Last Minute Scams
Quick! Get to the store for that forgotten gift…order online and pay for overnight shipping…whatever it takes to get the gift in hand for the holiday ahead! We know the holidays are coming, but inevitably we are scrambling to get some things done at the last minute. And where there’s an opportunity, there’s a scam.
As we scramble, scammers are on the prowl to find us. We’re in a rush, preoccupied with a dozen things on our minds and our guard is down. The perfect target to take advantage of. We’ve discussed the holiday scams that are prevalent, but this increases as the date of gatherings and celebrations draw near.
Lemons to Lemonade
Let’s try to make lemonade out of these lemons we keep getting with COVID-19. Yes, there is an uptick in the number of cases and yes, it appears we are heading towards additional restrictions and lockdowns in various ways. One of two things has likely happened, you started working from home and are still there; OR, you were home, but now back in the office. If you’re part of that second set, all signs are pointing to a work from home scenario again in the near future.
Consumer Awareness
The numbers are on the rise – and in this case, we aren’t talking about COVID test results. In just a few months, the number of consumers that suspect they are at risk of identity theft has increased. In February of 2020, we saw numbers from CyberScout that out of 1050 employed adults in the U.S., 52% felt that they would never become a victim of identity theft and 55% were confident that it was “somewhat” or “very” unlikely that their financial accounts would be hacked.
MSP Guide to Remote Security
A New Normal
Working from home has become a new normal for you, your customers, and communities across the country, with dining room tables and shared spaces becoming the offices where we conduct business of all kinds. While this structure has many benefits to productivity and employee satisfaction when done correctly, the fact that most people were thrust into it without enough time to prepare, makes for possible security gaps in the way your customers are conducting their day-to-day business, many out of your control.
Security Training and a Remote Workforce
Technology at the Forefront
Many companies are finding that the technology projects that were put on hold, or on the back burner, have moved up to the top of the list of priorities. This is happening for a variety of reasons.
Working from home is now a necessity, and so are the technical features and security measures that go along with it. Securing a remote working strategy wasn’t a necessity for most companies; it was a one-off or something that they might look to do for employees one day. One day came without anyone expecting it to be here. Now, you’re likely facing hardware and software issues, as well as the behaviors that need to be in line with company policies, outside of company walls.