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Why your company should consider VoIP

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A VoIP phone system can be a very effective and cost-efficient tool for small businesses. VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, is a type of phone system that uses a high-speed internet connection to make and receive calls. VoIP converts your voice into data that is transmitted over the internet, and then decoded by the recipient’s phone.  Just as you would with a traditional landline phone, you need to have a phone carrier – known as a VoIP service provider – in addition to your internet service provider.  

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Let’s look at the advantages VoIP has over traditional phone service.

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Flexible service

Unlike a traditional phone line that is hardwired into a physical location, a VoIP phone is not limited to a specific location. As long as you have a VoIP provider, it will work on your computer – or any mobile app – and you can take it wherever you go. 

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More features

VoIP offers many benefits that might not be available (or are expensive) on a landline system, like email voicemail notifications, video conferencing, call forwarding or on-hold music. Such advanced features can keep your staff running more efficiently, while also offering clients better customer service.

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Greater Available Security

A VoIP system gives you more options to increase security. Many VoIP system providers offer two-factor authentication for calls, SPAM call blocking and end-to-end encryption to prevent eavesdropping. A properly configured VoIP system can give you a more secure phone system, which is ideal if you are receiving personal information over the phone from clients.

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Cost-efficient

VoIP immediately eliminates setup costs such as equipment and installation that landline phones require. Additionally, since you don’t need separate data and voice services, you are consolidating costs. Businesses that make international calls will also see savings from having a virtual phone number.

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Overall, a VoIP system can help your team be more productive and enhance your client communication. We would be happy to answer any questions, help you assess the benefits of switching to a VoIP system, and decide if it is right for your company.  If you choose to move forward with VoIP, ICC has the expertise and capabilities to get you on board and make the transition easy. And we’re always here to help! 

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Learn more about our VoIP services here. To schedule a consultation, please call us at 970-419-0602.

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In today's digital age, businesses rely heavily on networked systems and online platforms to operate efficiently. However, this increased connectivity also exposes businesses to various cybersecurity threats. To safeguard sensitive data and protect the integrity of your business's network, implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) is crucial.

Understanding Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication, also known as multi-factor authentication (MFA), is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two distinct authentication factors to gain access to a network or system. These factors typically fall into three categories: something you know, something you have, and something you are.

Something you know: This factor encompasses information known only to the user, such as a password, passphrase, or PIN.

Something you have: This factor involves a physical item possessed by the user, such as a hardware token, smart card, or smartphone, that generates a unique authentication code.

Something you are: This factor relies on a biometric characteristic of the user, such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or voice recognition.

Importance of Two-Factor Authentication for Network Security:

Stronger Access Control: Implementing 2FA strengthens access control measures by requiring users to provide additional authentication factors. This makes it significantly more challenging for unauthorized individuals to access your business's network, even if they manage to acquire or guess passwords.

Mitigating Password-Related Risks: Password-related vulnerabilities, such as weak passwords or password reuse, are common targets for cybercriminals. Two-factor authentication acts as an additional layer of protection, reducing the risk of unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised.

Defense Against Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks: Phishing attacks, where attackers trick individuals into revealing their login credentials, remain a prevalent threat. With 2FA in place, even if an employee unknowingly provides their password in response to a phishing attempt, the attacker would still require the second authentication factor, thwarting their unauthorized access attempts.

Safeguarding Remote Access: Securing remote access to your business's network is crucial as remote work becomes increasingly common. Two-factor authentication adds an extra level of security, ensuring that only authorized users can connect to the network remotely.

Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: Many industry regulations and data protection laws require businesses to implement strong security measures, including multi-factor authentication, to safeguard sensitive data. Adhering to these requirements protects your business, ensures compliance, and mitigates potential legal and financial consequences.

Incident Response and Forensic Investigations: In the event of a security incident or breach, having 2FA in place can aid in forensic investigations by providing an additional layer of accountability. It helps track and trace authentication attempts, contributing to incident response efforts and identifying potential vulnerabilities.

Educating Employees on 2FA: Educating employees about the importance of 2FA and how to use it correctly is essential for successful implementation. Conduct regular training sessions that cover the following:

Explanation of 2FA: Educate employees about the concept and benefits of 2FA, emphasizing its role in protecting both their accounts and the company's data.

How to Set Up 2FA: Provide step-by-step guidance on enabling 2FA on various platforms and applications used within the organization.

Best Practices: Promote good security practices, such as not sharing authentication factors, choosing strong passwords, and promptly reporting suspicious activity.

Conducting Regular Testing: Testing the effectiveness of 2FA within your business is crucial to identify potential vulnerabilities. Regularly assess your security measures by:

Simulating Phishing Attacks: Conduct simulated phishing campaigns to test how well employees identify and respond to phishing attempts. This will highlight areas that require additional training.

Performing Security Audits: Regularly audit your systems and network to identify potential weaknesses or unauthorized access attempts.

Securing your business's network is of utmost importance in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats. Implementing two-factor authentication as part of your network security strategy significantly strengthens access control, mitigates password-related risks, and defends against phishing and social engineering attacks. By leveraging 2FA, you enhance your network security posture, comply with regulations, and protect your business's sensitive data and assets from unauthorized access. ICC can help you execute different ways to protect your employees from getting hacked. Our defense strategy includes network security, email security, security patches and updates, backups, education and testing, and quarterly cybersecurity reviews to boost your defenses against cybercriminals and lost data.

If you are missing one piece of the pie, you may be putting your business at risk and could be faced with significant business disruption and financial loss. To get started, call us at 970-419-0602.

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We all love the convenience and ease of online shopping, but unfortunately it comes with risks. Even with evolving security measures, scammers are consistently using new tactics and technology to deceitfully steal your personal information and money. Below are a few tips to keep your online transactions secure and make your online shopping experience a good one!

Be aware of fake online shops: Make sure the shop you are buying from is legitimate. Look for customer reviews, contact information and a return policy. Blurry photos, strange syntax, and a lack of information about the company are usually red flags.

Don’t save your credit card information: It does save a lot of time but storing your payment information on a website can make you a prime target. It’s worth the extra steps to protect your financial information and just re-enter your credit card number the next time you shop on a site.

Look for luxury dupes: Most of the time, if a deal looks too good to be true – it is. Use online shops that offer authentication checks or are well-established e-commerce sites. Many sites may promise designer items, only to send cheap look-a-likes or nothing at all.

Be wary about extra requested information: Be suspicious of any online shop that asks you for information that seems outside of the norm, like your social security number or occupation. Those should be strong indicators that they are looking for more than just selling you a product.

Use a secure method of payment: Always use a protected method of payment, such as a credit card or PayPal. Avoid using wire transfers, gift cards or even debit cards. Such payments are difficult to recover or trace.

It’s important to stay on top of scam tactics and to educate yourself on how to be vigilant when shopping online. Our blog is a great resource to help you find tips and updates on how to safeguard your personal and financial information.

In today's digital age, cybersecurity is a paramount concern for businesses of all sizes. One of the weakest links in the cybersecurity chain is often the employees themselves. Educating and empowering your employees to recognize and prevent cyber threats can significantly enhance your organization's security. Below, find simple yet effective ways to help your employees avoid falling victim to hacking attempts.

Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training: Invest in comprehensive security awareness training programs for your employees. Educate them about the latest cybersecurity threats, such as phishing emails, social engineering, and malware. Regularly update the training materials to stay current with emerging threats.

Enforce Strong Password Practices: Weak passwords are an invitation to hackers. Encourage your employees to create strong, unique passwords and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. Implement a password policy that includes minimum length, complexity, and regular password changes. Consider using password managers to generate complex passwords.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of authentication, such as a password and a unique verification code sent to their mobile device. Encourage your employees to enable MFA for their accounts, especially for critical systems and applications, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised.

Keep Software and Systems Updated: Outdated software and operating systems often contain security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Encourage employees to update their devices with the latest security patches and software updates. Enable automatic updates whenever possible to ensure timely installation of patches.

Use Secure Wi-Fi Networks: Train your employees to be cautious when connecting to Wi-Fi networks, particularly public ones. Encourage using virtual private networks (VPNs) when accessing company resources remotely. Ensure your organization's Wi-Fi network is encrypted and secure, and limit access to authorized personnel only.

Exercise Caution with Email and Attachments: Phishing emails remain one of the most prevalent methods hackers use to gain unauthorized access. Train your employees to scrutinize emails, checking for suspicious senders, grammatical errors, and unexpected attachments or links. Implement email filtering systems to flag and quarantine potentially malicious emails.

Implement Strict Access Controls: Adopt the principle of least privilege, where employees only have access to the resources necessary for their roles. Regularly review and update user access rights and promptly revoke access for employees who no longer require it, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.

Protecting your organization from cyber threats starts with empowering your employees to become the first line of defense. Implementing these simple yet effective strategies can significantly reduce the risk of your employees falling victim to hacking attempts. Cybersecurity is an ongoing effort, and continuous education and reinforcement are essential to maintain a strong defense against evolving threats.

ICC can help you execute cybersecurity awareness training for your staff. In addition to instructing, we provide network security, patches, and updates. If you are missing any of these components of cybersecurity, call 970-419-0602.

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When it comes to cybersecurity, many businesses forget a significant factor in their line of defense – staff training. This is especially important with more and more people working remotely. In fact, in Proofpoint’s 2022 State of the Phish Report, 81% of organizations said that more than half of their employees are working remotely, but just 37% educate workers about practices for remote working. It’s not enough to focus on security frameworks, software updates, and compliance requirements: It’s critical to raise awareness and educate your team to boost your business's cybersecurity level. Here is some advice on establishing a cybersecurity awareness training program at your workplace:

 ●   Include all employees. The entire team should be trained, not just leadership members.

●   Training is an ongoing effort. Cyber awareness education is not just a one-time session. Depending on the size and turnover of your staff, training should occur quarterly – or even monthly if warranted – supplemented by posters, newsletters, and email correspondence.

●   Be comprehensive. There are many aspects of cybersecurity to consider. The key topics to include are email-based phishing, malware, Wi-Fi security, ransomware, mobile device security, and best practices for passwords and Internet safety.

●   Consider consequences. The Proofpoint survey discovered that 55% of organizations take action against employees who fall for actual or simulated phishing attacks. A scale of disciplinary actions may start with a one-on-one discussion with a manager and could ultimately result in termination, especially for repeated offenses.  However, 24% of organizations surveyed said a consequence model is not the right fit for their company’s culture.

ICC can help you execute cybersecurity awareness training for your staff. In addition to instructing, our defense strategy includes providing network security, email security, patches and updates, and quarterly cybersecurity reviews. If you are missing one piece, you may risk your business. To get started, call 970-419-0602.

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Most companies rely heavily on their IT network, and use it as a tool that will help their business grow, operate more efficiently, and give them the tools to be competitive in their market. Unfortunately, in today’s technological landscape it is vital to consider risks – and most importantly – be prepared for them. Poor preparation can lead to data loss – or worse – and a serious disruption in your business. 

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Businesses should consider an IT audit as part of their network management. An IT audit is a detailed assessment of a company’s tech policies, web services, equipment, software applications, security protection and operating system. When reviewing each of those assets, IT auditors look for any gaps that could be a security risk or hinder a company’s growth. At the end of the evaluation, a report outlines what was done during the audit and recommendations to fix any potential security risks or needed upgrades.

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There are several reasons a company should conduct an IT audit. First and foremost is protecting your company’s data. An audit can find places where your company’s defense against hackers is weak. Cybersecurity threats can come from outside or even inside the company. Looking at who has access to your devices and software is all taken into consideration. An audit also reassures that your business is fully compliant with any laws and policies relevant to your industry and business procedures. This is important, because if it’s discovered that your business is not compliant, your company could face serious penalties and consequences. Finally, an audit is a good opportunity to make sure all your hardware and software is running efficiently. 

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ICC can help you keep operations running smoothly. We conduct a number of audits and tests, as well as put tactics in place, to significantly reduce the possibility of an attack and make sure your network is running to its highest performance. Our audits include analysis of data backups, compliance, internet connectivity, cybersecurity, antivirus evaluation, and so much more. If you are missing one piece of the pie, you may be putting your business at risk and could be faced with significant business disruption or financial loss.

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To learn more about ICC’s audits, visit https://www.iccusa.net/services/it-audits. To schedule an IT audit, give us a call at 970-419-0602.

Are you stepping on cables when working at your desk? Do you feel like you’re looking out for wires when walking around the office? Cable installation is extremely important in any office or business space to avoid safety risks, space constraints or damage to your office network. Cables keep your networks connected and communications going, including the Wi-Fi and security systems – all critical to your daily business – so you don’t want to risk damaging them. 

Keeping cables properly organized also makes troubleshooting problems inside your business look presentable to clients and gives your staff a more efficient work environment. 

Cable installation might seem like an easy task to control, but it can be challenging to feed and organize cables and wires around desks, office furniture and in closets. Consider including cable management in your technology support. Besides safety hazards, tangled or unmanaged cables can result in cord damage and possibly cause the cords or outlets to overheat. Too many wires and cables around office hardware can disrupt airflow that can also cause equipment components to get hot.

Some ways to control and organize cables is with the use of wire guides, floor cable covers, ties and cable loom tubing that help prevent cords from getting tangled or stepped on. Replacing cables can get expensive so you’ll want to install everything neatly right from the start.

Cables provide the most reliable connections in keeping your network running at an optimum level. Proper cable installation provides better throughput and helps software run smoother and may increase Internet speed, allowing you to work more productively. Any kinks in or damage to the cable can slow down connections. Additionally, cable types vary and deliver different levels of performance; it’s important to know which cable types are going to work best for your network.

Good cable installation and maintenance is important to your company’s operations. ICC can help keep your office cables and wires organized and clean, so your office equipment is running at maximum efficiency. ICC experts can help you design your office space, install, implement, manage, and maintain your entire IT system to ensure the safety of your employees and get the best performance from your equipment, including cabling. ICC consultants are your trusted, technical experts to keep your business going. 

If you need new equipment installed or even reconfigured, please give us a call at 970-419-0602.

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Computer lingo has very much become part of our office vernacular, but it’s important to use the terms correctly. Although it may seem obvious, there are many people who frequently interchange the words hardware and software. If a problem arises – or you’re speaking with an IT consultant – it’s important to be able to identify these correctly.

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Simply put, hardware refers to the physical, tangible components of your computer system, which includes your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and peripheral equipment like scanners and printers. Hardware is also used to describe devices like laptops. 

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Software refers to the programs and applications that run on your hardware, such as web browsers, graphic design programs and office suites. The software is installed into the hardware and is what actually makes the hardware functional. One can’t perform without the other. We need both software and hardware to get tasks done on our computer systems.

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A key difference between hardware and software is that hardware can wear over time from extended use. Software doesn’t wear out, though technology changes and it can be affected by a virus! Software can be upgraded with new features, but hardware most of the time needs to be replaced with newer models because new features aren’t available on older models.

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The working relationship between hardware and software is crucial to helping you get your job done, and is important to your company’s operations. ICC can help keep your hardware and software running smoothly and our experts can help you install, implement, manage, and maintain your IT system. When it comes to hardware, ICC will recommend reliable products for a consistently high-quality lineup. ICC has partnerships with leading industry distributors, and has many years of experience supporting our recommended products. When it comes to hardware and software, ICC consultants are your trusted, technical experts to recommend the right hardware and software to suit your business needs. 

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If you need new hardware or software, or are looking to upgrade, please give us a call at 970-419-0602.

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Phishing attacks continue to be a security hazard to businesses. Phishing is when a cybercriminal disguises as a trusted source to trick an employee into opening an email, clicking a link, or downloading a document.  If that happens, it can result in your computer being infected by malware, and your financial information and customers’ personal information being stolen or lost. The damage control can be irreparable – not to mention the damage to your company’s reputation.

There are different categories of phishing:

Email Phishing: As described above, this is an attempt to obtain access to sensitive information using deceptive emails or ads. Many times, there is a sense of urgency tied to really motivate the recipient to open or click on the links.

Spear Phishing: This is more of a tailored attack, using information that is of interest to the targeted group or person, such as news stories, to lure them into opening a link.

Whaling Attack: This type of phishing is directed at senior executives in a company, often to manipulate them to reveal highly sensitive information or even authorize a wire transfer.

Domain Spoofing: When a fake website name or email domain is used to trick a recipient into engaging with a malicious email or website.   

Take phishing scams seriously and dedicate resources to spot these.  Train employees and protect your business, understanding the consequences of not making this a priority could be serious. Prioritize making sure everyone is aware of phishing scams, how to recognize and develop a plan to respond if you are targeted. 

ICC can help you understand and learn how to NOT fall prey to phishing scammers. We can put a comprehensive plan in place to protect your data. We conduct a number of audits and tests, as well as put tactics in place, to significantly reduce the possibility of an attack, protect your data and most importantly – have the ability to restore it. Our defense strategy includes network security, email security, security patches and updates, employee education, backups and quarterly cybersecurity reviews to boost your defenses against cybercriminals and lost data. 

If you are missing one piece of the pie, you may be putting your business at risk and could be faced with significant business disruption and financial loss. To get started call us at 970-419-0602.

If your business relies on Microsoft’s Windows Server 2012 operating system, we recommend you start thinking about replacing it. Now 10 years old, Microsoft will officially stop offering support for Windows Server 2012 on October 23, 2023. It’s not because anything has gone wrong with that system; it’s just because the newer operating systems are more efficient and secure. 

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You might be tempted to continue using Windows Server 2012 until it no longer works for you, but there are some potential pitfalls in doing that:

• Since there won’t be any updates after October 23, 2023, your system’s cybersecurity will be weaker putting your data at risk.
• Your business won’t get any technical support, increasing the likelihood of performance issues and breakdowns.
• Finally, depending on your business, using an older, unsupported operating system may not be compliant with data privacy customer regulations. You will need to move on and upgrade your system.

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If learning you’ll need a new operating system just put you into panic mode, don’t worry! Starting early can help minimize stress and cybersecurity risks for your business. Plus, we are here to help! ICC will review available options with you, whether it’s replacing your current server or moving to a cloud server. We’ll handle the process of assessing the scope of work, upgrading your system, and testing and training your team on the new operating system.

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ICC can help you keep operations running smoothly, and we would love to put a comprehensive plan in place to protect your data. We conduct a number of audits and tests, as well as put tactics in place, to significantly reduce the possibility of an attack, protect your data and most importantly – have the ability to restore it. Our defense strategy includes network security, email security, security patches & updates, employee education, backups and quarterly cybersecurity reviews to boost your defenses against cybercriminals and lost data. If you are missing one piece of the pie, you may be putting your business at risk and could be faced with significant business disruption and financial loss.

Ask us about upgrading your system and start planning now. Give us a call at 970-419-0602.