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Key Takeaways from the 2024 RSM Middle Market Business Index on Cybersecurity

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, understanding the challenges, solutions, and opportunities is crucial for businesses of all sizes. The ninth edition of the RSM Middle Market Business Index (MMBI) Cybersecurity Report, conducted from January 8 to February 16, 2024, sheds light on the cybersecurity landscape for middle-market companies. Drawing insights from 403 middle-market executives across various industries, the report…

The Rising Ransomware Threat: Why 24/7 Security Operations are No Longer Optional

With the number of successful attacks growing, new hacker groups are getting into the ransomware game. While established groups like LockBit maintain dominance, emerging hacking groups like PLAY, 8Base, and Akira have intensified their campaigns. Smaller ransomware groups now execute 31% of all attacks — up from 25% last year — illustrating the spread of accessible attack tools.

100 Million Patient Records at Risk: Lessons from the Change Healthcare Breach

Earlier this year, the United Health/Change Healthcare data breach impacted approximately 100 million Americans, making it the largest cybersecurity incident in US healthcare history. Overview of the United Health Data Breach In the Change Healthcare ransomware attack, hackers compromised multiple systems containing sensitive patient data. Timeline of the Breach The attack on Change Healthcare occurred in February 2024, disrupting healthcare…

Cyber Insurance: What You Need to Know

The recent CrowdStrike incident, which impacted millions of systems globally and led to billions in losses, highlights the unpredictable risks in the IT landscape. Today, having the right cyber insurance coverage is no longer optional—it’s essential and a smart investment, particularly for small to mid-sized businesses and companies in regulated sectors.

Enhancing Presentations with Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint

Microsoft Copilot for PowerPoint offers AI-driven capabilities that elevate the design and substance of your presentations. It equips you with the necessary tools to craft compelling slides.

Boosting SEC Readiness with Tabletop Exercises

Tabletop exercises are among the most effective tools in a company’s security arsenal. These simulations provide invaluable insights into how prepared a company is to handle real-world cyber incidents.

AI and Automation in Cybersecurity: A Balancing Act

Advancements in AI and automation are transforming the landscape of threat detection, incident response, and security management. Discover what this shift could mean for your business’s cybersecurity.

Gaining a Strategic Edge with IT Consulting

Discover how to guide your organization through the complexities of today’s technological landscape. Understand the role of an IT consultant in securing a return on your IT investments and discerning which expenditures are unnecessary.

Cybersecurity Explained

Read for a brief history of how cybersecurity first started, when it became popular, and how it works. We’ll also cover the main different types of cyberattacks and malware you need to know about and discuss how to get a cybersecurity assessment and work with cybersecurity consultants.

The CrowdStrike Incident: A Wake-Up Call for Operational Resilience

By Christian Kelly, CTO, Xantrion Inc. As Xantrion’s CTO, I’ve seen my fair share of IT incidents and system outages over the years. But the recent CrowdStrike incident stands out as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in our interconnected digital world. This event, which some are calling “the largest outage in the history of information technology,” offers crucial…

The Best Security Measure Your Company Isn’t Using: Closing the MFA Implementation Gap

Consumers today have a growing familiarity with multifactor authentication, or MFA, the security measure that requires two or more identity verification steps for access to a platform or system. Many of the services they interact with each day use MFA, from banking apps to social media networks

Cybersecurity Assessments: Why Your Company Needs One and Where to Start

What does it take to protect your company from cybercriminals and data breaches? For a long time, a strong password and a hardened firewall was the simple answer. Not anymore. Now, it takes a host of different measures to prevent bad actors from accessing your systems. But how do you know you’ve got the right measures in place? Enter cybersecurity…

MFA Update: Navigating a Changing Landscape

Multifactor authentication (MFA) continues to be a robust security measure. However, recent developments indicate that MFA is not as bulletproof as it once was. Attackers are finding new ways to circumvent MFA controls, prompting a need for additional protection.

The Hard Truths Facing CIOs About Outsourcing: Exposing 5 Pervasive Myths

Savvy chief information officers know a little something about disruption. In an era of accelerating innovation, it’s up to CIOs to keep a cool head and assess what new technologies can improve their businesses, and which ones are better left on the shelf. But while choosing and embracing the right disruptive technologies has always been part of the job, more…

The SEC’s Cyber Risk Management Rules: What RIAs Should Know

Since uncertainty still surrounds the Securities and Exchange Commission’s pending cyber risk management rules for registered investment advisers, Xantrion CTO, Christian Kelly, attended the recent 2024 Investment Adviser Compliance Conference, which included remarks from SEC officials. Unfortunately, those officials were limited in how much they could share since the rules have yet to be finalized. The uncertainty notwithstanding, what is…

The Digital Transformation and AI Journey: A Guide

For growing businesses, digital transformation is exciting, necessary…and sometimes challenging to understand. One way to imagine your digital transformation journey is to consider it in three stages: enablement, transformation and digital first. The infographic below, created by experts from Engine Room, Xantrion and the 2Go Advisory Group, delineates the typical journey in greater detail. What’s the connection between digital transformation…

2024 Cybersecurity To-Do List

With increased regulatory pressure and mounting cybersecurity risks, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’ve got a robust cybersecurity program. This checklist will help you shape your 2024 cybersecurity strategy. DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC Get a Free Cyber Risk Assessment

Ready to Adopt AI? 5 Things Businesses Should Know

Here at Xantrion, we’ve been experimenting with different AI-powered tools and automation for the last three years. As a mid-size managed IT service provider, we’ve learned a lot about the potential and the limitations of AI tools, and what they mean for businesses like ours…and yours.

Digital Transformation vs. Using AI and Machine Learning for Your Business: What’s the Difference?

The concept of digital transformation actually predates AI and machine learning. As you update and evolve your business’s use of technology, it’s important to understand all three concepts.

The Crucial Role of Morale and Culture in Defending Against Cyber Criminals

There are two aspects of the battle against cyber criminals that organizations can’t afford to ignore: Employee morale and company culture. While strong morale and culture can help companies protect against cyberthreats, weak morale and culture can make them more vulnerable.

A Hard Lesson Learned: How a Devastating Malware Attack Transformed a Company’s Approach to Cybersecurity

It’s any business leader’s worst nightmare: A cyberattack that paralyzes their entire company, from top to bottom, leading to work stoppages, delivery delays, and devastatingly high costs. Over the years, Xantrion has been called multiple times to help different companies reeling from cyberattacks. Each time, Xantrion has helped them get back on their feet. In the interview below, Xantrion Chief…

Don’t Gamble with Your Cybersecurity: 7 Lessons From the MGM Casino Breach

Gaps in cybersecurity recently cost MGM Resorts a reported $100 million after cybercriminals hacked the casino giant. Though disastrous for MGM, other companies can learn valuable lessons from the headline-making cyberattack…without paying $100 million to do so. Here are a few key takeaways from this incident: 1. Beware the power of social engineering. Social engineering is the criminal act of…

Ransomware and Data Breaches: Understand Their True Costs

New data from IBM and Verizon shed light on the true costs of ransomware and data breaches. Do you understand the risks of leaving your business unprotected?

Why You Need an Incident Response Plan Now More Than Ever

It might happen on a Friday afternoon, or maybe on the day before holiday. Many employees have clocked out early, so an intrusion goes unnoticed…until it’s too late. Suddenly the whole system begins shutting down. Your next step? Panic. A data breach or other cybersecurity incident can be a traumatic, shocking experience, even for a seasoned executive. To avoid freezing…

How to Find the Right Supplemental Cybersecurity Provider for your Business

Staying vigilant about cybersecurity threats is a requirement for doing business today. The costs of data breaches are climbing sky-high, while AI is empowering criminals to devise ever more sophisticated schemes to steal from and defraud companies. That’s why businesses turn to IT security providers who offer services and expertise that their in-house IT teams lack. But not all security…

Take Advantage of Co-Managed IT Services and Your In-house IT Team Will Thank You

There’s a good chance your company’s internal IT team is feeling overwhelmed. It’s not a reflection of their skill or dedication, but rather a sign of the times — technology and cybersecurity threats are evolving faster than ever. Sometimes companies are victims of their own success: They’re growing so quickly that their in-house IT departments can’t keep up with requests…

Why Should Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) Invest in Digital Transformation?

By Adrian Bray, CEO, Stellar Consulting in partnership with Xantrion Management often has a love-hate relationship with technology. While it is a part of their daily life, they typically only interact with the IT department during onboarding, offboarding, or when there is a problem. In addition, IT-related costs are increasingly a more significant portion of the P&L. IT and digital…

What Is an MSP? 6 Ways to Think About Managed Service Providers

Years ago, when businesses needed tech support beyond what they could manage in-house, they often turned to IT consultants. But as the technology landscape grew more complex and security threats spiked, companies needed more than ad hoc consulting services — they sought to fully outsource their technology function. Enter managed service providers, or MSPs. What is an MSP? In basic…

Navigating the challenges and benefits of a hybrid work model

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work primarily by accelerating the widespread adoption of remote work. As pandemic safety measures eased, many companies had hoped to bring employees back into the office this year. However, the Wall Street Journal noted in May that most efforts pushing for a return to fully on-premise work had stalled. In fact, nearly 60%…

Drive More Sales and Gain Competitive Advantage with AI in Salesforce

By Chris Valiquet, Senior Salesforce Consultant, StarrData In a recent blog post, we explored how we plan to begin implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance our business practices at Xantrion and why we feel it’s important for our clients to start thinking about how to leverage AI-based technologies. While many solution providers are beginning to tap into the possibilities of…