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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a growing problem on our hands, and I don’t think anyone (ourselves included) have been taking the right approach to solving it.

I’m talking about cybersecurity, more specifically, the cybersecurity hygiene of an individual.

We can talk and talk and preach and scream from the rooftops about the importance of this stuff, but I think there is such a fatigue for it, and such a “well what are the odds that it will happen to me” kind of attitude that most people dismiss it.

If you feel either of those ways, this is the article for you. If you read one cybersecurity article and take it to heart, this is the one, and we really, truly hope this sticks for you.

Let’s cut to the chase: scams are everywhere out there today, which makes it important that you are aware of how to avoid them. Let’s run through a few basic tips we always recommend.

They say that everything’s bigger in Texas. Unfortunately, as of late this includes the losses that businesses incur to cybercriminal activity. Let’s discuss how serious this problem is, and what you need to do to keep it from harming your business.

Phishing is one of the leading vectors for larger cyberattacks, and right now, it’s the biggest cyberthreat for Texas-based businesses. In this guide, we’re going to cover what to look for. If you are a business owner, we recommend sharing this blog with your entire staff and asking that they read and confirm they understand it. Go ahead and share it as much as you want—if you find it useful, we’d love to hear from you!

Cybersecurity can be a challenging animal for any business—particularly a small business. That makes it important that you understand a few key terms. Let’s go over these terms as a review—or as an introduction, if that’s the case.

The United States as a whole has seen a growing wave of cybersecurity threats, and the great state of Texas is no less likely to see these threats. In fact, there are plenty of reasons that Texas would be targeted directly. Let’s briefly review some of these reasons, and how they support the importance of cybersecurity preparedness for Austin businesses.

The manufacturing industry has been deeply intertwined with modern technology since the 1950s and 1960s, when computer-aided design (commonly known as CAD) first enabled the digitization of these processes. Today, this interconnectivity has evolved into the Industrial Internet of Things. Let’s consider how these technologies, while greatly beneficial to productivity, have the potential to enable risks… and, critically, how to better resist these risks.

Content filtering is typically associated with keeping your team members on task and focused, but to leave it at that is to overlook half of the benefit that content filtering can provide. Let’s go over how a content filter can help you keep your business operating productively, as well as securely.

Phishing attacks have been a huge problem for businesses over the last several years, and it is only getting worse. While most business owners and managers understand that phishing attacks can lead to malware or the theft of personal information, there is a specific type of phishing attack that targets employees specifically to undermine a C-level.

Smart devices are more commonplace than ever before and while they are usually associated with voice assistants, fitness trackers, and home lighting systems; IoT smart devices have become crucial to industrial businesses and manufacturing. When it comes to manufacturing, these devices are known as IIoT, the Industrial Internet of Things. They help manufacturers be more efficient and productive, but they could also pose a risk if not properly implemented and managed.