Without technology, businesses cannot compete and succeed. But with the advancement in technology comes the ever-constant threat of hackers and cybercriminals That’s why small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) need to protect themselves with robust cybersecurity solutions managed by reputable managed IT services providers (MSPs) such as i3 Business Solutions

The numbers

Through the years, the number of SMBs falling victim to cyberattacks has drastically increased.

At i3, Cybersecurity is our highest priority. 

You may have heard in the news recently that there is a heightened cybersecurity alert status due to the events taking place in Ukraine (a notice was issued from CISA to assume a “Shields Up” posture).  We want to make sure that our clients are aware of this increased risk state so you can be extra vigilant in recognizing phishing emails, avoiding suspicious links/attachments or other anomalous activities.

Every technology you use — whether it’s a cloud-based program, a mobile application, or on-premises servers — contains sensitive business data vital to conducting operations. So how can you ensure the security of such data from cyberthreats like identity theft, phishing attacks, and other forms of fraud? Identity and access management (IAM) is the answer to this.

i3 invited guest speaker, Jay Ryerse – Vice President of Global Security Sales – to talk all about the Dark Web, the ransomware industry, and what it takes to protect your business from cyber crimes. Cyber crimes are only growing in 2022, so now is the perfect time to learn more and take the first step in securing your IT environment.

Our webinar this week, featuring guest speaker Wayne Selk, is all about cybersecurity. If you’re the owner, CEO, IT manager, or a manager at an SMB in Michigan, this webinar is for you! All it takes to become 1% more knowledgeable in cybersecurity is to spare 30 minutes of your day today and listen in on Wayne Selk, Senior Director, Cybersecurity Initiatives at ConnectWise, as he and Mike Ritsema discuss real life experiences and examples of cybersecurity incidents.

Do you ever go back and forth between Survey Monkey, your Outlook email, then Google Forms, and then back to Survey Monkey for your surveys? Last Thursday, our team at i3 went over a step-by-step tutorial on how to use Microsoft Forms. It may not be very familiar to you at first glance, but as you watch the 20-minute webinar, you will start to know exactly why it's the safest and easiest tool to use with your existing Microsoft Office account

View our time stamps below ⬇️

0:00 Intro from Mike Ritsema
1:39 Creating quick polls within Outlook
6:28 Creating surveys on Microsoft Forms
6:50 Setting themes, colors, and bcackground photos for Microsoft Forms
7:40 Types of survey questions you can ask on Microsoft Forms
10:41 Editing your text to be bold, italicized, etc.

This blog post credits Baracuda Smarter MSP and Wayne Machuca, the lead instructor for Information Systems and Technology Management, Cybersecurity, and Networking at Mount Hood Community College’s Oregon Center for Cybersecurity in Gresham, Oregon.

Businesses across all industries need to invest in technology to remain competitive. But because not all technologies deliver on their promised benefits, it’s vital for business leaders and/or their IT partners to make sure that their technology investments are worth keeping.

Many customer-facing businesses often experience a surge in customer calls during the holidays. It’s therefore important that your Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems are capable of handling the increased network demands and activity during one of the busiest times of the year.

If you think your email is safe from hackers, think again. A lack of sufficient email security protocols can lead to data theft, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and successful malware attacks. Here are some tips to secure your email account from cyberthreats and the many troubles that come with them.