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These days it’s hard to imagine running a business without relying on IT. Many of the key processes that are in place every day are based upon IT. And then there are the tools to consider: everything from desktops to laptops and mobile devices used by your team. Clearly, it is essential to make sure that all of this is managed smoothly and this is where outsourcing IT can help.

What is Outsourced IT?

So, what are Outsourced IT Services? It’s as simple as it sounds. Rather than having to maintain your IT infrastructure yourself, your business can engage a third party IT specialist to oversee any or all of your requirements. These services can include security management, network maintenance, and cloud migration, as well as the option to carry out specific projects as needed.

Outsourced IT support makes recovering from any technical issues as quick and painless as possible. IT outsourcing can be extremely affordable, too, with a wide range of packages and pay as you go options available. There is no barrier to location either, with IT providers able to help wherever your business is based, with firms such as Andromeda Solutions offering IT support North East of the UK.

What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Your IT Solutions?

It may come as a surprise, but you will actually save a considerable amount of money.

Rather than having to maintain an in-house IT department, you can outsource and save on salaries. If you decide to keep IT professionals on staff, outsourcing can help you at busy times, or for particular projects needing specialist expertise. This assistance can free your existing staff to pursue other tasks, boosting efficiency and productivity rates.

When you choose to outsource your IT, you benefit from a service which keeps you right up to date with the latest technological developments. You will be advised of any new software or devices that could help improve your processes or otherwise streamline your business.

Furthermore, by choosing to outsource your IT, you will enjoy access to IT support services around the clock, seven days a week. With many options available for getting in touch with your IT service provider, including telephone, live chat and email, you can be assured that expert help is never far away.

It’s clear, then, that choosing to outsource your IT is a compelling option for many businesses. It offers so many advantages, including reduced IT running costs, staying up to date with the latest technology, as well as access to the best support when needed.

This year is likely to see more people than ever turn to the internet for their Christmas shopping. With lockdown restrictions affecting access to many high streets, it’s an ideal solution for gift buyers, but, unfortunately, it is also a major draw for cyber criminals.

Most Common types of online scams

The goal of the scammer is to steal from you: money, personal details, or even your identity. Scams today are incredibly sophisticated and can come in many forms. The most common of these is known as phishing, and involves sending out emails with the aim of tricking the victim by asking them to send money for a seemingly good cause, or to log into faked versions of bank, retail or social media websites.

Another common scam involves the use of dangerous software, referred to as “scareware”, that appears as a virus warning pop-up on the victim’s screen. Often luring victims with the promise of free anti-virus protection, clicking on these pop-ups instead releases dangerous malware onto the computer.

Similar tricks are found on social media sites, where clicking on a bad link can infect your PC with a virus. Telephone scammers pretending to be from a trusted service provider may also attempt to gain trust, in order to access victims’ computers and steal valuable information.

What can we do to avoid being scammed?

So, how to avoid falling victim to online scams this Christmas?

First of all, it’s vital to have the right cyber security measures in place. Check any links carefully for any spelling errors and be mindful of any website that appears to be poor quality – it may be a fake. IT support experts recommend that you avoid using public Wi-Fi hotspots for Christmas shopping and use your more secure mobile data if you need to access the internet whilst you’re out and about.

Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date and install any updates when needed. Creating strong passwords and changing them frequently is also an excellent defence against hackers. If you receive a telephone call from a business asking for your card details, never give your PIN or any passwords, even if you are sure that they really are calling from a trusted organisation.

Avoid the common types of online scams by staying on your guard and following these tips. Prioritise your IT security and make sure YOU have a happy Christmas, rather than giving a cyber criminal a good time.

For help with IT Security Threats, contact Andromeda Solutions today.

As part of our ongoing commitment to cyber security, we are very pleased to announce that Andromeda Solutions are now Cyber Essentials certified. We have put the appropriate measures in place to not just protect our own organisation, but to also protect that of our valued clients and customers to a Government-endorsed standard. We are very proud of our team for continuously working to improve the security of our IT infrastructure.

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is Government-backed, fully supported by the IT industry, and run by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSE). The Cyber Essentials Scheme is part of the Government’s National Security Strategy, aiming to reduce to amount of cyber attacks on organisations in the UK by over 80%. The scheme helps businesses put security controls in place to help protect them from the most common cyber-attacks. A cyber security breach can be truly devastating on both a personal and professional level, emphasising the importance of protecting IT systems and services from cyber criminals.

In order to pass the Government-led initiative, Andromeda Solutions were required to complete a Cyber Essentials questionnaire, meeting the technical control requirements for the following 5 areas:

• Boundary Firewalls and Internet Gateways
• Secure Configuration
• User Access Control
• Malware Protection
• Patch Management

The Cyber Essentials certification provides Andromeda Solutions with external, independent assurance that we have the correct and necessary measures in place to help protect us against cyber threats.

For more information on how we can help improve your cyber security, please visit our Cyber Security page, or get in touch with us today.

Whilst remote working has long been touted as a means for revolutionising the work-life balance, it was never expected to have become the default working environment for so many, so soon. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has seen an almost overnight switch in our working patterns and as a result, many organisations have been left struggling to catch up to the new challenges brought by remote teams.

Outside of the office, many employees are now left to work without access to their usual networks, reducing productivity and bringing security risks to businesses, particularly where data handling is concerned. Fortunately, developments in cloud-based technologies mean that there are now robust solutions available.

One such solution, Office 365, is an excellent tool for navigating this new working landscape. Offering impressive security, as a cloud-based suite it can be accessed from wherever your teams need to be, whether that’s in the office or at home. As a cloud-based service, all you need to access it is an internet connection. By opting for a cloud-based infrastructure, you can sidestep the expense of maintaining your own data centre and feel assured that security is taken care of, with full data recovery available if the worst should happen. You will also benefit from advanced threat analytics, email encryption, multi factor authentication and mobile device management, alongside many other security measures.

It’s not just in security that the benefits of Office 365 can be seen. Collaborative work can continue seamlessly, with features which allow for real-time co-authoring of documents and presentations. With direct access to files enabled, productivity can focus on the task at hand, rather than attaching files to emails.

Office 365 gives your business scalability, and as a subscriber you will automatically receive the latest programs available. Furthermore, the widespread familiarity with the Office suite means that staff can quickly get to work without requiring retraining on new formats. The mix and match subscription format means that your package can be tailored to your organisation’s unique needs, from the smallest enterprises through to major businesses.

Here at Andromeda Solutions, we can help you explore all the possibilities and smooth your migration with dedicated ongoing management.

These days we are all reliant on email as a fast and easy way to communicate, with everyone from family and friends, through to work colleagues and businesses that we deal with. With around 50% of the world’s email traffic consisting of spam, it’s never been more important to secure your inbox.

There are several different types of threats that are targeted via email and it’s important to be aware of them, in order to be on your guard.

Spam is a familiar foe: most of us will have received unsolicited advertising or hoax charity appeals. Spam often contains viruses or spyware which can threaten your computer. They are blanket attacks, often using software that generates thousands of potential email addresses or sent to email address lists bought from other spammers. Be sure to never respond to a spam message, as it will confirm to the criminals that they have hit upon a real email address.

Phishing emails are sent out in their thousands by criminals hoping to trick people into disclosing valuable personal information. Often phishing emails may resemble those sent by legitimate banks and other organisations and contain links that, once clicked, take you to a counterfeit webpage. Using a technique known as Spoofing, these fakes can be very sophisticated dupes, so be mindful of any emails that come from an email address at odds with the supposed organisation’s name. Similarly, be cautious of emails with a link, or any attempts to solicit your password or other personal details.

Spear Phishing is a targeted attack of a similar nature, directed at an individual or organisation with the goal of stealing data or implanting malware. Criminals research their targets to make their attacks appear credible, so be mindful of how much you share about yourself on social networking sites.

Fortunately, help is at hand. We can help to maintain the security of your inbox, with services such as Hornet Security’s Spam Filter and Malware Protection. With dynamic virus filtering for incoming and outgoing email, and link tracking to prevent the risk of clicking on a dangerous URL, you can rest assured that your emails are safe and your computers and networks are protected.

For help with IT Security Threats, contact Andromeda Solutions Today.