cybersecurity

What is BaaS and Why is it Important?

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As we’ve discussed on our blog, it’s important to take proactive, preventative action against the threat of ransomware, outages, and hacks. But there’s another piece that’s equally (if not more) important: the restorative aspect of disaster recovery, and protection against data loss. This is where BaaS comes in.

What is BaaS?

BaaS, or Backup as a Service, is focused specifically on the retention of data in the event of an outage or breach. BaaS protects data from loss, which leads to a more complete recovery and minimizes impacts to customers.

Why is BaaS Important?

First and foremost, Backup as a Service protects data. It tends to take a bit longer to retrieve and recover data, but this extended timeline allows for more time for QA. In addition, it saves costs, which is especially important when dealing with the fallout from a ransomware attack, outage or hack.

Aligning BaaS and DRaaS for Maximum Benefit

According to Beta News, the best strategy is to enlist and align BaaS with DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service). While DRaaS focuses on minimizing downtime and recovering all IT infrastructure as quickly as possible, BaaS focuses on retaining data and minimizing data loss.

Utilizing both allows companies to tailor their recovery plan to the unique needs of their industry, dataset and IT infrastructure. Not only will this optimize disaster recovery, but can also lead to significant cost savings.

Do you need help creating a DRaaS or BaaS plan? Contact Vaultas today!

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider that facilitates direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include colocation, cloud, hybrid IT solutions, connectivity, communication and collaboration including UCaaS and CCaaS, disaster recovery and business continuity, hosting, consulting, energy conservation and much more.

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

How to Include Disaster Recovery in 2022 Budget Planning

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Over the last few years, ransomware and cyberattacks have become increasingly more common. Organizations of every size and in every industry have been targeted, which shows that disaster recovery and business continuity are no longer an option. As your company or organization works on its 2022 budget, here are a few things to consider when planning for an outage, storm, attack or other disaster.

Incorporating Disaster Recovery into the 2022 Budget Process

According to the Disaster Recovery Journal, there are three questions to ask during the budgeting process. These will help identify risks and ensure that your business has the right resources in place for the 2022 budget year.

1. What risks does the company face?

Don’t think about risk only in terms of revenue. Consider the potential loss of reputation, of employee engagement, of systems and data, and more. How much risk is your company willing to accept?

2. What is the likelihood that the company will experience an event?

Remove the word ‘disaster’ from the conversation, and discuss the more likely potential causes of an outage or data loss. These range from simple human error or hardware failure, to power outages, storms and major meteorological events. Thinking along these lines will help you make more informed decisions.

3. What are the benefits of an increased investment in disaster recovery?

There are many benefits to investing more in disaster recovery and business continuity. Put simply, the faster your company can recover from disaster, the less impact on systems, customers, and revenue.

If you need help with IT budgeting or making a disaster recovery plan, give Vaultas a call! Leverage the power of the Vaultas Ecosystem to create a plan that meets your company’s unique needs. Contact us today to get started!

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider that facilitates direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include colocation, cloud, hybrid IT solutions, connectivity, communication and collaboration including UCaaS and CCaaS, disaster recovery and business continuity, hosting, consulting, energy conservation and much more.

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

Is Your Cybersecurity in Compliance?

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If you work in a heavily regulated industry like healthcare, banking or government, you’re most likely familiar with compliance requirements for your company and industry. But did you know that you must also meet compliance requirements for your cybersecurity program?

The reasons for this are two-fold. First, these companies store valuable and sensitive data related to health, finances and identity. Second, the value of that data makes cybercriminals more likely to target organizations in these heavily regulated industries.

The purpose of cybersecurity compliance requirements is to ensure that companies and organizations take all necessary and appropriate steps to protect this valuable data against hacks and cyberattacks.

 

 

 

Cybersecurity Compliance is the Baseline

It’s important to understand that compliance regulations should be considered the foundation of your cybersecurity program. If you don’t meet the regulations, your company could be subject to fines or penalties. But stronger action may be needed to ensure that your data and programs are fully protected from cyberattack.

In addition, if you do business in more than one state or country, it’s important to understand the compliance requirements for each municipality. All states have their own laws protecting consumer privacy, and the GDPR regulates data protection for all entities that store or process personal data of EU citizens.

Compliance Varies by Industry

To learn more about the regulations for your specific industry, download this comprehensive guide from our partners at Arctic Wolf. If you have more questions or need help getting your cybersecurity program in compliance, contact Vaultas today!

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider that facilitates direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include colocation, cloud, hybrid IT solutions, connectivity, communication and collaboration including UCaaS and CCaaS, disaster recovery and business continuity, hosting, consulting, energy conservation and much more.

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

How to Know Whether Cloud Data is Secure

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Your company’s data is its most valuable asset. Losing customer, financial, strategic or any other information to a hack or cyberattack could be disastrous for your company’s reputation and bottom line. Many businesses simply don’t recover from a data breach. And because storing data in the cloud creates more opportunities for hacks, it’s even more important to ensure that cloud data is protected.

When data is sent to the cloud, the virtual road on which it travels is easily exposed to route hijacking, hacking, and other cybersecurity threats. According to Megaport, many businesses don’t realize the vulnerability of their cloud data, making them even more susceptible to hacks. If you’re not sure whether your cloud data is secure, here are three things to ask.

Determining Whether Cloud Data is Secure

Are the Company’s Connections Private?

If any part of your data’s cloud journey involves public internet connectivity, consider establishing direct, private peering between data destinations. This reduces data’s exposure by taking it directly to its destination, rather than making stops along the way.

Does the Company Have a Secure Multicloud Strategy?

Even if you transport your data via private, secured connections, it’s at risk every time it’s transported. In a secure multicloud connectivity strategy, cloud providers will privately communicate with one another without having to travel across the internet. This shortens data’s journey and keeps it safer.

Are the Company’s Cloud Connectivity Platforms ISO Certified?

ISO certifications are international standards that specify requirements in various aspects of IT (along with many other industries). To receive an ISO certification, companies must prove that they meet all technical and legal requirements, and that they have the necessary safeguards in place. Check with all companies that handle your data and IT infrastructure to ensure they have the proper ISO certifications. If they don’t, it may be time to find a new cloud provider.

Do you have questions about whether your cloud data is secure? Give Vaultas a call. With our wide network of vendor partners, we can help you find the right cloud and IT providers that meet your company’s unique needs.

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider that facilitates direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include colocation, cloud, hybrid IT solutions, connectivity, communication and collaboration including UCaaS and CCaaS, disaster recovery and business continuity, hosting, consulting, energy conservation and much more.

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

5 Things to Include in a ‘Work Anywhere’ Solution

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Although COVID-19 upended many aspects of our lives, it also forced some long-overdue and necessary changes to the way we work. Now, even as the situation improves, many companies are announcing that they have decided to ditch their office space entirely and allow employees to work remotely. Many others are incorporating more flexibility into their policies. It’s becoming increasingly clear that, in order to attract and retain high-quality employees, companies must develop and implement a ‘work anywhere’ solution.

According to Evolve IP, there are five components that companies should include in a ‘work anywhere’ plan. Having all these pieces in place will improve clarity, avoid confusion and wasted time. In addition, it will ensure that your company’s systems and data remain secure and protected.

Define and Secure Employee Identities

Generally, employees fall into one of three categories:

  • Employees that rely on web-based tools (SaaS users)
  • Employees that need legacy line-of-business applications
  • Employees that require a full desktop

Determine which employees or positions fall into which categories to make options and needs clearer from the start.

Establish Device Management and Remote Work Security Policies and Procedures

Companies were forced to quickly send employees home last spring, resulting in many people using their own devices for work. As businesses move to remote work long-term, it’s important to get employees onto secure, company-owned devices. If not, establish clear security procedures for personal devices.

Choose a Collaboration Tool

When most or all of your team is working remotely, it’s more important than ever that they’re able to collaborate easily and effectively. From Teams to WebEx, Google to Zoom, there are a variety of collaboration tools available. If you need help selecting the right tool for your team, give Vaultas a call.

Create Contact and Support Center Teams

When a crisis occurs, the way a company responds to clients, partners and employees can have a huge impact on the brand’s public perception. It’s essential to establish robust contact and support center teams that can respond quickly and effectively.

Implement Remote Hiring and Onboarding Processes

If your existing employees are working remotely, you’ll need to acquire new employees remotely as well. In addition to remote hiring, it’s important to have technology and training procedures in place so new employees can get started with ease.

Are you experiencing challenges as you shift to a ‘work anywhere’ program? Vaultas can help! Contact us to learn how we’ve developed partnerships with a variety of IT solutions providers, and how those partnerships could save you time and money.

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider that facilitates direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include colocation, cloud, fully integrated hybrid IT solutions that incorporate connectivity, communication and collaboration including UCaaS and CCaaS, disaster recovery and business continuity, hosting, consulting, energy conservation and much more.

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

How to Make Remote Work More Secure

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Despite all the news stories and warnings from the IT industry (like this, this or this), many executives and employees still don’t fully grasp the importance of data security. This spring, as millions began working from home, data became even more vulnerable to breaches and hacks. Now, with the pandemic continuing to spread, remote work will be the reality for many months to come. Data security must be a priority.

Luckily, there are a few simple steps companies and employees can take to protect data, as recently discussed by Forbes. We’ll summarize them here.

Make Passwords Strong and Unique

Yes, keeping track of passwords is tedious. But today’s computer operating systems make it easy, by suggesting strong passwords and keeping them stored. Some newer models even utilize biometric sensors to grant access. If you have trouble remembering passwords, consider using a reputable password manager, like Dashlane, LastPass or 1Password.

Set Up a VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, allows employees to create a private connection over a public network. Essentially, this creates a secure tunnel between a home network and an office network. Some IT networks have established VPNs on company-issued machines, so ask your IT department.

Consider the Router

The router is often overlooked, but it can play a huge role in protecting data. Newer models have security functionality that is embedded and continuously updated. This will protect not just work data and functionalities, but also other devices such as tablets, mobile phones, and smart devices.

Is your company preparing for long-term remote work? Do you need help ensuring that employees have the tools they need to safely and successfully work from home? The Vaultas ecosystem is here to help. Contact us to get started.

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider enabling direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include hybrid IT solutions,  data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage, data center consulting, hosted PBX and VOIP solutions, and more. 

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

How to Make Long-Term Remote Work Successful

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Whether stay home orders are extended or not, many businesses are now planning for several more months of remote work. With this knowledge, many managers and executives are shifting their mindsets. Instead of focusing on the essential tasks and emergency preparedness that had to take place in those first tumultuous weeks, companies are now thinking about how to approach remote work in the long term.

At Vaultas, we’re here to help businesses of all sizes with the transition to a remote work strategy. Here are a few important aspects to consider as you develop work from home tools and policies.

IT Security

When multiple employees work from home, the risk of hacks and cyberattacks increases significantly. Vaultas can perform a cybersecurity audit and recommend upgrades and additional tools to keep your employees, data and hardware safe. Contact us to learn more.

Protecting Customer Information

In a similar vein, it is essential to take all necessary steps to protect customer information. The reputation of your company depends on it. In addition to security technology, you may need to enact policies and train employees on data protection.

Technology

IT environments that were set up for an office might not easily translate to home. Do employees have all the tools they need to perform their job duties effectively and efficiently? Will you need to adjust standard practices to meet new technology limitations? Can you continue to operate without disruption to customers?

The Vaultas ecosystem was built for challenges like these. Our ecosystem has security, IT and network assets that can be leveraged and deployed quickly. Whatever your IT challenge, don’t hesitate to reach out and see how the Vaultas ecosystem can help your business during these challenging times.

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider enabling direct access to any network or service provider. Our services include hybrid IT solutions,  data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage, data center consulting, hosted PBX and VOIP solutions, and more. 

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world. Contact us to get started. 

How the Vaultas Ecosystem Can Help Companies Through Coronavirus

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As the coronavirus continues to spread across Minnesota and the United States, its impact on individuals and businesses has become increasingly pronounced. With employees working from home, retail stores launching online shops, and small businesses finding creative ways to make ends meet, IT systems and network environments need the ability to grow and change every day. 

The good news: the Vaultas ecosystem of carrier networks, data centers, cloud solutions and hybrid IT providers is fully prepared to support businesses and communities as they navigate the new and challenging circumstances brought on by COVID-19. Here are a few ways that Vaultas can help during this time of transition.

Collaborative Workforce Software

As companies shift to a remote workforce, they’ll need to find ways for employees to stay in touch and collaborate online in a secure manner so company information stays safe. There are many programs and tools available for premise-based or scalable cloud-based collaborative remote workforce solutions, but the learning curve can be steep. Vaultas is available for support and assistance as businesses look for the best in breed tools to support their internal and external customers with flexible and scalable solutions.

Expanded Internet and Peering Traffic

When we’re all home, our internet use goes up. This is due to employees working online, students learning online, others shopping online and the rest of us watching Netflix, reading the news or video chatting with family and friends. See how the powerful Vaultas ecosystem of worldwide networks and peering exchanges can ensure that your company’s internet and network connections remain fast, stable and efficient despite the uptick in usage or changing demands of a remote workforce.

Data Security Concerns

When companies make sudden and unplanned shifts to online work, they are more likely to be vulnerable to hacks, cyberattacks and security breaches. Cybersecurity is always a priority, but even more so today.

The Vaultas ecosystem was built for challenges like those created by the Coronavirus. Our ecosystem has significant security, IT and network assets, combined with flexible and scalable solutions that can be leveraged and deployed quickly in support of your businesses, customers, and employees, whether short term during the coronavirus pandemic or long term as a built in feature. Whatever your IT challenge, don’t hesitate to reach out and see how the Vaultas ecosystem can help your business during these challenging times.

Vaultas is a technology ecosystem provider enabling direct access to any network or service provider including, but not limited to;  hybrid IT solutions,  data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage, data center consulting, any internet and network or cloud based, hosted PBX and VOIP solutions and more. 

Our primary ecosystem access points are located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, with remote access from anywhere in the world.  Contact us to get started. 

How to Minimize the Impact of a Cybersecurity Breach

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It’s true that some businesses are more likely to be targeted by cyber criminals, based primarily on their industry. For example, hackers often go after health care or financial institutions, because they house sensitive and significant personal data. But businesses of all sizes and in all industries are susceptible to hacks, ransomware, and other attacks. This is why cybersecurity and disaster recovery need to be a top priority for all companies.

Today, we’re discussing a few important actions businesses can take to minimize the negative impact of a cybersecurity breach, as discussed by the Disaster Recovery Journal.

Keep Software Up to Date

It’s important to install software updates as soon as they become available. This is because updates usually include patches for security holes and vulnerabilities. Using outdated software leaves businesses open and exposed to breaches.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Even if your company is breached, you can minimize the harm by keeping your most sensitive data – customer financial information, for example – protected. Use encryption for that vital data.

Back Up to Avoid Paying Ransom

It’s important to maintain a full backup of your IT environment. If you’re hit with ransomware, this will allow you to restore your network from the backup, and avoid paying a costly ransom. However, if backups are also infected by malware, this strategy won’t offer much help. That’s why it’s important to ensure that backups are also secure against hacks and breaches.

Filter Viruses at the Perimeter

The best way to minimize the impact of a cybersecurity breach is to prevent the breach from ever getting into your network. Use a perimeter anti-virus software that blocks viruses at the network edge.

Is your company protected against ransomware, hacks, or any other cybersecurity breach? Is your sensitive data protected against disaster? If not, give Vaultas a call.

Vaultas is a premier provider of IT solutions, providing data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage and more. Our data centers are located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI. Contact us to get started.

A Tiered Approach to Data Protection and DR

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All data is valuable. But when disaster strikes and the clock is ticking, with business operations and customers hanging in the balance, is some data more important? That’s the thinking behind the newest approach to data protection and disaster recovery: prioritizing certain data in order to avoid downtime and minimize customer impact.

Taking Cues from Cybersecurity

Adopting a tiered approach to data protection mirrors cybersecurity’s prioritized defenses, says Tech Target. In cybersecurity, multiple tiers are used to from data against the many different internal and external threats that loom every day. The thinking behind tiered data protection is similar: protecting data from the different outages – such as severe weather, ransomware, hardware failure or simple human error – that can occur.

More Data Equals Longer Recovery Time

As data storage has grown more accessible and affordable, so has the volume of data being stored by many organizations. While this is good from an overall business perspective, it’s not ideal for disaster recovery. Customers are increasingly intolerant of downtime, and taking that valuable time to load data that isn’t essential to operations could mean a significant loss in sales and customer satisfaction.

Start Slowly and Keep it Simple

For best results, disaster recovery solutions should include multiple data tiers, each supported by multiple points and layers. But tiering doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Defining and understanding your organization’s priorities is the first step, and something is always better than nothing.

If and when an outage or disruption occurs, will your business be ready? Give Vaultas a call to get started on a disaster recovery solution. We offer custom IT services to meet your company’s unique needs.

Vaultas is a premier provider of IT solutions, providing data storage and backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services, hosting, colocation, cloud storage and more. Our data centers are located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Alexandria and St. Cloud, MN, and Milwaukee, WI. Contact us to get started.