Q What backup or redundancy issues does The Network Doctor help solve?
When we run backup tests for new prospects, one of the things we find is that clients aren't testing their backups. They're getting indications that they're backup, but nothing's been happening. When you go to recover the data, nobody's home. We test backups once a month to verify that it is there, mountable, and browsable so we can recover from it in the event of an emergency. For more information on our process and how we test backups, check out this article we did with MSPSuccess.com.
Q What non-technical steps can clients take in their daily operations to help security?
The best thing a business can do on their own is build a disaster preparedness policy so they know what to do in the event of a security emergency. What do they have to do? Who do they have to contact and how do they contact them? Once that's settled, testing the plan through a disaster recovery tabletop exercise lets everyone work through real possibilities and learn how to respond.
Q Which common security gaps do businesses often not realize are problems?
How passwords are stored, if unencrypted PII lives on the computer, and if financial information could be accessed by an intruder. The Network Doctor helps businesses addresses these questions so they're not hanging out to dry. In 46 years of business, we've only had one customer deal get ransomware, and even then we recovered 100% of the data without paying the ransom.
Q What do businesses need to set up remote work?
Businesses looking to operate with successful and secure remote operations should enable VPNs (virtual private networks), encrypted cloud storage, and remote desktop environments so staff can work from anywhere without incorporating unapproved tools or jeopardizing cyber safety. The Network Doctor can help implement all of these features for remote work.
Q How does cloud migration work for businesses?
Cloud migration involves examining and transferring data from on-prem servers, older cloud infrastructure, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and any other secured file-sharing platforms. Building out a new cloud server improves collaboration and remote work capabilities when all a business' data is centralized. Having dedicated cloud and network infrastructure built by an IT provider like The Network Doctor also keeps these servers compliant and secure.
Q Which compliance standards do businesses need to meet?
Depending on the industry and location, businesses may require adherence to local and state-level compliance frameworks, but the primary ones to consider are PCI for credit card information, FTC Safeguards for financial institutions, GDPR for European-associated business, HIPAA for medical data, CMMC L1 and L2 for DoD-connected work, as well as SOC2 and NIST 800-171 for other security concerns. As a member of the Los Angeles FBI InfraGard team, The Network Doctor is well-versed in the different compliance requirements that businesses need to adhere to and can examine your business and advise on how to cost-effectively build a compliance-focused plan.
Q When does my business need to grow our IT support?
That depends. We've designed IT environments that support expansion, even adding additional locations or security layers, but sometimes a full audit of existing support is needed to see what need to be rebuilt and what can just be added on. Our virtual Chief Security Officer (vCSO) services help businesses get a look at how their current support operates and what the next steps are going to be in terms of expansion.
Q What cybersecurity services are necessary to protect data?
There is no exhaustive list because every business is different, but our regular cybersecurity offerings usually include encryption, access controls, secure backups, endpoint protection, and compliance-oriented policies. From there we examine the needs of your business and industry to keep your valuable data safe.
Q What is the effect on my business if an incident happens after hours?
With the right IT support, there'd be no difference. The Network Doctor's 24/7 support model responds to network failures and security breaches alike when they happen, without leaving your business vulnerable during off-hours.
Q How can businesses protect against phishing and email attacks?
Businesses wanting to protect against business email compromise (BEC) attacks should use email filtering tools and regular staff training to defend against malicious communication. Our services work with businesses to block suspicious messages, scan for malicious attachments, and reduce the risk of human error.
