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Theo Soumilas

Windows 7 End of Life: Do You Upgrade or Replace Your Computer?

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Microsoft has publicly announced Jan. 14, 2020, as the end date for extended support, also known as End of Life (EOL), for the Windows 7 operating system. As of this date, Microsoft will no longer produce any patches or updates to address known or otherwise newly discovered issues for the Windows 7 platform. This potentially exposes users of devices with the Windows 7 operating system to vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by threat actors – exploits, bugs, viruses and ransomware.

UPGRADE VS. REPLACEMENT With Windows 7 End of Life, your organization will need to determine whether upgrading devices is sufficient or replacement is necessary.

To help you make this choice, here is a checklist to consider when looking to migrate from Windows 7 to Windows 10 successfully.

Check hardware details. Identify devices that will meet the minimum hardware specifications necessary for a desirable and productive level of performance. The minimum hardware recommendations from Microsoft are often insufficient at being productive in the long term, resulting in device hardware being replaced sooner than expected.

These are Microsoft’s basic requirements for installing Windows 10 on a PC.

Confirm licensing compliance. The audit of devices and applications is the ideal time to verify your business has sufficient licenses for Windows 10. In some cases, newer Windows 7 devices may already have a license for an upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft has become vigilant in pursuing companies out of compliance with licensing. We will help to ensure your devices are properly licensed for use.

Decide whether to replace the device, perform a clean install or an in-place upgrade on the current device. There are several factors to bear in mind when considering an “in-place” migration.

Are there any 32-bit operating systems needing to become 64-bit? If so, does the hardware architecture support it, and will it need additional or improved/ upgraded resource (e.g. more RAM)?

Are there any Professional edition devices upgrading to Enterprise, or Enterprise to Enterprise?

Are there any Home edition devices used in the business?

Perform a pilot deployment. Deploying to a small test group first will pay dividends over the duration of the project.

If you find that a majority of your devices have aged out and do not meet minimum specifications for an upgrade, here are our recommendations for replacement of devices:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or System on a Chip (SoC)

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit

Hard drive space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 32 GB for 64-bit OS

Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver

Display: 800×600

Verify application compatibility. Determine which applications you have installed on your current Windows 7 and check they will be compatible with the new Windows operating system. QCBN

By Theo Soumilas

For more information, contact Theo Soumilas at 928-719-7724 or theo@northernazit.com, or visit northernazit.com.

 

Ransomware is Risky Business

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Businesses large and small are under threat from increasingly aggressive and brutal ransomware attacks. Loss of access to critical files, followed by a demand for payment, can cause massive disruption to an organization’s productivity.

Hacking is becoming easier while attackers are becoming more sophisticated in their approach. Exploit kits can be purchased for only a couple of hundred dollars on the internet. These kits make it simple for less tech-savvy criminals to initiate, complete and benefit from a ransomware attack.

There are multiple ways that a ransomware attack starts. Common techniques include:

 

Malicious Emails Today’s criminals are crafting emails that are indistinguishable from genuine ones. They are grammatically correct, with no spelling mistakes and often written in a way that is relevant to you and your business.

Poisoned Websites Another common way to get infected is by visiting a legitimate website that has been infected with an exploit kit. Even popular websites can be temporarily compromised. You browse to the hacked website and click on an innocent-looking link, hover over an ad or in many cases, just look at the page. That’s enough to download the ransomware file onto your computer and run it, often with no visible sign until after the damage is done.

 

Staying secure against ransomware isn’t just about having the latest security solutions. Good IT security practices, including regular training for employees, are essential components of every single security setup. Make sure you’re following these 10 best practices:

 

  1. Patch Early, Patch Often Malware that doesn’t come in via a document often relies on security bugs in popular applications, including Microsoft Office, your browser, Flash and more.
  2. Backup Regularly, Keep a Recent Backup Copy Off-Line and Off-Site There are dozens of ways other than ransomware that files can suddenly vanish, such as fire, flood, theft, a dropped laptop or even an accidental delete. Encrypt your backup and you won’t have to worry about the backup device falling into the wrong hands. Furthermore, a disaster recovery plan can cover the restoration of data and whole systems.
  3. Enable File Extensions The default Windows setting is to have file extensions disabled, meaning you have to rely on the file thumbnail to identify it. Enabling extensions makes it much easier to spot file types that wouldn’t commonly be sent to you and your users, such as JavaScript.
  4. Open JavaScript (.JS) Files in Notepad This is advanced but an extremely effective solution. Opening a JavaScript file in Notepad blocks it from running any malicious scripts and allows you to examine the file contents.
  5. Don’t Enable Macros in Document Attachments Received Via Email Microsoft deliberately turned off auto-execution of macros by default many years ago as a security measure. A lot of infections rely on persuading you to turn macros back on, so don’t do it!
  6. Be Cautious about Unsolicited Attachments The crooks are relying on the dilemma you face knowing that you shouldn’t open a document until you are sure it’s one you want, but you can’t tell if it’s one you want until you open it. If in doubt, leave it out.
  7. Monitor Administrator Rights Constantly review administrator rights. Know who has them and remove those who do not need them.
  8. Stay Up-to-Date with New Security Features in Your Business Applications Other than new features with newer versions of software, they also come designed with security features such as blocking macros in Office applications.
  9. Regulate External Network Access Don’t leave ports exposed to the world. Lock down your organization’s remote access and other management protocols. Furthermore, use two-factor authentication whenever it is offered.
  10. Use Strong Passwords It sounds trivial, but it really isn’t. A weak and predictable password can give hackers access to your entire network in a matter of seconds. We recommend making them impersonal, at least 12 characters long, using a mix of upper and lower case and adding a sprinkle of random punctuation Ju5t.LiKETh1s!

 

To stop ransomware, you need to have effective and advanced protection in place at every stage of an attack: Firewalls with built-in active security, AntiVirus Software, a patching method for your computer(s), regular training of employees and, finally, a safe and secure backup solution to get your data back in the event of an attack. QCBN

By Theo Soumilas

Theo Soumilas is the owner of Northern Arizona IT servicing the Quad Cities and Northern Arizona.

 

For additional information or to schedule an  appointment for a free assessment, call 928-719-7724 or visit northernazit.com.

 

Understanding the Benefits of Managed IT Services

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If there is one certainty in IT, it’s that things are uncertain. Computers crash, software doesn’t work as it should, and problems occur. And when they do, the way that you respond can be the difference between a minor hiccup and a full-blown business interruption.

That is where Managed IT Services offered by a Managed Service Provider (MSP) comes in. In short, managed services is a term that refers to the practice of outsourcing your company’s IT.

What does this mean for the small business owner? Managed Services is a full IT department that is proactively monitoring, managing, protecting and resolving issues that may arise at a pre-determined budgeted cost every month.

Here is a list of some of the features that may come with a Managed Services program.

Network Monitoring and Care: Your MSP keeps tabs on your network activity around the clock, and when a system or function fails, support teams immediately jump in to investigate. Once the problem is identified, the fix will be implemented — in many cases, before you’ve even realized there’s an issue.

Preventative Maintenance: Preventive maintenance service for desktops and servers regimentally monitors and addresses common problems experienced by users. Whether it’s getting rid of viruses, attacking spyware issues or installing patches, it is all handled in the background while your employees remain productive. Even when systems aren’t actually down, they can still run slowly or inefficiently. Preventative maintenance will maximize the value of your IT investment.

Security: Including Antivirus and Antimalware software that is monitored and the moment a computer or system is compromised, the software automatically begins to remediate the issue while an engineer is actively monitoring the progress and ready to react further if necessary.

Firewall Security: The firewall is the business owner’s first line of defense from the internet. Firewalls are no longer the install-and-forget-it device. They are critical to the safety of an organization. Proactively maintaining and monitoring the security features within the firewall is critical. In addition, protecting your small business from your employees’ activities can help prevent a PR nightmare.

Email Spam and Virus Filtering: One of the main entry points for viruses and malware entering a company’s network is through email. Scanning every email for viruses and spam before they arrive to your cellphone, tablet or computer will help minimize the risk of an attack. Also scanning email that is coming out of your organization helps mitigate the embarrassment of explaining to your clients and vendors that the email they just received is not legitimate or worse contains a virus.

Business Continuity and Data Backup: As the last line of defense, data backup and continuity solutions ensure your critical information is secure, backed up and accessible whenever you need it – even during a network failure or a disaster.

What are the benefits?

Reduce Risk
Every investment your business makes carries a certain risk. Government regulations, changes in technologies, financial conditions and markets all change at a rapid pace. When you utilize an MSP, they manage a lot of this risk for you because of their experience, training and expertise in areas such as compliance and security.

Level the Playing Field
Larger companies typically have in-house support services with a team of full-time IT professionals. Small- to medium-sized businesses can’t afford that luxury on their own. One of the benefits of managed IT services is that outsourcing helps to gain the expertise and the insight that larger companies have. This can help level the playing field between you and your competition or be a strategic advantage for your organization.

Compliance and Security
When you outsource to an MSP that is familiar with PCI and HIPAA compliance standards, it minimizes the risk related to credit card numbers, client data or any other sensitive information.

Lower Costs and Predictable Spending
The ultimate benefit of a managed services model is its ability to lower business costs. One of the costs that businesses don’t always remember is that MSPs help minimize the chance of expensive network disasters. In addition, knowing what your monthly IT spending is going to be, eliminates those unexpected IT costs.

Access to IT Professionals
An MSP is essentially an in-house IT TEAM at your disposal, but without the cost.
When a business has limited resources, it limits the time and attention of every owner and manager. A key managed services benefit is helping you stay focused on your business needs and lets the MSP deal with the complex IT situations. Your business deserves to run at its highest efficiency, and that can only be done when your networks are operational. QCBN

By Theo Soumilas

For additional information or to schedule an appointment for a free assessment, call 928-719-7724 or visit northernazit.com.

Theo Soumilas is the owner of Northern Arizona IT servicing the Quad Cities and Northern Arizona.