Latest Security News from March/April 2019

Microsoft has always had quite a reputation when it comes to security updates and software upgrades and the latest April 2019 Patch Tuesday update is no exception, with reports of units freezing during the update process and some hanging in the middle of startup after the patch is applied. The culprit? Conflicts between the recent patch update and the antivirus software, which affected many Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2.

Microsoft, Sophos, Avira, and Avast have already addressed and brought light to the issue through their respective support articles. They say that the conflict is largely between recent updates and certain components of antivirus software systems, including Sophos Endpoint Protection, AVG Business Edition, ArcaBit, Avast for Business, CloudCare, and Avira Antivirus. In particular, the patch caused computers to hang or fail on boot, freeze upon startup, or run very slow.

                                                    

Resolving the issue is a matter of removing the updates from affected machines and you can generally do so by booting in safe mode and disabling the conflicting antivirus service and then booting in normal mode so you can uninstall Windows KB. Do not forget to enable your antivirus service after uninstalling the problematic update.

Because these patches and upgrades can be technical in nature, it is always best to seek assistance from your managed IT service provider in order to perform recovery and repairs properly. With the right service, you can rest assured that fixes are correct and won’t cause any further problems for your system.

In conclusion, despite antivirus systems and update patches causing some conflicts with certain operating systems, there is no denying their importance in keeping your applications and your operating system in general functional and secure. Instead of avoiding or deferring these updates, keep yourself informed and on the lookout for latest security news to brace yourself for the positive or negative impacts of these patches and updates.

3 Red Flags to Avoid When Choosing IT Consulting Services

Because IT is such a crucial business commodity, some managed IT service providers simply can’t help but overpromise and oversell their services and capabilities—only to under deliver once you have signed the dotted line. This is why it is important that you take a careful approach to your selection process whenever choosing an IT consulting service to help you meet your business requirements. Here are some things you should avoid when choosing an outsourcing provider for your IT needs:

• Outdated technologies – Your MSP should be on the cutting edge of technology, not the other way around. The very reason you want to get IT experts on-board is so that you can be on the forefront of technology and prevent yourself from getting left behind by your business rivals. A good way to gauge your MSP’s leading edge when it comes to modern technology is to look into their certifications and affiliations with industry leaders like Mac, Windows, Google, etc. This pretty much helps guarantee their access to the latest services and products from these innovative companies.

• Top-down decision making – During your initial interview with your prospective IT consultant, make sure that they use a holistic approach to decision-making—one that takes into account the needs of every stakeholder. While a top-down approach keeps your vision intact as a business, you risk missing out on crucial viewpoints that can actually help you improve your operations and systems, such as user experience and other strategic needs. Choose a company that can tailor IT support and systems based on a holistic view of your company’s needs.

• Company culture – Also importantly, choose a service that has a similar or complementary working culture, methodologies, and ethics as your business, as this will help ensure smooth communications and a strong, growing partnership instead of a problematic and stressful venture.

All About Microsoft’s New OS for Enterprise Servers

Part of maintaining a business in the 21^st century is trying to cope with all the tech developments and advancements that run the modern world. Just like you don’t want to be driving an old, barely street-legal/ road-safe car on modern streets plied by faster, eco-friendlier, and cheaper to maintain modern rides, you also don’t want a computer engine with bare minimum features to help your business get by. You are setting your business up for stagnation by resting on old technology.

Even when you are perfectly content with what old versions of technology are doing for your business, its backward thinking to be satisfied with what they have to offer, because newer and better systems will definitely come to cater to what they lack and even fix issues that are hindering your productivity. The same is true when it comes to Windows Enterprise Servers. One of the main reasons why you should consider constant updates is because as time goes, old systems no longer receive upgrades and eventually go unsupported, especially when newer, more robust systems come to the surface.

If you still haven’t migrated to Windows 2016, an upgrade may well benefit your operations, especially when you are looking for a hybrid-ready solution that can help gear you up for the evolving requirements and demands on enterprise IT infrastructures. If you are still not convinced about an upgrade, perhaps knowing that the latest Windows Server to reach end-of-life was only 15 years old (WS 2003) and it will not be long until the next in line 2008 R2 platform will follow WS 2003’s footsteps. End-of-life products no longer receive fixes or new features, which makes them extremely vulnerable to failures and security breaches.

With Windows Server 2016, you don’t only get the advantage of updates, but the full benefits of a cloud-ready platform, while also enjoying improvements in key areas like security and software defined datacenters.

All About How Virtual Reality Has Seen Success in Mental Health Disorders Treatments

Mental health disorders are coming to better light, thanks to efforts that are slowly, but surely removing the negative stigma about different mental conditions that afflict humanity. One of the many developments in the treatment of mental health disorders is the use of virtual reality technologies in various types of therapies. Virtual reality as a tool for introducing therapy for treating mental health issues isn’t entirely a brand-new concept. In fact, it’s been decades since VR is used to administer exposure therapy in a safe and controlled environment. Nowadays, virtual reality therapy is widely used as a mental health treatment platform, thanks to a greater availability of VR devices and more advanced VR technology. Below are some of the most common mental health therapies that benefit from VR technology: 

• VR Therapy for PTSD – VR has been widely used in prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. In fact, the earliest uses for VR devices have been for the treatment of war veterans and soldiers who suffered PTSD in the 90s. This said, military PTSD isn’t the only kind of PTSD condition that can be treated using VR PET. The technology is also widely used for treating those who underwent other types of trauma such as sexual abuse.

• VR Therapy for Phobias and Anxiety – VR is also being used for treating a vast number of phobic and anxiety disorders through self-guided therapies and/or telemedicine.

• VR Therapy for Stress Relief – Stress and anxiety reduction therapies can also be administered with the use of VR technology, including meditative and relaxation therapies designed to remedy generalized anxiety and stress.

• VR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies – Apart from exposure therapy, VR is also useful in administering psychotherapeutic treatments like cognitive behavioral therapies that help patients deal with disturbing and destructive thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors.

Upcoming Updates of Big Data In 2018

As the digital landscape continues to move and expand in all directions, there is no accurate way to determine what will happen in 2018. However, you can be sure that big data will continue to be influential to businesses in 2018, especially as the internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to be popular. Here are some of the updates on big data that you can expect this year:

• Enhancements to GDPR compliance – To avoid ICO fines, organizations must consider improving their General Data Protection Regulation, which will determine how data is collected, deleted, or stored. Making data available in a centralized location (i.e. a dashboard) can provide companies with the version of the truth in real-time, so discrepancies can easily be spotted, and consent can be provided sooner where personal information is concerned.

• Data visualization to become more crucial in business – Modern organizations continue to practice the culture of analytics, which means data is involved in their every decision. Old school approaches to business intelligence, however, do not produce more effective results due to their rigidity, slowness, and complexity—all of which result in the inability to implement data in the most efficient way possible. With modern dashboards, data visualization can be implemented to boost the ability of stakeholders to view and understand relevant information. Combining charts and graphs with accessible and powerful business analytics will provide more transparency within the organization, even in real-time.

• Data visualization may be the key to removing unnecessary data – Clean data is becoming increasingly important to businesses as it helps drive sales and marketing.  This means the absence of duplicate, incorrect, incomplete, and inconsistent data that could lead to loss of revenue, misinformed decisions, poor reputation, and wasted efforts in marketing. Dashboards can implement a data visualization strategy that can help eliminate unwanted data and enable businesses to see only the most essential information at a glance.

Microsoft CRM Programming Secrets – Tips for Developers

Having a customer relationship management solution can help a business organize and easily streamline processes and functions related to developing, retaining, and improving customer relationships. Microsoft offers some of the leading CRM solutions that are flexible and customizable for every business. Some leading examples are Dynamics 365 and SharePoint. Developers of Microsoft CRM solutions should be able to provide a unique platform that can help businesses fulfill their objectives for implementing a customer relationship management solution. Here are some tips for a developer to enable proper Microsoft CRM programming:

•Consult with the business – Developers must take time to understand the unique requirements of the business. That way, they can develop a bespoke solution that should work for their customer. For instance, Dynamics 365 can be programmed and developed to run on-premise and online.

•Know the programmability features of Microsoft CRM – By identifying a customer’s requirements, developers should be able to use the right programming models that will enable them to customize the right solution for every situation. For instance, when developers write their customers to access the data in Dynamics 365, they have the option to use the organization service or the Web API. The latter offers a development experience that is useful across programming languages, devices, and platforms. It implements open data protocol (Odata), too, which is the standard for consuming and building RESTfulAPIs over any rich data source. Microsoft provides a list of community-supported libraries for OData. Otherwise, developers can code directly using HTTP. 

.NET developers may Web API or the organization service, which enables them to use the set of tools and assemblies to create strongly typed classes with attributes and custom entities added to Dynamics 365. SDK tools and assemblies for code generation can work with Organization Service Context, which is designed according to the same concept as WFC data services to enable developers to track changes and manage relationships and identities.

•Consult with experts – Consulting services can give developers a competitive edge and keep them ahead of their competition when they are updated with the latest developments and knowledge. 

•Use special tools – Address Two and Infusion soft are CRM software tools that can leverage the existing CRM platforms of a business.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/microsoft-crm-programming-secrets-tips-for-developers/

Mobile Security

With smartphones, tablets, and laptops enabling anyone to work from just about anywhere, the need for mobile security is no doubt growing. Cloud solutions continue to help many individuals work and access their files remotely, too. However, despite the convenience of technology, data can still be at risk—especially with mobile devices. Reliable mobile security is absolutely essential to protect your privacy, your devices, and your files from cyber attacks, malware, and hackers.

Mobile security will not merely protect you from external threats. It can protect you from internal threats, too, such as data loss due to accidental deletion or unauthorized access to certain types of files. This can be crucial if your business practices BYOD (bring your own device) and allows employees to work remotely or from their homes. All crucial information and data (as well as identities) can be protected and will not be used to harm other services within the organization.

Basic forms of mobile security include antivirus solutions and policies. Some of these are cost-effective and reliable services that can help secure a small business. There are a number of low-cost mobile security solutions for small businesses that are looking for reasonably priced and reliable security tools. With these solutions, you get a free antivirus, paid and free SSL certificates, mobile device management, free internet security, security for POS systems, and firewall protection.

 StaySafeOnline.Org is a good source for resources and tools designed to help small business owners who want to protect their customers, employees, and business from data loss, cyber attacks, and other threats.

Having a BYOD policy is part of good mobile security measures, too. That way, all devices used in the business can be managed more efficiently. When creating a BYOD policy, be sure to highlight crucial factors like terms of acceptable use, security and password protection, the types of devices that are allowed, disclaimers, liabilities, and risks.

About the Author:

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24×7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/mobile-security/

Latest Security News: New Updates Regarding Microsoft and Other Application Updates in October

Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday for October delivered 10 critical updates to Windows 8 and 7 systems, with five rated ‘critical’, four rated ‘important’, and an update with a ‘moderate’ or lower security rating. The way those updates were delivered were different, too, in the sense that Microsoft followed the cumulative update model used in Windows 10 for all the currently supported Windows platforms and their respective versions. Before this latest update, Microsoft used to have a granular approach with individual patches and updates. Now, security is bundled with system component (.NET) and browser components as aggregate patches.

The October updates included multiple ‘Patch Now’ updates for Edge, Internet Explorer, Adobe Flash Player, and a minimum component of Microsoft Office, all of which will require you to restart your system after completion. MS16-118 is one of the critical updates aimed at Internet Explorer to resolve 11 vulnerabilities in its security related to scripting engine issues and memory corruption, both of which could make the browser vulnerable to remote code execution. At least one issue related to memory has already been exploited in the past months and was reported to Microsoft, resulting in this ‘Patch Now’ update.

MS16-119 is another critical update that will resolve 17 memory, scripting, and name space handling problems in Microsoft Edge. It comes with a fix that is aimed as a remedy for a recently detected exploit. MS16-127 addressed 12 security ‘priority one’ vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player. If left unpatched, hackers could remotely execute a code. The update is not directly linked with the Edge and IE updates. Instead, it affects only the platforms running on Windows 8.

Apart from Microsoft, Oracle rolled out a critical patch update, which consisted of patches addressing multiple security vulnerabilities. Oracle keeps receiving reports of various attempts to exploit vulnerabilities maliciously, so applying the update is crucial to keep your system safe. October 2016’s critical patch update covers 253 new security fixes for various products, including Oracle Database Server, Application Express, Enterprise Manager, and PeopleSoft Enterprise. 

About the Author:

           

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

IoT Devices

The billions of interconnected devices, buildings, vehicles, and other objects that are embedded with software, electronics, actuators, network connectivity, and sensors make up the Internet of Things (IoT). The best thing about IoT is that it allows data transfer over the network without human to computer or human-to-human interactions. In IoT, ‘things’ can refer to anything from a farm animal that has a biochip transponder, a car with built-in sensors that can alert you on certain issues (i.e. low fuel or low tire pressure), or someone with a heart monitor implanted in them. IoT devices have an IP address and the ability to deliver data over networks.

The Internet of Things came to be when the internet combined with microservices, micro-electromechanical systems, and wireless technologies. With that convergence, walls between information technology and operational technology were eliminated to enable machine-generated unstructured data to be determined for insights. However, since the IoT devices involve transferring data over a network, they are still prone to security risks. For instance, high-end cars that have built-in Wi-Fi are still prone to security issues that are common to conventional Wi-Fi hotspots. You should be worried about these vulnerabilities because hackers could attack your devices to access critical information about your business or organization. Hence, it is important to find and implement reliable security measures that can help prevent and remediate the security vulnerabilities that could pose a threat to IoT devices.

Traditional manufacturers rely on proprietary embedded systems, which are difficult to hack because of restrictions and closed source code. Many IoT devices run on Microsoft Windows because it is ubiquitous, commonly used by programmers, and reasonably priced. The operating system is used in various devices including mobile medical devices (i.e. pacemakers). However, unlike Windows for desktop, Windows for IoT devices currently lack a patching method, and since many of them are connected to the internet using wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, the easier it is for viruses to spread amongst them.

To avoid security vulnerabilities in IoT devices, it is essential to keep their software updated at all times. If your business relies on wearables and mobile smart devices, consider coming up with policies on how they should be used by your employees. An IT consultant should be able to help you come up with the right strategies to make your IoT devices safer. 

About the Author:

           

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Windows 10 Free Upgrade Has Ended - What Happens Next?

Windows 10 is the latest operating system released by Microsoft, and you were given until July 29, 2016, to upgrade to it for free. That date is exactly a year since the initial release of the OS. The upgrade was offered for free as part of Microsoft's plan to get the OS to run on one billion devices in the next few years. Those running authentic Windows 7 and Window 8.1 were given the chance to upgrade for free; however, some users failed to do so. Regardless of your reason for not taking advantage of that free upgrade, upgrading to Windows 10 after July 29 simply means having to pay for it.

Upgrading to Windows 10 can be a crucial step to future-proofing your systems. Microsoft's long-term goal for providing a free upgrade is to gradually phase out Windows 7. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will stop its commitment to provide extended support for it. Putting off the upgrade until 2020 may put your business at risk, because delays, reduce productivity, and make your systems vulnerable to attackers.

After the deadline, your small business can still upgrade by buying Windows 10 and consulting with a reliable network solutions provider for assistance in deployment. This way, you can avoid the guesswork and the upgrade will not have to cause too much downtime in your operations. A specialist can help you determine and confirm your system's readiness for Windows 10, too. They will take measures to ensure that you can upgrade to Windows 10 seamlessly and cost-effectively. Likewise, they can take care of the error codes and other issues that may occur during and after installation.

A Windows 10 upgrade can be automated to help you save time and effort. the deployment can be automated by using Microsoft s SCCM application. There are many benefits to upgrading to Windows 10. Apart from preparing you for the end of Windows 7, the new operating system lets small businesses be more flexible as it works across all devices, including mobile. It empowers BYOD policies while ensuring cost-effective implementation. Windows 10 may help boost your productivity with help from Cortana, the new virtual assistant, and other intelligent features like the unified control panel, enhanced notifications, and virtual desktops. At the same time, your business gets enterprise-grade security for your data.

About the Author:

           

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/windows-10-free-upgrade-has-ended-what-happens-next/

Automating Your IT Infrastructure

Manual work can take up too much of your time. Instead of being able to attend to other important tasks in your small business, it leaves you stuck doing repetitive work—thus reducing your productivity and causing you to miss out on opportunities. Have you thought about automating your IT infrastructure? Experts highly recommended this strategy as a first step to boosting your productivity and enabling you to focus more of your time on the major tasks that make your business profitable.

IT automation connects software and disparate systems in a manner that lets them self-regulate and act by themselves. Automation can be as simple as integrating a form into a PDF file that will be routed automatically to pre-assigned recipients, or it can be more complex—like an offsite backup's automated provisioning.

Industry Examples

IT automation eliminates manual processes that can take a lot of your effort and time. Many industries benefit from it, including real estate. Through IT automation, real estate offices can automatically list or find new contracts and customer data as soon as they are submitted. Tasks like transitioning the data and email server to cloud, data backup, and inventory management can be accomplished faster and effortlessly with minimal to zero errors. IT automation is also useful in a business that encourages self-service. With this system, end-users no longer need IT staff to manually collate and organize data.

Save Money and Other Benefits

With IT automation, business operations can become more efficient while helping you save money in the long run. It is crucial for small and mid-sized companies that may lack the resources and budget for additional manpower. IT automation will help a small business boost productivity and throughput, improve the quality and consistency of their data and services, and reduce the need to hire and pay for additional labor. Automation may replace human eliminate the need to have your own IT department, too.

Automating your IT systems will be easier with help from a network solutions specialist that which can provide tools and solutions to get you started with IT automation. Some of these tools can help small businesses save money. LunarPages, for instance, provides web hosting configurations and advanced hosting solutions like complete IT infrastructure, private cloud hosing, business continuity, and disaster recovery solutions. AddressTwo is the online-based CRM software that lets you create several user accounts with unique login credentials at no extra cost.  It records events with details about the user, so you can easily keep track of your sales team's productivity and achievements. 

About the Author:

           

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/automating-your-it-infrastructure/

Are You Still Using Windows XP and Do You Have a Plan in Place to Migrate?

It has been more than a year since Microsoft cut off support for Windows XP. Users of this operating system can no longer receive the latest security updates, assisted support options, or technical content updates. This also means that new vulnerabilities that may be discovered in Windows XP post cut-off will no longer be addressed by security updates from Microsoft. 

Despite the obvious risks of continuing to run Windows XP, some companies insist on using this operating system until the hardware fails. Windows XP loyalists have a hard time leaving their old ways behind not only because of the fear of transition, but because of the immediate cost implication of such a switch. What they don’t realize is that the long-term costs of managing an unsupported, out of date technology or system add up quickly—easily superseding the amount needed to pay upfront to license new technology.

The security risks associated with using Windows XP beyond its end-of-support date are serious. Attackers now have the advantage of having more information about the system’s vulnerabilities—and they know that Microsoft is no longer there to defend their new attacks. Malware attackers are now exploiting XP, and small businesses are particularly more vulnerable because they don’t have the same level of IT security as bigger entities.

Security issues do not end with the OS itself. Application-level vulnerabilities also proliferate it. Vendors will stop patching applications running on XP because it will no longer be economically worthwhile for them to do so. Finally, failure to move to Windows 7 or 8 limits productivity due to lessening compatibility. A company may miss out on opportunities because it cannot take advantage of the latest technologies, like desktop virtualization.

Plan for Migration

Migrating to Windows 7 or 8 from XP is not easy, but careful planning can help smooth the path. It makes sense to hire an IT consultant to assist you during the transition. A consultant can check if your current systems are up to the task and recommend hardware upgrades to improve compatibility. The consultant can also assess your organization’s needs and help you decide which new OS is a better fit. A consultant can likewise teach your staff how to handle legacy applications using the new OS.

Don’t underestimate the complexity and size of a migration project. Working with a consultant is the best way to ensure a smooth transition, and will save you money in the long run.

About the Author:

                          

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that become integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.