As we begin the third quarter of 2020, cybercriminals are continuing to adapt and increase their COVID-19 related attacks. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) are being targeted through a variety of malicious tactics. According to FBI Deputy Assistant Director, Tonya Ugoretz, the number of cybercrime reports has quadrupled in the months since the pandemic began. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was previously fielding 1,000 complaints a day. They are now receiving between 3,000-4,000, with the majority of complaints related to COVID-19 (Source: The Hill.)

If your organization has Microsoft 365 (Office, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Windows 10) you have access to a full array of powerful and flexible apps. These great productivity boosters enable employees to work from anywhere with their app of their choice to match their preferred working style. The challenge is how do businesses identify which Microsoft 365 app to use and the appropriate situation for each.

Company Joins Small Rank of New England Firms to Hold Designation 

PORTLAND, Maine — June 3, 2020 — Systems Engineering, a leading IT strategy and managed services provider serving clients across New England, announced today it is enhancing its services with Microsoft Premier Support for Partners agreement advancing the company's position as an elite Microsoft partner.

PORTLAND, Maine — May 19, 2020 — Systems Engineering announced today that, for the second year in a row, it has received a Best Wellness Employer Gold certification. This 2020 award was presented by Wellness Workdays, a leading provider of corporate wellness programs that developed the program with experts from Harvard Medical School to advance the field of worksite wellness. The data and research driven program recognizes the significant achievements of employers that are dedicated to improving employee health and well-being in innovative and meaningful ways.

As we all can feel, there are many pressures on families and individuals these days. This is especially true for military members returning to civilian life. Service to their country is coming to an end, and a new set of challenges is set to begin. One former Air Force veteran, Dave Hickey of West Gardiner, ME, lived through those challenges. The personal pressures he experienced upon returning home inspired a noble decision. Dave determined he would help make that transition a bit easier for other returning veterans.  

Most businesses have some form of a wireless network (WiFi) in place, but is it really necessary to set up a separate guest wireless access? There are a few good reasons why this is an important step to take. We know having WiFi is imperative for employees who move throughout the office, but it also makes sense to offer wireless access to your guests, customers, vendors, and auditors. It's a cybersecurity best practice to set up a guest wireless network that is segregated from the corporate network, and here's why.

The prevalence of video conferencing is changing the way we conduct business. As we adapt to this new meeting practice, cybercriminals are adapting as well. The recent surge in use of cloud-based video conferencing technologies creates opportunities for cybercriminals to reengineer their phishing tactics.