Info Advantage Blog

Since the 1950s, the term 'hacker' has been vaguely defined as someone who explores the limits of technology by testing them in as many different ways they can. But by the 1980s, the term ‘hacker’ became associated with users who were caught breaking into government and other private computer systems, leaving the word with a negative reputation. Today, several pioneering ‘hackers’ run multimillion-dollar cyber security consulting businesses aimed to help protect the average technology user from attacks. So what should you call someone who uses their knowledge for good?

“White hat” hackers

Also known as ‘ethical hackers’, or ‘network security specialists’, these hackers are the heroes of the hacker name. Whether it’s selling what they find to hardware and software vendors in “bug bounty” programs, or working as full-time technicians, white hat hackers are just interested in testing technology and protecting users. Linus Torvalds is a great example of a white hat hacker. After years of experimenting with the operating system on his computer, he finally released Linux, a secure open-source operating system.

“Black hat” hackers

Closer to the definition that most people outside the IT world know, black hat hackers aim to create software and other technology campaigns with the purpose of causing damage. These attacks have a variety of different goals; such as financial harm in the form of ransomware to digital vandalism. Albert Gonzalez is one of the most infamous black hat hackers. In 2005, he organized a group of individuals to compromise poorly secured wireless networks and steal information. He is most known for stealing over 90 million credit and debit card numbers from TJ Maxx over the course of two years.

“Gray hat” hackers

A sort of ‘in-between’ of the other categories, a ‘gray hat’ hacker does the majority of their work on the internet. This anonymity affords them opportunities to try their hand at both white hat and black hat hacking. Today, there are quite a few headlines making the rounds describing Marcus Hutchins as a gray hat hacker. Hutchins became an overnight superstar earlier this year when he poked and prodded the WannaCry ransomware until he found a way to stop it. During the day, Hutchins works for the Kryptos Logic cybersecurity firm, but the US government believes he spent his free time creating the Kronos banking malware. He has recently been arrested and was branded as a ‘gray hat’ hacker.

The world of cyber security is far more complicated than the stylized hacking often seen in Hollywood movies. Internet-based warfare is not as simple as good guys vs. bad guys, and it certainly doesn’t only aim for big money targets. If you need a team of experienced professionals to help you tackle the complexities of modern cyber security, call Info Advantage today at (585) 254 – 8710.

Servers are the backbone of many businesses, as it is responsible for the communication and the exchanging of data. Since there is so much relying on servers to run properly, it is imperative to keep them well-maintained to ensure that business will not be interrupted. Here are a few steps businesses can follow to make sure your servers will continue to run without any issues.

Backup Your Data

Regular back up is the first and arguably the most important step of server maintenance. In the case of disaster, such as server failure or a cyber-attack, backup can be used in order to restore your data with little to no downtime needed. Experts suggest that you do multiple backups, making sure to keep at least one outside of your business or network. One of the easiest and safest ways to keep your data backup safe is to use a cloud service, which can be maintained and connected to from anywhere that you can connect to the web. Along with data, it’s also recommended to backup any device drivers, along with the network configuration. This will make it much easier to restore your server in case of failure.

The Right Environment

If you have physical servers, you’re going to need to make sure you have the right environment. Your servers should be in a separate, air-conditioned room. This will ensure that they do not overheat, and that the noise won’t disrupt your employees. It’s suggested to clean the servers, and all of the removable media drives, on a regular basis. Keeping them clear of dust will help keep your servers running at their best condition and running properly.

Keep Everything Updated

An upgrade or patch may be the one thing that keeps your severs safe from malicious attacks. Make sure to keep a careful eye on any new updates, and make sure that everything is up-to-date. In addition to upgrades, make sure you keep all of the other systems that keep your server running smoothly. Experts suggest that businesses should check their security systems, server utilization, and user accounts frequently to make sure there aren’t any issues. In addition, it’s recommended to change any passwords you may use every 6 to 12 months.

Having trouble keeping your servers maintained properly? Call Info Advantage at (585) 254-8710 today to talk to a specialist about the best solution for your business.

More organizations are revamping their traditional IT infrastructure to favor new technology that allows for greater mobility. Not to be outdone, even major government departments are making this move, like the U.S. Department of Education.

This move toward mobility is designed to replace the department's current IT infrastructure, known as EDUCATE (Education Department Utility for Communications, Applications, and Technology Environment). EDUCATE was implemented in 2007 by Perot Systems after they won the bid for $400 million. At the time, this was a bold move because it effectively transferred oversight of the infrastructure from the government to a contractor.

Today, the U.S. Department of Education has a new set of priorities that they would like to see out of their infrastructure. According to Jason Gray, Chief Information Officer for the Education Department, the technology landscape has changed so much since 2007 that a revamp is in order. Gray says that these new infrastructure objectives should encourage innovation, optimize the cost to benefit ratio, and show flexibility to make integrating changes in requirements simple.

These objectives are spelled out in a new infrastructure plan named PIVOT (the Portfolio of Integrated Value-Oriented Technology). Unlike the previous model, PIVOT looks to have each aspect of the infrastructure (like oversight, hosting data, printing, network services, technical management and integration, and mobile services) written up with its own contract.

The primary goal of the Department’s new infrastructure is increased mobility. They look to achieve this by moving away from a permanently established office space, and instead, take advantage of teleworking and hoteling (where workers use mobile devices to move about an office instead of being limited to their desk). This kind of move is in line with a federal government initiative to reduce its real estate footprint. In keeping with this goal, PIVOT has the potential to free up 6,200 workers from the traditional office environment.

There are lots of benefits to be had by the U.S. Department of Education from a move like this. What about your own IT infrastructure? Has it been updated in recent years to take advantage of the advancements of mobile computing? Or, are you still doing business like it's 2005 with a workforce tied to their desks and limited to bulky workstations?

To revamp your own IT infrastructure, give Info Advantage a call at (585) 254-8710 and find out what we can do for you.