How Business Leaders Can Set the Tone

You plan on investing in the latest security software and even reached out to a great IT team, such as Databranch, for help. However, one misstep by an unsuspecting employee and a wrong click on a malicious link later, you are staring at a costly breach that threatens to jeopardize the future of your business.

Scary right? But it doesn’t have to be your reality!

The best way to secure your business isn’t just through firewalls or antivirus alone. Your employees also play an equally critical role in protecting your business. When employees lack adequate security training, they can become easy targets and fall prey to phishing scams or malicious malware.

That’s where your role as a business leader becomes crucial. You have the power to steer your team to embrace a security-first culture. In this blog, we will show you how prioritizing continuous training and support can transform your workforce into your greatest cybersecurity ally.

Why Prioritize Employee Cyber Awareness Training?

Your employees are like the guardians of your castle. But they must be equipped with the weapons and skills they need to defend you from your enemies.

Let’s explore how training empowers your employees to:

Identify and Avoid Phishing Attacks

When employees have proper cybersecurity training, they can spot the red flags in a suspicious email. They recognize the telltale signs like unfamiliar sender addresses, grammar errors or unexpected attachments. They also become more cautious when they see a suspicious link. This helps businesses like yours reduce risks by avoiding costly mistakes.

Practice Good Password Hygiene

Training ensures your employees know why good password hygiene is so important and necessary to reduce cyber risks. They also learn the value of creating strong and unique passwords, how to use a password manager and the importance of employee accountability.

Understand Social Engineering Tactics

Untrained employees can easily fall prey to the manipulative behaviors used in social engineering scams. Training helps them spot if someone is impersonating a trusted individual to extract sensitive information. It also equips them with the knowledge of how to question and verify identities when they suspect someone is impersonating a trusted authority.

Handle Data Securely

A crucial aspect of employee cyber awareness training is educating your team on how to handle data securely. When employees are well-trained and get regular refreshers on storage practices and updated encryption methods, it can greatly reduce cyber risks.

Report Suspicious Activity:

Effective training empowers employees to identify and report suspicious activities, such as unauthorized access attempts or unusual system behavior. Trained employees feel confident and are more likely to report issues, thereby preventing small issues from snowballing into serious security threats.

The Importance of Leadership in Cybersecurity

As the leader of your team, you have the power to set the right tone and practices to ensure your business is protected. When employees see your commitment to improving cyber hygiene, they’re more likely to feel inspired and follow suit.

Here is how you can make a difference:

Communication is Key

Make it clear to your employees that you take cybersecurity seriously. Ensure your workforce understands all security protocols, and explain all key information in an easy-to-understand and relatable language. Make communication a two-way street by encouraging your team to come back with feedback or questions so you can identify any gaps in the training.

Set the Standard

Instill a culture of cybersecurity best practices into every aspect of your business—whether it’s investing in software, third-party vendors or managing policies related to remote work and data management. Doing so will help you set the right foundation and culture, reinforcing the importance of staying vigilant and proactive.

Empower your Employees

Ensure your employees have access to password managers, multi-factor authentication and regular cyber awareness training. By empowering your employees, you can be confident that they will play an active role in protecting your business from threats.

Promote Continuous Training and Learning

Building an organization with a security-first culture requires time, dedication and continuous effort. Your employee training and learning, therefore, will have to be a continuous process, not an annual event. By investing in ongoing training and learning, you can ensure your employees are updated on the latest threats and security practices.

Embrace Security as a Shared Responsibility

Promote a culture where accountability is cherished as a shared value and every employee understands their role in protecting the business. When your team truly recognizes how their actions can impact the business, they can take more ownership and play an active role in securing your assets.

Wondering how to get Started?

A boring, check-the-box training won’t cut it. Your team needs practical training that helps them stay ahead of evolving cyberthreats.

But don’t be overwhelmed! You don’t have to figure it out alone. Databranch can help you create comprehensive training tailored to your team’s needs. Let’s work together to strengthen your defenses. Schedule a consultation today and see how we can help protect your business.

Download our infographic below to learn more about how a business leader can create a cyber-aware workforce.

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Uncovering Threats and the Benefits of Training

When you think about cybersecurity, your mind might jump to firewalls, antivirus software or the latest security tools. But let’s take a step back—what about your team? The reality is that even with the best technology, your business is only as secure as the people who use it every day.

Here’s the thing: cybercriminals are intelligent. They know that targeting employees is often the easiest way into your business. And the consequences? They can range from data breaches to financial losses and a lot of sleepless nights.

So, let’s break this down. What threats should you be worried about, and how can regular training protect your team and business?

Common Cyberthreats that Specifically Target Employees

These are some of the main ways attackers try to trick your team:

Social Engineering

Social Engineering is a tactic in almost all cybercriminal playbooks. Attackers rely on manipulation, posing as trusted individuals or creating urgency to fool employees into sharing confidential data or granting access. It’s about exploiting trust and human behavior rather than technology.

Phishing

A popular form of social engineering, phishing involves deceptive emails or messages that look official but aim to steal sensitive information or prompt clicks on harmful links.

Malware

Malware refers to malicious software designed to infiltrate systems and steal data, corrupt files or disrupt operations. It often enters through unintentional downloads or unsafe websites, putting your data and functionality at risk.

Ransomware

A specific kind of malware, ransomware, encrypts files and demands payment to unlock them. It’s one of the most financially damaging attacks, holding businesses hostage until a hefty ransom is paid.

Employee Cyber Awareness Training and its Benefits

You wouldn’t let someone drive your car without knowing the rules of the road, right? The same logic applies here. Cyber awareness training equips your team with the knowledge to spot and stop threats before they escalate. It’s about turning your employees from potential targets into your first line of defense.

The benefits of regular employee cyber awareness training are:

• Fewer data breaches: Well-trained employees are less likely to fall for phishing or other scams, which lowers the chance of a data breach.

• Stronger compliance: Many industries require security training to meet legal standards. By staying compliant, you avoid potential fines and build trust with partners.

• Better reputation: Showing a commitment to security through regular training shows clients and customers that you take data protection seriously.

• Faster responses: When employees know how to spot and report issues quickly, the response to any threat is faster and more effective, minimizing potential damage.

• Reduced insider threats: Educated employees understand the risks, minimizing both accidental and intentional insider threats.

• Cost savings: Data breaches come with huge costs, from legal fees and ceased operations, to loss of customer trust. Training can lessen the chances of cyber incidents and save your company money in the long run.

So, Where do you Start?

Start with a solid cybersecurity program. This isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s ongoing. Your team needs to stay updated on new threats and best practices. And it’s not just about sitting through a boring presentation. Make it engaging, practical and relevant to their daily roles.

By investing in your team, you’re not just boosting their confidence—you’re safeguarding your business. And in a world where cyberthreats evolve faster than ever, that’s a win you can count on.

Not sure how to do it alone? Send us an email at [email protected]. Our years of experience and expertise in cyber awareness training are exactly what you need. For more information, you can also download our eBook below.

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Despite believing they were immune, a small law firm in Maryland fell victim to a ransomware attack. Similarly, an accounting firm in the Midwest lost all access to its client information, financial records and tax files. They assumed that antivirus software was all the security they needed to thwart a cyberattack.

In both incidents, the victims were small businesses that fell prey to sophisticated cyberattacks because of hidden security vulnerabilities that a comprehensive risk assessment could’ve identified.

When it comes to IT risk assessments, business owners have several misconceptions that leave them vulnerable. In this blog, we’ll uncover common cyber risk assessment myths and discuss the reality. By the end, we’ll also show you how to build an effective risk assessment strategy.

Misconceptions can hurt your business

Here are some common myths that all business owners must avoid:

Myth 1: We’re Too Small to be a Target

Reality: Hackers often use automated tools to look for vulnerabilities in a system, and small businesses invariably end up on the receiving end since many of them lack the resources to build a strong cybersecurity posture.

Myth 2: Risk Assessments are too Expensive.  

Reality: When you factor in the actual business loss due to a cyberattack, investing in proactive cybersecurity makes for a smart business decision. Proactive security practices not only protect your money but also save you from costly lawsuits and reputational damage.

You can utilize our Recovery Time Calculator to see what the cost of downtime looks like for your business.

Myth 3: We have Antivirus Software, so we’re Protected.

Reality: You can’t rely only on antivirus software to protect your IT infrastructure. Cybercriminals today have become highly skilled and can effortlessly deploy advanced threats. To secure your business, you must have a comprehensive risk assessment strategy.

Regularly assessing and addressing vulnerabilities will not only protect your business but also lay the foundation for your long-term business growth.

Myth 4: Risk Assessments are a One-Time Event.

Reality: Today’s businesses operate in a threat landscape that is constantly evolving. Without regular risk assessments, you won’t be able to build a strong cybersecurity posture. Without regular risk scans, new vulnerabilities can creep in and leave your business vulnerable to cyberthreats.

Myth 5: We can Handle Risk Assessment Ourselves.

Reality: Businesses often rely on internal resources to maintain cybersecurity. However, joining forces with an IT service provider can be a game changer for your business. An experienced service provider such as Databranch has the expertise, resources and advanced tools to carry out effective assessments. We also have the latest knowledge of emerging threats and vulnerabilities, so we can protect your business better than anybody else. 

Why You Need an IT Service Provider

Teaming up with an experienced IT service provider can help you:

1. Access accurate and up-to-date information on risk assessments without getting sidetracked by misconceptions.
2. Conduct thorough assessments to identify weaknesses in your IT systems and resolve them before they can pose any threat.
3. Implement a robust security strategy that can help protect your business from a wide range of threats.
4. Ensure your business has a fighting chance against evolving threats so you can focus on building your business instead of worrying about cybersecurity.

Take Control of Your Risks

Are you finding it a challenge to manage your IT risks all on your own? Download our checklist today for comprehensive steps to get started.

Cyberthreats are always lurking, and with one mistake, you could be the next victim. Cyber incidents can slam the breaks on your growth. That’s why you need Databranch’s team of IT experts to help you build a resilient cybersecurity posture. Team up with Databranch today for professional help navigating the complexities of cybersecurity with ease.

Schedule a free consultation now!

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Running a business is like being in the driver’s seat of a high-performance car. It’s fast-paced, competitive and full of passion. But even the best racecars can’t go far without regular pitstops.

Skipping those important checks is like failing to assess the security risks in your business. You may initially save time, but at what cost?

Risk assessments are important for identifying risks and maintaining asset safety and efficiency to keep your business at its peak. Without them, you leave your business vulnerable.

How Risk Assessments Keep Your Business Running Smoothly

Regular risk assessments help you in a lot of ways:

1. Spot Vulnerabilities Before They Derail You

A slight oversight during a race can leave you in the back of the pack. Similarly, unseen risks in business, whether related to cybersecurity, operations or physical security, can have serious consequences. Risk assessments help detect these problems before they turn into major disasters.

2. Protect Your Most Valuable Assets

Your car’s engine, fuel and wheels are its lifeblood. Lose one, and you’re out of the running.

Your business’s lifeblood is its data, infrastructure and people. Risk assessments give you the chance to protect against cyberattacks, breaches or operational failures that could bring your operations to a standstill.

3. Stay Within The Rules of the Road

Following the rules of the race keeps you on track. Failure to comply leads to penalties. In the same way, companies must comply with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA. Regular risk assessments help you meet compliance standards, avoid hefty fines and maintain your reputation as a responsible and trusted organization.

4. Make Smarter, Faster Decisions

A finely tuned racecar empowers you to go with the best racing strategy confidently. Risk assessments do the same for your business. With knowledge of potential threats, you can make informed strategic decisions and ensure you are always ahead of the curve.

5. Boost Your Operational Efficiency

The smoother the car runs, the easier it is to handle. The same goes for your business. By identifying inefficiencies and weaknesses, risk assessments help you streamline operations, reduce downtime and improve overall performance. This, in turn, creates a more resilient, cost-effective business model.

Another way to reduce downtime is to adopt a comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) strategy. Databranch has the knowledge and experience to take care of your backup and BCDR needs. Reach out today to speak with one of our highly trained team members.

6. Build Confidence with Every Turn

A well-maintained car builds trust between the driver and the team. Continuous risk assessments help build the confidence of your customers, investors and partners. Your proactiveness will be counted as proof of your long-term vision and readiness to test your limits.

7. Pave the Way for Growth

In racing, your confidence in the reliability of your car can push you to victory. Similarly, if risks are properly managed, you can focus on growing your business, expanding into new markets and seizing opportunities, knowing that potential risks are under control.

Is Your Business Ready for a Pitstop?

Your business can’t thrive without regular assessments to recalibrate and protect what matters the most. Risk assessments give you an advantage, ensuring you are prepared for whatever comes next. Download our infographic for a comprehensive guide to get started.

Don’t wait for a crisis to slow you down. Reach out today at 716-373-4467 option 6 or [email protected]! Let’s create a customized risk assessment strategy to move your business forward.

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Every business, regardless of its size, aspires to grow. To make this happen, business owners work tirelessly to build the right strategy that will promote growth and drive profit. Unfortunately, many businesses find it difficult to keep up with the demands of a technology-driven space.  

We’ve put together this blog to show you how to build a strategic technology plan that aligns with your critical business goals and delivers maximum return on investments (ROI).  Our aim is to empower you to create an effective tech strategy that optimizes investments and gives a competitive edge.

Key Components of a Technology Plan

Here are the key components to keep in mind while building a strategic technology plan:

Current Technology Assessment:

The first step towards building a solid tech plan begins with asking: what technologies and tools are we currently using and are they delivering results?

You can evaluate your existing tech infrastructure by taking stock of all the hardware and software you currently use. You should then check to see which of these solutions and tools are outdated or underperforming. This way, you’ll be able to figure out the technology that can be leveraged efficiently and gain a good understanding of your current technology landscape.

Technology Goals and Objectives:

Next, you need to understand what results you’re trying to achieve with your technology.

Whether your business goal is to expand your market reach, boost efficiency or enhance customer experience, your technology must be able to support you. By aligning your technology with your business goals, you ensure that your technology investments are strategic and result oriented.

Budget and Resource Allocation:

You don’t want your tech spending to be sporadic or an afterthought. That’s why it’s good to ask questions like how much you’ll spend on technology and what you’ll spend the money on.

You need to be realistic and factor in expenses such as the cost of regular maintenance, system replacement, license and warranty fees, and even unforeseen system failures. This will help you prepare a more detailed tech budget that considers your business priorities and technology needs. In the end, you’ll have a budget that is bound to maximize your ROI.

Technology Roadmap:

It’s easy to get swayed into investing in the latest shiny toys that don’t serve your business. But you can avoid such traps by laying out a tech roadmap.

To achieve clarity, you can begin by thinking about what technologies you should be investing in. And while building the tech roadmap, you can prioritize technologies that drive growth and help you achieve your strategic business goals.

Implementation Plan:

The success of your tech plan largely depends on how smoothly you’re able to implement it. The transition to new technologies or solutions can pose several challenges, including disruptions and loss of productivity.

That’s why a detailed implementation plan is essential. It outlines how you’ll put the tech plan into action, clarifies who is responsible for each aspect, establishes the project timeline and defines the overall communication strategy for keeping everyone informed.

Evaluation and Metrics:

As you build your tech plan, you must be able to measure the success of your technology initiatives and their contribution to your business.

 The key question to ask here is: how do you know that your tech is helping your business grow? To measure that, you must lay out key performance indicators (KPIs) and track the progress of your initiatives against those KPIs. By regular monitoring, you can optimize your technology investments and ensure the tech delivers the results you are seeking. 

Continuous Improvement:

How can you ensure your business stays ahead of the curve? The simple answer is to remain adaptable.

We live in a time where technology is continually evolving, and your technology plan should evolve as well. Make continuous monitoring and evaluation a key focus of your tech strategy. Also, stay informed about emerging technology and constantly look for innovation.

Partner for Success

Are you feeling lost in a sea of tech choices? Creating a robust technology strategy that truly supports your business goals can be a challenge, especially when you’re doing it all on your own. That’s why we’ve created the eBook below to help you get started.

The good new is, Databranch has the expertise and resources to help you build a roadmap that aligns your technology with your business goals, driving growth and profits. 

As a managed client, our team will proactively review your IT environment, provide security recommendations, and create IT budgets. Contact us today at 716-373-4467 option 6 or [email protected] for a free consultation.

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A solid tech plan is non-negotiable for any business that wants to succeed in today’s competitive tech landscape.

When paired with effective budgeting, this plan ensures that your technology investments not only align with your organizational goals, but also make the best use of your resources.

As we approach a new year, now is the perfect time to reassess your technology strategy. Join us as we explore the intricacies of tech planning and budgeting to set your business up for growth.

Crafting an Effective Tech Plan

A tech plan is a roadmap for your tech investments and can help you in several key ways:

– Alignment with business goals: Ensures that all technology investments support broader organizational objectives.

– Proactive resource management: Allows you to anticipate needs and allocate funds efficiently, reducing the risk of unexpected expenses.

– Enhanced decision making: Provides a clearer picture of priorities and helps in making informed choices about technology investments.

Crafting Your Tech Budget: A Step-by-Step Guide

With a strong tech plan established, it’s time to shift focus to budgeting. Remember: instead of carrying over last year’s budget, analyze your current needs and look for opportunities to enhance operations.

Ensure you focus on these four critical areas:

1. Routine IT Services

Ensuring IT systems are running smoothly and efficiently is crucial for minimizing downtime and maintaining productivity. Additionally, regular monitoring and maintenance of your infrastructure are essential for identifying vulnerabilities and safeguarding against cyberthreats. A robust vulnerability scanning solution is key to protecting your network.

It is important to conduct vulnerability assessments regularly, at least every quarter if not more frequently. This is due to the dynamic nature of information technology. 

2. IT Projects

Don’t overlook key initiatives to improve or expand your technology capabilities, such as strengthening defenses against cyberattacks, implementing new software, or upgrading outdated hardware.

Conducting security assessments or penetration testing can help identify weak spots where projects can then be focused. Reach out to Databranch today if you’ve interested in conducting a penetration test for your business.

3. Technology Refreshes

While sticking with legacy systems may appear cost-effective, it can hurt productivity and expose you to security vulnerabilities. Annual refreshes are critical for optimal performance and compliance.

One example of a necessary tech refresh is Windows 10 officially losing support on October 10th, 2025. Because of this, businesses that are still utilizing Windows 10 devices need to either upgrade their OS or upgrade their device. Learn more here.

4. Incident Preparedness

Reinforce your cybersecurity measures to prepare for potential threats like ransomware attacks. All businesses today must have a solid incident response plan against ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. Adopting a proactive stance can lessen the impact of sophisticated attacks.

To enhance the effectiveness of your tech budget, consider these best practices:

5. Plan Ahead

Develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses both routine and unexpected expenses.

– Audit needs: Assess your current technology landscape, considering routine services, projects, refreshes and potential incidents.

– Survey employees: Gather insights from team members to help prioritize investments based on their experiences with existing technology.

– Quote a wish list: Create a detailed cost map for achieving annual goals, adjusting based on priorities and feasibility.

– Establish a safety net: Invest in cyber insurance to protect against potential incidents. Collaborate with an IT service provider to identify suitable policies that comply with regulations.

Need Help?

Are you ready to develop and implement an effective technology plan for your business? Download our infographic below to get started.

Contact us today at 716-373-4467 option 6 or [email protected] for expert guidance tailored to your unique needs. Together, we can ensure that your tech planning and budgeting align seamlessly with your strategic goals, positioning you for success in the coming years.

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Cyber insurance is an invaluable tool in your risk management arsenal. Think of it as one of the many weapons you have against cyberthreats. However, there’s a widespread misconception that having cyber insurance is enough. The truth is—without a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, your insurance can offer only limited protection.

Through this blog, we’ll help you understand why cyber insurance should be seen as a safety net rather than a replacement for strong security.

Understanding the Limits of Cyber Insurance

In today’s business landscape, cyber insurance is a must. However, having insurance doesn’t guarantee a payout. Here are a few things that cyber insurance can’t help you with:

Business Interruption:

Your cyber insurance policy can never fully cover the cost of lost productivity due to a cyberattack. The payouts, in most cases, would be partial and won’t be enough for you to recover from the business interruption.

Reputational Damage:

Cyber insurance can’t help you win back customer trust. It would take a lot of work to repair your organization’s reputation.

Evolving Threats:

Cyberthreats are constantly evolving, and your insurance policy might not be able to offer a payout against new tactics.  

Social Engineering Attacks:

Cybercriminals often trick unsuspecting victims through social engineering attacks. If your business suffers losses due to a social engineering attack, like a phishing scam, you might not be covered.

Insider Threats:

Losses resulting from an internal risk are rarely covered by insurance providers. If the breach occurs because of a threat within your organization, your policy provider may not entertain the claim.

Unsure of what an insider threat is? Visit our blog here to learn more.

Nation-State Attacks:

Some rogue state nations deploy their hackers to carry out cyberattacks in other countries. Many insurance providers consider such attacks as acts of war and do not cover them.  

Six Steps to Build a strong cybersecurity posture

Implement these steps proactively to strengthen your defenses:

1. Employee training is critical for building a strong defense against cyberthreats. Hold regular sessions and bootcamps to educate your team on cybersecurity best practices.

2. Implement strong password policies and utilize a password manager.

3. Using multi-factor authentication will phenomenally improve your internal security.

4. Regularly back up your business-critical data. This will ensure you can bounce back quickly in case of a breach or a ransomware attack.

5. Keep your software and security solutions up to date. Monitor and resolve issues before hackers have an opportunity to exploit them.

6. Think of your network like your castle and do everything to protect it from hackers. Build a strong network security infrastructure, complete with firewalls, anti-virus software and threat detection systems.

Databranch can help your business implement these security measures and much more. By partnering with us, you can have peace of mind knowing that any IT issues will be addressed promptly, reducing the impact on your operations and enabling your business to run smoothly without interruption.

Build a Resilient Future For Your Business

To build a strong defense posture, you need a good cyber insurance policy and a robust cybersecurity plan. However, it can be stressful having to juggle the responsibilities of managing your business and implementing a comprehensive security strategy.

That’s where a great partner like us can offer a helping hand. We can evaluate your current IT infrastructure and create a strategy that is right for you and your unique business needs. Reach out to us today at 716-373-4467 option 6 or [email protected] to get started.

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Imagine starting your day with a cup of coffee, ready to tackle your to-do list, when an email that appears to be from a trusted partner lands in your inbox. It looks legitimate, but hidden within is a phishing trap set by cybercriminals.

This scenario is becoming all too common for businesses, both big and small.

Phishing scams are evolving and becoming more sophisticated with every passing day. As a decision-maker, it’s crucial to understand these threats and debunk common myths to protect your business effectively.

The Most Popular Phishing Myth

Many people believe phishing scams are easy to identify, thinking they can spot them due to poor grammar, suspicious links or blatant requests for personal information.

However, this is far from the truth. Modern phishing attacks have become highly complicated, making them difficult to detect. Cybercriminals now use advanced techniques like AI to create emails, websites and messages that closely mimic legitimate communications from trusted sources.

Most phishing attempts today look authentic, using logos, branding and language that resemble those of reputable companies or persons. This level of deception means that even well-trained individuals can fall victim to cleverly disguised phishing attempts.

Different Types of Phishing Scams

Phishing scams come in various forms, each exploiting different vulnerabilities. Understanding the most common types can help you better protect your business:

Email Phishing:

The most common type, in which cybercriminals send emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks or well-known companies. These emails often contain links to fake websites, which they use to steal sensitive information.

Spear Phishing:

Targets specific individuals or organizations. Attackers gather information about their targets to create personalized and convincing messages, making it particularly dangerous since it can bypass traditional security measures.

Whaling:

A type of spear phishing that targets high-profile individuals like CEOs and executives. The goal is to trick these individuals into revealing sensitive information or authorizing financial transactions.

Smishing:

A social engineering attack that involves sending phishing messages via SMS or text. These messages often contain links to malicious websites or ask recipients to call a phone number, prompting them to provide personal information.

Vishing:

Involves phone calls from attackers posing as legitimate entities, such as banks or tech support, asking for sensitive information over the phone.

Clone Phishing:

Attackers duplicate a legitimate email you’ve previously received, replacing links or attachments with malicious ones. This tactic exploits trust, making it hard to differentiate fake email from genuine communication.

QR Code Phishing:

Cybercriminals use QR codes to direct victims to malicious websites. These codes often appear on flyers, posters or email attachments. When scanned, the QR codes take you to a phishing site.

Protecting Your Business from Phishing Scams

To safeguard your business from phishing scams, follow these practical steps:

• Train employees regularly to recognize the latest phishing attempts and conduct simulated exercises.
• Implement advanced email filtering solutions to detect and block phishing emails.
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts to add an extra layer of security.
• Keep software and systems up to date with the latest security patches.
• Utilize firewalls, antivirus software and intrusion detection systems to protect against unauthorized access.

Collaborate for Success  

By now, it’s clear that phishing scams are constantly evolving, and staying ahead of these threats requires continuous effort and vigilance. Partnering with Databranch will allow you to focus on your business operation while we help tackle your cybersecurity needs.

Together, we can create a safer digital environment for your business. Don’t hesitate, get in touch today at 716-373-4467 option 6 or [email protected].

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You might be thinking that you’ve done everything to protect your business from cyberthreats. You have the most advanced security solutions to defend against external threats, but are you equally protected against internal threats?

Knowingly or unknowingly, your employees, your vendors, your partners and even you could pose a threat to your business. That’s why it’s crucial to know how to protect your business from within. In this blog, we’ll discuss various internal threats, how to identify red flags, and most importantly, how to avoid them.

Common Insider Threats

There are various types of insider threats, each with its own set of risks. Here are some common ones:

1. Data Theft

An employee or someone who is part of the organization downloads or leaks sensitive data for personal gain or malicious purposes. Physically stealing company devices containing privileged information or digitally copying them are both considered data theft.  

Example: An employee of a leading healthcare service provider downloads and sells protected patient information on the dark web.

2. Sabotage:

A disgruntled employee, an activist or somebody working for your competitor deliberately damages, disrupts or destroys your organization by deleting important files, infecting an organization’s devices or locking a business out of crucial systems by changing passwords.  

This is another reason why Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) solutions are crucial for a businesses operations. With our BCDR solution, any deleted files will have secondary offsite cloud-based storage locations. 

Example: A disgruntled employee of a coffee shop deliberately tampers with the machine, causing malfunction and loss of business.  

3. Unauthorized Access:

This is essentially a breach of security when malicious actors such as hackers or disgruntled employees gain access to business-critical information. However, individuals can mistakenly access sensitive data unknowingly, too.

Databranch highly recommends that businesses limit their users who have access to local administrative privileges. It’s best to set up a separate administrative account and limit employees to only access information that is pertinent to their job responsibilities. 

Example: A malicious employee uses their login credentials to access privileged information and then leaks it to competitors.  

4. Negligence & Error:

Both negligence and error lead to insider threats that can pose a security risk. While errors can be reduced through training, dealing with negligence would require a stricter level of enforcement.

Example: An employee might click on a malicious link and download malware, or they might misplace a laptop containing sensitive data. In both cases, the company data is compromised.

Databranch’s managed clients receive a layer of protection through our EndPoint Protection and Intrusion Detection software which continuously scan their devices for malware or threats. If a device is lost, our engineers also have the ability to remotely wipe any information, if possible, to help avoid data theft.

While these are beneficial, Employee Cyber Security Awareness training is always your first line of defense to avoid these situations alltogether.

5. Credential Sharing:

Think of credential sharing as handing over the keys to your house to a friend. You can’t predict what they will do with it. They might just take some sugar or they might use your home for hosting a party. Similarly, sharing your confidential password with colleagues or friends throws up a lot of possibilities, including an increased risk of exposing your business to a cyberattack.

Example: An employee uses a friend’s laptop to access their work email. They then forget to sign off and that personal laptop gets hacked. The hacker now has access to the company’s confidential information.

Spot the Red Flags

It’s crucial to identify insider threats early on. Keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs:

Unusual access patterns: An employee suddenly begins accessing confidential company information that is not relevant to their job.

Excessive data transfers: An employee suddenly starts downloading a large volume of customer data and transfers it onto a memory stick.

Authorization requests: Someone repeatedly requests access to business-critical information even though their job role doesn’t require it

Use of unapproved devices: Accessing confidential data using personal laptops or devices.

Disabling security tools: Someone from your organization disables their antivirus or firewall.

Behavioral changes: An employee exhibits abnormal behaviors, such as suddenly missing deadlines or exhibiting signs of extreme stress.

Enhance your Defenses

Here are our five steps to building a comprehensive cybersecurity framework that will ensure your business stays protected:

1. Implement a strong password policy and encourage the use of multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
2. Ensure employees can only access data and systems needed for their roles. Also, regularly review and update access privileges.
3. Educate and train your employees on insider threats and security best practices.
4. Back up your important data regularly to ensure you can recover from a data loss incident.
5. Develop a comprehensive incident response plan that lays out the plan of action on how to respond to insider threat incidents.

Click here to download the fun infographic our team created about insider threats. This can be shared with other employees to help educate them on how they could be an insider threat along with how to be vigilant of others. 

Don’t Fight Internal Threats Alone

Protecting your business from insider threats can feel overwhelming, especially if you have to do it alone. That’s why you need an experienced partner such as Databranch. As an IT service provider we can help you implement comprehensive security measures that fit your unique business needs.

Let us help you safeguard your business from the inside out. Reach out today at 716-373-4467 option 6 or at [email protected] and we’ll show you how we can both monitor for potential threats.

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Windows 10 has served us well. But its time is running out. Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 which means Windows 10 devices will no longer receive security updates, patches, or support.

Because of this, it’s very important to upgrade your OS or replace your PC before October of next year. This change isn’t just about getting new features. It’s about ensuring your PC stays secure, fast, and capable.

Why You Need to Upgrade Now:

No more updates mean no more security patches. Year after year, we learn that the vast majority of successful cyber-attacks have exploited unpatched computers and/or unpatched applications. What is even more interesting is that most of the patches for these compromised systems had been available to install for months, if not years prior to the cyber-attack.

Keeping your devices on Windows 10 could leave your systems vulnerable to security risks such as viruses or breaches, compromising your businesses data and ruining your reputation. Upgrading to Windows 11 ensures you will receive the latest security updates as they’re released.

What’s New with Windows 11?

Feature #1: New Taskbar

Previous Windows versions feature an iconic taskbar, but it can sometimes get clunky. Windows 11 provides a streamlined solution.

The new taskbar is perfect for expediting work, as it can contain a list of recent cloud and local files. You can also pin various apps to improve access and utilize a search bar that allows for convenient web browsing.

Feature #2: Windows Grouping and Snapping

The enhanced Snap Group and Snap Layout features allow you to resize and manage windows more easily. You also get to keep essential apps grouped to maintain high productivity.

Using the feature is relatively straightforward: Just hover the mouse over the maximize button on the desired app to reveal your layout options. You can choose between several arrangements, such as four-app grids and side-by-side layouts.

And if your team needs to perform basic window management, they can still grab and pull windows to the edge of their screen.

Feature #3: Improve Accessibility Options

Windows 11 follows in the footsteps of many smartphones to simplify setting changes and make them easily accessible. Pulling up your control panel now only requires one tap or click in the taskbar corner, replicating Apple’s Control Centre.

Furthermore, Windows 11 apps feature aesthetic, curved corners, and your Settings incorporate more options you can tweak. For instance, blind or vision impaired users can take advantage of cutting-edge audio cues. There are also desktop themes to help reduce eye strain, which is essential if you work long hours.

On top of that, the new operating system has revamped voice typing. You can activate this with a simple keyboard shortcut. This feature supports most major languages, including English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Portuguese.

Feature #4: Better App Store

Many apps can enhance workplace productivity, but you’ll first need to find them on your PC’s app store. Fortunately, Windows 11 came up with an organized and coherent platform to make the search easier. 

Besides universal apps, you can check out the applications compatible with your devices. The platform can also handle programs from third-party stores and manage app installation on the internet. 

Which Features Were Left Behind?

Overall, Windows 11 should work great for your business but bear in mind that Microsoft left out some features that were a staple in previous versions:

Excluded Feature #1: Taskbar Customization

Windows 10 users can move their taskbar from the horizontal position to the left, right, or upper part of their screen. In contrast, the Windows 11 taskbar is fixed at the bottom of the display, and you can’t customize the dimensions. 

Another significant change is that you can no longer move the Time and Date on your taskbar. Windows 10 didn’t have this problem since you could toggle off the Clock feature in your Settings. 

Excluded Feature #2: Drag-and-Drop Features

Windows 10 and some earlier versions allowed you to drag several items to change their position. For example, you could drag a Word document onto your Word icon on the taskbar to open it. 

This function is disabled in Windows 11. There’s no way to drag and drop or save any program or file onto your taskbar.

Excluded Feature #3: Cortana

Cortana is a voice assistant counterpart of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Many people are used to it and may be disappointed to hear that it’s not a part of the Windows 11 system setup. You can’t even locate it in your start menu. 

The good news is that the Cortana application can still be found – it’s just hidden away. You can enable it by visiting Settings and navigating to Apps & Features.

Windows 11 is designed to be faster and more efficient. It optimizes your hardware, providing better performance.

Need Assistance Upgrading?

Databranch recommends updating your devices to the latest version of Windows or replacing your hardware before October of 2025. Our engineers are more than happy to assist your team when it comes to these changes. Fill out the form below and one of our staff members will reach out.

You can also contact us today at 716-373-4467 option 6, or [email protected] if you would like our assistance with this transition.

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