Cybersecurity can be a scary subject. We get it. It’s daunting and something you just want to ignore in hopes that nothing bad will happen to you.

Sorry friend, this subject is all TOO real to ignore. But we’re here. We got you.

We want to give you the knowledge to protect yourself from phishing attacks, ransomware, and other online scams. So here we go! But to start, a chilling reminder of our recent past:

• June 2018, MyHeritage—more than 92 million email addresses and HyHeritage account passwords were compromised.
• April 2018, The Facebook data breach—this was one of the largest misuses of personal data in history! In fact, just last month, Facebook revealed that 15 MILLION people had their personal info accessed by hackers.
• March 2018, Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal App—an “unauthorized party” gained access to 150 million user names, emails, and encrypted passwords from users of the fitness tracking app.
• July 2017, Equifax data breach—a quick calculation tells us that the 143 million potentially affected makes up a full 44 percent of the country’s total adult population.
• May 2017, WannaCry ransomware attack—this attack will go down in the books as one of the most successful malware campaigns in history.

So yeah, now more than ever you need to be educating yourself about how preventive cybersecurity strategies can keep you safe in a digital world of malicious criminals and hackers.

Cybersecurity awareness tips

1. Enable two-factor authentication
   1. This will make it harder for someone to access any of your accounts.
   2. This added layer of security can make a big impact.
2. Check a website’s SSL Certificate before using
   1. This will ensure the website is safe to use.
   2. Beware—hackers can copy a safe site if you click on a malware link. For example, links found in phishing emails.
3. Never save credit card information online
   1. This is a great basic tip to keep your bank account information secure.
   2. If that site is ever compromised, your card information will be, too.
4. Up your password game
   1. Think of a long password (10+ characters). Using a sentence instead of random letters is much more efficient. For example: eattacosonthe9th!!
   2. Never use the same password on different accounts.
   3. Never write down your passwords and store in a Word file; use password vault software instead.
5. Think twice before clicking an email link
   1. Not all links are created equal. Some seemingly safe links can wreak havoc.
   2. Phishing emails are becoming harder to detect. Look into social engineering training.

These basic tips can help you, your employees, and your business stay more protected when using your computer.

Emerald City Solutions is an information security company offering high-grade, professional IT business solutions using cutting-edge technology to help our customers modernize their business, protect valuable assets, and improve business connectivity. For more tips and tricks, check out Emerald City Solutions’ weekly blog or give them a call at 206.340.1616 to learn more about IT and cybersecurity services for your business.

By Erich Armbruster, Ashworth Homes, The Lens News

One of the biggest challenges facing our region is a lack of attainable housing, especially near job centers. Continued growth is driving the demand for more housing and the strong demand is outpacing supply, causing home prices and rents to soar. This is making housing increasingly out of reach for families and workers and threatening our area’s quality of life.

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By Jennifer Hill, Dataworks Consulting

It’s that time of year again.

October is budget season. Advertising, hiring costs, and accounting services may be high on your list, but have you factored system updates into your 2019 budget? It may not yet be on your radar, but Microsoft has announced that the Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 systems’ end-of-life will be January 14, 2020.

Did You Know?

System replacement can be a huge expense and undertaking, especially in small-to-midsized businesses or if technology isn’t typically on your radar. It is such an undertaking, in fact, that it is tempting to ignore the problem altogether. However, that’s not a temptation you want to indulge! When Microsoft deems a product “end-of-life,” that means they no longer release security patches and updates. As such, every end-of-life operating system you have becomes a security risk. Hackers and malicious software creators know this.

Additionally, if you are not actively patching all your systems regularly now, you are leaving backdoors open to your network and data. The release of security patches by software manufacturers is essentially an announcement of vulnerability. Even if your data is in the cloud, it can be accessed through your local systems if they are breached.

Given the challenges of year-end and a new year, Dataworks recommends that all Server 2008 and Windows 7 systems be replaced well before the end of 2019.

Four Ways to Prepare for Windows 7 and Server 2008 End-of-Life:

• Identify what systems need to be upgraded. Older hardware and equipment may be unable to support operating system upgrades, and so we recommend system replacement rather than merely updating the operating system.
• Develop a timeline and budget for system replacements now. If preparing for Windows 7 and 2008 end-of-life is not there already, it’s time to get them in your 2019 budget. The sooner you can begin to plan for this transition, the more strategic you can be in budgeting.
• If any old systems are business-critical and your business must run old systems, work with your IT provider to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place, namely segmentation. However, running outdated software and OS is never recommended.
• Train employees on the new operating systems. Training should accompany rollouts and your IT provider should offer training with new systems. With a couple tips and tricks, Windows 10 is easy to navigate. Just be sure to account for the learning curve.

Budgets and end-of-year checklists are a headache. Taxes and paperwork are just the tip of the iceberg. As a small-to-midsized business, you have to think about end-of-year bonuses and commissions, getting employees up to speed about their FSA funds, and rounding out 401(k) contributions. The bottom line is that you do not want to be worrying about system replacements on top of year-end tasks. Start now on your system replacement plans.

As you add the final touches to your business’ 2019 budget, make sure to account for the replacement of any end of life systems, as well as other technology platforms that need improvement. Do you need a new software to enhance productivity? Do you need faster internet? Consider outsourcing your IT to ensure these upgrades are done correctly and timely.

If you and your business are looking for assistance preparing for Windows 7 and Server 2008 end-of-life or improving any of your technology platforms, give us a call at 425.687.6185.

MBAKS member Dataworks Consulting is a managed service provider for small-to-midsized businesses in the Seattle metro area. We are passionate about enabling you to do what you do best by removing the hassle and uncertainty that often comes with technology. You are not in the business of solving technology problems—we are.