IT Insights Trends

Network monitoring

Network monitoring is the process of continuously tracking the performance, health, and security of a network infrastructure. By monitoring traffic, devices, and services in real-time, businesses can proactively identify potential issues, optimize performance, and ensure seamless connectivity. Our network monitoring solutions provide visibility and control, helping you stay ahead of potential disruptions and maintain a reliable, secure network environment.

Help Desk / End-user support

Help Desk and End-User Support services ensure your team stays productive by providing fast, reliable assistance for technical issues. Whether it’s troubleshooting software, resolving hardware problems, or guiding users through common tasks, our expert support team is available to solve issues quickly, minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency. We’re here to keep your operations running smoothly and your users happy.

On-site / Consulting support

On-site and Consulting Support offers hands-on assistance to address complex technical challenges directly at your location. Our experts work closely with your team to analyze, recommend, and implement tailored solutions that align with your business needs. Whether you need system upgrades, network design, or troubleshooting, our on-site support ensures your technology runs optimally and efficiently.

Vendor Management

Vendor Management services help you streamline relationships with third-party providers, ensuring that your business receives the best value and service. We handle everything from selecting and negotiating with vendors to monitoring performance and managing contracts. Our goal is to optimize vendor partnerships, reduce risks, and ensure seamless integration with your operations, so you can focus on what matters most—your business.

Cloud Solutions

Cloud Solutions empower your business with flexible, scalable, and secure computing resources. From cloud storage and data management to custom applications and infrastructure, we provide tailored solutions that help streamline operations, enhance collaboration, and reduce costs. Transitioning to the cloud with us means increased efficiency and future-proofing your business in a fast-evolving digital world.

Technology Consulting

Technology Consulting helps businesses harness the power of technology to drive growth, improve efficiency, and stay competitive. Our expert consultants work closely with you to assess your needs, recommend innovative solutions, and guide the implementation of tech strategies that align with your goals. Whether optimizing existing systems or exploring new technologies, we provide the insights and support you need to succeed in the digital age.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Data SecurityAs Halloween nears, we thought a ghost story would be a good idea. But, this isn’t about Casper or ghosts in the traditional sense at all. This is a new kind of haunting, one that can linger long after death if not exorcised properly. But, before you run off to the nearest Holy Water supply, let me explain just what a digital ghost is, how they impact data security, and how to prevent them from haunting you.

First, let’s set the stage for our haunting. Take a minute to consider all the online accounts you have: email, social media, credit card, online shopping, online utility, and any other kind. Now consider what is stored in each of these accounts: your name, address, phone, email address, credit card info, order history, personal info, and every other kind of data organizations collect. How many logins and passwords do you have? Probably more than you can count. But, what happens when you shuffle loose of your mortal coil? What happens to all of your information?  BOO! Enter the digital ghost.

A digital ghost is the digital presence left behind when someone passes away. It’s the digital footprint that exists after we cease to and it can be a nightmare for the people we leave behind. It can lead to legal issues, identity theft and data security breaches. So how do you prevent your digital ghost from haunting your successors? An article from Avvo tells us more:

There is an easy way to save those left behind from digging through desk drawers and notepads to retrieve logins and passwords: full disclosure of user names and passwords in your estate documents or, at the very least, a list of all digital accounts, from tax documents to online banking, streaming video and music services to photo sites, computer passwords to email accounts – and, the permission to access them.
Andrew Nitkewicz, a partner with Cullen and Dykman, offers a reason for including digital account information in the estate planning documents. “Most of us do not precisely know every single social media account, web-based service provider account, online shopping account, email account, application, or other digital account held by our closest friends and relatives. Even if we did, accessing those accounts without having each of the decedent’s ever-changing passwords can be near impossible. An estate representative may have to serve the companies with a subpoena simply to gain access to the account, verify the debt, and close the account. This can be very costly.”
“Closing or removing accounts can help prevent identity theft, protect against unauthorized access into financial and non-financial accounts, and prevent assets from going to unclaimed funds, which can create administrative difficulties many years down the road,” says Sarah Rebosa, a partner with the New York firm Cullen and Dykman.
Digital ghosts can wreak havoc on a person’s estate long after they have died. “If pending litigation continues after death, social media can provide an offensive tool against the decedent. If a will contest occurs, surviving family members can gain valuable insight that they would otherwise not have access to, and which could ultimately fuel objections to the decedent’s estate plan,” says Rebosa.
“Identity theft is a major issue in the digital world. Sadly, this obstacle does not necessarily get easier to hurdle upon death. Estates often become targets for criminals stealing identities,” says Nitkewicz. “By using public records such as newspaper articles and obituaries, the identity of the decedent – as well as other personal information which is helpful in gaining access to digital accounts – is used to open digital accounts, access existing accounts, obtain credit cards, and incur other debt on behalf of the unwitting estate representative.”
Pretty scary, right? We think so too. We give lots of advice about storing passwords and restricting access to your accounts for the sake of data security. But this is one instance where sharing your info with your estate planner is encouraged. Your data is valuable in life and death, and you should protect it as such. At Great Lakes Computer, keeping your data secure is important to us.
Learn more about our Data Security Product Suite

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