Dentists Nationwide Victimized by REvil Ransomware as Hackers Attack Cavity in DDS Safe

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Ransomware Alert - Dental Offices

Dentists Nationwide Victimized by REvil Ransomware as Hackers Attack Cavity in DDS Safe

According to ZDNet, hundreds of dentists’ offices in the US were attacked by cyber criminals this past weekend. A ransomware gang targeted and compromised DDS Safe, a medical records retention and backup solution used by dental offices across the country.

Ransomware attacks cripple businesses by locking users out of computer files used to run your business. Implementing preventative measures can greatly reduce the risk of your organization becoming another ransomware statistic. Dentists returned to work on Monday to discover this breach after they were unable to access any patient information. Sources state that the Digital Dental Record and PerCSoft, the software companies behind DDS Safe, agreed to pay the ransom demand and have been helping companies impacted recover encrypted files.

To protect your practice and your patients’ privacy, contact NexusTek for a vulnerability assessment and guidance on effective preventative measures.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Whether your practice was affected or not, failing to act signals to cyber attackers that your business is unprotected.

Trusted by thousands of businesses across the US and Canada, NexusTek is a top cyber security and outsourced IT services provider. NexusTek’s Cyber Security Risk Assessment analyzes each level of your system, response strategies, training strategies, business continuity strategies and more. We will identify holes in your technology and help implement an effective security and response strategy.

Contact NexusTek today.

NexusTek protects clients from this and other threats. Call 877-470-0401 to speak to one of our IT experts, or email info@nexustek.com.

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Five Reasons to Upgrade from Windows 7 Today

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Five Reasons to Upgrade from Windows 7 Today

Five Reasons to Upgrade from Windows 7 Today

Windows 7 is going end-of-life in January 2020 – less than six months from the time we’re writing this. The early data shows that most companies haven’t prepared for this deadline. Almost 20% of organizations have no idea when the deadline will hit, and only 6% know when then the deadline will hit – but still have no plans to make the change. In other words, leaving a quarter of organizations stranded by the end-of-life deadline.

If your organization still has Windows 7 terminals in the pipeline to upgrade, you may not be feeling any particular urgency. After all, the end of Windows 7 support doesn’t mean that your computers will stop to operate.  With the absence of new features or security upgrades, they’ll become that much more vulnerable and difficult to use. Here are five reasons why you need to accelerate your Windows 7 upgrade plans if you haven’t done so already.

1. Windows Security Concerns are Accelerating

Malware is getting more advanced as time goes by – and that goes double for unpatched end-of-life systems. You can’t hide unpatched systems behind a firewall, as the continued growth of cloud services and remote work exposes your critical infrastructure beyond the reach of a secure perimeter.

New vulnerabilities affect old operating systems all the time, with security researchers discovering over 16,000 per year as of 2018. 76% of attacks now make use of before undiscovered vulnerabilities or fileless malware that can evade antivirus. With Windows 7 going end-of-life, Microsoft will not patch these vulnerabilities, making your computers insecure.

2. Obsolete Operating Systems Break Compliance

If your industry is governed by a compliance regime such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, or the GDPR, you have a responsibility to protect your critical data. Violators can receive expensive fines or even jail time in some cases. Here’s a hint: storing critical data on an insecure system is not going to impress auditors. You either need to move all data that could be sensitive off your Windows 7 endpoints or upgrade them to Windows 10. Guess which job is easier?

3. Old Computers Slow Down Productivity

Have you ever tried to check your mail, edit a long word document, or navigate the internet on an old computer? It’s not the best. Windows 7 endpoints will be unable to open the latest file formats, run the latest applications, or browse media-rich websites. Your workers will be behind the curve in an era where every company is implementing a digital transformation. The average worker can waste 40 minutes a day because of slow or obsolete technology. Failing to upgrade from Windows 7 will make the problem even worse.

4. Operating Legacy Hardware Will Eat Your Bottom Line

As it turns out, you can hire Microsoft to get you the latest patches and upgrades for Windows 7, even after January 2020 – but it won’t be cheap. You will pay $50 per desktop in the first year after Windows 7 goes end-of-life, but that cost will rise to $200 per device by year three. Extended support will become unavailable thereafter.  If you’re maintaining a large stable of Windows 7 computers, you can either pay to keep them secure, or receive free updates with a Windows 10 License.

5. Obsolete Computers are a Sign of Obsolete Infrastructure

If you’re a dedicated IT admin, it can be easy to focus the many projects you have over the unseen threats to your endpoints. But, if your desktops are obsolete it’s likely that your servers and switches are as well. 64% of organizations are boosting their IT infrastructure in 2019 out of necessity to keep up with the latest technologies. Instead of spending extra IT budget dollars due to outdated desktops, imagine what you could accomplish if you were able to spend those budget dollars on innovation?

NexusTek Helps Make Upgrades Simple

If you’re in need to optimize your endpoints, NexusTek can help. Our managed IT services allow you to focus on your core job functions while we perform the meticulous work of getting your technology ready for a new OS. While you focus on building your company a better future, we’ll help make sure that your infrastructure is ready for the present and beyond – contact us today for more information!

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Windows 7 Will Go Out of Compliance as it Goes End of Life (EOL)

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Windows 7 Will Go Out of Compliance as it Goes End of Life

Windows 7 Will Go Out of Compliance as it Goes End of Life (EOL)

There have been many articles that cover how Windows 7 will make your computer more vulnerable to malware. When the system goes end-of-life in January 2020, Microsoft will stop issuing security updates for all but the most severe issues, leaving its legacy systems undefended.

Viruses and malware are far from the only thing that you’ll have to worry about once Windows 7 goes EOL. Corporations dealing with healthcare information, credit card numbers, financial information, or data from EU citizens may be subject to strict compliance requirements. For example, storing your data on an end-of-life system may violate these requirements in any number of ways:

Storing Data on an EOL System is a Great Way to Lose It

What happens when you store data on a computer whose operating system has gone end-of-life?

The first answer is “nothing good.” As time goes on, the computer will become more susceptible to bugs and errors, which increases the risk of catastrophic data loss. The longer you store your data on an end-of-life system, the more likely it is that you’ll lose it.

You think that this problem is what backup and disaster recovery programs are for – and you’re right! Except, of course, that your backup and disaster recovery programs are most likely built to work with supported operating systems. Are you willing to take the chance that your modern backup and recovery tool won’t work with an EOL system?

This risk goes double for non-accidental disasters – e.g. viruses and malware. Having an EOL system means that it will be that much easier for attackers to break through your defenses and steal your data. It also means that a ransomware attacker will find it much easier to locate and delete your backups.

What Does Losing Data Have to Do with Compliance?

Three words: data retention requirements.

The Bank Secrecy Act prevents banks from enabling tax evasion, money laundering, and other forms of corruption. It requires banks, casinos, and other financial institutions to preserve their customer records for at least five years. Banks and ATM vendors, coincidentally, are among those experiencing a general delay in their Windows 10 implementations. If they lose customer data to obsolescence or malware, their employees could face criminal penalties or even spend time in prison.

Under HIPAA, covered entities are required to preserve relevant documentation for six years or more, while medical records are covered by state records retention laws – usually for around five years. Notably, the healthcare industry also has significant problems when it comes to upgrading their Windows 7 computers. By the January 2020 deadline, at least 70% of devices and computers in the healthcare industry will be running on out-of-date operating systems.

You’ll find that this is a common theme. Across the industries that governed by compliance rules with data retention requirements, the companies that comprise those industries are having difficulty upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10. If this was a novel, we’d call it “Foreshadowing.”

Data Retention Isn’t Your Only Problem

Even if your compliance regime doesn’t have specific guidelines about how long you should be storing data, you’re still going to encounter difficulties.

For example, PCI-DSS has some broad guidelines when it comes to data storage. Under PCI, your mandate is to protect stored cardholder data. Is cardholder data fully protected if it’s stored on a computer with a depreciated operating system? Technology best practices would suggest “no”. Also fines for PCI violations are steep – some in the order of $100,000 a month until addressing your security problems.

HIPAA and the GDPR also offer large fines for violators while providing a flexible definition of protection. You might store your data with perfect encryption, hide it behind a firewall, and protect it with strong antivirus…but if it’s stored on a Windows 7 PC, regulators will still be able to argue that you haven’t done your due diligence.

It’s Time to Upgrade Your Operating Systems

Most organizations try to make a point of storing customer and mission-critical data on systems other than desktops. Servers and cloud storage are more secure than desktops connected to the internet and subject to user error. You may think it doesn’t matter that your users are using obsolete desktops, because you make a point to centralize all the critical data.

Unfortunately, data creeps out of place. Users are the enemy of categorized data, and even a organized system is likely to find sensitive data saved to unsecured locations. In that case, its best that this displaced data is still protected by the most up-to-date operating system available.

Still Running Windows 7?
Contact Us and We’ll Get Your Operating System Up To Date!

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In the Era of Advanced Phishing Attempts, Email is a Weapon

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email is a weapon

In the Era of Advanced Phishing Attempts, Email is a Weapon

Phishing emails have come of age over the last two years. No longer are misspellings and obvious 419 scams the hallmark of an email scam. Instead, attackers use sophisticated HTML and spoofing tricks to make messages from dangerous phishing sites look legitimate. They’ll impersonate your boss or your CFO and ask employees to make wire transfers, or they’ll pose as your business partners and send fake invoices asking for real payments.

Although some email filtering programs can detect this kind of deception, the call is often coming from inside the house. Once an attacker figures out a way to take over an Office 365 account, they’re invisible from the perspective of security tools. They can spam your contact lists, impersonate the legitimate owner of the account, and do their best to spread malware and steal money. It might be days or weeks before anyone detects the ongoing fraud.

Mapping the Scale of Business Email Compromise (BEC)

This new form of phishing is so different from its predecessors that it’s earned a new name – BEC, for Business Email Compromise. BEC is no joke – research suggests that incidences of BEC increased nearly 500% between 2017 and 2018, and the growth shows no sign of slowing down. According to the FBI, losses due to BEC recently reached $1.2 billion, doubling in just 12 months.

BEC is so effective because businesses have fairly rigid hierarchies and processes. If your boss asks you to do something – and if you have no reason to suspect that it isn’t your boss talking – then you do it. If an invoice comes in, and it looks like the invoice is legitimate, then you pay it. As long as an attacker has enough knowledge to create a reproduction of your internal communications, they have a green light to steal from you.

How Can Businesses Mitigate BEC?

For many businesses, training is the first line of defense. There are a few characteristics to watch out for that can help employees recognize and deflect a BEC attack:

  • Malformed Domain Names
    A poorly spoofed domain name looks like the genuine article at first glance. On closer inspection, you’ll notice that an email that purports to come from Office 365 might actually come from “0ffic∃ 365.”
  • Uncharacteristic Behavior
    Does your boss typically email you at 5:00 AM in the morning and ask you to wire money to an unknown address? If not, then you’re better off calling them to ask for confirmation.
  • Verbal Abuse
    Attackers will sometimes use a threating tone in their emails and can use abusive language if you don’t comply with their demands. If you’re unsure about how to handle the situation, it might be best to correlate their instructions with a knowledgeable third party.

Training is great, and it does have measurable effects on BEC – but it doesn’t cancel it out entirely. A Lithuanian man recently confessed to stealing over $123 million via BEC. His victims were Facebook and Google, two of the most well-capitalized companies in the world. What can your organization do in terms of training and technology that there’s couldn’t?

Find Out How to Derail BEC at the NexusTek Webinar

Join experts from NexusTek and Barracuda Networks on August 6, 2019, as we talk about the best and latest strategies for defeating scammers in your email inbox. Advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning may have a better chance at noticing the signs of BEC than your own employees.

Don’t let the next big fraud happen to you – sign up for our webinar today!

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Phishing is Changing – Can You Change Too?

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Phishing is changing - can you change too

Phishing is Changing – Can You Change Too?

Phishing attacks can leave enterprises of all sizes vulnerable. One single successful phishing attack can result in a number of consequences for a small business, including loss of important data, a compromised system, brand damage and expensive recovery costs. The increased digitization of businesses, the popularity of online billing operations and the growth of eCommerce are all factors in the prevalence of phishing campaigns. 

Small businesses are particularly at risk because they typically lack the dedicated resources, like an IT department or significant financial assets, to thwart such attacks. With that in mind, Small business decision makers may find it difficult to determine what can be done about their phishing vulnerabilities. 

Understanding the New Phishing Problem

According to the 2019 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report, the number of recorded phishing attacks fell by 4.1 percent in 2018 to 26 million. Even though small businesses have become more proficient at blocking phishing attacks in recent years, the decline in the number of phishing attacks cannot be completely attributed to their efforts.  

An important factor in the reduction of attacks is how criminals have changed their phishing tactics by becoming more creative and focused. Instead of implementing global campaigns, they are now executing spear phishing, or attacks that are sent to specific parties in an enterprise, typically targeting those employees who are responsible for the financial aspects of a business. 

If they are preoccupied with completing their work tasks and do not closely examine their emails, employees can easily fail to detect phishing attempts. Attackers are using very sophisticated emails that are designed to resemble emails with legitimate professional branding from trusted clients. The malicious business emails, which often requests sensitive data from the recipient, can also be designed to appear as if they were sent from high-level executives. 

Phishing attackers are also using tools that the employees at your company are using regularly, such as Microsoft Office and PDF files, as email attachments to spread malware and ransomware. The same SonicWall report states that for the third consecutive year, malware attacks have increased, with 10.52 billion malware attacks recorded in 2018. In that same year, there were 206.4 million occurrences of ransomware, a statistic that is an 11 percent year-over-year increase. 

Arming Your Small Business against Phishing Attacks

In addition to not having an internal IT department or substantial financial resources, a smaller workforce with procedures that are less stringent than those at larger enterprises means that small businesses will continue to be prime targets of phishing. The question on the minds of many small business decision makers is what can be done to safeguard their organization against the destructive attacks? The answer is to be more vigilant. 

The changes that are occurring in the phishing landscape mean that small businesses have to also make changes to protect their customers and assets. There is virtually no way to accurately predict the evolving tactics phishing attackers will try to obtain sensitive data.  

However, because the focused phishing attacks are targeting mostly employees, you can establish an anti-phishing plan that ensures your employees are properly educated about the current trends in phishing schemes.  Email security as a part of a proactive network security strategy has become a priority for business leaders looking to significantly reduce risk. Additional security measures should include, at minimum, the use of mandatory complex passwords and the enforcement of regular password changes. 

Given the substantial financial and intangible consequences associated with a successful phishing attack, not properly protecting your small business can result in catastrophic outcomes that will be difficult to overcome. Having a proven security solution is critical for effective protection from online threats.  

At NexusTek, we can help you develop a plan for mitigating the impact of phishing or other cyber attacks against your small business. 

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How to Budget for IT Hardware & Software

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How to budget for it hardware and software

How to Budget for IT Hardware & Software

Believe it or not, tech budgeting doesn’t have to be painful…if you have support. With the justification of your technology budget becoming more and more correlated with KPIs and tangible efficiencies, the explanation of having a 5-year-old server that needs to be replaced because it’s just getting too “old” will not win the day.  

Trying to secure a maximum amount of dollars to cover any unforeseen issues with your technology is the wrong approach and rarely adopted by any long-lasting business. Your IT budget should be based on a clear cut technology strategy supported by real numbers. For example, if you’ve proposed a project like migrating a complex server infrastructure to the cloud, you can easily highlight the operational savings and tangible efficiencies as justification for an increase in expenses.  

Every line on your IT Hardware & Software budget should tell a story that maps back to your business objectives, to numbers and to your technology strategy. The work required to justly tell this story will vary depending on the complexity and sophistication of your environment, the size of your organization and projected short term growth, and your long term business goals. Below is a high level example on how to achieve Hardware/Software IT budgeting success: 

 
  1. Identify the set of hardware or software that need to be upgraded or replaced
  2. Will your projected revenue growth model be limited if you maintain the same hardware or software framework?
  3. Determine the criticality of that hardware or software
    • If downtime were to occur due to aging hardware malfunctions or software end of life (EOL) support, how much would this impact your business
      • Refer to https://www.nexustek.com/blog/are-you-prepared-for-business-downtime/ to assist with calculating downtime
    • It’s best to connect this section to specific dollar amounts & KPIs
  4. Determine the security risks of the hardware or software
    • What is the likelihood that a hacker would enter your infrastructure through aging hardware or out-of-support software? (This will most likely need to be answered by an IT professional)
  5. How will an upgrade or replacement positively affect your business in terms of efficiencies and reduction of downtime?
    • It’s best to connect this section to specific dollar amounts & KPIs
  6. Can new technology be introduced to reduce your hardware footprint and further optimize IT processes?
  7. Consult with your Account Manager at NexusTek to put together a plan to be used for budget proposals.

Why does IT budgeting matter?

Without the appropriate budgeting and planning, your overhead will be significantly impacted when you are forced to request and justify expenditures on a reactive basis. IT spending and project planning that takes business goals into consideration starts with a set Managed Services Plan for consolidation and transparency.  

  • Similar to a project plan or road-map, using a strategy for your 2020 IT budget provides a holistic view of your department and its funding requirements. It lets you quickly determine whether resources are over-committed in one area or another. 
  • The budget is a tool that can help prioritize your IT initiatives and validate your ROI. If one of your proposed initiatives is a move to mobile apps, but your hiring and training budgets are minuscule, you’ve likely set yourself up for failure before you’ve even started.  
  • Identify areas where you may be overspending. A disproportionally high software budget might reveal that you’re spending on unused or unneeded software licenses or on support expenses for an older version of a tool, when a hardware refresh or a cloud migration may be a better return on your investment.  

Presenting your IT budget as the mechanism that runs your organization is the mindset of every successful business which is a far cry from 10 years ago when IT professionals were in the background. Building in your IT budget as an overall business strategy is imperative.  

Schedule a free consultation with one of our experts to discuss your budget strategy for 2020.
We can help you identify gaps in your plan, cost-savings, and more.

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NexusTek/Barracuda Event – Business Security for the Cloud Era

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webinar security for the cloud era no button

NexusTek/Barracuda Event – Business Security for the Cloud Era

Security, Access, and Reliability for Cloud-Connected Networks and Applications

In a recent report by our security partner Barracuda, 62% of enterprises said their on-premises security exceeds their cloud security. And 83% of IT professionals spoke of concerns about deploying traditional firewalls in the cloud.

Join the discussion with our guest, Ezra Hookano, Vice President, Channels at Barracuda Networks. As a veteran in IT security for more than 20 years, Ezra will bring valuable insights and useful information on how you can overcome some common cloud security challenges in this 45-minute webinar.

The topics of this presentation will include:

  • SD-WAN
  • Advanced secure remote access
  • Protection against zero-hour threats
  • Secure migration to public and hybrid cloud environments
  • Secure connectivity for IoT and ICS connected devices

Webinar Details

DATE: Tuesday, August 6th, 2019

TIME: 11:00 am – 11:45 am (PST)

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Top 3 Hottest IT Projects for Small Businesses this Summer 

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Summer Projects

Top 3 Hottest IT Projects for Small Businesses this Summer 

As a small business, you are more agile when it comes to adopting new technologies. With small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with a strict budget, you must also be cautious about spending. The challenge is how to determine which IT project should be a priority and will offer a proven return on investment (ROI)?

Here are three summer technology projects that are popular starting points among our SMB clients:

Cyber Security Assessment

The prevalent headlines about security breaches affecting Fortune 500 companies often give the perception that larger companies are the primary target of cybercrime organizations. When in fact, according to Verizon’s 2018 Data Breach Investigations Report, small businesses make up a whopping 58% of data breaches.

To protect your organization from costly cyber-attacks, it’s important to deploy proven security strategy that combines a perimeter around your network and protection at the end-user point. The standard starting point is a Cyber Security Assessment. An assessment will reveal your vulnerabilities and potential risk factors.

TECH TIP: Use these summer months to educate your employees. Then, consider incorporating a cyber security best practice reminder into your regularly scheduled meetings. As cyber security continues to become a commonly accepted part of your business planning, these reminders will keep your workforce in tune with their actions in regards to keeping your business secure.

Office 365 Migration

Whether you manage remote employees or a large in-house staff, modern collaboration tools have become a staple in running a successful business. If you still have some employees on Google Suite, some on Microsoft Office 365, some on Yahoo or even an on-prem exchange server – consider the benefits to your business productivity with your entire team on one stable and scalable platform!

While each department may require different functionality and therefore a different tool, only Microsoft Office has the robust features you need to perform seamlessly across departments:

  • Management: MS Projects
  • Collaboration: MS Teams
  • Storage/Intranet: MS SharePoint
  • Communication: Skype for Business

When you align your Office 365 migration with a long-term business strategy, you’ll identify opportunities, potential challenges, and see value within your collaborative environment.

TECH TIP: An Office 365 migration, when done correctly, has minimal impact to your day-to-day operations.

Cloud Migrations

Migrating your business’ data to the cloud requires a properly prepared and executed roadmap. Don’t forget, you don’t have to migrate every application, folder, or file. Mission-critical apps and sensitive data, like financial information, are logical starting points.

Part of any cloud migration strategy involves choosing the most appropriate environment. Is Azure right for your business needs? Or Google / AWS? What’s the difference between each of these platforms?

Before you rush to a brand name, consider the advantages of private or hybrid cloud configurations. Based on your business’s needs and growth strategy, they may be the more cost-effective solutions for the long-term. Your decision on whether to go on a public cloud platform, such as Azure, or on a private platform should be carefully determined with a cloud migration expert basing the decision solely on your specific business requirements.

TECH TIP: Before migrating to the cloud, talk to your provider or IT consultant about industry regulations. Any extra safety measures or regulatory requirements needs to be considered, but taking the time to consider your options and requirements will ensure you stay secure and compliant.

Have You Already Identified an IT Project to Complete this Summer?

No matter what IT project you’d like to start, create a systematic approach to evaluating, prioritizing, and deploying new technology. Consult with an IT Professional to ensure your logic is sound and that you are making a profitable move. Moving forward, you’ll have an easier time aligning IT demands with your operational strategy and budgetary requirements.

Luckily, NexusTek’s local IT experts are available to guide you through your summer IT projects. Schedule time with an expert here.

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5 Quick Tech Tips for Properly Disposing of Your Technology

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5 quick tech tips

5 Quick Tech Tips for Properly Disposing of Your Technology

Today, your device is practically a window into your soul. Well, that may be overreaching, but many would agree that the thought of their device in the hands of an unknown entity is certainly a reason to take care when disposing of that smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

This is a brief review of what actions to take when disposing of your old technology. If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to your account manager or a NexusTek expert for more information.

  1. Make sure you have retained all information you need

Surprisingly, the exclamation of “I just can’t find that file” is uttered too often. When disposing of your technology items (whether selling, giving away, recycling or throwing in the trash) the most important thing to remember is to have a copy of anything on the device so you can transfer data when setting up the replacement item. Depending on the item and the provider, you may have to contact them directly but typically transferring that data is a straightforward process. This is simply a reminder not to forget to do it!

  1. Turn off any tracking/find me services

Virtually every device manufactured today has a method to locate the device should it be misplaced or stolen. Many of these tracking services are subscription-based. So, make sure you notify the vendor to cancel the subscription or have it transferred to the new device.  When you add a new device without canceling the previous subscription, you run the risk of being billed for a device you no longer have.

  1. Log out of any services that are continually running on your device

With today’s reliance on cloud services, make sure you have logged out of any cloud services/apps and if possible notify them that the device is no longer allowed access. This step is often missed and yet very important to implement. This could be a cost-drain that may be neglected for months.

  1. Save and erase all content

Although, cell phones now have the app stores that know what you have installed, computers and tablets usually do not have this level of visibility into activities. However, they do have removable hard drives, which is the best way to access what needs to be erased.  It is not difficult to revert the erased content from a hard drive if a mistake is made or you want the data bad enough.  But, if you neglect to save the content before you dispose of the device, that content is gone. When your IT professional pulls a drive, they may hold it for up to six months before destroying it, just in case they need to retrieve more data.

  1. If Applicable, remove any cellular sim cards

This last instruction only applies to cellular connected devices (phones, tablets, watches, etc.).  Remove the sim card and check with your carrier on what to do with it. The sim cards are a direct connection to your account. You want to make sure someone does not have any data that could allow unlawful access, even though the carrier has protocols in place to identify users. But, sometimes that information is easy to obtain.

Follow up with us by emailing info@nexustek.com or just give us a call at 877-470-0401.

NOTE: Don’t forget to check into e-cycle programs or electronic recycling facilities as an option in your local community for ways you can be environmentally conscious!

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EOL: The Real Risks of Running Outdated Platforms 

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EOL

EOL: The Real Risks of Running Outdated Platforms 

Advancements in technology move at a faster pace than any other industry. The routine updates recommended for your tech assets are not meant to annoy you, although it may seem that way. In short, the improvements being developed are purposeful for security reasons and to optimize efficiency.

The same goes for End of Life announcements by technology brands. By definition, the term “End of Life” (EOL) refers to a product’s lifecycle. As new products are being introduced by say, Microsoft, former products are phasing out. End of Life means the product, whether it is software or hardware, will no longer be supported including important security patches that protect your infrastructure.

Here are a few things you should know about EOL: 

Security Hazards Ahead 

A firewall and anti-virus are not enough protection against unpatchable vulnerabilities, which hackers are quick to exploit. Your End of Life (EOL) technology is an easy target. Hackers have much more knowledge and resources than ever before and they are looking for an “in” or weakness in your network. Don’t be an easy target! 

Trusting Old Operating Systems (OS) and Applications with Critical Data 

If you’re like most companies today, you have some compliance requirements. And, you know you’re under the watchful eye of the regulatory industry. Your sensitive customer data is the underpinning of your entire organization and your decade-old Operating Systems (OS) or unsecure applications put you at risk for a potential security breach or Ransomware attack. The first step in staying compliant is as easy as picking up the phone and setting an appointment with your managed IT services provider.  

Legacy Applications Keep Your Business From its Full Potential 

Technology advancements help your business run more efficiently and securely and staying up-to-date can position your company as a market leader. New applications are optimized to utilize the features of the most recent operating systems. That means when using EOL software, you can’t upgrade to the latest and greatest, leaving you with those legacy applications (which are likely also EOL or soon to be). Don’t fall behind your competitors simply because your technology is antiquated.  

Uptick in Operating Costs of Post–EOL Tech 

As a business leader/owner, you have enough decisions to make. Hiring, P/L, payroll, etc. – which is why you have an in-house or outsourced managed IT provider. Often, investing in an upgrade project receives a red flag from your finance team, but is the right decision over the security issues of running post-EOL technology and mission-critical apps at risk of failing. The cost of a cyberattack or unplanned downtime will most definitely cost more than the planned investment to secure your systems and data. 

Downtime Costs vs Investing in Uptime 

Chances are, if you’re still running legacy apps or old versions of Windows (as well as aging servers and workstations), you are adding to your risk because the EOL software and out-of-warranty devices are prone to causing significant vulnerabilities and downtime. Consider that significant downtime alone is costlier than moving forward with an upgrade.  The best approach is to be proactive when it comes to your technology environment, versus reactive. 

For many, Microsoft’s announcement to terminate support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 may a blessing in disguise. Running older systems can be keeping you from realizing your full potential as a business where efficiencies and the ever-evolving security threats are concerned.  

Give NexusTek a call to learn more about an upgrade project before your tech reaches “End of Life!” 

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