Tech Updates

Ransomware

A ransomware alert has been issued by both U.S. and Canada on March 31st 2016 in a rare join cyber alert warning about the recent surge in ransomware attacks. Infections can be devastating to an organization and recovery can be a difficult process that can be both costly and very time consuming. Ransomware is where data is encrypted by cyberthieves who then demand payment for its decryption. The result is that if you don’t have back-ups, you have to either pay or end up losing your encrypted files forever; this has resulted in many organizations paying up. This new method of theft is not going to be going away anytime soon. And why should it? It’s very lucrative way to extort money for cybercriminals.

Ways to further protect your organization are:

  • Back-up your data and keep a copy offsite.
  • Keep your OS and applications patched and up to date.
  • Maintain up-to-date anti-virus software, and scan all software downloaded prior to installation.
  • Use application whitelisting to help prevent malicious software and unapproved programs from running.
  • Restrict user permissions for installing and running unwanted software applications.
  • Avoid enabling macros from email attachments.
  • Don’t click on links in unsolicited email. And take care on clicking on links that appear to come from someone you know. An example of this was at Mattel where cyber thieves convinced employees it was a message from their CEO this attack cost Mattel $3,000,000.00.

More information from CBS News click here

Contact your account executive at CTComp for a customized security solution.

Citrix XenDesktop

XenDesktop delivers full Windows virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) as well as virtual apps to fulfil any of your needs.This will allow employees to access their apps, desktops and data without the limitations of a traditional solution. When XenDesktop is running on the unified FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA) platform is the only solution that is FIPS compliant and Common Criteria certified in order to meet the highest security standards of regulated industries. XenDesktop will provide end users with a simple virtual desktop interface, and IT will appreciate the superior performance of HDX technology, even on high latency networks.

Contact CTComp for an analysis of your company and how XenDesktop can help you.

Authentication as a Service (AaaS)

Cloud-based services are becoming the norm moving forward. At the same time users access the organization’s data and applications from a multitude of different devices from different locations, all of which increase security risks. AaaS enables organizations an easy to manage strong authentication onto multiple access points.

SafeNet is able to deliver fully-automated, highly secure strong authentication with flexible token options that can be tailored specifically to your organization, in order to reduce the total cost of operation. No infrastructure is required and SafeNet Authentication Service enable a quick migration to a multi-tier and multi-tenant cloud environment that protects everything, from cloud based and on premise applications to networks users and devices.

Find more information @ SafeNet.

Cisco Meraki MR 42

CTComp has now begun to implement the Cisco Meraki MR 42 Dual-band 802.11ac wireless access point (WAP) that has been designed for offices, schools, hospitals, shops and hotels. The MR42 provides a maximum 1.9 Gbps aggregate dual-band frame rate with concurrent 802.11ac. Cisco has combined cloud management with high performance hardware, multiple radios, and advanced software in order to provide relative future proofing. The MR 42 is virtually 100% automated so that after it has been setup it will handle the rest. This system will allow you to schedule updates will happen in order to minimize downtime and also ensure that your Wireless system remain up to date with the latest security and drivers to keep your system performing at its peak.

Find more information @ Cisco Meraki and contact CTComp.

Microsoft Official Virtual Classes

Now you can build Microsoft technical expertise while balancing the demands of your schedule. IT Professionals who need to build technical skills can’t always break away from the office to be in a classroom. They want high-quality training alternatives that are time-efficient and cost-effective. Introducing Microsoft Official Courses On-Demand (MOC On-Demand)—complete courses offered in a self-paced format, streamed directly to our customers.

Each class can be purchased for the very low price of $549.00 without Digital Microsoft Official Courseware (DMOC), $649.00 with DMOC, or $799.00 with DMOC and Microsoft Exam Voucher.

Current classes being offered:

  • Introduction to Web Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
  • Administering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Automating Administration with Windows PowerShell
  • Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
  • Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013
  • Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
  • Administering Windows Server 2012
  • Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
  • Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
  • Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012
  • Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
  • Programming in C#
  • Installing and Configuring Windows 10

For more information, see Microsoft On-Demand or contact Ryan Carbone for a trial version.

Customer Solutions

CTComp is now delivering hardware based encryption at rest for Windows Servers and VMWare Hosts using HPE Secure Encryption. We have just finished a projected where we were able to provide this solution in a very short period of time as it works with any HP Gen 8 or new server with the installation of a Smart Array controller-based encryption solution. With HPE Encryption we were able to provide an enterprise-class encryption solution for all of their data at rest on any bulk storage attached to the supported HPE Smart Array controller. Since our customer was already running Gen8 servers the transition was virtually pain free and was completed in a very short period of time. In addition we can provide the customer with storage for their encryption keys and array passwords as well at our secure facility. Before doing so however we recommend that the customer should consult their security and audit policies prior to releasing passwords to third parties. The customer was very happy with the efficiency and quality of the service.

Contact Us to discuss a tailored encryption solution.

CTComp has recently completed a project that is now saving our client millions of dollars in rental cost at a large expensive corporate data center. They were able to migrate over 30TB of data including over 150 VMs from this expensive corporate data center to their own HP Gen 9 servers for cost of 8 months of rent at the datacenter. Our customer now will have a solution that will work for at least 5 years post project completion.

Contact Us to discuss a tailored storage solution for your business.

Seminars & Events

New England Home Care & Hostpice Converence and Trade Show

The region’s premier home health conference will take place May 16- 18, 2016 at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, CT!. Registration and Brochure can be found here.

The Credit Union League of Connecticut on April 18th, 2016 & April 19th, 2016 from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort. Register here.

The League is pleased to continue offering annual meeting registration at no additional cost to affiliated credit unions; however, due to the increased per person cost for this year’s multi-day event, a fee of $99 per day will be charged to participants who register for the event and do not attend. Cancellations made on or before April 5 will not be subject to this fee.

All credit unions who book one or more rooms at Mohegan Sun will be entered into a drawing to win one of three free training webinars from CU Webinar Network.

Reserve Your Room Today:
Online: resweb.passkey.com/go/CULC16
Phone: 1-866-708-1340 (Group Code: CULC16)
Rate: $159 plus tax

Keynote Speaker: Brad Szollose
Brad Szollose is a global business adviser, former C-Level Executive of a public company, Web pioneer, Generation Y Millennial expert and keynote speaker who helps smart companies — like Dell and Master Card — understand how much technology has transformed corporate culture and behavior…especially the behavior of Generation Y, and how that impacts management, interaction and expectations in today’s Information Age.

The registration and hotel deadline is Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Registration forms will be mailed soon and the Official Call will be mailed out on March 7. See you at the Annual Meeting! Together, there are no limits to what we can accomplish.

QUARTERLY GIVEAWAY

Thank you for taking the time to read about what’s going on with CTComp.

Please click here to register to win our quarterly giveaway!

This quarter the prize is a ScreenBeam Pro.

The winner of our Q1 Giveaway was Rafael Avila of Whitney Center.