SPEAK TO US TODAY 03 9069 2188 03 9069 2188

All posts by Marketing Department

IT Support, Managed IT Services, MSP

The difference between small and large MSPs

The difference between small and large MSPs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face the challenge of managing their IT systems and infrastructure without specific in-house resources. This can result in IT issues that disrupt business operations and impact productivity. To address these challenges, SMEs can choose from a variety of IT support options, including ad-hoc support, small managed service providers (MSPs) and large MSPs to improve their IT system optimisation. Each option has its advantages and drawbacks, and the choice depends on the specific needs and budget of the SME.

A separate post will detail what ad-hoc IT services are and why, for a company reliant on its computers and that has more than five computers, this should not be how they manage their IT. This post will focus on the difference between smaller, established MSPSs and larger, enterprise-level MSPs.

Established MSPs

Established MSPs are on par with large MSPs in terms of their services, resources, expertise and cost. They just have a smaller team (under 30 staff) and typically work with small and medium-sized businesses rather than larger ones. This is where Pronet Technology falls. We are not a large MSP but we’re established with immense managed service experience as well as Cyber Security experience, the latter being something many larger MSPs don’t even specialise in. In terms of cost, we go in and evaluate the needs of your business and base your package around that. If you don’t need all the services we provide, we don’t offer those, so the price will be different than what our other clients are paying. This means the price could also be more, or less, than what other MSPs are charging, it just depends on the needs of your business.

Enterprise MSPs

Large, enterprise MSPs, like Brennan IT and Powernet IT Support, typically have a broader range of services, resources and expertise than smaller MSPs, and may offer 24/7 support and specialist solutions. Large MSPs can provide SMEs with comprehensive IT solutions and greater scalability, but may also have higher costs due to overheads and less personalised service. SMEs may have to navigate complex service contracts and may not have direct access to the same technicians or engineers each time they require support.

The differences between the two

Personalisation

One of the big drawbacks of working with a large, enterprise-level managed service provider is that they offer less personalisation for their clients. A smaller MSP can look at your company and systems and tailor a plan that works for you, ensuring you’re receiving adequate security and service while also not trying to ‘over-service’ you with technology you don’t need. They can offer customised service plans that meet each client’s specific needs, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution.

With a larger MSP, your point of contact is often an account manager whose service depends on how many other clients they manage. If they leave, you’re then stuck in limbo until another account manager is assigned to you, who may or may not offer the same level of service as the previous one. Larger MSPs may have a larger client base, which can make it more challenging to provide individualised attention to each client.

Flexibility

Due to the large size of enterprise-level MSPs, escalations are often slower as they have to go through the channels to get to the right person. You will find that smaller MSPs generally have more flexible arrangements and can come out to your business when there’s an issue relatively quickly and within your timeframe. While not always, larger MSPs are more rigid and you have to wait on them for when they’re free.

A key difference between established and enterprise-level MSPs is that they utilise different technical standards for their clients. While the cost of the managed services between the two is on par, many enterprise-level MSPs require their clients, no matter their size, to utilise higher grade hardware, such as CISCO, for their security, which may cost about $30,000, compared to an established MSP, like Pronet Technology, requiring their clients to use Sophos, which is about $3,000.

Our technology stack, that is, the software, hardware and applications we use, are more focused on small to medium-sized businesses as they’re the clients we take on, whereas a larger MSP will often require all their clients to use enterprise-level technology, regardless of their size and whether the tech is right for their business. Working with a larger MSP isn’t always beneficial, even though they may seem better and more experienced since they’re larger. You have to work out whether the MSP is right for your business.

Expertise

Large MSPs have the advantage of high-level, specific expertise in certain fields, so they have more experts and engineers within their company than smaller MSPs, so they’re fantastic for specific technologies and projects. This raises the question though, of whether those experts also know other areas of managed services. In a smaller MSP, while they might not have the in-depth expertise about a specific technology you’re after, they have general knowledge of the whole managed service industry to help give you recommendations and look after your systems. Due to the scale of the larger MSP, it may take your business longer to get access to those experts though, as your call goes to the help desk who have to ask you a range of questions before you can ever gain access to that specialist. Kind of like calling your telco or bank. Established MSPs like Pronet are smaller but with a broader knowledge span. Bigger, more specific MSPs might not be what you need unless you have a specific project or problem.

For example, an enterprise MSP might have an SAP specialist, whereas a smaller MSP, who takes accountability for your systems, takes over the issue and contacts the SAP vendor themselves. The pros and cons of this depend on the problem your business is facing. By the time the larger MSP gets onto the problem, if it’s a less complicated issue, they can deal with it right away. If it’s a complicated issue, they then have to escalate the issue further and contact SAP directly, which, by that time, the smaller MSP could already have worked the issue out with the vendor. This hierarchy system, while organised and beneficial for a larger company to manage, doesn’t always work for the client as with smaller MSPs, where all tech staff, no matter their level, are working together, then can just turn to another tech employee and ask for help.

Smaller, established MSPs are generally more invested in your business and longevity as they take on the responsibility to fix the problem even though they may not be direct experts on the issue.

24/7 Support

Most large, enterprise-level MSPs provide 24/7 support, compared to smaller MSPs who may only offer extended work hours support, such as between 6am and 11pm. This might be necessary when you run an international business, but bear in mind that this support is outsourced overseas and the help desk associates generally only have Level-one knowledge to help you. If you need more expert support, you will have to wait until normal trading hours to get the help. These days, even some trading hours help-desk support is also being handled overseas. You will find that this is not the situation with smaller established MSPs as most believe in local service and, while outsourced service is cheap to provide, we have found that most clients don’t want it. At Pronet, even though we provide extended-hour support, we have found that we rarely get called anyway, with a lot of the after-hours work driven by us when our systems inform us that there is an issue in your business, which we then fix remotely.

Geographic Coverage

Another difference between the two, due to their size, is their physical reach. A large, enterprise MSP will often have more than one office across Australia and can handle large-scale projects and clients. This means that if a client in Perth needs a hardware upgrade, such as a router, someone from their Perth office can head out to install it. For smaller MSPs, while they may have clients in other cities, many will rely on strategic local partners to fix on-site issues. This is beneficial for smaller MSPs as they can work with more clients, but since the staff are not from the MSP, they cannot control the level of service provided to the tee. If it’s a large-scale issue that needs on-site fixing, the client will often fly the MSP’s employee/s out. Since most problems can be fixed remotely, this is not often an issue, and you will find that enterprise-sized MSPs will often use partners for regional work too.

Buying Power

Enterprise-level MSPs have more buying power to purchase computers and hardware at lower costs, and larger clients are often happy to bulk buy computers to receive those discounts, which they then have stored at the MSP. Enterprise MSPs don’t have any buying power when it comes to licences and services, like Microsoft 365 and internet service, as those prices are outside their control. Keep in mind that just because the MSP can receive a discount on hardware, that doesn’t necessarily mean those savings will be passed down to the client, and definitely not for their smaller clients.

Business Structure

Larger, enterprise MSPs take longer to plan and get started on projects due to their size and hierarchy of operations, whereas smaller ones, due to having less staff and formal procedures, have shorter lead times. Having more processes and procedures to follow does make operations smoother for both the MSP and your business though, so that is an advantage. It can also, however, be a disadvantage as these processes mean the MSP is more rigid and won’t change, whereas a smaller MSP can offer more flexibility and use their judgement on projects and issues. Large MSPs may be slower to adapt to changes in the IT industry or changes in a client’s needs. They may have a larger management system and processes in place that can make it difficult to respond quickly to changes.

When MSPs begin to get incredibly large, they tend to start becoming more sales focused, which is where you find differences in cost between them and smaller providers. A smaller provider, while on par with a larger provider in terms of managed service costs, tends to be more affordable due to them not trying to sell you all their services and new technology which your business might not need. Most established MSPs are technical but operational-focused as, due to being in the trade for many years, understand business and risk management for business longevity. Newer MSPs maybe not as business inclined and are quite technical in their work and communication with your business, while larger, enterprise-level MSPs are often technical but with a sales focus where they try to push more services on you to get you to spend more.

Writing this post, we understand it might be skewed more towards the positives of smaller, established MSPs and that’s because we are one. At Pronet, we used to work with larger clients but then scaled back as we knew that SMEs were being left behind and, ultimately, we enjoy the level of service we can provide these businesses. We understand the frustrations of SMEs as we’ve had clients who have come to us who were left behind as their previous MSP grew and were, essentially, forgotten. Due to this, we’ve tailored our services and technology stack to suit small and medium-sized businesses.

That’s not to say enterprise-level MSPs are bad or unneeded, because they are certainly needed for larger businesses with 200 to 300 computers and up as they’re too large for smaller MSPs to handle. The same thing goes for small businesses with one to five computers. Unfortunately, while you might need the services of an MSP, you might struggle to find one who finds it worthwhile to take you on as a client.

Ultimately, SMEs should carefully evaluate their IT needs, budget and goals when choosing between smaller but established MSPs or large, enterprise-level MSPs. Smaller MSPs can provide ongoing support and personalised service for SMEs with more modest needs. Large MSPs can offer comprehensive IT solutions and scalability for SMEs with more complex requirements but may come with higher costs and less personalised service. Seeking advice from an IT advisor or consultant can help SMEs evaluate their options and find a provider that can deliver the right level of service and support for their unique needs. When gathering proposals from IT providers, ask them questions relevant to your business to ensure they’re the right fit for you.

Overall, SMEs need to understand that just because an MSP is larger, doesn’t mean they’re better for your business. You need to determine the needs of your business to see what is best for you.

IT Support, Managed IT Services, Strategy

What would be the true cost of disaster to my business if my IT failed?

What would be the true cost of disaster to my business if my IT failed?

As a business owner myself, I know the importance of keeping my business’ IT systems running smoothly, which I’m sure you are also aware of in your own company, but have you ever thought about the true cost of a disaster if your IT systems fail? The truth is that it can be catastrophic.

Imagine your business losing all of its data or being unable to access critical systems for a prolonged period. The impact on your business can be devastating, resulting in lost revenue, damage to your reputation and even the closure of your business.

So, what is the true cost of a disaster for your business if your IT fails? Measuring the cost of failure is complicated as there are so many different areas that factor into this, like direct costs and indirect costs.

Direct costs include costs of repairs or replacements of damaged hardware and software, as well as any business interruption. There is a range of indirect costs that IT system failures can create that can actually be higher than the direct costs. Let’s take a look at some of these:

Lost Revenue

The first factor people generally think of when they think of costs is lost revenue. Lost revenue occurs when a business is unable to continue normal business operations which can be incredibly devastating for businesses who heavily rely on technology. If your IT systems are down, your business may not be able to operate at full capacity, resulting in lost revenue.

Downtime also creates impatient customers and if other stores are selling similar products, customers will go there instead, to which they may find they like that store better, and therefore may continue using their products or services instead. Businesses need to understand the lifetime value of lost customers and when IT failures can cause your business to seem unreliable, this can tarnish the business’ reputation and therefore, lose customers.

The exact lost revenue from unplanned system outages depends on the type of outage and the size of your business. For a small independent store, an IT outage could result in no card payments for a few hours, leaving you relying only on cash — which not many people have on them these days. This is even more devastating for businesses that rely on every sale to stay afloat.

To calculate potential annual lost revenue, you can use a simple formula:

Lost Revenue = (G/T) x I x H

G = gross annual revenue

T = total annual business hours

I = percentage of revenue lost during an outage

H = number of annual outage hours

Reputation Damage

An indirect cost that occurs if your business experiences a significant IT failure can be a damaged reputation. Reputational damage occurs when customers and other stakeholders lose confidence in the organisation’s ability to effectively manage risks and protect their interests. Suppliers may also be hesitant to work with a business that has suffered a data breach, leading to potential supply chain disruptions and delays. If you’ve noticed the business’ reputation has been damaged, an entire marketing campaign may be needed to repair this, further incurring your business costs.

Customers may lose trust in your ability to provide reliable services or products, resulting in lost sales, and, as mentioned, lost customers occur when customers become frustrated with the disruption that occurs to businesses to which they then switch to a competitor, resulting in lost revenue.

Recovery Costs

Another direct cost associated with IT failures is the cost associated with fixing the issues. In the event of a disaster, you may need to hire IT professionals to restore your systems. This can be a costly process, especially if you need to pay for emergency services or if you don’t have a managed service provider.

Part of this also includes recovering or repurchasing hardware and software or services, which can differ in their severity. For example, a company’s email server not working is less severe than customers being unable to place orders. In this way, it’s the exact nature of the loss or outage that will determine the costs.

A factor that many people don’t think of are the costs surrounding overtime to catch up on missed work during downtime. Not only that, but IT failures may have forced your staff to keep paper records of transactions or notes during a system outage, which then need to be manually input when systems go online again, leading to overtime and other labour costs.

IT failures can also cause your staff to miss deadlines or follow through on contractual obligations with projects, meaning more money will be spent on projects that should have already been finished or you will have to reimburse customers.

Data Loss

Direct losses also include losing data, which has an even bigger impact on your business than the loss of an application or service. Data loss can be permanent and can have financial and legal implications beyond the direct losses on your company. The costs surrounding data loss can even lead to the closure of a business. Data loss ties into every other factor on this list and has a direct link to cyber threats like phishing, malware and ransomware. If your IT systems failed and cybercriminals had easy access to your network and data, this can also lead to ransom demands or costs related to recovering lost data.   

Legal Costs

Depending on your industry, you may be subject to legal or regulatory requirements that mandate the protection of sensitive data. SMEs that suffer a data breach can face lawsuits and government fines, especially if they’re not in compliance with data protection laws. These legal battles can be expensive and time-consuming, and can also cause damage to your reputation.

Time and Productivity Loss

If your IT systems are down, your employees may not be able to work as efficiently. This can result in lost productivity and increased costs.

A Dunn & Bradstreet survey found that 59 per cent of Fortune 500 companies experience 1.6 hours of downtime per week or more. If this is a company-wide failure that prevents all employees from working and that company has 5,000 employees, with an average labour cost of $30 per hour, the labour downtime for that week is $240,000 in lost productivity. Per year, that’s $12,480,000. Even if you had one-thousandth of that amount, that’s still $12,480 per year just for outages.

In 2004, Gartner led a survey that found the average hourly cost of downtime for a mid-sized company was $42,000. They conducted the survey again in 2014 and this number had risen to $300,000 per hour. If they do the survey again next year, who knows how high this figure will have increased.

Keep in mind that this varies by industry, with financial organisations losing the highest amounts for every hour of downtime and these averages are heavily skewed by large organisations. In a recent survey of IT managers, only 20 per cent of companies had costs higher than $12,000 per hour.

Emotional Toll

Continued downtime, while affecting employee productivity, also affects morale, as when overtime is needed, this means more time away from families and their hobbies, and if this happens too often, staff will start looking for a new job. 

IT failures and data loss also cause immense stress and anxiety for both business owners and employees. Cyberattacks that cause important business information to be lost, like customer details, financial information and inventory records can feel like a personal attack, especially when you’ve put so much time and effort into building your business. Disaster carries with it an emotional toll that takes a long time to recover from.

How to reduce the costs of a disaster to your business’ IT systems

So, what can you do to mitigate the risks of a disaster and protect your business? The answer is to invest in a comprehensive IT support plan that includes disaster recovery and business continuity. This type of plan can help ensure that your critical systems are backed up and can be restored quickly in the event of a disaster, and will help you and stakeholders understand how affected your business will be if anything occurs and also give you a path forward for how to reduce these risks.

In addition to disaster recovery, your IT support plan should include regular system maintenance, security updates and proactive monitoring to prevent issues before they occur. Partnering with an IT service provider that specialises in data security can also be a wise investment. These providers can help identify vulnerabilities in your system and implement security measures to protect your business from data loss. They can also provide ongoing support and monitoring to ensure that your systems are secure and up-to-date.

It’s also important to educate your employees about data security and implement security measures such as firewalls, antivirus software and multi-factor authentication, as well as by implementing the Australian Government’s recommended Essential Eight Cyber Security measures. By investing in a comprehensive IT support plan, you can help minimise the risk of a disaster and protect your business from the potentially catastrophic costs of an IT failure.

There’s no point in pretending your IT systems will never fail. Over the years of using a personal computer, we all know that’s not possible, and this is the same for IT systems in business landscapes. No organisation will experience no downtime, but as long as practices are followed that keep downtime to a minimum, then you can feel reassured that everything will be okay in the long run.

An IT service provider can be monumental in helping with preventing risks from occurring within your business. Your business probably already has one, but make sure you’re constantly keeping in communication with them to ensure they’re properly looking after your business’ interests.

If your business is not with a provider or you’re looking to switch, give us at Pronet a call to see if we’re the right fit for you.

Managed IT Services, MSP

Problems you might find working with Pronet Technology

Problems you might find working with Pronet Technology

While a strange topic to discuss as a business, ensuring your SME is properly informed about our services is crucial to our interests.

Problems

Size

Pronet Technology is an established Managed Service Provider, not a one-man or enterprise-level MSP. This may or may not suit your business needs so it is essential to understand how each size works and what you will be receiving with each.

  • Ad-hoc IT Support: Involves hiring a technician or consultant on an as-needed basis to address specific IT issues. This can be a cost-effective option for SMEs with limited IT needs, but it may not provide the support or expertise required for more complex systems or ongoing maintenance.
  • Established MSP: Larger than one-man ad-hoc IT support service but not as large as ones dealing with over 200 or 300 computers, established MSPs typically provide a range of IT services and support such as help desk support, network management and security services. Established MSPs are on par with large MSPs in terms of their services, resources, expertise and cost, they just have a smaller team and typically work with small and medium-sized businesses rather than larger ones.
  • Enterprise-level MSP: Large MSPs typically have broader resources and expertise than smaller MSPs and may offer 24/7 support, comprehensive IT solutions due to hiring niche employees — an SAP expert, for example — and greater scalability, however, they may also have higher long-term costs due to their industry technology standards and sales-focused approach, and less personalised service.

Working with Tech Staff

When dealing with IT problems in your business, one concern you might have is that the tech staff you’re dealing with might not answer your questions in ways you completely understand. Tech staff are very technologically minded and are not as eloquent with their words when speaking with those who are not so. You may have faced situations in the past where you have felt as though you were being talked down to with all the technical jargon and have left the conversation feeling even more confused than you entered it. While this is quite stereotypical, many tech staff are often quite introverted also, meaning when you do talk to them, you find you’re not quite getting all the answers you need. While not the case with Pronet, if your IT support is outsourced overseas, you also might come across heavy accents and different explanations due to colloquialisms and cultural words used.

For this reason, Pronet Technology hires by motivation, eagerness to learn and positivity. We believe that, while a technical education is essential, skills can be learned but it is the attitude of the individual that makes an employee valuable. This is our way of ensuring our IT staff can work effectively with clients while also fixing the issues you need fixing.

24/7 Support

In our over 20 years of working in the industry, we have found that most small and medium-sized businesses don’t need 24/7 support. Even clients with busy Christmas periods rarely need emergency support, but that’s not to say it’s not for you.

Even then, after-hours support is usually outsourced overseas, such as in the Philippines. MSP tech staff are either Level 2 or 3 trained whereas outsourced are mostly Level 1, so when you have an after-hours emergency, they don’t have the training required to help. This means they then need to call a local Level 2 or 3 trained staff member to come out who they may not be able to get in contact with as they’re asleep.

For that reason, Pronet Technology offers after-hours emergency support over the weekend and between 6:45am and 10:30pm to cover the early start by manufacturers and the occasional after-hours work by staff. As long as the issue gets solved quickly the following day, it’s generally not a big deal.

As one of our clients said:

“If you’re a manufacturing facility, in reality, does 24 hours really matter?”

If your current provider offers 24/7 support, it is worth asking what level those support staff are trained to see if you’re getting value from the service.

Website Security

A question to ask your MSP is ‘Do you deal with website security.’ While on our Platinum Plan, we offer website hosting and website management services, Pronet Technology doesn’t directly deal with website publishing and design. Passwords and network security are areas we work with, so this is often looked after, but website design and copywriting are often outsourced so the onus is on those working on the site to have secure networks. As a website is a function of marketing and sales, it’s best to leave this to professionals who know what they are doing

As a business owner or executive in charge of growing the company and its IT systems, it is necessary to know the pros and cons of IT providers before signing contracts. We hope this has answered any questions or lingering fears you had about our services, but if not, contact us at the number above to have a chat to see how we can help.

Cybersecurity, Essential Eight, IT Support

Who is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment for?

Who is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment for?

As we move towards a more digitised world, the importance of Cyber Security continues to increase. Cyberattacks have become more frequent, sophisticated and damaging over the years. It’s essential to ensure the safety and security of your organisation’s information and technology assets. One of the best ways to achieve this is by conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment.

A Cyber Security Risk Assessment is a process of identifying, analysing and evaluating potential risks and vulnerabilities in an organisation’s digital environment. It involves evaluating the security measures in place and identifying any weaknesses that can lead to data breaches, cyberattacks or other security incidents. The ultimate goal of a Cyber Security Risk Assessment is to develop a comprehensive security plan that minimises risks and protects an organisation’s digital assets.

Why is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment important?

The world is witnessing a surge in cybercrime activities. Hackers and cybercriminals are always looking for ways to infiltrate an organisation’s digital environment and exploit vulnerabilities. A Cyber Security Risk Assessment helps organisations identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in their digital environment, enabling them to take proactive measures to mitigate such risks.

A Risk Assessment also helps organisations to comply with various regulatory requirements such as The Privacy Act 1988. Compliance with such regulations is crucial, as non-compliance can lead to hefty fines, legal liabilities and reputational damage.

Who is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment for?

A Cyber Security Risk Assessment is for everyone, irrespective of the size or nature of the organisation. Any organisation that stores, processes or interacts with information over the internet is at risk of cyberattacks. Therefore, every organisation needs to conduct a Risk Assessment to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities and develop a comprehensive security plan.

Small and Medium-sized businesses (SMBs)

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often assume that they are not at risk of cyberattacks because they are small or don’t have much valuable information. However, this is not true. Hackers often target SMBs because they have weaker security measures in place, making them easy targets. Another fact that SMBs should be aware of is that most cyberattacks are non-targeted. It is likened to a fisherman casting a wider net to catch as many fish as possible instead of spending the time and resources to catch the ideal fish. Also, some criminals would prefer not to target high-profile companies for fear of being the centre of an investigation by government enforcement agencies like the Australian Federal Police. A Cyber Security Risk Assessment can help SMBs identify potential risks and vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to mitigate such risks.

Enterprises

Enterprises often have a complex digital environment, making it challenging to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities. A Cyber Security Risk Assessment can help enterprises assess their security posture and identify potential risks and vulnerabilities across their entire digital environment.

Government Agencies

Government agencies often store sensitive information such as citizens’ personal information, national security secrets and confidential data. A Cyber Security Risk Assessment can help identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in government agencies’ digital environment, enabling them to take proactive measures to protect sensitive information.

Healthcare Industry

The healthcare industry is one of the most targeted industries by cybercriminals. Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other digital healthcare information are extremely valuable to hackers. A Cyber Security Risk Assessment can help healthcare organisations identify potential risks and vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to secure their digital environment.

How is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment conducted?

A Cyber Security Risk Assessment typically involves the following steps:

  1. Scope Definition: Defining the scope of the assessment, including the digital assets to be evaluated, the assessment methodology and the expected outcomes.
  2. Asset Identification: Identifying all the digital assets within the scope of the assessment.
  3. Threat Identification: Identifying all potential threats and vulnerabilities to digital assets.
  4. Risk Analysis: Analysing the likelihood and impact of potential risks and vulnerabilities.
  5. Risk Evaluation: Evaluate the risks and vulnerabilities to determine the most critical ones.
  6. Risk Treatment: Developing and implementing a plan to mitigate identified risks and vulnerabilities.
  7. Risk Monitoring: Continuously monitoring the digital environment to identify any new potential risks and vulnerabilities.

It’s important to note that conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment is not a one-time process. The digital environment is continually changing and new threats and vulnerabilities can emerge at any time. Therefore, it’s essential to conduct regular assessments to ensure the digital environment remains secure.

A Cyber Security Risk Assessment is a critical process that every organisation must undertake to protect its digital assets. It helps identify potential risks and vulnerabilities, enabling organisations to take proactive measures to mitigate such risks. It also helps organisations comply with regulatory requirements, minimise legal liabilities and protect their reputation.

No organisation is immune to cyberattacks and the consequences can be devastating. Therefore, it’s essential to conduct regular Cyber Security Risk Assessments to ensure the digital environment remains secure. Don’t wait until it’s too late; conduct a Cyber Security Risk Assessment today and protect your organisation’s digital assets.

FAQs

  • What are the benefits of conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?

Conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment helps organisations identify potential risks and vulnerabilities, enabling them to take proactive measures to mitigate such risks. It also helps organisations comply with regulatory requirements, minimise legal liabilities and protect their reputation.

  • What happens if an organisation doesn’t conduct a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?

An organisation that doesn’t conduct a Cyber Security Risk Assessment is at risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, legal liabilities and reputational damage. It can also face hefty fines for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

  • Can small businesses benefit from conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?

Yes, small businesses can benefit significantly from conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment. Hackers often target small businesses because they have weaker security measures in place, making them easy targets. Conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment can help small businesses identify potential risks and vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to mitigate such risks.

  • How often should an organisation conduct a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?

An organisation should conduct a Cyber Security Risk Assessment at least once a year or whenever there is a significant change in the digital environment.

  • What are the steps involved in conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?

The steps involved in conducting a Cyber Security Risk Assessment include scope definition, asset identification, threat identification, risk analysis, risk evaluation, risk treatment and risk monitoring.

  • How long does a Cyber Security Risk Assessment take?

The duration of a Cyber Security Risk Assessment depends on the size and complexity of the digital environment being assessed. However, it typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months to complete.

Cybersecurity, Essential Eight, MSP, Technology

Using Two-Factor Authentication in your business

Using Two-Factor Authentication in your business

Multi or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an incredibly effective way to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your business’ systems, services or applications. We’re all accustomed to the standard username and password model, but 2FA requires users to present two or more different pieces of evidence when logging into their accounts.

These can be things like a username and password (something you know), authorisation through a multi-factor authentication application (something you have) or a fingerprint (something you are). In an everyday scenario, while PayPass has made it obsolete, except for withdrawing money, when making a purchase, you used to need a bank card (something you have) and a pin (something you know).

While there is some highly advanced new tech that can overcome 2FA, by requiring two factors for authentication, 2FA makes it much more difficult for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data and systems, even if they have obtained the user’s password through a phishing attack or other means.

Other than 2FA software that your business can use on your network, like Windows Hello, oftentimes, third-party vendors also have an option for this service to be used. Make sure to go into settings to set this up or contact the vendor to ask how.

When should Multi-Factor Authentication be implemented?

As an SME, you may not think that you have valuable data or assets that are worth protecting. However, any business that collects customer data, such as names, addresses and credit card information, is at risk of a data breach. In addition, if your business has any proprietary information or trade secrets, such as manufacturing processes or customer lists, you could be at risk of industrial espionage. Even if you don’t believe your data is worth protecting, the mere risk of a cyberattack interrupting your business operations is worth considering.

Some older, legacy systems may not support multi-factor authentication and even though it adds another step for employees and therefore, an added inconvenience, 2FA must be added to your business’ operations, even more so since it’s one of the Essential Eight Cyber Security strategies. It becomes important when performing work-related activities like remote access solutions, users performing privileged actions and when staff access important data. As mentioned, it provides a way to securely authenticate the user. If the first form of defence is breached, like a PIN (personal identification number), password or passphrase, then the attacker is unable to progress further as they don’t have the second.

Depending on what maturity level of Essential Eight your business is aiming for, how you implement two-factor authentication can differ.

At Maturity Level One, the authentication methods used must not be of the same class — something staff know, something they have or something they are — and one doesn’t have to be a memorised secret. If you’re only now implementing multi-factor authentication and need to be at a higher maturity level, it might be easier to simply use a higher form of 2FA as mentioned below.

At Maturity Level Two, the authentication methods that can be used, and in what combination, are restricted. Some acceptable multi-factor authentication implementations can include something users have (like a single-factor one-time PIN device or a single-factor cryptographic (a way of protecting information and communications through codes) software/device) or something staff have that is unlocked by something they know or are (multi-factor OTP device or multi-factor cryptographic software/device). Biometrics, like fingerprint or retina scanning, are not acceptable at this level. At this level, event logs for multi-factor authentication should also be collected and stored to help with incident response.

At Maturity Level Three, all staff accessing important data must be using multi-factor authentication. The types and combinations of 2FA are restricted, such as through cryptographically verifying what they are authenticating. Cybercriminals try to get around multi-factor authentication by stealing authentication requirements to impersonate staff, so organisations are to use multi-factor authentication solutions that are resistant to phishing, like security keys, smartcards or a Trusted Platform Module. Businesses are not to use push notifications or SMS codes as authentication methods as these are often used by adversaries.

How to Implement Two-Factor Authentication for SMEs

Implementing 2FA may sound complicated, but it is actually a straightforward process. Here are the steps you can take to implement 2FA for your SME:

  1. Choose a 2FA solution: There are many 2FA solutions available, including hardware tokens, mobile apps, and SMS-based solutions. Choose a solution that fits your budget and needs.
  2. Configure your 2FA solution: Once you have chosen a solution, you will need to configure it for your business. This typically involves setting up user accounts and configuring the authentication factors.
  3. Train your employees: It is important to train your employees on how to use the 2FA solution and why it is important. This will help ensure that they understand the process and are more likely to use it consistently.
  4. Test your 2FA solution: Before deploying 2FA to all users, it is important to test the solution to ensure that it is working correctly and does not cause any compatibility issues with your existing systems.
  5. Roll out 2FA to all users: Once you have tested the solution, you can roll it out to all users. This typically involves providing instructions on how to use the solution and ensuring that all users are using it correctly.

To test if these measures are working, try logging on to a system or software that has the authentication set up and see if the request for two or more authentication factors, such as a password or a one-time PIN, is shown. For high levels, watch as an employee that has administrative privileges authenticates to log into a system or software to see if they are required to use multi-factor authentication. Make sure to monitor the log-ins of multiple services, as, for example, a cloud service may have a different implementation of 2FA than an on-premise service. Also, for Level Three, ask staff members to send through lists of the important data repositories in the business’ network as well as screenshots of attempting to log in to these, including the multiple forms of authentication it should be requesting. Ensure event logs of multi-factor authentication are also protected and monitored for signs of compromise and modification.

Some tips

If you’re not aiming for Maturity Level Three, then select a multi-factor authentication solution that impedes less on user functionality. Make sure to also turn off and replace old and redundant authentication systems. If you’re receiving pushback for 2FA methods, introduce policies or implement the authentication in stages across the company, starting with high-risk users. Also, have a support plan to handle failed logins and account lockouts.

Keep in mind though that Cyber Security should be a part of your business’ culture. Everyone must be on board with implementing security measures, as multi-factor authentication is just one of the eight strategies and businesses need to implement them all to a certain degree.

Types of Two-Factor Authentication

SMS Token: Sends the user a unique token, usually a 5–10-digit code, via text message after entering their username and password, and this pin is then entered to allow them access. While user-friendly and available to pretty much everyone, text messages can easily get intercepted by 3rd parties and this method relies on people having a charged phone.

Email Token: Similar to SMS Token, this method sends a 5–10 alpha-numeric token or asks you to click a link provided in the email. Once again, these are user-friendly, cheap to set up and maintain and offer both a link or token if one doesn’t work. Sometimes, emails can go to spam or fail to be delivered and these can be intercepted by criminals.

Hardware Token: A user is given a physical device, such as a key fob, USB dongle or another device that generates a token for the staff member. These tokens are usually valid for only a short time. Hardware tokens don’t require reception or internet connectivity and is reliable and secure. They can be a bit expensive to set up though, and can be misplaced and can be a bit user-unfriendly when having one for service. Examples include:

  • Yubico YubiKey 5
  • Kensington VeriMark USB
  • Google Titan Security Key

Software Token: Where users download and install an application on their computer or device that generates tokens for the user. These are only available for short periods before changing. These are more user-friendly, updates when needed and can be customised with different features. Some can be expensive, though, and requires users to download and install software that might be compromised without knowledge. Two-Factor Authentication is available on most applications today for no additional cost and should be enforced across these applications. A firewall can also help by enforcing 2FA for remote connections. Examples of 2FA software include:

  • Google Authenticator
  • Microsoft Authenticator
  • LastPass Authenticator
  • andOTP
  • Authy

Phone Call: The employee receives a phone call once logged in, which provides them with the token. This method is both easy and inconvenient but is cheap and reliable due to requiring less bandwidth than data. Some negatives of this service are that phone calls can be intercepted or your voicemails can be hacked, and reception is required, as well as actually needing a phone.

Biometric Verification: Relies on the user being the token through fingerprints, retina scans and voice and facial recognition. It’s also user-friendly. This does, however, raise questions about the storage of biometric data and privacy concerns, and storage locations can be compromised. It also requires specific hardware, like cameras and scanners.

Implementing two-factor authentication is a simple and effective way to improve your SME’s Cyber Security posture. By requiring two authentication factors, 2FA makes it much more difficult for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to your sensitive data and systems.

If you have any questions or would like help implementing 2FA for your SME, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of expert technicians specialising in Cyber Security can help you choose the right solution and ensure that it is configured correctly for your business.

Cybersecurity, Essential Eight, MSP

10 Benefits of Performing a Cyber Security Risk Assessment

10 Benefits of Performing a Cyber Security Risk Assessment

You’re not alone if you feel concerned about the security of your business. In today’s digital age, cyber threats are a constant concern for businesses of all sizes. One way to protect your business is by performing a Cyber Security risk assessment. While it may seem like a chore, especially when you have plenty of other business issues or projects to work on, there are many benefits of conducting a risk assessment, and completing one can actually save your business.

What is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?

Before we delve into the benefits of a Cyber Security risk assessment, let’s define what it is. A Cyber Security risk assessment is the process of identifying, evaluating and prioritising potential security risks to your business’ technology systems, networks and data. This assessment is crucial in understanding the vulnerabilities of your business’s digital assets and how they could be exploited by malicious actors.

The Benefits of Performing a Cyber Security Risk Assessment

Performing a Cyber Security risk assessment can provide many benefits to your business. Here are 10 of the most significant advantages of conducting a risk assessment:

Identifying Vulnerabilities

A risk assessment can help identify vulnerabilities in your business’s technology systems, networks and data. By identifying these vulnerabilities, you can take proactive steps to mitigate them before they’re exploited by cybercriminals. This also allows you to improve the Cyber Security stance of the business and create a Cyber Security culture within your company.

Prioritising Risks

Conducting a risk assessment can help prioritise risks to your business’s technology systems, networks and data, and allows your business to introduce the appropriate response strategies to the vulnerabilities you have identified. By doing so, you can allocate resources to address the most significant risks first, ensuring that your business is protected where it matters most.

Complying with Regulations

Many industries have regulations that require businesses to perform Cyber Security risk assessments regularly. By complying with these regulations, you can avoid hefty fines and penalties, and safeguard your business from legal troubles. In Australia, all businesses need to comply with The Privacy Act 1988, meaning they need to have some sort of measures in place to protect consumers’ information. For public sector organisations, the Australian Government has also brought in Essential Eight, a Cyber Security framework that they must implement. This is highly recommended for all other businesses in Australia too, and we predict it will be mandated for everyone soon.

Reducing Downtime

Cyberattacks can cause significant downtime for your business, resulting in lost productivity and revenue. Downtime can cause customers to go elsewhere and can cause staff to halt projects or start working manually which they will then have to fix later on when IT issues are resolved. By performing a risk assessment, you can identify potential threats and implement preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of a cyberattack and minimise downtime.

Protecting Your Reputation

A data breach can damage your business’s reputation and erode customer trust. When customers lose trust in your business’ ability to protect their information or even just in your ability to protect yourself, they will stop using your business or bypass your services altogether even if they’ve never used them before. As for stakeholders like suppliers, they may be hesitant to work with an organisation that has suffered a security breach, especially as this will disrupt the rest of the supply chain. By performing a Cyber Security risk assessment and implementing preventative measures, you can safeguard your business’ reputation and show customers that you take their data security seriously.

Improving Security Posture

A risk assessment can help you understand your business’ security position and identify areas for improvement. By addressing these areas, you can improve your business’ overall security posture and better protect against cyber threats in the future. You may find your position is actually better than you thought, giving you the reassurance that your IT team or managed service provider is doing their job and looking after the interests of your business. Overall, a risk assessment allows you to ease your fears about cyberattacks as well as the potential loss of your business.

Keeps Stakeholders Informed

A comprehensive Cyber Security Risk Assessment allows you to keep your stakeholders informed and educated on vulnerabilities as well as allows you to inform them of how you’re going about protecting the business and their interests. It also allows you to provide an executive summary to help executives and directors make informed security decisions.

Reduces Long-Term Costs

A Cyber Security risk assessment allows you to fully understand the justification behind costs being made around security, which, as a business owner or decision-maker, you need to fully comprehend just how important this additional expense is. By knowing the vulnerabilities in your IT systems, you can then spend the proper amount of time and money in fixing these issues and mitigating risks, which will ultimately save your business the costs of downtime and of dealing with cyberattacks when they occur. That’s not to say that they won’t occur even with a fantastic Cyber Security posture, but the majority will be able to be prevented and you should be able to stop the worst of the attack in its tracks when one does. You will also be able to get your business back up and running quickly and seamlessly with data recovery responses.

Prevents Data Loss

Data loss can and has destroyed businesses. It has both financial and emotional impacts on businesses of all sizes, not just large enterprises. This includes stress and anxiety due to losing customer records, financial information and key documents; financial impact surrounding the cost of lost business, lost reputation with customers and suppliers as well as with data recovery and breach response; the impacts surrounding legal consequences of not complying with data protection laws.

Improves Communication

This benefit comes from different avenues. First, a risk assessment requires information from different parts of an organisation, so this improves communication between both leaders and departments. It also breaks down barriers between management and IT staff, whether that be internal and/or external, as it allows the two groups to come together to make decisions that relate to the implementation of security requirements for systems, data and access, while also thinking about the security of the organisation as a whole.

Performing a Cyber Security risk assessment is a crucial step in protecting your business from cyber threats. It allows you to safeguard your business’ digital assets and ensure its long-term success. So, don’t wait until it’s too late. Invest in a Cyber Security risk assessment today and reap the benefits of a secure and successful business.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How often should I perform a Cyber Security risk assessment?

It’s recommended that businesses perform a Cyber Security risk assessment at least once a year or whenever there’s a significant change to their technology systems or infrastructure.

  • What are the key components of a Cyber Security risk assessment?

A Cyber Security risk assessment typically includes identifying assets, threats, vulnerabilities and controls. It also involves assessing the likelihood and impact of potential threats and prioritising risks.

  • Who should perform a Cyber Security risk assessment?

All businesses need to conduct a Cyber Security risk assessment, not just large enterprises. It’s also recommended that businesses hire a qualified Cyber Security professional to perform this assessment as it ensures the assessment is thorough and accurate and that all potential risks are identified and addressed.

  • How long does a Cyber Security risk assessment take?

The length of a risk assessment depends on the size and complexity of the business’s technology systems and infrastructure. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete a comprehensive risk assessment.

  • What happens after a Cyber Security risk assessment?

After a risk assessment is completed, a report is generated that outlines potential risks and recommended actions to mitigate them. The business can then take these actions to improve its overall security posture and protect against cyber threats.

  • Is a Cyber Security risk assessment worth the investment?

Absolutely. The benefits of performing a cyber security risk assessment far outweigh the cost. By identifying vulnerabilities and implementing preventative measures, you can protect your business from cyberattacks, reduce downtime, comply with regulations and safeguard your reputation.

IT Support, Technology

12 Technical Jargon terms you need to know

12 Technical Jargon terms you need to know

Technical jargon can often be confusing and overwhelming, especially for those who are not familiar with the IT industry.

As a company with tech staff, we know that one concern businesses have with dealing with IT support is that they might not answer your questions in a way you completely understand. They may seem as though they are talking down to you with their complicated technical jargon, but in reality, they are terms they are using with each other on a daily basis and sometimes they forget that others don’t know what on Earth they’re talking about.

While you don’t need a comprehensive education in technical jargon — you simply don’t have the time and possibly cannot be bothered learning about it, especially if technology is not an industry you’re interested in — having a brief understanding of these terms can be extremely helpful in communicating with IT professionals and making informed decisions about your IT infrastructure. In this guide, I’ll break down some common technical jargon you might encounter in the IT world.

  • Bandwidth: This refers to the amount of data that can be transferred over a network connection in a given amount of time. It’s often measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).
  • Firewall: A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that monitors and controls the flow of data between a computer or network and the internet. It acts as a barrier, blocking unwanted traffic while allowing authorised traffic to pass through
  • VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure connection between two or more devices that allows them to communicate over the internet as if they were on the same physical network. They allow users to use a public network to securely and remotely access a different network, such as a company intranet.
  • Cloud computing: Cloud computing is a way for businesses to store and manage their data, and run software applications on a data centre. Specifically, it’s a way for employees to access their work files, databases, software and analytics via the internet remotely, no matter where they are located or whichever device they use. It allows for greater flexibility, scalability and cost-effectiveness than traditional on-premises IT infrastructure.
  • SSL/TLS: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are protocols used to establish secure connections between web browsers and servers. They encrypt the data that is transmitted over the internet, making it more difficult for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information.
  • API: An application programming interface (API) is a set of protocols and tools that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. APIs are commonly used to integrate different software systems and automate tasks.
  • DNS: The domain name system (DNS) is a hierarchical naming system that translates domain names into IP addresses. It’s essentially a phone book for the internet that allows users to access websites by entering domain names rather than hard-to-remember IP addresses.
  • RAID: RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a storage technology that combines multiple hard drives into a single logical unit for greater performance, reliability and capacity. There are several different RAID levels, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
  • LAN/WAN: LAN (local area network) refers to a network of devices that are connected within a relatively small area, such as a home or office. WAN (wide area network) refers to a network that spans a larger geographic area, such as multiple offices or cities.
  • Patch: A patch is a piece of software that is designed to fix a specific issue or vulnerability in an operating system, application or other software system. Patches are released periodically by software vendors to address security concerns and improve performance.
  • Cache: A way to store frequently-accessed information is through a data cache. For example, web browsers use caches to store and load previously visited web pages more quickly. For a cache to be efficient, it must be quite small, so as they take up space over time and store more data, it can grow too large and slow your computer down rather than speed up processes. When this happens, you will need to clear the cache.
  • Cookies: HTTP cookies are small files sent by a website and stored in your browser to help the website remember information about the user, like usernames and passwords, billing addresses and browser history. While convenient, they also raise privacy concerns as they can be a security vulnerability.

These are just a few examples of the technical jargon you might encounter in the IT industry. While it may seem daunting at first, taking the time to understand these terms can go a long way in improving your communication with IT professionals and making informed decisions about your IT infrastructure. Since IT is very technical, it has more jargon than most other fields but these words help IT professionals communicate very specific information to each other, especially since the industry is so complex. If you’re ever unsure about a term or concept, don’t hesitate to ask your IT provider for clarification.

Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook as we post explanations of technical concepts once or twice a week. These are in digestible snippets and are in layman’s terms to help you understand a bit more about the technological and Cyber Security world.

Cybersecurity

All You Need to Know About the IRAP Certification

All You Need to Know About the IRAP Certification: The Key to Securing Your Organisation’s Data

If you’re a business handling sensitive information, you know how important it is to keep that data safe. With data breaches becoming more and more common, it’s essential to have a reliable system in place to protect your organisation’s data from being compromised. This is where the IRAP certification comes in.

What is the IRAP Certification?

IRAP stands for the Infosec (Information Security) Registered Assessors Program. It is a security assessment program that helps businesses evaluate their security controls against the Australian Government’s Information Security Manual (ISM). The ISM is a comprehensive guide to protecting sensitive information and is used by Australian government agencies and organisations that handle sensitive information.

It essentially endorses individuals from the private and public sectors to provide security assessment services. IRAP is monitored by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the same entity responsible for releasing and adapting Essential Eight.

IRAP helps increase the standard and consistency of Cyber Security in Australia by endorsing qualified Cyber Security professionals. These professionals then help businesses achieve accreditation by improving their business’ Cyber Security measures.

Who Needs the IRAP Certification?

Any company that handles sensitive information can benefit from getting the IRAP certification. This includes government agencies, businesses and non-profit organisations. The certification is particularly important for organisations that deal with information that is critical to national security or the country’s economic prosperity, as they may require you to have this certification to then work with you. If you didn’t have it, you wouldn’t even be on their radar.

The Benefits of the IRAP Certification

Getting the IRAP certification has several benefits for your organisation. Here are some of them:

  • Enhanced Security

The IRAP certification helps you identify any weaknesses in your security controls and provides recommendations for improvement. This way, you can enhance your organisation’s security posture and minimise the risk of data breaches.

  • Increased Credibility

Having the IRAP certification can help increase your business’ credibility as it shows that you take information security seriously and are committed to protecting sensitive information.

  • Competitive Advantage

Having the IRAP certification can also give you a competitive advantage over other companies that don’t have it. It can help you win contracts with government agencies and other organisations that require a high level of security.

  • Compliance with Regulations

If your organisation handles sensitive information, you may be required to comply with certain regulations, which the IRAP certification can help you demonstrate compliance with.

How to Get the IRAP Certification

Getting the IRAP certification involves several steps. Here’s a brief overview of the process:

Choose an IRAP Assessor

The first step is to choose an IRAP assessor. This is a person or organisation that is registered with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to provide IRAP assessment services.

  • Conduct a Security Assessment

Once you’ve chosen an IRAP assessor, they will conduct a security assessment of your business’ information systems. This assessment will involve a review of your organisation’s policies, procedures and technical controls. The assessor will dig deep into your IT systems, where they interview personnel, check for Cyber Security implantation, conduct audits and check if these match your risk assessment and subsequent plans.

  • Receive a Security Assessment Report

Based on the assessment, the assessor will provide a security gap analysis and risk assessment report. This report will identify any weaknesses in your organisation’s security controls and provide recommendations for improvement.

  • Implement Recommendations

Once you receive the security assessment report, you will need to implement the recommendations provided by the assessor. This may involve updating policies and procedures, implementing new technical controls or improving existing ones.

  • Apply for Certification

After you’ve implemented the recommendations, you can apply for the IRAP certification. The assessor will then conduct a final assessment to ensure that your organisation meets the requirements for certification.

Pronet and IRAP

While Pronet Technology isn’t certified in IRAP, we are incredibly dedicated to Cyber Security and have been for many years now. We implement Cyber Security measures within our and our clients’ businesses to protect and monitor them from cyber threats and are constantly updating our processes to be up-to-date with changes in the industry.

Due to this knowledge and experience, we have helped and worked with clients along their journey to reach the IRAP certification. So, while we don’t have the certification, we can help your business achieve this accreditation.

The IRAP certification is an important certification for organisations that handle sensitive information. It helps identify weaknesses in your company’s security controls and provides recommendations for improvement. Getting the IRAP certification can enhance your business’ security posture, increase your credibility, give you a competitive advantage and help you comply with regulations. If your organisation handles sensitive information, it’s worth considering getting the IRAP certification.

All in all, the IRAP certification is an essential step for securing your organisation’s data and protecting sensitive information. Remember, the security of your business’ data is too important to leave to chance, so it might be in your best interests to try to obtain this certification. If your small or medium-sized business does not deal with other organisations that require you to have such a high level of security, still make sure you’re implementing the Essential Eight Cyber Security measures so that you are adequately mitigating all cyber threats. This framework is highly likely to be mandated soon for all businesses, so make sure you’re implementing these in the near future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the IRAP certification:

  • How long does it take to get the IRAP certification?

The length of time it takes to get the IRAP certification depends on the size and complexity of your organisation’s information systems. It can take anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.

  • How much does the IRAP certification cost?

The cost of the IRAP certification varies depending on the assessor you choose and the size and complexity of your organisation’s information systems, but the cost is typically in the range of several thousand dollars. The cost of the assessor, however, is only a small component of the costs. The majority of the cost will be on the resources and tools you need to put in place to meet the ISM and maintain it.

  • Do I need to renew the IRAP certification?

Yes, the IRAP certification needs to be renewed periodically. The exact renewal period depends on the type of certification and the level of risk associated with your organisation’s information systems.

  • What happens if my organisation fails the IRAP certification?

If your organisation fails the IRAP certification, you will need to address the weaknesses identified in the security assessment report before applying for certification again.

  • Can I use the IRAP certification to comply with other security standards?

Yes, the IRAP certification can be used to demonstrate compliance with other security standards, such as ISO 27001. ISO 27001 Certification is essentially parallel with IRAP, however, it is slightly easier to achieve and is a certification recognised globally, whereas IRAP is an Australian certification. If your business does not require to work with the government or government agencies, ISO 27001 is generally a better option.

  • How does the IRAP certification benefit my customers?

Having the IRAP certification can give your customers peace of mind that their sensitive information is being handled with the utmost care and security. This can help build trust and confidence in your organisation.

Cybersecurity, Essential Eight, Strategy

How to Restrict Who Accesses Certain Folders or Programs in Your Business

How to Restrict Who Accesses Certain Folders or Programs in Your Business

If you’re concerned about the security of your business’ data and want to restrict access to certain folders or programs in your organisation, keep reading.

As businesses become more digital, the need for data security has increased. It is crucial to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information and protect it from potential cyberattacks. Restricting access to certain folders or programs is an effective way to secure your data as it allows you to control who has access to what data and ensures that only authorised personnel can access sensitive information.

Certain users or teams within your business may need a higher level of access than others, as giving someone access to change permissions and install updates to apps and the device is necessary, but when someone within or outside your business gets access to this, they can accidentally or intentionally cause immense damage.

By restricting who has access, it makes it difficult for malicious users to affect certain applications, obtain sensitive information or change privileges to prevent staff from being able to work effectively.

Restricting administrative privileges is also one of the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) Essential Eight mitigation strategies against cyber threats, so if you’re currently looking at implementing this framework, keep reading to learn about how to do this.

How to Restrict Who Accesses Certain Folders or Programs in Your Business

To restrict who accesses certain folders or programs in your business, you can follow these steps:

  • Identify Tasks: Start by identifying the tasks that require administrative privileges, then work out which staff members are required and authorised to carry out these tasks as part of their roles.
  • Create User Accounts: Create user accounts for each employee in your organisation. Each employee should have a unique username and password to access the system.
  • Assign Access Rights: Assign access rights to each user account. You can set permissions to read, write or execute files in specific folders or programs. Make sure users have the least amount of privileges needed to carry out their roles.
  • Use Encryption: Use encryption to protect sensitive data from unauthorised access. Encryption ensures that only authorised personnel can access the data, even if it falls into the wrong hands.
  • Implement Access Control Policies: Implement access control policies to restrict access to certain folders or programs. You can set policies based on job roles, departments or projects.
  • Monitor Access Logs: Monitor access logs to identify any unauthorised attempts to access sensitive data. This can help you identify security breaches and take corrective measures to prevent future incidents. Make sure to revalidate staff requirements to have a privileged account frequently so that when their role changes or they leave the business, you can remove these privileges.

What is Not Effective?

The ACSC advises that there are a number of approaches that do not qualify as restricting administrative privileges and which can actually increase the risk to an organisation.

  • Only minimising the total number of privileged accounts
  • Allowing for shared non-attributable privileged accounts
  • Allocating administrative privileges to users temporarily
  • Placing non-admin users in groups with users that have administrative privileges

Benefits of Restricting Access to Certain Folders or Programs in Your Business

Restricting access to certain folders or programs in your business can provide several benefits, including:

  • Improved Data Security: Restricting access to sensitive information can improve data security and prevent data breaches.
  • Compliance with Regulations: Restricting access to certain folders or programs can help you comply with regulations and standards, such as The Privacy Act and Essential Eight.
  • Reduced Risk of Cyber Attacks: Restricting access to sensitive data can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your business from potential threats.
  • Increased Control: Restricting access to certain folders or programs can give you increased control over who has access to what data.

Restricting access to certain folders or programs in your business is a crucial step in ensuring the security of your data. By creating user accounts, assigning access rights, using encryption, implementing access control policies and monitoring access logs, you can prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information and protect your business from potential cyberattacks. Don’t neglect this important aspect of your business security, act today and protect your data!

Remember, the security of your business data is essential to your success and you must take all necessary measures to protect it from unauthorised access. With the right security measures in place, you can rest assured that your data is safe and your business is protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the best way to restrict access to certain folders or programs in my business?

The best way to restrict access to certain folders or programs in your business is to create user accounts, assign access rights, use encryption, implement access control policies and monitor access logs.

  • What are the benefits of restricting access to certain folders or programs in my business?

The benefits of restricting access to certain folders or programs in your business include improved data security, compliance with regulations, reduced risk of cyberattacks and increased control over who has access to what data.

  • Can I restrict access to certain folders or programs based on job roles or departments?

Yes, you can restrict access to certain folders or programs based on job roles or departments by implementing access control policies.

  • How can I monitor access logs to identify unauthorised attempts to access sensitive data?

You can monitor access logs to identify unauthorised attempts to access sensitive data by using software tools that track user activity and notify you of any suspicious activity. This can help you identify security breaches and take corrective measures to prevent future incidents.

  • What are the consequences of not restricting access to sensitive data in my business?

Not restricting access to sensitive data in your business can result in data breaches, cyberattacks, financial losses, legal liabilities and damage to your business’ reputation.

IT Support, MSP, Technology

What are Tech Warranties?

What are Tech Warranties?

All genuine Australian-certified products sold by a genuine Australian online or physical store have implied warranties under Australian Consumer Law.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC):

“Warranties are extra promises that a business makes about the quality of a product or how it will fix any problems with a product or service.”

These are on top of consumer rights to a repair, replacement, refund or cancellation when there’s a problem with a product or service. Warranties must be honoured by businesses and staff must not pressure or mislead consumers to purchase extended warranties.

That doesn’t mean they don’t ask if you want to purchase an extension though, and nearly every time you purchase some new tech, there’s an option to add an extended warranty. You’ve probably found yourself asking, is it worth it? Would I even need it? Am I crazy not to purchase it?

Honestly, the answer is usually no for personal electronics.

Most of the time, the only people that benefit from tech warranties are retailers as they translate into serious profit margins. If people knew the actual statistics for how long their products last, they probably wouldn’t purchase extended warranties. According to Cyber Shack, a quality smartphone has less than a two per cent failure rate while a good laptop is under five.

Under the ACCC, your product has a warranty for however long it is reasonably expected to last. No one purchases a computer with the expectation it’s going to last only one year, but years, so that’s how long you can legally claim a refund, replacement or repair — your choice — as long as you provide proof of purchase and the fault is a manufacturing one. You may also be able to claim compensation if you can prove loss due to the item and companies cannot deny a claim or refer you to the manufacturer unless you agree. Make sure you also register the standard warranty after purchase so there is no hassle when you do need repairs.

Rather than spending money on extended warranties which can cost between 10 to 20 per cent of the retail price, consider spending that money on backup devices.

Extended tech warranties for businesses are different

When considering warranties for your business, you have different factors to consider, such as risk reduction, business longevity and employee productivity, which means extended warranties for business are needed and are usually part of the cost of doing business.

Pronet only sells our clients servers with 3-year warranties and then just before the end of those 3 years, we highly recommend clients purchase an extra 2 years, which we find most businesses are willing to do. Replacing servers are not as simple as replacing workstations as they take longer to install, test and get up and running as they have to be reconfigured around other network components which can cause delays to your business. If you have the warranty, manufacturers will then keep components available to honour the warranty so if you have older equipment without one, you may no longer be able to find the parts to fix them.

Businesses relying heavily on their computers should only be purchasing business-grade computers which have a base 3-year warranty period rather than the 1-year that personal, domestic computers offer. Our clients are then recommended to purchase an extra 2 years to push this up to 5 years, after which business computers are usually replaced.

Businesses that rely on their computers and technology should be using a managed service provider to look after their systems. It saves you the stress and time of dealing with having to contact and wait for manufacturers to come out and fix or replace the device. Experienced MSPs usually carry spare parts for common devices and systems they set up in your business, so if you have an issue, they can fix it for you promptly. Some MSPs would even carry ‘spares’ of critical equipment which they can loan you while your equipment is being fixed.

As a business owner or decision-maker, you’re constantly evaluating how to lower your risk, and using an MSP is the way to do this. We hope that answered some of your questions regarding tech warranties, but if you have any further questions, feel free to give us a call!

  • Get A Full IT System Assessment

    Call 03 9069 2188

    Or fill out the form below and we'll call you back straight away!

      [recaptcha size:compact]

    • gtee-arrow-3

      All our services are underpinned by our 100% Service Level Guarantee, so the onus is on us to perform and provide you with better service and support for a lower total cost. If we don’t perform well, it’s us who pays, not you!

      • 99.9% Guaranteed system uptime
      • Fast, 15-minute response
      • All your IT needs under one roof
      • ebook-graphic-2

      Download our FREE eBook:

      "8 Common Mistakes When Switching IT Provider" (and how you can avoid making the same mistakes)


      DOWNLOAD NOW

      WARNING: Telemarketers have been posing as Pronet & calling individuals/organisations to sell
      website and domain hosting services.
      Pronet Technology ensures that we DO NOT contact businesses or individuals to offer these products.                                  
      If this has happened to you we apologise and encourage you to email info@pronet.com.au so we can prevent the issue.

      Got it!
      X