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5 Ways We Plan to Use AI

It seems like you can’t browse the Internet these days without seeing one of the latest artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot technologies mentioned in the news. Headlines about ChatGPT, Bing AI Chat, and Google Bard abound, and each predicts that their new technologies are poised to disrupt the business world. While these technologies are rapidly evolving, according to Bill Gates, they…

Even the Best Security Systems will Fail Without the Right Employee Training

When discussing the importance of adopting a strong cybersecurity strategy, too often the focus is on technology solutions designed to prevent and mitigate cyber-attacks. Certainly, the adoption of tools and solutions is integral to a strong security posture. Yet, as noted in Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, a staggering 82 percent of data breaches involve some sort of human…

Cybersecurity By the Numbers

In recent years, cybersecurity has been a considerable concern for middle market companies. Threats are far more frequent, diverse, and severe than anyone could have anticipated. It’s crucial that all organizations implement cyber defense measures that better safeguard company and customer information to mitigate financial losses and brand damage. From lingering threats related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to geopolitical conflicts…

Should you Trust Password Managers?

A good password is a critical part of protecting your data. So, when LastPass, a popular password manager solution, announced that its third-party cloud-based storage service had been breached, allowing an unknown attacker to gain access to backups containing customer data including password vaults, a lot of people got nervous. The bad news is that those customer password vaults are in…

Why Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Instead of Anti-Virus Software?

Security remains one of the biggest concerns and most challenging responsibilities facing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) today. In 2021, there was a 300% increase in ransomware attacks with over 50% reaching small businesses. To address this challenge, Microsoft is investing in security solutions purposefully designed to help protect them. Microsoft Defender for Business is a new endpoint security solution…

Ensure your Life Science Company Survives Investor Due Diligence

By Robert Thomas, Audit Senior Manager, WithumSmith+Brown, PC and Christian Kelly, IT Auditor, Xantrion Inc. Congratulations! Your pharmaceutical, biologic, or medical device startup has developed a promising product, and you’re ready to raise a Series B round of funding. Read on to learn what experts Rob Thomas and Christian Kelly recommend to make it easier to pursue and obtain that…

The Do’s and Don’ts of Preventing MFA Spamming Attacks

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a great way to add an extra layer of security to network access. But it’s not foolproof – as Cisco, Microsoft, and Uber all learned recently when cybercriminals breached their network using a technique known as MFA spamming. Also known as MFA bombing and MFA fatigue, this ploy is used by an attacker who has acquired…

Cybercriminals Like to go Phishing, Don’t Fall for the Bait

Phishing is when criminals use fake emails, social media posts or direct messages with the goal of luring you to click on a bad link or download a malicious attachment. If you click on a phishing link or file, you can hand over your personal information to the cybercriminals. A phishing scheme can also install malware onto your device. No need…

Ransomware Protection: Guaranteed

Last year’s headline-grabbing ransomware attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and meatpacking company JBS show how vital it is to remain vigilant in your efforts to protect yourself from ransomware. For several days, the attacks shut down one of the most vital oil pipelines in the US and disrupted the global meat supply chain. They also cost each company millions of…

Why Xantrion Uses Microsoft

When you hire Xantrion as your managed security service provider (MSSP), you’re trusting our ability to protect your business-critical infrastructure and data – and the technology partners we choose to help us do that. Microsoft is one of our most trusted partners. In fact, we have so much confidence in their approach to zero trust security that we’ve made…

My Cyber Liability Insurance Premium Just Doubled, Now What?

Why is the average cost of cyber liability insurance starting to double from one year to the next, and what can you do about it? In the past, getting a high-quality, affordable policy was as simple as providing your revenue and some basic information about your cyber security controls. Today, you must fill out a detailed annual questionnaire about your…

3 Reasons to Make Data Privacy your New Year’s Resolution

By Jodi Daniels, Founder & CEO of Red Clover Advisors Our favorite time of the year is finally here—and yes, we know the winter holidays have already come and gone. But as much we may love warming up with a cup of hot cocoa (topped off with unreasonable amounts of marshmallows, please!), there’s one day that holds a special place…

How to Compete for Talent in the New Era of Remote Work

A USA Today article explains why our current staffing crunch may take years to abate. Between pandemic-related changes to the workplace and early retirements, organizations are in a fierce competition for employees, including roles like IT that are increasingly important for supporting the primary business or mission. Technology is playing a significant role in helping organizations meet the challenges…

Technology Helps California Life Sciences Companies Strategically Transition to the Remote / Hybrid Workplace

The 2021 California Life Sciences Workforce Trends Report, points to a nationwide staffing crunch in the life sciences industry. Between pandemic-related changes to the workplace and underdeveloped talent pipelines, the life sciences industry is in a fierce competition for skilled employees, both for STEM positions and for secondary roles like IT that are necessary to support scientists.

Let’s work together to achieve state-of-the-art ransomware protection

Recent headlines have been dominated by stories about the Colonial Pipeline and JBS ransomware attacks. With multi-million-dollar ransoms, operations shut down for days, and the costs associated with investigating and recovering from the attacks, these incidents are stark reminders that businesses need to remain vigilant in their efforts to protect themselves from ransomware. Our state-of-the-art security programs have proven to…