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Recently, I had the opportunity to work with The Drake State Technical College I.T. Team in Huntsville. We were finishing up a large campus security camera project with new servers, new software and a host of cameras, cabling and integration. Nick Ksepka, Coordinator of Information Technology Services at Drake State, set me up in his “War Room” with a temporary project office.
What I noticed over the course of a few months was just how smoothly this IT Department ran – like a well-oiled machine. It was impressive!
The guys working in this I.T. department - Nick, Kevin, Victor and Jerry - were remarkably responsive and courteous to everyone - staff, students, vendors, delivery drivers, EVERY SINGLE PERSON! I witnessed each end user met with the most outstanding customer service skills. These guys did not overwhelm anyone with “tech talk” but patiently, quickly, and professionally resolved issues brought to them by each person.
Phones were always answered live (I never observed any phone call go to voicemail while someone was at their desk) and walk-ins were always greeted with a smile and a
“how can we help you?”. What a comfortable and positive environment! I even noticed the staff stopping in to say hello on their way by.
So, what makes this I.T. department different from others? I asked Nick this very question. His response?
“The people and their willingness to help. Excellent
customer service - that is what it is all about.”
I asked Nick “So, how do you hire that or create that within your department? “
His response was exhilarating – “If you can find someone who loves technology, that has a burning desire to learn and grow, AND enjoys helping others to succeed, then you
have a HOME RUN! I.T. support is really about Customer Service. Customer Service is really about caring for that individual, taking their problem, and making it your own.”
Nick Ksepka has been in I.T. for 10 years - all with Drake State. First, he was there as a student. Halfway through his Associate’s Degree, he started volunteering his time with the I.T. department which led to being hired as a computer tutor and, shortly thereafter, a part time Network Technician. After graduating from Alabama A&M University, Nick was hired as the Coordinator of I.T. Services, which is his present title at Drake State. During his time as a Network Technician, Nick and his supervisor started a student I.T. internship program to give Computer Information Systems students the chance to gain experience working in a production I.T. environment before graduating. This internship program, along with a growing demand for I.T. support at the College lead to the hiring of Victor, Kevin, and Jerry.
Today, the Drake State Technical College I.T. Department supports over 1000 devices and 1100 +/- students and staff.
-- Patrick Crabtree, President of Crabtree Computers
Crabtree Client Spotlight:
Drake State Technical College
The Crabtree Connection Technical tips, cybersecurity alerts, & strategies for your business
November 2017 Crabtree Computer Services, Inc.
Photo, Left: Nick testing a new open source Point of Sales system to record purchases for the Culinary Arts’ Thursday dollar menu café.
The Crabtree Connection November 2017
Get More Free Tips, Tools and Services At Our Web Site: www.crabtreecomputer.com (205)572-4250
Current Cyber Threats and Crabtree’s Recommendations to Avoid Them
A New Type Of Ransomware: ‘BAD RABBIT’ Recently, reports surfaced that a new kind of malware called “BadRabbit” was spreading around Europe. BadRabbit locks away files and demands affected users pay a ransom in order
to unlock them. However, many experts have cautioned victims not to pay as it is unlikely that the people behind Bad Rabbit will uphold their end of the bargain.
It appears that this malware spread by way of fake Adobe Flash updates. Users who visited the infected sites were told to update their Flash Player. Of course, instead of getting Adobe, they got Bad Rabbit.
Benjamin Franklin once said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” so the best thing users can do to protect themselves is take precautions against malware. Never download files from
unverified sources, make sure you use an anti-virus software and, as annoying as Windows updates can be, try to keep your machine as up to date as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, or if you’d like more information about Crabtree Computer’s
network security services, contact us at (205)572-4250.
Cyber Threat Name: Bad Rabbit
Primary “Must-Haves”: Good firewall, good antivirus, and good “tested” backups.
IMPORTANT: Do not download anything questionable unless you have verified with your I.T. Support Team!
Cyber Threat Name: MS Office Exploit/DDE
Primary “Must-Haves”: Good firewall, good antivirus and good “tested” backups
IMPORTANT:
• Evaluate the authenticity of unsolicited emails before interacting with them;
• View emails in plain text format to completely stop DDE attacks embedded directly in emails from running.
• Use a strong email security system that prevents phishing emails, spam, and other unwanted messages from reaching your inbox.
• Get in the habit of checking for Microsoft updates, as they're usually quick to release patches after vulnerabilities have been discovered.
Cyber Threat Name: KRACK
Primary “Must-Haves”: Good firewall, good antivirus, and good “tested” backups
IMPORANT:
• Download patches immediately,
• If you do need to connect to a public WiFi hotspot, visit websites that start with “HTTPS,
• Hop on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) You can also use a VPN service to hide all network activity. Simply put, VPNs encrypt your internet connection so that all the data you’re transmitting is safe from prying eyes.
Is Your Business At
Risk Of Being
Hacked? Your business is likely at risk more than you realize. Small businesses typically have a moderate amount of data with minimal security - and that is quite appealing to hackers because they can use that info to steal from others.
When you are unprepared for a cyber attack, your business is at risk. Hackers can steal money, employee details, client data and vendor info - and a data breach will damage your reputation and your client relationships.
You have to make it a priority to ensure your business is secure. There are a few ways you can do this:
➢ Train your employees - cybersecurity awareness is key.
➢ Update computers and mobile devices to protect against latest threats.
➢ Create backups - always have another copy of your data.
➢ Restrict access - only authorized people should have access to company data.
➢ Secure business WiFi - it should be secured so only employees are able to access it. Guests should not have the same access as employees. An open WiFi network can be created separately for guests
and clients.
The above are only the basic steps to help reduce your risks. If you’d like details on Crabtree Computer’s Managed Security Services to ensure your business is secured, contact us at (205)572-4250.
KRACK Hacks: What You Need To Know You’ve heard of ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, and even phishing, but one hacking technique you may not have heard of is the KRACK exploit. This attack takes advantage of a vulnerability in WiFi networks, which puts any device with a wireless connection at risk. Here’s everything you need to know about KRACK.
What is KRACK? Simply put, KRACK, short for ‘key reinstallation attack,’ allows hackers to bypass WPA2 -- a security protocol used by routers and devices to encrypt activity -- and intercepts sensitive data passing between the mobile device and the wireless router, including login details, credit card numbers, private emails, and photos.
In extreme cases, KRACKed devices can be remotely controlled. For example, hackers can log in to your surveillance systems and shut them down.
What’s worse, Internet of Things devices -- like smart thermostats and IP cameras -- rarely receive security fixes, and even if some are available, applying patches are difficult, as these devices tend to have complex user interfaces.
The good news, however, is you can do several things to mitigate the risks.
Download patches immediately According to recent reports, security patches have already been released for major platforms, including iOS, Windows, and Android. Router manufacturers such as Ubiquiti, Mikrotik, Meraki, and FortiNet have also issued firmware updates, so make sure to install them as soon as possible.
Although IoT patches are rare, consider getting your smart devices
from reputable vendors that push out updates regularly. It’s also a good idea to contact a managed services provider to install the updates for you.
Use Ethernet connections Some wireless routers don’t yet have a security patch, so while you’re waiting, use an Ethernet cable and disable your router’s wireless setting. Turn off the WiFi on your devices as well to make sure you’re not connecting to networks susceptible to KRACK.
Stay off public networks Free public WiFi networks -- even ones that are password-protected -- in your local cafe should also be avoided because they usually don’t have holistic security measures in place, making them easy targets for cybercriminals.
Connect to HTTPS websites If you do need to connect to a public WiFi hotspot, visit websites that start with “HTTPS,” and stay away from ones that are prefaced with “HTTP.” This is because HTTPS websites encrypt all traffic between your browser and the website, regardless of whether the connection is vulnerable to KRACK
Hop on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) You can also use a VPN service to hide all network activity. Simply put, VPNs encrypt your internet connection so that all the data you’re transmitting is safe from prying eyes.
Although the potential impact of a KRACK hack is devastating, security awareness and top-notch support are the best ways to stay safe online. Want more security tips? Contact us today at (205)572-4250.
The Crabtree Connection November 2017
Get More Free Tips, Tools and Services At Our Web Site: www.crabtreecomputer.com (205)572-4250
The Crabtree Connection November 2017
Get More Free Tips, Tools and Services At Our Web Site: www.crabtreecomputer.com (205)572-4250
“If you are working on
something you really care
about, you don’t have to be
pushed. The vision pulls
you.”
Steve jobs
At Crabtree, we guarantee what no other IT Service Provider in Alabama will: Your Complete 100% No-Questions-Asked
Guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the products or services provided by us, we will fix it on our dime, no matter what it takes!
Whether that be hundreds of hours of engineering services, or complete product replacement -- we don’t care. We will do what
it takes to earn your Complete 100% Satisfaction.
Crabtree Computer Services, 1401 Montgomery Highway, Suite 111 Birmingham, AL 35216 www.crabtreecomputer.com (205)572-4250
➢ ExacqVision Surveillance Software with Crabtree Computer is offering a FREE Lunch and Learn and Onsite Demonstration of ExacqVision Software with easy camera management coupled with excellent video security for your I.T. Department. Must be booked before December 31st, 2017 and include a minimum of 20 cameras. Contact Crabtree at [email protected] or (205)572-4250 with questions or to schedule.
➢ Checkpoint Software and Crabtree Computer is offering a FREE Network I.T. Audit for
Colleges, Universities and Businesses with >10 users. This is an excellent assessment of your current network environment that will show you “the low hanging fruit” that Cyber Thieves target first! Know what you need to do to secure those vulnerabilities and liabilities! This offering normally runs >$5,000.00 but sign up by December 31st, 2017 and get it FREE! Contact Crabtree at [email protected] or (205)572-4250 with questions or to schedule.
➢ Crabtree Small Business Network Assessment FREE for your business (for businesses with five or
more users). Sign up by December 31st 2017 and we will come on site and evaluate your Network Speed, Security, Servers, User PC’s, and Backups. Find out where you stand with your I.T. Network and where you might need to shore up security, or backups, or reduce internet and phone expenses (while increasing speed!). Contact Crabtree at [email protected] or (205)572-4250 with questions or to schedule.
Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas Season. Thank You
for considering Crabtree Computer Services for your I.T. Support or Project.
Crabtree Holiday Specials
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