As we begin the new year, it is important to consider what has worked well, what can be improved, and what changes should be implemented in the coming year. SMB’s can be assured the bad actors out there are doing this and will continue to invent new ways to try and steal your data, infiltrate your networks, and expose gaps in your security.

Shift in Focus

One of the biggest shifts in the last year for me personally is how our clients have evolved from thinking that they are doing enough to protect their network and data to asking what else they can do or invest in to become more resilient against threats. This is indeed a wise approach and one that should continue moving forward. I encourage our partners to be involved in the security approach we support and manage for them. It helps create a culture of awareness and resilience within their business. When this way of thinking is in place from the top down, a business and its employees become empowered and knowledgeable about their role in keeping data secure and operations running smoothly.

First Line of Defense

Employees will continue to be the first line of defense against malicious attempts to gain access to your network. Therefore, it is imperative to provide formalized and consistent security awareness training for your staff. If not, you are missing a huge opportunity to get better quickly. Please implement a solution ASAP!

Hard-Learned Lesson

Another hard lesson learned was companies' susceptibility to time-tested threats like phishing, ransomware, and network flaws. Today's business leaders need to be aware and prepared for cybercriminals to be more active and focused on cloud vulnerabilities. We can expect to see these attacks wreak havoc on a larger scale and expose more networks to potential threats. Supply chain attacks will become more visible as ongoing economic issues create opportunities for large payouts.

Evolving Threats

Most experts believe that ransomware will continue to evolve and remain a threat, but note that it will become more targeted and utilize complex extortion tactics. Businesses must add tools and resources to help limit exposure and proactively search for threats within their network. Terms like “Threat Hunting," "Synchronized Security,” and “Threat Analysis” should be terms you are hearing from your IT support resources, whether they are internal to your organization or outsourced.

Expect More

One of the main lessons learned by our team at Omni in the past year has been that our clients need and should expect more from us. We have learned that making sure computers work is a role we play, but not the most important. Our team is also evolving, and we are working hard to implement solutions within our clients' organizations to operate efficiently and securely.

I encourage you to schedule a call with me to discuss your approach to cybersecurity and learn how Omni can support your efforts. Some examples of tools and resources we offer are:

• Backup and Disaster Recovery
• Automated Malware Removal
• Cryptoguard Ransomware File Protection
• Real-Time Antivirus
• Anti-Malware Protection
• Deep Learning Malware Detection
• Exploit Prevention
• Active Adversary Detection and Prevention
• Endpoint Detection and Response
• Deep-Learning Malware Analysis
• Live Discover SQL Queries
• 24/7 proactive threat-hunting team that finds, contains, and neutralizes the most sophisticated attacks on your behalf
• Windows Server operating system patching and monitoring
• Security Awareness Training for Employees
• Dark Web Monitoring
• Multi-factor Authentication for Microsoft 365
• Firewall Patching
• Periodic Technology Business Reviews
• Activity reports from security tools used
• Daily backup review for failures or issues

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and successful New Year from our team at Omni Strategic Technologies!

Cheers,

Chip Calissie