Category: Blog

“Zero-Trust” Security

As cybercrime continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever before to take a “zero-trust” approach to safeguarding your systems. IBM found that malicious or criminal attacks are behind 48% of data breaches with system glitches responsible for 25% and human errors responsible for 27%. The simple fact is, ANYONE can be compromised nowadays. Even though there always seems to be a new “buzz-word” or “trend” in the world of information technology, “zero-trust” is one we’re taking quite seriously. Why? Because cybercrime doesn’t discriminate – everyone is a target. Here are some of the largest corporations that have been hacked in the last few years:

• US Customs and Border Patrol
• Quest Diagnostics
• WhatsApp
• Apple iOS
• Facebook

Even local governments have been the target of cybercrime lately. So how does zero-trust work? Basically, it’s all about using the right technologies, processes, and protocols to make it even more difficult for hackers to infiltrate entry-points, and if they do, it should be harder to find sensitive information.

The Good News? A “Zero-Trust” Approach Doesn’t HAVE to Involve Investing in All New Technology…

A good “zero-trust” approach takes advantage of old technology that’s been available to us for years, and chances are, you’re already using some of it. Sure, there are some emerging tools that can help you strengthen your approach, but it doesn’t have to be a major investment, especially if you’ve already been taking cybersecurity seriously. There are a few main goals of a “zero-trust” approach to keep in mind:

• Make it more difficult for hackers to infiltrate any end-points on the network
• Make it more difficult for hackers to find sensitive information upon entry to the network
• Make it easier to detect suspicious activity on the network

Three Steps to a “Zero-Trust” Environment That Keeps You Safe and Secure Against Cybercrime…

Here are the top three steps to a “zero-trust” environment to keep you safe and secure against cybercrime:

1. Implement Identity and Access Management — Identity and access management systems are designed to ensure the proper people have access to appropriate resources and data for their jobs. In some organizations, this may mean certain people have access on certain dates. In other organizations, this may mean certain people have access all the time. Regardless, the access is revoked upon termination immediately. Many identity and access management systems also incorporate tools to track user activities and set alerts for suspicious behavior to prevent internal data disclosure.

2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication Wherever Possible — Most online services nowadays are offering some sort of multi-factor authentication. Why? Because passwords remain the number one weak point for the majority of cases of data theft and/or disclosure. Google, Microsoft, Apple, and many other technology giants are offering multi-factor authentication wherein the user needs a password, along with some other form of identification, such as a PIN code sent to their mobile device, for entry into the service. This should be used wherever possible.

3. Take Advantage of Network Segmentation — In a traditional network, all of the servers and workstations are connected to the same local area network (LAN) – making it easy for hackers to access all vital information and systems upon hacking. Network segmentation prevents this because you’re essentially splitting the network up into smaller segments. In the event of a breach, hackers are limited in their ability to reach sensitive data, and in many cases, it’s more difficult for the hacker to infiltrate the network to begin with.

Elevate Services Group Is Well-Versed in Cybersecurity. Let’s Talk. Call (720) 340-3849. Our Team of Experts Can Help You Stay Safe.

Your IT Company In Denver Needs To Be Secure

You hear about small businesses and massive enterprises getting hacked on nearly a daily basis. It’s regular news at this point, so you probably tune it out, right?

What about IT companies? Have you noticed when they get hacked?

It’s more significant because they’re supposed to be responsible for their clients’ cybersecurity. It doesn’t look very good if they can’t even protect themselves.

And it begs the question – is your IT company in Denver secure?

When An IT Company In Denver Gets Hacked…

It’s especially dangerous when an IT company gets hacked because they often have access to all their clients’ data. In effect, all their clients are hacked as well.

That’s precisely what happened when Colorado’s Complete Technology Solutions was recently infected with ransomware – all their clients, 100+ dentistry industry businesses, were infected as well. In the end, CTS had to pay a reported $700,000 ransom, but some of their clients were left to pay ransoms individually for their own files.

If it could happen to an IT company in Denver that works with that many clients, don’t you think it’s possible it could happen to your IT company too?

Is Your IT Company In Denver Secure?

You need to be confident that your IT company in Denver can protect you, as well as themselves. If you’re at all unsure, then do your due diligence and inquire about their security standards and practices.

Ask how they are protected from ransomware – what makes them different from other IT companies in Denver that have been hacked?

Who Does Your IT Company In Denver Work With?

This is the next logical step. If you’re considering whether your IT company in Denver can keep you secure, you need to follow the chain to the companies they trust for their security.

Are you familiar with the cybersecurity vendors your current IT company in Denver works with? Did you know that they constantly deal with third parties on your behalf? More importantly, are you sure you can trust these third parties with your business’ interests?

Elevate Services Group is proud to work only with industry-leading partners, including:

• Webroot: Webroot Endpoint Protection stops sophisticated cyberattacks and will keep devices and users safe from cyber threats.
• Microsoft: As one of the world’s biggest names in computing, Microsoft technologies employ a series of best-in-class cybersecurity solutions.
• Datto: Datto offers backup and business continuity capabilities, built on their near-decade of experience and comprehensive expertise in the field.

Cybersecurity isn’t something you can just let slide. Third-parties involved with your business – either directly, or in concert with your IT company in Denver — are a part of your supply chain. How they perform affects how you perform. If you truly have your success in mind, you need to manage your third parties effectively – or your IT company in Denver should be doing it for you.

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Cybersecurity Services In Denver

Having the right cybersecurity technology is a necessary part of doing business in today’s world. Do you have the multi-layered defense you need to truly stay safe?

Today’s threats are evolving…

• The global cybercrime industry will cause up to $6 trillion in damages in just a few years.
• The average phishing attack costs businesses $1.6 million – can you afford to pay that price because one of your staff members can’t recognize a phishing email?
• It takes most businesses up to 6 months to find out that they’ve experienced a data breach.

Are your cybersecurity measures keeping up with today’s threats?

The Cost Of Ineffective Cybersecurity Services In Denver

You can’t afford to rely on generic cybersecurity services in Denver. Should a data breach occur at your organization, you could be fined as much as $2,500 for every compromised customer record – and that’s before you account for noncompliance fines if you’re subject to PCI, NIST or HIPAA.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – invest in your cybersecurity now, so you don’t have to pay for it later.

Comprehensive Cybersecurity Services In Denver

Elevate Services Group is proud to offer our proprietary DART methodology for cybersecurity services in Denver. This approach works by gathering key information about your business, carefully planning your cybersecurity defense, and periodically checking its effectivity and compliance.

Prevention Assessment and Planning
Elevate Services Group will comprehensively test and evaluate your IT network to provide you with a clear roadmap to leading-edge cybersecurity protocols. CLICK HERE to get the process started right now. Our assessment will determine the strength of your current cybersecurity measures and processes and using that data, we will develop a plan to address any vulnerabilities.

Periodic Audits and Ongoing Maintenance

The initial assessment won’t provide actionable intelligence forever. It’s important that we periodically check in on the effectivity of your cybersecurity while providing ongoing maintenance. This helps to keep your systems up to date, as well as identify any new vulnerabilities as they occur.

Governance Structure, Policies, Practices Education and Training

A majority of cybersecurity technologies offered today include the best in vital software, from firewalls to anti-malware to data encryption and more. However, as important as this technology is, on its own, it simply isn’t enough.

The key to truly comprehensive cybersecurity is simple, yet often overlooked: the user. The best cybersecurity technology and practices in the world can be undone by one staff member who doesn’t understand how to use them, or how to protect the data they work with.

That’s why you need strict policies in place to dictate how technology is to be used, as well as accessible training to make sure your staff contributes to your cybersecurity.

Standards Compliance

If you deal with customer data, you can’t afford to overlook your compliance with PCI and NIST. As a part of our assessment and maintenance, we will identify areas where you may be noncompliant, and implement changes to make sure they’re remedied.

Why Choose Elevate Services Group?

Elevate Services Group will take care of each and every factor of your cybersecurity so that you don’t have to worry about it. Our growing network of clients enjoys the confidence that comes with robust cybersecurity, as well as the freedom to focus on their work, instead of their technology. Get in touch at (303) 672-8008 to learn more.

What Can Denver Technology Services Do For You?

What can IT technology services do for your business? Discover their great potential and learn where to turn for the expert technical assistance you need.  

Technology services aren’t just for established corporations. Growing businesses can take advantage of them as well to save time and money, boost business growth, and create a smooth, relaxed work environment that will attract experienced professionals to join your firm.

Denver Technology Services by Elevate Services Group

Elevate Services Group provides technology services in Denver that encompass a range of IT services that will enable your business to operate more securely and efficiently than ever before. The main ones are:

• IT Consulting. IT consulting services aren’t just about offering advice on buying new IT hardware and software, although sometimes upgrading your IT department is in order. Instead, IT consulting is a holistic service that helps you discover how to get the best results from IT technology. It takes your business budget, needs, industry, geographic location, and other factors into account to offer winning IT solutions that meet your exact current and future needs. If you can’t upgrade your systems yet, your IT consultant will help you make the most of the set-up you have.
• Cybersecurity Services. Data breaches exposed 8 billion records in 2019 alone. Hackers use an array of tools and strategies to gain access to business systems and steal valuable data. Thankfully, there are many practical tools and strategies for fighting them. Denver technology services include access to next-generation firewall software, endpoint security, mobile device management, software updates, and more to keep your systems secure at all times.
• IT Monitoring, Support, and Maintenance. IT managed service providers will monitor your systems day and night to ensure that everything is in good working order. They will fix problems before they become severe and offer suggestions to help you improve IT usage. What’s more, you can count on an MSP to provide 24/7 support services in the event something does go wrong. Server crashes, compatibility issues, installing new hardware or software, moving files to or from the cloud, updating software licenses – no job is too large or too small for competent IT technicians to handle.
• Back-up and Recovery Services. An essential part of wisely managing your IT department is backing up files and having a disaster recovery plan to get your IT department up and running after an IT crash, natural disaster, or hack. IT managed services offer customized plans to help you back up your files with ease and then test these plans to ensure that there will be no hitches if your IT systems stop working, and you need to start from scratch.

Why Elevate As Your Denver Technology Services Partner?

It’s not hard to find Denver technology services, so why should you choose Elevate? It’s a good question. Following are some reasons why a growing number of Denver-based businesses are opting to work with us:

• Experienced technicians and cutting-edge services. We put a priority on offering the best IT tools and services to each one of our clients. We hire trained technicians and then require them to undergo ongoing training to ensure you get up-to-date advice and solutions. Furthermore, we partner with the best tech companies to offer the latest IT tools at the best possible price.
• Our team takes a proactive approach to all our IT services. We don’t wait for things to break down before we fix them; instead, we look for signs that something needs to be addressed and then address it before it interrupts your regular business schedule. Furthermore, we consider your future business goals when making IT recommendations to ensure that your IT set-up will keep you ahead of the competition now and in the future.
• We offer flexible, scalable services to meet your exact needs at any given point in time. You’ll never spend a penny more than you need to when you work with us.
• We’re honest. Our team draws up an explicit service-level agreement so you know what you can expect from us. Additionally, we give you full control over your network by providing you with all your software license information and passwords.

Are you looking for technology services that will meet your needs and even exceed your expectations? Call us for an obligation-free consultation and discover why we’re the leading IT managed service provider in the Denver area.

What Technology Challenges Do Mergers and Acquisitions Face?

In our previous article about the technology challenges of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), we spoke about the importance of M&As as the primary drivers of inorganic growth for many companies around the world. There is power behind merging or acquiring another entity for the purpose of creating or expanding new lines of service and/or products when necessary or entering new geographical markets as desired. But often times, technology is an overlooked part of the process. So how can you keep technology in mind each step of the way? What should you be doing to ensure a smooth process before and during the M&A rather than after the fact?

An Ad-Hoc Approach to Technology Can Quickly Leave an Acquisition Feeling Less Valuable and More Hectic… But the Opposite is Also True.

An ad-hoc approach to technology can quickly leave an acquisition feeling less valuable and more hectic, but fortunately, the opposite is also true. If you have a streamlined, flexible approach to your information technology wherein all decisions are made and thought-out ahead of time, an acquisition can feel incredibly valuable and secure. So what should you be doing to ensure a smooth process before and during the M&A? Here’s a few tips:

1. Adopt a flexible environment before any deals go through
   If you have a more flexible and adaptive environment that provides a platform for a range of business applications, you’re able to quickly and efficiently integrate the acquired company into your environment. This means you should have standardization across the board – meaning one accounting system, operating system, etc. rather than multiple options is best.
2. Make sure you’re able to accomodate any new data gained
   During an M&A, you’re likely to gain new data – and in some cases – you may gain a massive amount that needs to be stored. Take a look at your existing amount of storage available to you. If you’re with a cloud provider for data storage, talk to them about increasing your limit to ensure you’re able to adapt.
3. Sit down with your technology partner to discuss changes
   Your management team should sit down with your technology partner, alongside a representative from the acquired company, to discuss what systems, databases, and applications will be kept and what will be transferred to the existing environment. The end goal is an integrated infrastructure that enables each department to thrive.

Should You Perform an Assessment of Your Information Technology Infrastructure Beforehand?

Your technology partner should have thorough documentation on the state of your information technology infrastructure. If they don’t or you’re not working with a technology partner, it’s important to assess the state of your information technology infrastructure, including:

• Applications
• Hardware
• Software
• Networking design and equipment
• Third-party supplier contracts
• And more

You will need to develop a migration plan that meets the requirements of both entities while ensuring there is no outdated, antiquated equipment involved.

How Does Elevate Services Group Help You Create Synergies in People, Processes, and Technologies?

Following an M&A, Elevate Services Group is here to help assist both entities in the following areas:

• Creating a short and long-term plan to outline priorities in terms of activities and/or upgrades necessary to ensure systems, databases, and applications are aligned with one another for a cohesive environment.
• Assisting with informing customers of both entities on the occurrence and impact of the merger and/or acquisition via a press release, email or some other form of communication.
• Implementing new policies and procedures to enforce a strict information and/or data privacy program that keeps both entities safe against threats to confidentiality and/or compliance.

The Technology Challenges of Mergers and Acquisitions Can Be Difficult, But Elevate Services Group Is Well-Versed and Ready to Help. Let’s Talk. Call (720) 340-3849.

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