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Secure Hard Drive Disposal: 4 Important Things to Remember

Data security is becoming a growing concern for many businesses and individuals today. However, hard drive disposal is often overlooked despite being a crucial aspect of data security.

Hard drives often contain sensitive information and simply discarding it can put that information at risk.

Hackers or malicious actors may retrieve the information from the hard drive and use it for identity theft, fraud, or other criminal activities.

Therefore, secure hard drive disposal is necessary to ensure your private information remains confidential and does not fall into the wrong hands.

In this article, we outline the four essential things to remember for proper hard drive disposal to ensure that your data is safe.

4 Tips to Consider for A Secure Hard Drive Disposal

4 Tips to Consider for A Secure Hard Drive Disposal

1. Erase the Data in the Hard Drive

Simply deleting files from a hard drive does not permanently remove them. Instead, use software designed to erase hard drive data.

Doing so will make it much more difficult for cybercriminals to recover any sensitive information.

2. Physically Destroy the Hard Drive

If you cannot erase the data with software, the best approach is to render the magnetic disk within the hard drive unusable to ensure your sensitive data is unrecoverable.

For example, you can drill holes into the hard drive or shred it. However, make sure to wear protective gear and dispose of or recycle the electronic components responsibly.

3. Back Up Your Data

Before disposing of your hard drive, ensure all important data is backed up to another secure location, such as a cloud storage service.

This will ensure you can still access your data even after disposing of the hard drive.

4. Consult a Hard Drive Disposal Specialist

If you need help properly disposing of your hard drive, consider using a professional hard drive disposal service.

These services specialise in securely disposing of electronic devices and can ensure that your data remains safe.

Read More: Bullet-Proof Your Disaster Recovery Plan

5. Hard Drives vs Cloud Backups

As businesses and individuals rely on technology to store and manage data, many have turned to cloud storage to back up their data.

This is because while hard drives are an effective way to store data, they have certain disadvantages.

For example, the risk of data loss due to hardware failure or damage is one of the biggest concerns associated with storing data on hard drives.

Moreover, improper hard drive disposal will leave your information vulnerable to hacking and data breaches.

On the other hand, cloud storage comes with built-in security measures, including firewalls, encryption, and secure access controls.

Additionally, cloud service providers must adhere to data protection regulations, such as the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

It mandates that they must provide their clients with the necessary data protection measures to safeguard their data.

Many cloud service providers also have non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). These agreements prevent them from disclosing your data to third parties without your consent, providing additional security and privacy.

Read More: Top Questions You Should Ask to Evaluate Your Cloud Service Provider

Secure Backups with Aegis

In conclusion, backing up your data to the cloud is generally more secure than storing it on a hard drive.

With non-disclosure agreements, comprehensive data protection, and data security measures, cloud storage offers businesses and individuals a convenient and secure way to back up and store their data.

Aegis Cloud Universal Backup (CUB) is a cloud-based backup solution that allows businesses to protect their critical data with advanced features such as incremental backups, encryption, and data compression.

It is designed to meet regulatory requirements and provides businesses with a cost-effective way to ensure business continuity and disaster recovery.

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Moving to the Cloud? 5 Vital Benefits of Cloud Computing

As technology continues to advance, an increasing number of businesses are moving their operations online to take advantage of the numerous benefits of cloud computing.

But what is cloud computing?

Cloud computing involves companies utilising various computing resources, such as servers, storage, databases, software applications, and more, over the internet.

A business would not have to own or maintain the infrastructure physically, as these resources are provided and managed by cloud service providers.

Continue reading to discover the five top benefits of cloud computing and how this valuable tool can benefit businesses of all sizes.

5 Benefits of Cloud Computing for Businesses

1. Better Scalability

One key benefit of cloud computing is its ability to cater to businesses with growing or fluctuating bandwidth requirements.

With it, businesses can avoid investing in costly hardware or software and instead only pay for what they need when they need it.

For example, if a business’s demands suddenly increase, it can quickly expand its cloud capacity without having to purchase additional physical infrastructure.

This level of agility provides companies with a competitive advantage over their rivals.

2. Easy Data Backup & Restoration

Data is a crucial asset for businesses, and any data lost can be catastrophic. That is why having an effective data backup and recovery strategy is essential for companies.

This is where cloud computing comes into play. Storing a business’s data remotely on a cloud server provides a reliable and secure way to restore data.

Additionally, cloud service providers often offer reliable backup and restoration services to help businesses recover their data quickly, minimising the impact of any data loss.

3. Reduced Costs

Acquiring and maintaining hardware and networking equipment can be costly and time-consuming.

However, with cloud computing, businesses can avoid these downsides, as it eliminates the need for expensive in-house infrastructure and hardware. Instead, they can opt to store their data online.

Doing so only requires a smaller initial investment and enables companies to be more flexible with their budget, paying only for what they use.

Furthermore, cloud computing reduces energy costs and the need for physical office space, as employees can access data and applications from anywhere with an internet connection.

Read More: The Hard Truths About External Hard Disks

4. Improved Security

Another benefit of cloud computing for businesses is enhanced data security.

With the increasing number of cyberattacks on businesses in recent years, companies must ensure that their sensitive data are protected.

Cloud computing offers several security benefits that traditional in-house IT infrastructure cannot match, such as data encryption, threat detection and prevention, and more.

Moreover, cloud providers have in-house security experts who monitor their systems for any potential threats and take appropriate measures to prevent them.

5. Centralised Management

Lastly, cloud computing allows businesses to manage all their IT resources and applications from a single location.

It simplifies IT management, reduces the risk of errors and improves overall efficiency, giving businesses more time and resources to focus on other important tasks.

Read More: Bullet-Proof Your Disaster Recovery Plan

Data Backup with Aegis

By taking advantage of the benefits of cloud computing, businesses can stay competitive in today’s digital landscape.

Aegis offers various data backup solutions to ensure your critical business data is secure and recoverable.

One of which is the Aegis Cloud Universal Backup (CUB) service, a comprehensive cloud solution that manages and protects data across a business’s critical servers and endpoint devices.

With powerful, configurable backup technology, Aegis CUB features:

  • Seamless integration with existing backup software to provide off-site backup to Aegis Cloud
  • Unlimited DR-As-A-Service (DRaaS)
  • Military-grade data encryption at rest or in transit
  • Centralised management
  • Data loss protection
  • And many more!
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5 Steps to Recover Your Server After a Ransomware Attack

Ransomware attacks are a growing threat to a business’s server security. They bring significant harm by deleting or corrupting important data, which results in data loss and significant downtime.

However, even with robust security measures in place, it is still possible for businesses to fall victim to ransomware attacks.

Therefore, it is crucial to have a data protection strategy that safeguards your data before and after a ransomware attack.

Continue reading to discover how to recover your server after a ransomware attack and what to consider when choosing a ransomware recovery plan.

5 Ways to Recover From Ransomware Attacks

5 Ways to Recover From Ransomware Attacks

1. Isolate Infected Devices

A ransomware attack can spread rapidly to other devices on the same network, resulting in a large-scale data breach.

Therefore, isolating infected devices after a ransomware attack is crucial to prevent further infection, stop ongoing attacks, preserve evidence, and perform recovery safely.

2. Notify the Authorities

It is important to report a ransomware attack as soon as possible so local law enforcement and data protection authorities can investigate and take appropriate action.

Reporting the incident will also help them better understand the nature of the attack and enforce measures to prevent other organisations from falling for the same attack.

There are several organisations in Malaysia you can report a ransomware attack to, including:

3. Reboot Your Systems

While paying the ransom may seem like an easy way out, it is not a guaranteed way to regain access to your data. In fact, it also encourages further ransomware attacks.

The only way to be certain that your systems are secure again is to cleanse them thoroughly after a ransomware attack. You can use an antivirus software to do so.

The software can scan the infected system for malware, suspicious behaviour, and more. Once the malware is detected, it will be removed from the infected system.

Some antivirus software also includes firewall protection, email scanning, and web protection, further strengthening the system’s security.

4. Implement Offsite Backup

Another way to recover from a ransomware attack is by implementing an offsite backup. It is a key component of a comprehensive data protection and recovery strategy.

By storing your data away from your primary storage system, you can revert to a clean copy of your data after a ransomware attack, hardware failure, etc.

However, make sure to scan the backup for malware before restoring it to ensure that the ransomware is not present in the backup.

5. Strengthen Your Security Measures

Furthermore, ransomware attacks can have significant consequences for organisations, which is why strengthening a company’s security measures after an attack is vital.

Firstly, conduct a comprehensive security audit. Evaluate the organisation’s existing security controls, identify vulnerabilities, and assess the effectiveness of the incident response plan.

The audit should also consider the potential impact of future attacks and test the organisation’s resilience to these threats.

Moreover, the company may enforce additional security controls to enhance its security posture. Examples include:

  • Implementing two-factor authentication
  • Limiting access to sensitive data
  • Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools

Read More: What can Aegis Cloud Disaster Recovery (CDR) Do for You?

Finding the Right Ransomware Recovery Solution

Without a solid ransomware recovery solution in place, businesses may be forced to pay the ransom or risk losing their valuable data forever.

To protect your business’s data from ransomware attacks, here are several questions you can ask yourself to determine which ransomware recovery solution is right for your business:

  • How quickly can the solution get your business back up and running?
  • How much of the company’s data can be recovered from a ransomware attack?
  • Can the solution support multiple copies of the data to enable flexible recovery options?
  • Does the ransomware recovery solution vendor provide non-disruptive DR testing to ensure your business is able to recover its data during a data breach?
  • Does the recovery solution protect all types of workloads (such as cloud and SaaS)?

Read More: A Checklist for Selecting the Right Backup Software and Backup Service Provider

Aegis for Ransomware Recovery

Recovering your data from a ransomware attack is a challenging process, and it is important to work with a professional if you need assistance.

A cybersecurity expert can help you identify the best recovery approach for your specific situation and implement stronger security measures to prevent future attacks.

Aegis’s Cloud Disaster Recovery service provides businesses with comprehensive data protection solutions. They include:

  • Proactive monitoring
  • Dual DR site
  • Unlimited DR drills
  • Complete managed services
  • And more!

Moreover, our solutions help businesses minimise the disruption caused by any ransomware attack and deliver the best RTO and RPO for better data recovery.

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What is a Virtual Server & How Can It Help Your Business?

Virtual servers have become a popular choice for businesses looking for a way to securely store their data and digital assets and make them accessible to approved employees.

From eliminating downtime to increasing production efficiency, there are many benefits virtual servers can bring to companies.

In this article, we explore what virtual servers are and how they can help businesses grow.

What is a Virtual Server?

Virtual servers are software-based, virtualised computing resources that mimic the functionality of physical servers.

They allow businesses to run multiple virtual servers on a single physical machine, maximising hardware utilisation while reducing hardware costs.

Furthermore, as the business’s data and resources are stored online, they are accessible anywhere at any time. The user only needs an Internet connection to access the virtual servers.

What are Virtual Servers Used For?

Virtual servers have become increasingly popular amongst businesses for various purposes.

They are widely used for hosting websites and web applications and offer several advantages over traditional shared hosting. For example, with virtual servers, businesses and individuals have:

  • A dedicated server to host their websites or web application
  • Complete control over their online presence
  • The resources they need to operate effectively

Another common use of virtual servers is for cloud computing and storage. Businesses can access computing resources and data storage online without requiring additional hardware.

Lastly, virtual servers are also crucial in a company’s backup and disaster recovery strategy.

A business’s IT team can create virtual backups of its physical servers, allowing them to recover from a disaster or system failure quickly.

Read More: Scammer Check: An Expert Guide to Avoiding Online Security Threats

5 Benefits of Using Virtual Servers for Your Business

6 Benefits of Using Virtual Servers for Your Business

1. Better Scalability & Flexibility

One major advantage of virtual servers is their scalability. Virtual servers can be scaled up or down as needed, which is particularly useful for businesses that experience fluctuations in traffic.

For example, if a business experiences a surge in traffic, it can quickly scale up its virtual server to accommodate the increased demand.

Virtual servers are also highly flexible. With remote configuration and management, companies with employees working remotely or with multiple locations can access their resources from anywhere.

2. Increased Cost Savings

Virtual servers are typically much cheaper than physical servers, making them a great option for small and medium-sized businesses.

Companies can run multiple virtual servers on a single physical server, thus fully utilising existing hardware resources and reducing the need for expensive hardware upgrades.

3. Enhanced Security

In addition, virtual servers are highly secure, making them a good choice for businesses that handle sensitive data.

They come with robust security measures such as firewalls and data encryption, which protect the data and applications hosted on the server.

4. Improved Reliability and Uptime

Moreover, virtual servers can be configured to automatically switch from one server to another if one is down or undergoing maintenance.

As a result, businesses can ensure that their online presence is always available and secure, which can help them build trust with their customers and partners.

5. Expert Support from Professionals

Many virtual server providers offer managed services. They take care of the maintenance and management of a business’s virtual servers, including server updates, security, and backups.

They also offer 24/7 technical support. Businesses can get the help they need whenever they need it, such as:

  • Server configuration
  • Troubleshooting
  • Problem resolution
  • And many more!

Read More: A Checklist for Selecting the Right Backup Software and Backup Service Provider

Cloud Data Protection and Disaster Recovery with Aegis

Aegis is an experienced cloud service provider in Malaysia with a variety of cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions.

Complete with centralised backups and unlimited DR drills, our Cloud Disaster Recovery (CDR) service protects our clients from ransomware, unforeseen disasters, and more with our 4-3-2 backup rule.

Additionally, our client’s data are stored locally in our data centres in Malaysia with proactive monitoring by our experts, addressing data sovereignty concerns.

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Cloud Hosting Malaysia: 6 Cloud Benefits For Businesses

Cloud hosting in Malaysia is becoming more popular, especially as businesses seek new ways to lower costs and maximise efficiency.

With it, a business’s data, software, email or systems are accessible from anywhere. Moreover, it provides companies with flexible and scalable features designed to enhance performance and protect their data.

In this article, we explore how adopting cloud hosting solutions can benefit businesses in Malaysia.

6 Benefits of Cloud Hosting in Malaysia

6 Benefits of Cloud Hosting in Malaysia

1. Increased Scalability & Flexibility

One of the major advantages of cloud hosting in Malaysia is its scalability, making it the ideal hosting solution for smaller businesses or those with rapid growth, such as start-ups.

This is because cloud computing does not rely on just one server to store and deliver data; therefore, it can be easily scaled to meet the business’s demands.

For example, suppose your website’s traffic tends to fluctuate. Cloud hosting allows businesses to easily add or reduce their resources, such as storage and bandwidth, when required.

2. Enhanced Security

Cloud hosting services in Malaysia come with multi-layer security features. Cloud service providers will also provide additional data protection solutions, such as backup recovery, data encryption and more.

Additionally, your website and data are safeguarded from physical server issues with cloud hosting. These include cyberattacks and hardware failure.

And if your business’s physical server is compromised or experiencing an issue, you can easily utilise another server’s resources without disrupting your business’s operations.

On the other hand, with a traditional hosting model, your resources are shared on a single server, which may result in a system overload.

You would also need a private server to secure your confidential information, which can be expensive.

3. Cloud Disaster Recovery

Another important benefit of cloud hosting in Malaysia is that businesses can back up their data automatically. This enables a fast and easy disaster recovery process in the event of an emergency.

On the contrary, data recovery would be much more difficult with a single-server traditional hosting model, where you would need to make separate arrangements for data backup.

Read More: Let’s bust the myths about Endpoint backup

4. Support from IT Professionals

When businesses migrate their data to the cloud or adopt cloud hosting solutions, they generally work with a cloud service provider or a server host.

These vendors offer businesses comprehensive support services conducted by a team of IT professionals. They have the skills and resources to help companies resolve any technical issues they may face.

This is especially beneficial for smaller businesses that may not have the funds to create a dedicated IT team.

5. Gain A Competitive Edge

Unlike traditional hosting, cloud hosting in Malaysia encourages businesses to utilise the latest IT technologies.

Businesses can automatically integrate and customise their applications according to their needs and preferences, from software and server upgrades to enhanced processing power.

6. Promote Workplace Collaboration

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed how businesses operate in the 21st century, with many transitioning to remote or hybrid workplaces.

However, the shift to remote or hybrid work can be challenging. Luckily, cloud hosting can help.

As long as the employee has a stable internet connection, they can stay in touch with their colleagues and access company data from any device, regardless of the location.

Read More: No joke! Businesses still negligent about SaaS backup

Cloud Hosting in Malaysia with Aegis

As listed above, cloud hosting offers various benefits for businesses to grow and improve their performance at an affordable price.

Are you interested in getting started with cloud hosting in Malaysia? Our Cloud Production Environment (CPE) service provides businesses with complimentary backup and disaster recovery services.

Aegis CPE is also ISO 27001 ISMS certified, ensuring our practices align with the best information security practices to build our client’s trust.

We also host our customers’ data within Malaysia, thus relieving them of data sovereignty concerns.

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The 5 Important Cloud Trends to Take Note Of In 2023

As we enter 2023, it is vital that business owners and IT managers stay updated with the latest cloud trends.

This is especially necessary as more businesses move to the cloud in the post-COVID era of hybrid and remote work.

However, the cloud is continuously evolving, which means it can be hard for business owners and IT managers to keep up with the latest cloud trends.

Never fear, as we are here to help. In this article, we discuss the top cloud trends for 2023 to keep your business running in the ever-changing world of cloud computing.

5 Cloud Trends for 2023

5 Cloud Trends for 2023
1. Serverless Computing

While serverless computing may be a fairly new invention, it is one of the cloud trends companies should take note of in 2023.

Serverless computing allows developers to focus on coding rather than back-end operations, enabling them to work in an actual platform-as-a-service environment.

Moreover, the server functions are provided via the cloud for a simpler, more cost-effective way for a business to build and operate applications. 

For example, the cloud provider will allocate and charge the user for only the resources and storage used to run a code.

Additionally, while servers are still involved, the cloud provider will manage their provisioning, scaling, and maintenance, leaving IT managers to focus on other tasks.

2. Cloud Automation

While cloud computing is becoming a necessity amongst businesses in the modern world, it originally became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As businesses struggled to restructure how they work and operate, cloud automation was a huge help.

With it, IT teams could automate manual processes and speed up the delivery of infrastructure resources, thus reducing manual tasks and increasing staff efficiency.

Today, with companies merging their data and systems into the cloud, automation can help computerise their internal business processes. This thus creates an agile IT environment to streamline business operations.

3. Cloud Disaster Recovery

Cloud disaster recovery (CDR), often offered as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, refers to the strategies businesses enforce to back up their applications and data to the cloud.

For example, Aegis CDR backs up data stored on-site or in cloud environments to Aegis Cloud, which is situated in Malaysia. Hence, the issue of data sovereignty will be solved.

Moreover, its service offerings are flexible, affordable, simple, user-friendly, and can be quickly deployed. Not forgetting, Aegis’ services are compliant with ISO 27001 ISMS guidelines.

It is also important that a business has a CDR plan in place. An effective CDR plan will help businesses quickly restore their critical systems in unforeseen situations, such as:

Read More: Office 365 Retention Policy vs Aegis Cloud Office 365 Backup (COB). What you need to know.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) Powered Cloud

Many enterprises today are adopting artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions to boost efficiency and drive innovation, such as an AI and ML-powered cloud.

This efficient and cost-effective cloud solution has various purposes, including:

  • Increased automation
  • Digital asset management
  • Virtual assistants
  • Reality-as-a-service
  • Enhanced data security and privacy

Read More: The Dark Side of ChatGPT: 3 Vital Hidden Risks to Know

5. Low-Code & No-Code Cloud Services

Low-code and no-code solutions include tools and platforms that allow anybody, even a person with no coding knowledge, to create personalised clouds, websites, web applications, and more.

These solutions are often provided via the cloud. Users can access them when required without owning the powerful computing infrastructure needed to operate them.

Read More: How Aegis Cloud Disaster Recovery’s 4-3-2 Backup Rule Helps You Fight Ransomware

Cloud Disaster Recovery with Aegis

Aegis CDR is a cloud backup service powered by Aegis 1PAT (1Price-Any-Technologies), which offers multiple backup or replication technologies at a fixed subscription price.

Furthermore, it comes with complimentary unlimited disaster recovery-as-a-service (DRaaS) offerings at Aegis Cloud, which includes:

  • Dual DR site
  • Complete managed services
  • Proactive monitoring
  • 24/7 call support centre
  • Yearly on-site health check
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Aegis Joins MDEC’s & NACSA’s Cyber100 Cohort 3 Programme

Photo: National Cyber Security Agency (Cyber100 E-Book)

We at Aegis are proud to announce that we have been selected for the Cyber100 Cohort 3 Programme.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, many companies worldwide moved their operations online, speeding up their digital transformation.

Alongside this, the working environment has transformed. Employees can now decide how, when, and where they want to work.

However, the transformation to a digitalised world is fraught with difficulties.

With the increase in connectivity between people and their devices to the Internet, cybersecurity threats are growing in severity as well.

To promote a risk-free and protected cyberspace, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) launched the National Cybersecurity Innovation Challenge Programme (Cyber100) in 2019.

The programme aims to:

  • Foster the development of a competitive local cybersecurity technology and industry
  • Discover Malaysian companies that deliver innovative and reliable IT solutions

Read More: How Aegis Cloud Disaster Recovery’s 4-3-2 Backup Rule Helps You Fight Ransomware

Aegis: Your Trusted Cloud Service Provider in Malaysia

The Cyber100 Programme accepts submissions from numerous IT companies formed locally in Malaysia that offer products and services developed by talented Malaysian individuals.

And after multiple interview sessions, we’re honoured to have been chosen as part of the MDEC Cyber100 Cohort3 listing.

Over the years, Aegis has developed a wide range of comprehensive cloud backup and disaster recovery services.

They are powered by local talents and resources, to suit the needs of businesses from various industries.

Moving forward, we aim to develop innovative solutions as a cloud service provider to help our customers tackle the ever-growing cybersecurity challenges.

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7 Steps To Recover From A Ransomware Attack

Ransomware is a type of cyberattack that malicious actors often use against companies of all sizes. Once the victim downloads the malware to their device, it seeks out and holds corporate data hostage. It does this by locking you out or encrypting the data so that it is indecipherable. Your organisation then must pay a ransom to restore your access and recover your data from the attack – hence the name ransomware.

 

Threat researchers at SonicWall Capture Labs finding that there was a record-breaking 495.1 million ransomware attacks in 2021. This 148% year-on-year increase over 2020 means that last year was the most costly and dangerous year for organisations worldwide. And with ransomware demands surging by a staggering 518% in just the first half of 2021, that represents a major threat to any business.

 

But Veeam believes that the best offence is a good defense, and their 2021 Ransomware Retrospective report has the data to back this up. The study, designed to understand the impact of ransomware on the global IT community and its customers, found that an impressive 92% of Veeam customers didn’t have to pay any ransom to restore their data.

 

And recovering from a ransomware attack cost 85% of Veeam customers polled less than US$25,000 overall. With measurable data like this, it just goes to show how valuable having an effective backup process is. Having secure, timely and reliable backups for your corporate data is crucial, but it’s only part of an effective Ransomware Recovery Plan.

 

Read on to find out our 7 steps to recovering from a ransomware attack.d

What Are The 7 Steps?

Step 1: Have a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (CIRP) in Place

While the hope is always that you will never have to deal with a cyber-attack of any kind, an attack takes place every 39 seconds. And so, while it may seem like an odd thing to have in a ransomware recovery plan, your first step should be ensuring you have a detailed cybersecurity strategy that is comprised of three main layers.

The first, of course, is protecting yourself from an attack in the first place. The second layer is a comprehensive Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan – a strategy that lays out exactly what your staff should do when an attack is in progress. The main goal with your CIRP is to mitigate the damage that a cyberattack can cause as well as help begin your recovery process.

This recovery phase is the third layer of your cybersecurity strategy and arguably the most important in terms of the actual cost of an attack. The reason is the longer it takes to restore your data and get your systems back online, the more it impacts your bottom line.

Read More: Developing an Effective Incident Response Plan for Cloud Environments in Malaysia

Step 2: Implement Backup Plans for All Your Corporate Data

With digital workspaces and a remote workforce becoming the norm for the modern workplace, many companies have made the switch to using the powerful services offered by Microsoft Office 365. But while Microsoft has resilience at the heart of these tools, something they don’t offer is a comprehensive backup solution.

 

And yet many overlook this shortfall, with 81% of IT professionals saying that they experienced data loss in Office 365. When you consider that companies are storing as much as 60% of their sensitive data in cloud-based Office documents – 75% of which they don’t currently back up – that is a worrying statistic. And so, your second step should be deploying solutions like Backup for Microsoft 365 across your organisation.

Read More: Overcoming the Remote Work Challenges with Microsoft 365 Office Cloud Backup

Step 3: Employ the 3-2-1 Data Backup Rule

The 3-2-1 rule is nothing new. In fact, Veeam have been advocating the concept since their very first days in business. And while IT professionals, and anyone tasked with keeping corporate data safe, have been using the principle since the beginning of time – we can thank photographer Peter Krogh for the phrase.

 

The 3-2-1 rule isn’t complicated and simply states that you should have three (3) copies of data stored on two (2) different types of media and one (1) copy should be off-site. Now while the most critical data sets of today often have 4 or even 5 backup copies in place, the basic rule is your best starting point.

Step 4: Be Ready to Report any Cyberattack Incidents

When a cyberattack occurs, the first instinct of many organisations tends to be to investigate, learn what occurred, and close the security loophole. However, countries and international organisations like Interpol are increasingly encouraging – or even regulating – the disclosure of cyberattacks. This step is necessary to protect companies and consumers as well as to ensure judicial resources can be bought in to assist organisations that may not have the capacity to do so, as well as to seek prosecution of cybercriminals where possible.

Step 5: Protect Your Workloads and Processes with DRaaS Solutions

With cyberattacks being as prevalent as they are, having an effective Disaster Recovery solution in place is an essential part of any cybersecurity strategy. This used to mean having an offsite facility where your data was backed up on expensive storage gear, but Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) solutions have changed the game for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

 

DRaaS solutions like Veeam® Backup & Replication™ use a cloud-based data protection approach where your organisation’s physical services and/or virtual machines (VMs) are replicated, stored and hosted using public or private cloud resources. This essentially means that you will instantly be able to recover files, NAS shares, entire VMs, databases and more.

Step 6: Undertake Security Awareness Training for Your Employees

Your employees are the weakest link in your cybersecurity strategy. And despite 90% of organisations claiming that their employees have undergone phishing awareness training, according to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breaches Investigations Report, 82% of data breaches involved the human element. And many successful cyberattacks on organisations start with phishing emails.

Step 7: Test Your Ransomware Recovery Plan

Many ideas and plans are great on paper but tend to fall apart when it comes to execution. Nowhere is this more true than with cybersecurity. Business is evolving every day, and the cyber threat landscape is evolving right along with it.

If you’re not testing your entire cybersecurity strategy regularly, including your ransomware recovery plan, you will never know if there are interdependencies, gaps and areas that need improvement. Cyberattacks can take any number of forms, and your ransomware recovery plan needs to be agile enough to respond to whatever that may be.

How can Aegis help?

With over a decade of experience, Aegis offers data protection and cloud disaster recovery services in Malaysia that continuously monitors IT systems and identifies information security gaps. We ensure 24×7 proactive monitoring and support all year round with unlimited disaster recovery resources and certified DR drills.

When it comes to Ransomware, a good cloud backup and disaster recovery plan will ensure you get your business back up and running with minimal time and data loss. Aegis Cloud Disaster Recovery (CDR) is the ideal managed, automated backup solution for your organisation. Choosing an expert partner with extensive experience helping businesses recover from cyberattack, data deletion or loss is the best protection for your business.

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5 Reasons to Choose DRaaS For Your Business in Malaysia

For many businesses nowadays, having a disaster recovery plan is essential to remain operational, and one popular option is DRaaS.

Regardless of the various unpredictable events your business may face, such as a power failure or an office fire, you need to be able to keep things running or face serious consequences.

This is where DRaaS comes in. It provides businesses with comprehensive yet affordable data protection solutions to recover and restore their backed-up data in an emergency.

In this article, we explain what DRaas is and outline five reasons why you should integrate DRaas into your business.

What is DRaaS?

Disaster recovery as a Service (DRaaS) provides businesses with remotely hosted disaster recovery solutions to safeguard their confidential data.

While businesses of all sizes can integrate DRaaS for their networks, it is ideal for small and medium-sized companies that do not have the resources to have their own in-house servers.

Moreover, with DRaaS, businesses do not have to worry about losing their data, as DRaaS providers manage the recovery process, ensuring your business remains operational during:

  • Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes
  • Power failures
  • Cyberattacks

Read More: Endpoint Backup Saves Businesses

5 Benefits of Adopting DRaaS For Your Business

5 Benefits of Adopting DRaaS For Your Business

Here are the top five reasons why you should consider DRaaS for your business:

1. Reduce IT Costs

One of the main advantages of DRaaS is its cost efficiency. Businesses that manage their own in-house disaster recovery system have to bear several additional costs, such as:

  • Investing in hardware such as servers and storage equipment
  • Purchasing the required software licenses for servers, storage, and security
  • Paying for monthly equipment maintenance costs, internet access, etc.

However, when you integrate DRaaS into your systems through a managed service provider, you will not have to pay for the costs listed above.

Moreover, DRaaS can help businesses save more over time. For example, should your business experience IT downtime, it will get your organisation back up and running quickly and efficiently.

What’s more, it eliminates the costs required to hire a specialised IT team to run an in-house disaster recovery system.

2. Increased Flexibility

Another benefit of DRaaS is its flexibility. With it, you are not limited to one server, database, backup, or network technology.

Instead, you can choose the operating systems and backup tools that will meet your business’s needs, including your RPO and RTO recovery objectives.

You can also choose how you want to recover your data as well as whether you want to save your data with a scheduled or continuous backup plan.

3. Accessibility

As DRaaS is a cloud-based solution, your business’s servers are accessible from any location with an internet connection.

This is especially beneficial in the working environment today, as an increasing number of companies switch to hybrid or remote work arrangements.

4. Data Safety & Security

With DRaaS, your business’s data is securely backed up and stored in a remote data centre that only authorised employees have access to.

This means that your information is safe from unauthorised access and data breaches.

Moreover, an experienced DRaaS service provider can guide you on how to improve your business’s security practices. They also employ additional security protocols to safeguard your data, including:

  • Data encryption
  • Regular and timely security updates
  • Multi-factor authentication protocols
  • Third-party security testing
  • Built-in firewalls

5. Regular Data Backup & Quick Recovery

During natural disasters or power outages, every second lost cuts into your employees’ productivity. This damages your business’s reputation and leads to financial losses.

That is why businesses should have an effective disaster recovery plan in place to ensure business continuity in times of emergency.

DRaaS automatically backs up your data to the cloud and quickly recovers the saved data in an emergency.

The backup frequency and recovery speed are determined by RPO (recovery point objective) and RTO (recovery time objective) values.

The lower these values, the better your company’s cyber resilience. However, you should also note that lower RTO and RPO values cost more.

Therefore, you will need to calculate the potential monetary loss during a system outage to know your optimal costs.

Read More: Private Cloud vs Public Cloud: Verify Everything You Need to Know

DRaaS with Aegis

Due to the increased cyberattacks and data breaches, DRaaS has become necessary for businesses today.

At Aegis, we’re working hard to make cloud solutions affordable for all with Aegis Disaster Recovery-As-A-Service (DRaaS).

It is a simplified and cost-effective managed cloud disaster recovery service that protects systems and data from downtime and ransomware attacks with:

  • Advanced cloud backup disaster infrastructure
  • Managed cloud backup disaster recovery
  • Services in compliance with ISO27001 ISMS and data security governing policies
  • Complimentary disaster recovery consultation sessions
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What Are Wi-Fi Frag Attacks And What You Can Do About Them

Despite recent advancements in Wi-Fi security, new vulnerabilities in how we receive data online, such as a Wi-Fi frag attack, are still being discovered.

However, what is surprising about Wi-Fi frag attacks is that it is actually very old. This issue has existed since the invention of Wi-Fi in 1997 but is only being discovered now.

In this article, we will explain what Wi-Fi frag attacks are, what they do, and how you can deal with them.

What Are Wi-Fi Frag Attacks?

A Wi-Fi frag (fragmentation and aggregation) attack tricks a network device into assuming that it is performing a secure action. It either:

  • Captures traffic passing through unsecured networks, mimics it, and then impersonates servers or
  • Opens the network by injecting plaintext frames that appear like handshake messages (a signal sent between two devices to communicate with one another).

Unfortunately, all Wi-Fi devices are vulnerable to frag attacks.

But the good news is that these attacks are challenging to carry out as the attackers must be within the network’s radio range and require users to take action.

2 Key Risk Factors of Wi-Fi Frag Attacks

Here are two main risk factors of Wi-Fi frag attacks:

1. Data Theft

A Wi-Fi frag attack steals data from a Wi-Fi network. Most websites that use HTTPS and other types of encryptions are protected against such attacks.

However, if you receive unencrypted data sent over an encrypted Wi-Fi connection, a frag attack can bypass the encryption, leading to data theft.

2. Attacks Against Vulnerable Devices

Smart devices manufactured by unknown brands may not offer the necessary security support and updates, which leaves them open to Wi-Fi frag attacks easily.

However, this does not mean that branded or expensive devices are safe from Wi-Fi frag attacks. Older devices without the latest security patches installed are also vulnerable to these attacks.

This is because as long as the smart device is connected to a Wi-Fi connection, a cybercriminal can easily enter your network to steal your data.

Read More: Key Aegis Features You’ll Need to Beat Ransomware

How to Protect Your Networks from Wi-Fi Frag Attacks

1. Stay Updated with Your Device’s Security Updates

Always ensure that your devices are running the most recent security updates. Most devices nowadays will automatically install the security updates themselves.

However, for some devices, such as routers, you may need to manually update them or click a button to begin the installation.

2. Update or Replace Obsolete Devices

When your operating system is so old (e.g., Windows 7) that it is no longer receiving security updates, it is better to invest in a new model.

The same goes for outdated devices such as routers or smart plugs that no longer receive upgrades from their manufacturers.

Most outdated devices will likely have security flaws and should be replaced with newer models.

3. Use Secure Encryption

Make sure you are on an HTTPS site every time you access a website.

Most browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox have transitioned to HTTPS, the secure version of HTTP, due to its encryption capabilities.

If you want to be safer, installing a browser extension can help. You can also set your internet browsers to warn you before accessing websites that are not encrypted.

Read More: Cloud Server: What’s the Best Way to Keep Your Data Safe?

Stay Safe from Wi-Fi Frag Attacks with Aegis

Wi-Fi frag attacks are new, and little is known about them. However, they exist, and it is best to implement effective security measures to protect your networks and endpoints.

At Aegis, we want our clients to be able to own a flexible and robust cloud disaster recovery at an affordable price.

Aegis 1Price-Any-Technologies (1PAT) is a data backup service in Malaysia that provisions all backup technologies at a fixed price.

We provide clients with the latest cloud data backup and replication software that will:

  • Ease IT budget planning
  • Relieve operations personnel from hours of repetitive data backups tasks
  • Eliminates backup or DR technology refreshment or enhancement
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