Computer Repair, Server Maintenance and Business Continuity Experts!

Atlantic Data Team wants to take care of your Computer Network and Bulletproof your data so that you can enjoy complete peace of mind. Every facet of our business is based upon a proactive and preventive approach to Computer Network Optimization, Data Protection and Business Continuity.

 

Is your Data Protected?

 

Turn to the Computer Wellness and Data Security Specialists at Atlantic Data Team. We will restore your Computer Network to a healthy state and protect it from future harm. In addition to Computer Repair Services, we offer ongoing care and protection of PC’s, Laptops, Servers and BDR appliances. These proactive services reduce your downtime, data loss and money spent fixing computers that have been allowed to fail or that have been hacked by cyber-criminals.

The Atlantic Data Team’s mission statement is to maintain and protect healthy computer networks. We provide peace of mind with the most advanced Data Security and Business Continuity Solutions. We understand that documented Data Protection Measures, data back-up systems and disaster recovery planning are vital to those in highly regulated fields. Our clients are Small Business Owners, Law Firms and Medical office staffs that don’t want to spend their time dealing with computer problems, maintenance issues or researching IT solutions. That’s why they turn to the trusted professionals at Atlantic Data Team to keep them and their computers up and running.

Free Computer Wellness Visits are part of our proactive approach to supporting the Central Florida Business Community. During a visit to your location we complete a 27-Point Computer Problem Prevention Network Audit to assess your current Computer Network, systems and processes. We then can offer recommendations that will truly make a positive impact on your business and its bottom line.
Click Here to sign up for your FREE Computer Wellness Visit and see what advantages we can offer you.

5 Tips for Creating Hard to Hack Passwords

From the Data Security experts at Atlantic Data Team here are  5 Tips for Creating Hard to Hack Passwords.

 

Could someone easily guess your password?

 

1. Use Passwords that are not based on any personal information or  a word from the dictionary. Therefore, Do not use any part of your name, childs name, pets name, company name or a word from the dictionary properly or backwards.

Why? Intruders do research to gain information about individual users. Facebook is one source they are using and therefore the information shared on social media sites should never be a part of a password. Because, these devious intruders will attempt to gain access by trying password combinations related to the users family, personal interests, or other key personal information. They will often gain access to a company’s systems by stealing, or cracking these types of passwords and the account names, and then they will pose as that user.

These hackers also use sophisticated software to rapidly enter random dictionary words until they hack their way into your computer and it can take only minutes!

Examples of easily hacked passwords include:

• Samson2
• drowssap (password backwards)
• t1mjones
• N1keisbest

2. Use Passwords that have at least 6 characters and longer if possible.

3. Use Passwords that contains a mix of upper and lower case letters.

4. Use Passwords that include special characters, numerals, and punctuation.

5. Atlantic Data Team also recommends using a password based on a mnemonic, such as an easily remembered phrase or key words of a song. For example, take the first letter of each word in a phrase or song, then add a few special characters or numbers to it. For example, “It was’t me it was’t me” can become “I:w)miwM”. “Just do it” can become “j1D2i$”.

Examples of strong passwords include:

• De8#vu
• 5sD$oiP
• Qz89TI!
• j2T@w&M

Bonus tip: Do Not Use PASSWORD as your password.

Why is a firewall an important part of Data Security?

A firewall provides a technological barrier to prevent unauthorized or unwanted communications between computer networks or hosts.

Without a Firewall, hackers can achieve easy access to confidential files on your computer network when you connect to the Internet. It is like having an “Open-Door Policy” for hackers that may be identity thieves and of equal threat cyber-criminals that can implicate you in their malicious network activity.  Once these cyber-criminals have access to your computer, they can also install programs that do anything from send junk mail better known as spam or worse, cause your computer to attack another computer implementing you and your company in what is called a denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) which is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. They can also install code on your computer that destroys files or causes malfunctions.

Simply put: Having a firewall is similar to having all your windows and doors (access points) closed, locked and with an armed guard in place that will protect your computer network from malicious intruders.

Have your firewall installed and monitored by the Data Security Experts at Atlantic Data Team. Contact us for a FREE Security Audit 407-830-5993 or 386-677-4040.

Join The Atlantic Data Team

Atlantic Data Team is on the look out for talented IT professionals that share our passion for supporting the Computer Networks and providing Disaster Recover Plans for Small Business owners in Central Florida. Our technicians must provide friendly and prompt computer repairs, IT Support and technical computer assistance to our hard working professional clients that must have their computers up and running.

About the Job
The position is a combination of on-site and remote computer network service work, with the majority being on-site at client location.

Must Have:

• Excellent communication Skills (Written and Verbal)
• Ability to work independently, reliable transportation and provide prompt professional service
• Ability to organize, execute and track work efforts.
• Proficiency in computer network troubleshooting, installation and repair is expected
• Ability to install and configure servers, PC’s, printers, scanners, other peripherals, and related equipment at customer sites.
• Capable of repairing and upgrade computer hardware both on site and at the home office.
• Knowledge of Networking Protocols and Services (VOIP, ISCSI, Telcom, LAN / WAN, Wireless) multiple ISP providers, Circuits, Sites
• Basic knowledge of SAN hardware (HP MSA, Xiotech, HP/Lefthand)/Connectivity (ISCSI, Fibre channel…)

Ready to Join the Atlantic Data Team? Please, send your cover letter and resume to Pamela.Myers@AtlanticDataTeam.com

Facebook and Identity Theft…Are You safe?

Are you safe?

Social Media Sites such as Facebook are more popular than ever. Therefore, the amount of information displayed about “friends” online has also increased. But, not everyone claiming to be a “friend” has the best of intentions. So, we ask the question … Are you safe from Identity Theft?

As is discussed in a FOX 35 Interview, Data Security expert James Gentry of Atlantic Data Team mentioned that for an identity thief to begin their work, they need very few pieces of information: Person’s full name, date of birth, address with the zip code, telephone number.

By have this profile information public; a person opens themselves to potential harms. When combined with a little background information which can be found on Facebook (school/education, hometown, type of job and employer) the task of impersonating a targeted prey becomes much easier.

Bottom Line: Do not make public ANY information that could be used by an Identity Thief.  Be pro-active in protecting your identity and personal information. Watch Fox 35 Interview of James Gentry of Atlantic Data Team. Watch Now

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6 Proven Ways to Discover If You are in Control of your Data

Do You REALLY Have the Keys to YOUR Kingdom? If you can’t answer “YES” to these 6 questions, your current IT guy has too much control:

You should also know the passwords to your company's database and accounting package so you can change them.

1. Do you know all the passwords? Every machine and Internet related device on your network has (or should have) a password. If your current provider is the only one who knows what they are then you cannot view, change, or update the system settings. You should also know the passwords to your company’s database and accounting package so you can change them whenever there is a change in IT providers.

2.  Do you know where your backup files are stored and if they are being stored properly? If you are like most business owners, you’re too busy dealing with the “crisis of the day” to think about system backups and probably leave tasks to your internal expert. If your database gets fried and your tech is nowhere to be found, you might be in a lot of trouble.

3. Do you have all the product keys to your software? Product keys are long, alphanumeric codes, usually printed on the back of the software’s packing material, that are required to install the software. Once installed, you don’t need them again…UNLESS your system becomes unstable and you need to reinstall the program. Always make sure you have these stored in a secure location.

4. Do you know where all the software disks are stored? Taking a minute to organize and store your software disks in a secure place can save you a considerable chunk of money in the event that you need to restore a program on your computer. If you don’t have the disk, you might be forced to buy the software again.

5. Do you know what routine maintenance must be done to your network? I know that the very idea of learning about and keeping track of all the servers, workstations, and peripherals on your network probably gives you a major headache, but it is important information to maintain. If your expert leaves without providing you with this information, you may need to pay a new professional to take this work over.

6. Do you know how to protect yourself from an ugly security breach if your computer expert leaves? What happens if you let go of your IT expert and he or she still has access to your company’s network? As soon as humanly possible, you should disable his or her access, including remote access to your network.

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you need to get the answers soon. IT Service Providers who are secure enough with the quality of their services will welcome the opportunity to provide you with the answers.

ATLANTIC Data Team provides a comprehensive range of of IT Services and Support. We would appreciate the opportunity to answer any questions that you have about Data Security. We look forward to your questions and comments.

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How “Social Engineering” makes YOU click on a Virus

STOP! Don't take a chance...you might download a virus.

As serious as we are about malware protection at Atlantic Data Team, and as diligent as I am personally about recognizing (and avoiding) anything that is even remotely suspicious, this week I nearly fell prey to a very clever email that contained a link to a malicious website. The author of this email makes full use of “Social Engineering” to coax recipients into clicking on an attachment.

Wikipedia defines Social Engineering as “the act of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information”. Social Engineering can be (and is) done on the phone, in person, and (as we’ll discuss) via cleverly worded emails.

The subject line of the email read:
Parking Permit and/or Benefit Card Order Receipt – 829054

In the body of the email I found this:
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Your Credit Card has been charged $40.00.
“GROSSMONT-CUYA PARKING” will appear on your credit card statement.

And this:
Please find attached invoice

The attached “invoice” was a link to a website. I nearly clicked it, but my antennae were twitching, and I stopped short and looked closer. That’s when I noticed the following:

1: There was no reference in the email to the last four digits of my credit card, which is common. That is a red flag.
2: The email came from someone at “rioroses.com”. If it truly came from a college, it should have ended in .edu, NOT .com. Red flag number two.
3: The email was sent to an unpublished email address of mine that I never use. Red flag number three. (explanation: this email address begins with “jgentry”. Spammers commonly create lists of all known last names + all first initials and then send to every single one of them @yourdomain.com. That means that “agentry”, “bgentry”, “cgentry”, etc. would all have gotten the same email.)
4: No other contact information (like a phone number or address) was in the email.

The Social Engineering involved in this email tried to take advantage of my natural fear of someone having erroneously or fraudulently charged my credit card. Many people would have clicked the “attached invoice” to find out what was charged. The attached link would then have the opportunity to download malicious software onto the user’s computer.

Lesson to be learned: Inspect ANY link in any email CAREFULLY. If you are the least bit unsure, DON’T CLICK IT. Ask someone knowledgeable about internet security to have a look for you. Our customers frequently ask us if certain things are safe to click. Being suspicious of emailed links, and looking for red flags like we’ve listed above, can save you a lot of aggravation and expense!

James Gentry
Atlantic Data Team