IT Assurance

Enjoying today’s spooky holiday? Here are some fun Halloween apps to add to your
celebration.

The Best Halloween Apps of 2024 Halloween is one of the best parts of the Fall season. These Halloween apps will get you into the spirit and make the most of the holiday.

Many applications these days actually have MFA or 2FA options built in. If you have those, turn them on!

Sometimes managing MFA over multiple platforms is kind of a pain. If you want to simplify the process or don't even have that option in the software you're using, taking advantage of tools like Duo Security, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy can manage a second form of authentication in a single platform. Reach out to learn how we leverage tools like this to secure organizations!

What is Multifactor Authentication?

Logging into a device or application requires something you know - typically a username and a password or passcode. Two-factor (requiring a password and one other thing) and multi-factor (requiring at least a password and one or more other things) authentications require something you have to the something you know - usually physical possession of a smartphone to receive a text or an application code. Everything you add that someone needs to successfully log into your account makes it that much harder for a malicious actor to gain access.

Of course, there's a balance to all of this. The more complications you add to logging into your accounts, the more complex it becomes for you to log in yourself. There are some nifty ways to simplify this process. Stay tuned or reach out to learn more!

🚨 Password Panic Alert! 🚨

Ever heard the saying, “What happens in Notepad stays in Notepad”? Well, not anymore! Our SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system is on the lookout and has detected some unaware users saving their passwords in the most insecure ways - think copy/paste or straight up in Notepad! Oh no!

Just a friendly reminder: storing passwords this way is like leaving your front door wide open! 🚪 🔓

Our SIEM keeps an eye on all your digital activities, identifying potential security threats in real-time and ensuring that your data stays locked up tight. So, let’s keep those passwords safe, folks! 🛡️ 💪

Our Core Value demonstrator last week was Catalina for demonstrating her skills at Making it Better and being an Appreciative Human.

Catalina is our project manager and her supervisor reports:

"Last week I had a long meeting with a client about potential improvements in our 3CX onboarding process. Imagine my surprise when I brought them back to the team and found that most of the changes had already been made! When you were running into problems with the onboarding, you pulled Michele and I aside to ask for ideas. Because of your humility, we were able to brainstorm a solution that dramatically improved the process (and the client noticed the difference)! Your constant drive to improve things is wonderful to see!"

Awesome job Catalina! We appreciate you!

Tired of being told to use unique passwords over an increasingly online presence? That's where password managers come in. They allow you to use just one secure passphrase and use a built-in method to create and store strong, unique passwords for each account. You don't have to memorize dozens of passwords anymore—the manager does it for you, keeping all your credentials safe in one encrypted vault. This simple tool can save you time and drastically reduce your chances of a security breach.

If you'd like to learn more about password managers and how we can leverage them up for your organization, reach out!

What do strong passwords look like?

1. Long - in fact, possibly longer than you realize! Your password should be at least 16 characters long, although it's worth noting that some sites still limit you to 12 characters.
2. Random - a string of mixed case letters, numbers, symbols or a passphrase of 4-7 random words.
3. Unique - don't share your password across websites.

If this sounds like a lot of work, don't despair! There are tools that make managing passwords a breeze. If you'd like to learn more, stay tuned or reach out to us!

Use Strong Passwords!

Making 50 copies of your house key is probably overkill. Using the same password 50 times is also a bad idea. Use passwords that are strong, long, unique, and random for each site or account. That is the best way to keep your accounts secure. Stay tuned to learn some easier ways to do this, or reach out to us here at IT Assurance!

What to know how to stay safe online this month? Here's where it starts! Keep an eye on our social media as we dig deeper into each of these topics.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! This month we'll be partnering with our friends over at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency posting tips and tricks to improve your security online. Watch our social media for more information!

Do you have “energy vampires” in your home? Unplug these gadgets to lower utility
costs and avoid unnecessary energy waste.

Unplug These ‘Energy Vampires’ to Avoid Energy Waste and Save on Utility Bills Some of your electronics increase utility costs even when not in use. Here's what you need to know to save the energy.

Before choosing an AI tool to use in your private life, it’s wise to check the data
collection and opt-out policies. Here are some tips on avoiding unnecessary risks to
your personal data.

Biggest risks of using gen AI like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Apple Intelligence in your private life From OpenAI's ChatGPT to Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Apple Intelligence, AI tools for consumers are accessible and proliferating, and full of risks.