by Don Nokes | As an IT managed-services provider, we believe we share the responsibility for data security with our clients. We bring the best-practices and they, in turn, adopt them. But change is hard and sometimes the most effective protocols are met with a bit of resistance. A good example of improving security and productivity with a small touch of hassle is multi-factor authentication (MFA). It’s a standard operational procedure for all of our clients who have Microsoft O365 applications.
Yes, when these extra security measures are launched, we typically get a not-so-positive reaction from impacted users. Some say it stifles the creative flow and others object to the tiny amount of time it takes to verify. So why do we do it?
We insist that our clients have MFA in place solely because it works. It prevents unauthorized access to your data.
According to Alex Weinert, Microsoft’s Group Program Manager for Identity Security and Protection, “Based on our studies, your account is more than 99.9 percent less likely to be compromised if you use MFA.”
Surprisingly, Weinert also stated that only 24% of users are protected by MFA.
Insurance and Productivity
It’s not just NetCenergy that sees the importance of MFA, its success rate is appreciated by cyber insurance companies across the nation. In fact, I recently wrote an article for Lawyers Weekly that explained how your cyber insurance renewal may be dependent on your company’s successful adoption and implementation of MFA.
When it comes to productivity, believe me, we hear you. We all know that technology is in place to improve productivity and taking the extra time to retrieve an MFA code from your smartphone authentication app or your text messages can seem counterproductive.
That said, if you have not experienced the huge productivity loss that occurs when your company’s IT is shut down due to a breach, you are lucky. Just about everyone agrees: that kind of productivity hit pales in comparison to the extra seconds it takes to retrieve and enter an MFA code.
Take IT Security Seriously
If you are not
required to augment your user ID and password with a code sent to another device before accessing your systems, speak to your IT support people about the benefits of multi-factor authentication. Better yet, give us a call at NetCenergy. We take the security of your information systems seriously.
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.
As President of NetCenergy, Don is responsible for ensuring client satisfaction, overseeing overall performance, and for providing direction to the organization. Prior to co-founding the firm with Dan Charland, Don held senior leadership positions with IT service firms ranging in size from $3 Billion to $10 Million in annual sales.
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.