Gone with the wind

VoIP works via the internet and is a fantastic option for those looking to future-proof their systems. VoIP also lends itself to remote working as there is no need for arduous installation or hardware. The phones can simply be plugged into a router and are good to go.

When it comes to extreme weather, if you’re leaving the office for a period of time, move all tech equipment and wires off the floor. Should the worst happen and water gets into your office, your tech will be out of harm’s way.

Location, location, location

When it comes to storing your devices, if you’re packing away the laptop in exchange for your kitchen table back, be mindful of where you relocate devices to. Don’t leave them in a damp or particularly cold area as this could cause damage to the screen or hard drive. If a laptop has been left in the cold for any period of time, when you bring it back to a warmer environment, be sure to give it time to come to room temperature first. The rapid change in temperature can cause condensation which may lead to electrical problems.

If you’re on the go, try and avoid keeping devices in the car for a long period of time. Not only does this increase the likelihood of them being stolen if spotted though the window, but extended exposure to moisture can cause damage to your screens, especially any with touch screens features.

If you do have to leave them in the car or a colder environment, make sure they’re bundled up and not able to slide around.

Back it up

It’s good practice to back up all your files and data. Make sure this is done before you log off for the festive period. It won’t be a happy New Year if you come back to the office and can’t access your files!

Data centres are a brilliant option as they are always up to date with antivirus software and firewalls, as well as having top physical security to ensure your data is safe and sound and protected from storms and break ins.

Cloud storage is another great option and aids those who will working remotely this winter. Users simply need to login and they can access their data from anywhere in the world at any time of day.

There are simple things you can do to winter-proof your IT, whether that be storing your devices safely or making sure your antivirus is up to date.

If you’re unsure about anything or would like some advice on how to keep your IT safe this winter, get in touch with a member of the team via info@probado.co.uk or give us a call on 01484 905103.

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The situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) is constantly evolving and, with many now being advised to implement remote working where possible, we have put together our advice on how to implement this during the outbreak. It may be a difficult transition period while the world adapts to this new virus, but there are steps businesses can take to ensure the smoothest move possible and employees can continue with business as usual while working from home.

VoIP systems

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems are brilliant when it comes to flexible and remote working. If you don’t already have a VoIP system in place, we highly recommend you invest in one. Being powered by the internet allows the devices to be moved and relocated, simply plug in, connect to the internet and you’re good to go.

Not only is a VoIP system flexible, it is generally the more affordable option when compared to traditional phone systems as they need very little set up and there is no need to purchase expensive equipment and hardware. They require very little maintenance and when they do, most can be carried out remotely.

Cloud storage

Good access is vital when working from home. All members of staff need to be able to access servers and files with ease. When it comes to storage of data there are two main options, on premises or the cloud.

Cloud solutions are ideal for home and remote working as they can be accessed from anywhere with the correct log-in credentials. This means the security of a cloud server may be called into question; however, additional factors such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and stricter password measures will ensure your team can access files and data securely when working remotely.

Unified communications

Over the last decade, online communication has been adapted and integrated to form the new model of unified communications that companies are increasingly benefiting from when staff need to work remotely. Now employees can host conference calls and access documents and emails from any location on a number of devices, allowing work to continue from any location. Integrating a unified communications structure will allow all communications between both clients and colleagues to continue smoothly and efficiently.

While the situation with COVID-19 is continuously changing and uncertainty is rife, businesses need to be able to rely on IT more than ever. For more information on any of our services and how they assist remote working, please get in touch with our team here.

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According to Computer Weekly, almost half of UK manufacturers have experienced a cyber security incident, with Enscite also reporting that the manufacturing sector is the third most hit by cyberattacks in the UK.

Managing cyber security risks on just one site can be challenging let alone at multiple locations. Here is everything you need to consider to ensure all your manufacturing sites are as cyber-safe as possible.

Have a dedicated team

Most manufacturers will have a dedicated IT or cyber security team; however, they may only be based in the head office or one central location. Having a dedicated member of staff on each site (or at the very least, regular visits and audits) is crucial to being able to identify cyber security risks, data breaches or weak spots and manage them effectively and quickly.

There are many cyber-attacks that can lay undetected to the untrained eye until it is too late. It can take companies over six months to identify a data breach, therefore having specialist staff on the ground at each location can ensure that any breaches are identified and dealt with as soon as possible.

Provide training for all employees – your first and last line of defence

Training is essential for ensuring cyber security across multiple manufacturing sites. Providing training just for your IT team is not enough – all staff need to be trained in basic cyber security, covering everything from how to identify a spam email to the reporting procedure in your organisation. Whether they’re working with a single email account or a specialist piece of computer operated equipment, cyber security training is essential.

It is not always possible for the IT team to be on hand 24 hours a day but if all staff are vigilant and aware of what to look out for, it can help protect not just their site, but the entire network including admin systems, manufacturing equipment, specialist software and customer data.

Be vigilant with technology

More and more manufacturers are investing in artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and Industry 4.0. These are incredible developments in the manufacturing sector that can provide significant value to manufacturing sites and end products alike.

However, with great connectivity comes greater cyber security risk. The more devices that are connected to the internet and are controlled via automated technology, the more targets there are for hackers and cyber criminals. Ensure your entire network is covered by firewalls, anti-virus software and is password protected. Multi-factor authentication (including biometrics) is a great step to enforce, adding an extra layer of protection to devices, accounts and equipment.

Be equal across sites

Ensure all sites have the same level of cyber security in place. If one site has a weak spot, hackers can manipulate this to gain access to the entire network covering all locations. While manufacturers will want to invest in tools and equipment to improve the work they produce and the value they can give to customers, investing in cyber security programmes, equipment and training is just as important.

This will not only protect your business but also your customers’ information. With almost 60% of customers asking for proof of the robustness of a manufacturer’s cyber security system, its importance can’t be ignored. Having an even blanket of protection over all sites means that each base and each customer has the best possible chance at avoiding a cyber-attack.

We work with a number of manufacturing businesses across a variety of sectors to ensure their work across multiple sites is as safe as possible. If you’re looking to improve the cyber security of your manufacturing sites, get in touch with a member of our team here.

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You may have heard a lot of talk about data centres, but what actually are they, can they benefit your business and are they really secure enough to process and handle your data?

What is a data centre?

How Stuff Works define data centres as ‘centralised locations where computing and networking equipment is concentrated for the purpose of collecting, storing, processing, distributing or allowing access to large amounts of data.’

There are generally two types of data centre, internet facing or enterprise. Internet facing data centres, also known as external data centres, typically support fewer applications but are accessible by a larger number of individuals. However, enterprise, or internal, data centres will have fewer users but support more applications.

How do they work?

Also called server farms, data centres are rooms or buildings comprised of multiple servers that host a range of applications needed to keep a business running. These include collaboration services, file sharing, email networks, firewalls and databases.

Data centres can house vast amounts of servers, even into the thousands. According to datacenters.com the largest data centre in the world is in China at 6.3 million square feet in size, which is equal to 110 football pitches.

All physical servers and components are stored in one location allowing them to be connected by cables and maintained in one secure place.

Data centres connect all these services to the user locations, allowing access to specific data and platforms across a company.

With more and more businesses moving to digitalisation and cloud-based services, data centres are having to expand and incorporate more servers, therefore taking up more physical space. However, the rise of cloud networks has presented increased, international cyber security risks, leading many to question if accessing data this way is really the safest option for their business.

How reliable and secure are data centres?

Protecting a data centre is essential with many becoming physical targets for hackers and thieves.

Naturally, having an external data centre with all these assets in one location presents a security risk, to both the intangible data and the physical servers. While the data centre can deploy firewalls and security programmes to the end user, just how secure are data centres themselves?

Most data centres will have round the clock surveillance, with security personnel present at all times. They will be accessible to a select few people, which, at more advanced sites, will require fingerprint, voice or DNA authentication to access control systems.

Data security and external data centres

Using an external data centre means that the servers will have increased, specialised physical security as well as allowing greater flexibility and growth potential for your business.

This method, known as colocation, where businesses outsource to professionally managed data centres, has a number of benefits, including improved data security.

As well as installing your own firewalls, antivirus and protection programmes throughout your network, external data centres will have additional, specialist measures in place to protect its clients’ data. By outsourcing your data centre, your business will benefit from professional expertise in both data security, physical security and GDPR compliance.

In the same way that cloud accessible data centres centralise data and applications, they also centralise security programmes. Managing all these attributes from a central location means that all security protocols and programmes can be deployed across the entire network from the main source. Many are opting for a security information and event management system (SIEM) to run throughout the data centre, offering a real-time view into the data centre’s position as well as allowing control throughout the network of cyber security procedures.

If you’re thinking about using a data centre for your business, get in touch with a member of our team here for advice on how to ensure your data is safe.

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Technological advancements mean there are various data storage options available, whether on-premise or in the cloud. Each solution has advantages and disadvantages – so which storage solution is right for your business?

On-premise Solution

The term “on-premise” refers to local hardware, meaning all company data is stored on servers, computers and other devices within the company site.

One of the main advantages to on-premise solutions is the security, which is of critical importance today. According to a report by Risk Based Security, over four billion data records were compromised in 2016 alone.

Whilst no single method can ever be 100% effective at preventing breaches, storing data locally can help keep remote hackers out of a system.

Having said that, it is imperative that organisations implement safeguards to protect their on-premise device. A study conducted by the Ponemon Institute found that 59% of disgruntled employees will take sensitive data with them.

Many organisations remain reluctant to opt for on-premise solutions due to higher upfront and lifespan costs. Like all computers, on-site servers do not have an infinite lifespan and they will need to be serviced regularly.

Besides maintenance costs, on-premise storage solutions also come with some significant indirect costs. Their very nature requires them to be running constantly to ensure accessibility, which in turn has an impact on monthly energy bills, particularly for larger companies with more than one device.

Cloud Storage

Unlike on-premise storage, cloud services are remote servers or hardware maintained by a third-party provider. This provider will sell storage space, bandwidth and access requests to organisations, depending on company needs.

It is unsurprising that cloud data is almost always cheaper than on-premise solutions. By using cloud storage, an organisation can tailor its solution to suit its specific needs. If the organisation only requires 14TB of storage space, it can purchase that exact amount.

Most reputable cloud providers will allow companies to change their plans simply. At the touch of a button, organisations can add more space to a plan, or alternatively decrease storage, ultimately saving the company money.

Another benefit of cloud data storage is the ability to access data remotely at any time. When an organisation purchases cloud storage, it is given access credentials which can be used to access data via the internet, offering a great deal of flexibility.

A major drawback of cloud storage is the risk of security breaches. Unfortunately, remote servers are accessible by anybody at any time, leaving organisations without proper encryption open to cyber-attacks. In order to ensure safety, it is of high importance that companies ensure their systems are fully secured and only accessed by authorised members of staff.

Whichever solution you choose, it pays to talk to a professional who can help you decide the best solution to suit your business. For more information, drop us a line or, for more on online security, see our previous blog.

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