Capstone Works Blog

Ransomware is every business owner’s worst nightmare. It not only brings with it an aura of desperation, but it also brings with it numerous practical issues that can really harm a business. It is not overstating that it is one of the most abrupt and serious problems that a business can have with its technology. 

Most people these days are somewhat familiar with the traditional attack vectors of cybercriminals. Because of this, the bad guys are always exploring alternative options for spreading malware and stealing data, often in places where you would least expect it.

Here are three unexpected cybersecurity risks that you and your staff need to be aware of.

Are you a business owner in Austin, Texas looking for a reliable and efficient way to handle all of your IT-related needs? Look no further than managed IT services. In today’s digital age, technology plays a crucial role in the success of any business. From communication and collaboration to security and compliance, IT covers a very wide area within any organization, and as a business grows, it becomes harder to manage with in-house staff. That’s where managed IT services come in. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of managed IT services in Austin  and why they are essential for your business.

Businesses, especially those in our native Austin, rely on technology more and more all the time—and with this increasing reliance, these businesses need a reliable IT infrastructure. A reliable managed service provider will be a huge asset in this regard, but it's important that you work with the right one. Let’s talk about some of the considerations to have when selecting your managed IT provider, and walk you through the process of making the best decision for your business.

Austin, Texas is undeniably one of the world’s largest tech hubs. Some of the largest tech companies in the world have installed themselves in Austin thanks to a large number of factors. For instance, the cost of living tends to be much more reasonable compared to other tech-based cities, the lack of state income taxes attracts business, and the generally nice year-round weather and recreational scene attract great people who want to accomplish great things. We love it here, from the growth opportunities, the talent pool, right down to the Keep Austin Weird bumper stickers.

But Austin businesses do face some additional challenges that come with being some of the brightest, most forward-thinking organizations out there.

AI has been the buzzword of the year when it comes to the technology world, and for good reason. While what we know of as “AI” isn’t necessarily new, and it isn’t even technically artificial intelligence, it’s definitely becoming a groundbreaking new industry that is changing the way a lot of businesses and individuals do things. That being said, like all technologies, it can and will be used for nefarious purposes.

For most people, the only thing protecting all of their personal data, their email, access to all of their online accounts, their bank, and more, is just a handful of characters. It’s estimated that there is about a 20% chance that any given account doesn’t have any sort of multi-factor security, so if you can figure out a person’s password, you might be able to gain access to whatever you want.

Data and network security has to be a paramount consideration for any organization that depends on its IT. This means doing whatever it takes to keep unauthorized entities, whether they be human or machine, out of your network. One strategy that can help you strengthen your organizational cybersecurity is to enact a feature that is found on many password-driven accounts: two-factor authentication.

Businesses search endlessly for an advantage. When they are able to acquire one, it can transform their operations, and the way they look at future situations. One of the very best technologies that a business can use is cloud computing. Let’s take a look at some of the best benefits that an organization can see from the use of cloud computing.

AI is suddenly everywhere these days. All of our software is suddenly “powered by AI” or taking advantage of artificial intelligence for new features. Social media posts and videos are going viral about how AI is creating works of art, writing screenplays, and composing music.

That brings up the question—is AI here for our jobs? Will it be replacing employees and saving businesses a ton of money?

We’ve been talking about cybersecurity quite a bit lately, and for good reason. Any organization that doesn’t acknowledge the threat that comes with being ill-prepared in the face of a cyberattack is basically sitting on a ticking time bomb. 

Great fun and fellowship at the Capstone Works Christmas Party! We had a culinary crawl with a brewery stop, dinner at a wonderful new restaurant, and a food trailer cheesecake for our dessert stop.  We took time to celebrate a great year together and refelct on the opportunities in the year ahead.

Central Texas, particularly around Austin, is a pretty populous area, with lots of businesses functioning there. Just about all of these businesses will need to use IT, and will therefore benefit from a relationship with a trustworthy consultant who can help them both avoid risk and optimize their operations. Let’s go into what business owners and leaders in and around Cedar Park can do to find the best IT consultants for their needs.

Business cybersecurity, and all its assorted intricacies and requirements, can be a real challenge for organizations of all sizes to deal with—particularly because it depends so much on employee engagement. That being said, there are a few things you can do to help boost your team’s cybersecurity awareness by promoting more secure behaviors.

Last time, we talked about a few different types of device setups you can use when traveling and working remotely. Now we want to discuss how to ensure that your data is always secure, no matter where your staff is.

Whether your job puts you in the office, on the road, or the comfort of your own home, being able to work effectively from nearly any environment can give you an edge. While everyone will have slightly different needs, not to mention preferences, we decided to have a little fun with this and talk about some cool gadgets that you might not realize even exist, and some ways to get more out of the devices you already have when it comes to working remotely.

Here’s the scenario. Your business insurance provider may have reached out to you, asking questions about your IT and overall cybersecurity. In our experience, this has caused some confusion for a lot of organizations, so we wanted to chime in and help Austin business owners get a better understanding on why your insurance provider is even getting into the weeds with this, and what they are actually looking for.

The last few years have seen an unsettling jump in cybercrime rates, with more businesses struck by various attacks, ransomware, and data breaches. Phishing attacks against end users haven’t slowed down, either—in fact, they’ve become effective enough that even the pros can be tricked. Let’s consider some of the cybercrime trends we anticipate to see in 2023.

We talk a lot about how to be proactive and prevent IT issues and data loss when facing bad weather, power outages, and other disasters, but that usually doesn’t help anybody when they are in the middle of a problem. Let’s switch the perspective, since a lot of our state is dealing with cold, wind, and ice right now while we’re writing this, let’s talk about some things your business will need to take care of when things get back to normal.

If you're a business owner in Austin, Texas, you know how important it is to have reliable IT support. After all, your company's technology is what keeps you connected to your clients, your employees, and the rest of the world. Without it, everything grinds to a halt.