Category Archives: Data Recovery

Data Breaches Will Cost Trillions by 2019

This entry was posted in Data Recovery, IT & Network Security on August 3, 2015 by Andrew Hartman.

With recent news of Ashley Madison and the Office of Personnel Management being hacked, data breaches continue to dominate headlines. It’s only going to get worse, it seems, as a recent report by Juniper research predicts the cost of data breaches will pass two trillion dollars by 2019.

Breach Costs Now and in the Future

Breaches cost an average of $3.79 million per attack. Numbers vary depending on industry, but the cost per record in a data breach averages about $154, up six percent from last year. However, $3.79 million per breach sounds low when you look at this year’s two big ones. The Ashley Madison hack, with its massive loss of 37 million records, could cost up to roughly $5.7 billion, and the OPM breach exposed 21.5 million records for an estimated loss of $3.3 billion. Though these are two notable outliers, they speak to a growing boldness by hackers that will assuredly create bigger and more costly losses in the future. According to Juniper, the cost per organization will grow from $3.79 million to an incredible $150 million per breach in the next five years.

Who Does it Hurt the Worst?

Aside from the flashy raw numbers, the Juniper study points to a more worrisome statistic: the kind of company that is hurt most by these breaches. The study suggests that smaller and mid-size businesses are damaged far more than large companies. This is because larger organizations have the funds to absorb the cost of breaches that smaller companies do not. A breach that would be a nightmare for JP Morgan is a killer for your local credit union.

What Can You Do?

The best defense against a data breach is a multi-tiered approach to corporate security. Hacks don’t just happen because of a focused approach on corporate firewalls. They can happen when an employee gives out their password or loses their smartphone. Security begins with employee education and carries all the way through to better technology and periodic vulnerability assessments by outside IT consultants in San Diego. Only by approaching security in a layered fashion can companies defend themselves against being just another number in this growing statistic.

Schedule a Free Consultation

If you’d like to learn more about protecting your business from cyber crimes, call Syndeo Communications in San Diego at (760) 750-3300 and schedule a free consultation. We are a leader in IT support in San Diego and offer comprehensive managed IT services, helping businesses with everything from Apple support to data recovery.

How to Know If Your Business Is Prepared for a Disaster

This entry was posted in Data Recovery, IT & Network Security on June 29, 2015 by Andrew Hartman.

Whether a disaster is caused by nature or by man, it can be devastating to a business, especially if there is no plan, preparation, or 24-hour emergency support in place. Rough estimates suggest some 25-40% of smaller businesses hit by a disaster don’t recover at all. Read on to learn more about preparing your business for the worst.

Staff Safety

Staff safety is the most important issue. Find out if your place of business has an evacuation plan in place, including a safe location to meet in case going home isn’t possible. Also, a well-packed emergency kit, which includes water, tissue, hand-sanitizer, snacks, flashlight, batteries and first aid kit, should be easily accessible. Depending on the physical layout of your business, you might consider having multiple kits.

Communications

Ask a staff member to be in charge of Communications and re-route phone calls and e-mails to the designee’s cell phone. Another staff member should notify clients of your recent disaster, offering reassurance and, hopefully, a time frame for the return of normal operations. You may also need to contact other branches of your business, if they are national or international.

Backup

It’s well known that backup of data, network, and intellectual property is vital for recovering post-disaster. Make sure to have a data disaster recovery plan and a backup location that’s a significant distance from your business’ physical address in case of a natural disaster.

Insurance

Review the insurance policies for your company, the building or unit, the equipment, etc., making sure that you have coverage for the type of natural disaster most common in your state, as well as what is covered for certain man-made disasters. It might also be a good time to look into “Business Interruption” coverage.

Alarm Systems

Does the fire and intruder alarm system have a backup source of power? What happens if there is an extended power-outage? Do some research and make necessary improvements to ensure emergency systems won’t be compromised.

It’s important to make sure there is a disaster plan in place, allowing time for testing as well. The quicker your business is back up-to-speed, the quicker you can return to normalcy and bringing in revenue. For help with emergency preparedness call Syndeo Communications at (760) 650-3300. As a trusted San Diego IT support company, we offer 24/7 support, continuity planning, and top-notch network security.

What to do After Your Company’s Been Hacked

This entry was posted in Data Recovery, IT Support on June 12, 2015 by Andrew Hartman.

Your company has just been hacked. Cyber criminals have made off with customer data. Phones are ringing off the hook and emails and instant messages are arriving faster than your computer and smartphone can handle them. What’s next?

Don’t Panic

Remember, as terrifying as this is, a data beach is a common occurrence and there are ways to deal with it. A record 783 companies reported data breaches in 2014. Big names like Home Depot, Target, and Neiman Marcus were among those hit, so you’re in good company. They handled it. So can you.

Contact the Pros and the Police

There are IT support companies in San Diego that specialize in data breach investigation and remediation. Hopefully you already have a breach plan in place and have researched which company would suit your business. Contact them right away so they can get started. Companies like this can handle they key concerns, such as preserving the chain of evidence, researching the breach, making sure the hole has been closed and helping to ensure it won’t happen again. Also, file a police report. Your local agency may not have the tools to pursue it, but this is a crucial first step for insurance purposes and for escalation to agencies like the FBI.

Get the Lawyers Involved

Data breaches are inextricably linked to the various laws regarding privacy, banking, contracts, and insurance, to name a few. Your corporate lawyer will be vital to navigating the post-breach process. They will also be able to help minimize liability from lawsuits or fines and, in general, guide your business through this complicated situation.

Form and Execute a Communication Plan

It’s key to decide what to tell customers, employees, partners, and shareholders. In varying degrees, they’ll need to know what happened, what you are doing about the problem, and what they have to do on their end. This is especially important for maintaining customer loyalty. Customers need to understand how you will protect them from the breach. Offering a year of free identity theft monitoring is a common tactic and a good start.

When it’s time to look at how to protect your business from a data breach in the future, call (760) 650-3300 and request a complimentary, no-obligation consultation from the trusted San Diego IT consulting company, Syndeo Communications. We are experts in IT support and can help you create a plan to mitigate short and long-term risk for cyber attacks.

The Pros & Cons of Data Recovery Software

This entry was posted in Data Recovery on April 17, 2015 by Andrew Hartman.

You know the importance of backing up your company’s data, so you’re considering data recovery software for your business. As with any investment, it’s important to weigh the pros and the cons. To help you out, the Syndeo IT consultants in San Diego have listed a few facts that all businesses should know about this type of software.

Pros

Quick Recovery of Files – When used correctly, data recovery software can help your business by recovering files that were deleted by mistake, or those that were lost as a result of a virus infection, software failure, a corrupted hard drive or even a disk that was accidentally formatted.
Supports a Variety of Media – Modern data recovery software can recover files from a variety of media, such as standard internal hard drives, removable USB memory sticks, portable hard drives and more.
Inexpensive and Easy to Use – Even the best data recovery software tools are relatively inexpensive when compared to other software products. This makes them affordable even for small businesses that don’t have big budgets to spend on new software acquisition. Furthermore, this type of software is typically easy to use and doesn’t require expertise in information technology.

Cons

May Not Be Able to Recover All Files – While data recovery software can be a powerful tool, it is not a magical solution that can recover any destroyed file. Even the best software is not able to recover files from a drive that has physically failed. Files that were deleted too long ago and were overwritten by the system will also not be recoverable.
Not a Replacement For Regular Backups – Some business owners may become over-reliant on data recovery software and neglect to perform regular backups of their critical data. This can lead to costly mistakes. Data recovery tools should be used in addition to and not in replacement of a backup solution.

If you are interested in learning more about your options for backing up business data, reach out to Syndeo Communications. We are San Diego’s trusted IT support provider, offering a wide range of solutions for backing up important data, at prices that will fit in your budget. Call us at 760-650-3300 and schedule your free consultation today.

A Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery Breakdown for Small Businesses

This entry was posted in Data Recovery, IT Support, Tips for SMBs on November 28, 2014 by Andrew Hartman.

Cloud based recovery is the latest form of backup infrastructure on the market today. It has many positive characteristics that make it popular for small business applications. Depending on the situation however, it is not always the best backup solution. We will discuss the advantages, disadvantages of the cloud and hopefully help you to better determine if the cloud is best for you.

With cloud based recovery and backup solutions, there is the advantage of simplicity. Many cloud based backup software platforms run on a client-less basis. This means that there is no software the needs to be installed on the server or workstation that is being backed up. All backups are done automatically through the cloud. There is also no need to keep expensive hardware and large amounts of storage space to store backup files. This can be mucheasier for business owners to manage.

Another key advantage of cloud-based backups is the cloud itself. With the cloud, information is always stored offsite and safe from natural disaster and theft. Data is also accessible from anywhere in the world. This means that if your organization has more than one physical location, and you have a data disaster recovery plan, you will be able recover a file from a backup at any of those locations without having to worry about how to access it.

One thing to remember with the cloud is that it will take longer to restore files than onsite backups. This is because once data is sent to the cloud it must then be transferred back to the original location in the event that data needs to be restored. This means that it will possibly cause more downtime for users. The more data that needs to be recovered the longer the recovery process will be. If a single file needs to be recovered the effect may not be noticeable. If an entire server needs to be restored however, the process may take much longer than onsite backups.

The cloud is often a great way for most business to store backups because of the low management that it requires. But there are other considerations to keep in mind such as security. As with any form of internet usage there is always a possibility of hackers gaining access to private information. The cloud is not immune to this threat. Using security measures like encryption and strong passwords can help with security, but even with these measures put in place the cloud is still less secure than keeping backups onsite.

The convenience and accessibility of the cloud makes it a lucrative option for many business owners. Being able to keep backups offsite and not having to invest in a large infrastructure are huge advantages to the cloud. Cloud backups are not as fast when recovering large amounts of data and may not be the best option for all business users. There are always pros and cons of any backup solution.Hopefully this information will help you determine which option is best for you.

For more information about the IT service cloud computing, reach out to Syndeo Communications today and speak with one of our trusted technicians who specialize in IT support in San Diego. They’ll b more than happy to answer any of your questions and can help you determine if cloud backups are the right choice for your individual business.

3 Reasons Why You Should Take Disaster Preparedness Seriously

This entry was posted in Data Recovery, IT Support on November 10, 2014 by Andrew Hartman.

Even in areas with relatively temperate and predictable weather, having a good disaster preparedness plan is essential for protecting your business. When important IT systems malfunction, this can result in data loss, financial loss and frustrated customers among other things. The following are 3 reasons why you should take disaster preparedness seriously, presented by San Diego’s IT support experts at Syndeo Communications.

Your Competitors are Prepared – One of the most detrimental effects of IT malfunction is loss of the customer base. As a business owner, your clients are your most valuable assets. When your systems fail, these individuals could continue to contact you for assistance, especially if your services or products are designed to fill urgent needs. When your representatives and systems remain inaccessible, these individuals will turn to your competitors. More importantly, San Diego businesses that are prepared for these events will show themselves as being reliable and trustworthy.
Data Loss Can Be Prevented – Nothing is worse than realizing in hindsight that data loss was wholly preventable. Loss of important data is one of the few things that insurance plans can never adequately compensate policyholders for. Many businesses are moving their entire desktops into virtual space and using software as a service (SaaS) solutions for talent management, time management, human resource management, customer relationship management and other important processes. This transition is low in cost and can save you countless dollars and endless frustration.
You Can Minimize the Impact that Unexpected Events have on your Operations – A good disaster recovery plan will allow for business continuity. Your company doesn’t have to continue losing profits while surrounding businesses scramble to get their bearings. You can have alternative IT solutions that allow you to seamlessly transfer your operations to a temporary, yet equally efficient mode of functioning. This means that you can continue closing deals and can show your public that your organization is well-prepared for every possible event.

Has a disaster left your business or clients in need? Perhaps you’re still trying to recover from a recent power outage and need to create a new plan to prevent this from happening again. Whatever the reason, contact Syndeo Communications today. In addition to 24 hour emergency support, we also offer remote desktop support and on-site support in San Diego, meaning you’ll never be without technical assistance. For more information about our support services, reach out to us today at 760-650-3300.

Top Considerations When Developing a Disaster Recovery Plan

This entry was posted in Data Recovery, IT Support on August 15, 2014 by Andrew Hartman.

Earthquake, hurricane, fire, robbery, data loss. Time and time again, San Diego businesses are constantly forced to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. And in such challenging times like these, San Diego disaster recovery plans are not merely a necessity: they are, in fact, pivotal in determining the success of a business. While organizations and corporations cannot easily control these events, they can, however, mitigate the impact through a few considerations.
Testing Disaster Recovery Plans

Even though many Americans are familiar with high profile disaster cases such as 9/11, the National Disaster Recovery website states that only 50% of companies report having a disaster recovery plan. And furthermore, less than half of these companies have tested their disaster plan at all. While having a plan is a great start, if it doesn’t work, it is essentially ineffective. Companies should test their disaster recovery plans regularly, enabling sufficient efficiency and customizing that will create quicker responses and positively impact business continuity.

Knowledge of Disaster Recovery Plans

What are your businesses’ critical systems? What are your recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO)? What are the most likely or unlikely natural or man-made threats that can compromise the integrity of your business? How will your employees respond?

These questions, while hypothetical at best, are important to outline how much people know what to properly execute an order. When discussing any type of disaster recovery plan, knowledge of information is critical to execute a successful response. If you’re not sure what questions you should be asking, don’t be afraid to ask the experts. Reliable and professional San Diego IT consultants are knowledgeable in this field and can help point you in the right direction.

Cost

Cost is arguably the most important aspect to consider. According to a study by Pepperdine University, a lost megabyte is slated to cost over $10,000. In addition, budgeting constraints may bring fear to a company, but their disaster recovery plans shouldn’t. Maybe allowing certain employees to take their information home would help reduce information that could be stolen. Or placing information on cloud storage can allow workers to use it anywhere in the world – and not a closed office intra net. Maybe using a wide variety of disk mirroring, tapes, discs, and flash drives can help the company have mobile access to the information. Possibilities to reduce cost can more than well save a company’s continuity.

If your business doesn’t have a tried and tested disaster recovery plan in place, contact Syndeo Communications today and learn how the initial cost is a mere investment for your future protection and peace of mind. In addition to emergency 24/7 support, we offer onsite IT support in San Diego, so you know help is always just a phone call away. Schedule a free consultation by calling us at 760-650-3300.

What the Great Blackout of 2011 can Teach You about Powering Your Business

This entry was posted in Data Recovery and tagged Data Recovery, Disaster Recovery, IT Solutions, San Diego IT Support on May 29, 2013 by Andrew Hartman.

The largest power failure in California history took place at approximately 3:38 PM on September 8, 2011. This blackout affected the entire Southwest region of the United States. For local businesses that didn’t have the proper IT support systems in place, the result was millions of dollars of revenue over the 24 hour period immediately following the outage. What lessons can be learned from this blackout to ensure San Diego’s local businesses properly mitigate unexpected losses due to loss of power?

A full investigation by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission subsequently found the main cause of the blackout was due to human error. A technician in North Gila, Arizona was performing maintenance on the power grid and accidentally skipped a crucial step that was in place to prevent an outage.

Accidents can (and do) happen. As a trusted San Diego Computer Consulting Company, it is our job to mitigate the effect of accidents with insurance. A great insurance policy for local businesses that utilize data systems (point-of-sale systems, email servers, etc.) is to install a battery backup for these systems. Batteries can keep your system running long enough to properly shut down in the case of power failure. Many backup systems will actually take care of the shut down process for you automatically, giving you peace of mind when the next blackout occurs.

Don’t let someone else’s accident affect your revenue. Call Syndeo Communications today to ask about having a battery installed at your office. We look forward to working with you on finding the right San Diego IT solution for your business.

Lifespan of Computers – What You Need to Know about Replacing Your Computers

This entry was posted in Data Recovery and tagged Data Recovery San Diego, Remote Data Backup Solutions, Syndeo Communications on May 14, 2013 by Andrew Hartman.

When it comes to computers there seems to be a couple of schools of thought relating to when to replace them.

One school of thought is if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. While this approach maximizes the rate of return on the initial outlay, it exposes you to some additional risk because all computers fail and you don’t necessarily know when. The risk you bear is that you will experience a failure when you aren’t expecting it and that will mean downtime and a potential loss of data. Risk can be minimized by using a good, solid backup platform but you will still suffer some loss. This whole scenario is analogous to being stuck on the road with flat tire. Even though you have a spare tire (your backup) you will still need time to change it and get back on the road. Not to mention dirty, greasy hands! To learn more about our data disaster recovery plans, click here.

The other school of thought is around realizing that computers have a 36 to 45 month lifespan and even though they may not fail exactly in that time frame they will become obsolete due to faster and more modern computers. However, you take the unknown out of the equation by giving yourself control over when you are replacing the computer versus running around at the last minute for a replacement.

Regardless of which school of thought you choose, it is a good idea to keep a spare computer around for the situation that yours does fail. This becomes even more important if you have a small office of employees. Without a spare computer, they will lose precious productivity in the job functions that they perform.

Syndeo specializes in helping clients manage small and large projects to replace computers and upgrade to newer hardware. Our remote data backup solution and sophisticated IT tools allow us to move your entire computer desktop and files to another, completely different physical machine, while keeping everything intact. Imagine getting a new computer without having to reinstall all your favorite programs! Give us a call at 760.650.3300 and we can figure out a solution to fit your needs.

Online Backups – What Are Your Options?

This entry was posted in Data Recovery and tagged Data Recovery San Diego, Online Backups on May 14, 2013 by Andrew Hartman.

It has been interesting to watch the backup market evolve over the past several years. Backup companies have started to take aim directly at the consumer and advertise their products on television just like other companies advertise cereal or other consumer items. They have made it all look very easy and while those products are great for keeping your family photos safe or keeping a copy of your personal information tucked away in the cloud, they aren’t good for protecting and backing up your business data. Let me explain why.

Almost all backup programs, whether or not they are cloud based, perform file-based backups which simply mean that any files you specify will be backed up. As you can see, this can work perfectly for photos, documents, etc. What file-based backup systems don’t address is the computer as a whole.

Let’s walk through the scenario of something going wrong with your computer such a hard drive failure. In addition to the important files, you have invested a lot of time getting all the programs installed, setup and working on your computer. Once the hard drive fails you don’t have access to any of the information on it including the programs. With a file based backup system, you have to start over and reinstall the operating system (i.e. Windows) AND all the programs, and get your email reconfigured and setup—just like getting a new computer.

However, with more robust backup solutions an image of the hard drive is performed versus just the files being backed up. More importantly this image can be restored back to another hard drive just like nothing happened! You don’t have to go through the process of reinstalling programs, windows, reconfiguring printers, setting up email, etc. One of our clients calls it the “magic backup.” What’s even more amazing is that this image can be sent to the cloud for safekeeping so you have the best of both worlds.

Syndeo Communications specializes in providing backup solutions to businesses. Please let us know how we can help you secure your data and keep your computers safe.

Need Help or Have Questions?
Call us today at 760.650.3300