have the right services and APIs, or will your private cloud need extra software to interface with it? A provider that has worked with businesses similar to yours is often the best choice.

The SLA is all-important (check out our SLA!). You have to look at not just what promises it makes, but how it backs them up. If it offers substantial compensation for falling short, that indicates it takes its commitments seriously. In addition to its promised up-time, look at what the SLA guarantees at the business application level.

Migration issues

If you’re migrating from an entirely on-premises system to a hybrid cloud, you want the migration to happen quickly, with little or no loss of up time. Look at the migration tools which the service offers and determine how well they will work with your existing software.

You don’t want to be locked in to one provider. Its services and pricing could change, it could go out of business, or a better alternative might come along. Look for a provider that offers standardized services that you can easily migrate to another vendor. Open architectures such as OpenStack are growing in popularity and help to prevent lock-in.

Security

Moving to a hybrid cloud implies that you treat security seriously. Some of your functions just can’t go out on a public cloud. It can be difficult to find out about a provider’s security record, but you need to be confident it will keep your data safe. Look at the measures it takes, such as physically securing its data center and running the latest operating system versions.

Protection against physical data loss is part of the security picture. A service which keeps redundant data across geographic locations and does frequent backups provides the best protection.

The safety of the private part of your network depends on the interface between it and the public cloud. Make sure it doesn’t inadvertently open a backdoor to your private data.

Performance and cost

How important is performance to your business? Getting the very fastest service may not be cost-effective. Discovering that the service is too slow is just as bad. One important factor is location. The greater the distance to the cloud data center, the more latency you have to deal with. When consistent performance is critical and latency has to be kept to an absolute minimum, a service should stay on the private cloud.

Be sure you understand the pricing model. Are you being charged for processor usage, storage, transactions, or some combination? You need to know whether your budget will be sufficient for normal usage and how sensitive the cost will be to spikes. If you can afford slower retrieval times for some of your data, you may be able to save money by using a less expensive storage option.

Some services will require high performance levels while others can get by with less. Using a mix of cloud services can get consistently quick responses where they count without running up too high a bill.

Look at the monitoring tools which the service offers. You should be able to track your costs from day to day so that you don’t get taken by surprise.

The Bottom Line

Shop carefully when you’re looking to set up a hybrid cloud that will boost your business’s computational capacity, and be sure to talk to us.

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If you haven’t heard about Ransomware by now you must have been living under a rock. This growing cyber threat has taken out millions of IT environments and shows no signs of stopping. And just as it seems we get one step ahead of the virus, a new variant is created that targets a new vulnerability in our systems.

From what we have learned about Ransomware, hackers are always one step ahead of us. Just as we make progress in understanding how to prevent one variant from attacking our systems, another version appears in its place. All of this has led to the conclusion that it is no longer a questions of IF we will be attacked by Ransomware, but WHEN.

To give you a better understanding of what you’re up against, let’s run through the different types of Ransomware. The first thing that is important to understand is that Ransomware viruses usually fall into two categories: Screen Lockers and Encrypters.

Screen Lockers

One variant of Ransomware that is relatively common is Screen Locker. As the name implies, this version of Ransomware locks your screen and prevents your from accessing your files until a ransom is paid. Luckily, Screen Locker is relatively easy to bypass if you have made the proper recovery preparations. All you have to do is connect a hard drive to non-infected system and copy over all the necessary data over.

Encryption Ransomware

unlike Screen Lockers, Encryption Ransomware encrypts your files and can only be accessed by a key that the hacker holds until a ransom is delivered. This version of Ransomware is more difficult to bypass, and can often take days to restore files. Thus it is important to have a proper backup and disaster recovery strategy in place.

Variants of Ransomware

Ransomware is a growing problem that is affecting businesses around the world (read about these common infection methods). With new variants popping up all the time, it is difficult for IT Security solutions to keep up. Here are some of the more popular variants of Ransomware:

1. MSIL/Samas.A

Also known as samsam, it targets backups and is controlled by humans, not a machine or program. Samsam is a Java-based variant that deletes all VSS volume copies and wipes free space on your hard drive. Includes Active Directory harvesting utility that will collect information to be exploited at a later time. Human controlled to attack at most vulnerable time to maximize profit. 

2. CryptoLocker

One of the most well known variants of Ransomware, CryptoLocker is a Trojan horse encryption virus. Files on the infected computer are encrypted and require the user to purchase a password in order to decrypt them.

3. Locky

Locky and its many subvarients work to corrupt your files by scrambling them and renaming them with the extension .locky. In order to unscramble your files, you are forced to pay for a decryption key.

4. KillDisk

A Ransomware variant that targets Linux. KillDisk sabotages companies by deleting data and altering files at random. KillDisk also does not save the encryption key on the disk or online, which makes it difficult to recover files without paying a ransom.

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5. FairWare

Like KillDisk, FareWare also targets Linux users. FareWare attackers hack Linux servers and delete the webfolder. They then demand a ransom for the return of the files. The files are not encrypted by the attackers, just reuploaded to a server under the attacker’s control.

6. KeRanger

KeRanger is a Trojan horse Ransomware virus, and the first Ransomware virus to target Mac OS. It is an encryption virus that works to block access to your important files until a ransom is paid. 

7. FileCoder

Another Trojan virus that encrypts files and tries to extort a ransom is FileCoder. Like KeRanger, FileCoder also targets Mac.

8. Angler

Angler is an exploit kit that is used to open a channel of communication with your system that cyber criminals can use to access your data. Often, attacks via angler are delayed. As the access channel is monitored by humans on the other end, cyber criminals wait for the opportune moment to attack.

9. WannaCry

I’m sure by now you’ve heard the news about WannaCrypt also known as WannaCry.  This new malware (malicious software) or ransomware holds your computer hostage until you pay a ransom.   It recently hit 150 countries and 200,000 computers shutting down hospitals, universities, warehouses, telecommunication companies and banks.

The Bottom Line

In order to avoid being the victim of a ransomware attack, it is important to take proper measures to ensure your files are safe. Backup your files! Practice the 3-2-1 data backup rule. Many attacks can be overcome by restoring from backups. Be careful where you click while on the Internet or in your email, viral links and attachments are the number one cause of Ransomware infection. Protect your devices with endpoint protection and advanced threat protection. Also, avoid these common assumptions that you’re already secure. Watch this on-demand webinar on ransomware preparedness and recovery to learn how to protect your business. 

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To improve your viewing experience, Netflix has chosen to move to the edge computing model. Instead of one, giant centralized data center, Netflix deploys several regional micro-data centers, some of which are located just a couple of miles from your home. Shorter geographical distance between you and Netflix creates lower latency and better quality streaming, allowing you to binge watch your show all day long.  

What is edge computing? 

Edge computing is data processing or computing that’s done at or near the source of where the data is created. It allows data from the internet of things (phones, laptops, PCs, and so much more) to be analyzed and used “at the edge” of the network even before being sent to the cloud. Instead of processing data in massive centralized data centers, it gets processed right at the edge of the network (or extremely close to it), right where the data is collected. What does this mean for you? Instantaneous access to data. 

Why is edge computing important? 

There are several reasons why edge computing is gaining traction, one of which is that it addresses latency concerns. Instead of having your business’ devices connected to a central cloud that could be a couple hundred miles away, edge computing allows your business to connect to a more local cloud and process that data in milliseconds.  

Edge computing can also help separate mission critical and not-so-critical data. Data that is mission critical can be sent over the network to a central cloud data center while inconsequential data can be sent to the “edge” or local computing system for quick processing. It all depends on what data you have and when you need it. 

Another relevant topic on edge computing is the roll-out of 5G services from telecommunications providers. Many predict that telecom providers will build these “micro” data centers next to 5G towers. Business owners could then purchase space in these micro data centers to facilitate edge computing and use the 5G network to connect to a cloud providers’ data center further away. While you can already access Google Drive on your iPhone, 5G and edge computing will likely allow other cloud SaaS providers to roll out mobile apps with high-computing capabilities. 

The Bottom Line 

Edge computing reduces latency and allows your business to process data faster than ever. It’s becoming embedded into the future of cloud computing. At NewCloud, we’ve strategically placed our data centers and co-locations to bring your business ultra-low latency so that you can protect and process data closer to the edge than ever before. Learn more about our cloud hubs and if edge computing makes sense for your business.

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When it comes to cloud for your business, think of the examples above on a larger scale. Instead of loading pictures into a repository, you can back up your files, apps and more to the cloud. Instead of updating your status on Facebook, you can modify joint documents through the cloud. The possibilities of cloud computing are truly endless, and the capabilities are evolving daily. For this reason, more and more companies are shifting to the cloud to keep up with their competition and the changing tide of technology, yet these companies are gaining much more than just a competitive advantage. The benefits of cloud computing are numerous, spanning across all areas of the business, from helping to reduce costs, to increasing efficiency. Here are the top six strategic benefits of cloud computing.

1) Mobility

Cloud computing is opening doors for the mobile executive and virtual teams. The versatility of cloud means that you can stay connected to your business from anywhere, on any device. In this way, cloud is helping executives make the most efficient use of their work day. Not only does cloud provide you more flexibility in working remotely, it allows you to collaborate more easily with team members in other locations.

2) Security

One of the most important factors in any business is the security of data; and one of the biggest threats to data security is the theft of employee laptops. Luckily, with the capabilities of cloud, the loss of a machine does not have to mean the loss of data. Data stored in the cloud can be easily recovered on any device, and wiped from any stolen devices. Other security threats in today’s work environment include ransomware, phishing attempts, and accidental file deletion.

3) Customization

The beauty of cloud is that there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all solution. You can design your own solution to fit the unique needs of your business. Whether your needs are capacity specific or solution specific, your custom cloud can accommodate your requirements. For some, creating a custom cloud solution can be an overwhelming task. As with any new technology, it’s often hard to determine exactly what your needs are until you begin the implementation process. For this reason, most cloud providers will recommend you start the shift with a small investment in backup as a service, a low-risk, low-cost solution.

4) Reduce TCO, Convert CapEx to OpEx

Speaking of expensive hardware, with cloud, your company can drastically reduce its total cost of ownership (TCO) of its IT environment. By moving capital expenditures associated with hardware and on premises solutions to operational expenditures in the form of cloud subscriptions, your business can potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars. A shift to the cloud means no longer paying for the overhead to run your IT environment, the energy costs to power and cool your hardware, the floor space to house it, and management costs.

5) Scalability

Companies experiencing high levels of growth should consider investing in cloud-based services. The scalability of the cloud gives growing businesses the flexibility to expand their bandwidth and capacity on demand. Similarly, if a company is experiencing a period of decline, it can scale down. As a result, companies can adapt to change in real time. When it comes to capacity concerns, cloud can meet your needs and take expensive hardware out of the equation.

6) Optimizes your processes

Speaking of optimization, the cloud offers solutions that make your process more streamlined. Utilizing a document storage solution to find everything you need in one place can help teams work better, together. Additionally, from a sales and marketing perspective, cloud-based Marketing Automation and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools help track and analyze data, giving teams benchmarks to work from. IT teams can also spin up a sandbox environment in the cloud, providing them a platform to complete projects that may otherwise have been too expensive to attempt.

The tools and solutions that are available in the cloud open a door of opportunities for many companies. The possibilities alone are enough to inspire innovation in the curious techies at your company.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, the shift to the cloud is something that cannot be avoided. With benefits like those above, this disruptive technology isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Cloud computing will create a domino effect for your business, improving the way it reacts, adapts and innovates in your industry. Investing in cloud will make your employees more efficient, giving them more time to manage their tasks by reducing the time spent putting out fires. With a more productive staff, your business will see more innovation, which will, in turn, spark growth. For these reasons and more, cloud computing is something that your company can no longer afford to ignore. See how industries like healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing are moving to the cloud.

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