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The Business Risk of Not Testing Your Backups—Before Hurricane Season Peaks

With Atlantic hurricane season officially running from June 1 through November 30[¹], now is the time for a backup testing for business continuity audit. Without routine backup testing, companies risk extended downtime, data corruption, and regulatory fallout when disaster strikes.

business woman pointing at computer testing backups before hurricane

Why Summer Is Your Deadline

Noaa confirms the Atlantic hurricane season spans June 1 to November 30, with peak activity typically in late August through September[¹]. That gives businesses a narrow window to confirm backups are working—and recoverable—before systems are threatened by storms.

Risks of Untested Backups

  • Silent failures: Corrupt files, misconfigured snapshots, or incomplete backups may go unnoticed until it’s too late.
  • Recovery paralysis: Teams can’t restore critical systems efficiently without tested recovery plans.
  • Compliance fines: Regulations (e.g., HIPAA, PCI, SOX) often require periodic backup validation. Failure can result in penalties or audit failures.
  • RFQ fallout: In procurement or insurance processes, proof of backup testing can be a decisive factor.

Four Steps to Effective Backup Testing

1. Inventory & Prioritize Data

List all data types (databases, documents, virtual machines, configurations). Assign priorities based on RTO/RPO needs.

2. Test Full Restores Quarterly

Perform a full restore for a subset of critical systems at least once per quarter. Verify end-to-end integrity—files open, services start, user access confirmed.

3. Simulate Disaster Scenarios

Conduct tabletop and live failover drills. Document recovery steps and spot gaps in roles, permissions, or infrastructure.

4. Automate Monitoring & Reporting

Use automation tools to flag backup failures or missed schedules. Maintain audit logs and quarterly reports for governance reviews.

Expected ROI

The expense of backup testing is trivial compared to the cost of a data disaster—where downtime costs average $5,600/minute[²]. Tested backups help you recover within SLAs, reduce liability, and avoid reputational damage.

Need Support?

If your team lacks the time or tools to implement structured testing, Cost+ offers Recovery+—our fully managed backup validation and disaster readiness service.

Bottom Line

Demonstrating a culture of verified backups and recovery readiness is no longer optional—it’s a business imperative entering hurricane peak months. A proactive backup testing for business continuity initiative today can prevent catastrophic delays and compliance breaches tomorrow.



[¹] NOAA: Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking late Aug–Sep :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
[²] Cost of downtime sourced from industry averages (~$5.6K/minute).

2025-06-21T18:37:53-05:00June 23, 2025|

Growing Network Security Risks for Small Businesses in Saint Johns

Small businesses in Saint Johns are facing a steady rise in cyber threats—especially when networks are left unpatched or go unmonitored. From ransomware to unauthorized access, the consequences of neglecting IT security can be severe. In this article, we explore what’s driving these risks and what business leaders can do to mitigate them.

saint johns county business people concerned with cyber security

Unpatched Systems Are a Prime Target

Cybercriminals continue to exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems, applications, routers, and firewalls. Unpatched software leaves the door wide open for attackers to install malware, steal data, or lock down systems with ransomware. According to CISA’s 2023 report on top routinely exploited vulnerabilities, attackers continue to focus on flaws in systems that have gone months or even years without updates.

Small Businesses Are Not Immune

Many small business owners mistakenly believe they’re too small to be targeted. In reality, smaller companies often lack advanced security controls, making them easier to compromise. In Saint Johns and surrounding areas, we’ve seen a rise in phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and unauthorized remote access targeting local firms.

Warning Signs Your Network Is at Risk

  • Your systems haven’t been updated in more than 30 days
  • No one is reviewing firewall or router logs
  • Staff devices lack modern endpoint detection
  • Employees haven’t received recent cybersecurity training
  • You don’t have an incident response or recovery plan

How to Protect Your Business

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. The most effective approach is layered, proactive protection. Here are the essentials:

  • Automate patching: Apply updates regularly for all devices and software
  • Use EDR: Upgrade from traditional antivirus to modern endpoint detection and response
  • Back up regularly: Use cloud or image-based backup and test recovery often
  • Train employees: Build awareness of phishing, MFA, and good password practices
  • Monitor continuously: Deploy 24/7 monitoring or partner with a trusted provider

Cost-Effective Protection for Saint Johns Businesses

Cost+ delivers tailored protection for Florida businesses of all sizes. Our Security+ and Recovery+ solutions give you modern cybersecurity without the enterprise price tag. From managed firewalls to proactive support, we help secure your systems and keep business running.

If it’s been more than six months since your last network review, now’s the time. We offer a free cybersecurity check with no pressure and no obligations—just honest insights into where you’re at risk and how to fix it.

Schedule Your Free Cybersecurity Check Today

We help small businesses in Saint Johns close critical security gaps fast. Contact us to schedule your free check and take the first step toward stronger protection.

By Thomas McDonald
Vice President

2025-06-23T18:25:04-05:00June 23, 2025|

The Business Leader’s Guide to Zero Trust Architecture

Traditional perimeter-based security models—like firewalls and VPNs—are no longer sufficient in today’s digital landscape. Organizations now rely on cloud apps, remote work setups, and extended third-party ecosystems, rendering old security strategies ineffective. This Zero Trust architecture guide is designed for business leaders, providing clarity on what Zero Trust means, why it matters, and how to implement it successfully.

Zero Trust Architecture concept diagram for business security

What Is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a security philosophy that rejects implicit trust. Instead, every access request—whether from inside or outside the network—must be continuously authenticated, authorized, and monitored. Unlike traditional perimeter defenses, Zero Trust shifts protection to the identity, device, and data layers. The NIST Zero Trust Architecture guide outlines this strategy in detail.

Why It Matters Now

  • Remote and hybrid workforce: Employees are using diverse devices and networks, far beyond corporate boundaries.
  • Rising cyber threats: Ransomware, business email compromise, and supply chain attacks exploit trust in internal systems.
  • Compliance demands: Regulations increasingly mandate least-privileged access and continuous verification.

Core Principles of Zero Trust

  • Identity: Strong authentication using single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and identity governance.
  • Device Security: Ensuring only trusted, compliant devices can connect.
  • Least‑Privilege Access: Granting users only the permissions they need—no more.
  • Microsegmentation: Dividing networks into zones so breaches are contained.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing auditing and real-time analysis of access events.

Business Use Cases & Scenarios

  • Remote Access: Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) replaces traditional VPNs for secure remote work.
  • Vendor Collaboration: Grant external users limited, conditional access to sensitive systems.
  • Cloud App Security: Enforce identity-based controls on SaaS apps and APIs.
  • Regulated Industries: Detailed access records meet PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and financial compliance standards.

Roadmap to Zero Trust Implementation

  1. Start with an Assessment: Use a maturity framework such as the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model to evaluate your organization’s current position.
  2. Establish Quick Wins: Start with high-impact basics: enforce MFA, enable device compliance, deploy SSO, and pilot ZTNA.
  3. Define Your Access Policies: Create granular rules specifying who can access what resources, under which conditions.
  4. Roll Out in Phases:
    • Phase 1: Identity and device verification
    • Phase 2: Network segmentation and application control
    • Phase 3: Monitoring, database protection, and automation
  5. Track Progress with Metrics: Monitor improvements in blocked breaches, abnormal access attempts, and policy compliance.
  6. Maintain and Adapt: Zero Trust isn’t a one-time project. Policies, tools, and reviews must evolve with threats and business growth.

Technology & Tool Landscape

Zero Trust requires integrated layers of protection:

  • IAM platforms: Okta, Microsoft Entra
  • MFA solutions: FIDO2 keys, app-based authenticators
  • ZTNA gateways: Cloudflare, Palo Alto Prisma
  • Microsegmentation tools: VMware NSX, Illumio
  • SIEM platforms: Splunk, Azure Sentinel

Select solutions that integrate with your identity, cloud, and endpoint architecture.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

  • Treating Zero Trust as a product instead of a long-term strategy
  • Lacking policy clarity before implementation
  • Ignoring employee experience and adoption barriers
  • Failing to update protections as new risks emerge

Where Cost+ Fits In

Cost+ helps businesses implement Zero Trust principles through tailored services:

  • Support+ – IT help desk and infrastructure support
  • Security+ – Endpoint protection, monitoring, and email security
  • Compliance+ – Consulting to meet HIPAA, SOX, PCI, and other mandates

Our team aligns Zero Trust adoption with your risk profile and business goals.

Conclusion

Zero Trust is no longer optional—it’s foundational to securing modern organizations. By adopting a strategy that includes strong identity, device validation, segmentation, and continuous monitoring, business leaders can dramatically reduce risk and improve resilience. Use this zero trust architecture guide to assess your readiness, implement smart protections, and create a more secure future for your organization.

By Gregory McDonald

2025-06-21T19:11:43-05:00June 21, 2025|

What Paramus Businesses Need to Understand About Cloud Services

Paramus cloud services: “We’re in the cloud” has become a common phrase in Paramus boardrooms—but too often, the conversation stops there. For many small and mid-sized businesses in Bergen County, cloud adoption has been reactive: driven by software vendors, remote work shifts, or industry trends. What’s missing is strategy.

paramus nj rt17 rt4 cloud cars

At a glance, the benefits of the cloud are obvious—scalability, accessibility, reduced hardware overhead. But beneath that surface is a complex web of architecture choices, cost structures, and security considerations. And in Paramus, where professional services and retail operations rely on real-time access to systems, those decisions carry operational and financial consequences.

The Cloud Is Not One Thing

One of the biggest misconceptions among business owners is that “the cloud” is a single solution. In reality, it’s a spectrum: public, private, and hybrid environments; SaaS applications; IaaS deployments; containerized workloads; serverless functions. Each comes with trade-offs in control, performance, and cost.

We’ve seen Paramus companies overcommit to software suites with recurring costs that balloon over time—or, conversely, underinvest in cloud security and suffer avoidable breaches. Neither outcome is inevitable. They’re symptoms of not having a plan.

Local Risks, Global Architecture

Many Paramus businesses assume that cloud infrastructure “just works.” But most outages we investigate come down to one of three issues:

  • Misconfigured access controls, exposing sensitive data to unauthorized users
  • Poorly managed backups, leading to irreversible data loss
  • Vendor lock-in or complex billing that makes scaling painful and expensive

Cloud missteps don’t always make headlines, but they cost real money. Downtime during retail hours. Missed deadlines for law firms. HIPAA or SOX violations for regulated industries. The reality is that cloud without oversight is simply risk transferred to someone else—usually without visibility.

A Different Approach: Managed Cloud+

Cost+ offers Cloud+ to help Paramus companies take control of their cloud investments. We don’t resell someone else’s platform and walk away—we manage your environment, optimize costs, and build for reliability.

Key aspects include:

  • Direct ownership of cloud accounts (you pay AWS, Azure, etc.—we manage it)
  • Custom architecture for performance, security, and future growth
  • Flat-rate pricing tied to your usage, not surprise invoices
  • Proactive monitoring, patching, and access governance

Whether you need to migrate an on-prem server, build a HIPAA-compliant cloud system, or simplify your software stack, our team brings clarity and technical rigor to a space filled with buzzwords.

Integrated with Your Operations

Cloud is not an island. It touches your endpoints, your communications, and your compliance framework. That’s why our Paramus clients often pair Cloud+ with:

  • Support+ to manage local devices and users
  • Recovery+ to ensure business continuity and retention
  • Compliance+ to align with industry-specific requirements

This full-stack approach prevents finger-pointing between vendors and ensures your cloud strategy supports—not complicates—your business model.

Let’s Audit Your Cloud

If you don’t know what you’re spending, what’s secured, or what’s even running in your cloud environment, you’re not alone. Most companies have drifted into the cloud without a clear map. We offer a no-obligation review of your current cloud setup—including costs, risks, and optimization opportunities.

Explore Paramus IT services or book a Cloud+ audit today.

Or call us directly at 800.840.9690.

2025-06-21T18:46:00-05:00June 21, 2025|

How AI Is Reshaping Business Email: What to Know About Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s quietly reshaping everyday business tools. In particular, ai tools in business email are changing how organizations write, respond, and manage communication. Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini are leading the charge, embedding generative AI directly into Outlook and Gmail to boost productivity, reduce repetitive work, and help teams write more effectively.

man using laptop showing how ai is reshaping email by using copilot and gemini

Why This Shift Matters to Business Leaders

Unlike past tech waves, this one doesn’t require a full platform switch or custom development. If your company uses Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, AI features are either already live or arriving soon. That means changes to email workflow are happening by default—and companies need to understand the benefits, risks, and costs.

What Microsoft Copilot Does in Outlook

Copilot uses large language models to summarize emails, draft responses, suggest rewrites, and extract action items from threads. It can even pull context from Word or Excel documents linked in a conversation. Microsoft’s goal is to reduce time spent reading, writing, and following up on email. You can learn more from the official Microsoft page here:
Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.

What Google Gemini Adds to Gmail

Gemini offers similar features: drafting replies, summarizing long email chains, generating templates, and adjusting tone. It also connects with Google Docs, Sheets, and Meet to bring AI into broader workstreams. Google’s approach emphasizes helpful suggestions, not automation that replaces human oversight.

Business Use Cases for AI in Email

  • Customer Service: Drafting faster, more consistent responses to inquiries
  • Sales: Personalizing outreach emails using CRM data and suggested follow-ups
  • Internal Collaboration: Reducing back-and-forth by summarizing long threads
  • Project Management: Extracting tasks and commitments from emails automatically

What Business Leaders Should Watch

1. Licensing Costs

These tools aren’t free. Microsoft charges $30 per user/month for Copilot, which can be a significant line item depending on team size. Google’s Gemini for Workspace tiers vary depending on the plan. It’s important to evaluate which users truly benefit before scaling licenses.

2. Data Privacy and Security

When AI models process email content, where does that data go? Microsoft and Google both state that your content is not used to train public models—but companies should validate data handling practices, especially in regulated industries.

3. Productivity vs. Accuracy

AI-generated content can accelerate tasks but should still be reviewed. Inaccurate summaries or misleading tone could cause confusion or reputational harm. Training staff on appropriate usage is essential.

4. Impact on Communication Style

One subtle risk is tone uniformity. As more employees use the same AI tools, responses may start sounding robotic or generic. Encourage teams to personalize content when needed to preserve client relationships.

Preparing Your Organization

If you plan to adopt AI tools in business email, start with a pilot group. Monitor productivity, review sample outputs, and gather user feedback. From there, build an internal policy that defines acceptable use, disclosure requirements, and oversight.

Where Cost+ Can Help

Cost+ provides strategic IT guidance through our Support+ and Security+ services. We help organizations evaluate emerging tools, manage vendor licenses, and protect sensitive data in the age of AI.

The Bottom Line

AI tools in business email are here—and they’re evolving fast. Whether you adopt Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini, understanding their capabilities and limits is essential for leadership teams navigating modern communication workflows.

By Thomas McDonald
Vice President

2025-06-23T22:04:59-05:00June 20, 2025|
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