Business Solutions & Software Group Blog

It’s been said several ways, but it’s true that small businesses are the lifeblood of our community. They are the local diner serving up comfort food and the hardware store that has everything you need. Unfortunately, there's a growing, insidious threat looming over these vital enterprises, a digital assailant that's becoming increasingly sophisticated: ransomware.

Ransomware, for those unfamiliar with this digital menace, is a type of malicious software that blocks access to your computer systems or encrypts your files, demanding a ransom payment—often in cryptocurrency—to restore access. It’s something the iconic character Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies would unleash; with a pinky-up “Riiiiight” in tow.

Data is, in its most pure form, knowledge that has been collected for use by your business. It’s not unlike a library in this way..but even libraries can crumble into dust, given enough time, as is evidenced by the Library of Alexandria. Despite its every attempt to overcome cultural prejudices and collect information on ancient civilizations, it still fell—and all its information along with it.

Social media is a potent tool for use in business, but it also offers cybercriminals countless opportunities to steal data and exploit your organization. Today, we want to highlight some of the ways your business can practice safe social media. These practices also transfer well to other types of security, so you’re sure to leave this blog with more than a few takeaways.

You know how they say it's a jungle out there? For small businesses, navigating it can feel like you’re trekking through the Amazon with a fly swatter. We have come to believe that knowledge is the best defense, so let's pull back the curtain on the four most significant internet threats your business will face in 2025.

Cybersecurity is exhausting to keep up with for several reasons, but for businesses, one of the biggest is its drain on your time. Cybersecurity oversights can lead to downtime, diminished trust in your organization, and significant capital losses. Today, we want to cover three common scenarios where it pays to pay attention to cybersecurity.

IT security, while a critical topic to consider, can often be dry and challenging to communicate. We decided to change things up a bit and present this information in a different format to keep things fresh, putting together a simple soap opera to share these lessons instead. As such, please imagine soft strings playing in the background and a soft filter over the scene.

Data—ones and zeroes in sequence—runs the world… even in the quiet town of Oak Falls. Let’s check in on the residents of this little town, but beware. Threats exist even here, so make sure you’re keeping a close eye on… All My Data!

When the College of Cardinals gathers to elect a new Pope—as they did last week—the process is shrouded in a level of secrecy that has captivated the world for centuries. This event, known as the papal conclave, is a masterclass in information control. Beyond the tradition and ceremony lie powerful lessons in security that businesses can, and should, consider to protect their business’ assets.

We've all seen or experienced the exasperation when another cybersecurity memo lands in the inbox. Perhaps it's accompanied by a quiet groan. Who cares? While it might seem like a minor annoyance, this attitude towards cybersecurity is more than just frustrating; it's a digital pathogen that can quietly infect your entire organization, leaving it vulnerable in ways you might not expect.

Today, we’ll discuss why this mindset is so perilous and explore what’s truly at stake when cybersecurity diligence doesn't become second nature for everyone on your team.

If you’re like most professionals, you’re managing a growing list of passwords, both personal and work-related. The challenge isn’t just remembering them all; it’s doing so securely. Reusing passwords across multiple accounts might seem like a shortcut, but it’s a serious security risk, especially in a business setting. One compromised account can trigger a chain reaction, potentially exposing sensitive data, damaging your reputation, and even leading to financial loss.

You’ve probably heard the term malware tossed around, but what does it actually mean? If you run a business or just use the Internet to get work done, you need to understand it, because malware isn’t just some IT buzzword. It’s software built to mess with your devices, steal your data, or lock you out of your own systems… and yeah, it can seriously disrupt your business.

Make no mistake about it, small businesses are being targeted. Thankfully, there are advanced IT security tools that are more accessible to lower-revenue organizations than ever, allowing small businesses to defend themselves like large enterprises. Let’s go into some of the top tools that are helping small businesses stay safe.

How much your business should spend on cybersecurity largely depends on a variety of factors, and you cannot lump yourself in with just any other business. The same IT budget will go to different lengths for different businesses. Your typical small business, for example, will not need the same level of security as a serious mega-corporation. But this doesn’t diminish the importance of cybersecurity spending; we’ll tell you why.

We've officially reached the point where humans have to prove they're, well, human just to access websites. One of the most common ways to do this? CAPTCHA. CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. It might sound long-winded, but the idea is simple. Computers still struggle to crack these tests, making them a solid way to block bots. But why exactly do they work so well?

Our phones, laptops, smart home devices, and even our cars are packed with data about our lives. But what happens when law enforcement wants access to that information? Whether you're an individual just trying to keep your personal data safe or a business owner handling customer information, here’s what you need to know.

Texts might make it convenient to communicate, but they’re a common medium for hackers to exploit others. Why are texts so dangerous, and what can you do about them? That’s what we’re covering today, including how you can detect and avoid these threats.

If you think cybercrime doesn’t affect you or your business, think again. It’s more real a threat than you probably realize, especially with how common data theft is these days. Today, we want to highlight some of the ways that data theft can affect you, even if your data hasn’t necessarily been stolen.

There are all types of threats on the Internet, but one of the most interesting that has been in the news recently is the SS7 attacks that have the U.S. Department of Homeland Security scrambling to find a solution. In today’s blog, we’ll go through how an SS7 attack works and why they can be so dangerous. 

Keeping your data secure is more difficult today than in any time in history. Not only does everyone need to be vigilant in the way they operate online, they are constantly inundated with security-first protocols that can really get tiresome when you are working at a computer for dozens of hours a week. Unfortunately, this is the norm now and if you are not proactive when it comes to your cybersecurity efforts, you could find securing your business’ technology much more difficult.

You should never trust an app by default, as evidenced by a list of 15 applications which McAfee has identified as “predatory loan apps” on the Google Play Store. There are efforts in motion to remove them from the platform, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous–especially if you’ve already downloaded them. Today, we’re highlighting the issues with SpyLoan apps.

Cybersecurity is a big deal for both individuals and businesses. With hackers and data breaches constantly making headlines, strong security is more important than ever. That’s where cybersecurity consultants come in. Let’s break down how they help keep systems safe.