As the business world grows ever more reliant on data and technology, the risk profile for many organizations continues to expand. Cybersecurity is by far the most disconcerting and widespread concern of the many different types of security risks to organizations. The Allianz Risk Barometer ranks cyber incidents (cyberattacks, IT outages, data breaches, etc.) as the number one business risk in 2022. For perspective, cyber threats are up there with business interruptions, natural catastrophes, pandemic outbreaks, and climate change.
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Action1 Provides Free Automated Scripting to Mitigate Follina (CVE 2022-30190)
Jun 8, 2022 | Blog, How-to Articles, Patch Tuesday
A new and very dangerous Microsoft Windows zero-day vulnerability was recently discovered. Tracked as CVE-2022–30190, it is nicknamed “Follina”. Action1 arms internal IT departments and MSPs with advanced scripting capabilities to mitigate Follina vulnerabillity.
The 10 Most Common Types of Malware
May 17, 2022 | Blog
Malware infections are a dangerous form of cyberattack. The problem is that malware comes in different shapes and sizes, making it hard to pin them down, learn their malice, and prevent infections. This article looks and the different types of malware—what they are and how they work. We’ll also cover tips for protecting digital assets from malicious software.
Overview of RMM and PSA Tools for Managed Services Providers
Apr 19, 2022 | Blog
RMM vs. PSA, which is better? Well, this is a bit more complicated than a “versus” situation. RMM and PSA software applications are not technically interchangeable—each serves a different purpose from the other. Choosing between the two comes down to what your business needs. Many MSPs actually deploy and run both RMM and PSA tools simultaneously.
What Is Zero-Day Vulnerability? Zero Days Explained
Mar 22, 2022 | Blog, Patch Tuesday
A zero-day vulnerability can cause serious problems for businesses, as well as for software users. If these vulnerabilities are hacked or exploited, unauthorized individuals or automated devices can gain access to restricted system areas or software data stores. This is why a thorough approach to software patches — both from the software developer’s side and from the end user’s side — is crucial in cybersecurity and data protection.
Cybersecurity Trends in 2022
Feb 15, 2022 | Blog
The cybersecurity landscape is evolving quickly, and business owners need to work hard to remain protected and agile in the face of this rapid development. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the current cybersecurity trends impacting businesses in 2022.
February 2022: Microsoft Patch Tuesday Review
Feb 9, 2022 | Blog, Patch Tuesday
Microsoft squashed a total of 48 security bugs, including one zero-day vulnerability, with February’s Microsoft security updates Patch Tuesday. This figure does not include the 22 Microsoft Edge (chromium) fixes rolled out with today’s Patch release, 19 of which were actually fixed earlier this month. This brings the total number of patches released in February (so far) to 70.
Pros And Cons Of Patching With WSUS
Jan 25, 2022 | Blog
Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) is a tool designed to automate the Windows patching process so that businesses wouldn’t need to go through the struggle of manually updating their servers. While this tool can be useful, there are limitations to keep in mind when choosing whether you want WSUS for your company.
January 2022: Microsoft Patch Tuesday Review
Jan 11, 2022 | Blog
The first Windows security Patch Tuesday of 2022 is here, and it opens the year with a bit of a bang. Microsoft fixed a total of 96 new CVEs in today’s patch release. In comparison, that number was 67 in the last Patch Tuesday. In fact, this is an unusually large patch release volume for January. January has had the lowest number of CVEs patched in a batch release for the last couple of years — typically about half as many as those fixed today. Plus, this is a long way from the relatively small Patch Tuesday releases we saw throughout 2021.
The Importance of Server Patching
Jan 4, 2022 | Blog
Cybersecurity is paramount in this digital age, but it’s not always on the minds of busy business owners. Sever patching should be performed routinely to keep businesses and accounts safe. However, patching isn’t always done when it should be. One instance of this occurred in early 2021 when over 60,000 vulnerable Microsoft Exchange servers were found unpatched for many weeks. Although patching servers is more work than updating something like a single computer, it’s essential that it gets done. By learning some server patching best practices and automating the process, you can quickly and easily keep your business secure.
MSP Guide: New Client Onboarding Checklist
Dec 28, 2021 | Blog
Having a comprehensive onboarding checklist can be a huge help for MSPs because it streamlines the entire process and helps make sure nothing important or otherwise is overlooked. Remember that the onboarding process begins before you even submit a proposal, and we hope this guide will help your new client onboarding go a lot smoother every time.
How to Manage Security Vulnerabilities
Dec 21, 2021 | Blog
Vulnerability management leverages a set of workflows and products designed to sustain the IT infrastructure, testing it for security flaws and fixing the vulnerabilities detected. This is an ongoing routine denying the notorious approach of not fixing things that are not broken. The latter approach just fails to meet modern protection demands. Unless reviewed and enhanced, the digital assets are easy to compromise. So what is vulnerability management and why does it make a difference? Let’s get to the bottom of this.
Microsoft Patch Tuesday, December 2021 Review
Dec 14, 2021 | Blog, Patch Tuesday
Microsoft has just released 67 security fixes to mark this month’s Patch Tuesday. Seven of the vulnerabilities fixed today were classified as Critical and the rest as Important. December’s patch release also includes fixes for six zero-day bugs, one of which was actively exploited in the wild.
Meet New Action1: Real-Time Visibility, Improved Security Controls, and More
Dec 9, 2021 | Blog
As remote work continues and cyberthreats increase, MSPs and internal IT departments need remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools that give them complete visibility and control over their endpoints and enable them to secure and support their remote or hybrid workforces.
How to Build a Managed Service Provider (MSP) Business in 2022
Dec 7, 2021 | Blog
Starting an MSP or managed service provider business can be a very lucrative move. The global MSP market was valued at just over $200 billion in 2019, and it’s expected to grow to almost $500 billion by 2027.
But how do you access this market? How do you get started with your MSP business? Take a look at our MSP startup guide and business plan template to learn more.
Top 6 Common Mistakes Growing MSP Businesses Should Avoid
Nov 23, 2021 | Blog
The demand for managed services is at an all-time high. However, the managed IT niche is becoming increasingly competitive, and customers are demanding more from managed service providers. One of the biggest challenges facing MSPs is choosing the areas to base their offering. But by understanding what customers want from an IT-provider and the market challenges, you can fine-tune your managed IT offering to come out on top. Part of doing so is avoiding MSP mistakes that could jeopardize your growth efforts.
Increasing MSP Profitability and Reducing Costs with RMM
Nov 18, 2021 | Blog
The MSP sector is changing. A recent survey suggested that traditional support services and hardware resales are becoming less important for MSP revenue, projected to reduce by 73% and 63%, respectively, between 2020 and 2022. Meanwhile, cloud-based managed services, such as SaaS products, are becoming more important factors in the revenue stream, expected to provide 51% more revenue across the same time period.
MSP Pricing Models Guide: Achieving MSP Profitability
Oct 26, 2021 | Blog
Pricing is about more than just the price tag. The MSP pricing structure is just as important as the cost of MSP. For most businesses, the pricing model has a massive impact on the final MSP spend. Managed IT pricing is a delicate balancing act between setting fair profit margins and modeling the costs to fit different consumer scenarios. Here are the common MSP pricing models favored by most service providers.
Sure Strategies and Ways to Prevent Cyber Attacks
Oct 19, 2021 | Blog
Hackers take advantage of weak cybersecurity policies and obsolete IT security infrastructure. Unfortunately, quite a few businesses realize the importance of protection against cyberattacks only after becoming victims. Organizations need to think of ways to prevent cyberattacks before it is too late. Learn strategies you can employ to defend your organization against cyberattacks.
October 2021 Patch Tuesday Review: Microsoft Fixes 74 Security Flaws
Oct 13, 2021 | Blog, Patch Tuesday
In this month’s Patch Tuesday, Microsoft fixed a total of 74 vulnerabilities (81, counting Microsoft Edge for Chromium’s updates). Among the 74 bugs fixed today included four zero-day vulnerabilities, one of which was known to have been exploited in the wild. Three of the vulnerabilities were rated as Critical, one as Low, and the rest as Important.