Advisory and Assessment
In today's landscape of rising cyber threats, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) must prioritize cybersecurity to protect their operations and reputation. Partnering with CMO IT Services for cybersecurity advisory and assessment provides expert insights to identify vulnerabilities and implement targeted defences. This proactive approach secures digital assets and builds trust with customers who value data protection.
Many SMBs lack the resources for a full-time cybersecurity team, making them vulnerable to evolving threats and regulatory pressures. We offer scalable solutions that deliver comprehensive assessments and strategic planning without the need for in-house expertise. By collaborating with us, businesses can focus on growth while ensuring robust protections are in place, empowering them to thrive confidently in a competitive market.
Identifying and Managing Risks to your Business
In today’s digital age, businesses face growing cyber threats that can lead to significant financial losses and reputational harm. Partnering with CMO IT Services for cybersecurity advisory and assessment services allows organizations to identify their vulnerabilities and specific risks. Our comprehensive evaluations, including risk analysis and penetration testing, help create a robust security framework that proactively addresses potential threats.
Cybersecurity Assessment Services
Vulnerability Assessment
Identify vulnerabilities, evaluate compliance with security policies, and ensure that data and applications hosted on-premise and in the cloud are protected against unauthorized access and threats. The assessment focuses on reviewing access controls and security configurations to enhance the security posture and minimize risks associated with modern network environments.
Penetration Testing
Simulate cyberattacks on an organization's network to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in security defences. By attempting to exploit these weaknesses, we evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures and provide insights for improving overall network security. The goal is to strengthen the organization's ability to withstand actual attacks and protect sensitive data.
Backup/Recovery Readiness
Evaluate an organization's data backup processes and overall preparedness for maintaining operations during a disruption. We examine the effectiveness of backup solutions, recovery time objectives, and plans to restore critical functions after an incident. The goal is to minimize downtime and eliminate data loss, ensuring the organization can quickly recover and continue operations.
Ransomware Assessment
Evaluate an organization's network to identify weaknesses that data extortion and ransomware attacks could exploit. The assessment identifies potential entry points and security measures and ensures adequate data backups. The goal is to strengthen defences against ransomware threats and minimize the risk of data encryption, extortion, and loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a general term for protecting computers, networks, and sensitive information from cyber threats. Small and medium-sized businesses must prioritize cybersecurity measures, as they are often prime targets for cybercriminals due to weaker defences.
A breach can lead to substantial financial losses, damage to reputation, and legal issues. By investing in cybersecurity, businesses can safeguard their data and maintain trust with clients and partners, ultimately ensuring their continuity and success.
Why has cybersecurity become so important recently?
Cybersecurity has become a critical priority in recent years for several key reasons:
Surge in Cyber Threats - There has been a notable rise in cyberattacks, including data breaches and ransomware, with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Digital Transformation - As businesses adopt cloud computing and remote work, the attack surface has expanded, revealing new vulnerabilities.
Value of Data - As companies have become more digitally dependent, their data has become more valuable and is now a prime target for attackers and extortionists.
Social Engineering - Criminals' use of new advanced AI-driven tactics necessitates heightened awareness and training to prevent information compromise.
Regulatory Compliance - Stricter data protection laws require organizations to protect personal data, with significant penalties for non-compliance.
Geopolitical Factors - Increased cyber warfare and state-sponsored attacks emphasize the need for robust digital security.
Prioritizing cybersecurity is now essential for safeguarding data, maintaining customer trust, and ensuring continuity in today’s heavily computer-dependent businesses.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is an excellent resource for Canadians to learn about cybersecurity.
We appreciate that this is a vast and intimidating subject, so if you want to learn more about cybersecurity and how it affects your business, don't hesitate to contact us anytime.
Our program is cloud based. Is this safe?
This question can only be definitively answered with research and consultation.
Cutting through the marketing hype - There is no cloud. It's just somebody else's computers and networking equipment.
Without documentation from the vendor detailing how they secure their Amazon, Google, or Microsoft cloud infrastructure and data backup procedures, we must assume that the hosted data is unsafe.
When researching cloud-hosted software, always ask about the security tools and backup procedures they implement to ensure your data's safety.
A reputable vendor that offers cloud-based applications or services will share generalized information about its security protocols, backup procedures, insurance coverage and certifications. In contrast, companies lacking security and backup procedures often use vague statements like, "We use Amazon/Google/Microsoft; it's safe," or "The security and backup information is proprietary and confidential."
It is also essential to ask the vendor where your data will be stored to comply with data sovereignty regulations and what data export tools are available to ensure your data can be migrated to alternate platforms should the vendor cease operations.
Are Microsoft 365 and Google accounts backed up?
No. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace account data is not backed up by default.
These services replicate data for accessibility and redundancy, meaning that users can quickly delete or alter files, leading to potential permanent loss. They also fail to protect against external threats like ransomware.
Relying solely on these platforms without a dedicated backup strategy puts your critical data at significant risk.
Is my cloud data backed up?
Not typically, no. Popular cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive store data with redundancy to ensure availability; data is duplicated across multiple servers to prevent downtime if one fails. However, this redundancy does not serve as a backup.
A backup is a separate copy for recovery in case of data loss, corruption, or deletion. While redundancy keeps data accessible, it doesn’t protect against complete data loss events like user errors or malicious attacks. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain your own backup strategy for essential data.
How do I know where my cloud data is stored?
Canada has strong federal and provincial privacy laws, so you must know where your data is stored.
Surprisingly, few cloud service providers offer Canadian-only data storage. As a result, your information is often stored in the United States, which means it is subject to foreign laws, rules, and regulations. For example, popular services like Dropbox and Google Drive store your data in the U.S.
Determining which service providers guarantee Canadian-only data storage can be challenging. However, we maintain a list of compliant services and also develop private cloud solutions.
Can we protect against data loss from services like as OneDrive, Dropbox, and SharePoint?
We've all done it - a collection of photos is too large to email, so they get shared through OneDrive. Does anybody remember to remove the shared folder?
It is difficult to monitor and control what staff have publicly shared data through popular file-sharing services, but it is possible.
It requires two of our security tools combined to effectively enforce this type of data loss prevention (DLP), but yes, we can prevent file-sharing service data loss.
Can you prevent staff from typing their 365 credentials into random SharePoint sites?
Yes. One component of our Sentry Security Platform is specifically designed to prevent this. We can block all SharePoint sites and allow only those management deems necessary for business operations.
This, combined with our email identity threat detection and response component, dramatically reduces unauthorized or accidental account credential sharing.
Is it safe to email passwords?
No. Email is not a secure communication method. Sending passwords via email is risky, as it can expose sensitive information to hackers through compromised accounts and phishing attacks. Many email providers do not encrypt messages, leaving passwords vulnerable. Instead of relying on email, it is essential to use secure password managers or encrypted methods for sharing sensitive information.
Is it safe to keep track of my passwords in Excel or Word files?
Storing passwords in plain text documents, such as Excel or Word files, is unsafe.
Modern tools can quickly extract passwords from these files, making any protection they offer ineffective. Instead, it’s better to use a password manager, which securely encrypts your passwords and adds an extra layer of protection. If you must store passwords in a document, consider encrypting the document and using a robust and unique password for added security.
Storing credentials in plain text documents such as Excel and Word files is so common in businesses that our security tools actively hunt for, detect and warn users of their existence.
Why should I use a password manager?
A password manager is a vital tool for both convenience and security. It securely stores and encrypts your credentials, allowing you to access them easily with one master password, hardware key, or biometric scanner (fingerprint).
This simplifies your login process while enhancing security by promoting strong, unique passwords that reduce the risk of cyberattacks. By easing the burden of password management, a password manager helps you protect your information while enjoying seamless access to your accounts.
What is multi-factor authentication (MFA) and why do I need it?
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an essential security measure that requires two or more verification methods. It makes it much harder for unauthorized users to access your accounts.
By combining something you know (password), something you have (mobile device), and something you are (fingerprint), MFA strengthens your defences against cyber threats. In a digital world where passwords can easily be compromised, MFA protects your data, financial information, and sensitive business assets.
Prioritizing MFA is vital for safeguarding your security.
Are two-factor and multi-factor authentication the same?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are related concepts but are not the same.
2FA is a type of MFA that requires two distinct verification forms to access an account. This typically involves something you know (like a password) and something you have (like a smartphone for receiving a code or an authenticator app).
MFA encompasses any authentication method that requires more than one form of verification, which can include two or more factors. MFA can combine something you know, something you have, and something you are (like biometrics).
Do I have privacy with your Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tool?
Yes! Our RMM tool monitors computer hardware and software for faults, failures, security threats and warranty tracking. We do not have unattended access to individuals' computers and can not view what you're doing.
Can we monitor what staff do on their computers?
Yes, but there are legal limitations.
Canada boasts some of the world's strongest federal and provincial privacy laws, affirming that all Canadians have a fundamental right to privacy.
Every business should implement an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) that employees are required to review and sign annually. This document clearly states that company computers are monitored and defines acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on the company’s network.
Consult with legal counsel for further guidance on this subject.
What are VPNs and why do we need them?
VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, are critical tools for homes and businesses that demand online privacy and security.
By encrypting internet traffic, VPNs effectively guard sensitive data against interception by malicious actors.
In a world where Internet Service Providers (ISPs) actively track and sell users' browsing habits, taking control of your online privacy is imperative.
A VPN protects your browsing activities from unwarranted scrutiny and delivers secure remote access for employees to company networks. This ensures that vital information remains confidential, regardless of location.
Investing in VPN technology is necessary for defending your digital life and fortifying business security.
What is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and do we need it?
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security model requiring strict identity verification for anyone accessing network resources, regardless of location.
This approach is vital for businesses, as it effectively reduces the risks of data breaches and insider threats. By assuming that threats can exist within the network and enforcing least-privilege access, ZTNA ensures that employees only access the resources essential for their roles.
Adopting ZTNA is a strategic necessity for any organization aiming to enhance security in an increasingly digital world.
Are business-class computers the same as consumer-class computers?
We specialize in business-class computers from Dell and Lenovo, specifically designed to meet the demands of professional environments.
These systems offer enhanced performance and reliability, come equipped with Windows Professional operating systems, and include at least a three-year on-site warranty. They also feature anti-glare display panels suitable for use under office lighting and incorporate biometric security measures essential for data protection.
By prioritizing quality, we equip our clients with the best value tools to excel and succeed in their operations.
Questions, Comments or Concerns?
If you have questions about cybersecurity or business networks, you can schedule a free initial one-hour consultation with one of our experts.
No Long Term Contacts
We are a service company made up of friendly professionals. Through our expertise and hard work, we aim to earn your business and build your trust. If you’re unsatisfied, let us know, and you can discontinue our services anytime.