Proponents of Cloud Computing Solutions often discuss the silver linings and ignore the potential for a storm...

His situation became desperate when his Google account had been hacked, hijacked and all of his data was lost.

Lost-lost.

He couldn’t even access his account until reaching out to Google to have his account credentials reset, but once was able to access his account again he found empty folders, an empty in-box and I’m sure a very empty feeling in the pit of his stomach.  After weeks, literally weeks of going around Google’s security procedures and contacting Google directly, providing them information to prove he was the account owner, he was able to retrieve all of his files and get everything back to where he needed it to be.  But how do you measure the cost in lost time and opportunity while dealing with this issue?  The bottom line answer for most small businesses is, you can’t.

This is the equivalent of a business production server having a disk failure and not being able to perform any disaster recovery because the server doesn’t trust the new disk drive is the one it should give the data to.  If a disaster recovery solution took weeks to implement an get a business back up and running, would you not fire the IT manager that implemented such a solution?

I know I would.

This is one of the problems with going to an exclusively Cloud Environment in business.  Sure it is convenient and cost effective for many businesses, but does it offer the level of flexibility and security that you want if something does go wrong?  And what happens if you’re cut off from your data?  Maybe not even a security breech or other account failure – what happens if you or your Cloud Provider is cut off from the Cloud for some reason?  What then?  What is the back-up plan?

For every benefit of Cloud computing, there is at least one significant drawback as well.  Most have to do with connectivity, access and security.  While normally a provider like Google is very reliable providing backups and redundant systems, if you don’t keep all of your security informational ducks in a row, you could find yourself in a situation like my colleague did.

The first thing – no matter what you are doing with social media, if it is a part of your business or not, any business type cloud services through providers like Google, Yahoo or MSN, should be kept separate and never touch your social media.  So many people unwittingly compromise their own security installing rogue Facebook apps designed to steal account passwords, or by clicking short-links in Twitter, while using their primary G-Mail, Yahoo or Hotmail account as their login name or primary email for the social media accounts.  All too often, not only do people use the same email addresses, but they use the same logon passwords for their email and their social media.  That is our number two no-no.  All email, Cloud Services and Social Media passwords

should be significantly unique and individualized.  Any similarities, although they help you remember, they make the passwords easier to crack if one is obtained.  Created different passwords and keep a paper log and an encrypted or password secured file of what your passwords.

We love XKCD. The truth about passwords - click the image to view their site.

A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2 email accounts: one for your primary business services and one for creating and identifying social media and other online service accounts.

Many web hosting service providers allow you unlimited email and message filtering from the server.  We are a huge proponent of using your business’s custom domain as your primary business email.  Services like G-Mail will usually allow you to link the two, and for marketing purposes you always want your domain front and center with your clients.  But in addition to that, having control over your own mail server gives you the option of creating email accounts for use exclusively online, thereby sheltering your primary accounts from the additional dangers and exposure.

Point number three is don’t depend on JUST Cloud services for your essential business data.  Most providers allow you to create client email connections such as Outlook to retrieve email.  These client connections can be set to both leave messages on the mail server of your provider as well as saving a copy locally on your PC.  Having your own record of these emails can save you if your connection to email is disrupted or if an error causes your server copy email to be deleted.  Important files should also have a local home in your office.  Products such as the Buffalo Networking Linkstation can be employed as a secure network storage device to keep a password protected copy of important business files locally, again in the event of a connection disruption or a loss of data with your provider.

And always – ALWAYS – use common sense and discretion when using social media.  If you’re on Facebook for business, ask yourself, “Do I really need to give this game/media application access to my single sign-on credentials?”  Think about the links and responses you click carefully.  Even today I received a Facebook message from an

account called Fącebooƙ Șecuriƫy telling me my account was out of compliance and I needed to follow a link and answer questions about my account.  Aside from the obvious character substitution which someone else may or may not notice, I asked myself, “Would Facebook really be sending me a message on Facebook about security, or would they email me?”  I’m 99.99% sure they would email it, since that is the way I get all Facebook notifications.  Message deleted, link not followed.  However I can see a lot of less experience users following that link for fear their account will be deleted.

These are some of the things that users need to be aware of though when using Cloud Computing Services and Social Media together.

For more information please email us at questions@aspiretechnet.com.

The Potential (Horrors) of Cloud Computing is a post from: @ Blog

These are real threats, putting your data and even your personal security at risk. 

One of my colleagues once phrased it as, “Going online without security software is like jumping into a shark tank wearing nothing but raw meat.”  A colorful analogy, to be sure, but an accurate one.  Every day more new viruses, spyware, Trojans and other malicious applications are released into the wilds of the internet.  Experts (and not just me) say it’s close to the range of 22,000 new malware samples per day. 

What is really at risk when you leave your PC unprotected?  First off, and probably most importantly is time and money.  The expenses of having to have a virus removed can cost 10-times as much as a one-year subscription to a consumer level security application.  This is further exacerbated through down-time and the loss of productivity, not to mention the loss of data. 

I mean, who reading this article doesn’t depend on their PC these days to help them find information online, pay bills, manage bank accounts, communicate with friends and family or Twitter endlessly about how they had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch?  Just from a life-management perspective, how much time do you lose without having these conveniences at the tips of your fingers? 

And to compound this further, one infection might not even be noticeable, but simply serve to open doors for many more, and more damaging infections to creep in.  Malware programs designed to propagate across a network, key-loggers that try to steal your personal information or bugs designed simply to cripple your PC and make it unusable. 

Yet, so many people walk into our office with horribly outdated security software, or none at all. 

It is sad.  Of course, we fix their problem for an affordable rate, and not a single one ever walks out without a new security software install with a current subscription. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

What is running, or not running on your PC?  Do you have P2P applications such as LimeWire or Kazaa?  They might seem like a convenient way to download files and applications for “free” but their networks are also littered with infected files and malicious applications disguised as popular downloads.  Also, an improperly installed P2P application will run at all times and possibly leave your entire hard drive open to the P2P network – did you want to share your new mp3’s or your personal financial files? 

Has your PC slowed down recently?  Does it take a long time to finish a boot cycle?  Do you have intermittent and unexplainable internet connection interruptions?  Do you get messages telling you about how many malware applications have been found followed by offers to buy some really professional looking (or sounding) security software you’ve never actually heard of until now?

 All of these symptoms may point to a possible malware infection. 

So, how do you fix this?  What precautions should you take? 

First off, having current security software with an active subscription AND making sure it stays updated is the first step.  If you don’t have that, get it. 

Secondly, making sure all of the current Microsoft security updates are installed.  Yes, yes, it is all Microsoft’s fault there are all these viruses….  Uh, no.  Sorry, it’s not.  They need to make sure their software is secure, for sure, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could just trust people won’t do bad things?  It is still the fault of those who write and distribute the malware.  Microsoft, owning 98% of the operating system market, is just their biggest target. 

Different soap-box there; we’ll go off on that tangent another time.  

Third, make sure your data is backed up.  Current and complete.  Having a computer crash due to any reason is always less painful when the data on it is duplicated somewhere else and can easily be restored.  We’ll discuss backups in another blog article. 

A good first step is to stop using P2P applications and make sure your network is secured.  A good Firewall can be your best friend – another topic we’ll address at a future time.  This also includes putting a security key and encryption on your wireless network. 

Those are some of the precautions – but nothing, and I mean NOTHING goes as far as having some common sense. Don’t open random email attachments, don’t surf questionable websites, make your internet passwords strong and keep them secure. 

And if you need help, we’re always around to answer questions.

Viruses, Pop-Ups and Spyware? OH MY! is a post from: @ Blog