Washington Works Blog

We talk a lot about phishing on this blog, and for good reason. It makes up a significant portion of today’s cyberthreats, irrespective of size or industry. Today, we want to highlight how your business can protect itself from phishing attacks and keep their impacts to a minimum. We’ll dive into some details about phishing schemes and the solutions you can implement to keep your business safe.

Ransomware is not just a business problem; it is also a consumer and user problem. While it might lock down your business’ files and make them inaccessible, there is also the possibility that the cybercriminals will steal and sell the data on the black market rather than safely return it. What happens to users who have had their data stolen during a ransomware attack?

If your organization is fortunate enough to have an internal IT department, it’s likely that they are managing a complex infrastructure on top of being understaffed and overworked. We're not knocking your business or anything; it’s just the nature of the work and the reality of SMBs (trust us, we’d know). We can make managing your technology significantly easier and less of a pressure on your IT workers.

Today, cybersecurity responsibility extends beyond the IT department; it's now everyone's concern. Experiencing a hack can be deeply unsettling, leaving you feeling vulnerable and uncertain about what steps to take next. This short guide aims to assist you by outlining the necessary actions to take post-hack, along with practical cybersecurity advice and measures to help you strengthen your defenses. Let's transform this stressful situation into an opportunity to learn and fortify your cyber resilience.

Cybersecurity attacks happen when you least expect it, and data is often more susceptible to a cyberattack while it’s moving from one individual to another. This is what is commonly known as a man-in-the-middle attack, or MitM. Essentially, data gets intercepted while it’s in transit—but what can you really do to stop it? Let’s find out.

The second you hear “audit,” your brain likely goes into damage control mode. However, the purposes of an audit are not necessarily malicious. In fact, they can be remarkably beneficial for a number of reasons, including network security. A good audit can help your business stay secure from threats and vulnerabilities.

Every year, there seems to be a notable increase in high-profile ransomware attacks. If you haven't yet devised a plan to shield your business from these dangers, the time to act is now. Luckily, there are proactive steps you can take to reduce the impact of ransomware attacks, and it all starts with preparation.

The misconception that small businesses are immune to cyberthreats is dangerous. In reality, their size and often lax security measures make them attractive targets. The cost of a cyber incident can be devastating for small and medium-sized businesses. It can lead to downtime, reputation damage, and significant financial loss.

Software plays a crucial role in every business, regardless of its nature. Whether you rely on a CRM system, a point-of-sale solution, or more intricate software profiles, understanding key aspects of modern software is essential for maximizing its potential. Here are three vital insights into modern software.

Do you have the time to monitor your networks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year? If not, you’re like every other business owner out there, and if you’re not monitoring your network, you’re potentially leaving it open to a lot more threats than you should feel comfortable with. 

We all know that it’s important to protect your business’ infrastructure from threats of all kinds. Sometimes when we’re reading about discourse surrounding network security, you’ll see the word “endpoint.” Do you know how important it is to protect all endpoints? That’s what we want to explore with today’s article.

Navigating cybersecurity training can prove daunting for individuals across various organizations. Nevertheless, it remains an imperative task. Identifying the root causes of this reluctance enables organizations to fine-tune their training initiatives for greater engagement and efficacy. This article explores four prevalent reasons why employees may harbor an aversion to cybersecurity training.

There has recently been a surge in cyberattacks and data breaches targeting the healthcare industry and its affiliated businesses and vendors. With one such attack currently featured prominently in the headlines, it seemed appropriate to consider why this is and what businesses of all kinds—particularly those in healthcare—need to do to prevent this kind of thing from happening to them.

Ensuring cybersecurity is important for individuals both in their professional and personal lives. Hence, I've compiled a set of cybersecurity practices that you should advocate for your team, especially when they're working remotely or during their personal time.

Are you prioritizing your business’ network security? It’s remarkably important that any modern business focuses its efforts on this aspect of running a company. Still, it can be challenging to implement the right tools for the job—particularly if you are a future-minded business. You want to get the best return on your investment, which makes sense. Let’s help you get there.

It seems like with every day that passes, there is a new sinister cyberthreat to worry about, and it’s crucial that businesses learn as much as possible about how to keep themselves safe as they can. There is simply too much at stake not to. That said, there are broad categories that most threats will fall under. Today, we’re going to explore them.

Our digital footprint is extensive and vulnerable, from personal information to financial details. While many may believe they are impervious to data theft, the stark reality is that no one is truly immune. Today, we will take a look at a couple of reasons why individuals, regardless of their experience with technology, are not exempt from data theft.

Picture this scenario: while going about your daily routine, an email lands in your inbox, purportedly from a cybersecurity company. The alarming claim is that you've become the target of a hacking attack. Despite lacking IT expertise and being unfamiliar with your security agency's protocols, you trust the message and promptly respond. Little do you know, the email is a cleverly disguised cyberthreat, and you find yourself ensnared in their trap.

Your business' IT security effectiveness relies heavily on how well your technology works. With this in mind, educating your staff on their responsibility to safeguard your business’ digital assets is important. Let’s explore the key priorities businesses need to consider to establish a robust security training platform that works to protect those assets.

SMBs tend to rely on their longstanding clients to bring in the majority of their revenue, so what happens when clients suddenly cannot trust your business’ reputation? Look no further than if you were to suffer from a cyberattack for an answer. It turns out that being careless with your clients’ data is one of the best ways to sink your reputation.