Tell us your story on how you got into technology.

I was working in public education for about 10 years. As an educator, I enjoyed helping my students learn to use technology to help them, but I also needed to learn how to use technology to help myself. Educators have very little time throughout the day to complete their tasks, whether that’s contacting parents, grading, or planning for future lessons. Learning about cloud collaboration, file sharing, automation, and the integration of tools really helped me make the most of my days. When I knew it was time for me to leave education, I wanted to make the most of my skills around curriculum and instruction, as well as my skills related to technology, which is how I started my journey into the world of tech.

Did you always know that working in technology was what you wanted to do?

No. It’s actually a world I never really pictured myself in. I always loved creative work and education and I never imagined that working in tech would fulfill those desires. But I’m lucky to have found my role in technical training that allows me to tap into my creativity to generate new content and still educate and inform others.

How long have you been with Dataprise?

I’ve been with PEI, a Dataprise company, for almost 2.5 years, and we were fortunate enough to join the Dataprise team in October of 2023.

Can you share a little bit about what it is that you do and what a typical day for you is like?

As a technical trainer, I spend a lot of time researching technical tools, how to use them, and, more importantly, how to fit them into workflows to help users work more efficiently. This research doesn’t just include reading technical documentation and watching how-to videos, but I actually have a whole training environment built out where I can play around with different tools and applications. This helps me develop the courses we offer to our clients. I also offer live training courses, where I present our content to groups of users who are learning more about the applications they have access to and how to best utilize them.

What advice would you give to women considering a career in the tech industry? What do you wish you had known?

Do not let imposter syndrome allow you to minimize your talent. Your voice is important. Your ideas are valuable. Your skills are relevant. As someone who transitioned from a female-dominated space to a more male-dominated industry, I immediately began to question my right to take up space in this industry. I don’t necessarily know if there was something I wish I knew, but I wish I had believed, more immediately, that I had a tremendous amount to offer my company and my clients. I wish I had allowed myself to operate with confidence from the beginning. I suppose I wish I had known my own worth.

Why do you think it’s important for more women to join the tech industry? How can the broader community support women in tech?

When I first started in tech, I really questioned my right to be here. I think if more women were unabashedly leading in this field, we’d all enter with a little more confidence. And there’s really no stopping a woman who believes in herself.

We need to amplify the voices of women, particularly women of color, and other marginalized groups. Give them credit when credit is due. Let them be heard and take up space. Give them the chance to lead. Trust them.

What do you think is the best part of being a woman in the tech industry?

The best part about being a woman in the industry is being able to support young women as they are starting out. Being a part of growing their confidence, skillset, and support network is incredible.  

What is it that you enjoy most about your current job at Dataprise?

I love how I get to embrace my creativity. Being a technical trainer allows me to learn so much about all these different productivity tools or features within a commonly used app. I truly enjoy the days where I basically just get to play, learn, test, and figure things out. Then I get to turn that knowledge into courses, guides, and videos that can help others learn. Whether I’m learning the ins and outs of setting up workflows in Power Automate or telling my colleagues the exciting news that we can customize our reaction emojis in Teams, I really do get a lot of enjoyment out of simply getting the chance to explore what technology can really do for us.

What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?

“You are more than just your job.” I used to really allow my work to consume me, my personality, and my world. I had a hard time separating my life from my work, which meant when I messed up at work or failed at a task, it was easy to fall into the pattern of viewing my whole self as a failure. I love my job and the work that I do, and I consider myself lucky. But I’m also so much more than just the work I do.  Having strong boundaries doesn’t just allow me to show up better in my personal life, but I can also show up with a lot more positivity and enthusiasm in my professional life.

Where do you see yourself going from here?

I’d love to continue to grow our training program and move from just offering pre-created training courses to learning how to work more collaboratively with the users I support. It’s one thing to learn how to better utilize tools and programs, but I’d really love to find a way to work alongside my users to help them really build systems that work for them based on the knowledge they acquire from my sessions.

The post Dataprise Women in Technology: Meet Jess appeared first on Dataprise.

Let’s break down what happened with the Microsoft CrowdStrike outage, how it impacted the world, and what steps were taken to fix it. By understanding these details, we can better grasp the challenges of managing cybersecurity in our digital age.

What Happened: Understanding the Outage

Overview of the Incident

The Microsoft CrowdStrike outage was a major event that kicked off early on a Friday. The trouble started with a software update from CrowdStrike, targeting their Falcon sensor security software on Microsoft Windows. This update caused widespread “blue screens of death,” those infamous error screens on Windows.

Details of the Affected Updates

CrowdStrike’s update was supposed to enhance the Falcon sensor’s ability to detect new cyber threats. Instead, it had a logic error triggered by a routine sensor configuration update. This update rolled out just after midnight EST on Friday and led to system crashes.

Immediate Impacts Detected

The effects were severe and widespread, hitting various sectors globally. Critical services like air travel faced massive disruptions, with thousands of flights canceled and delays piling up. The healthcare sector was also hit hard, with some surgeries postponed and emergency services experiencing outages. This incident highlighted how essential cybersecurity software is to our modern digital infrastructure.

Global Impact of the Incident

The Microsoft CrowdStrike outage had a far-reaching impact, affecting multiple sectors and regions. Here’s a closer look:

Affected Sectors (airlines, healthcare, financial services)

The airline industry was hit particularly hard, with over 4,295 flights canceled globally, causing chaos at airports. Healthcare systems like Mass General Brigham and Emory Healthcare had to postpone services and revert to manual systems. Financial services also suffered, with disruptions in payment systems and customer access at banks worldwide.

Geographical Spread of the Outages

This wasn’t just a local issue—it affected services across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Europe, and Asia. Major U.S. cities saw disruptions in healthcare and public transportation, while the UK’s National Health Service faced setbacks in managing patient records and appointments.

Operational Consequences on Businesses

Businesses worldwide faced operational hurdles. Amazon warehouse employees struggled with schedule management, and Starbucks temporarily closed stores due to mobile ordering issues. Big corporations like FedEx and UPS reported substantial disruptions affecting logistics and deliveries. This outage underscored how crucial stable and secure IT infrastructures are for modern businesses.

Responses from CrowdStrike and Microsoft

Statements from CrowdStrike and Microsoft Executives

CrowdStrike’s CEO apologized for the disruption and assured that they had identified and fixed the issue, focusing on restoring customer systems. Microsoft deployed experts to work with affected customers and collaborated with other cloud providers to mitigate the impact.

Technical Steps Taken to Resolve the Issue

CrowdStrike pinpointed the problematic update and reverted changes to stabilize systems. Microsoft provided manual remediation documentation and scripts and updated the Azure Status Dashboard to keep customers informed. Both companies mobilized full resources to address the issue quickly.

Customer Communication and Support Efforts

CrowdStrike used their support portal and official channels to update customers and recommended specific remediation steps. Microsoft shared updates and solutions through official platforms to ensure widespread awareness and swift resolution. CrowdStrike also provided guidelines on their blog and support portal for further assistance.

Challenges and Recovery Efforts

Technical challenges in the recovery process

Recovery was tough due to the need for manual remediation of many devices. A critical issue was the lack of a phased rollout of updates, which would usually help reduce the impact. Companies deployed hundreds of engineers to work directly with affected systems and used specific recovery tools to restore PCs.

Cloud vs. on-premises remediation

Addressing issues in cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and GCP involved unique challenges compared to traditional on-premises systems. Cloud platforms don’t support conventional recovery methods like “safe mode,” requiring administrators to use more complex procedures to resolve issues.

The role of BitLocker in recovery

BitLocker, Microsoft’s disk encryption technology, played a dual role. While it provided essential security, it also complicated recovery efforts by requiring access to the BitLocker Recovery Key to manage disks securely.

Learning from the CrowdStrike Outage: Enhancing Disaster Recovery Plans

The recent CrowdStrike outage teaches an important lesson for all organizations: the need for a solid disaster recovery (DR) strategy. This incident reminded us that in today’s digital world, no system is immune to disruptions. Whether it’s due to cyberattacks, technical issues, or natural disasters, having an effective DR plan is crucial for maintaining business continuity and minimizing downtime.

Here are a few key takeaways for bolstering your disaster recovery plans:

• Practice Regular DR Drills and Update/Review Plans Continuously: Run simulations of possible outage scenarios to test your response strategies and find any weaknesses and regularly review your DR plans to adjust to new threats
• Backup Essential Data: Regularly back up all crucial data and store it in multiple locations.
• Have a Failover Plan: Determine your failback plan to get back to your production environment

Stay Vigilant: Scammers Exploit Chaos During Outages

The outage also shined a light on another big problem: opportunistic scammers. While CrowdStrike was handling the chaos, scammers swooped in to take advantage of the situation, making things even more complicated for businesses. This really drives home the point that we need not only a solid DR plan but also strong cybersecurity measures to protect against these kinds of threats when we’re most vulnerable.

Key Takeaways and Future Directions

This outage showed just how dependent we are on digital infrastructures and the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. It highlighted the importance of rapid response mechanisms, effective customer communication, and ongoing innovation in cybersecurity practices.

As we continue to navigate the digital world, this event underscores the significance of preparedness and resilience. It’s a call to enhance cybersecurity protocols and collaborate to build a more resilient digital ecosystem, ensuring we’re ready for any future threats.

FAQs

1. What sectors were impacted by the CrowdStrike outage?
The CrowdStrike outage had a broad impact, affecting various major business sectors globally. Notably, it caused significant disruptions at airports, leading to severe delays and cancelations of flights, as the computers essential for these services were compromised.

2. Was the Microsoft outage caused by CrowdStrike?
Yes, the global outage experienced by Microsoft on Thursday was triggered by an issue with CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor software. This problem led to widespread disruptions and caused the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ to appear on Windows PCs.

3. What were the effects of the Microsoft outage?
The Microsoft outage led to substantial disruptions across numerous sectors. It resulted in flight delays and cancelations, and affected critical services in hospitals, banks, supermarkets, and millions of other businesses.

4. What does CrowdStrike Falcon® Insight XDR do?
CrowdStrike Falcon® Insight XDR is the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) component of the CrowdStrike Falcon® endpoint protection platform. It functions similarly to a DVR for endpoints, continuously recording activities to detect and address incidents that bypassed initial preventive measures.

The post Understanding the Microsoft CrowdStrike Outage: Key Insights appeared first on Dataprise.

Getting Ready: Understanding IT Compliance

Before the race starts, athletes need to know the rules. Similarly, businesses must understand the ins and outs of IT compliance. Whether it’s GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX, each regulation has its own guidelines to protect data and ensure privacy. Knowing these rules is the first step to a successful compliance sprint.

Training: Building a Strong Compliance Framework

Just as athletes train hard to build strength and endurance, organizations need to develop a solid compliance framework. This includes:

1. Risk Assessment: Spotting and evaluating potential data security risks.
2. Policy Development: Creating thorough policies that meet regulatory standards.
3. Employee Training: Teaching staff about compliance standards and best practices.

Investing in these areas ensures your organization is ready for the sprint.

The Coach: Leveraging Expertise

Olympic athletes have coaches to guide them. In IT compliance, partnering with experts can make a huge difference. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like Dataprise offer the knowledge and tools to help businesses handle compliance challenges efficiently. Their expertise can streamline processes, reduce risks, and keep your compliance strategy on track.

Sprint Techniques: Fast-Track Compliance Strategies

To excel in a sprint, athletes use precise techniques. Similarly, businesses can adopt fast-track strategies to speed up compliance efforts:

1. Automation: Use automated tools for monitoring and reporting compliance status, cutting down on manual work and errors.
2. Regular Audits: Perform regular internal audits to find and fix issues quickly.
3. Data Encryption: Use strong encryption protocols to protect sensitive data during storage and transmission.

These strategies help businesses achieve compliance quickly and effectively.

The Finish Line: Continuous Improvement

Finishing a race doesn’t mean the athlete’s journey is over. Achieving compliance isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing process. Businesses need to continuously monitor, review, and update their compliance practices to stay ahead of changing regulations and new threats.

Celebrating Success: Achieving Gold Standard Compliance

Reaching top compliance levels is like winning a gold medal. It shows a commitment to excellence, security, and trustworthiness. By adopting a sprint mindset and using the right strategies and expertise, businesses can achieve compliance success and become industry leaders.

At Dataprise, we get the complexities of the compliance race. Our team of experts is here to help businesses navigate the regulatory landscape with ease and confidence. Contact us today to learn how we can support your compliance journey and help you achieve gold standard in IT security and compliance.

The post Compliance Sprint: Fast-Track Strategies for Organizational Success appeared first on Dataprise.

Know Your Starting Point

Before diving into optimizations, you need a clear picture of your current setup. Take a deep dive into your Azure environment. List out all your active resources, their configurations, and how they’re being used. This comprehensive audit is your first step to spotting underutilized resources and areas where you can save some cash.

Use Azure’s Cost Management Tools

Azure gives you some pretty nifty tools to keep track of your spending. Azure Cost Management and Billing provide detailed insights into your expenses. You can set budgets, forecast future costs, and pinpoint where you’re overspending. By keeping a close eye on these reports, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions and avoid any nasty surprises on your bill.

Tag and Group Your Resources

Tagging and grouping resources are key for keeping things organized. By categorizing resources based on departments, projects, or cost centers, you can easily track and allocate costs. This practice not only helps in managing expenses but also boosts security and compliance. Think of it as putting labels on everything in your pantry – it makes finding what you need (and knowing what you’re using) a whole lot easier.

Right-Size Your Resources

Regularly check your virtual machines (VMs), databases, and other services to ensure they match your current needs. If you’ve got a VM that’s way more powerful than you need, downsize it. Azure Advisor can give you personalized recommendations to help with this. It’s like Goldilocks finding the “just right” bowl of porridge – only with cloud resources.

Take Advantage of Reserved Instances and Savings Plans

If you have predictable workloads, consider using Azure Reserved Instances and Savings Plans. These options let you commit to using certain resources over a one- or three-year term for a lower rate. While this requires some upfront planning, the long-term savings can be significant. It’s like buying in bulk – more effort at the start, but better savings in the long run.

Automate Where You Can

Automation can be a game-changer for managing your Azure environment. Use automated scaling to adjust resources based on demand, and set up scripts to shut down non-essential resources during off-hours. This not only saves money but also boosts your operational efficiency. It’s like having a smart thermostat that adjusts the temperature based on whether you’re home or away – efficient and cost-effective.

Keep Reviewing and Optimizing

Cloud environments are always changing, so what worked last month might not be the best fit today. Schedule regular reviews of your Azure environment to find new optimization opportunities. Engage with your teams and foster a culture of continuous improvement and cost-consciousness. Think of it as regular tune-ups for your car – necessary for keeping things running smoothly.

Partner with the Pros

Navigating Azure’s complexities can be daunting. Partnering with experts like Dataprise can provide the guidance and support you need to optimize your Azure environment. Our team can help you conduct detailed assessments, identify cost-saving opportunities, and implement best practices tailored to your specific needs. It’s like having a personal trainer for your IT – they know the best exercises to get you in shape.

Final Thoughts

Regular Azure assessments are crucial for stretching your IT budget. By understanding your environment, leveraging Azure’s built-in tools, right-sizing resources, and partnering with experts, you can ensure your cloud costs are optimized and aligned with your business goals.

For more insights on optimizing your Azure environment, download our whitepaper ‘Optimizing Your Azure Environment: A Guide to Achieving the Gold Standard’ and reach out to Dataprise today. Let’s achieve excellence together.

The post Stretching Your IT Budget: Best Practices for Azure Assessments appeared first on Dataprise.

The Cybersecurity Athlete’s Playbook

Your cybersecurity playbook should be as dynamic and comprehensive as an athlete’s training regimen. Let’s dive into the key strategies:

1. Risk Assessment: The Foundation of Cyber Defense

Athletes constantly evaluate their training environments. Cybersecurity teams should do the same with risk assessments. Understand potential threats, identify vulnerabilities, and gauge the impact and likelihood of risks. This solid foundation sets the stage for a strong security strategy, much like a detailed training plan does for athletes.

2. Understanding and Identifying Threats

Knowing your opponent is crucial in sports and cybersecurity. Cybercriminals target organizations for money, political chaos, revenge, or disruption. By understanding these motives, you can better anticipate and defend against attacks. Identifying your organization’s vulnerabilities is like an athlete acknowledging their weaknesses and working to improve them.

3. Developing a Risk Mitigation Plan

Just like athletes adjust their diet or training regimen, cybersecurity teams need a plan to block or reduce threats. This involves better firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular testing and patching. Being proactive with risk mitigation keeps your defenses strong.

4. Employee Training: Building a Security-Aware Culture

Olympic athletes rely on teammates for support and motivation. Similarly, a security-aware culture requires everyone in the organization to be vigilant and knowledgeable. Clear policies, effective training programs, and continuous education are key. Employees should feel comfortable reporting potential security incidents without fear of repercussions, creating a collaborative defense environment.

5. Advanced Defense Techniques

Top athletes use cutting-edge tech and advanced techniques to stay ahead. Cybersecurity teams should do the same with layered security architectures, robust encryption, and data protection. Staying ahead with advanced techniques ensures your organization can handle sophisticated threats.

6. Threat Detection and Incident Response

In sports, quick responses to unexpected challenges are crucial. The same goes for cybersecurity. Implementing security information and event management systems (SIEM) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) helps identify and mitigate attacks in real time. A solid incident response plan ensures your team can act fast to contain and recover from breaches.

Building Your Cybersecurity Dream Team

Creating a top-notch cybersecurity team isn’t just about technology—it’s about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and teamwork. Here’s how:

1. Foster a Collaborative Environment

Encourage open communication and collaboration among team members. Just like athletes rely on their coaches and teammates, cybersecurity pros should work together to share insights and strategies.

2. Invest in Training and Development

Continuous education is key to staying ahead of cyber threats. Invest in regular training programs and certifications to keep your team updated with the latest knowledge and skills.

3. Embrace Innovation

Stay updated with the latest advancements in cybersecurity tech and methods. Embracing innovation gives your team the tools to combat emerging threats effectively.

4. Prioritize Mental and Physical Well-being

A healthy team is a productive team. Encourage work-life balance and provide resources for mental and physical well-being. Just as athletes need rest and recovery, cybersecurity pros must manage stress and avoid burnout.

Add Dataprise to your Cybersecurity Dream Team

Reaching peak performance in cybersecurity is an ongoing journey that requires dedication, continuous learning, and a strong team culture. By taking cues from the world of elite sports, you can build robust defenses and stay resilient against cyber threats. Just like an Olympic team works together to achieve greatness, your cybersecurity team can reach new heights with the right strategies and mindset.

Ready to build your cybersecurity dream team? Let Dataprise guide you on the path to peak performance. Contact us today and take the first step towards securing your organization’s future.

The post Peak Performance Cybersecurity: Building Your Defense Dream Team appeared first on Dataprise.

Tell us your story on how you got into technology.

I joined the RevelSec team back in 2022. My knowledge on anything tech/MSP related was extremely limited; however, I was able to learn and grow thanks to our amazing team and those I consider mentors.

Did you always know that working in technology was what you wanted to do?

No, I actually got my degree in Political Science and worked at multiple law firms throughout/after college. When the opportunity presented itself to make the switch, I took it and have enjoyed my career change ever since.

How long have you been with Dataprise?

For a total of two years! I have been with RevelSec since May 2022, and following RevelSec’s acquisition by Dataprise in June 2023, I have been able to call myself a Datapriser for the past year.

Can you share a little bit about what it is that you do and what a typical day for you is like?

As part of the Service Delivery team, I work with our sales reps to deliver proposals, facilitate the sales cycle post-close, and place orders for product purchasing. I also work alongside our Finance Manager on billing, monthly agreement management, and other AR-related tasks. In addition to maintaining communication with vendors, clients, sales reps, etc., my day begins and ends working out of our CRM.

What advice would you give to women considering a career in the tech industry? What do you wish you had known?

Don’t allow limiting beliefs to hinder you! We are all more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Tech is such a vast field—your own interests and personal experiences provide useful and unique skills you can apply in different areas.

Why do you think it’s important for more women to join the tech industry? How can the broader community support women in tech?

The increased normalization of women in tech allows for more innovation! I think there are so many unique experiences women can draw from to bring new solutions that cater to a broader audience of people. This is why it’s important that we do not leave women out of the conversation when it comes to their involvement in tech.

What do you think is the best part of being a woman in the tech industry?

The best part is knowing I am helping to break stereotypes by being a part of a male-dominated industry. Additionally, I am in an industry where lifelong learning is valued and rewarded!

What is it that you enjoy most about your current job at Dataprise?

Dataprise’s commitment to growth and career acceleration from within. There are multiple ways in which this company invests in its employees, from the High Potential Leadership Program (which I recently participated in) to the emphasis on training and certification.

I’m also thankful for the great team I work with in the Central Region Office, who all contribute to creating a very positive company culture.

What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Admitting when you need guidance only gets you closer to the correct answer. This has not only boosted my confidence in professional settings but also encouraged me to be a lifelong learner, which is another valuable skill.

Where do you see yourself going from here?

Currently, I’m focusing on developing my skills and my knowledge in tech-related areas. Additionally, I would love to explore opportunities to expand my role in finance and procurement, as I believe these areas complement my skills and interests.

The post Dataprise Women in Technology: Meet Isabela appeared first on Dataprise.

In this blog, we’ll explore essential strategies to get executives to support your ideas. We’ll start by seeing things from their perspective, then show you how to create a compelling business case that resonates with the C-suite, linking technical potential with business results. We’ll also discuss how to communicate effectively, keep executives engaged, build trust, and ensure your projects stay visible.

Understand the Executive Perspective

To secure executive buy-in, understand their business goals, priorities, and technical knowledge gaps. This helps present IT projects in a way that aligns with their expectations and the organization’s objectives.

Identify Business Goals and Priorities

Executives prioritize initiatives that contribute to growth and productivity while avoiding siloed work, poor communication, and low morale. Your project plan should align with the organization’s strategic goals, addressing the executives’ definitions of success and tackling the obstacles they face. Consider their top challenges, metrics for success, and approach to business decisions to ensure your IT projects resonate with their priorities.

Recognize Technical Knowledge Gaps

Projects should meet current needs and pave the way for future digital growth. Involving leaders in discussions about IT projects and their business implications helps close knowledge gaps and fosters a teamwork-focused atmosphere where both business and tech leaders aim for the same goals.

Build a Strong Business Case

Collect Data Focused on Business Outcomes

Gather and share data that links directly to business results, such as revenue boosts, cost reductions, and customer satisfaction improvements. Demonstrating how IT efforts can impact these metrics can help convince leaders to support your projects.

Align with Business Goals

Ensure your IT projects align with the company’s strategic aims. Clearly illustrate how the project will help achieve important business goals and tackle current challenges. Engage stakeholders early and keep them involved to maintain alignment with organizational goals and ensure ongoing executive support.

Showcase Case Studies and Success Stories

Use case studies and success stories to highlight the potential benefits and real-world impact of IT projects. Share previous successes, outlining the challenges, solutions, and results achieved, to give executives solid proof of the strategic value of proposed IT initiatives.

Effective Communication Strategies

Tailor Your Pitch to Executive Focus

Understand the executives’ strategic goals and priorities, and tailor your communication to address these directly. Present IT projects that solve specific problems and show how they contribute to these goals.

Be Specific and Clear

Avoid vague terms or jargon. Use precise language and relevant data to support your claims, enhancing understanding and building trust by showing that the IT project is well thought out and grounded in reality.

Engage the Board and Key Stakeholders

Regular updates and strategic discussions keep all parties informed and involved. Clear, consistent communication and inclusion in the decision-making process ensure that stakeholders’ concerns and insights are addressed and valued.

Maintain Ongoing Engagement

Provide Regular Updates and Reports

Keep executives and stakeholders engaged with regular updates and reports summarizing the project’s current status, key accomplishments, and upcoming milestones. Use visual tools like Gantt charts to make these updates easy to understand, allowing stakeholders to quickly grasp the project’s progress.

Highlight Milestones and Achievements

Recognize and celebrate milestones to motivate the project team and reinforce the project’s value to stakeholders. Clearly communicate each milestone and celebrate achievements to build momentum and sustain executive interest and support throughout the project lifecycle.

FAQs

1. How can I gain support from an executive for a project?Provide opportunities for executives to express their concerns and questions. Establish effective communication channels to address these concerns timely. The more involved they are, the more likely they are to support the proposed changes.
2. What are effective ways to secure executive buy-in for a project?Demonstrate the value and impact of your project on their interests. Involve executives early in the decision-making process to ensure all members are on board and less likely to retract their support later.
3. What strategies can enhance buy-in for an idea among executives?Clearly define the problem your idea addresses. Set criteria for success. Collect relevant research and data. Pilot your idea to test feasibility. Identify key stakeholders and their involvement level. Customize your communications for different stakeholders. Engage in brainstorming sessions with your team and stakeholders to refine the idea.

The post How to Win Executive Buy-In for Your IT Projects Successfully appeared first on Dataprise.

In this blog, we’ll explore essential tools and solutions to help you build a strong defense against ransomware attacks and manage SaaS backups effectively. Given the increasing threats to digital assets, it’s vital to continually reassess and strengthen your SaaS backup and recovery plans to ensure they provide the resilience you need.

Understanding SaaS Backup Challenges

The Myth of SaaS Data Safety

Many companies mistakenly think that SaaS providers handle all aspects of data security, leading them to neglect their own role in protecting their data. While SaaS solutions are convenient, the shared responsibility model makes it clear that data protection isn’t just the provider’s job. Misconceptions, like assuming providers handle all backup and recovery operations, can leave your data vulnerable to losses from accidental deletions and misconfigurations. Companies need to be proactive in their data protection efforts.

Human Error vs. Malicious Attacks

Human error is a major threat to data security, often more frequent and impactful than malicious attacks. Simple mistakes, like falling for phishing scams or incorrectly setting up security features, can lead to serious data breaches. These mistakes are even more problematic due to the complexity and number of SaaS applications employees use today. To reduce these risks, organizations need to focus on thorough training and solid security measures.

Evaluating Your Current SaaS Backup Strategy

Importance of Regular Audits

Conducting regular audits is an important step in maintaining the effectiveness of your SaaS backup strategy. These audits help uncover weaknesses in how employees handle data or in the software itself. By identifying these vulnerabilities early on, organizations can fix them before they lead to data loss. This proactive approach is especially important because data in active use is often at a higher risk of breaches. Regular audits also help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, preserving data integrity and privacy.

Role of the Shared Responsibility Model

Understanding the Shared Responsibility Model is key when assessing SaaS backup strategies. This model clearly outlines the security duties of both the cloud service provider (CSP) and the customer. While CSPs handle the security of the cloud infrastructure, customers are responsible for protecting their own data within the cloud. This includes tasks like managing access controls, encrypting data, and ensuring secure user interactions. Organizations must recognize their role in safeguarding their data to avoid losses from user errors or malicious attacks. It’s essential to actively participate in protecting SaaS data with robust backup solutions.

Implementing Effective SaaS Backup Practices

Automated and Offsite Backups

1. Cloud-Based Flexibility: SaaS backup solutions leverage cloud storage, offering scalability and flexibility. This eliminates the need for on-premise hardware, catering especially to businesses with remote teams or those lacking extensive IT infrastructure.
2. Automation: These solutions automate the backup process, significantly reducing the manual effort involved and minimizing the risk of human error. This ensures that backups are consistently performed without needing regular user intervention.
3. Disaster Resilience: Storing backups offsite in the cloud means that local disasters like floods or fires won’t compromise your data integrity, as the data resides safely in multiple geographically dispersed locations.

Ensuring Backup Data Integrity

1. Regular Testing and Monitoring: Implement automated tools to regularly test and monitor backup integrity. This involves simulating restoration processes to ensure data can be effectively recovered and is not corrupted.
2. Data Verification Techniques: Utilize checksum and hashing to verify the accuracy of backup data. These methods help in detecting any alterations or corruption in the data, ensuring that the backups are reliable and can be trusted for restoration.
3. Redundancy Measures: Maintain at least two backup copies in separate locations to safeguard against data loss. This redundancy ensures that if one backup fails, there is another intact version available for recovery.

Tools and Solutions for SaaS Backup Security

Key Features to Look For

When selecting a SaaS backup solution, businesses should consider several crucial features to ensure robust data protection:

1. Integration with SaaS Products: The backup software must seamlessly integrate with various SaaS applications like Office 365 or G Suite without disrupting existing operations.
2. Data Storage Options: Solutions should offer flexibility in data storage, whether through cloud services or on-premises systems, to suit different organizational needs.
3. Data Encryption and Security: Encryption techniques are essential to protect data from unauthorized access. Ensure the solution adheres to stringent security standards and compliance regulations.
4. Data Restoration Capabilities: The ability to quickly restore data is crucial. Look for features that allow granular recovery and flexibility in restoration practices.
5. Insider Threat and Malware Protection: Effective solutions should include mechanisms to protect against insider threats and malware, such as ransomware, which can encrypt backup data.

Dataprise Partners with VEEAM, a Best in Class SaaS Backup Solutions Provider

Veeam, a global leader in data protection and ransomware recovery, partners with Dataprise to offer comprehensive data protection solutions. This partnership provides essential security, replication, and failover capabilities through Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS), Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS), and Microsoft 365 Backup, ensuring businesses remain operational and their data secure.

Best Practices for Ongoing SaaS Backup Management

Regularly Testing Your Backup and Restore Process

1. Conduct Frequent Testing: It is essential to test your SaaS backup and recovery solutions regularly to verify their functionality. This involves simulating real-world data loss scenarios to ensure that data can be restored quickly and accurately. Regular testing helps identify any gaps in your backup strategy and allows for timely adjustments.
2. Review and Update Recovery Plans: As your organization evolves, so should your backup and recovery plans. Regular reviews will ensure that changes in technology and business operations are reflected in your backup procedures, minimizing potential vulnerabilities.

Maintaining Backup Documentation and Policies

1. Documentation of Backup Processes: Keep detailed records of backup and recovery procedures, including the types of data backed up, the frequency of backups, and the roles responsible for different tasks. This documentation is vital for maintaining operational consistency and can be crucial during recovery operations.
2. Update Policies Regularly: Backup policies should be living documents that are updated regularly to reflect new business needs and technological changes. This includes adjusting the backup frequency, methods, and retention policies to ensure compliance and data integrity.

Conclusion

As we wrap up, it’s important to emphasize the need for regular audits, thorough staff training, and the use of advanced tools to boost SaaS backup security. Combining these strategies helps protect against the various threats modern organizations face. For those looking to improve their SaaS backup and recovery, consulting experts like Dataprise can be a valuable step. Our specialized support can help organizations navigate digital threats and secure their critical data more effectively, promoting operational resilience and peace of mind.

FAQs

1. Why is it necessary to back up SaaS applications?
Backing up SaaS applications is crucial as it ensures the protection and recovery of essential business data stored in cloud-based services. The importance of SaaS backup varies among organizations depending on the critical nature of the data to their operations.

2. Is Azure Backup considered a SaaS or a PaaS?
Azure Backup is designed as a Platform as a Service (PaaS) from its inception. It is built to fulfill the expectations of customers looking to transform their IT infrastructure through cloud services.

3. What are the essential features of a SaaS data protection solution for effective backup?
An effective SaaS data protection solution should offer secure and scalable data backup, quick and reliable data restoration, adherence to industry standards, and capabilities for verifying data integrity after restoration.

4. How does SaaS support disaster recovery efforts?
SaaS can significantly aid disaster recovery by providing readily accessible backups. This helps manage risks and reduce disruptions during outages, as team members can access crucial information like contact lists, calendar entries, inventory levels, and financial records to maintain basic operations.

The post Is Your SaaS Backup as Bulletproof as You Think? appeared first on Dataprise.

What Is Third-Party Vendor Management?

Third-party vendor management refers to the checks and balances established between an organization and its vendors. It clearly identifies the key players, defines their roles, and outlines general responsibilities for each party. In addition, it delves into the monitoring and compliance mechanisms that safeguard an organization against threats.

Key Elements of Effective Third-Party Risk Management

Third-party risk management essentially adapts the current regulatory standards to your organization’s individual processes. As you piece yours together, consider the following categories.

Governance Documents

Governance documents establish formal rules and day-to-day procedures, and they should be written for internal reference and outsiders (e.g., auditors, stakeholders, etc.) alike. So, if a natural disaster occurs and your physical machinery is wiped out, a governance document would detail the full data recovery plan, including who’s in charge of relaunching operations.

Senior Management and Board Involvement

Oversight for critical and high-risk vendors should be done at the highest level. Your risk management reports must be regularly reviewed to assess the viability of the program, and you’ll need a clear hierarchy of decision-makers. For example, an IT professional may make a recommendation to cut ties with a vendor, but only the CEO can officially sever the relationship.

Risk-Based Due Diligence

Due diligence comes down to research. To assess inherent risks, you should triage your vendors based on their access levels. For example, if you hire a vendor to optimize your networks, like a Managed Service Provider (MSP), your due diligence will be far more involved than, say, a SaaS provider for non-critical services.

Contract Management

Contracts define the working relationship between parties and often serve as the key piece of evidence in a dispute. After negotiating and executing the contract, the service level agreements (SLAs) should be clear to both parties and regularly reviewed (and, if necessary, amended) throughout the working relationship.

Offboarding

Vendor termination should be explicitly spelled out under third-party management. Without the right oversight or systematic review, you risk anything from process disruptions to data breaches. Tasks like data handling and notifications should be delegated to authorized parties who understand the nature of the contract.

How to Implement a Comprehensive Vendor Management Strategy

An organization’s implementation framework should be adapted based on the staff and scale of operations. However, all successful implementations should include the following:

• Specifics: The more detailed you are, the fewer questions and miscommunications. Paperwork, contracts, and reporting should be as detailed as possible to prevent misinterpretations of the vendor agreement.
• Background checks: All vendors, regardless of risk profiles, should be vetted for compliance and quality.
• Metrics: Your rating systems should establish a benchmark for quality, so it’s easy to see whether the vendor lives up to expectations. For example, the vendor must have strong client satisfaction ratings to back up their promises.

Regular reporting, structured offboarding, and rating systems can all help you implement vendor management, particularly for the most high-risk vendors.

How to Categorize Third-Party Vendors

Categorizing third-party vendors can be broken down into the following basic steps:

1. Identify and list all vendors with access to sensitive or customer information.
2. Detail the vendor’s services, contact information, and any other pertinent data needed for risk assessments (e.g., security protocols, etc.).
3. Label vendors as critical-, significant-, or non-essential based on confidentiality of information, access to information, volume of assets, and general data availability. For instance, if there are several barriers in place before a vendor can access sensitive data of any kind, you might label them as non-essential.
4. Administer security questionnaires or conduct direct assessments of each vendor (e.g., business continuity, overall governance, etc.) Develop a risk matrix to analyze the information and identify both inherent and residential risks.
5. Develop an attack surface monitoring solution and assign ratings of the vendor’s security posture.
6. Audit vendors via site visits, penetration testing, and comparative risk scores to verify their security standards. Schedule regular reassessments of vendor risk and adjust ratings as necessary.

To ensure proper categorization, consult with finance, legal, marketing, and procurement leaders to align risk management processes and ensure consistency. We recommend collaborating with all relevant departments to establish risk thresholds to pre-screen, onboard, and monitor vendors.

As you work with legal and compliance, ensure that you’re aware of the regulatory measures that apply to your industry (e.g., healthcare, finance, etc.). In addition, consider how protocols might change in the near future based on the ongoing compliance trends.

You can adjust security assessments and compliance controls based on the vendor’s individual risks, and you should have the express approval of legal and compliance departments before finalizing your governance documents.

How to Leverage Technology for Efficient Risk Management

Leveraging technology can reduce the amount of legwork on your end and streamline vendor risk management. Adopting comprehensive approaches to manage your digital ecosystem can be highly effective. Additionally, utilizing specialized methods to gain a deep understanding of both vendor capabilities and risks can provide valuable insights, making in-depth control assessments an excellent choice for your most important vendors.

These systems can immediately expose cyber risks during onboarding, thereby accelerating decision-making and optimizing resource allocation. By assessing the vendor’s operational continuity, data privacy, financial stability, and compliance obligations, you can be more confident with every recommendation and SLA.

After onboarding the vendor, you can use tools to continuously monitor an individual vendor’s security posture. These tools will also alert you to any threshold breaches, which is why it’s so important to clearly define what your thresholds are. The more stringent, the more likely you’ll waste time with false alarms. If they’re too lax, a threat is more liable to go undetected.

AI-driven analytics platforms and AI tools, can analyze troves of data and detect anomalies, so you can quickly complete questionnaires, assessments, and compliance checks. These tools automatically generate responses for basic compliance and security questions, so you can focus your time on more complex matters.

Risk management platforms can also help an organization monitor and manage risks. Comprehensive and user-friendly dashboards reveal real-time data analysis and risk scoring, so you can identify threats more efficiently. Predictive analytics forecast potential risks based on historical data and provide geographic visualizations, so there are fewer gaps between when a threat emerges and when it’s mitigated. Choose compliance management software that automates updates based on regulatory requirements, so the organization enjoys both constant compliance and a simplified audit process.

With the right technology, IT professionals have the insights they need to have data-driven conversations and collaborative risk remediation. With the right monitoring tools, you can establish risk domains that break down each category, so you’re less likely to miss a critical detail.

Documentation Practices

Detailed records accelerate both internal and external audits. We recommend third-party risk management software to ensure data is logged and easily retrievable, so it’s possible to verify monitoring practices, compliance checks, threat alerts, etc. Whether you have quarterly or annual evaluations for a vendor, the paperwork and reporting is as clear to internal players as external auditors or stakeholders.

As regulations change, you may need to update your monitoring processes and documentation practices to comply with the latest standards. Ensure that you’re proactively communicating with vendors, updating them of any recent changes or emerging threats. For instance, if a new virus sweeps onto the scene, there should be ongoing, documented conversations about whether your organization is at risk and what can be done to prevent an attack if so.

Your incident response and predictive planning should detail the procedures for all immediate threats, including interference and escalation. As you list the protocols and procedures, consider how to implement mitigations in a way that disrupts operations as little as possible.

How Dataprise Can Help

A robust third-party risk management strategy is invaluable to organizations that can’t afford operational shutdowns, compliance fines, and reputation loss. With better strategies and monitoring tools, you can lean on third-party vendor relationships while still safeguarding against vulnerabilities. If you’re unclear which tools are right for your organization, how to integrate them into your current systems, or even how to justify the expense to a budget-conscious CFO, the right MSP can work under even the strictest compliance controls. If you’re interested, contact us to see how we can help!

The post The IT Professional’s Handbook to Third-Party Vendor Risk Management Excellence   appeared first on Dataprise.

Despite Dell’s initial response, Menelik allegedly carried out a second attack on a different portal, this time accessing even more personal information, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and confidential service reports with detailed hardware information, diagnostic logs, and technician notes.

Protecting Your Digital Identity

In light of these breaches, it’s important to take proactive steps to protect your digital identity. Here are some measures you can take:

Strengthen Your Passwords

• Create Strong, Unique Passwords: Use complex passwords for every account.
• Use a Password Manager: It simplifies managing multiple passwords and ensures they are secure.
• Consider Passkeys: These offer a more secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords.

Embrace Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Enable 2FA: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional verification step.
• Use Authenticator Apps or Physical Security Keys: These methods provide robust protection against unauthorized access.

Stay Vigilant Against Scams

• Be Cautious with Unsolicited Communications: Verify any unexpected messages claiming to be from Dell or requesting personal information.
• Look Out for Phishing Attempts: Cybercriminals may use exposed information to trick you into revealing more data.

Monitor Your Accounts and Credit Reports

• Regularly Check for Suspicious Activity: Keep an eye on your financial accounts and credit reports.
• Consider Credit Monitoring Services: These can alert you to any unusual activity.
• Freeze Your Credit Reports: This can prevent unauthorized access or the opening of new accounts in your name.

Keep Informed and Stay Updated

• Follow Official Updates from Dell: Stay updated with the latest information and recommendations from Dell.
• Seek Professional Help if Needed: Consider consulting cybersecurity experts for personalized advice and protection.

Embracing a Proactive Mindset

Data breaches are becoming more common, so it’s essential to be proactive in protecting your digital presence. By strengthening your passwords, using two-factor authentication, staying alert to potential scams, monitoring your accounts, and keeping informed, you can significantly reduce the risks of cyber threats and breaches.

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