Articles

Cybersecurity Explained

Read for a brief history of how cybersecurity first started, when it became popular, and how it works. We’ll also cover the main different types of cyberattacks and malware you need to know about and discuss how to get a cybersecurity assessment and work with cybersecurity consultants.

The CrowdStrike Incident: A Wake-Up Call for Operational Resilience

By Christian Kelly, CTO, Xantrion Inc. As Xantrion’s CTO, I’ve seen my fair share of IT incidents and system outages over the years. But the recent CrowdStrike incident stands out as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in our interconnected digital world. This event, which some are calling “the largest outage in the history of information technology,” offers crucial…

4 Critical Questions to Ask Your IT Security Company

According to a recent RSM report, 40% of midsized companies outsource IT services to obtain cost-effective expertise and keep current with rapidly changing technology and threats. The critical issue these companies face is determining which IT outsourcing company to trust, since the report also found that many mid-market companies are worried about a cyberattack on a supplier. As an industry…

The Difference Between On-premises and Cloud Cybersecurity

The shift from on-premises to cloud-based infrastructure fundamentally changes how organizations approach cybersecurity. As businesses move their operations to the cloud, they face new challenges in protecting their digital assets and data.

A Holiday Weekend Nightmare: Is Your Business Prepared?

Imagine this: It’s Labor Day weekend, and while most people are enjoying barbecues and family time, a CEO decides to stop by his wholesale plant nursery for a quick check-in. What he finds is every business’s worst nightmare — all computers are locked, displaying only a ransom message. The nursery has fallen victim to a devastating cyberattack when no one…

Cloud Security Explained

Cloud computing has forever changed the way organizations store, process, and manage data, making it popular among businesses and cybercriminals alike. As companies increasingly migrate to the cloud, hackers are equally eager to exploit these virtual environments. So, how do you ensure your cloud is secure, and what best practices should your organization follow to protect your valuable assets against…

The Best Security Measure Your Company Isn’t Using: Closing the MFA Implementation Gap

Consumers today have a growing familiarity with multifactor authentication, or MFA, the security measure that requires two or more identity verification steps for access to a platform or system. Many of the services they interact with each day use MFA, from banking apps to social media networks

Cybersecurity Assessments: Why Your Company Needs One and Where to Start

What does it take to protect your company from cybercriminals and data breaches? For a long time, a strong password and a hardened firewall was the simple answer. Not anymore. Now, it takes a host of different measures to prevent bad actors from accessing your systems. But how do you know you’ve got the right measures in place? Enter cybersecurity…

MFA Update: Navigating a Changing Landscape

Multifactor authentication (MFA) continues to be a robust security measure. However, recent developments indicate that MFA is not as bulletproof as it once was. Attackers are finding new ways to circumvent MFA controls, prompting a need for additional protection.

The Xantrion Advantage

When you work with Xantrion, here’s a snapshot of what you can expect. We’ll help you improve productivity, meet your cyber insurance coverage requirements, prevent cyber incidents from halting your operations, and pass your stakeholder due diligence. Check out our full infographic below. Download the infographic

The Hard Truths Facing CIOs About Outsourcing: Exposing 5 Pervasive Myths

Savvy chief information officers know a little something about disruption. In an era of accelerating innovation, it’s up to CIOs to keep a cool head and assess what new technologies can improve their businesses, and which ones are better left on the shelf. But while choosing and embracing the right disruptive technologies has always been part of the job, more…

The SEC’s Cyber Risk Management Rules: What RIAs Should Know

Since uncertainty still surrounds the Securities and Exchange Commission’s pending cyber risk management rules for registered investment advisers, Xantrion CTO, Christian Kelly, attended the recent 2024 Investment Adviser Compliance Conference, which included remarks from SEC officials. Unfortunately, those officials were limited in how much they could share since the rules have yet to be finalized. The uncertainty notwithstanding, what is…

The Digital Transformation and AI Journey: A Guide

For growing businesses, digital transformation is exciting, necessary…and sometimes challenging to understand. One way to imagine your digital transformation journey is to consider it in three stages: enablement, transformation and digital first. The infographic below, created by experts from Engine Room, Xantrion and the 2Go Advisory Group, delineates the typical journey in greater detail. What’s the connection between digital transformation…

2024 Cybersecurity To-Do List

With increased regulatory pressure and mounting cybersecurity risks, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’ve got a robust cybersecurity program. This checklist will help you shape your 2024 cybersecurity strategy. DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC Get a Free Cyber Risk Assessment

Ready to Adopt AI? 5 Things Businesses Should Know

Here at Xantrion, we’ve been experimenting with different AI-powered tools and automation for the last three years. As a mid-size managed IT service provider, we’ve learned a lot about the potential and the limitations of AI tools, and what they mean for businesses like ours…and yours.

Digital Transformation vs. Using AI and Machine Learning for Your Business: What’s the Difference?

The concept of digital transformation actually predates AI and machine learning. As you update and evolve your business’s use of technology, it’s important to understand all three concepts.

The Crucial Role of Morale and Culture in Defending Against Cyber Criminals

There are two aspects of the battle against cyber criminals that organizations can’t afford to ignore: Employee morale and company culture. While strong morale and culture can help companies protect against cyberthreats, weak morale and culture can make them more vulnerable.

Have You Outgrown Your MSP? 6 Questions To Ask

When your business evolves from a scrappy startup to a more mature organization, there’s a good chance that your managed service provider (MSP) won’t evolve with it. Solo IT consultants or AI-based MSPs may work well for fledgling businesses, but as a company grows, so does its IT needs…meaning its old MSP may no longer be the right fit. If…

A Hard Lesson Learned: How a Devastating Malware Attack Transformed a Company’s Approach to Cybersecurity

It’s any business leader’s worst nightmare: A cyberattack that paralyzes their entire company, from top to bottom, leading to work stoppages, delivery delays, and devastatingly high costs. Over the years, Xantrion has been called multiple times to help different companies reeling from cyberattacks. Each time, Xantrion has helped them get back on their feet. In the interview below, Xantrion Chief…

Don’t Gamble with Your Cybersecurity: 7 Lessons From the MGM Casino Breach

Gaps in cybersecurity recently cost MGM Resorts a reported $100 million after cybercriminals hacked the casino giant. Though disastrous for MGM, other companies can learn valuable lessons from the headline-making cyberattack…without paying $100 million to do so. Here are a few key takeaways from this incident: 1. Beware the power of social engineering. Social engineering is the criminal act of…

Ransomware and Data Breaches: Understand Their True Costs

New data from IBM and Verizon shed light on the true costs of ransomware and data breaches. Do you understand the risks of leaving your business unprotected?

Why You Need an Incident Response Plan Now More Than Ever

It might happen on a Friday afternoon, or maybe on the day before holiday. Many employees have clocked out early, so an intrusion goes unnoticed…until it’s too late. Suddenly the whole system begins shutting down. Your next step? Panic. A data breach or other cybersecurity incident can be a traumatic, shocking experience, even for a seasoned executive. To avoid freezing…

How to Find the Right Supplemental Cybersecurity Provider for your Business

Staying vigilant about cybersecurity threats is a requirement for doing business today. The costs of data breaches are climbing sky-high, while AI is empowering criminals to devise ever more sophisticated schemes to steal from and defraud companies. That’s why businesses turn to IT security providers who offer services and expertise that their in-house IT teams lack. But not all security…

Take Advantage of Co-Managed IT Services and Your In-house IT Team Will Thank You

There’s a good chance your company’s internal IT team is feeling overwhelmed. It’s not a reflection of their skill or dedication, but rather a sign of the times — technology and cybersecurity threats are evolving faster than ever. Sometimes companies are victims of their own success: They’re growing so quickly that their in-house IT departments can’t keep up with requests…

Why Should Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) Invest in Digital Transformation?

By Adrian Bray, CEO, Stellar Consulting in partnership with Xantrion Management often has a love-hate relationship with technology. While it is a part of their daily life, they typically only interact with the IT department during onboarding, offboarding, or when there is a problem. In addition, IT-related costs are increasingly a more significant portion of the P&L. IT and digital…

The Xantrion Client Experience: Insights from our Annual Survey

As a leading cybersecurity and managed IT services provider, Xantrion continuously strives to deliver premier IT solutions to our clients. The cornerstone of our ability to enhance services and how we support clients is our annual client survey. The primary objective of the survey is to obtain insight into what clients value and identify opportunities for improvement. We rely on…

What Is an MSP? 6 Ways to Think About Managed Service Providers

Years ago, when businesses needed tech support beyond what they could manage in-house, they often turned to IT consultants. But as the technology landscape grew more complex and security threats spiked, companies needed more than ad hoc consulting services — they sought to fully outsource their technology function. Enter managed service providers, or MSPs. What is an MSP? In basic…

Navigating the challenges and benefits of a hybrid work model

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work primarily by accelerating the widespread adoption of remote work. As pandemic safety measures eased, many companies had hoped to bring employees back into the office this year. However, the Wall Street Journal noted in May that most efforts pushing for a return to fully on-premise work had stalled. In fact, nearly 60%…

How to Save on IT Support Services Without Sacrificing Security

Performance is top of mind for CFOs and COOs who are trying to do more with fewer resources. They are facing more pressure than ever to justify their spending and prove they’re providing value. Our goal is to help every department, not just IT, get what they want while still delivering results. The following are 9 ways we’ve found to get the best value from your IT investment.…

Drive More Sales and Gain Competitive Advantage with AI in Salesforce

By Chris Valiquet, Senior Salesforce Consultant, StarrData In a recent blog post, we explored how we plan to begin implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance our business practices at Xantrion and why we feel it’s important for our clients to start thinking about how to leverage AI-based technologies. While many solution providers are beginning to tap into the possibilities of…