Good versus evil.
It’s all too common. New technology is released as a useful tool for IT professionals and inevitably hackers learn how to use the tool for evil. In 1973 when data encryption became a useful tool it was adopted using the DES (Data Encryption Standard. As of 1997, the standard was changed to the more secure AES – Advanced Encryption Standard. The benefit is that users can encrypt their data, create a digital key, and use the key to access encrypted files. This protects their data from falling into the wrong hands. For example, encrypting an entire laptop would ensure that even if the laptop were stolen, data would be safe assuming the thief did not have the encryption key.
Unfortunately, this very helpful tool initially used to safeguard data, eventually became the choice utility for hackers and ransomware was born.
We are now seeing significant progress with artificial intelligence and machine learning. Again, this technology was initially developed to improve efficiencies and allow machines to do more of the work previously performed manually. This technology will save hours of work for humans in the future. Unfortunately, it is also capable of assisting hackers to efficiently launch attacks on our business networks. In other words, the tools that we continue to develop to assist legitimate operations are being employed to assist the bad guys.
This makes managing the security of your network even more challenging. But that’s the role of a managed service provider. Not only are we responsible for keeping the security and productivity tools functioning in your environment, but we must keep those tools continuously updated with the requisite security patches so that any attempts to use them in a nefarious way are thwarted. In addition, it is incumbent on us, your selected IT vendor, to watch these industry developments and be ready to change vendors or products based on the evolution of security threats.
Hackers continue to ply their trade because they are having success. More victims are added every day. To prevent your organization from joining this growing victim list, be sure that your IT support firm is providing you with a comprehensive, high-quality, ever-evolving support program. It’s the only way to combat this growing challenge.
Authored by Donald Nokes
As President of NetCenergy, Don Nokes is responsible for ensuring client satisfaction, and overseeing company performance and direction. Prior to co-founding the firm with Dan Charland in 2003, Don held senior leadership positions with IT service firms ranging in size from $3 Billion to $10 Million in annual sales.
Nick Eckman joined NetCenergy in 2016 from an international gaming company. Nick’s experience with supervising and implementing secure, fiber and copper wire infrastructure services provides our clients with a team of highly trained and experienced technicians. In addition to the skills required to manage our infrastructure services department, Nick brings a very experienced and focused approach to project management and is a stickler for accurate documentation for every project designed and built by his team.
Peter Lachapelle joined NetCenergy in 2015 and is responsible for leading all of NetCenergy’s operations and accounting functions. Each department within NetCenergy reports through Lachapelle. He brings his years of experience to maintain a pragmatic, efficient, client-focused team at NetCenergy. Lachapelle joined NetCenergy after completing a 27-year career with a Rhode Island, federally-charted bank which culminated in his senior management position as COO and CFO for the bank.
Peter Nelson has 25+ years of technology and management experience and has been with NetCenergy since inception. Peter serves as the VP of Engineering at NetCenergy. His role consists of managing the engineering staff, driving the companies technology strategy, and ensuring NetCenergy keeps up to date on new technologies and solutions.
As a Founding Partner, Dan is a result oriented individual who is always focusing on what is best for his client. He understands that business applications empower an organization and that technology must support those critical business applications. Dan’s technology career started in 1990 at EMC Corporation. Through the years, he has represented technology and consulting services for several organizations until 2003, when he and Don Nokes founded NetCenergy.
With decades of hands-on HR experience, Margery Ahearn is our Director of Human Resources, overseeing all hiring of new positions for NetCenergy with a careful eye on sourcing technology savvy engineers and skilled office-based professionals who fit our company culture, understand our commitment to our clients, and bring their time and talents to our team. Margery has both a BA and MBA in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.