• Increased time dedicated to revenue-generating endeavors instead of dealing with the management of the data center infrastructure (generators, UPS’s, cooling, network redundancies, personnel)
• Scalable network capacity, such as adding additional cabinets on demand without much logistics
• Meeting your specific compliance criteria needs, particularly with data-sensitive industries such as healthcare and financial firms
• Reliance on the data center provider to manage the entire colocated infrastructure up to the application layer

Based on these benefits, you must engage your IT department and other stakeholders to identify your goals and needs. Fully-equipping yourself with the right knowledge will streamline the entire process. Understanding the topics cover below, will give you an idea of what to consider and what to look out for while preparing for your colo provider search.

Capacity & Scalability

You should ask yourself “What are my current network, power and space demands? Will this remain consistent, or will it fluctuate?”. Most colocation providers have great flexibility in all of these factors. While flexibility is great, discussing your growth plan with your colocation provider can be very helpful. Moving your equipment into a data center blind to what they are capable of can limit your company’s growth.

Providing your growth plan gives a more realistic idea of how a data center can best support your needs. After all, moving into a space to only move out a few months later is just a waste of time and resources. Knowing that the chosen data center has both the capacity and scalability will only help you in the long run.

Location

Location, location, location… you all heard it before. Where your data center resides is a crucial factor when shopping for a colocation provider. While remote amenities like remote hands and KVM are nice, staying close to the data center has its own benefits. Factors like latency and uptime are typically better the closer you are to the facility.

Although, if your facility is in an area prone to natural disasters, it might be best to find another location. Sure, the structure itself can withstand a hurricane but let’s say the power goes out with your office in proximity of the data center. Now that your office and servers are down, operations seized, and the clock ticking, you now start to worry about the financial hit you’re going to take. When you choose a provider that is on a different power grid, you mitigate the risk of having your servers go down. 

One last thing to consider is accessibility for your IT team. With your data center close by, you will eliminate travel costs and expenditures when you need to have your system upgraded. Regardless if you want to stay close or far away, each has its benefits and it’s important to know the following when you look for a colocation provider:

• Is the facility located in an area prone to natural disasters?
• Do they offer remote amenities such as KVM or remote hands?
•  Is the data center easily accessible?

How Much Power do you Need?

You’ll want to ensure your colocation facility has the power capacity to handle not only your needs for today but also for the future. After all, you would not want to move into a facility that cannot support your daily business needs. Regardless of your situation, you want to know and understand your power density per rack, especially for high-data processing applications.

Why this is Important

Let’s say you want to create an AI model for your next project. However, due to the complex calculations that this model has to perform, it then becomes a high-processing application.

This poses you with the challenge of optimizing the data center’s infrastructure to meet the AI model’s processing requirements. More specifically, you need to address the issue of the power density per rack. Or rather, the amount of electrical power that the hardware within a single rack consumes. 

Since the AI model requires powerful GPUs and specialized equipment to speed up computations, it results in generating a lot of heat and requires a lot of electrical power. Now, if the power density per rack is too high, it can lead to overheating and hardware failures, as well as reduce the lifespan of your equipment.

To help mitigate these issues, the engineers at the data center will need to redesign your rack space to provide your equipment with proper airflow and cooling. With your new setup, you can run your AI model without damaging your equipment.

Careful considerations like this example are pivotal to maintaining a healthy environment for your hardware. It will not only increase its lifespan, but it will prevent bottlenecks and help ensure that you continue your business operations without any worry.

Power Requirement Formula

This begs the question “How do I know how much power I need?”. Knowing how much power you need and how much power your provider can give are equally important. Luckily, it is pretty simple to find out how much power you need. You can use this formula to calculate your power requirement:

• watts = volts x amps

An important note is that due to legal reasons, data centers in Washington are required to only use 80% power. For example, if you have 20 amps you can only use 16 due to Washington’s fire code regulations.

What about Security & Support?

You should always be able to fully trust your colocation facility with safeguarding your enterprise. Not only does this include the physical security and confidentiality of the actual premises, but it may also include being able to support your organization in the way of providing services that enable further security within your own infrastructure via the provider’s managed services.

When you reach out to a data center be sure to ask “Does your organization have a team of experts who can handle all aspects of network security and supporting your infrastructure?” Knowing that they have a team of experts at the ready provides you access to inside knowledge on how you can scale and grow your business without having to go through the process of trial and error. Additionally, investing in a third-party colocation provider with its own managed security services is a great cost-effective option when you cannot afford to have a team of 24x7x365 experts on your own payroll.

Disaster Recovery & Backup Protocols

Just as much as proactive security is a concern, so should disaster recovery & backup methods. A common saying amongst Network Security Specialists is “It’s not if you get attacked, it’s when you get attacked.” This is a necessary factor that you should address with any provider prior to signing with them. This is because the average cost of a single outage is $5,600 per minute.

Financial losses aside, these issues could result in PR nightmares or loss of reputation, or even valued client business. A worthwhile company will work with you to establish customized DRaaS solutions or backup plans for your peace of mind.

Ultimately, when you start to search for your Seattle colocation provider, be sure that you understand how location, capacity, and scalability factor into your business continuity. Also, understanding the basics of how power works and what your organization needs to function are important when finding your ideal colocation provider. With this knowledge, you should have no trouble finding a data center that will help your company reach its next level.

The post Seattle Colocation Provider What you Should Consider appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

What are the 12 Benefits of a Dedicated Server Solution?

1. Enhanced Performance with a Dedicated Server Solution

When it comes to performance, a dedicated server takes the lead. By having all the server resources exclusively at your disposal, you ensure high-performance levels and lightning-fast loading times for your website or applications. Say goodbye to sluggishness and hello to seamless user experiences.

2. Increased Reliability

With a dedicated server solution, you never have to worry about other users’ activities impacting your website’s performance or availability. By having exclusive access to the server, you can rely on its robust infrastructure and enjoy uninterrupted operations.

3. Enhanced Security with a Dedicated Server Solution

Security is paramount in the online realm, and dedicated servers provide a higher level of protection compared to shared hosting. With a dedicated server, you have the power to implement stringent security measures, customize firewall settings, and have complete control over your server’s security configuration. Safeguard your valuable data and protect your customers’ privacy with peace of mind.

4. Customization and Flexibility

One size does not fit all in the digital landscape. Thankfully, dedicated servers offer extensive customization options. Tailor your server to meet your exact hardware specifications, operating system preferences, and software configurations. Enjoy the flexibility to optimize your server environment according to your specific requirements.

5. Scalability

Businesses evolve, and your server should be able to keep up with the changing demands. Dedicated servers provide seamless scalability, allowing you to effortlessly upgrade or downgrade server resources as your business grows. Add more CPU, RAM, storage, or bandwidth whenever necessary, ensuring your server aligns with your expanding needs.

6. Improved Website Performance

A slow-loading website can lead to frustrated users and high bounce rates. With a dedicated server, you can bid farewell to these concerns. By efficiently handling high traffic volumes and large data transfers, a dedicated server ensures optimal website performance, resulting in superior user experiences and increased customer engagement.

7. Better Control and Administrative Access

Take the reins of your digital infrastructure with a dedicated server. Benefit from full root/administrator access, granting you complete control over server settings, software installations, and application configurations. Shape your server environment precisely to your liking and streamline your operations.

8. Dedicated IP Address

Establishing a reputable online presence is crucial for businesses. Dedicated servers come with a dedicated IP address, providing a multitude of advantages. From running SSL certificates to facilitating seamless email server setups, a dedicated IP address bolsters your online credibility and enhances your digital communication channels.

9. Enhanced Data Privacy

Data privacy is a top concern for businesses, especially those handling sensitive customer information. With a dedicated server, you are the sole user, ensuring your data remains private and isolated from others. Safeguard your critical data and maintain compliance with data protection regulations confidently.

10. Resource Optimization with a Dedicated Server Solution

Efficient resource utilization is a key factor in maximizing server performance. Dedicated servers allow you to allocate server resources according to your needs, ensuring optimal resource utilization and maximizing your server’s performance potential. No more wasted resources or bottlenecks holding you back.

11. Improved SEO Ranking

A dedicated server can be a game-changer for your SEO efforts. Fast loading times, server reliability, and dedicated IP addresses all contribute to better search engine rankings. Boost your online visibility, attract more organic traffic, and surpass your competitors in the search engine results pages.

12. Better Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

In certain industries regarding data storage and security are stringent. A dedicated server empowers you to implement the necessary measures to meet these standards effectively. Stay ahead of legal obligations, build trust with your customers, and safeguard your business reputation.

Choosing the best server solution is paramount for businesses and individuals seeking high performance and security for their hosting needs. With these mentioned pros, dedicated servers unlock your true potential in the digital landscape. Embrace the power of a dedicated server and thrive in today’s competitive online world.

The post The Best Server Solution for Enhanced Performance and Reliability appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

A strong security posture is less vulnerable to cyber threats or cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and a company with a weak security posture is justifiably more vulnerable. A company’s security posture is also not static. Cyber threats are constantly emerging and evolving. New types of threats keep appearing every day, so companies need to be constantly on the alert and evaluate their security posture and prepare themselves on how to respond to the ever-changing security threats.

• Read More: Impact of Rising Cyber Attack on Businesses Operation 

Security posturing is different from security compliance in the sense that security posturing is more focused on how a company can protect itself against cyber threats, while security compliance is focused more on how a company can follow the existing rules, standards, and regulations related to cybersecurity (for example HIPAA and ISO 27001).

Why is it important?

1. To know which areas need improvement or investment

Understanding your security posture means recognizing which specific areas in your business are more susceptible to outside threats. Knowing this will allow you to know which areas need more security improvement or investment.

2. Poor security posture puts company and customers’ data at risk

By knowing and improving your security posture, you are protecting not only your company’s sensitive information but also your customers. Having a poor security posture means you are vulnerable to cyber threats, which include ransomware and data breaches, that can impact not just you but also your customers.

3. Poor security posture can make your company fail at complying with security standards

To comply with or pass audits of security standards such as HIPAA and SOC, you need to maintain a strong security posture and review it regularly. Complying with these security standards increases your company’s reliability and thus, creates trust with your current or future customers.

• Read More: Why SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18 Matters for Your Business 

4. To know what to do when an attack comes or how to prevent attacks

Cyber threats can cost you a lot, but you can prevent this from happening if you (and your employees) know what to do when it happens and how to prevent them from happening in the first place. By understanding your security posture, you can prepare your employees better for what they should do when an attack does happen and how to prevent them from happening.

How to measure?

A security posture review is usually conducted in four stages:

1. Planning Stage

In this stage, a team leader or project manager from the company will plan out the whole process of assessing the company’s security posture and also assign tasks to the members accordingly.

2. Documentation Stage

After planning out the process, the team leader will document the current security practices of the company.

3. Evaluation Stage

Next, the company’s security posture will be evaluated based on the available security posture assessment resources. We recommend you collaborate or consult with an external security service provider in doing this to make sure that you get the best evaluation. They can also help in providing cybersecurity metrics resources.

4. Reporting Stage

Finally, the company will review the security posture level based on the evaluation, highlight the areas that need improvement or needs to be prioritized, and conduct further planning on how to improve the areas that are vulnerable to cyber threats.

How to improve?

1. Automate Threat Detection and Response

Requiring the IT team to monitor your company’s security systems and networks 24/7 could be risky as there is always room for human error. A recommendation you could use is to utilize automated threat detection and automated endpoint protection software. It’s more reliable and saves your employees’ time. SentinelOne automatically stops malware in its tracks without requiring the system administrator to take care of it, thus helping its users to save time while still protecting their endpoints.

2. Provide Security Training

As mentioned in our previous blog post , a survey in 2021 held by Kenna Security found that 31% of companies do not provide cybersecurity training to their employees or multi-factor authentication for their systems. Because of this, threat actors are able to take advantage of companies. The best defense for these security gaps is to provide corporate security training. While it can be pricey it is worth the investment as everyone gets on the same page. Additionally, it prepares your employees to take action when a cyberattack happens.

It is important to note that companies should provide training for off-boarding to help ensure that resigned employees no longer have access to the company’s networks or data.

3. Update Software Regularly

Regular software updates are a must. Remember that every outdated software and patch you have running makes your devices and data more vulnerable and easily exploited. Updating the software regularly is very important as it gives you the best security patch available, keeping you secure and safe.

4. Security Assessment

Risk assessments should always take priority when improving and optimizing security posture. It allows you to get a holistic environment of the current security situation of your business. Completing a cybersecurity risk assessment will allow you to identify all possible vulnerabilities and weaknesses that are exploitable across all assets. A risk assessment identifies the most important IT assets at your company, the likelihood of an exploit, the potential impact of a data breach, and more. Going through these exercises is necessary to know the information in the event of a breach. There are security tools that can run through this kind of assessment for you, but it can also be done by an in-house security team.

5. Incident Management Plan

The incident management plan is a plan that lists the contingency plan when a cyberattack happens – typically, one would be created for every individual cyber vulnerability or risk. An incident management plan highlights the necessary steps to take so that when that type of cyberattack occurs, the business can mitigate the damage and recover quickly, making policies to protect the business in the future. The plan should also highlight what each employee or team member should do and who to notify when a cyberattack occurs.

6. Access Control

Controlling access to networking, hardware, and operating system settings is crucial in security. Allowing only vetted required personnel to have access; not everyone in the company should be given access to modify system settings, mitigating the dangers of unauthorized personnel accessing crucial security tools.

7. Prioritize Risk

Cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities look differently based on industries and individual companies. These vary from low to high-level impact exploits and occurrences. Prioritization is necessary to create plans to eliminate risks that are more likely to happen and have the greatest impact on your business before you go on the risks that are less likely to happen or have a smaller impact.

Ultimately, Evaluating and continuous optimization of your organization’s security posture is essential to safeguarding and securing your valuable data. Implementing any of these tips will improve your cybersecurity presence and lessen vulnerabilities being exploited in your systems. Remember, it is not if an attack happens, it is when an attack happens and the best way to mitigate attacks is with a knowledgeable staff.

The post What is Security Posture? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Disclaimer: Replacing a hard drive requires some technical skills and knowledge. If you do not feel confident completing any of these steps, it’s best to seek professional assistance.

Step 1: Gather the necessary tools prior to swapping out your failed hard drive:

• Replacement hard drive: Buy your new hard drive with specifications that match your old one. Keep in mind factors such as storage capacity and interface (SATA or NVMe) as well as physical size (2.5-inch or 3.5-inch).
• Screwdriver set: Most hard drives require a Phillips-head screwdriver for removal and installation. Check the size needed for your specific case.
• Anti-static wrist strap: Protect your hardware from static electricity by wearing an anti-static wrist strap or by touching a grounded metal object before handling any components.
• External storage device: If you want to recover data from the failed hard drive, you may need an external storage device to temporarily store the data.

Step 2: Backup your data (if possible) 

If your failed hard drive is still accessible, it’s crucial to back up your important data before proceeding with the replacement. Connect an external storage device to your computer and copy the necessary files and folders.

Step 3: Power down your computer 

Shut down your computer and unplug it from the power source. You need to have your system completely powered off to avoid electrical damage or acidents.

Step 4: Open your computer case 

Locate the screws or latches securing the computer case and remove them. Carefully slide off or open the case to expose the internal components. Note that the exact process may vary depending on your computer’s make and model.

Step 5: Locate the failed hard drive

Identify the failed hard drive within your computer. It is usually located near the front of the case, secured in a drive bay. The hard drive is typically connected to the motherboard via cables and fixed with screws or brackets.

Step 6: Disconnect cables and remove the failed hard drive 

Gently unplug the cables connected to the hard drive, including the power and data cables. Keep in mind the orientation of the connectors for proper reinstallation later. Then, unscrew or remove any brackets or fasteners securing the hard drive to the drive bay.

Step 7: Replace the failed hard drive with the new one

Take your new hard drive and carefully connect the power and data cables to the corresponding ports. Ensure a secure connection, but avoid using excessive force. Place the hard drive into the drive bay and fasten it using screws or brackets.

Step 8: Close your computer case 

With the new hard drive installed, slide the cover back on/ reattach it with screws or latches. Be sure that it is firmly in place to prevent any loose connections or accidental damage.

Step 9: Power on your computer and configure the new hard drive 

Connect your computer to the power source and turn it on. Enter the BIOS or UEFI settings (usually by pressing a specific key during startup) and verify that the new hard drive is detected. If necessary, adjust the boot order to prioritize the new hard drive.

Step 10: Restore data (if applicable)

If you backed up your data in Step 2, you can now restore it to your new hard drive. Connect the external storage device containing the backed-up data. Then copy that data back to the appropriate directories on the new hard drive.

Conclusion

Replacing a failed hard drive can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, you can successfully restore your system’s functionality. With the help of our step-by-step guide, you should be able to replace the failed hard drive to get your computer up and running again. 

Remember to handle the hardware delicately and seek professional help if needed.

The post The Correct Way to Swap Out your Failed Hard drive appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

IAM Key Components

IAM involves several key components, including authentication, authorization, and user provisioning and de-provisioning. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device that is requesting access to a cloud resource. This can be achieved through various methods, such as passwords, security tokens, and biometric factors like fingerprints or facial recognition. By verifying the user’s identity, organizations can ensure that only authorized users have access to their cloud resources.

Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to a specific cloud resource based on the user’s identity and access privileges. Access privileges are typically assigned based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. For example, a user with administrative privileges would have access to more sensitive data and systems than a user with a basic user role.

Added Layer of Security

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming increasingly popular as an added layer of security for the authentication process. MFA requires users to provide more than one form of authentication, such as a password and a security token, to verify their identity. This helps to prevent unauthorized access by ensuring that a potential attacker would need to possess more than just one factor of authentication to gain access to cloud resources.

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a model for managing access to cloud resources based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. RBAC allows organizations to manage access to resources more efficiently and securely by limiting access to only those users who require it to perform their job duties. This reduces the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access.

User provisioning and de-provisioning are crucial components of IAM that ensure that users are provided with the necessary access privileges when they join an organization, and those privileges are removed when they leave the organization. This helps to prevent former employees from retaining access to sensitive data and systems after they have left the organization.

Conclusion

Ultimately, IAM is a critical aspect of cloud security that allows organizations to manage the digital identities of their users and control their access to cloud resources. By implementing IAM frameworks, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access to cloud resources. IAM provides organizations with greater control over their cloud resources, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and systems. As more and more organizations move their operations to the cloud, IAM will become increasingly important in ensuring the security of cloud-based data and systems.

Let’s start the conversation today! Click here to discuss how Wowrack can enhance your organizations security.

The post A Brief Overview of Identity & Access Management (IAM) appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

What Should Be Backed Up?

The short answer to this question is that all data should be backed up. However, in reality, not everything is equally important or valuable. Therefore, it’s essential to prioritize backups based on their criticality and frequency of use.

Here are some examples of what should be backed up regularly:

1. Business-critical: Anything that is essential for the day-to-day operations of a business should be backed up regularly. This includes customer files, financial records, and operational data.
2. Personal : Individuals should back up personal files, such as family photos, important documents, and financial records.
3. Applications: Any data generated by applications should be backed up, including email, messaging apps, and productivity software.
4. Configuration files: Configuration files for servers, applications, and network devices should be backed up to ensure that they can be quickly restored in the event of a system failure or cyberattack.

How Frequently Should Data Be Backed Up?

The frequency with which your files should be backed up depends on its criticality and how often it changes. For example, business-critical files that changes frequently, such as customer files, should be backed up multiple times per day, while less critical files can be backed up less frequently.

Here are some guidelines for creating backups:

1. Daily Backups: For business-critical data that changes frequently, daily backups are essential. This ensures that any changes made to the data during the day are captured and can be restored in the event of a failure or cyberattack.
2. Weekly Backups: For less critical files that changes less frequently, such as archived files, weekly backups are sufficient.
3. Incremental Backups: Incremental backups capture changes made to data since the last backup, reducing the time and storage space required for backups. For data that changes frequently, such as email, incremental backups should be done hourly or daily.
4. Full Backups: Full backups capture all files on a system and should be done periodically, such as once a month or quarter. Full backups can take longer and require more storage space, but they provide a complete backup of all files.

Conclusion

Creating a backup is a critical practice for ensuring the safety and security of your companies and your personal assets. Everything should be backed up, but the frequency with which it should be backed up depends on its criticality and how often it changes. Business-critical data that changes frequently should be backed up daily, while less critical things can be backed up less frequently. Incremental backups can reduce backup time and storage space, while full backups provide a complete backup of all data. By following these guidelines, individuals and organizations can ensure that you and your company are safe in the event of a loss or cyberattack.

If you want to learn more about backing up your data, please click here to contact us.

The post What Data should you Frequently Backup? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Step 1: Identify what needs to be backed up

The first step in creating a backup is to identify what data needs to be backed up. This includes important documents, photos, videos, and any other valuable data that you cannot afford to lose. It is also essential to identify the devices where this data is stored, such as laptops, desktops, smartphones, and external hard drives.

Step 2: Choose a backup location

Once you have identified the data that needs to be backed up, the next step is to choose a location. There are several options available for storage, which can range from external hard drives to network-attached storage (NAS). It is essential to choose a location that suits your needs.

Step 3: Choose a backup method

There are several methods available, such as full, incremental, and differential backup. A full backup involves copying all the data to the backup location. the Incremental method only backs up the data that has changed since the last backup, while the differential method backs up all the data that has changed since the last full backup. It is important to choose a method that suits your needs and ensures the safety and accessibility of your data.

Step 4: Set up automatic backups

Manually creating backups can be time-consuming and may also be forgotten. It is essential to set up automatic backups to ensure that your data is backed up regularly without any manual intervention. Most operating systems have built-in backup tools that allow you to schedule backups at regular intervals.

Step 5: Verify the backup

Once the backup is complete, it is important to verify that it is working correctly. This can be done by accessing the new storage location and ensuring that all the data has been successfully backed up. It is also essential to ensure that the location is secure and protected from unauthorized access.

Step 6: Regularly update the backup

Data is constantly changing, and it is important to regularly update the backup to ensure that all the latest data is backed up. This can be done by scheduling regular backups at regular intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.

Ultimately, creating backups is an essential part of ensuring the safety and accessibility of your data. By following these steps, you can create backups that suit your needs and ensure the safety and accessibility of your data. Remember to regularly update the backups and verify that the backups are working correctly to ensure that your data is always protected.

If you are interested in learning more about backups and how to incorporate them into your organization, click here to send us a message. We would love to continue the conversation and discuss how Wowrack can help your company thrive.

The post How to Easily Backup your Data with these 6 Steps appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

What is the Problem with Password Policies?

For most, when they are required to come up with a new, secure, and memorable password every 90-days, they will typically only change one letter or number of their last one. Sure, this fulfills the bare minimum requirements, but it makes it easy for someone to figure it out. This is because it creates a pattern where someone can guess to go up one number.

Some Poor Password Combinations:

• Password1!
• 123456 (used by 23 million account holders)
• Qwerty
• 11111111
• Princess
• P4ssword

As you can see from the list above, anything that is a series of numbers used in order, words, and especially using “Password” is a terrible way to keep your account secure. Furthermore, if you are using a password like one of the one’s listed above only changing one character when required, it is pretty easy to see how someone could guess it.

What are Some Best Practices?

Before we get into creating the secure password itself, let’s go over some new policy rules to replace the outdated 90-day rule.

• Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Increase the minimum length of passwords to 14 characters.
• Screen for passwords obtained from previous breaches.
• Screen for dictionary words, and repetitive or sequential characters (e.g., ‘aaaaaa’, ‘1234abcd’).
• Context-specific words, such as the name of the service, the username, and the derivative thereof.

While it may seem intimidating to put these rules into place, there are tools to help make this process much easier. For MFA, you can set this up through Office 365. As for the other requirements you can use the PowerShell module, DSInternals which is a collection of tools that can help you secure your Active Directory.

Now you are probably thinking, “well what should my password be after of all this?”. It is no secret that using Google’s suggested password is a great strategy for protecting your account. After all, it is a long combination of random characters. However, this is also impossible to remember. Luckily there is a tool for this!

Password managers are great for storing all those hard-to-remember but secure passwords for you. Some of our favorite password managers include:

• LastPass
• Zoho Vault
• KeePass
• RoboForm  
• 1Password

Ultimately, this is just a foundation for staying secure. While there are a lot more you can do to further secure your AD, this is a good starting point for you and your company.

Contact us today if you like to discuss how Wowrack can help you enhance your security.  

The post Password Policy Best Practices appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Ransomware has become the root cause of many business infrastructure failures with staggering financial losses. The average cost to remediate a ransomware attack is about US$730,000, if the ransom isn’t paid. Surprisingly, the number escalates to $1.4million if the ransom is paid. Another worrying fact about ransomware attacks is that the number increased by 150% in 2020 as people started to embrace remote working or WFH. It is a threat that any business can’t afford to ignore.

Frankly speaking, no strategies could completely protect you from ransomware. For that reason, the best plan of action is to ensure the company is prepared to recover after the attack happens. Securing your data backup is critical to that process.

4 Steps to Ensure Your Backup Works against Ransomware

Do The Backup

The first thing is, obviously, do your backup. Conduct it correctly and regularly. What we suggest is to perform a 3-2-1 backup strategy. To do it properly, you need to have, at least, three total copies of your data. Two on-site/local backups on different mediums or devices and at least one off-site.

Having multiple copies of your data ensures you a higher probability of a successful recovery. Logically, you can always recover your data even if one of your backups cannot be accessed due to ransomware attacks or any other reasons.

Test the Backup and Recovery

The second step is to routinely test your backups to ensure that they truly work. During the tests, it is common to uncover things like missing software install disks and license keys that don’t refresh after recovery. For that reason, it is necessary to also store such data as install disks and license keys outside of your backup copies.

Wowrack recommends scheduling a regular test. How often you schedule the tests depends on your risks and data importance. One backup schedule does not fit all needs since different companies have different levels of tolerance. If you are not sure how often you should test your backup, you can always consult to an expert in the field.

Create and Document a Plan

Thirdly, it is necessary to create and document your plan. In the heat of the moment, it is easy to lose your way or spend critical time figuring out what to do. To put it simply, creating and documenting your plan ahead of time relieves possible stress and minimizes mistakes.

Some things to keep in mind while creating your plan are your Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO). RPO determines how much data the business can afford to lose between backups. Meanwhile, RTO specifies the time required for system recovery.

Another tip: data worth paying extra attention to while creating the plan is Payroll and Accounts Payable/Receivable. Typically, recovering and rebuilding these data sets must be your top priority.

Separate Backups from Production

Finally, we suggest backing up off your domain to help keep your data secured. We also recommend using a unique and hard-to-guess username and password that is different from the administrator accounts. If possible, do not make a username that mimics your email address template.

Some service providers also strengthen your security by separating your backups from production. Wowrack, for instance, creates a backup network using separate NIC cards and specific ports to give you extra protection. Doing this inhibits bad actors from gaining access to your backup environment. Another extra but effective technique is having a data vault to store your backup that prevents deletion by any means other than expiration of a specific timestamp.

Bonus Recovery Tips

Even after recovery, however, similar ransomware attacks can still take place. This does not mean that your plans fail as ransomware can possibly reload during system restoration. Most of the time, the date when the ransomware attack began cannot be determined accurately. There is always a possibility that you recover a backup with ransomware in it.

To prevent it from happening, we encourage you to only recover data. Do fresh application installs instead of recovering the whole applications. By only recovering data, you can decrease the chances of reloading ransomware during system restoration.

The post 4 Steps to Protect Backup from Ransomware appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, daily IT usage has increased significantly across the globe, including in the US. With greater IT usage comes greater IT needs, specifically for businesses.

Nowadays, IT is no longer exclusive for specific types and sizes of businesses as every single business needs IT to maintain their continuity. According to a survey published on Small Business Trends, 92% of US small businesses has migrated to IT-driven business models to maintain continuity and productivity.

Additionally, businesses need IT tools to support remote working or enable their customers access their services digitally. In other words, this means that almost all businesses—perhaps yours too—are adapting to a new way of doing stuffs. Adaptation might seem complicated and difficult but, still, business must go on.

That’s where Wowrack can help you.

What Wowrack Does

We at Wowrack understand that any business wants to remain productive during this kind of circumstance as we have also witnessed this occurrence by ourselves. Many of our existing and new clients have told us that they also need more IT services to boost their productivity.

Some of the services that our existing and new clients need to help their businesses running these days are:

• Managed Private Cloud Service
  Private cloud is a single tenant, client-specific cloud computing customized specially to your actual needs. This service is getting more critical as every business needs a more secure and flexible IT infrastructure to meet their diverse needs.
  
  
• Disaster Recovery and Backup Services
  Disaster recovery and backup services is not only critical but also integral to business continuity plan and management. What Wowrack does to accommodate this is that we can flexibly adjust the service delivery to your budgetary and system needs without risking the quality and security.
  
  
• Hybrid Cloud Management
  Since IT needs are getting diverse, we understand that one type of clouds does not fit all needs. That is why we can manage your different cloud infrastructure or on-premises, you name it.
  
  
• And many more to mention.
  
  

How Wowrack Can Help You

During these surreal times, we completely understand that everyone is desperately trying to survive. That’s why we won’t exploit you. What we want is a relationship that mutually benefits you and us. Accordingly, here’s how we can help you.

• Accommodating Your Actual Needs
  We will deliver what you actually need instead of what you think you need. This has been part of our client-centric commitment since we started our journey two decades ago.
  
  
• Working Professionally alongside You
  We commit ourselves to become a true cloud partner, so we will do our best to do so. We are 24/7 ready to assist you with what you need. Of course, by 24/7, we really mean it.
  
  
• Delivering the Best Services and Products Possible
  It’s true that we can adjust our services to your budget, but we won’t give you a second-rate service. Once we’re in agreement, we will deliver our best team, services, and products for you.
  
  
• Managing Your IT Needs
  In this difficult time, we understand that it’s taxing for you to think of your core business and manage your IT at the same time. Rest assured as we can manage your IT needs so you can focus on maintaining your business.
  
  

How You Can Help Us

Actually, we also need your help to understand you better. To do so, you can consult with our team. We will listen to your needs so that we can execute and deliver what you need better.

The post What Wowrack Does—And How We Can Help You appeared first on Wowrack Blog.