bestpractices

Rolle IT Receives Innovation of Valor Award

Rolle IT is grateful and honored to receive the Innovation of Valor award from the Brevard Veterans Coalition! Rolle IT is proud to be home to many Veterans, military families, and patriots.

Thank you to the Brevard Veterans Coalition for their dedication to serving the Veterans of Brevard County and their families through mentorship, assistance, and community-building. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eFUKYkcf

#valor#innovation#Brevard#veteran#Spacecoast#Techfirm#award

Safeguarding Your Digital Fortress: A Guide to Protecting Your Personal Data.

In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, the protection of personal data has become a paramount concern. As an IT company committed to digital security, Rolle IT understands the significance of safeguarding your digital identity. In this blog post, we’ll share essential tips and best practices to help you fortify your digital fortress and ensure the security of your personal data.

  1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords: The foundation of digital security starts with robust passwords. Create unique passwords for each of your accounts, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Regularly update your passwords to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
  2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password. Whether it’s through a text message, email, or authenticator app, 2FA significantly reduces the chances of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised.
  3. Regularly Update Your Software: Outdated software is a common entry point for cyber threats. Ensure that your operating system, antivirus software, and all applications are regularly updated. Software updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities, making it harder for cybercriminals to exploit weaknesses.
  4. Be Cautious of Phishing Attempts: Phishing attacks are a prevalent method used by cybercriminals to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. Be skeptical of unexpected emails, messages, or links. Verify the legitimacy of communication before clicking on links or providing any personal information.
  5. Encrypt Your Data: Encrypting your data adds an additional layer of protection, making it unreadable without the appropriate decryption key. Utilize encryption tools for sensitive files and consider using encrypted communication channels, especially when sharing confidential information.
  6. Review App Permissions: Be mindful of the permissions granted to apps on your devices. Some apps request access to more information than necessary. Regularly review and update these permissions to limit the data exposure in case of a security breach.
  7. Secure Your Wi-Fi Network: A secure Wi-Fi network is crucial for protecting your personal data at home. Use a strong, unique password for your Wi-Fi, enable WPA3 encryption, and change the default username and password on your router to prevent unauthorized access.
  8. Back Up Your Data: Regularly back up your important data to an external drive or a secure cloud service. In the event of a data breach or loss, having backups ensures that you can quickly recover your information without succumbing to ransom demands.
  9. Educate Yourself on Cybersecurity: Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices. Knowledge is a powerful tool in defending against digital threats. Follow reputable cybersecurity blogs, attend webinars, and invest time in learning about emerging threats.

Protecting your personal data requires a proactive approach and a combination of technical measures and user awareness. By implementing these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber threats and enjoy a more secure digital experience. At Rolle IT, we are committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the digital landscape securely. Stay safe, stay secure!

Cybersecurity Workshop July & August 2023

Cybersecurity Workshop- Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce (cocoabeachchamber.com)

Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber, Rolle IT and Alliance Cyber Present:

4 Part Cybersecurity Training Series

This is a 4-part series covering the topic of Cybersecurity

  • Earn a Certificate of Annual Awareness Training
  • Learn how to protect yourself and your business against cyber threats.
  • Find out if your business is compliant.

7.17.23 Cyber Threats and Bad Actors Passwords
7.24.23 Passwords, Physical, and Mobile Security
7.31.23 Social Media and Online Security
8.07.23 Compliance

Join us for the entire series or just take single session.

$100 4-Part Workshop

$50 Single Session

Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast

6525 3rd Street, Suite 304, Rockledge, FL, 32955, United States

 
Instruction led by industry experts Alec Hall with Alliance Cyber and Cordell Rolle with Rolle IT

Data Security for Law Firms

Rolle IT serves many small and medium size law firms: We understand that as a law firm, protecting client data is of utmost importance. Here is a basic list of security and technology measures that firms of all size should be implementing.

Access control: Limit access to sensitive data to only those who need it. Implement strong password policies, two-factor authentication, and access controls to prevent unauthorized access.

Best Practices, Policies and Procedures: Consulting with an IT and Cybersecurity expert to craft policies and procedures that are inline with your organization’s needs.

Encryption: Encrypt all sensitive data in transit and at rest. This will prevent unauthorized access to data even if it is intercepted or stolen.

Backups and disaster recovery: Regularly backup data and have a disaster recovery plan in place in case of any natural disasters, cyber attacks or data breaches. Rolle IT recommends a comprehensive back up plan.

Secure communications: Use secure communication channels such as secure email and messaging platforms to communicate with clients and colleagues. Not all email platforms are secure.

Anti-virus and anti-malware: Install and regularly update anti-virus and anti-malware software to protect against malware and viruses that can compromise data security.

Proactive Employee training: Train employees on data security best practices, including how to identify and report suspicious activity and how to avoid common data security risks.

Physical security: Implement physical security measures to protect against unauthorized access to physical data storage devices such as hard drives, servers, and backups. Physical security assessments as well as digital security assessments should be part of ongoing data security awareness training.

Vendor management: Vet and manage third-party vendors and service providers who handle sensitive data on behalf of the law firm.

Data enablement– Having secure documents easy to find for the right user.

Overall, a law firm should have a comprehensive data security program that includes policies, procedures, and technical measures to protect client data.

Here are some things a law firm should look for in an IT company:

Expertise: Look for an IT company that has experience working with law firms and understands the unique challenges and requirements of the legal industry.

Security: The IT company should have expertise in data security and should be able to provide the necessary measures to ensure that the law firm’s data is protected.

Support: The IT company should offer fast and reliable technical support, and have a help desk that is available 24/7 in case of emergencies.

Scalability: The IT company should be able to scale its services as the law firm grows and its technology needs change.

Backup and disaster recovery: The IT company should provide backup and disaster recovery services to ensure that the law firm’s data is protected in case of a natural disaster, cyber attack, or data breach.

Cloud services: The IT company should be able to provide cloud services that can allow lawyers to work remotely and access data from anywhere.

Compliance: The IT company should be knowledgeable about the legal industry’s compliance requirements, such as those related to data privacy and confidentiality.

Cost-effectiveness: The IT company should offer cost-effective solutions that meet the law firm’s needs without breaking the bank.

Overall, a law firm needs an IT company that can provide reliable and secure technology services, and that can work collaboratively with the law firm to help it achieve its goals.

Rolle IT supports companies nationwide and is located on the Space Coast. Rolle IT is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

Speed up your business internet. Contact a professional.

Having fast internet in the workplace is more important than ever before. From connectivity to remote work and virtual meetings, almost everything we do online relies on a strong and reliable internet connection. Professional IT services can ensure that your internet speed is appropriate for your business needs. Faster Internet means:

  1. Increased Productivity

One of the most significant benefits of having fast internet is increased productivity. Slow internet speeds are frustrating and can cause delays in completing tasks. With a fast internet connection, you can quickly load web pages, download files, and upload documents, allowing you to work more efficiently.

  1. Better Streaming Quality

Streaming has become an integral part of our daily work lives, whether it’s streaming podcasts as associates work, or streaming music on Spotify, or the lobby TV’s video streaming service. With a slow internet connection, streaming can be frustrating, with buffering and lagging, making it difficult to use and frustrating your clients.

  1. Seamless Video Conferences

    A fast internet connection ensures that video conferencing is seamless and allows you to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. This can significantly improve your productivity and ensure that you can conduct business effectively.

    For example, if you’re working on a project that requires you to upload large files to a shared drive, a fast internet connection can significantly reduce the time it takes to complete the task. This, in turn, allows you to focus on other important tasks and increase your overall productivity.

    Remote work and virtual meetings have become the norm in today’s business world, and having a fast internet connection is crucial for seamless video conferencing. With slow internet speeds, video calls can lag and freeze, making it difficult to communicate effectively, and distracting from your message.

    1. Reliable Connections

    Having a solid internet and infrastructure connection ensures that you will never miss an email, or important notification.

    Reliable internet can ensure that you see all your emails by providing a stable and uninterrupted connection to your email server. When you have a reliable internet connection, you can be confident that your email client will be able to connect to the server and retrieve all your messages.

    If your internet connection is unreliable, you may experience issues with receiving or sending emails. For example, if your connection drops in the middle of downloading your emails, you may miss some messages. Likewise, if your connection is slow, it may take a long time for your email client to retrieve your messages, or you may experience time-outs that prevent you from accessing your emails.

    To ensure that you receive all your emails, your IT provider should also make sure that your email settings are configured correctly.

      What can you do? Contract with an IT professional.

      Among other your IT professional should make sure that you are receiving the speed that’s optimal for your needs, optimize your network devices and configuration, install network monitoring tools and provide network security.

      Rolle IT supports companies nationwide and is located on the Space Coast. Rolle IT is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

        Cybersecurity Basics Checklist

        If you work in a hybrid position, it’s likely that you are at higher risk for becoming the victim of a cyber-attack. Connecting to your work network at home or at the local coffee spot or having your work applications on a personal phone can leave you and your data vulnerable. There are dozens of ways that users can be left open to digital attacks, and the opportunity for cyber-crime evolves every day as technology changes. Here are some ways that you can protect yourself and your data.

        1. Use strong and unique passwords: It is essential to use strong and unique passwords for each of your online accounts. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long, contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
        2. Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. It requires you to provide an additional piece of information, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can access your account.
        3. Be cautious of phishing scams: Phishing scams are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to steal your personal information. They usually come in the form of an email or text message that appears to be from a trusted source, asking you to provide sensitive information. Be cautious when opening emails or clicking links: Don’t open emails or click links from unknown sources, as they may contain malware.
        4. Keep your software updated: Keeping your software updated, including your operating system and antivirus software, is crucial to protect against known vulnerabilities and exploits.
        5. Use a firewall: A firewall can help block unauthorized access to your network.
        6. Secure your home network: Make sure to change the default username and password on your router, use strong encryption methods such as WPA2, and turn off remote management.
        7. Limit your personal information online: Be cautious of the information you share online, especially on social media platforms. Cybercriminals can use this information to steal your identity or commit fraud.
        8. Backup your data: Regularly backup your important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage. This will ensure that you have access to your data in case of a cyber attack or system failure.
        9. Use a Secure Network: When using public Wi-Fi use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address, making it difficult for cybercriminals to intercept your data.
        10. Use a password manager: A password manager can help you generate and store strong and unique passwords for all your accounts.

        Rolle IT helps businesses secure their data and puts best practices in place to protect users and companies. User Focused IT Consulting.

        IT Consulting; Securing Your Commercial WIFI Network

        Wi-Fi is a critical component to having a successful brick and mortar location for your customers. People expect it. Its easy to set up, but when set up the wrong way leaves you and your business open to threats. With the rise of cyber theft and cybercrimes, securing your commercial Wi-Fi has become more important than ever before.

        Here are some reasons why you should secure your commercial Wi-Fi:

        1. Protecting sensitive data: Businesses deal with a lot of sensitive information, such as customer data, financial information, and confidential business plans. If your Wi-Fi network is not secured, hackers can easily intercept this information and use it for malicious purposes. By securing your Wi-Fi network, you can protect your business’s sensitive data and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
        2. Compliance with regulations: Depending on your industry, you may be subject to various data protection and privacy regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and legal troubles. By securing your Wi-Fi network properly, you can ensure that you are meeting these requirements and avoiding any potential legal issues.
        3. Avoiding network congestion: Unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be easily accessed by unauthorized users, leading to a high volume of traffic and network congestion. This can cause slow network speeds, connectivity issues, and system crashes, leading to decreased productivity and profitability.
        4. Protecting your reputation: A data breach or a cyber-attack can have a severe impact on your business’s reputation. Customers may lose trust in your business, leading to a decrease in sales and revenue. By securing your Wi-Fi network, you can prevent these incidents from occurring and maintain your business’s reputation.
        5. Ensuring employee productivity: An unsecured Wi-Fi network can be a hotbed for distractions, such as social media, online shopping, and streaming services. By securing your Wi-Fi network, you can restrict access to non-work-related websites and ensure that your employees are productive during work hours.

        Securing your commercial Wi-Fi is crucial for protecting your business’s sensitive data, complying with regulations, avoiding network congestion, protecting your reputation, preventing attacks and ensuring employee productivity. Unfortunately, its not as simple as changing the default password on your Wi-Fi set up. Its best to have an expert look at your network to determine what vulnerabilities exist to be mitigated. If you haven’t already done so, take the necessary steps to secure your Wi-Fi network today.

        5 Ways a MSP Will Benefit Your Business

        Originally Posted by Aimee Iorio. A Managed Service Provider (MSP) remotely manages your business’ IT needs to save you time and money. Services offered can include network security, 24/7 remote monitoring, backups, updates, and will be curated for your business or project. By outsourcing this work to an IT company, you can rest assured that data breaches or hacks are mitigated.  

        1. The Amount of Time and Money Spent on Managing Your Own System

        Managing your business’ infrastructure is a complex and time-consuming undertaking. The time you spend managing your technology limits the time you have to use the skills you possess to increase the company’s value. A technology expert is required to be fully effective in protecting your business’ assets. Acquiring an expert of your own is a costly job position to fill and can still be limiting. A MSP ensures all technology is running smoothly; increasing the efficiency of your employees and when there is an issue the turnaround time is fast. Managed service providers can replace the need for an IT department, saving thousands of dollars a year. Time is valuable; leave it up to a team of experts to take care of your technology needs.

        2. Customized Services to Fit Your Needs

        One of the greatest features of having a managed IT service is that it gives your business the resources of a complete IT department. Your business may need a variety of services or only one or two. Curating a set of services to be the most beneficial for your business is important to increase the efficiency and productivity of your business. Every business will have a different set of needs and these needs will change with company growth; a MSP will be their every step of the way.

        3. Reduced Downtime

        Downtime, due to technology issues and errors, equates to loss of money. Updates, bugs, and viruses can cause complete loss of productivity for hours or even up to days. A MSP ensures updates are done after business hours and security checks are done as frequently as requested to avoid any downtime. If a problem does arise, they are fixed quickly so you can be back to doing what you do best.

        4. Knowing Your Information and Assets are Protected

        Ensuring your confidential information and assets are protected is crucial. A MSP can provide proactive and comprehensive security, monitoring, and management. Antivirus solutions are critical in protecting the most valuable parts of your business. By outsourcing these tasks to experts, you can be assured you are protecting your business in every way.

        5. Adding Value to Your Business

        When you find the managed service provider that fits your needs, you will be increasing the value of your business. The valuable time you spend updating your technology or dealing with system errors will be restored and now will be spent on growing your business. The right MSP will ensure your technology is always up and running to ensure efficiency and productivity is at an all time high.

        Looking for a managed service provider? Rolle IT offers a wide range of IT services to our partners 24 hours a day. We are user focused and focus on adding real value to your business. We even created PRODesk which is a curated package that fits many business’ needs.

        PRODesk includes a remote service desk, antivirus, patch management, mail filtering, a service desk call center, backup storage, and website filtering. Learn more about PRODesk here.

        How Rolle IT’s MSP Programs Can Help Your Business

        Originally Posted by Aimee Iorio, Financially, can your business survive a data breach that costs you $3.86 million?  If the answer is NO, it may be time to consider contacting Rolle IT and inquiring about our Information Technology Managed Services.  You have spent countless hours building your business, don’t let a disruptive cyber attack take that from you. 

        In 2020, the average cost of a data breach was estimated at $3.86 million, according to IBM.  This includes a combination of direct and indirect costs related to time and effort dealing with a breach, lost opportunities such as customer churn resulting from bad publicity, and regulatory fines. Though the average cost of a breach is relatively unchanged, IBM says the costs are getting smaller for companies that are proactive and much larger for those that don’t take any precautions.

        As your business moves into a new year, new challenges and opportunities are presented.  Now is the optimal time to assess some concrete ways you can improve your business. One crucial decision that will assist your business in a variety of important areas, is to utilize the assistance of a trusted Information Technology Managed Service Provider.

        Every modern business depends on technology and data. However, like your business, the technology landscape is also evolving.  With this never ending evolution, the security risks associated with maintaining your companies information technology is also increasing with time.

        Information Technology Managed Service Provider (MSP) is a company that remotely manages your company’s IT infrastructure and/or end-user systems, typically on a proactive basis and under a subscription model.   A MSP will supply your company with 24/7 monitoring, Improved Security, Compliance, Disaster Recovery and Data Backups, Increased Efficiency, Comprehensive Reporting, Cost Effective Savings, and Industry Competitive Advantage.

        The majority of companies (Large, Medium or Small) have limited in-house IT capabilities. Opting to partner with Rolle IT is a great way to get an industry expert in your corner, 24/7. Despite the day or time, Rolle IT is available to help you solve any IT issues.  Over 50% of business owners cite time as the single biggest obstacle to adopting new technologies. Rolle IT can help minimize this obstacle and allow you to focus on growing your business, not worrying about IT.

        Rolle IT will eliminate your concern about spending time keeping your business technology compliant, secure, and functioning. With our service level agreements, we will help prevent violation fines, security breaches, and downtime before they happen. Rolle IT experts will be proactive in monitoring for future threats, saving you time and money down the line.

        Secure Your Future Today

        In this technology driven business world, companies are under more pressure to provide top-of-the-line IT services. The need and business advantages for outsourced services are more prevalent than ever. Reduce your operating costs and increase the quality of your services by adopting a Managed Service Provider, contact Rolle IT today.

        Veteran owned and operated, let Rolle IT have your six while helping you save some serious cash.  The best MSPs, such as Rolle IT, offer cloud migration or transition services to transfer necessary data, so you can get started right away.

        Rolle IT will work with you to clearly define your requirements and note the improvements you would like to see. Be leery of providers who only discuss their characteristics (their toolsets, processes, and quality of resources) and not your goals. It’s important that you choose a provider that can meet your needs now and in the future.

        Contact us now and receive a free, confidential risk assessment that will give you the certainty you need to get started with our managed services today.

        Because of the Pandemic, Cyber Security is Important Now More Than Ever

        Originally posted by Aimee Iorio. Cyber attacks are more common then you may realize.  Recent reports show that malicious hackers attack a computer in the US every 39 seconds!  Are you fully protected?

        With so much of our daily lives conducted online these days, it’s mind-blowing that the issue of cyber security is not discussed more often. Usually the only time cyber security is brought into the spotlight is during a celebrity photo leak or a breach of political security.

        However, common cyber crime is much more prevalent than these occasional headlines suggest. Every day, cyber criminals victimize people who shop, bank, send or receive money online.  Even people using social media to stay in touch with friends, customers, and family members are being victimized.

        The sad truth is that few of these criminals can be described as experts or masterminds. The lack of awareness about cyber security makes most people an easy target for anyone trying to hack into their personal data.  Gone are the days of highly intelligent masterminds, sitting in their mother’s basement writing malicious code to hack a website.  With the advancement of technology and the increasing number of connected devices, the twelve year old next door could be hacking you right now.  

        There has been a large spike in the number of data hacks and system breaches of name brand companies in recent years, causing millions of dollars in damages to recover the data and penalties paid through fines. Just a few examples are:

        Facebook, the social media giant, had over 540 million user records exposed to Amazon’s cloud computing service.

        Equifax, the global credit rating agency, experienced a data breach that affected a staggering 147 million customers. The costs of recovering from the system hack were recently estimated at $439 million.

        The UK National Health Service (NHS), was temporarily brought to its knees with a relatively rudimentary ransomware attack, resulting in canceled operations and considerable clean-up costs.  

        Yahoo, the web giant, suffered a breach affecting every one of its 3 billion customer accounts. Direct costs of the hack ran to around $350 Million.

        Not only do nations and businesses face threats from the actions and intentions of hackers, but individuals face many risks as well. Identity theft is a huge issue, where hackers steal an individual’s personal information and sell it for profit. This type of attack could also put the personal safety of an individual and his or her family at risk.

        In other cases, the hackers use blackmail and extortion after stealing a person’s identity and demand ransom money to take no further action.  Ransomware attacks are when hackers steal computer files or lock files on your computer by encrypting them and demand money in return.  This type of cyber attack has exploded during the pandemic and according to Coveware, a ransomware mitigation company, the average ransom payment went from $41,000 in the third quarter of 2019 to $234,000 in 2020.

        With a simple scan of your computer, Rolle IT can identify your risk level and supply a fully detailed report that would outline your exposure.  We can then work with you to eliminate these potential risks before you fall victim.