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Domain Hijacking Protection: What Business Leaders Must Know

Domain names are the cornerstone of any online business. Yet domain hijacking—when attackers steal control of your domain—can happen suddenly, disrupting email, website access, and brand reputation. Protecting your domain with effective domain hijacking protection strategies is essential, not optional.

image of woman dealing with domain hyjacking

What Is Domain Hijacking?

Domain hijacking occurs when unauthorized parties gain control of a domain by changing DNS settings or transferring registration without the owner’s consent. This can happen through compromised registrar accounts, phishing, or expired domains. Attackers then redirect websites or email, host malware, or hold domains for ransom. Recovery is often difficult and slow.

Why It Matters for Business Leaders

It’s not only small brands at risk. Even major domains—like “sex.com,” “Perl.com,” and various TLDs—have fallen victim. When your domain is stolen, you lose your web presence, interrupt customer access, and can incur serious legal or financial penalties.

Core Domain Hijacking Protection Steps

Enable 2FA on your registrar account — protect against password theft.
Activate registrar (client) lock — prevents unauthorized transfers.
Use WHOIS privacy — hides public contact info and prevents social engineering attacks.
Monitor domain expiry — set auto-renew and backup payment methods to avoid expiration.

Best Practices for Business Leaders

1. Choose a Trustworthy Registrar

Pick ICANN-accredited registrars with strong security policies, 24/7 support, and clear dispute resolution. Quality matters more than cost.

2. Secure Your Account

Implement strong, unique passwords and 2FA via security keys (e.g., FIDO2). Avoid SMS-based codes, which can be intercepted or SIM-swapped.

3. Lock and Monitor Domain Transfers

Registrar lock must be enabled on every domain. Receive email alerts for any changes. Set up internal approval processes before transfers.

4. Encrypt Registrar Emails and Admin Access

Confirm your domain admin contact uses secure email and retrieval methods. Attackers often target account recovery emails first.

5. Plan for Recovery Now

If hijacking occurs, act fast. Contact your registrar, then escalate to ICANN, UDRP, or legal channels. Even fast action can take weeks, so prevention is key.

Real-World Examples

In 2000, *WhoAmI.com* was stolen via a phished Network Solutions account and took days to recover.
The “Sea Turtle” campaign in 2019 hijacked national-level DNS, prompting U.S. warnings.

Useful References

SecurityScorecard explains domain hijacking tactics and prevention strategies here:
What Is Domain Hijacking and How to Prevent It

Where Cost+ Helps You Stay Secure

Cost+ supports businesses with **Security+**, including registrar reviews, multi-domain monitoring, auto-renew setups, and recovery processes—preventing domain hijacking before it impacts your brand.

Bottom Line

Domain hijacking protection is an essential part of modern risk management. Don’t wait for a breach to act—secure your registrar account, enable locking, and prepare a recovery plan to protect your domain and brand.

By Thomas McDonald
Vice President

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-21T20:29:27-05:00June 20, 2025|

G Suite Legacy Shutdown 2025: What Small Businesses Need to Do

Google is rolling out a major transition this year, the g suite legacy shutdown 2025, affecting businesses still using the free legacy edition for custom-domain email. Starting May 1, 2025, legacy users are being moved to pooled Google Workspace storage and may lose access to key apps unless they upgrade. As a small business leader, you need to understand the timeline, the impact, and what steps to take—before your email and collaboration systems break.

What Exactly Is Changing?

On May 1, 2025, Google began shifting legacy G Suite accounts to a shared, pooled storage model. Instead of each user getting 15 GB, the entire domain now shares one storage pool—although no total capacity is being removed. Administrators can set per-user limits manually, but without it, a single user could consume the entire pool.

Why This Matters to Your Business

Email flow risk: Legacy Mail, Calendar, and Drive apps may stop syncing correctly if apps become unsupported.
Storage confusion: Unchecked usage can cause mailbox sync problems, failed uploads, or inability to create new files for users.
Compliance concerns: Email retention, auditing, and export tools currently rely on legacy architecture that may lose functionality over time.
Cost creep: To regain full mailbox storage per user, you may be prompted to upgrade to a paid Workspace plan.

How Your Team Is Reacting

User communities have reported mixed experiences. One admin recently shared:

“My pooled storage just kicked in on May 19, 2025—and I had to immediately remove a high-volume user or the rest would’ve gone read‑only.”

That scenario is not uncommon—thousands of SMBs and family domains are quietly being transitioned, often with little notice or guidance.

What You Need to Do

1. Audit Your Storage Usage

Go to your Google Admin console → Storage section. You can review pooled usage and see how close you are to your allocation. Google explains the new policy here:
Google Workspace storage policies.

2. Set User Storage Limits

Once pooled storage is live, manually assign limits (e.g., 15–30 GB per mailbox). This locks usage and protects critical accounts. Without limits, users could lose mail sync or upload privileges.

3. Evaluate Backup and Email Retention

If you rely on legacy email exporting tools or Drive backup systems, test them now. Google is phasing out older APIs, and migration could break manual or legacy export workflows.

4. Decide if You’ll Upgrade to Paid Workspace

Paid plans start at $6/user/month, and they restore guaranteed storage, support, and modern capabilities. If your domain is core to your brand or customer-facing activities, budgeting now can prevent surprises later.

5. Communicate with Your Team

Let your staff know about the change—and why storage limits might suddenly appear. Explain steps to archive old files, move to shared drives, or purchase mailbox upgrades. Transparency helps reduce questions and support tickets.

How Cost+ Can Help

The transition from legacy G Suite to Workspace can be painless with guidance. Cost+ offers services to manage your setup, implement storage limits, and evaluate whether paid plans are worth it. Our Support+ team handles migrations, archive policies, and ongoing admin support—so you stay in control of your domain.

Bottom Line

With the g suite legacy shutdown 2025 now in progress, even free domains are changing. If you haven’t audited storage usage or prepared a migration plan, you could face sync failures or hidden charges. By acting now—auditing usage, setting limits, and communicating with your team—you can keep your email and collaboration running smoothly.

By Thomas McDonald
Vice President, Cost Plus

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-21T18:32:54-05:00June 18, 2025|

How to Run a Mid-Year IT Cost Audit That Actually Reduces Spend

It’s easy to overpay for IT without realizing it. A well-run mid year IT cost audit helps uncover waste, consolidate vendors, and right-size your infrastructure before costs spiral in Q4. Done right, it’s more than a review—it’s a budget reset that directly impacts the bottom line.

Why Mid-Year Is the Right Time

Mid-year is ideal for catching problems early. You’ve accumulated six months of real usage data—enough to see patterns, trends, and overages. You also still have six months left to act on what you find. By contrast, end-of-year reviews often result in rushed decisions or rolled-over inefficiencies.

What to Include in an Effective IT Cost Audit

Recurring vendor charges: Monthly or annual IT service contracts, licenses, or SaaS tools that may no longer align with business needs.
Cloud spend: Usage-based cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Microsoft 365 often creep up over time without oversight.
Telecom and phone systems: Old circuits, unused lines, or outdated VoIP plans can quietly drain thousands per year.
Endpoint licensing: Antivirus, endpoint detection, and device management software should match active headcount—not inflated tiers.
Shadow IT: Tools and apps used outside official procurement channels increase both cost and security risk.

Red Flags That Signal You’re Overspending

Even without digging into the numbers, certain symptoms strongly suggest it’s time for a cost audit:

Duplicate services (e.g., multiple backup solutions or redundant cybersecurity tools)
Invoices with vague or unclear line items
Annual contracts that auto-renewed without review
Multiple vendors offering overlapping services
Unused software licenses or employee accounts that are still billed

Steps to Conduct a Mid-Year IT Cost Audit

1. Centralize All Invoices

Start by collecting every recurring technology-related expense—cloud, phones, licensing, security, managed services, and support. If you’re working with multiple departments, make sure you capture cross-charged expenses.

2. Map Expenses to Business Value

For each expense, answer: Is this tool actively used? Is it redundant? Does it support a specific compliance or operational requirement? Flag anything with unclear value for further review.

3. Identify Consolidation Opportunities

It’s common for businesses to use several vendors when one would suffice. For example, managed IT support, cybersecurity, and cloud management are often split across three companies—when one could handle all.

4. Engage with Providers

Contact vendors about outdated pricing, bundled discounts, or more efficient license tiers. Most are flexible when they know you’re evaluating costs. If they aren’t, it may be time to switch.

5. Act Before Renewal Cycles

Review contract renewal dates and build a calendar. Avoid getting locked into another year of underutilized or overpriced services due to missed cancellation windows.

Need Help? Start with a Free Cost Check

At Cost+, we offer a free Cost Check+ for companies that want a second set of eyes on their IT spending. No strings. We review your invoices, benchmark against market pricing, and offer insight on where to save—especially if you’re juggling multiple vendors or unclear service agreements.

Bottom Line

A mid year IT cost audit doesn’t require major disruption. It just takes structure, objectivity, and follow-through. With budget pressures rising and technology rapidly evolving, there’s no better time to identify what’s working—and what’s costing more than it should.

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-21T20:32:21-05:00June 17, 2025|

After October 14, 2025, There Is No Turning Back: The Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade Guide for Savvy IT Ops

Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025—no more security patches, bug fixes, or feature enhancements. For any organization caring about uptime, compliance, or cybersecurity, initiating a comprehensive windows 10 to windows 11 upgrade is not optional—it’s imperative. Here’s what tech teams must know and do now.

Why Microsoft Is Backing Off Windows 10 (and Why You Shouldn’t)

Microsoft’s announcement is clear: post-October 14, 2025, Windows 10 remains operable but unsupported. That means any new vulnerability goes unpatched—opening doors to ransomware, zero-days, and regulatory violations. In some sectors (e.g. finance, healthcare), operating on an outdated OS risks compliance breaches and contractual penalties.

Windows 11, by contrast, includes more advanced protections like TPM 2.0 enforcement, virtualization-based security, and enhanced identity management. These aren’t just features—they’re the foundation for modern enterprise resilience.

Top Five Motivators for the Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade

Security-first architecture: TPM 2.0 and hypervisor-protected code form a hardened barrier against malware and rootkits.
Modern performance tools: Windows 11 supports advanced memory compression, DirectStorage, and responsiveness improvements that matter in hybrid or cloud-enabled workflows.
Seamless features & updates: Only Windows 11 receives ongoing feature releases and integration with Copilot, cloud-native tooling, and M365 innovations.
Compliance & insurance: Unsupported OSes are red flags in audits. Some policies may refuse coverage if vulnerabilities go unpatched.
Microsoft’s official reminders: From full-screen in‑OS prompts to automated upgrade eligibility checks, Microsoft is nudging users hard to modernize.

How to Execute a Successful Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade

1. Take Inventory & Assess Compatibility

Run PC Health Check or equivalent across endpoints to determine upgrade eligibility. Filter by TPM version, CPU generation, disk space, and firmware settings. Machines failing these checks may need replacement or alternative remediation.

2. Categorize Your Estate

Group devices into easy upgrades, remediation required, and replace/create new hardware buckets. Evaluate whether older hardware qualifies for ESU purchases as an interim measure.

3. Test Pilot Programs

Pick a representative sample—office computers, remote worker laptops, kiosk devices—and perform an in-place upgrade. For eligible systems, the upgrade process is typically smooth and non-disruptive.

4. Plan Phased Deployment

Prioritize endpoints by criticality, compatibility, and support impact. Use deployment tools like Intune, SCCM, or Autopilot to stage and update in controlled windows, with rollback options intact for 10 days post-upgrade.

5. Back Up, Test & Validate

Employ full backup solutions (VSS snapshots, cloud images). After upgrading, verify device functionality: network access, line-of-business apps, domain/SSO login, printers, peripherals.

6. Educate and Communicate

Send clear communications: expected downtime, advantages (enhanced security, new Start menu, productivity tools), and support resources. Provide training or FAQs on Windows 11’s layout and integrated Microsoft tools.

7. Monitor, Support, Iterate

Use endpoint analytics to identify upgrade failures, security anomalies, or application compatibility issues. Provide a dedicated help desk and swift rollback procedures within the initial 10-day window, while gathering feedback.

If Hardware Falls Short: ESU as a Stopgap

For devices that fail the TPM 2.0 or CPU test but cannot be replaced immediately, businesses can purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10—$30 for consumers or tiered pricing for enterprises—giving critical updates beyond October 2025. While workable short-term, ESU does not include feature upgrades, bug fixes, or free support—reinforcing that ESU should be viewed as a bridge, not a destination.

Bottom Line

The windows 10 to windows 11 upgrade is more than an IT refresh—it’s a strategic step protecting operational continuity, vendor support, and compliance posture. With the October 14, 2025 deadline firm, tech leaders must treat deployments with urgency, structure, and resilience. Combining compatibility assessments, phased upgrades, backup safeguards, and interim ESU coverage will help your organization transition confidently and avoid the risks of stagnation.

By treating this migration as an operational imperative—backed by planning, testing, and user engagement—you not only ensure business continuity, but set a foundation ready for the next wave of enterprise innovation.

Related Services from Cost+

Support+: Ongoing desktop and endpoint support during your rollout.
Recovery+: Ensure your systems are fully backed up before upgrade.
Compliance+: Stay aligned with cybersecurity regulations as you modernize.

Sources

By Thomas McDonald
Vice President

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-23T22:09:38-05:00June 17, 2025|

What Israel’s Strikes on Iran Mean for Threat Intelligence and Business Cybersecurity

Israel Iran cybersecurity risks: The recent military strikes between Israel and Iran have escalated rapidly, and while the headlines focus on missiles and drones, the digital fallout is already underway. The cybersecurity risks from Middle East conflicts are mounting, and businesses around the world—especially in the U.S.—should take this moment seriously. State-backed cyber actors are increasingly targeting infrastructure, financial systems, and software supply chains in retaliation or as opportunistic moves during global instability.

In the 48 hours following Israel’s June 2025 airstrikes on Iranian targets, cybersecurity researchers observed a major surge in offensive cyber operations. Iranian-linked groups such as APT34 (also known as OilRig) and Charming Kitten are among the most active, leveraging phishing, malware, and intrusion campaigns to exploit the situation. While Israeli entities are the primary targets, the nature of global digital infrastructure means many attacks may spill over into unrelated regions and industries.

This hybrid warfare approach is not new—but it’s evolving. As geopolitical crises intensify, businesses thousands of miles away can be caught off guard by data theft, ransomware, or availability attacks that trace back to nation-state tensions.

Why Your Business Should Be Paying Attention

Cyberattacks tied to state conflict are rarely contained. Hackers often deploy malware that spreads across networks and cloud platforms, intentionally or not. Phishing emails that reference energy disruptions or geopolitical news can bypass basic filters and trick employees into downloading malware or disclosing credentials.

Companies relying on remote access systems, third-party vendors, or cloud infrastructure may already be exposed. These dependencies make it difficult to identify the origin of risk—and even harder to defend against it without a strong, up-to-date cybersecurity framework.

Six Steps to Strengthen Threat Readiness

1. Monitor emerging threat actors: Track global intelligence feeds focused on Iranian APT groups. Ensure your security team can detect known IoCs (indicators of compromise).

2. Harden email security: Configure spam filters to catch region-specific phishing attempts and deploy phishing simulations internally to improve user awareness.

3. Review remote access protocols: Enforce MFA on all remote entry points and remove unused accounts with elevated permissions.

4. Confirm supply chain resilience: Reach out to vendors—especially those in logistics, healthcare, finance, or SaaS—and ensure their cybersecurity programs are current and verified.

5. Test your backups and recovery plans: Confirm you have offline, immutable backups that are tested regularly and easily restorable in case of attack.

6. Run a tabletop exercise: Walk through a cyberattack scenario based on this conflict with your leadership team. Identify gaps and assign action items now—before a real-world breach occurs.

How Cost+ Helps Companies Stay Ahead of Geopolitical Threats

At Cost+, we stay on top of international threat activity and translate it into local, actionable risk management strategies. Our Security+ team provides 24/7 monitoring, email threat detection, vulnerability scanning, and rapid response planning. Our Cloud+ and Recovery+ services ensure your systems stay secure, recoverable, and resilient—no matter what’s happening on the world stage.

We also help companies review vendor relationships, validate existing controls, and design customized response plans aligned with real-time global threats. The Cost+ approach is simple: stay proactive, stay secure, and avoid the costly surprises that come from ignoring warning signs.

Get a Free Cybersecurity Checkup

Whether you’re unsure where your vulnerabilities are or want to confirm that your systems are ready for whatever comes next, we can help. Our team will conduct a thorough review and deliver straightforward recommendations—without pressure or long-term commitments.

Schedule your free security check today or call 800.840.9690 to speak directly with a cybersecurity expert at Cost+.

Sources

By Thomas McDonald
Vice President

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-22T16:14:33-05:00June 15, 2025|

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