An IMPORTANT Security Warning For Businesses Running Windows Server 2003

If your organization is currently running Microsoft Server 2003 on one or more servers in your office, you need to know about a dangerous security threat to your organization that must be addressed very soon. Please take a moment to read this important announcement.

As your local Microsoft Partner, we are aggressively reaching out to all businesses within the Miami-Dade area that use Microsoft Windows Server 2003 to alert you to this serious security risk to your organization and inform you about what you need to do now to protect your company.

Server 2003 Changes Must Be Made Between Now And The Middle Of 2015

Microsoft has officially announced that it will retire support on the Server 2003 operating system on July 14, 2015. Once support ends on this 11-year-old product, there will be no further patches or security updates, exposing any company running this software to major security and compliance risks. Any server with this software installed will be completely exposed to serious hacker attacks aimed at taking control of your network, stealing data, crashing your system and inflicting a host of other business-crippling problems you do NOT want to have to deal with.

Unless you don’t care about cybercriminals running rampant in your company’s server, you MUST upgrade any servers running this operating system.

FREE Windows Server 2003 Migration Plan Shows You The Easiest, Most Budget-Friendly Way To Upgrade

As a local Microsoft Certified Partner, my company has committed to helping businesses in the Miami-Dade area by offering a Windows Server 2003 Migration Plan for FREE.

The first step in any major project is preparation. At no cost, we’ll come to your office and prepare a customized Server 2003 Migration Plan for your office. In this plan, we will map out the exact steps you need to take to ensure proper migration, including the need for planned downtime, software and data restore procedures, and alternative migration options that minimize the costs involved.

I understand that this consultation will not be a “heavy pressure” sales meeting and that it will arm me with the information and facts I need to best address this situation. Should I decide to seek your office and services after the consultation, then I will contact you.

During this assessment, I will receive:

• A Customized Migration Plan that will show me how to painlessly upgrade my old Windows Server 2003 equipment. If appropriate for my business, I will also receive information on how I can upgrade my old machines while eliminating the need for me to spend a small fortune on new hardware and software.
• A FREE Multi-point analysis of my computer network aimed at exposing any security risks and issues that I wasn’t aware of and also to find ways to make my business FAR more efficient and productive.

To secure your FREE Server 2003 Migration Plan, call us today at 305-574-2169.

Or E-mail us at info@virtualitmanagers.com

Important: The average server upgrade project takes nearly 200 days to complete. Don’t wait until July when everyone is begging for urgent help.

Does The Thought Of Your In-House Computer Expert Leaving Scare You To Death?

Here’s a scary question most businesses don’t think about: what would happen if your computer guy suddenly quit? Most business owners think it would only be a temporary inconvenience, when, in fact, the opposite is usually true. Want to know how much you are at risk? Ask yourself the following 6 frightening questions:

• Do you have written network documentation about your computer network? What software licenses do you own? What are the critical administrator passwords to your systems and devices? How is your computer network structured? What hardware do you own and when do your equipment warranties expire? Are there cloud vendors for e-mail, online storage, hosted line-of-business applications, etc., that you don’t currently have? You should NEVER allow a single IT person or company to keep this information under their full control over your network and company. If they suddenly left for any reason, this could lead to huge consequences for your company.

• Do you know where your backup files are stored and if they are being stored properly? If you are like most business owners, you’re too busy dealing with the “crisis of the day” to think about system backups and probably leave tasks to your internal expert. If your database gets fried and your tech is nowhere to be found, you might be in a lot of trouble.

• Do you have a written plan for restoring your network fast in case of a disaster? If you don’t have a fully tested disaster recovery plan for your office, you could be at serious risk without ever knowing it until something happens.

• Do you know where all of your software is stored? Bad things can happen to computers and servers, and the situation can be made worse if you are not prepared. Taking a minute to organize and store your software in a secure place can save you a considerable chunk of money in the event that you need to restore a program on your systems. If you don’t have access to the software or don’t know where it is located, you might be forced to buy the software again.

• Do you know what routine maintenance is being done on your network? I know that the very idea of learning about and keeping track of all the servers, workstations and peripherals on your network is about as welcome as a black cat crossing your path, but it is important information to maintain. If your in-house expert leaves, who will take over?

• Do you know how to protect yourself from an ugly security breach if your in-house computer expert leaves? What happens if your in-house expert splits with no warning AND has access to your company’s network? As soon as humanly possible, you should disable his or her access, including remote access to your network and all cloud-based applications.

So how did you do? If you answered “no” to even one of these questions, you need to get the answers now, before it’s too late.

No Tricks Here! Never Be Stranded With Computer Problems Again!

Finally, An Easy Way To Keep Your Computers Running Faster, Cleaner And Problem-Free Without The Expense Of A Full-Time IT Staff

Does your computer network have frequent problems that frustrate you and your staff, interrupt your business and cause you to waste precious time?

Are you concerned about security, viruses, spyware and hackers, but don’t have the time or expertise to keep up with all of the latest security patches and updates?

Would you like to save thousands on IT support and repairs while practically eliminating downtime and other annoying computer problems?

If so, then you’ll want to know about our Proactive Managed IT Services Plans. This ongoing monitoring and maintenance service will keep your computer network up and running by preventing outages and downtime, and securing your data from loss, hackers, viruses, spyware and a host of other problems.

Call Today For A Free Network Security Audit.

305-574-2169

Or visit:

http://virtualitmanagers.com/managed-it-services/

7 Signs Your Computers Been Hacked

The world has witnessed a tremendous change with the advent of the Internet. Sharing and receiving information was never this easy. Banking, shopping, retailing, blogging, socializing, etc. went big in no time – and so did hacking. With the Internet spreading all across the globe, gave rise to serious security threat. This hijacking of your data is put to check with sophisticated PC or Mobile security software. So, how will a user know in the first place, whether a device is hacked? Check out few sure-shot signs to let you know that your device is under threat.

No.1: Fake Antivirus Messages

You cannot stop them by simply clicking on stop or cancel icon. These are generally malicious program to create a lure to buy the product and the services of some useless and unauthorized sites.

No.2: Useless Browser toolbars

New toolbars show up in your browser, which are of no use. The browser will give you a choice, to dump or remove the bogus toolbars. These are requests from unknown vendors. Always reject.

No.3: Redirected Internet searches

You land on some other page where you never intended to go. Most of the hackers get paid for redirecting your browser to some other website.

No.4: Random Pop-ups

The device receives unnatural pop-ups from several websites while browsing the Internet. You can’t stop them even with your browsers’ anti-pop mechanism.

No.5: Sending Fake emails from your email account

Receiving useless and fake emails is fairly common. The malware program or hackers obtain your list of friends from your email account address book and forward emails to access critical information from your PC or mobile device.

No.6: Sudden change in your online password

Change in your email account password. These are done purposefully by the hacker to take the user to the phishing page. Logging on this page will give them all personal details of your account.

No.7: Automatic movement of your mouse

This is the most significant sign of hacking. The mouse pointer moves automatically and makes selection without your choice.

If you have concerns about your computer or network security our team would be happy to provide you with a FREE comprehensive Security Audit (A $450 value). Schedule your Audit today by calling our office at 305-600-5459.

Maintaining HIPAA Compliance with Online Data Storage

Keeping patient records secure and private is the concern of every hospital and health care provider, but they are often overwhelmed with years and years of patient information and the lack of adequate storage space. Destroying these health records in order to make room for more storage is often not an option. Patients want access to all of their health care records, and physicians need them in order to better diagnose patients. Online data storage is a way to satisfy all of these issues.

Using online data storage for these records allows easier access for patients, and offers easier sharing of patient information from hospital to physician, as well as from physician to physician. Storing health records online isn’t, however, without security concerns. Patients, hospitals, and physicians want assurance that these confidential records will remain safe, private, and secure, and will only be accessed by those authorized to do so.

What is HIPAA?

HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was created in order to protect health information and give patients certain rights regarding their private health information. It also allows for disclosure of health information necessary for patient care. This act specifies safeguards necessary for administrative, and physical and technical handling of patient health information.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS.gov) HIPAA has many requirements and restrictions. It requires safeguards for:

• Access Control
• Audit Controls
• Person or Entity Authentication

Access control is defined in the HIPAA Privacy Rule as “the ability or the means necessary to read, write, modify, or communicate data/information or otherwise use any system resource.” It should allow authorized users to only access the minimum amount of information necessary to complete job functions. The Access Control specification also requires the implementation of an exclusive user identification or user ID, and immediate access in case of an emergency.

What Type of Security is Necessary?

When dealing with patient records in an office, maintaining privacy and security usually involves storing patient files in locked cabinets where the files can be physically secured and visibly monitored at all times. When you are storing patient information online, certain precautions must be met in order to maintain the same security and privacy guaranteed each patient.

While HIPAA permits patient records to be transmitted over the Internet, businesses will want a service that offers file encryption, authentication and password protection in order to secure the information. Although HIPAA does not require online data storage services to have encryption, it does require that patient information be adequately protected and accessible only to authorized persons. Encryption is the best way to protect that information and ensure authorized access to those records. It is also important to offer backup services in case of a virus attack, flood, or fire. Finally, the service must offer a method of tracking any security breach, as well as the ability to lock out former employees after they have left or been terminated.

When storing patient information, it is important to stay HIPAA compliant, as the fines for not doing so are expensive. While online data storage for health care businesses guarantee less worry, work, and expense for health care providers, the service is only as good as the security offered. Remaining HIPAA compliant is vital in order to continue a good business relationship with the health care industry.

Click here to learn how Virtual IT Managers, Inc. can help you maintain HIPAA compliance with our Remote Online Data Storage Services for your practice in Miami, FL and surrounding cities.