SOLUTIONS MONTHLY
Your Monthly Dose of Tech and Business News
Welcome to the January Issue of Solutions Monthly!
Welcome to our January edition of Solutions Monthly! As we begin 2025, we're focusing on strengthening your business's cybersecurity foundation with practical insights and essential tools. In this issue, we're diving into Threat Exposure Management (TEM) and why it's becoming increasingly crucial for businesses of all sizes. We'll also share valuable tips about password managers and cyber hygiene practices that can help protect your organization throughout the year.
Before we look ahead, we invite you to join us in celebrating some fun moments from 2024 through our year-end recap video. Plus, we're excited to introduce you to another valued member of our team who helps make Solve IT Solutions your trusted technology partner.
From all of us at Solve IT Solutions, thank you for starting another year with us. We look forward to continuing to serve your technology needs and helping your business grow in 2025.
Questions? Something on your mind?
Until then, stay safe.
YEAR IN REVIEW
Watch this short video recap of some highlights from 2024. We're excited for all that 2025 will bring!
WHAT IS THREAT EXPOSURE MANAGEMENT (TEM) AND WHY YOU NEED IT
Threat Exposure Management (TEM) is an important cybersecurity tool that helps organizations identify and address weaknesses in their digital systems, outsmarting hackers before they can break into your network. As cyber attacks continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, TEM provides businesses with the ability to spot vulnerabilities before they escalate into major issues. It allows you to find weak points in your network, fix them quickly, and reduce your risk of cyber attacks.
How TEM Works
TEM works by utilizing special software to scan your entire network, identifying potential attack points and helping you address these weaknesses. It operates with continuous monitoring, ensuring that new problems are discovered as soon as they arise. The system also assesses risk by identifying which weak spots are most dangerous, allowing you to prioritize addressing the most critical vulnerabilities first.
Key Components of a TEM Program
A TEM program consists of several key components:
- Asset Discovery: This component helps identify all devices and software on your network, as you can’t protect what you don’t know about.
- Vulnerability Scanning: This process checks for open weak spots in your system, similar to checking for unlocked doors in your house.
- Threat Intelligence: This provides valuable insights into new hacker techniques, keeping you informed about emerging threats.
- Remediation Planning: After vulnerabilities are identified, TEM helps you create a strategy to fix them, ensuring that your network remains secure.
Benefits of TEM for Your Business
TEM offers several benefits for businesses:
- Better Security: By finding and fixing weak spots, TEM strengthens your overall security and resilience.
- Cost Savings: Preventing cyber attacks before they happen can save money, as dealing with the aftermath of an attack can be expensive.
- Peace of Mind: With continuous monitoring, TEM ensures that your system is always under watch, reducing concerns about potential cyber threats.
What to Look for in a TEM Solution
When selecting a TEM tool, ensure that it meets these key criteria:
- User-friendly: The tool should be easy for all team members to navigate, regardless of technical expertise.
- Immediate Results: It should provide quick insights to enable effective decision-making in response to detected threats.
- Seamless Integration: The tool should integrate well with your existing security infrastructure, enhancing overall protection.
- Clear Reporting: The system should generate clear and comprehensible reports, presenting findings in an easily digestible format for all stakeholders.
Getting Started with TEM
To implement TEM in your organization, follow these steps:
- Assess Your Current Security Setup: Identify existing vulnerabilities and areas for improvement.
- Select a TEM Tool: Choose a tool that fits your security needs and integrates well with your current systems.
- Set Up the Tool: Once the tool is selected, begin scanning your network environment.
- Create a Remediation Plan: Address the vulnerabilities you find, prioritizing the most critical issues first.
- Continuous Improvement: Keep scanning your network regularly and update your security strategies to stay ahead of emerging threats.
TEM is a powerful tool for protecting your business from cyber threats. By identifying vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, it helps ensure better security, cost savings, and peace of mind. If you're ready to take your cybersecurity to the next level, contact us today to learn how TEM can help keep your company safe in the digital world.
Meet Brian Jacobs
Director of Operations
At Solve IT Solutions, our secret sauce isn't just cutting-edge technology—it's the exceptional people behind it. As we continue to pull back the curtain and introduce you to the faces that power your IT success, we're thrilled to spotlight Brian Jacobs, our Director of Operations. A Reading native and Berks Technical Institute graduate, Brian brings hometown heart and technical expertise to every aspect of our operations.
As Director of Client Services at Solve IT Solutions, Brian Jacobs brings hometown dedication to every aspect of our operations. Born and raised in Reading, PA, Brian returned to Solve IT in 2018 as a Service Manager before stepping into his current leadership role—and he's been elevating our client experience ever since.
Behind the scenes, Brian is the conductor who keeps our service orchestra in perfect harmony. He works closely with our Team Leads to optimize client support, coordinates projects between service and sales teams, and joins key client meetings to ensure we're delivering excellence at every touchpoint. His favorite part of the role? Getting to collaborate with every employee while helping shape decisions that positively impact both our team and our clients.
When he's not fine-tuning operations at Solve IT Solutions, this Berks Technical Institute graduate and devoted Philadelphia Phillies fan is all about family time. Together with his wife Danielle and their children—Sean (13) and Aubrey (10)—the Jacobs crew can often be found planning their next adventure to Walt Disney World, where there's magic in store for everyone. It's no surprise that Brian lives by one of Walt's famous mottos: "Whatever you do, do it well."
HOW PASSWORD MANAGERS PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNTS
In today's digital world, managing dozens of passwords has become a daily challenge. A password manager offers a simple yet powerful solution to this modern dilemma, acting as a secure digital vault for all your login credentials. But what exactly makes these tools so valuable for both personal and business use?
Types of Password Managers
Think of a password manager as a highly sophisticated digital safe. Instead of juggling numerous complex passwords in your memory, you only need to remember one master password. This single key unlocks access to all your securely stored credentials, making your digital life both simpler and more secure.
Password managers come in various forms to suit different needs. Some are standalone applications you can download to your phone or computer, while others operate directly through your web browser. Many modern solutions offer both options, providing flexibility in how you access and manage your passwords across devices.
Why Use a Password Manager?
The benefits of using a password manager extend far beyond simple convenience. These tools excel at generating strong, unique passwords that would be nearly impossible to crack – and equally impossible to remember without help. Each password can be long, random, and complex, following security best practices without creating a memory burden. When you need to log in to a website or application, your password manager can automatically fill in your credentials, eliminating both the frustration of typing long passwords and the risk of keystroke logging.
Features of Password Managers
Many password managers offer additional security features that make them even more valuable. They often include secure storage for sensitive information like credit card numbers and important documents. Some platforms also provide secure password sharing capabilities, allowing families or business teams to safely share access to common accounts without exposing the actual passwords.
How to Choose a Password Manager
When selecting a password manager, several key factors deserve consideration. Look for solutions that offer robust encryption and two-factor authentication to protect your digital vault. The interface should be intuitive and user-friendly, as even the most secure tool is ineffective if it's too complicated to use regularly. Ensure the password manager works seamlessly across all your devices and offers the specific features you need at a price point that fits your budget.
Perhaps most importantly, password managers apply enterprise-grade security measures to protect your stored information. Even in the unlikely event of a breach at the password manager company, your data remains encrypted and unreadable to potential attackers, thanks to zero-knowledge security architectures.
Ready to enhance your digital security with a password manager? While the initial setup requires some time and effort, the long-term benefits to your security and convenience are substantial. If you need guidance in choosing or implementing a password manager for your personal use or business, don't hesitate to reach out to our team. We're here to help you navigate the path to better password security.
Want to know more about the best password managers today? Check out this video by Cybernews.
How is Your Cyber Hygiene? Essential Tips for 2025
As we step into 2025, maintaining good cyber hygiene has become as crucial as personal hygiene in our daily lives. Just as we have routines to keep ourselves healthy, we need consistent practices to keep our digital lives secure and well-maintained.
Think of passwords as the keys to your online home – they need to be strong and unique for each account to provide maximum security. Similarly, keeping your software updated is comparable to getting a flu shot; it protects you from the latest digital threats and vulnerabilities that could compromise your system.
Adding two-factor authentication to your accounts is like installing a second lock on your door – even if someone gets your password, they still can't access your accounts without the additional verification. When it comes to public Wi-Fi, exercise caution as using it is similar to having a conversation in a crowded place – anyone could be listening.
Staying alert for phishing scams is crucial in today's digital landscape. These deceptive attempts are like fake fishermen trying to catch unsuspecting victims with convincing but fraudulent bait. Just as you'd make copies of important documents, regularly backing up your data ensures you're protected against loss or ransomware attacks.
Privacy settings on your social media and other online accounts act like curtains on your windows – they control what others can see about your digital life. Adjust them thoughtfully to maintain your desired level of privacy. Finally, remember that cybersecurity isn't just an individual effort. Teaching your family about safe online practices is as important as teaching children to look both ways before crossing the street – it's a fundamental safety skill in today's connected world.
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