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Are you wasting money with Break/Fix IT services, like so many other businesses today? There’s a better way: Managed Services.

Having the right tech is no longer a choice when it comes to running a business. Up-to-date hardware, software, and security solutions are now essential to your day-to-day operations.

Without ongoing support to keep your business tech running smoothly, you’re simply wasting your money, and setting your business up for serious downtime. You’ll be vulnerable to huge repair costs when you’re forced to call in a tech to fix things. In this scenario, just a small problem can quickly become a very costly one.

By choosing an expert provider to be your outsourced IT department, handling your entire IT environment, you can save money, increase efficiency, and enjoy a better end-user experience.

So, what’s the difference between Break/Fix and Managed Services?

Break/Fix service is the traditional style of outsourced IT services, which works by fixing your computers once they’re broken. In a nutshell, when something goes wrong — data loss, hardware failure, virus, etc. — you then get in touch with your Break/Fix support provider, and have them fix it. The break-fix strategy no longer works for businesses today.  If you still use this method of IT service, you risk downtime that can literally shut your business down.

With Break/Fix Services:

• A tech typically charges by the hour. This encourages him to focus on billable hours. It doesn’t benefit him if your tech is working the way it should. You could find yourself repeatedly calling them to help with a problem that never quite gets resolved.
• A minor computer problem can quickly turn into a disaster. This is especially true today with the increase in cyber crime like ransomware. What starts out with just one malicious email can spread throughout your entire network, locking down your data, and your operations.
• It could take days to fix your problem – in the meantime, your employees won’t have access to the data they need to continue working. You’re simply “bleeding money” by the minute.
• Your support provider starts charging you after you’ve already lost work time – time spent on repairs or updates can add up fast.
• It’s impossible to predict how much to budget for IT services. You can’t know what will happen or how expensive it might be.

The difference between “break-fix” and fully managed support?  Break-fix provides on-site repair after a problem is identified, whereas fully managed support provides ongoing maintenance, updates, and more to prevent problems from occurring in the first place.

Managed Services — a set of best practices, processes, and tools that, when combined with technical knowledge and proper facilitation, delivers an ideal result for businesses — is the modern model for IT support, offering a range of vital solutions to your business all for one monthly rate. With fully managed support, you know that your business technology and data are protected 24/7:

• You can finally focus on running your business and not on IT worries. Your third party support provider will minimize or eliminate downtime that could hit your bottom line.
• Your tech support can be provided remotely without a technician visiting your office. There will be instances that require in-person care, such as hardware replacement. However, most of what affects your day-to-day operations can be worked on remotely.
• You’ll benefit from a flat-rate payment model, allowing you to budget your tech more effectively. You’ll be able to plan for growth far more easily and with greater peace of mind.
• Tech maintenance from a third party is more cost-effective than relying on break-fix solutions, especially when you consider the lost revenue from downtime.

Think of it this way: while a Managed Services Provider is available around-the-clock, and compensated through your (and other clients’) monthly flat rate, Break/Fix service is unpredictable when it comes to costs and repair times.

• A Break/Fix approach may be a lower cost on paper but it can get expensive rather quickly – which means your overall ROI isn’t as great as it could be.
• Managed Services are designed to maximize your budget and provide the support and solutions you need to stay focused on your important work and keep under budget.

The reality is that remote tech support will always be more cost effective than hiring break/fix, or in-house technicians. The choice is easy: more expensive, inconsistent, unreliable break-fix services? – Or reliable, affordable, fully managed support that provides:

• 24/7/365 Services
• Increased operational efficiency
• Increased productivity
• Up-to-date IT solutions
• Security patches and alerts
• Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions
• Minimized downtime
• Enterprise-level solutions and support
• Controlled IT costs
• The ability to focus on what you need to do
• Peace of mind

Make InfiNet Solutions your outsourced IT department right away – blend all your computer networking support and services with all your hardware for even more monthly savings.

Have questions? Contact us at [email protected] or (402) 895--5777.

Public Wi-Fi can be quite dangerous.

Here is a detailed list of the most common risks of using it and how to mitigate them.

June is the Official National Candy Month. Thus, it is only fitting that we spend some time talking about the sweet things in life. For instance, we are going to talk about how you can sweeten the Wi-Fi experience within your business premises for customers and members of staff. Most companies imagine that things such as public Wi-Fi are a background consideration. However, with the internet playing an increasing role in the success or failure of businesses, it is important to ensure its security. Here are a few things about the security of public Wi-Fi and possible solutions that I have prepared.

Some of the Risk You Face When Using Public Wi-Fi.

On public Wi-Fi, there are numerous methods, which people with malicious intentions can use to get to you. Here are some of the most common:

· MITM interceptions.

The ‘Man IN The Middle’ attacks are a common form of attacks on people on public Wi-Fi. These attacks when an adversary captures the data you are sending. Most hackers who use this method exploit flaws in apps or websites to view information going through them. The information could include passwords, financial data, and other data that could be used for identity theft.

There are many different types of MITM attacks. However, the most common are those that occur over unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. Even when you are accessing a secure website, security is not guaranteed if the network is not encrypted.

· Fake Hotspots.

Criminal create fake wireless networks all the time to steal from people. When you connect to such a network, you give criminals an opportunity to monitor all your data.

· Wireless “sniffing.”

This is a practice where your data is observed, intercepted, and interpreted. It helps experts to diagnose any problems on the network. In the wrong hands, it can be used to monitor and collect data from unsuspecting victims.

1. Check the Terms and Conditions.

In your desire to get some free internet, it can be quite tempting to click through any terms and conditions that pop up on your screen. However, you should be careful about what you sign up for in public. A huge amount of free public Wi-Fi also takes something from you. These firms will give you some bandwidth as long as you agree to give them your email address and a phone number for instance.

The terms and conditions include details on how the company will make use of the data they collect from you. If you can bear to wait for just a few minutes, it can be quite beneficial to read what you are giving up. It is one of those times when having an alternative email can prove useful.

2. Stick to Advertised Wi-Fi Networks.

Just because you see free Wi-Fi pop up on your screen does not mean you must connect to it. Hackers are known to set up free Wi-Fi that they use to mine data from unsuspecting individuals. If you see open Wi-Fi that is not advertised publicly, you will have to think twice about using it.

3. Only Visit Secure Sites on Wi-Fi.

The green padlock at the top left corner of your browser shows you that you are connecting to a secure site. This sign is even more important when you are relying on free Wi-Fi. Think hard before doing anything important when on free Wi-Fi. For instance, avoid making any credit card transactions on public Wi-Fi.

Additionally, it is best to use a mobile browser rather than an app when on public Wi-Fi. Mobile browsers are better at checking the security of sites than apps. Some apps could be accepting fake security credentials without you knowing about it.

For apps, you are at the mercy of developers when it comes to app security. You should only use apps from trusted companies when using public Wi-Fi. Such companies spend millions every year to ensure that their apps are secure. However, even then you are not guaranteed of being secure.

4. Make Use of VPN.

A VPN connection is something that you must have if you are using any device that you also use for your business when on public Wi-Fi. That way, even when a hacker manages to gain access to your connection, they will only receive encrypted data. Since most hackers are in search of easy targets, they will discard encrypted data rather than try to decrypt it.

5. Switch Off Sharing.

When your device is connected to the Internet in a public area, you will not want to share anything. You can turn off sharing in the Control Panel depending on the OS you use. You may also opt to have your OS do it for you by choosing “Public” the first time you connect to a public network.

6. Switch Off Wi-Fi Capabilities in Public.

Even when you are not actively connected to any Wi-Fi network, your computer hardware can still transmit data to any network that is in range. There are measures in place to keep such networks from getting in touch with you. However, hackers can be quite smart, and they can get into your laptop. Besides that, switching off Wi-Fi settings allows you to extend the battery life of your device.

7. Have some Great Protection.

Even when you take all the above measures, you will run into issues sometimes. It is a fact of the modern world in which we live in today. That is why you must purchase the best Wi-Fi security solutions for your devices at all times. Such programs will constantly check for malware and scan any new files that you download. When purchasing security software for your business machines, you should not spare any expenses. Cheap could come to haunt you in a big way eventually.

Other Useful Tips.

Avoid downloading anything when using public Wi-Fi. Additionally, always ensure that the OS and all other software are always up to date. Although your device automatically manages your connection when you are on public Wi-Fi, it is always best to double check.

When you are done with a Wi-Fi, always forget the network. That way, you can reduce the security risk to your device. Additionally, make simple choices like using different passwords for each app.

With more vehicles with connected features on the roads every day, cyber security has never been more important to drivers. Learn how to protect your connected car from hackers and other criminals in the digital age.  

It’s no secret that cars are becoming smarter. In fact, by 2025, more than 250 million cars with connected features will travel roads all across the globe. As technology continues to improve and our automobiles become extensions of our technology-fueled lives, cyber security has officially taken to the roads.

Connected features, such as 4G LTE, Bluetooth and other can’t-live-without technologies are now standard on many vehicles. Sooner than later, seamless integration with smartphones, smart watches, smart houses and smart cities will change the way we use and interact with vehicles permanently. And while all these technological improvements are intended to make our lives better, every electronic touch point poses a potential danger that should not be overlooked. The last thing we want is to look back in time at this point in history and ask ourselves, “What were we thinking?”

As technology advances and more features become available, it is apparent that car manufacturers are equipping vehicles with connected technology faster than they can protect them – and you – from cyber threats.

At InfiNet Solutions, the leading managed IT services firm in Omaha, we want to ensure that our customers understand the dangers associated with connected features, especially when it comes to their automobiles, which can be prime targets for hackers.

How to Protect Our Cars Against Cyber Treats

Last year, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report suggesting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) needs to play a role in regulating connected vehicles. The study, which said a large number of vehicles were susceptible to hackers, was a warning sign for many.

The scariest thing was that proximity to the vehicle is not a deterrent for hackers. That was never more obvious than when two white hat hackers in Pittsburgh remotely hacked into a Jeep Grand Cherokee 600 miles away in St. Louis via the SUV’s infotainment system. Or when a Chinese security firm successfully hacked into a Tesla, unmasking multiple security flaws. Before the Jeep hack made international headlines, researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego, successfully hacked a sedan and remotely took control of its brakes via Bluetooth.

So what are we to do? Here are three ways to protect your connected vehicle from hackers:

• Do Your Research: Ultimately, protecting your connected car against cyber attacks starts with the manufacturer. Automakers, such as GM, Toyota, and Tesla, are hiring cyber security experts to ensure their vehicles are safe. For example, Tesla and Chrysler have both offered rewards (bug bounties) to hackers who are able to infiltrate their systems. GM also has a program rewarding hackers who break in, but critics say it’s not nearly as robust as Tesla or Chrysler’s. After all, Chrysler, which owns Jeep, has more incentive as it was forced to recall 1.4 million Grand Cherokees due to the above-mentioned hack. Since then, manufacturers have realized the benefits of keeping internal systems, such as the radio and brakes, separate.
• Over The Air Updates: New holes in cyber security are discovered every day. The best way to keep any connected device – including your car – safe from cyber threats is to ensure routinely that all software is up to date. However, no one wants to bring their vehicle into the dealership on a regular basis for software updates. Enter OTA, or over the air updates. Tesla and BMW, for example, push automatic OTA security updates to vehicles if driver settings allow, similar to automatic updates to your smartphone or personal computer. OTA updates are an excellent way to provide drivers with peace of mind knowing the software in the vehicle works without complication.
• Use a Trusted Mechanic: The easiest way for someone to gain full control over your vehicle is through the car’s onboard diagnostic port (OBD-II) connector. Through this computer port, authorized technicians can access and run diagnostics on every inch of your connected car. This is the main way mechanics determine what is wrong with your car. This access, in the wrong hands, can be dangerous. The same can be said for USB ports, which are usually connected to multiple systems, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular communications and infotainment systems.

Even with all these mechanisms in place, there is little we can do to stop hackers from continually trying to infiltrate our lives. To give you a sense of what we’re dealing with on modern cars, the 2010 Chevy Volt contained approximately 10 million lines of code – that’s more than an F-35 fighter jet. Today, cars contain 100 million lines of code on average and many predict that will hit 200 million in no time. Considering the fact that every line of code has potential defects, security issues begin to pile up.

Addressing Cyber Security Head On

With automakers partnering with third-party resources – hackers and cyber security firms – the race to protect the automobile from cyber threats is at full speed. While many carmakers were hesitant at first to let hackers into their systems, they quickly realized the benefits and now openly encourage participation.

That is mostly because cyber security has become a safety issue for the modern automobile. With connected cars, we are not just talking about theft of data; we are talking about potential life-threatening issues if a hacker were to gain access nefariously to a vehicle.

Until automakers work to transform themselves into software companies and address the vulnerabilities head on, cybersecurity will remain a huge problem for the connected car. That is why we are here to help. For more information on how InfiNet Solutions can help secure your connected car against cyber attacks, email us at [email protected] or call (402) 895--5777.

Microsoft Teams is a chat-based work hub destined to change the way you communicate with team members. Follow these tips and tricks to make the most of your Office 365 experience.

The goal of Office 365 developers is not only to make better productivity applications, but they also want to allow for a more collaborative experience among users. To achieve this goal, they have developed a new application for their suite of products called Microsoft Teams. The driving force behind Teams is to get everyone working together in the most efficient way possible.

Microsoft Teams Overview

With Microsoft Teams, users have a digital hub for all their most important workplace applications. The service comes with Office 365 and the new chat element allows for easy collaboration for team projects. Teams was created as a competitor to the very popular service Slack. With Teams, real-time messaging with application integration makes the service a must have on any compatible device. Unlike Slack, Teams uses threaded conversations in order to avoid the confusion of searching through too many messages on your screen. As long as you’re an enterprise-level Office 365 subscriber, the application is completely free. It’s very important to have a business-level Office 365 subscription. Otherwise, Teams is unavailable on single subscriptions.

Tips and Tricks of Microsoft Teams

Toggle between private chat and team chat. You are in control of who sees your messages. Write to the entire team or send an individual message from the application. You can schedule and create as many group chat sessions as you like. All chat history is saved to help you go back and review previous messages. This is helpful if you need to locate a shared URL, image, or attachment. With messaging taking place in the cloud, you never have to worry about any information exchanged within the program being lost.

Give access to all of the tools your team needs to success. Microsoft Teams is more than just a chat room. Microsoft has enabled all of their most popular applications to be shared within Teams. Your team will be able to exchange information via OneNote, SharePoint, and Skype for Business.

Using Microsoft Teams can be overwhelming at first. The interface is fairly simple to figure out, but Microsoft offers plenty of tools to help navigate the interface. Within Teams is a new assistive feature referred to as “bots.” These bots are ready to answer any questions you pose to them. For instance, a “Whobot” will help you find team members based on their skill set or previous work assignments. Bots are expected to pop up from top companies such as Trello and SAP. These bots will help you better organize your current and future projects.

Calendar integration is another feature you should be using within Teams. All team members can schedule meetings within the application including the addition of recurring events. There is also a free and busy calendar option to let others know your current and future availability.

Although chat is a quick and easy form of communicating among teams, you may also choose to go live in real-time. With Skype for Business, you can begin a live video chat session in high-definition with premium sound.

Bring Microsoft Teams with you wherever you go. The application works on all computers running Windows 10, but also can run on iOS devices. Android and Windows phones and tablets can also run Microsoft Teams. Accessibility is very important to Microsoft developers and this is why options include keyboard only navigation, higher contrast resolution, and support for screen readers.

The most important feature is the high level of security offered with the Microsoft Teams framework. Teams abide by all global security practices and standards to keep your data confidential within the cloud.

Don’t miss out on this exciting new rollout from Microsoft 365.

For many people, the vision of a world of driverless cars represents a commuter’s utopia, and for good reason. Commuting is costly, not only in terms of time and money but in terms of stress-related illnesses. Despite the fact that people have adapted to hurtling through space at 70 miles per hour while avoiding a potentially deadly crash, traffic is anything but relaxing. Just the idea of a car expertly programmed to detect and respond instantly to hazardous road conditions and the erratic behavior of all those other drivers is enough to lower a commuter’s blood pressure considerably. (Our own driving is, of course, always impeccable.) Driverless cars could also make it possible for people to give one another the increasingly rare gift of their undivided attention while traveling.

Any dream of utopia contains within it the potential for the creation of a nightmarish dystopia, and a world of driverless cars is no exception. The number of deaths and injuries resulting from crashes caused by human error could be greatly reduced. However, the number of deaths and injuries caused by deliberate human actions, such as hacking the computer systems of driverless cars, could increase. It isn’t hard to imagine the horror of a driverless car being hijacked and used to drive into a crowded building or cause a multi-car pile-up on a busy interstate highway. One article describes an experiment in which hackers demonstrated, under controlled conditions, how just such a scenario would be possible.

Security Vulnerabilities

IT experts are the first line of defense of our collective vision of a driverless utopia. Recently, the Cloud Security Alliance published a detailed report identifying 20 potential cyber-security threats to connected vehicle systems, including driverless cars. Many of those threats are vulnerabilities caused by the very things that have helped make commutes if not more enjoyable, at least more bearable. Those potential security loopholes include onboard diagnostic ports used for vehicle maintenance, USB ports, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and entertainment devices that utilize internet connectivity.

Electronic vehicles depend on a CAN (Controller Area Network) message bus that allows communication between devices. The CAN bus was designed as a closed network without security features. According to the report, “An unauthorized party that gains access to the bus can block legitimate messages and transmit illegitimate ones.” Keyless entry systems and the Amazon Echo, which can start a vehicle remotely, also present potential security concerns. That’s why the group recommends that separate CAN buses be used for critical safety features such as braking and lane detection systems.

Precautionary Measures

Brian Russell, the chairman of the alliance’s IoT Working Group, stresses the importance of developing operational designs that “incorporate security throughout the development”. He also recommends using the Department of Transportation’s Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture as a design guide. Its protocols apply security measures to the enterprise, functional, physical and communications elements of connected driverless systems. Vehicles communicate with one another using both established infrastructure and a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication). The DSRC assigns each message a digital certificate which prevents tampering. To keep out intruders, third party devices should only access a vehicle’s Bluetooth system using the mutual recognition and authentication of Bluetooth Low Energy.

In addition to high-tech security measures being designed and implemented, societies will require a whole new set of laws to successfully integrate driverless technology. That doesn’t just include traffic and insurance laws, but privacy laws. The amount of personal information collected by driverless technology is rivaled only by the amount collected by Facebook. Like Facebook, those who wish to utilize driverless technology may have to sign agreements too lengthy and complicated to read and understand without the expert assistance of a legal professional. In 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co., and General Motors LLC, alleging fraud, false advertising, and violations of consumer protection laws. While the district court dismissed the complaint, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has filed a brief requesting that the dismissal is reversed.

It Takes a Global IT Village

Creating a commuter’s utopia in which drivers can enjoy all the benefits of driverless technology is an achievable goal. With the right security measures, it will become possible for elderly to retain their travel independence and for the young to increase theirs. Parents will be able to spend less time chauffeuring and more time parenting. Workers will be able to spend less energy commuting and more time and energy to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The phrases “fighting traffic” and “road rage” will disappear from our daily lexicon, making room for more interesting, and pleasant, topics of conversation.

IT professionals worldwide are working overtime to make a world of driverless cars a dream come true. The internet has revealed the degree to which we are all interconnected. That connectivity has the potential to significantly improve the quality of our lives. It also has the potential to expose us to greater danger. That’s why programmers and app developers, whether employed by a private enterprise or governmental organizations, must work together to prevent that dream from becoming a nightmare.