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Ferrum Technology Services Blog

Ferrum Technology Services has been serving the Elgin area since 2007, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Your Password Has Been Stolen. Period.

Your Password Has Been Stolen. Period.

That’s not hyperbole. This isn’t some click-bait title to try to get you to care about cybersecurity. A password you use has certainly been stolen, and statistically, more than one of your passwords has likely been compromised.

How this affects you depends on a number of factors, so let’s get into that, and talk about how you can protect your identity, your business data, your customers, and prevent a whole lot of problems.

Are Your Emails Encrypted? They Should Be!

Are Your Emails Encrypted? They Should Be!

Email is a centralizing communication tool for most businesses, but what would you do if we asked if your email system was encrypted? Could you give us an honest answer? Encryption is a powerful security measure for networks and infrastructure, so it makes sense to use it for your email solution, too. Here’s what you need to know about encryption and email.

Stay Safe on Social Media with These Strategies

Stay Safe on Social Media with These Strategies

With social media becoming a major part of how society communicates, there’s no better time to discuss how to stay safe while you’re using these significant mediums. Whether you enjoy social media or are against it, there’s no denying that you need to take responsibility to use it. This includes prioritizing your own security.

How to Learn from Your Technology Misfires

How to Learn from Your Technology Misfires

Dealing with failure can be tough, especially in workplace projects. However, it is crucial to see these failures as opportunities for growth and improvement.

What You Can Do About Today’s Most Pressing Cybersecurity Threats

What You Can Do About Today’s Most Pressing Cybersecurity Threats

As cyberthreats become more advanced, businesses must take proactive steps to address them. Cyberattacks can have devastating effects, making it crucial to enhance employees’ awareness of online threats. This month, we examine the top three IT security challenges businesses face and how to combat them effectively.

Co-Managed IT Can Help Alleviate Some Technology Troubles

Co-Managed IT Can Help Alleviate Some Technology Troubles

If your organization has an internal IT department, chances are they're managing a complex infrastructure while being understaffed and overworked. This isn't a criticism; it's simply the reality for many SMBs (we understand this well). We can ease the burden on your IT team and streamline your technology management.

Do What You Need to Do to Make Phishing a Non-Issue

Do What You Need to Do to Make Phishing a Non-Issue

If you are a consistent reader of this blog, it will not surprise you that we think of phishing as one of the most significant threats that impact businesses today, regardless of their size or industry. Understanding this threat and implementing effective prevention measures is vital for safeguarding your organization. Let's go into how you can minimize the impact of phishing schemes and protect your business.

The Department of Homeland Security will Use AI, Here’s How?

The Department of Homeland Security will Use AI, Here’s How?

With artificial intelligence becoming a household conversation starter across the country, it’s no wonder the technology has become a key part of operations for countless entities. It’s used in business, education, civic life, and elsewhere… including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. How is the US DHS using AI to promote the security of everyday Americans?

Use These Security Tips the Next Time You Travel for Work

Use These Security Tips the Next Time You Travel for Work

Travel has become a common occurrence for many employees and business professionals. Yet despite the travel, their responsibilities do not get put on halt. Whether it’s for a conference, a professional development workshop, or visiting a potential client or vendor, chances are you’ll bring technology with you. It’s up to you to ensure that it is kept safe from today’s rampant cyberthreats.

What is the Apple Mercenary Attack, and Why Should You Care?

What is the Apple Mercenary Attack, and Why Should You Care?

Apple rarely sends out alerts about threats, and that is because threats that target Apple devices are somewhat rare in the first place. However, on April 10, 2024, Apple saw fit to send one to certain users in 92 nations by email. These notifications were “designed to inform and assist users who may have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks.” What does this mean, exactly?

Endpoint Detection is Critical for Your Organization’s Security

Endpoint Detection is Critical for Your Organization’s Security

In today’s world of perpetual security breaches and cyberattacks, it’s no surprise that the greatest response to such threats is to actively prevent them from harming your organization in the first place. One key tool in this effort is an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution. With endpoint protection on your business’ side, you can leverage a robust and powerful security solution to handle a significant portion of your network security.

Tip of the Week: 3 Easy Methods to Police Your IT Infrastructure Policies

Tip of the Week: 3 Easy Methods to Police Your IT Infrastructure Policies

How clearly outlined are your IT-related policies and procedures in the workplace? It is difficult at best to manage these expectations alongside your employees, but it’s a necessary task all the same. Today, we want to help your organization walk the fine line between protecting your assets, data, and reputation, and granting your employees permissions to do what they must on your network infrastructure.

Three Reasons Why All SMBs Should Encrypt Their Email

Three Reasons Why All SMBs Should Encrypt Their Email

Encryption is a powerful tool that any business can use to beef up its security infrastructure. While it’s often discussed in the context of virtual private networks, it’s also a key component in keeping any email solution secure. Why is encryption such a valuable security measure for email, and why is it considered non-negotiable for businesses of all kinds? Let’s take a closer look.

When to Know It’s Time to Upgrade Your Technology

When to Know It’s Time to Upgrade Your Technology

When you ask a managed service provider or other technology expert when you should be upgrading your technology, you’ll likely get a pretty nebulous answer like, “it depends.” That’s because there isn’t necessarily a hard or steadfast response to this question, and the answer will change depending on various factors that are inconsistent across businesses.

Three Key Metrics for Your Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan

Three Key Metrics for Your Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan

When it comes to your business’ data backup and disaster recovery, you want to have clear outcomes that you aim for, as well as metrics that help you gauge success. Today, we want to highlight some of the most important metrics associated with data backup and disaster recovery, as well as the importance of testing your systems. Trust us when we say that a solid data backup and disaster recovery strategy is crucial to the success of any business—including yours.

Identifying and Combating Potential Phishing Attacks

Identifying and Combating Potential Phishing Attacks

Phishing scams are one of the most common (and insidious) problems you and your team may encounter. While it may seem simple to avoid a phishing attack, the truth is that many of these schemes are highly sophisticated and are constantly evolving to become more so.

What Small Businesses Can Learn from the UnitedHealth Hack

What Small Businesses Can Learn from the UnitedHealth Hack

Cyberattacks often attack healthcare organizations, including businesses and vendors they associate with, primarily due to how lucrative they can be. One particularly nasty hack is just one of the many organizations which have been featured in headlines due to their inability to protect against security threats. Let’s explore this new situation with UnitedHealth Group and see if there is anything you can learn from it.

Cybersecurity Training Can Be a Bore, but It Doesn’t Have to Be

Cybersecurity Training Can Be a Bore, but It Doesn’t Have to Be

Cybersecurity training can be an overwhelmingly annoying issue for everyone. Unfortunately, it’s a must. Understanding the reasons behind this reluctance can help organizations tailor their training programs to be more engaging and effective. In this month’s newsletters, we go into four common reasons why employees might harbor disdain for cybersecurity training.

Even the Most Diligent Individuals Are Not Immune to Data Breaches

Even the Most Diligent Individuals Are Not Immune to Data Breaches

Humans have all kinds of stakes in digital security thanks to today’s online world demanding that we be more online than ever. Whether it’s personal information or financial details, you can bet everyone is at risk to some degree. Today, we want to examine why individuals—even technology professionals—are not immune to data theft.

New Variant of XLoader Malware Runs in the Background and Steals Your Photos, Texts, and Other Data

New Variant of XLoader Malware Runs in the Background and Steals Your Photos, Texts, and Other Data

If you’re in the know about cybersecurity and, specifically, mobile malware, you might have heard the name XLoader in the past. The malware has gone through considerable versions and variations, allowing it to steal information from users in more than seven countries, but the most recent is incredibly scary.

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