If the last few weeks have shown us anything, it’s that you have to be prepared for everything.  Yes, we’re talking about Business Continuity again. 

With our recent crazy weather, including several tornado producing storms, wildfires and more, it’s time to consider whether you’re properly protected if suddenly your entire operation is impacted, or worse, completely shut down. 

Additionally, with the current unrest in Europe, state-sponsored and opportunistic hackers are on the prowl even more than usual. It’s imperative your organization continues to be vigilant against cyber security threats during these turbulent times.

Three critical things to consider NOW…

• Is my team aware of possible cyber threats and do they understand how to avoid them? Does your team practice good online safety protocols? If you’re not sure, it’s probably time for a review; contact your UniVista Account Representative.  Clients taking advantage of the UniVista Support Agreement have cyber security training available to them.
• Where are my backups? Do you know where your backups are and how to access them in the event of an emergency?  Is there more than one individual in your organization aware of where your backups are and what to do in the event of a system failure? Are your systems backed up frequently enough?  Be aware of what you’ll be losing if your system completely goes down and how long it will take to restore the information. Is your organization prepared to recreate the data you have lost if you’re system is not backed up frequently enough?  Consider adding additional backup options, and/or off-site back up locations. Again, if you’re not sure of the best course of action to take, or want to review your current system needs, contact your UniVista Account Representative. 
• How long will it take to restore? Be aware of how long a possible system restore will take and who in the organization is qualified to handle the task. If you feel your in-house team is not up to the challenge, contact your UniVista Account Representative to facilitate, either employee training, or a strategy to have UniVista handle the restore for you.

Don’t underestimate the inconvenience of system downtimes and the potential loss of data. Downtimes are more than an inconvenience, they lead to unhappy customers, missed opportunities and revenue losses.

In light of recent world events, it’s more important than ever to remain vigilant in regard to Cybersecurity.  Numerous online threats and scams are, and will continue to be, on the rise.  As I’m sure you have heard the warning before, but it always bears repeating, do not open emails or links from unknown sources, this also goes for voice calls and texts.  

REMEMBER!  UniVista Support Agreement includes cybersecurity training.

Stay alert to the following…

Potentially Fraudulent Situations may involve:

• Phishing Emails. Be wary of faked logos with links going to fake pages asking you for information.  For example: an email coming from PayPal that something just seems off on… this often has a “from” that does not follow typical company email naming conventions.  e.g. something like; [email protected].  Legitimate sites will not send you emails asking you for personal information, like logons and passwords outside of their legitimate platform. 
• Spear Phishing. Cybercriminals will use easily available online information, like social media pages and company websites to harvest personal information to make fake corporate emails look legitimate. Then cybercriminals target individuals within the organization using those specific names, titles, along with familiar emails or phone numbers, making it look like the email came from within the organization and is a legitimate request.
• Whaling Emails. This form of contact also uses public information to get details regarding a high level manager or corporate CEO, then uses a similar email to theirs to make a request like “take a look at the attachment”.  Be on the alert for abnormal requests.
• Vishing and/or Smishing. This technique is used in the form of a voice call,

  

  typically during stressful times of the day, where the recipient is requested to take certain actions or give specific personal information. Similarly, a text version (Smishing) with a link can also be sent requesting an action be taken. A popular example of both forms is callers or texters pretending to be the Internal Revenue Service.
• Angler Phishing. Popular on social media platforms, in this scenario a cybercriminal will use direct messaging or fake notifications to encourage an unsuspecting individual to take action. These typically include links that take individuals to malicious websites.

It’s important during these heightened times to remain vigilant against potential cybersecurity threats.  If something seems “off” and your “Spidey-senses start tingling”, even just a little, don’t do it. Unfortunately, stressful or challenging times for honest people are when most opportunistic cybercriminals attack. 

Remember, your UniVista Support Agreement includes cybersecurity training.  If you’re unsure and need a refresher, or you have new employees that require training please let us know.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your UniVista Account Representative.