With quantum computers inching closer and closer to reality, we can anxiously anticipate new and exciting changes coming to the way computers process information. A complex concept for many to comprehend, it is sure to disrupt many industries with its power. Read more
Password management is a common challenge businesses in any industry face. A shocking number of businesses still rely on paper-based logbooks or unsecured spreadsheets to manage their privileged account credentials. According to Forrester (a leader in business technology research and advisory) estimates that 80% of data breaches involve privileged credentials which means organizations must make password protection a top priority in their security strategies. Read more
Encryption has become the most effective way for businesses of all sizes to best secure critical data. While it doesn’t prevent data from being accessible, it does render data unintelligible unless you have a secret key or password to decrypt or make the information readable.
With the introduction of Microsoft’s Windows BitLocker, business hardware (like servers, workstations, backup drives, etc.) can be protected by encryption; drastically improving the threat of data being stolen or exposed when a computer is lost or stolen. Encryption plays a significant role in data confidentiality on hardware and can be utilized in a variety of organizations including law firms, doctor office’s or businesses that supply laptops for employee’s use. Read more
In tough economic times, businesses tend to cut costs wherever possible. While it may be a necessary means to an end, strategies should be in place so that productivity remains unaffected. Since IT can often become a roadblock to productivity, we’ll have a closer look at how improving the quality of staff’s equipment can not only improve productivity but profitability as well. Read more
Data destruction is a legal obligation your business is responsible for managing appropriately. Legislation like PIPEDA requires your organization keep sensitive and private information of your clients, employees and partners from falling into the wrong hands. “Personal information that is no longer required to fulfill the identified purposes should be destroyed, erased, or made anonymous.” (PIPEDA, Principle 5.) Read more
Business owners operating in today’s landscape will commonly acknowledge the importance of backing up critical business data. With several media and seemingly complex methods available to choose from, the decision making process is often a daunting task when the concepts are beyond your area of expertise. Often times management will select the most inexpensive option as they are unable to truly comprehend the consequences associated with the selections presented to them.
As a trusted business adviser, we at Compulite choose to empower our clients with the knowledge needed to make important business decisions that will impact (either positively or negatively) their company. While some may find it difficult to grasp the technical components of a complex backup structure, the high-level details we’ve included throughout this post should give some insight into how your approach to backups can be structured. Read more
As technology advances and becomes more accessible, consumers and businesses alike are able to take advantage of more cost effective, feature-rich solutions not previously available to them. Geofencing and Geo-IP filtering for hardware and software used to be a very costly tool implemented for very specific use cases. It is now technology featured in almost every smart phone, firewall or router most consumers already have in their possession, and is the foundation of several applications and services. Read more
A “golden key” or a universal back door method, allows the bypassing of normal authentication in a product, computer system or algorithm. If used ethically it can be used for securing remote access to a computer system or for debugging purposes. The controversy surrounding golden key methodology stems from the fact that in the wrong hands, it can also open up physical access to those with malicious intent.
Major hardware manufacturers like Apple, Microsoft and Blackberry have taken publicly dissimilar positions on releasing universal back doors to their devices. As the world increasingly depends on devices supplied by these few suppliers, it is important to know where they stand, so you have an idea where your sensitive personal data is likely to end up. Read more
As law firms strive to become more efficient and move towards the much sought after “paperless” office environment, cyber security must remain at the forefront of any technology initiative. But how can law firms be expected to manage and protect their network infrastructure in addition to managing client matters and cases? While technology can certainly help manage the workload, it shouldn’t have to be a part of your firm’s core competencies. Read more
Windows Server 2016 , the “cloud-ready OS”, becomes available for general use as announced this week at Microsoft’s Ignite conference. Volume licensing customers will be able to download the fully licensed software in mid-October. Those who choose to leverage the new features, will notice enhanced security and management features that can simplify server management for businesses of any size. Since migrating server operating systems is not a simple undertaking, you’ll need to evaluate if it is indeed something your business needs to consider. Read more