Ransomware Defence

Cyberattacks are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, frequent, and fast-moving. According to Verizon, nearly 90% of successful cyberattacks and up to 70% of data breaches originate at the endpoint. Additionally, another report reveals that most ransomware attacks are deployed within just 24 hours of initial access. As these threats escalate, organisations are turning to advanced cybersecurity solutions that offer real-time threat detection and response capabilities. Among these, three technologies have gained widespread adoption: Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR). Here's an exploration of these technologies and why they are crucial in today's cybersecurity landscape. 

The relentless pursuit of efficiency and productivity is a constant struggle in today's business world. We juggle complex tasks, fight information overload, and yearn for a way to do more with less. Enter the dynamic duo of automation and artificial intelligence (AI), poised to revolutionise how we work.  Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a revolutionary opportunity to transform workflows and unlock new levels of efficiency. Microsoft's Copilot, a powerful AI assistant within Microsoft 365, is poised to change the game.  However, ensuring your organisation is prepared to leverage Copilot's full potential requires a strategic approach. NSP's Copilot Readiness service offers a comprehensive two-part solution to guide you on this journey. 

Artificial Intelligence took the public imagination by storm in the 2020s with the launch of a ground-breaking generative pre-trained transformer, GPT-3. People were justifiably impressed with its ability to adapt and mimic human language, and the ensuing AI boom, accelerated by the even more impressive GPT-4 in 2023, saw hundreds of applications for generating written content, images, researching financial questions, planning holidays, and more.  

The ever-changing business landscape can leave IT departments feeling like they're constantly playing catch-up. New technologies emerge, priorities shift, and the pressure to stay relevant intensifies. But amidst the chaos, one constant remains: the need for a healthy IT budget.  The good news? You don't have to choose between innovation and financial responsibility. Here are some key strategies to optimize your IT budget and achieve your goals: 

Small to medium-sized enterprises are under constant pressure to enhance productivity, streamline operations, drive growth, and keep their teams working together. It used to be there weren’t any quick or easy solutions to doing all this at once.   For example, you could hire more staff, but the added expense could erode the benefits of your growth. Or you could streamline operations by making a few people do more work, but that would pose a huge risk to productivity.   With artificial intelligence arriving on the scene, SMEs now have choices to do all of this. AI has the potential to give each team help where they need it the most to help them work more efficiently and effectively doing what they were hired to do. 

Legacy issues, inconsistency through business change, knowledge gaps and key-person syndrome are common factors which can contribute to an organisation’s IT health. This was the case for one of NSP’s clients. The organisation reached out to NSP in 2023 to provide an initial independent IT audit. This included a deep dive into its IT infrastructure and critical business systems to identify any weaknesses, risk, exposure and opportunities. Following the audit and continued partnership building, NSP has provided user support and managed services, including server maintenance, data backup and network and endpoint security, and ongoing training since December 2023. We interviewed IT Operations Manager at the association.

Cybersecurity under attack in NZ?

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this transformation. While AI holds immense potential for businesses of all sizes, its complexity and resource requirements can often leave small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) feeling on the sidelines. Enter Microsoft 365 Copilot, a game-changer designed specifically to make AI accessible and affordable for SMBs.

Surrounded by the vast potential of AI technologies, where the intersection of convenience and complexity demands a vigilant approach to protect your data. In this blog, we will discuss some tips to secure yourself and your information when using AI tools. 

It comes as no surprise that CEOs increasingly recognise cybersecurity as the foremost risk confronting their businesses. The 2021 KPMG survey revealed that 18% of 500 CEOs surveyed said cybersecurity would be their greatest threat over the next few years. Cybersecurity incidents not only have the potential to paralyse your business but can also erode customer trust, and the aftermath of recovering from such attacks can be financially crippling. To fortify your business against these threats, it is essential to prioritise cybersecurity and allocate your budget strategically.