KRS Newsletter April

KRS TECH CHRONICLE

Insider Tips To Make Your Business Run Faster, Easier And More Profitably

April Showers!!!

Ok, ok so no one is really that excited for a rainy April BUT that predicable rainy April does inch us closer to a Summer filled with sunshine/mixed drinks and fun swimming!! One thing we did notice about our entry into the Dog Days of Summer is there is a ton of people OUT OF THE OFFICE!!

We know that everyone needs a vacation and some downtime so the Spring is the best time to not only clean up your house with some wonderful Spring Cleaning but let’s clean up those networks and seal up those security holes that have been weighing on your minds

This Summer have everything sorted out and have full faith that not only is your network secure but it’s also running as smooth as you run after a few Margaritas! Email: info@KRSIT.com and let us ensure you’re secure!!

This monthly publication is provided courtesy of Josiv Krstinovski, President and CEO of KRS IT Consulting

OUR MISSION:

3 CYBER SECURITY MYTHS THAT WILL HURT YOUR BUSINESS THIS YEAR

“I don’t care if it costs me more money, I am going to make sure that every single client of ours has the absolute best security and solutions in place. If I am not doing my job. Plain and simple.”

Workingamidtheever-changing currentsoftechnologyandcybersecurity, businessesoftenfindthemselvesentangled inawebofmisinformationandoutdated ideas.Butfailingtodistinguishbetween mythandfactcanputyourbusiness’s securityatseriousrisk.

Basedonexpertresearchinthefield, includingCompTIA’s2024globalState OfCybersecurityreport,wewilldebunk threecommonmisconceptionsthat threatentoderailyoursuccessin2024.

Myth 1: My Cyber Security Is Good Enough!

Fact: Modern cyber security is about continuous improvement.

RespondentstoCompTIA’ssurvey indicatedthatoneofthemostsignificant challengestocybersecurityinitiatives

todayisthebeliefthat“currentsecurityis goodenough”(39%).

Oneofthereasonsbusinessesmaybe misledbythestateoftheirsecurityisthe inherentcomplexityofcybersecurity.In particular,it’sincrediblychallengingto trackandmeasuresecurityeffectiveness andstaycurrentontrends.Thus,an incompleteunderstandingofsecurity leadsexecutivestothinkalliswell.

Over40%ofexecutivesexpresscomplete satisfactionwiththeirorganization’scyber security,accordingtoCompTIA’sreport. Incontrast,only25%ofITstaffand21% ofbusinessstaffaresatisfied.Thiscould alsobeaccountedforbyexecutivesoften avingmoretechfreedomforadded conveniencewhilefrontlinestaffdeal withlessvisiblecybersecuritydetails.

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“Eitherway,thegapinsatisfactionpointstoa needforimprovedcommunicationonthe topic,”CompTIAwrites.

GetyourITandbusinessteamstogetherand figureoutwhatrisksyoufacerightnowand whatneedstochange.Becausecybersecurityis constantlychanging,yoursecurityshould neverbestagnant.“Goodenough”isnever goodenoughforyourbusiness;vigilanceanda continuousimprovementmindsetaretheonly waystoapproachcybersecurity.

Myth 2: Cyber Security = Keeping Threats Out

Fact: Cyber security protects against threats both inside and outside your organization.

Oneofthemostpublicizedbreachesofthelast decadewaswhenBBCreportedthata HeathrowAirportemployeelostaUSBstick withsensitivedataonit.Althoughthestickwas recoveredwithnoharmdone,itstillcost Heathrow£120,000(US$150,000)infines.

Yes,cybersecurityisaboutprotection. However,protectionextendstobothexternal andinternalthreatssuchasemployeeerror.

Becausesecuritythreatsarediverseandwideranging,therearerisksthathavelittletodo

withyourITteam.Forexample,howdoyour employeesusesocialmedia?“Inaneraofsocial engineering,theremustbepreciseguidelines aroundthecontentbeingsharedsinceitcould eventuallyleadtoabreach,”CompTIAstates. Attacksareincreasinglyfocusedonhuman socialengineering,likephishing,andcriminals bankonyourstaffmakingmistakes.

Additionally,managingrelationshipswith third-partyvendorsandpartnersofteninvolves someformofdatasharing.“Thechainof operationsisonlyasstrongasitsweakestlink,” CompTIApointsout.“Whenthatchain involvesoutsideparties,findingtheweakest linkrequiresdetailedplanning.”

Everyoneinyourorganizationisresponsible forbeingvigilantandawareofsecuritybest practicesandsafetyasitrelatestotheirjobs. Makesureyourcybersecuritystrategyputs equalemphasisoninternalthreatsasmuchas externalones.

Myth 3: IT Handles My Cyber Security

Fact: Cyber security is not solely the responsibility of the IT department.

WhileITprofessionalsarecrucialin implementingsecuritymeasurescomprehensive cybersecurityinvolvesamultidisciplinary approach.Itencompassesnotonlytechnical aspectsbutalsopolicy,development,employee training,riskmanagementandadeep

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tunderstandingoftheorganization’sunique securitylandscape.

Becauseeachdepartmentwithinyour organizationinvolvesuniquerisks,people fromvariousrolesmustbeincludedinsecurity conversations.Butmanycompaniesarenot doingthis.CompTIA’sreportshowsthat while40%ofrespondentssaythattechnical staffisleadingthoseconversations,only36% indicatethattheCEOisparticipating,andjust 25%saythatbusinessstaffisinvolved.

“Morecompaniesshouldconsiderincludinga widerangeofbusinessprofessionals,from executivestomid-levelmanagementtostaff positions,inriskmanagementdiscussions,” CompTIAwrites.“Theseindividualsare becomingmoreinvolvedintechnology decisionsfortheirdepartments,andwithouta properviewintotheassociatedrisks,their decisionsmayhaveharmfulconsequences.”

Businessleadersandemployeesatalllevels mustactivelyengageincybersecurityefforts, astheyareallpotentialgatekeepersagainst evolvingthreats.

Don’t Listen To Myths

Byembracingamindsetofcontinuous improvement,recognizingthewiderangeof threatsandunderstandingthecollective responsibilityofcybersecurity,yourbusiness willremainsafe,resilientandthriving,no matterwhatthefutureholds.

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Mostbusinessleadersstriveforonething:tobe astrongandcompetentleaderofahighperformingteamTodothis,they’lltryjust aboutanything,fromfreelunchestodaylong team-buildingretreatsAlthoughtheseare helpful,high-performingteamsdon’tbegin withexternalmotivators.Theybeginwhen leadersembraceacultureofextremeownership

“Extremeownershipisprettystraightforward,” JockoWillinksays.“You’renotgoingtomake anyexcuses.You’renotgoingtoblame anybodyelseWhensomethinggoeswrong, you’regoingtotakeownershipofthose problemsandgetthemsolved”

WillinkistheauthoroftheNewYorkTimes bestsellerExtremeOwnership:HowUSNavy SEALsLeadAndWinHeexplainsthatthe sameleadershipconceptsthatenableSEAL teamstosucceedinthemostintense circumstancescanalsohelpbusinesseswinagain andagain

AsayoungSEAL,Willinknoticedthata cultureoffinger-pointinggrewwhenblame wasdirectedtowardapersonorateam.When thathappens,“noonesolvestheproblem,”he saysHowever,whenleadersownedissuesand responsibilityforfindingasolution,theteam reflectedthatownership.“Itactuallymadethe otherpeopleinsidetheplatoonhavethesame attitudeThey’dsay,‘Itwasmyfault;letmefix it,’”Willinkexplains

Eventually,Willinkwentontofillleadership roleswithintheSEALs,learningtoembrace personalaccountabilityandteam empowermentNowaretiredSEALofficerand co-founderoftheleadershipconsultingfirm Echelon,he’sworkedwithhundredsofcivilian companiesonextremeownership,findingthe

sameresults:whenleaderstakeownershipof problems,theentireteamismorelikelytobe high-performingandsuccessful

How To Create An Extreme Ownership Culture

“Thebiggestthingyou’vegottoovercomeis yourego,”WillinkexplainsPointingoutthat someonedidn’tdotheirjobrightorthatthe marketingplanwasn’tcarriedoutcorrectly doesn’tsolvetheproblem.“You’retheboss. Youownit,”WillinksaysWhenoneperson takesownership,itspreads“That’swhat developstheculture”

Althoughextremeownershipstartswiththe boss,thekeytoahigh-performingteamisto empowerindividualstotakeresponsibilityfor projectsandtaskstoo

“Ifyouwantpeopletotakeownership,you havetogivethemownership,”Willinksays Thisway,youempoweryourteamtomake decisionswhileyouserveasareliableguideand offerdirectionwhenneeded.“Putthemin positionswheretheymakedecisions,make mistakesandlearntobehonestwithyou,”he saysIfyou’renotgettingthebehaviorsyou need,youcanstudyitandstarttocorrectitby figuringoutwhatsupportyoucanprovide.

Willinkpointsoutthattherewillalwaysbe teammemberswhodon’tembraceownership Butwhenextremeownershipisaculture, they’llnaturallygetweededout.

Thosewhoarereadytostepup,however,will risetothetop“There’ssomethingmore importanttomanypeoplethanhowmuch moneytheymake,”hesays.“Thatiscontrol overtheirdestiny,autonomyandfreedom”

THE GENERATION MOST PRONE TO PHONE-RELATED ACCIDENTS WILL SURPRISE YOU

It’s time millennials stop making fun of their elders for butt dials, weird FaceTime angles and other tech snafus According to data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, millennials are more prone to embarrassing techrelated accidents than any other generation Since 2020, injuries across the board have shot up 20%, likely due to people being home more during the pandemic. The biggest culprit: people lifting televisions, resulting in strains and sprains (lift with your legs, people!) This accounts for 30% of injuries in the US Unsurprisingly, walking and using a cellphone is runner-up, causing 23% of tech-related boo-boos. Eyes up, friends!

When All Else Fails REBOOT!!!!!!

Sometimes in life the simplest solution is the right solution!! Not always but sometimes We at KRS are always surprised when we see just how long it’s been sometimes before some of your hardware is rebooted. It’s a good rule of thumb to reboot your computer and phone at least once per week. This flushes system memory and completes windows updates that may have started running and can lead to better productivity and performance!! What are you waiting for?! Go Reboot that baby right now!!! We love easy solutions!!

CHECK FRAUD CRIMES ARE “WASHING” AWAY BANK ACCOUNTS

3 Cyber Security Myths That Will Hurt Your Business This Year P. 1

What Every Small-Business Owner Must Know About Protecting And Preserving Their Company’s Critical Data And Computer Systems P 2

Retired Navy SEAL Shares The Key To Building And Leading A High-Performance Team P 3

BUILD: AN UNORTHODOX GUIDE TO MAKING THINGS WORTH MAKING

By Tony Fadell

Build is an indispensable read for any business owner looking for motivation and practical advice The book spans Tony Fadell’s journey from early-career product designer to accomplished leader, and offers a treasure trove of insights for anyone trying to run a successful business

Tony’s real-world narrative, enriched by his experiences with icons like Steve Jobs, is compelling, easy to read and relatable. Each short chapter, ranging from five to 20 pages, tackles real-world challenges –from start-up funding to critical careerlife choices and workplace dynamics. What sets this book apart is its blend of personal stories with the wisdom of Silicon Valley, all while advocating for a refreshingly “old-school” approach to leadership and management Build is a must-read for those who want to find real solutions to modern business problems

Headlinesareusuallyflushwiththelatest digitalbreachesouttogetbusinessesWeak passwords,complexsocialengineeringand businesse-mailcompromiseareoftenthe culpritswehearabout.Butwhileoureyesand earswerehonedinondigitalthreats,oldfashionedpaper-and-pencrimesweresneaking intoourbankaccounts.

AccordingtotheFinancialCrimesEnforcement Network,fraudulent-checkcrimesrose2012% between2018and2022.Expertssaythatthe rise of check fraud began in 2020 when criminalsstartedstealingstimuluschecksOnce thoseended,theyneededanewsourceof incomeIn2023,S&PGlobalnotedthatcheck fraudmadeupone-thirdofallbankfraud, excludingmortgagefraud.

It’sacheapandrelativelysimplecrime happeningunderournoses,andthat’swhy they’regettingawaywithit.

How Criminals “Wash” Checks

AARPsaysthatmostcheckfraudinvolves check“washing.”Thisiswhencriminalsuse bleachoracetonetowashawaytheinkusedto writethepayeeandcheckamountafterstealing itfromyourmailboxorfishingitfromadrop box.Oncewashed,thecheckdries,isfilledout withnewinformationanddepositedatbanksor cash-checkingshops.

It’s a low-budget, fast-cash reward for criminals Even worse, some banks have deadlinesforreportingthiskindofcrimeand won’treimburseyouifyoualertthemtoolate.

Prevent Check Fraud With These

6

Tips

Thankfully,thereareafewsimplestepsyou cantaketosignificantlyreduceyourriskof checkfraud

1. Pay Online: Paybillsonlineusingaprivate Wi-Ficonnectionandasecureportal,like throughyourbankorvendorwebsite

2. Mail Safely: Usethepostofficeformailing checks; avoid leaving them in personal or outdoormailboxes

3 Use Gel Ink: Usenon-erasablegelinkin blueorblackforwritingchecks;theseare hardertoerasethanballpointpenink.

4. Collect Mail Daily: Pickupyourmail dailyIfaway,arrangeforcollection

5. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularlycheck yourbankaccountonline-afewtimesaweek isbest

AccordingtoAARP,a60-year-oldmanhada checkfor$235stolenandcashedfor$9,001.20 –allwithin24hours.It’snotjusttheUSeither. AnOntariobusinessownersentacheckfor $10,800totheCanadaRevenueAgencyto maketaxpaymentsforhismaplesyrup company.Dayslater,ithadbeenstolenand depositedintoanotheraccount.

6. Report Incidents Immediately: Report fraud quickly to your bank and Postal Inspection Service Most institutions are requiredtoreimbursestolenfundsifthetheftis reportedwithin30days

Itmightbeadigitalworld,butcriminalswill useeverytactictogetholdofyourhard-earned cash Addthesesimpletipstoyourroutineto significantlyreduceyourriskofcheckfraud.