Month: September 2021

Amid all the upheaval of the past couple years of life and business in the age of COVID, certain business trends have risen to the surface as the most likely to create long-term change. These include a sharp rise in remote work and remote cybersecurity, which are changes that don’t look to be going away anytime soon— if ever.

COVID created an unprecedented migration to remote working on a scale that we’ve never seen before. While some of these at-home workers are returning to the office, others aren’t yet and may never come back in a full-time way.

Working from home is here, and it’s here to stay. This transition has created new cybersecurity concerns and required adjustments to cybersecurity strategy along the way. Moving forward, businesses need to adopt specific remote cybersecurity policies to keep their local resources safe while allowing employees the access they need to do their jobs.

These are just some of the ways that remote work affects a business’s cybersecurity strategy.

Access to On-Premises Server and Data

If your business uses an on-premises server, giving access to on-premises employees is straightforward enough. But access for off-site employees is more complex.

Many businesses rely on virtual private network, or VPN, technology to allow off-site employees to access the network, often from their home computers. But once they’ve made that connection into your network, it’s like they’re sitting in the office next to you — with access to everything digital you can access in the office.

Whatever’s going on in their house or off-site location is now exposed onto your network. An insecure device (or one that’s already compromised by malware) could now have access to your entire on-premises server and network.

Your employees do need access to your local network, but this access can create new threats.

Be sure to limit broad VPN-level access to employees and vendors who really need it. And if you do allow users to use their own computers, you need to require monitoring of those devices and ensure they’re protected with antivirus and antimalware solutions.

Best Practice: Company-Owned Hardware at Home

Companies looking to create a robust remote cybersecurity policy for the first time need to consider further adjustments beyond whatever stopgap measures went into place during COVID.

The best practice in this regard is to require at-home employees to use company hardware that’s managed with endpoint protection. This wasn’t always possible during the unexpected COVID shutdowns. Supply chain issues made new hardware hard to source, and this is still an ongoing concern.

But as you transition to a more long-term work-from-home policy, company hardware with endpoint protection should be a part of the picture.

Small Businesses Should Consider Implementing Access Control

Access control is another component of a strong cybersecurity strategy. VPN access becomes more dangerous when users have access to the entire network. Implementing an access control system limits users’ access to only those network areas that they have a business reason to access.

Without access control, any user (and any user’s device) can access anything that’s on your network — from critical, sensitive company data to customer data and more. But with access control, you limit risk by limiting that access.

Not Every VPN Is Created Equal in Remote Cybersecurity

VPN access is still going to be a significant component for remote work for many businesses. It’s important to understand that VPNs aren’t inherently bad or insecure. They just can’t themselves fix insecure or compromised devices that connect through them.

That said, not every VPN is equally powerful or secure. Some are better than others. Your IT partner can help you land on a best-in-class VPN. When coupled with better overall cybersecurity strategy, you’ll reduce your risk considerably.

Need help implementing a better VPN solution or creating a more robust remote cybersecurity strategy? Data Magic is ready to serve all your managed IT needs. Reach out below!

The ability to work remotely is moving from an exception to almost an expectation. At this moment, more than 4 million people all over the United States work remotely. Remote work is an upward trend, with 74% of all professionals expecting remote work to become the norm eventually. 

Moving forward, giving your employees the ability to work remotely with a trustworthy network will not only be vital to recruiting quality talent but is essential for keeping sensitive data safe. The two main network communication technologies for remote work are the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and VPN (Virtual Private Network). If you own a business and have a team, you simply cannot compete if you don’t grasp RDP and VPN technologies. 

What Is an RDP? 

Created by Microsoft in 1998, RDP software is included on every Microsoft device from Windows XP onward. Now, clients also exist for other operating systems as well such as Linux, Unix, macOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. 

With RDP software seeing an increase of 281% since 2020 and an expectation for 50% of businesses to increase their spending on RDP software, the demand for remote access is expected to hit an all-time high by 2027.

RDP, short for Remote Desktop Protocol, is a feature used to give remote team members access to all the electronic resources they would have if they were physically in the office. When your employee connects with an RDP, they are connecting to an individual remote computer. They have complete control of everything on that computer, just like they would if they were using it directly.

Setting up an RDP for your employees is an extremely easy process. You only need to set the remote computer to allow RDP connections and then connect it by using an RDP client. This doesn’t require you to install any additional software if you are using a Windows operating system.

You must rent a Windows server, in which the provider will give you access to the RDP server via a password, username, and IP address.

From here, you or your employee can simply launch the RDP client, enter in the above information, and then configure the SOCKS proxy, which will trick your network into thinking that you are working directly from the base computer.

This is a completely safe and secure process and can hide your system from intruders.

What Is a VPN? 

With at least $2.9 million lost to cybercrime every minute, it’s essential to have a secure network setup for your business.

A VPN or Virtual Private Network operates as an addition to an extensive public network. With a VPN, the user is operating on a private network that provides advanced encryption on any transferred data. Using a VPN for your employees’ remote access to network resources means that you never have to worry about privacy or data breaches.

In addition, a VPN can use any port, whereas an RDP can only use one. Access to only one port can create problems with the port being blocked by the administrator and the employee not having access to the RDP.

Setting up VPNs to facilitate remote work is a very involved process because you must configure several things such as your firewalls, routers, remote server, and any devices used on your network. Most businesses decide to call in IT professionals to get this done. However, if you are providing a VPN for an individual user, they may not require as much security as your entire network does. 

When your team members work remotely, they should first connect to the RDP following the above protocol. After that, they can then connect with the VPN on the remote desktop by following a few easy steps. 

As the VPN is activated, a process called tunneling technology helps protect and encrypt data. Typically, data is divided into two tunnels when it is transferred, but tunneling allows this data to be encapsulated in one encrypted package and transferred through a public network with private network communications.

VPN vs. RDP

A common mistake is thinking that an RDP is synonymous with a VPN. The truth is that while they are often used together in network communications, they have different functions. Using both an RDP and a VPN will give you the advantages and security of each. 

The RDP is what lets your employees access the tools and interface they need to perform a task, while a VPN is what keeps everything encrypted and secure. If you only need your team to work directly on your server, a VPN might be enough on its own. 

In many circumstances, however, you will need both an RDP and a VPN. With an RDP, employees have access to the full range of resources and tools they would have in the office, and while an RDP does offer a certain level of security, it’s best not to use an RDP without a VPN, as there could be privacy breaches. 

Ready to Go Remote? 

Giving your workforce the flexibility of either partly or fully remote work is a smart competitive move. You will attract better job applicants, and your team will stay more consistently productive. You understand what an RDP is, what a VPN is, how the two differ, and why you should use them together. 

But it takes specialized knowledge and experience to understand all the intricacies of putting a system like this together. That is where managed IT services like Data Magic come in. When you get our professional assistance, you won’t have any stress from set-up or management. Get on with the critical work of being a leader and leave the technical details to us. 

Read More: The Benefits of Outsourced IT Support and 7 Things To Look For

Our managed IT service will set up your system and keep it running exactly as it should. When your remote team runs into network issues, this cuts down on productivity. That is why hiring a managed IT service is a necessary investment

Despite how often you hear about how long a laptop lasts, the amount of time they actually last may surprise you. Read on to learn more.

Why is this important to you as a business owner? The average cost of a new business laptop can be up to $3,000, so replacing older models can eat into your equipment budget. However, the last thing you want is your employees using outdated laptops that could fail and compromise your company’s information. 

The Average Laptop Lasts ~3 Years

Most people have the mistaken belief that laptops should last for a minimum of three to five years before they need replacement because laptop manufacturers often suggest this time frame for their laptop warranty period.

However, the truth is that the average laptop only lasts for about three years at the maximum. Many products, including computers, are built with fixed obsolescence. They operate for a short while by design. So, if your employees are using a five-year-old laptop, they may be putting themselves and your company at a security risk.

Source

While the average laptop lasts about three years, most business-use laptops will only last two. Top brands may last for five years with regular use. Most mainstream manufacturers (like Dell, HP, and Toshiba) include a three-year limited warranty with their laptops. The warranty doesn’t predict how long your laptop will actually survive, though.

Manufacturers ask, “How long should a laptop last?” and keep their guarantees within that time frame. The warranty is there to protect your laptop if something unusual goes wrong during the first three years. After that, manufacturers know the risk increases that a computer will develop problems. 

Many factors can affect the answer to the laptop longevity question. A few reasons laptops don’t last as long as people think they should include the release of a new model, the number of laptops available, and user habits. 

New Laptop Models Make Old Ones Obsolete

Many businesses purchase laptops from companies that have already started manufacturing newer model, which means their older models will be phased out and won’t receive software updates anymore.

Variety Can Make it Harder to Get Laptop Repairs

So many different laptop brands are available today with varying quality levels. As such, it can be challenging to find one that lasts long-term or has good customer service when you need help fixing your broken machine.

User Habits Can Shorten Laptop Life

The third reason laptop lifespans tend to be shorter than most people think is how they’re used. To determine how long a laptop will last, you have to consider how well the user takes care of them. 

Source

For example, how much time does an employee spend on a laptop each day? Do they eat near it so crumbs can get beneath the keys? Do they handle it carefully? Are they able to download any software they want that can take up memory or pose security risks? Is there an antivirus program? 

Furthermore, if they use it most of each day without letting it cool down or rest and aren’t careful with it, it will obviously break down faster than if they only used it occasionally.

How Long Do Desktops Last?

So if laptops only last between two and three years, what about desktops? The good news is that desktops tend to last longer. Desktop computers are made of more robust materials, which means there’s less chance of them breaking down. For this reason, most desktop computers will probably still be working after five years – how many laptops can say the same?

Another reason that desktops usually last longer than laptops is because of how often employees are using them. Since desktops are generally stationary, you don’t use them as much, which gives them frequent breaks to help the hardware components last longer. This also means they don’t get roughed up and bumped around in travel.

In addition, if one of the components fails, such as the keyboard or mouse, you can easily replace it with a new one. However, this is much more complicated with a laptop, which is why desktop computers tend to last longer than laptops.

Source: RESCUECOM Holiday Computer Reliability Report

How Often Should You Replace Your Laptop?

How do you know how often you should replace the laptops in your company? Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula to answer this.

You could replace older computers on a schedule to prevent failures and data loss, or you can watch for signs that laptops are nearing the end of their useful lives. 

Some signs will usually emerge to warn you that it’s time to replace an employee’s laptop:

• You can no longer update the software.
• You are no longer able to connect to the internet or other devices on the network.
• Your computer is running hot, and it slows down or freezes.
• You have to bypass security software on your computer that keeps popping up when you try to use a specific program or connect to the internet.
• The hard drive on your laptop is no longer working effectively, leaving less memory storage space for new files and applications.
• Hardware components (keyboard, mouse, ports) on the laptop are failing.

To ensure that your employees’ laptops work well for as long as possible, here are some things you can do:

1. Have your IT staff update any software on the laptop every time a new version becomes available. Don’t wait until the next major release comes out and let the current version sit there without updates when it needs them. You can also get additional help from a managed IT service.
2. Consider investing in a laptop cooling pad to help regulate how hot it runs and how long it lasts before you need to have it serviced.
3. If one component (such as the hard drive) fails, invest in a hardware component that has good customer support or a warranty so you can get assistance if it breaks down again in the future.

Conclusion

To sum up, the answer to the question of laptop longevity depends a great deal on how well you and your employees take care of them. If you maintain laptops properly, they may very well outlast their warranty period and give many years of service. 

However, if you or your employees end up misusing them or not maintaining them at all, then your laptops could last only a year or two, or even less.

If you’re looking for personalized help in managing your company’s laptop or desktop IT needs, we can help. A one-stop managed service like Data Magic is the perfect solution for your company, no matter how big or small. Get in touch today for a free consultation, and let us help you with all of your IT needs.