What Do Viruses and Other Malware Do?
The internet is remarkable, from streamlining our businesses to allowing us to co-work internationally to being the home to some really cute cat videos, but it’s not a place you want to find yourself unprotected. While the internet is full of convenience and opportunity, we’re not the only ones taking advantage of it. According to one report, 560,000 new types of malware are detected every day. The same report says that four companies fall victim to malware for each minute of the day. The most prominent malware threat comes from a Trojan, meaning it’s disguised as something legitimate, but it fooled you.
This is why educating yourself and your team to identify common malware pitfalls is so important. And why cyber security needs to be a top priority for your company. Even big corporations fall victim to cybercriminals, so you must take this seriously.
What is Malware, and What Does It Do?
Malware is a severe threat. It’s software that sneaks into your computer and destroys everything on it. The term malware is short for “malicious software.”
You might think that malware only threatens your computer, but that’s not true. It can also hit your smartphone or tablet. Any device that connects to the internet risks being infected with malware.
Cybercriminals will often use malware to extract data from your computer. Then, they like to use it as ransom to get people to pay them to get the information back. It’s why having a managed security system is so important.
What Are Viruses and What Do They Do?
A computer virus is simply a type of malware that attaches to another program and replicates it after it’s used on a computer, tablet, or mobile device.
Often, computer viruses are spread through email. They typically come in an attachment, and the virus loads onto your computer when you click on the attachment. You won’t even know you did it at first.
As with other malware, viruses can destroy your data and can also slow down your computer. For many people, that might be the first sign something is wrong.
This is a severe threat, especially for businesses that have employees are may not be as computer savvy when it comes to these threats. It’s just too easy for one employee to spread it to another.
What Are the Negative Impacts of Both?
Malware and other computer viruses steal your data, hold it for ransom, slow your computer down, and spread quickly between employee computers. But other harmful things can happen when you are a victim of malware attacks.
Expect Them to Steal Your Information
When you fall victim to malware, your personal and business information is now in the hands of cybercriminals. Sometimes, they won’t hold it for ransom; they’ll sell it to someone else.
They now have your computer browser history, all your passwords, and your client’s information.
It Will Not Be Business As Usual
Don’t expect your employees to be able to go about their jobs as usual. They’re going to run into many detours trying to use their computer, usually in the way of pop-ups. And some cyber criminals like to have a little fun by setting up, so they are constantly redirected to your competition’s site.
What You Need to Do to Protect Your Business
You might not feel like your business can afford the extra expense of hiring IT services, but the truth is, you can’t afford not to. Managing your business’ infrastructure is a full-time job. Let our experts at Intuitive Network do it for you. Our experts are reliable and proactive. You can expect to feel peace of mind knowing they have your back.
How Are CPA Firms Thriving In Today’s Competitive Market
Looking back at the year 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, and accounting firms were gearing up for their busiest time of the year; tax season. During this time, accountants were handling tax write-ups and other tasks for their regular clientele when new clients suddenly started pouring in with fear and panic behind their eyes. Business owners were frantically looking for solutions to their challenges and ultimately wanted to keep their businesses alive and well despite all that was happening in the world.
An urgent need for practical solutions presented established CPA firms and accounting professionals with a unique challenge. This challenging situation tested professionals in the finance industry and introduced new ways of handling their day-to-day operations. While small CPA firms may not have survived this intense time of growth and change, the majority had to shift and elevate their current business effectiveness.
The Ability to Adapt to Current Circumstances
While some CPA firms may have worked remotely before the pandemic, most of them did not and therefore had to make the shift to remote work – the ability to work from home was and still is a notable contributor to many CPA firms' continuous strides to increase profitability moving forward. In addition, accountant's roles have adapted to also become an advisor to their clients through these unprecedented times.
So why are some CPA firms thriving while others struggle to stay afloat?
Keeping Up With Latest Technologies
One of the biggest reasons is the inability to keep up with technological advances. Accountants have an inherent need to update their firm's technology to provide better and more efficient services to their clientele.
The best thing accounting firms can do, is find a trusted service provider to help guide them in their decision-making process. Top-of-the-line service providers will grant CPAs access to new accounting technology such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotic Process Automation at a fraction of the cost.
Utilizing these technologies to facilitate efficient workflows and automate mundane tasks such as bookkeeping, appointment scheduling, and transaction processing can be extremely cost-effective.
Staying Cost-Conscious
Another competent that is helping CPA firms thrive is low operating costs. This goes hand-in-hand with working remotely and staying up to date with current technologies. Utilizing both factors alleviates the pain of costly employee salaries and overhead costs you would otherwise be forced to maintain or let your business crumble.
The ability to have a hybrid schedule or work from home eliminates a multitude of costs associated with working in an office five days a week. Also, if you are making use of modern technology, there is no need to invest more money into resources promising to drive revenue or complete work faster.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
Even though cybersecurity and data privacy are essential in all aspects of any business, it is especially prominent for accountants and accounting professionals. A security breach has the ability to steal sensitive information and harm a CPA’s reputation.
The best way to protect clients' data privacy is by using an integrated IT security system instead of a plethora of unintegrated software products. In addition, thriving CPA firms use secure client portals and are constantly reviewing their security systems to analyze further how to prevent data from ever leaving their firm.
Final Thoughts
Truth is, there is a lot to keep in mind and figure out in order to have a thriving accounting firm, but you do not have to do it alone. At Intuitive Networks, we are not solely focused on IT services – our business is centered around providing an unforgettable customer experience. Your success is our success, and that’s why we deliver progressive IT services customized to alleviate your unique pain points while growing with you into the future.
Are you interested in a consultation? If so, give us a call today to discuss IT service needs for your business. After all, we want you and your business to thrive!