Cloud Insights

Cloud at Work’s Managed Cybersecurity Solutions protect your entire IT environment (including Sage applications) to provide comprehensive, layered protection for your entire digital ecosystem. We work closely with small and midsized businesses (SMBs), including Sage customers, across the country and witness the unique challenges and vulnerabilities they face regarding cybersecurity. With the rise of sophisticated threats and bad actors, SMBs are increasingly targeted. Most of these organizations lack the in-house resources to build a comprehensive defense against these complex attacks, leaving critical data and operations at risk. We began offering Managed Cybersecurity services to a few select clients, and the results were striking — reduced incidents, faster response times, and greater peace of mind for business owners. It quickly became clear that this level of protection would be valuable to SMBs everywhere, especially those relying on Sage systems as the backbone of their operations. That’s why we created Cloud at Work’s Managed Cybersecurity Solutions — a layered, holistic approach designed to protect every aspect of your IT infrastructure. Here’s a bit more about how our solution works and why outsourcing security to a professional team like Cloud at Work could be considered essential in today’s threat landscape. Cloud at Work’s Five-Step Protection Strategy A strong cybersecurity strategy requires a robust, layered defense to protect your data, maintain business continuity, and secure your reputation. Here’s how Cloud at Work’s Managed Cybersecurity Solutions offer end-to-end protection through five essential steps: 1. Establish What You Want to Protect Effective cybersecurity starts with understanding your assets. We work with you to identify and prioritize the data, applications, and systems most critical to your operations. This assessment ensures that defenses focus on protecting what matters most to your business, from customer data to financial records to the systems that keep your business running smoothly. 2. Build Concentric Rings of Protection A single layer of security isn’t enough to withstand today’s advanced threats. Our approach involves creating concentric rings of protection that include tools like Managed XDR (Extended Detection and Response), which offers visibility across endpoints, cloud environments, networks, and SaaS applications. These layers work together to intercept threats before they reach your core systems, catching issues that single-point solutions might miss. 3. Monitor Your Environment 24/7 Cyber threats can emerge at any time, which is why continuous monitoring is crucial. Our 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) uses machine learning and extensive threat intelligence mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK® framework to detect anomalies and suspicious activity across your environment. Around-the-clock monitoring allows us to identify potential risks immediately and respond before they can escalate, giving you peace of mind that your systems are protected day and night. 4. Reduce Response Time In cybersecurity, response time is everything. The faster a threat is detected and neutralized, the less damage it can cause. With our Managed XDR service, incidents like Business Email Compromise (BEC) can be resolved within one to two hours compared to the one to two months it might take without these capabilities. Automated responses enable actions such as quarantining compromised devices, blocking suspicious IPs, and resetting passwords — keeping your business operations secure and minimizing downtime. 5. Secure Your People, Processes, and Technology Technology alone isn’t enough to ensure a secure environment. Effective cybersecurity also depends on training employees to recognize threats, establishing secure processes, and enforcing policies that support security at every level. Our solution supports creating a security-conscious culture within your organization, securing not just your IT infrastructure but also the people and processes that use it daily. Each of these five steps forms a part of Cloud at Work’s holistic cybersecurity strategy, designed to provide SMBs with the same level of protection enjoyed by larger enterprises. By taking a proactive, layered approach to security, we help ensure your business is resilient against even the most sophisticated cyber threats. Extending Beyond Sage to Protect Your Entire IT Ecosystem For SMBs using Sage ERP, protecting your data and applications in the cloud is essential. But what about the rest of your IT environment? As your business grows, so do your security needs, and threats can target any part of your IT infrastructure—not just your ERP system. Cloud at Work’s Managed Cybersecurity Solutions can protect your entire IT environment, extending beyond Sage to offer comprehensive, layered protection for your entire digital ecosystem. Our experience hosting and supporting Sage environments makes us uniquely qualified to understand the complexities of securing these systems. Whether you’re using our Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) for Sage or migrating additional workloads to Azure, we bring an expert understanding of Sage alongside robust cybersecurity capabilities. A Special Invitation for our Cloud at Work VPC Customers If you already trust Cloud at Work’s Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) to host your Sage applications, you understand the importance of securing your critical business data. But as essential as your Sage environment is, it’s just one part of your overall technology landscape. Cyber threats don’t just target one system. They can infiltrate your entire IT infrastructure, putting all your business data and operations at risk. We invite you to explore this new offering and discover how extending the same level of protection [link to the How to Build a Holistic Cybersecurity Strategy post when published] to the rest of your IT environment makes smart business sense. Why Cloud at Work? Choosing Cloud at Work means choosing a partner committed to your security. Our Managed Cybersecurity Solutions give you access to a team of experts, advanced threat detection, and rapid response capabilities—all tailored to the specific needs of SMBs. And with our flexible, cybersecurity-as-a-service model, you get all the benefits of enterprise-grade security without the enterprise-grade cost. Contact us today to learn how our Managed Cybersecurity Solutions can help you build a secure foundation for your Sage systems and your entire IT environment.

In recent years, ransomware has evolved from an occasional threat to a constant risk, particularly for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that may not have the resources or expertise to defend against sophisticated attacks. In 2023 alone, nearly half of SMBs reported experiencing a cybersecurity breach, with ransomware and Business Email Compromise (BEC) among the most prevalent attacks. The reality is that today’s threats go beyond traditional antivirus solutions or periodic IT checkups. The stakes are higher, the attacks are more targeted, and the financial, operational, and reputational impacts are significant. This is why outsourcing IT infrastructure, management, and security to a trusted provider has become a necessity for companies that want to ensure business continuity and protect their data 24/7. At Cloud at Work, we understand the pressures facing SMBs. That’s why we’ve developed a holistic approach to security, offering end-to-end solutions that cover everything from hosting your Sage ERP to managing your broader IT environment. Here are our five key recommendations for establishing a robust cybersecurity posture and managing your IT environment effectively. 1. Host Your Sage ERP in a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) If your business runs on Sage ERP or another Sage business application, hosting it in a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) offers unparalleled benefits in terms of security, reliability, and accessibility. Moving Sage ERP to a secure VPC reduces your dependency on vulnerable on-premise infrastructure and gives you the flexibility to access your systems securely from anywhere. In a VPC, your Sage environment is isolated, with dedicated resources and a controlled, protected environment. This significantly reduces your attack surface, making it much harder for cybercriminals to access your systems. With Cloud at Work’s VPC hosting, your Sage applications benefit from our industry-leading security protocols and round-the-clock monitoring. 2. Consider Migrating Additional Workloads to Azure While Sage ERP might be the core of your operations, other systems and applications are likely just as essential to your daily workflows. Consider migrating additional workloads, such as file storage, Microsoft 365, or other business-critical applications, to a secure cloud environment. Moving these workloads to Azure or another secure cloud platform provides scalability, cost savings, and enhanced security. It also centralizes your IT infrastructure, allowing you to apply uniform security protocols and access controls across all systems. With Cloud at Work’s IaaS (infrastructure-as-a-service) Solutions, you can choose to keep Sage in a VPC while moving additional workloads to Azure, ensuring a seamless transition from on-premise IT without compromising security. 3. Secure Your IT Environment with Managed Security As cyber threats become more advanced, endpoint protection alone is no longer enough. Managed XDR (Extended Detection and Response) offers cross-network visibility, detecting and responding to threats across endpoints, cloud services, and networks. Paired with our 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), XDR enables rapid threat detection and response, ensuring your entire environment is monitored continuously. Our SOC uses machine learning and threat intelligence mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK® framework to identify anomalies and proactively stop threats before they escalate. This proactive, always-on approach to security is essential for businesses relying on Sage and other critical applications. With Cloud at Work’s new Managed Cybersecurity Solutions, you protect your technology and safeguard your operations and reputation. 4. Replace Outdated Desktop Delivery with Virtual Desktops With remote and hybrid work now the norm, ensuring that employees can access systems securely from anywhere is more important than ever. Virtual desktops offer a secure and efficient alternative to traditional desktop delivery. Rather than relying on individual devices that can be easily compromised, virtual desktops provide centralized, secure access to applications and data through the cloud. This approach eliminates the security risks associated with unmanaged devices and ensures employees have a consistent, secure experience regardless of location. With Cloud at Work’s Virtual Desktop Solution, your team can access everything they need in a controlled environment, significantly reducing your exposure to threats while supporting flexibility and productivity. 5. If It All Sounds Overwhelming, Consider Managed IT Outsourcing IT management to a trusted provider is one of the best decisions an SMB can make, particularly regarding security. For many companies, managing complex IT infrastructure, applying security patches, monitoring threats, and staying compliant can be overwhelming. Managed IT from Cloud at Work takes that burden off your shoulders. With our Managed IT services, we handle everything from infrastructure management to helpdesk support and cybersecurity, allowing you to focus on what you do best—running your business. Our team of experts provides the skills, resources, and 24/7 support you need to keep your systems secure and up to date without requiring extensive in-house expertise or investment. Security at Work In today’s cybersecurity landscape, a piecemeal approach isn’t enough. Businesses need a comprehensive, layered security strategy that addresses every component of their IT environment. Cloud at Work brings all these elements together in one integrated offering. We combine deep expertise in Sage environments with the advanced security capabilities that modern businesses need. Contact us today if you’re ready to protect your business with a holistic cybersecurity strategy. Let Cloud at Work handle your IT infrastructure, security, and application hosting so you can focus on growth, innovation, and peace of mind.

In our ongoing series on cybersecurity, we’ve explored the growing threats facing SMBs —from ransomware to Business Email Compromise. It’s a clear and present danger, as nearly half of SMBs fell victim to a cybersecurity attack in 2023. Our goal for the series is not to strike fear but to promote action. With that in mind, it may be time to take the next step and mount a proactive, automated, and always-on cybersecurity defense — one that’s designed for businesses like yours. Introducing Cloud at Work Managed Cybersecurity solution, a powerful new offering designed to protect your Sage systems and broader IT infrastructure from evolving cyberattacks while offering 24/7 peace of mind. Why Cybersecurity-as-a-Service? The modern cybersecurity landscape is complex, and staying ahead of threats requires a strategic, wide-ranging, proactive approach. In 2023, only one out of every three breaches was identified by the company targeted — reinforcing the message that SMBs need to up their game when it comes to defense. We’ve designed our Managed Cybersecurity offering to provide comprehensive protection tailored primarily for businesses using Sage solutions. The service gives your organization the same level of protection available to larger enterprises at a lower cost and with the flexibility to match your unique needs. With three levels of Managed Cybersecurity —Managed EDR, Managed XDR, and Managed XDR Premium — you can choose the package that best fits your business’s needs and budget, whether you’re looking for endpoint protection or more advanced, cross-network visibility. XDR — Extending Your Defense Beyond Endpoints XDR, or Extended Detection and Response, refers to a cybersecurity solution that offers comprehensive visibility, detection, and response across various security layers, including endpoints, networks, servers, and cloud services. Unlike traditional security tools like EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), which focuses on endpoints (laptops and mobile devices), XDR extends beyond endpoint protection by integrating data from multiple security sources into a unified platform. This broader visibility means your business can detect and respond to threats faster and more effectively. Cloud at Work’s XDR cybersecurity offering takes security to the next level by unifying and extending detection across all critical parts of your environment, including endpoints, networks, cloud applications, and servers. Our XDR platform offers centralized visibility that delivers insights into potential threats like account takeovers, anomalous privilege escalations, and ransomware. How Our XDR Platform Works Our XDR platform analyzes billions of raw events daily, using data from over 40 integrated sources to detect threats faster. Combined with machine learning and the MITRE ATT&CK® framework, our platform helps you avoid even the most sophisticated attacks. Our XDR platform excels in detection and response by: Detecting account takeovers, ransomware, and zero-day threats in real time. Automating responses such as deactivating compromised accounts, blocking IP addresses, quarantining users, resetting passwords, and blocking suspicious messages Reducing incident response time to allow your business to recover quickly with minimal impact. 24/7/365 Monitoring Cybercriminals don’t take breaks, and neither do we. Our 24/7/365 Security Operations Center (SOC) ensures round-the-clock threat monitoring, backed by machine learning and powered by the MITRE ATT&CK® framework for predictive threat analysis. It is a comprehensive, proactive approach that keeps your systems secure by detecting and neutralizing threats before they can cause significant damage. Our professional security analysts can quickly resolve threats by executing orchestrated actions in a single step, such as quarantining compromised devices, deploying agents to unprotected workstations, or enforcing security policies across cloud environments. These automated, coordinated responses help ensure rapid containment and minimize potential damage, enhancing overall protection. Through our SOC, you gain: Proactive threat detection: Proprietary detection rules, powered by machine learning, help us spot threats faster and predict their next move. Comprehensive reporting: Detailed reports highlighting any suspicious activities make it easier for you to understand what’s happening in your environment and the actions we’ve taken. XDR Delivers ROI Through Faster Incident Resolution When it comes to cyber incidents like Business Email Compromise (BEC), identity theft, and malware infections, response time is everything. The faster an attack is detected and mitigated, the less damage it can cause. Recent studies revealed the stark difference XDR makes in incident resolution times: Business Email Compromise incidents are resolved in one to two hours with XDR and SOC-as-a-Service, compared to one to two months without these tools. Identity theft incidents are addressed within one to two hours when XDR is in place, while it can take weeks for businesses without these capabilities to recover. Malware infections are detected and resolved in under an hour, preventing escalation into more serious issues like ransomware attacks, which could take weeks to handle without XDR. Even more insidious threats, like insider threats, which typically remain undetected for months, are caught and neutralized in just four hours on average with XDR. Regarding data leakage, which can have catastrophic consequences, XDR helps resolve issues in under 24 hours, compared to weeks without a comprehensive detection and response solution. Ready to Strengthen Your Cybersecurity? The Cloud at Work Managed Cybersecurity solution simplifies business protection. Whether you need advanced detection, endpoint protection, or complete cloud visibility, we have the tools and expertise to safeguard your data, allowing you to focus on what matters most — growing your business. Contact us to learn how we can help secure your Sage solutions and the rest of your IT infrastructure with our flexible, managed cybersecurity packages.

In recent blogs, we’ve discussed the growing threat landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), from the rise of Business Email Compromise (BEC) and ransomware to the challenges of securing hybrid work environments. For SMBs using cloud-based systems like Sage ERP, navigating these risks requires more than just traditional security measures — it demands a strategy built for today’s cloud-driven world. At Cloud at Work, we believe a strong cloud security posture rests on four essential pillars: Speed, Skills, Scale, and Spend. These pillars provide a roadmap for your business to effectively secure its cloud environments, helping you adapt to fast-changing threats, build the necessary expertise, and scale protections as you grow. Let’s take a closer look at how these best practices can help your business stay secure in the cloud. 1. Speed: Reacting Quickly to Stay Ahead of Threats In a world where cyber threats evolve daily, your ability to respond quickly can make all the difference. Speed in cloud security means more than just rapid response to breaches — it includes deploying patches quickly, monitoring in real-time, and having a well-oiled incident response plan in place. Why It Matters Fast action is essential to minimize damage. On average, a technically proficient hacker takes just six hours to exploit a vulnerability. Your response time matters since downtime can cost an SMB tens of thousands of dollars a day. According to industry insights, data breaches at organizations with a high level of incident response planning cost 34% less than those at organizations with low or no incident response planning. How Cloud at Work Helps With our managed services, SMBs benefit from real-time monitoring and rapid threat detection, allowing them to react quickly without needing a sizeable in-house security team. 2. Skills: Building a Team of Cloud Security Experts A significant challenge for SMBs today is the cybersecurity skills gap. Many businesses struggle to maintain effective cloud security measures due to a shortage of skilled professionals. Skills are essential for managing cloud security effectively, yet finding and retaining the right talent remains a struggle. Why It Matters IDC predicts the global cybersecurity talent shortage will reach 4 million by 2025, and Gartner found that the talent shortage is the more significant barrier to adopting new technologies. Without the right expertise, even advanced security tools can fall short. How Cloud at Work Helps Partnering with Cloud at Work gives you access to a team of cloud security experts specializing in protecting cloud environments. We provide the knowledge and resources to safeguard your data, allowing you to focus on your core business. 3. Scale: Adapting to Growth Without Compromising Security As your business grows, so do your security needs. The ability to scale your security measures to match business expansion is essential for long-term success. More data, users, and connected devices mean that security must evolve along with your business. Why It Matters Scalability is crucial for ensuring security remains effective as the organization — and its attack surface — expands. A growing business needs adaptable security controls, especially as it increases in complexity. How Cloud at Work Helps Cloud-based security lets businesses utilize automated threat detection and remediation while scaling securely as needs and industry regulations change. Our virtual private cloud hosting for Sage ERP applications is built to scale alongside your business. This ensures that you have consistent protection at every stage without requiring extensive infrastructure changes. 4. Spend: Investing Wisely in Cloud Security For SMBs, cloud security is an investment, and understanding how to allocate resources effectively is critical. Spend refers to managing the costs of cloud security tools and services, balancing protection with budget constraints. An industry-accepted “rule” is that a business should spend between 7% and 20% of its IT budget on cybersecurity. Why It Matters Budget limitations impact the ability to adopt robust security solutions. Unsurprisingly, smaller organizations struggle more with rising cybersecurity costs than their larger counterparts. Regardless of your business size, optimizing your spending is essential to protecting key assets without overspending. How Cloud at Work Helps We offer tailored security solutions that fit your specific needs and budget. By providing predictable pricing for our managed services, we help you secure your cloud environment without unnecessary costs, allowing you to invest where it matters most. The Cloud at Work Advantage Managing these four pillars — Speed, Skills, Scale, and Spend — can be challenging, particularly for small and mid-sized businesses. Cloud at Work helps SMBs navigate these complexities by offering managed cloud security tailored to Sage ERP environments. Our approach ensures that your cloud infrastructure remains secure, flexible, and cost-effective, allowing you to focus on confidently growing your business. Want to learn more about how Cloud at Work can help you strengthen your cloud security strategy? Contact us to find out how we can protect your business in a rapidly changing threat landscape.

Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated every day, and one of the most pervasive and dangerous forms of attack is Business Email Compromise (BEC). Each month, cybercriminals launch an average of 68 million BEC attacks. This type of cyberattack targets businesses of all sizes, but it can be devastating for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours. In its simplest form, BEC is a scam where cybercriminals send highly convincing emails to trick employees into compromising sensitive data. Whether it’s login credentials, credit card numbers, or even social security information, the goal is clear: gain access to a company’s critical systems, often with catastrophic consequences. But here’s the kicker — BEC attacks are among the easiest, cheapest, and most effective ways for hackers to infiltrate your business. Unlike ransomware or more elaborate hacks, which often require specialized knowledge, executing a BEC attack can be startlingly simple. How BEC Attacks Work Let’s break down how a typical BEC attack might unfold: Create a Phishing Website: Using easily accessible open-source tools, cybercriminals can create a fake but convincing website that looks just like a legitimate company page. Send Phishing Emails: Next, they send emails from what appears to be a legitimate email address, often posing as someone from within your company or a trusted third party. Capture Credentials: When an employee clicks on the email link and enters their credentials on the phishing site, the hackers capture that information. Log in and Set Up Forwarding Rules: With access to the employee’s email account, hackers can set up email forwarding rules to receive copies of future emails, allowing them to monitor communications, intercept sensitive information, or escalate the attack. The low cost and high success rate of these attacks make BEC an appealing choice for cybercriminals, mainly because many businesses still lack the necessary defenses to stop them. Cybersecurity Best Practices to Protect Against BEC Thankfully, businesses can take many steps to protect themselves from falling victim to BEC attacks. Here are some best practices that Cloud at Work recommends to bolster your defense: Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) & Strong Passwords According to Microsoft, enabling MFA and using strong, unique passwords can block over 99.9% of account compromise attacks. By requiring multiple forms of authentication, even if hackers steal login credentials, they won’t be able to access the account without the additional factor. This is particularly important in light of recent trends. In 2023, IBM reported a 71% year-on-year increase in attacks using legitimate user credentials. This shift means that cybercriminals are often logging in as authorized users rather than trying to break through traditional defenses, making it much harder for companies to detect these breaches early Implement AI-Based Phishing Protection Social engineering attacks like BEC are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making traditional spam filters less effective. Instead of relying on static rules, businesses should deploy AI-driven phishing protection. These tools analyze the characteristics of emails —such as their language, context, and patterns —  to detect phishing attempts more accurately. By leveraging AI and machine learning, you can catch many of these attacks before they reach your inbox. Read more about AI’s role on both sides of the cybersecurity war in our blog, Navigating the New Cybersecurity Landscape. Configure DMARC DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is a critical tool in preventing email spoofing, a common tactic in BEC attacks. It helps ensure that only authorized entities can send emails from your domain, making it harder for attackers to trick your employees into believing a phishing email is legitimate. DMARC adoption rates have been on the decline for several years, in part because it has traditionally been challenging to implement. However, it has seen a resurgence as companies turn to managed services providers (like Cloud at Work) to streamline adoption. Use Enhanced Filtering Cloud-based content filters can help block access to malicious websites, unwanted domains, and spoofed emails. Enhanced filters are more robust than standard email filters, adding an extra layer of defense against BEC by reducing the chances of malicious content reaching your employees. According to Trend Micro’s 2023 Email Phishing Statistics, enhanced filtering and advanced email security platforms are crucial in blocking threats that bypass built-in security tools. End-User Security Awareness Training Technology alone isn’t enough to stop BEC. Employees are often the weakest link in a company’s security chain. Regular security training is essential to teach employees how to spot phishing emails and avoid becoming victims. Training should cover the key red flags of BEC, such as unexpected requests from executives, suspicious email addresses, and grammatical errors. Organizations that combine employee training with security tools can reduce their vulnerability to phishing by up to 82%. Data Protection and Backups Finally, understanding the value of your data is crucial. Businesses should regularly back up their data and ensure that the backups are easy to deploy in case of a security breach. Backups provide a safety net and can reduce the impact of an attack by ensuring that critical data is not lost. Five Essential Tips to Stop Phishing Attacks To further protect against BEC, be sure your team is familiar with these five essential tips: Don’t click on attachments or links in suspicious emails. Check the “From” field carefully. Cybercriminals often use spoofed addresses that look similar to legitimate ones. Look for pixelated images or poor grammar—these are red flags of phishing attempts. Verify the sender before responding, either by googling the email address or using free tools like CleanTalk to cross-check the sender’s credibility. Implement layered protection by combining spam filters with advanced AI solutions for comprehensive email security. Cloud at Work Is Your Partner in Cybersecurity Defending against BEC attacks can be daunting, especially for SMBs without dedicated cybersecurity teams. That’s why partnering with a provider like Cloud at Work is a smart move. We specialize in virtual private cloud hosting for Sage applications and offer comprehensive security solutions tailored to your business’s needs. We help SMBs secure their email systems, manage cloud-based services, and implement advanced protections like AI-driven email filtering, MFA, and DMARC. Our team of experts is here to ensure your Sage ERP environment remains safe from threats like BEC so you can focus on growing your business. Understanding the risks of Business Email Compromise and taking proactive steps can protect your business from this growing threat. Contact our team of experts to learn how we can help safeguard your email systems and keep your data secure.

The cybersecurity landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Once confined to the walls of on-premise office environments, today’s businesses are navigating a new world of cloud-based services, remote workforces, and unprecedented amounts of data. The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the rise of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and the explosion of connected devices have all expanded the attack surface while simultaneously making it more challenging to protect sensitive data. For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), these shifts represent a new frontier of challenges — and opportunities. How has the cybersecurity landscape changed, and what does your business need to know to stay secure in this increasingly complex environment? The Shift from On-Prem to SaaS Introduced a New Era of Security Challenges Until fairly recently, most businesses operated within a localized IT environment — often with on-premise servers and networks protected by traditional firewalls. Today, many organizations have migrated to the cloud, leveraging SaaS applications to streamline operations. While this has offered flexibility and scalability, it has also opened the door to new vulnerabilities. With SaaS platforms, businesses no longer own or manage the infrastructure directly. This means that critical data security depends not just on internal measures but also on the strength of third-party cloud providers. Although these providers offer robust security measures, businesses must still implement their own safeguards, such as strong access controls and multi-factor authentication (MFA), to ensure comprehensive protection. This is where partnering with a provider like Cloud at Work can help. Cloud at Work can help manage cloud security tasks that are too complex or resource-intensive for SMBs, ensuring critical business applications like Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500, Sage X3, Sage HRMS, and Sage Fixed Assets remain secure and compliant with industry standards. The Cybersecurity Talent Shortage Amid this shift, businesses are grappling with a cybersecurity talent shortage. The global shortage of cybersecurity professionals is now at 4 million, leaving 71% of organizations with untilled cybersecurity positions. This shortage leaves many businesses vulnerable to attacks, as they may lack the expertise to properly configure security tools, monitor their environments for threats, or respond to incidents effectively. This gap is particularly challenging for SMBs, which often can’t afford to hire full-time cybersecurity professionals. Rather than attempting to tackle these challenges alone, businesses can turn to partners like Cloud at Work, which provides the infrastructure and the security expertise needed to keep systems secure. By leveraging Cloud at Work’s security services and managed cloud hosting for Sage applications, your business can tap into a team of experts who understand the complexities of securing cloud-based applications and data. The Expanding Attack Surface The rise of connected devices (IoT) and the shift to remote work have further expanded the attack surface. Today, employees access company data and systems from various devices, including smartphones, laptops, and even smart home devices. This proliferation of endpoints has created new opportunities for attackers to infiltrate networks. This shift has made securing remote employees much more complex for businesses. Whereas traditional security models focus on securing a physical office environment, today’s IT teams must account for employees accessing sensitive data from unsecured home networks. Without proper security measures, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and endpoint detection, businesses are exposed to significant risks. Cloud at Work can monitor, detect, and respond to threats and suspicious activity before they can damage your business. In addition, our virtual private cloud hosting solutions provide an additional layer of security by centralizing Sage and other business applications in a secure, private cloud environment. This approach helps your business limit attack surfaces by securing access to critical business data and applications while controlling who can access your systems. AI’s Growing Role on Both Sides of Cybersecurity Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape — playing both offense and defense. For defenders, AI and machine learning (ML) offer incredible advantages. These technologies can automatically detect anomalies in network traffic, identify unusual login patterns, and block threats in real time. AI-based tools are particularly effective at catching zero-day attacks (exploits that haven’t been seen before), which traditional security tools might miss. Many cloud-based security platforms leverage AI to analyze vast volumes of data, detecting potential threats before they wreak havoc on your systems. However, for attackers, AI is a powerful weapon as well. Cybercriminals are using AI to automate phishing campaigns, making their fraudulent emails look even more authentic and harder to detect. They’re also deploying AI-driven bots to rapidly identify network vulnerabilities, helping them launch more targeted and successful attacks. Partnering with Cloud at Work gives your business access to cutting-edge AI-driven security tools, allowing you to stay ahead of attackers without investing heavily in expensive technologies or scarce cybersecurity talent. Cloud at Work leverages the latest security technologies, ensuring your business technology environment remains protected from even the most sophisticated cyber threats. As the cybersecurity landscape shifts, businesses of all sizes must stay agile, informed, and proactive. Partnering with a provider like Cloud at Work ensures you have the tools, resources, and expertise to navigate this complex environment confidently. Reach out to our team to learn more.

Imagine a world where cybercrime operates like a Fortune 500 company — complete with sales funnels, customer support, and even a thriving ecosystem of partners. This is the reality of today’s cyber threat landscape, and it’s called Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). Ransomware attacks are on the rise, up 6% so far in 2024 over the same period in 2023. If you thought your small or midsized business (SMB) was too insignificant to attract attention from cybercriminals, think again. In the ransomware economy, everyone is a potential target. Ransomware-as-a-Service — A Business Model for Cybercrime Ransomware is no longer just the work of isolated hackers. It has evolved into a full-fledged business model known as Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). In this shadowy marketplace, skilled developers create and sell ransomware tools to less technically savvy criminals, who then use these tools to attack businesses. RaaS has democratized cybercrime, making it accessible to a broader range of criminals and exponentially increasing the threat to businesses of all sizes. At the heart of the RaaS ecosystem are three key players: the Operators, the Affiliates, and the Access Brokers. Each plays a critical role in executing a ransomware attack, and understanding how they operate can help you better defend your business. The Players in the Ransomware Economy The RaaS Operators — The Masterminds RaaS Operators are the developers behind the ransomware. They create the malicious software, provide updates, and often offer customer support to their “clients.” Think of them as the software companies of the criminal underworld. These operators offer their services on the dark web, complete with pricing tiers, user-friendly interfaces, and even customer service. In some cases, they take a cut of the profits from successful attacks, while in others, they sell the ransomware outright. One high-profile example is RansomHub, a ransomware group that poses an increasing threat as it attracts criminal talent from other ransomware groups. That’s right, RansomHub is hiring. In August, the FBI issued an urgent warning about this group, which has successfully targeted over 200 organizations to date. The RaaS Affiliates — The Frontline Attackers While the operators develop the tools, it’s the affiliates who carry out the attacks. These individuals or groups use the ransomware provided by the operators to infiltrate networks, encrypt data, and demand ransom payments. Affiliates often work independently, selecting targets, planning the attacks, and executing them using the tools and resources provided by the RaaS operator. Affiliates are particularly dangerous because they’re incentivized to move quickly and efficiently. They typically share a portion of the ransom with the operators, which means they’re highly motivated to ensure their attacks are successful. And because RaaS tools are so easy to use, affiliates don’t need extensive technical knowledge to launch a devastating attack. In 2023, the Royal ransomware group rose to prominence, executing attacks against several industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and education. The group’s affiliates were responsible for launching ransomware attacks that crippled businesses by encrypting critical systems. The Royal group’s affiliates used advanced techniques, including moving laterally through networks and exploiting weak points, to maximize the damage. The group has since “rebranded” itself as BlackSuit and has stepped up its efforts. The Access Brokers — The Gatekeepers Access Brokers are the third piece of the ransomware puzzle. These cybercriminals specialize in compromising networks and then selling that access to the highest bidder —often RaaS affiliates. They focus on finding and exploiting weak points in a company’s defenses, such as poorly secured Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections or unpatched vulnerabilities. Once they’ve gained access, they sell it on underground forums, where affiliates can purchase it to launch their attacks. Access Brokers are particularly adept at finding the cracks in your security. Recently, the FBI warned about a surge in attacks targeting RDP connections, a favorite method for Access Brokers to gain initial access to networks. These weak points are often overlooked by smaller businesses that may not have the resources to maintain rigorous cybersecurity protocols, making them easy targets for these cyber criminals. The RaaS Sales Funnel Turns Access into Profit The RaaS ecosystem operates much like a legitimate business, complete with a sales funnel designed to maximize profits. Here’s how it works: Top of the Funnel: Initial Access The process begins with the Access Brokers. They identify vulnerable systems—often using automated tools to scan for weaknesses—then compromise these systems and sell access to affiliates. Middle of the Funnel: Ransomware Deployment Once an affiliate has purchased access, they deploy the ransomware. This stage involves moving laterally within the network, compromising as many devices as possible, and ultimately encrypting critical data. Bottom of the Funnel: Ransom Negotiation and Payment After the ransomware is deployed, the affiliate demands a ransom. The affected business is typically given a deadline to pay up or risk losing their data permanently. If the company pays, the affiliate and the operator share the profits, and the cycle begins again. For the criminals involved, this funnel is highly profitable. For your business, it’s a nightmare scenario. Why Your Small Business is a Target In this ransomware economy, no business is too small to be targeted. In fact, small businesses are often seen as low-hanging fruit by cybercriminals. With fewer resources to devote to cybersecurity, SMBs are more likely to have weak points that can be exploited—whether it’s poorly secured RDP connections, outdated software, or employees who haven’t been trained to recognize phishing attempts. Moreover, the RaaS model makes it easier than ever for criminals to launch attacks on a wide scale. Because the tools are accessible and easy to use, even amateur hackers can become successful ransomware operators. This means that the pool of potential attackers is larger than ever, increasing the likelihood that your business will be targeted. Defending Against the Ransomware Economy So, what can you do to protect your business? The first step is to recognize that you are a target. Understanding the RaaS economy and how it operates is critical to developing a robust defense strategy. Here are a few key steps you can take: Strengthen Your Defenses Ensure your network is secure by regularly updating software, using strong passwords, and securing RDP connections. Consider investing in advanced cybersecurity solutions that detect and respond to threats in real-time. Train Your Employees Your employees are your first line of defense. Regularly train them to recognize phishing attempts and other common tactics used by cybercriminals. Work with Experts Cybersecurity is complex, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Partnering with a trusted provider like Cloud at Work can give you access to the expertise, tools, and resources you need to protect your business and your Sage solutions from ransomware and other cyber threats. The Ransomware Economy is Looking Bullish The ransomware economy isn’t going away. In fact, it’s only growing more sophisticated. But by understanding how it works and taking proactive steps to defend your business, you can reduce risk and ensure you’re not the next victim. Cloud at Work is committed to helping you navigate this complex threat landscape. Our cloud hosting solutions are designed with security at the forefront, providing a fortified, virtual private cloud hosting environment for your Sage applications, including Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500, Sage X3, Sage HRMS, and Sage Fixed Assets. Don’t wait until it’s too late—contact us today to learn how we can help protect your business from the growing threat of ransomware.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, so must our strategies for defending against them. For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), the digital world presents an array of risks, from Business Email Compromise (BEC) to ransomware and even the challenges that come with moving to the cloud. Whether your business operates fully in-office, remotely, or in a hybrid environment, cybersecurity should be at the top of your mind because, no matter your size, you’re a target. What are the most significant cyber threats to SMBs, and how can you begin protecting your essential business data? Here’s what the cybercriminals don’t want you to know. Top Three Cyber Threats to SMBs Understanding your business’s key threats is essential to building a robust defense. While cyber threats are numerous and varied, three consistently top the list for SMBs: Business Email Compromise (BEC) — The Cost-Effective Way to Steal Your Identity The number one threat facing SMBs today is Business Email Compromise. Why? Because it’s incredibly cheap and easy for cybercriminals to execute. BEC attacks involve tricking employees into handing over their credentials through socially engineered emails. It could be as simple as an email that appears to come from your CEO asking for a password reset or access to sensitive information. Once the hacker has access to your employee’s email, they can impersonate them, access other systems, reroute payments, or steal sensitive data. The integration of generative AI allows them to craft error-free, highly authentic-looking phishing emails, making it increasingly difficult for employees to spot the scam (we’ll talk more about AI’s role on both sides of the cybersecurity war in an upcoming post)​. According to data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), BEC attacks led to nearly $2.95 billion in reported financial losses in 2023, marking it the second most costly cybercrime behind investment fraud. The number of complaints also remained high, with over 21,000 incidents reported for the year. These figures highlight the growing sophistication and impact of BEC attacks, which have increased by more than 58% in terms of financial losses since 2020​. Ransomware — Holding Your Business Hostage Ransomware remains one of the most damaging and disruptive threats to SMBs. It’s designed to encrypt your data and hold it hostage until you pay a ransom to regain access — often with no guarantees that paying the ransom will restore your data. Ransomware groups like LockBit and RansomHub continue to target small and mid-sized businesses, exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated systems and relying on employees to make critical mistakes, such as clicking on a malicious link. In 2023, ransomware attacks surged globally, with a 72% increase in attacks targeting SMBs, and 2024 is set to set a new record. The cost of ransomware goes far beyond the ransom itself. Business downtime, lost revenue, and the reputational damage from a data breach can cripple a company. And with Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) making these tools more accessible to cybercriminals, it’s a growing risk for businesses of all sizes. The Human Factor — The Cloud Can Leave You Exposed With the rise of hybrid and remote workforces, many businesses have shifted their operations from on-premise servers to the cloud. While cloud solutions offer flexibility, scalability, and convenience, they also expose businesses to new risks. When employees were confined to the office, businesses could build a secure perimeter around their on-premise environment. But with remote work becoming the new norm, that perimeter is gone. Now, companies need to secure data and applications on-premise and in the cloud — a challenge requiring access controls, application controls, and data protection strategies. Despite their willingness to invest in new tools and technologies, many small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) face significant challenges in fully securing their cloud environments. According to recent reports, 48% of organizations identified budget constraints as a major obstacle to cloud adoption​. SMBs, in particular, struggle with managing multi-cloud environments and controlling long-term costs, which makes it difficult to implement comprehensive security measures. Additionally, as hybrid workforces expand, the attack surface grows, making it harder for SMBs to secure both on-premise and cloud systems​. This complexity, combined with a lack of resources, makes it increasingly difficult for smaller businesses to keep up with evolving threats. The CIA Triad — Protecting Your Business from Every Angle Cybersecurity threats can be understood through the lens of the CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. The CIA Triad is a fundamental concept in cybersecurity and provides a helpful framework for understanding how attackers target your business. These three pillars represent the core objectives of most cyberattacks: attackers either want to steal your sensitive information, compromise the integrity of your systems, or deny you access to your data. Confidentiality: Attackers seek to steal identities or access sensitive information, like customer data or financial records. This is often done through phishing attacks, where employees are tricked into giving up their login credentials. Integrity: Once inside your network, cybercriminals work to breach the integrity of your systems by launching malware or advanced persistent threats (APTs). These attacks can go unnoticed for weeks or even months, quietly compromising your operations. Availability: Finally, attackers often turn to ransomware, locking you out of your systems until a ransom is paid. This freezes the availability of your data and can bring business operations to a standstill. The best way to secure your business is to apply the principles of CIA to the data and systems you care about most. Ask yourself: How am I ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of my most critical information? Securing Your Business in 2024 — A Call to Action The cybersecurity landscape in 2024 is more complex than ever. From Business Email Compromise to RaaS and the challenges of securing cloud-based operations, SMBs face unprecedented risks. So, what can you do? Start by applying the CIA Triad to your data and systems. Ensure that you’re protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your critical information — and work with a trusted partner like Cloud at Work to secure your cloud infrastructure. Cloud at Work’s virtual private cloud hosting service offers a critical solution by providing a secure, managed environment tailored to the needs of SMBs — specifically those running Sage applications. The cyber threats facing SMBs are real, but they’re not insurmountable. You can navigate the cybersecurity landscape and protect your business by staying informed, implementing the right technologies, and working with the right partners. Contact us to learn how Cloud at Work can help safeguard your business and vital Sage applications in this complex threat landscape.

Imagine arriving at your office, ready to start the day, only to find that your entire system is locked down and held hostage by a faceless cybercriminal demanding a ransom. This scenario plays out in businesses of all sizes every day. This threat is all too real for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that rely on Sage business management solutions (Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500, Sage X3, Sage HRMS, and Sage Fixed Assets), and the stakes have never been higher. The Illusion of Immunity: Why Small Businesses are Prime Targets Many SMBs operate under the assumption that they’re too small to be targeted by cybercriminals. “Why would anyone bother with us?” they think. But this false sense of security is precisely what makes them attractive targets. Hackers know that smaller companies often lack the robust defenses of larger enterprises, making them easy prey. 2023 was an especially brutal year for SMBs. Over 60% of them experienced a cyberattack, with devastating consequences. The average downtime experienced after a malware attack is 21 days. Many of the target companies are unable to recover from the damage and shut down within six months. These aren’t just statistics — they are the grim realities faced by businesses that thought they were too small to be targeted. The Rising Tide of Cyber Threats The cybersecurity landscape is constantly shifting, with new threats emerging at an alarming rate. Three of the most prevalent and damaging threats are phishing, ransomware, and human error. Let’s explore each in more detail and how they’ve wreaked havoc on businesses like yours. Email Phishing Attacks — The Trojan Horse of Cybercrime Phishing is the most common entry point for cybercriminals. It’s deceptively simple — a fraudulent email masquerades as legitimate communication, tricking the recipient into clicking a malicious link or downloading an infected attachment. Once someone clicks on that link, it’s game over. Consider the case of Ubiquiti Networks, a major provider of networking devices, which fell victim to a phishing attack in 2021. Cybercriminals used a phishing email to trick employees into transferring $46.7 million to fraudulent overseas accounts. Although Ubiquiti eventually recovered some of the funds, the incident is a stark reminder of how easily even well-established companies can be duped. For smaller businesses, the risk is even greater. A single phishing email can lead to a data breach, exposing sensitive information and crippling operations. And with nearly 90% of successful breaches starting with a phishing email, it’s clear that no one is immune. Ransomware — Modern-Day Kidnapping Ransomware attacks have surged, becoming a favored tool for cybercriminals. These attacks involve locking users out of their systems or encrypting their data until a ransom is paid. And they’re not just targeting large corporations—SMBs are frequently in the crosshairs. In 2021, Colonial Pipeline, a major fuel supplier, was hit by a ransomware attack that forced the company to shut down its operations, leading to fuel shortages across the Eastern United States. The attackers demanded—and received—a $4.4 million ransom. While Colonial Pipeline was able to resume operations, the incident underscores the devastating impact ransomware can have, even on critical infrastructure. For SMBs, the costs of a ransomware attack extend beyond the ransom itself. There’s lost revenue, reputational damage, and the expense of restoring data and systems. And let’s not forget the disruption to business operations, which can be catastrophic for a smaller company. Human Error — The Weakest Link in Cybersecurity Even the most advanced security systems can be undone by human error. Whether it’s using weak passwords, mishandling sensitive data, or simply not recognizing a phishing attempt, employees can unintentionally open the door to attackers. In June 2022, Pegasus Airlines discovered an error in the configuration of one of its databases. An airline employee had misconfigured security settings, exposing 6.5 terabytes of the company’s valuable data. As a result of the improper configuration of an AWS bucket, 23 million files with flight charts, navigation materials, and the crew’s personal information were available for the public to see and modify. The incident highlights the critical role that human factors play in cybersecurity. Despite rigorous training and security protocols, the human element remains a significant vulnerability. For SMBs, where resources for training and oversight may be limited, the risk is even greater. Why Cybersecurity is So Hard to Solve Given the frequency and severity of these threats, why is cybersecurity still such a daunting challenge for SMBs? The answer lies in the complexity of the problem. The Evolving Nature of Threats Cyber threats are not static — they evolve. Hackers constantly develop new techniques to bypass defenses, exploiting vulnerabilities that didn’t exist yesterday. For example, in response to improved email filters, phishing attacks have become more sophisticated, with cybercriminals using deep fake technology to mimic the voices of executives in business email compromise (BEC) schemes. The rapid pace of innovation in the cybercrime world means that security measures must be continuously updated. What worked to protect your business last month may be inadequate today, requiring constant vigilance and adaptation. The Complexity of IT Environments As SMBs adopt more digital tools and platforms, their IT environments become more complex. Each new tool introduces potential vulnerabilities, creating more opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit. Cloud computing, while offering numerous benefits, adds another layer of complexity. Managing these environments requires a level of expertise that many SMBs simply don’t have. Resource Constraints Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology — it’s about people. SMBs often lack the resources, both financial and human, to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures. Hiring cybersecurity experts, maintaining up-to-date defenses, and ensuring continuous monitoring are costly endeavors. These expenses can seem prohibitive for many SMBs already operating with tight budgets. Regulatory Challenges Navigating the complex web of cybersecurity regulations adds another layer of difficulty. SMBs are often required to comply with various standards, depending on their industry and geographic location. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines and legal repercussions. However, staying compliant requires a significant investment in time, expertise, and technology —resources that many SMBs struggle to allocate. A Path Forward — Smart Solutions for Business Defense So, how can SMBs navigate this complex landscape? The key lies in adopting a smart, comprehensive approach to cybersecurity — one that addresses both the technological and human elements of the problem. At Cloud at Work, we understand the unique challenges faced by SMBs. Our virtual private cloud hosting solutions are designed with security at the forefront, providing a fortified environment for your Sage applications. We offer advanced email security that filters out phishing attempts, robust ransomware defenses, and continuous monitoring to ensure your systems are always protected. But technology alone isn’t enough. We also focus on empowering your team with the knowledge and tools they need to recognize and respond to threats. By building a culture of cybersecurity awareness, we help you turn your employees from potential vulnerabilities into your first line of defense. Cybersecurity is a complex, ever-evolving challenge, but it’s one you can meet with the right approach. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore specific strategies and solutions in our comprehensive cybersecurity series, so stay tuned. In the meantime, contact us to learn how Cloud at Work can help safeguard your business and vital Sage applications in this complex threat landscape.