INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WHY 60% OF DATA BACKUPS FAIL BUSINESSES WHEN THEY NEED THEM MOST
OUR MISSION:
Fromnaturaldisastersandcyber-attacks toaccidentaldeletion,therearemany reasonsabusinessneedstobackupits data.However,Avast’slatestfindingson disasterrecoveryhighlightanalarming issueforsmallandmedium-sized businesses(SMBs):60%ofdatabackups arenotfullysuccessful,andhalfofthe attemptstorecoverdatafromthese backupsdon’twork.Thisleadsto businessesbeingofflineforanaverageof 79minutes,costingthemroughly$84,650 foreveryhourofdowntime.
Still,notallbackupsarecreatedequal.It’s importantyou’reawareofbackupbest practices,soyou’reconfidentyourbackup solutionwillworkwhenyouneedit most.
Why Backups Are Failing
Thereareafewcommonreasonsbackups areincompleteorarestorationfails:
featuresofmoreexpensiveproducts. Thiscanresultinbackupsthatarenot assecureorreliable.
Backup times are not optimal. If backupsarescheduledduringhightrafficperiodsorwhendataisbeing heavilymodified,there’sariskthat notalldatawillbecaptured.
Compatibilityissues. As your business evolves,sodoyoursystems andsoftware.However,newsystems maynotalwaysbefullycompatible withexistingbackupsolutions.This canleadtosituationswheredataisnot properlysavedor,evenifitis,cannot berestoredcorrectlybecausethe formatsorsystemsarenolonger aligned.
Human error. Mistakessuchas incorrectlyconfiguringbackup parameters,accidentallydeleting crucialfilesorignoringbackup schedulesandalertscanleadto backupfailures.
“As a business owner, you don’t have time to waste on technical and operational issues. That’s where we shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!”Dewayne Chappell continued on page 2...
Backup products are unreliable: Whenitcomestobackups,youget whatyoupayfor.Freeorcheap solutionsmaynotoffertherobust
continued from cover
Cyber-attacksandotherdisastersareaconstant threat.Ifyourbackupfailsandyougethacked, youmightlosedatapermanently.Additionally, healthcareandfinanceorganizationshavestrict complianceregulationsarounddatahandling, andfailedbackupscanresultinfines,legal challengesandadamagedreputation.
Best Practices For Successful Data Backup And Restoration
Reliabledatabackupsandsuccessfulrestoration areyourlifelineintimesofcrisis.From choosingtherightbackupsolutiontoregular testinganddailymonitoring,thesebest practicesprotectyourdatafromsurprise disruptions,ensuringyourbusinessdoesn’tmiss abeat,nomatterwhatcomesyourway.
1. Pick a solid backup solution. Don’tjustgoforthebignamesinbackup software;somemightnotdeliverwhatthey promise.Diggingdeepandfindingasolution thatsuitsyourneedsisessential.Forexample, immutablebackupsareamust-haveforanyone
needingtomeetstrictcompliancerules,asthey can’tbechangedordeleted,evenbya ransomwareattack.TalkwithyourITprovider aboutthebackuptechnologiesthey’reusingfor you,howquicklyyoucanexpecttorecover data,whatkindofdowntimeyoumightface andwhetheryourbackupsareonthecloud, localoramixofboth.Makesureyourbackup ticksalltheboxesforcompliance,especiallyif you’reinasensitivefieldlikehealthcare.
2.Use the 3-2-1 rule.
Onceyouhaveareliablebackupsolution, considerusingthe3-2-1backuprule,a standardsetofbestpracticesfordatarecovery. Therulerecommendsstoringthreecopiesof yourdataintwodifferentformats,withone copystoredoff-site.Thissignificantlyreduces yourriskoftotaldataloss.
3. Make sure a backup status report is being generated daily.
Ensuresomeone–eitheryouorsomeoneon yourITteam–ischeckingthebackupstatus everyday.Incompletebackupsshouldbe followeduponimmediately.EvenifyourIT
teamreceivesadailyreport,asktohavea weeklyormonthlyreportdeliveredtoyou too,soyoucanverifythatyourbackupsare successful.
4. Do regular restore tests.
Likeafiredrillforyourdata,doatrialrunand restoresomefilesoreventhewholeserver everyfewmonthstoensureeverythingworks asitshould.It’sonethingtohavebackups,but anothertoensuretheyareingoodcondition andthedatacanberetrievedasexpected.
Don’t Ignore Your Data Backups!
Backupsmightseemlikeoneofthose“setand forget”tasks,butwhendisasterstrikes–beita flood,fireorcyber-attack–yourbackup couldbewhatsavesyour business.Ifyouhaven’t already,starta conversationwith yourITprovider andmakesureyour backupstrategyis solidandreliable.
Thisreportwilloutlineinplain,nontechnicalEnglishthecommon mistakesthatmanysmall-businessownersmakewiththeir computernetworksthatcostthemthousandsinlostsales, productivityandcomputerrepairbills,andwillprovideaneasy, provenwaytoreduceorcompletelyeliminatethefinancialexpense andfrustrationcausedbytheseoversights.
Download your FREE copy today at www.divergys.com/protect or call our office at (713) 715-1432. FREE REPORT:
July20,1969,justeightyearsafterPresident Kennedymadeoneofhistory’smostambitious declarations–theUSwouldsendamantothe moonandback–NeilArmstrongandEdwin “Buzz”Aldrinbecamethefirstpeopletosetfoot onthemoon.
Today,Buzzisaphilanthropist,authorand renownedspeakerwhoshareswhatbeinga spacepioneertaughthimaboutlifeonEarth:no missioniscompletedalone,failureisacrucial milestoneofsuccessandtoneverstop envisioningyournextimpossibledream.
Lessons From “The Moonman”
Dream The Impossible
AldrinremembersPresidentKennedy’s announcementin1961,andalthoughhewasn’t surehowthey’ddoit,hesaid,“Wedidhavea leaderwiththatdetermination,thecourageand theconfidencethatwecangetthere.”Without aleaderbraveenoughtoshareanimpossible vision,ideasnevergetofftheground.In business,it’scrucialtogiveyourteama meaningfulvisiontorallyaround,something theywanttobeapartof.
Behind Every Successful Mission Is A TEAM
The“backroomers”–softwareengineers, secretariesandeventhetailorswho manufacturedspacesuits–wereallnecessaryto Apollo’ssafelaunchandreturntoEarth.When Apollo11landed,theworldcheered.“People werenotjustcheeringforthreeguysbutfor whatwerepresented,”Buzzrecalledinaspeech. “Thatbythenationandtheworldcoming together,wehadaccomplishedtheimpossible, andthetruevalueofitistheamazingstoryof innovationandteamworkthatovercamemany obstaclestoreachthemoon.”
Successisrarelythestoryofoneperson.Rather, it’softenthestoryofmanypeopleworking together.“Therearealotofpeopleouttherein theuniversewhowishyouwellandwanttobe yourfriend.Letthemhelpyou,”Buzzsaid. “Youdon’thavetocarryitallonyourown.”
Failure Is A Mark Of Growth
Inthebook No Dream Is Too High,Buzz explainshoweveryoneatNASAknewtherisks involvedintheirmission.Onlybyplanningfor failureandtestingeverysystem,componentand spacesuitzippercouldtheyimprovedesignand functionality–failurewaspartoftheprocess.
“Somepeopledon’tliketoadmitthattheyhave failedorthattheyhavenotyetachievedtheir goalsorliveduptotheirownexpectations,” Buzzwrote.“Butfailureisnotasignof weakness.Itisasignthatyouarealive andgrowing.”
Know What’s Next
Whathappenswhenyouaccomplishwhatyou setouttodoafterallthecheersandhigh-fives? AfterApollo,Buzzwroteinthebook MagnificentDesolation,“Therewasnogoal,no senseofcalling,noprojectworthpouring myselfinto.”
Hesunkintoseveredepressionforyears,finally realizing,“Ineededtorealignmydirectionand findanewrunway.”
Today,he’saspeaker,authorandphilanthropist forSTEAM-basededucationtohelpgetthe nextgenerationofheroestothemoon–andbeyond.Perhapsthekeytolifelong fulfillmentisneverto“land”fortoolong–to keeplearning,growingandachieving impossiblethings.
SHINY NEW GADGET OF THE MONTH
Amazon Basics 8-Sheet High Security Micro-Cut Shredder
Yourrecyclingandgarbagebinsarea jackpotforidentitythievesEvenif youdon’thandleCIA-levelclassified documents,criminalscanuseyour recycledmail–likebankorcredit cardstatements–tostealpersonal informationAshredderlikethe AmazonBasics8-SheetHighSecurity Micro-CutShredderisaneasyand affordablewaytosecureyour informationYoucanshredupto eightpiecesofpapersimultaneously, withafive-minutecontinuousrun time.Recycletheshreds,useitas packagingmaterialoraddittoyour cat’slitterboxEitherway,ashredder keepsyourinformationoutofthe handsofcriminals.
Wearegladtohavethemonourteam
Divergystakestimetomeetandtalk withusaboutourneedssotheycan understandourbusinessinorderto providesolutionstobusiness challenges.Theirteamisvery responsivetooursupportrequestsand keepusproductive
Duringarecenttaxseasonwe experiencedsomeseriouschallenges withoursoftwareFollowingthat Divergysresearchedandworkedwith ustofindanewsolutionsowewillbe problemfreeduringthenexttax season.
Wearegladtohavethemonourteam
Edie Broussard CPA
W H A T ’ S N E W
In our latest update, we ' re excited to highlight our referral program! Know a company that could benefit from our services? Refer them to us, and upon signing a contract, we'll show our appreciation by rewarding you with half of the amount stated on their first invoice It's our way of saying thank you for spreading the word about our offerings!
DEEP WORK
By Cal Newport
It’s undeniable: we’re more distracted than ever From text messages and e-mail pings to social media and our own disruptive thoughts, the relentless influx of distractions is sabotaging our productivity and even our ability to be present in our lives Deep Work, by Cal Newport, is a compelling guide to help us take back our focus and cultivate more fulfillment in our work Newport introduces readers to four “rules” to transform our minds and habits into a hyper-focused superpower: work deeply, embrace boredom, quit social media and drain the shallows Through engaging stories and practical advice, the book outlines a framework for cultivating a deep work ethic, promising professional growth and a more profound sense of personal fulfillment Deep Work is an essential read for those looking to navigate a distracted world with grace and achieve focused success
DEEPFAKES ARE COMING TO THE WORKPLACE
DeepfakesresultfrompeopleusingAIand machine-learningtechnologytomakeitseemlike someoneissayingsomethingtheyneveractually saidLikeeveryothertechonthemarket,itcanbe usedwithgoodandbadintentionsForexample, DavidBeckhamappearedinamalariaawareness campaign,andAIenabledhimtoappeartospeak ninedifferentlanguagesOntheotherhand, pornographicdeepfakesofTaylorSwiftwentviral onX(tothehorrorofSwiftiesworldwide),and audiodeepfakesofBidenencouragingNew Hampshirevotersnottocastballotscaused concernamongexperts
However,deepfakesaren’thappeningonlyto high-profilepoliticiansandcelebrities–theyare quicklymakingtheirwayintotheworkplace.In April2023,forensicsresearchcompanyRegula reportedthatone-thirdofbusinessesworldwide hadalreadybeenattackedbydeepfakeaudio(37%) andvideo(29%)fraudRegulaalsonotedthatthe averagecostofidentityfraud,includingdeepfakes, costsglobalSMBs$200,000onaverage
How Deepfakes Are Impacting The Workplace
Whiledeepfaketechnologyisusedtocommita varietyofcrimes,therearetwowaysdeepfakes currentlycauseharmtobusinesseslikeyours:
1 Impersonation/IdentityFraudSchemes 2.HarmToCompanyReputation
Oneofthemostcommondeepfakeattacksiswhen AIimpersonatesanexecutive’svoicetosteal credentialsorrequestmoneytransfersfrom employeesOtherattacksincludedeepfakevideos oraudioofaCEOoremployeeusedto disseminatefalseinformationonlinethatcould negativelyaffectabrandMorethan40%of businesseshavealreadyexperiencedadeepfake attack,accordingtoauthenticationexpertsatID R&D
What ToDoAbout It
Thereareafewsimplethingsyoucandotoprevent deepfakesfromhavingdamagingconsequenceson yourbusiness
1 Reviewpoliciesaroundtechnology andcommunication
Ensureyouhavetransparentcommunication practicesandthatyourteamknowshow communicationsareusedinternallyWoulda companyexecutiveevercallanemployeetoplace anofficialrequestformoneyorinformation?Ifnot, employeesshouldbesuspiciousAlso,encourage employeestoverifyanye-mailorphonerequest theyaren’tsureabout.
2 Includedeepfakespottingincybersecurity awarenesstraining
Double-checkthatyourcybersecurityawareness trainingcovershowtospotdeepfakes.Thingsto lookforincludeunnaturaleyeblinking,blurryface borders,artificial-lookingskin,slowspeechand unusualintonation.
3.Havearesponseplan
Deepfakeattacksareintheirinfancy,andyoucan expecttoseemoreattackslikethisinthefutureBe sureyourcompany’sleadershiptalksabouthowto respondifadeepfakeattackimpactsyourcompany Eventhoughthere’snoperfectsolutiontothe problemyet,theworstthingthatcanhappenisto becaughtunprepared
SHOULD YOU VERIFY YOUR PROFILE ON LINKEDIN?
In2022,LinkedInlaunchedverificationoptions wheremostuserscansubmitapersonalID, employere-mailorworkplaceIDtoprove they’rearealpersonamidanincreasingnumber offakeaccounts.Inthesecondhalfof2021 alone,Microsoft(LinkedIn’sparentcompany) removedover15millionfakeaccounts.Ifyou feelweirdaboutsharingyourbiometricorID informationonline,thatmakessense.But verificationisn’tabadideabecauseofthe
numberoffakeaccountsonLinkedIn.Although LinkedInreportsusingthehighestsecurity protections,considerusingtheemployeee-mail optionifit’savailable(employersmusthavea LinkedInpageandturnonthisfeature)because it’stheleastrisky.