Information technology blog, cybersecurity blog

We get it: finding an IT consultant or managed service provider (MSP) can be stressful. You’re likely at a place where the technology in your environment isn’t working as you need it to. Or perhaps you're in a more dire situation such as following a cyber attack, data breach, natural, or other disasters. Between cold emails from possible partners, Google searches, industry referrals, and advertisements, narrowing your search can be overwhelming.

Technology is central to your business. You may not associate your business with having an “IT” department or “IT” needs but your technology would disagree. The desktops, laptops, mobile devices, machines on the line, network modem, router, switch, and more all need to be kept running so your business can keep running. I'd bet this scenario isn't unfamiliar: you or one of your employees is typing away at a spreadsheet or invoice when suddenly the screen freezes up. No input received from the mouse or keyboard. You perform or hear that familiar sound of someone doing the mouse slam equivalent of hitting the side of an old TV set. Finally, the screen goes blank and the system goes offline for the foreseeable future.

You’ve probably seen or heard the term “managed service provider” or “MSP” in conversations or articles. “Isn’t that just a techie way of saying IT firm or IT consultant?”, you may have asked yourself. I hate to say it, but the short answer is “kind of”. Some companies will use the terms, “managed service provider”, “MSP”, “IT firm”, and “IT consultant” interchangeably. I get that it can be confusing especially because each of those terms has a different set of expectations that comes along with them.

Thrive Global recently conducted a Q&A with Kelser President Jim Parise as part of the outlet's series on “5 Things You Need to Know to Optimize Your Company’s Approach to Data Privacy and Cybersecurity.” The article also ran in Authority Magazine.

Senior consulting engineer Andrew Tyler was a panelist for a recent cybersecurity virtual forum presented by the Hartford Business Journal. The theme of the forum was how the pandemic has forced a change in the way many businesses approach cybersecurity in this new work-from-home world.

This isn’t news but cyber threats are a persistent issue for businesses and individuals alike in this day and age. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the threat landscape as cyber criminals are taking advantage of the related uncertainty and rapid transition to remote workforces and learning environments. In Connecticut, we saw that firsthand as a ransomware attack locked down the first day for Hartford Public Schools last month. The City of Hartford’s response was exemplary as they did many things right before, during, and after the attack, but it served as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of cyber criminals. With October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I reached out to some cybersecurity and technology professionals for tips and insights to help you secure your businesses and home (as for many of us this year our home has become our office) in hopes of a more cybersecure tomorrow for everyone.

The world learned last week that the information of over 10 million hotel guests at MGM Resorts was obtained by hackers. The data breach is the result of a security incident that occurred last year, but the data was being shared in hacker circles recently and discovered and verified by ZDnet. Most of the data is limited to hotel stay info, addresses, and phone numbers dating back to 2017 and earlier. Since Kelser is a trusted, local managed service and cybersecurity provider, FOX61 News had Kelser CTO Jonathan Stone on following the breach to discuss what hackers can do with this type of apparently harmless information.

Hopefully you’re reading this on a device that is running an operating system other than Windows 7. If not, I have some bad news for you. You’re on your own.