Reliable Networks Blog

How Can Small Businesses Embrace the Cashless Revolution? 

December 15, 2024 No Comments

The world has gone digital. We see it everywhere people shop for goods and services. Cash, check, or debit used to be the norm. Now, there are payment wallets that people expect businesses to accept. They include things like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and more.

Small businesses need to keep pace with these new methods of payment. It’s essential to adapt to stay competitive. You can easily lose business if people can’t pay the way they like.

As a trusted managed IT service provider, we’re here to help. Many of our clients are navigating this shift to cashless wallets. We’ll help you find solutions to ensure your business thrives in the cashless era.

Why Go Cashless?

It’s not just about convenience; it’s about meeting customer expectations. People want fast, easy, and secure payment options. The pandemic accelerated this trend. Now, consumers expect businesses to offer digital payments in several forms.

Here’s why going cashless is crucial:

  • Customer convenience: Offer your customers the payment methods they prefer. People want to tap and go with their favorite digital wallet.
  • Faster transactions: Reduce wait times and improve the shopping experience. You can reduce long lines. This helps you attract more customers.
  • Enhanced security: Cut the risks associated with handling cash. Employee theft can be mitigated. There is also less cash handling at the end of the shift. This leads to a safer environment.

Forty-six percent of US respondents have used a form of contactless payment in the last 7 days. That number is 80% for the UK and 69% for Australia.

Benefits of Cashless Payments

Going cashless isn’t just about adapting; it offers real advantages. These advantages can mean more business for you. This factor helps pay for any expense to set up cashless systems.

  1. Improved Customer Experience: Make it easier for your customers to pay. They’ll come back for more. You stand out to them as flexible. You also make their life easier if they can pay how they like.
  2. Fewer Cashiers Needed: Moving lines faster can mean you need fewer checkouts. You can reduce staffing demands by embracing self-check-out as well.
  3. Open New Payment Avenues: Open up app purchasing capabilities. Customers can pay before they even walk in the door. You reduce the burden on your team. When things are handled digitally, you lower needed administrative tasks.

Key Steps to Go Cashless

Ready to make the switch to a more cashless business? Want to embrace new forms of digital payments? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Step 1: Choose the Right Payment Solutions

Select payment methods that align with your customers’ preferences. Do your research by sending customers a survey. Start with the three most popular methods. You can then branch out from there.

Make sure to check transaction fees. You want to keep those in mind as you add new payment options. You may need to upcharge for a certain payment service. Or you may find a wallet is cheaper for you to take than a traditional card.

Step 2: Educate Your Customers

Let customers know about your new cashless options. Offer incentives to encourage adoption. Get the word out over social media and through any mailing lists you have. Do this regularly and often. People’s attention spans are short these days. 

Keep a payment options post in your social media rotation. Also, include acceptable payment options on invoices. You may attract new business as word spreads among friends and family.

Step 3: Strengthen Security Measures

Protect your business and customers from fraud with robust security measures. Make sure your point-of-sale devices are on a secure network. Use strong passwords and MFA to protect system logins.

Step 4: Watch Transactions and Customer Trends

 A nice thing about cashless systems is that they generate helpful data. Analyze data to optimize your payment processes and identify opportunities. You can gain detailed insights into things like:

  • What payment methods are most popular
  • The services and products make you the most money
  • The most popular times of day for customer traffic

Step 5. Plan for the Future

Stay updated on payment trends and be prepared to adapt as needed. Add new ones that seem to be picking up steam. Continue to survey customers on their favorite payment options. You can often get your best ideas from customer feedback. 

Need Some Help Embracing Digital Payment Systems?

The cashless revolution is here. It’s time for small businesses to embrace it. By adopting digital payments, you can enhance your customer experience as well as improve efficiency and reduce costs. 

As your trusted IT partner, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make the transition to cashless payments a seamless one for your business.

Reach out by phone or email to schedule a chat today.

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

DNS Cache poisoning: What every SMB must know

December 12, 2024 No Comments

DNS Cache poisoning: What every SMB must know

In one of the most common poisoning attacks, the attacker poisons the DNS Cache with the aim of leading visitors to a fake website. In a DNS cache poisoning case, the attacker gains control of the DNS server and then manipulates cache data such that anyone typing the URL of the actual website is redirected to the fake one. This could be a phishing site where the attacker would have carefully laid out a trap to capture the unsuspecting victim’s personal data or secure information. For example, the visitor thinks they are logging into their bank’s website online, but are actually on the attacker’s phishing site, where they enter the login credentials.

Protecting yourself against DNS poison attacks
Here are some ways to protect yourself and your customers from becoming victims of DNS poison attacks.

  1. As discussed before, one of the most common poisoning attacks is the DNS attacks. Cybercriminals try to corrupt your DNS server using theirs. You can prevent this by bringing a trained professional onboard for your DNS server set-up. An expert will know to set up your DNS server such that it has a minimum relationship with other, external DNS servers, thus limiting your attacker’s ability to corrupt your DNS server using theirs.
  2. As a best practice, ensure that your DNS servers only store data related to your domain and not any other information. It is harder to corrupt the system when it focuses on a single element.
  3. Another best practice is to ensure that you are up-to-date on all DNS security mechanisms and are using the most recent version of the DNS.
  4. Ensure your site has, in layman terms, an SSL certificate and make sure it is HTTPS. Using encryption, a site with HTTPS protocol allows for a more secure connection between its server and the internet and is better at keeping cybercriminals out. Having an SSL certificate also ensures your site’s name shows up alongside the URL in the address bar. This is an easy way for visitors to identify if they are on a genuine site or not, thus helping them steer clear of phishing attacks and clone sites.

Data poisoning is one of the lesser-known and hence less talked about forms of cybercrime. But, it can inflict great damage–perhaps even more damage than the other obvious threats such as viruses and ransomware, because, unlike a Denial of Service (DoS) attack or a Ransomware attack where you know the moment the malware has hit your system, in a data poisoning attack, the malware is incorrect data that slithers into your system quietly like a snake and changes its overall functioning before delivering the big blow.

Watch Out for Google Searches – “Malvertising” Is on the Rise!  

December 10, 2024 No Comments

There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising.” It crops up everywhere. Including social media sites and websites. You can also see these malicious ads on Google searches.

Two things are making malvertising even more dangerous. One is that hackers use AI to make it very believable. The other is that it’s on the rise, according to Malwarebytes. In the fall of 2023, malvertising increased by 42% (month over month).

It’s important to inform yourself about this online threat. Knowledge is the power to protect yourself. Especially when it comes to malicious cybercriminals. Below, we’ll help you understand malvertising. We’ll also give you tips on identifying and avoiding it.

What Is “Malvertising?”

Malvertising is the use of online ads for malicious activities. One example is when the PlayStation 5 was first released. It was very hard to get, which created the perfect environment for hackers. Several malicious ads cropped up on Google searches. The ads made it look like someone was going to an official site. But instead, they went to copycat sites. Criminals design these sites to steal user credentials and credit card details.

Google attempts to police its ads. But hackers can often have their ads running for hours or days before they’re caught. These ads appear just as any other sponsored search ad on Google.

Google is not the only site where malvertising appears. It can appear on well-known sites that have been hacked. It can also appear on social media feeds.

Tips for Protecting Yourself from Malicious Online Ads

Review URLs Carefully

You might see a slight misspelling in an online ad’s URL. Just like phishing, malvertising often relies on copycat websites. Carefully review any links for things that look off.

Visit Websites Directly

A foolproof way to protect yourself is not to click any ads. Instead, go to the brand’s website directly. If they truly are having a “big sale,” you should see it there. This tip is useful for all types of phishing. Just don’t click those links and go to the source directly.

Use a DNS Filter

A DNS filter protects you from mistaken clicks. It will redirect your browser to a warning page if it detects danger. DNS filters look for warning signs. They, then block dangerous sites. This can keep you safe even if you accidentally click a malvertising link.

Do Not Log in After Clicking an Ad

Malvertising will often land you on a copycat site. The login page may look identical to the real thing. One of the things phishers are trying to steal is login credentials. They can get big money for logins to sites like Netflix, banks, and more.

If you click an ad, do not input your login credentials on the site. Even if the site looks legitimate. Go to the brand’s site in a different browser tab.

Don’t Call Ad Phone Numbers

Phishing can also happen offline. Some malicious ads include phone numbers to call. Unsuspecting victims may not realize fake representatives are part of these scams. Seniors are often targeted with malvertising scams. They call and reveal personal information to the person on the other end of the line.

Just say no to calling numbers in online ads. If you find yourself on a call, do not reveal any personal data. Just hang up. Remember, this is an elaborate scam. These people prey on triggers like fear. They also work to gain your trust.

Don’t Download from Ads

“Get a free copy of MS Word” or “Get a Free PC Cleaner.” These are common malvertising scams. They try to entice you into clicking a download link. It’s often for a popular program or freebie. The link actually injects your system with malware. The hacker can then do further damage.

Never click to download anything from an online ad. If you see an ad with a direct download link, it’s often a scam.

Warn Others When You See Malvertising

If you see a suspicious ad, warn others. This helps keep your colleagues, friends, and family more secure. If you’re unsure, try a Google search on the ad. You’ll often run across scam alerts confirming your suspicion. 

It’s important to be smart and arm yourself with knowledge. You can then share this with others. Foster this type of cyber-aware community. It helps everyone ensure better online security as well as get alerted of new scams cropping up.

Improve Your Online Security Today

Is your device up to date with security patches? Do you have a good anti-malware solution? Is DNS filtering installed to block dangerous websites?

If you’re not sure of any of those questions, contact us. Our cybersecurity experts are here. We’ll help you find affordable solutions to secure your online world.

Give us a call or email to schedule a chat about online security.

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

Protecting yourself against poison attacks

December 5, 2024 No Comments

Protecting yourself against poison attacks

Data poisoning by way of logic corruption, data manipulation and data injection happen when the attacker finds a way to access your data set. The kind of poison attack varies depending on the level of access the attacker is able to achieve Here’s what you can do to ensure such access is prevented.

  1. The data poisoning attacks discussed above adversely affect your IT system’s machine learning capabilities. So, the first logical step would be to invest in a good machine learning malware detection tool. These tools are different from the typical anti-malware tools you get in the market and are specifically designed to prevent machine learning capability poisoning.
  2. Always follow general IT security best practices such as-

    1. Training your employees to identify spam, phishing attempts, and possible malware attacks
    2. Following good password hygiene, which means never sharing passwords and only using passwords that meet the required security standards
    3. Having a powerful IT audit process, tracking and version control tools, so as to thwart any possible insider attacks
    4. Ensuring the physical security of your IT systems by way of biometric access, CCTV systems, etc.,

Whether it is data poisoning or a malware attack, you certainly don’t have the time to look into all the security aspects yourself. Even if you happen to have an in-house IT team, this 24/7 monitoring may be too much for them to handle as you grow. Consider bringing a reputed MSP on board to help you with this, so you can focus on your business, worry-free, while they ensure your data is safe.

Cyber Experts Say You Should Use These Best Practices for Event Logging

December 5, 2024 No Comments

Today’s businesses are no stranger to the word cybersecurity. They are facing a growing wave of cyberattacks. These come from ransomware to sophisticated phishing schemes. How do you stand ahead of these threats? A strong cybersecurity strategy is essential. One crucial component of this strategy is event logging. It’s one that not every business owner is aware of.

Think of event logging as a digital detective. What does tracking activities and events across your IT systems do? It helps you spot potential security breaches and respond swiftly. As your managed IT service provider, we’re committed to helping you. We can help you understand the importance of event logging as well as how to put in place best practices to safeguard your network.

What Is Event Logging?

Event logging is the act of tracking all events that happen within your IT systems. “Event” can be many different things, such as:

  • Login attempts
  • File access
  • Software installs
  • Network traffic
  • Denial of access
  • System changes
  • And many others

Event logging means to track all these and add a time stamp. This provides a robust picture of what is going on in your IT ecosystem. It’s through that ongoing picture that you can detect and respond to threats promptly.

Why is it critical to track and log all these events?

  • Detect suspicious activity by monitoring user behavior and system events.
  • Respond quickly to incidents by providing a clear record of what happened in a breach.
  • Meet regulations that require businesses to maintain accurate records of system activities.

Best Practices to Use Event Logging Effectively

Event logging is most effective when you follow best practices. Here are some standard guidelines to follow. These are helpful if you’re just starting out as well as for those improving existing event-logging processes.

Log What Matters Most

Let’s be honest: You don’t need to track every digital footstep.  Logging every single action on your network can create a mountain of data that’s hard to sift through. Instead, focus on the events that truly matter. These are those that can reveal security breaches and compliance risks.

The most important things to log are:

  • Logins and Logouts: Keep tabs on who’s accessing your systems and when. This includes failed attempts, password changes, and new user accounts.
  • Accessing Sensitive Data: Track who’s peeking at your most valuable information. Logging file and database access helps spot unauthorized snooping.
  • System Changes: Keep a record of any changes to your system. Including software installations, configuration tweaks, and system updates. This helps you stay on top of changes and identify potential backdoors.

Event logging is much more manageable when you start with the most critical areas. This also makes it easier for small businesses.

Centralize Your Logs

Imagine trying to solve a puzzle with pieces scattered across different rooms. It’s chaos! That is what happens when you try to work with several logs for different devices and systems. Centralizing your logs is a game-changer. A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) gathers logs in one place. This includes those from various devices, servers, and applications.

This makes it easier to:

  • Spot patterns: Connect the dots between suspicious activities across different systems.
  • Respond faster: Have all the evidence you need at your fingertips. This is helpful when an incident strikes.
  • Get a complete picture: See your network as a whole. This makes it easier to identify vulnerabilities.

Ensure Logs Are Tamper-Proof

It’s important to protect your event logs! Attackers love to cover their tracks by deleting or altering logs. That’s why it’s vital to make your logs tamper-proof.

Here are some tips:

  • Encrypt your logs: Lock them down with encryption. This makes them unreadable to unauthorized eyes.
  • Use WORM storage: Once a log is written, it’s locked in place, preventing changes or deletions.
  • Use strong access controls: Limit who can see and change your logs to trusted personnel only.

Tamper-proof logs provide an accurate record of events even if a breach occurs. They also keep the bad guys from seeing all your system activity tracking.

Establish Log Retention Policies

Keeping logs forever isn’t practical (or always necessary). But deleting them too soon can be risky, too. That’s why you need clear log retention policies. 

Here are some things to consider:

  • Compliance requirements: Some industries have specific rules about how long to keep logs.
  • Business needs: How long do you need logs to investigate incidents or for auditing?
  • Storage capacity: Make sure your log retention policy doesn’t overwhelm your storage.

Strike the right balance with retention. You want to ensure you have the data you need without sacrificing performance.

Check Logs Regularly

Event logging is only as good as your ability to use it. Don’t “set and forget” your logs. You should check them regularly. This helps you spot anomalies and identify suspicious patterns. It also helps you respond to threats before they cause serious damage. Use security software to help automate this process.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

  • Set up automated alerts: Get notified immediately of critical events. Such as failed logins or unauthorized access.
  • Perform periodic reviews: Dive into your logs regularly. Look for patterns that might show a threat.
  • Correlate events: Use your SIEM to connect the dots between different activities. It can reveal more complex attacks.

Need Help with Event Logging Solutions?

As a trusted managed IT service provider, we’re here to support you. We can help you install these practices and ensure your business stays protected.

Give us a call or email to schedule a chat.

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.