February 2023 Technology Briefing

Old Hardware?!?

Everybody it’s 2023 are you really still working with old outdated technology?? OK maybe your computers don’t look like the image above BUT …. Many of companies are still working off of really old and outdated hardware AND software!!! Why?? Why why why!! There is absolutely no need today when KRS offers brand new hardware right in there flat rate affordable monthly plans!!

Technology moves and changes fast. Every 3 years is a great time frame to change out your old hardware. Guess what!! Our agreements are also 36 months?? Coincidence?? Not really!! Let 2023 be the year you finally say goodbye to outdated hardware and get in touch with us to learn more about our HAAS plans!! Email Sales@KRSIT.com and lets get rocking for 2023!!

February 2023

This monthly publication provided courtesy of Josiv Krstinovski

Give Your Business The Protection It Needs

With Cyber Insurance

Being at risk for cyber-attacks is a growing concern among smallbusiness owners. Cybercriminals often target small businesses because they hold sensitive information and have weaker security infrastructures than larger businesses. For this reason and more, it should be no surprise that 88% of small-business owners feel vulnerable to a cyber-attack, according to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To give your business an extra layer of protection, though, you can get cyber insurance coverage.

Cyber insurance, often called cyber liability insurance, covers the damage your business suffers if you’re the victim of a cyber-attack or data breach. Here are a few areas where having cyber insurance can help.

Ransomware Attacks

and CEO of KRS IT Consulting.

“I don’t care if it costs me more money I am going to make sure that every single client of ours has the absolute best security and solutions in place. If I am not doing that then I am not doing my job. Plain and simple.”

To protect your business and your customers, you must implement strong cyber security practices in your business. You need to run your employees through annual cyber security training so they know the newest cyberthreats and how to avoid putting the company at risk. You should also utilize a firewall, back up your data on all computers, secure your WiFi networks and ensure your entire team understands the importance of strong passwords.

Imagine that a cybercriminal gains access to sensitive information, such as your employees’ Social Security numbers or your customers’ credit card numbers. You know the release of this information could cause irreparable harm to your business, and you’re willing to pay whatever it costs to prevent this from happening. This is the goal of ransomware attacks. Hackers threaten to publish sensitive information or lock you out of vital programs if you don’t pay them. Cyber insurance will help you pay the ransom.

Customer Outreach

If sensitive customer information gets stolen from your business, you have a legal obligation to inform your customers. The average cost of notifying customers of a breach and other post-breach responses is $1.72 million, according to the Ponemon Institute Cost of Data Breach Study. That’s a cost most small businesses cannot afford, but cyber insurance will help cover it.

Data Recovery

If your business becomes the victim of a data breach, you’re going to want to get that information back. Your policy can protect you and your employees from identity theft, as your insurance provider may pay for identity recovery services. These are invaluable services, since data and identity recovery can take years to handle on your own.

Cyber insurance can also help cover the costs of customer and employee lawsuits after a data breach, lost income due to network outages and even regulatory fines. Most cyber insurance policies come with exclusions to which you need to pay attention. Your policy will probably not cover attacks that happened before your coverage started, future profits affected by a data breach or the loss of valuation after a cyber-attack.

But how do you get cyber insurance for your company? You have to meet certain qualifications to get a policy, due to the rise in cyber-attacks and cyber security awareness. Every cyber insurance provider will look at the strength of your network security before considering your business for coverage. If your network is weak and at a high risk of being targeted, they are not going to take a chance on you.

If your business is within an industry that requires cyber security compliance, make sure you’re compliant. If you’re not, cyber insurance providers won’t even give your business a second thought before rejecting your application for coverage. This shouldn’t be an issue, as most businesses stay compliant, but double-check your requirements to ensure all your bases are covered.

If you’re considering cyber insurance but are worried about the cost, you can do a few things to make it more affordable. Cyber insurance providers like to provide coverage to businesses that are proactive with cyber security practices. Implementing an incident response plan will show providers your business has procedures in place to handle emergencies if they arise. Researching all third parties you work with and showing they have strong cyber security practices will also benefit you.

Cyber insurance can be an incredibly beneficial cyber security element to add to your business. As new cyber-attacks and threats continue to develop, it’s essential to get all of the protection you possibly can.

Earn The Easiest $25 Amazon Gift Card Ever!!! If You Are Happy With Us, Please Let The World Know!!!

Google reviews are VERY important for any growing company. With legit reviews we are able to organically come up in the search engine when companies are searching for a real IT partner. We understand your time is incredibly valuable so we want to incentivize our cliental!! If you can take a few quick minutes to leave us a 5 Star review (if you think we’ve earned that) We will mail out the same week a $25 Amazon Gift Card!! That Simple : )

“Cyber insurance providers like to provide coverage to businesses that are proactive with cyber security practices.”

Ransomware in 2023

I had a disturbing conversation just the other day over lunch with another business owner. In regular conversation he jokingly and causally said “is ransomware even still a thing?” I had literally just finished reading a story on CBS about the School system in Nantucket that had to dismiss students early because they just were hacked with a Ransomware attack.

Everyone needs to realize that just like any industry out there things progress and move forward. Unfortunately this also means cyber criminals in 2023 are also getting smarter and more sophisticated and better prepared with their techniques and software they use to rob your businesses.

A common misconception from business owners is protecting or worrying about their hardware. Your hardware is important but it is secondary compared to the real important piece of any business, your data! If you do not have a proper backup system in place and lose or get your data stolen most businesses are out of business and closed within the next 6 months. Do not take risks like these. Call today to inquire about our backups and cyber security training programs. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE ATTACKED. ACT NOW! Call or email us to set up a discovery call and inquire about our Cyber Security Plans. They are complete plans and VERY affordable. Get in touch today and get that peace of mind so many clients rave about!!

Close Any Deal With This 3-Step Approach

It’s one thing to help a client identify a problem, but it’s another to help them solve it. You’ll need to convince clients to accept your expertise to solve their problems. Many intelligent people struggle with closing deals, so I devised the following three strategies to help anyone become a better closer.

Summarize The UnderlyingNeed

I once went into the office of a greatly admired billionaire CEO with a colleague. He had been asked to come strategize for 90 minutes on how to identify and solve the CEO’s top leadership problems. The CEO talked about scary changes in his industry while laying out his heart about his team and their strategies. When he stopped talking, my colleague was presented with the perfect opportunity to summarize the client’s underlying need. Instead, he directly asked the CEO what he thought the next steps should be. The CEO was unamused and said, “Well, I don’t know. I was hoping you might tell me.”

My colleague should have taken a moment before responding to analyze the emotion behind what was just told to him. Once the client realizes you understand their situation, they’re more likely to listen to your plan of action.

Say What You Plan To Do

Smart people worry about putting themselves out there by offering a plan. They fear that another smart person is

going to disagree with them. They worry about proposing a plan that doesn’t work. That’s why many advisors stay “safely vague” rather than offer a specific plan. But being vague doesn’t help leaders solve their biggest problems. You must have the courage to propose a plan. The key is to be as specific as possible. Break down your ideas and lay them all out. If the client has concerns about any areas, you can address them, but they’ll be happy to see the wheels are turning in your mind as you come up with solutions to their problems.

Ask If They Want Your Help

So many smart people get a gag reflex when it comes time to ask for the sale. They think selling is evil. They don’t view themselves as salespeople. And besides, if a client realizes how great a consultant is, they will ask for the sale themselves, won’t they? But business doesn’t happen that way. The client wants to know you want to help. It’s theirinsecurity that often holds the client back from closing themselves. That’s why you have to do it. And don’t view it as selling – view it as an offering of help. Don’t you think it’s nice to offer to help somebody accomplish something important to them?

Keep Your Customers Happy By Avoiding These 3 Selling Strategies

You’ve probably been on the receiving end of some poor sales strategies without even realizing it. For example, a salesperson said something that rubbed you the wrong way, sending you out through their doors and into the arms of a competitor. While it might have been a frustrating experience for you then, it’s much worse if you or your sales team use these tactics in your business.

You want your customers to enjoy working with you, so you and your sales team must utilize strong sales strategies. Here are three selling tactics you want to avoid at all costs.

Not Addressing The Customer’s Primary Problem: Customers rarely walk into a place of business on a whim anymore. They usually have a very specific problem they need help

to solve. Fully listen to their concerns and provide a solution to their problem. Do not push your products or services down the customer’s throat if they have nothing to do with their dilemma.

Overpromising And Underdelivering:

Some salespeople think the key to boosting sales numbers is to promise their customers the world, even if what they’re promising is impossible. If you fail to deliver on your promise, you’re essentially lying to your customers, which destroys their trust in your business.

Arguing With Customers: You may know your product or service better than your customers, but that doesn’t mean you should combat them if they have concerns or unrealistic expectations. Stay silent and ask questions about what they need. The second you start arguing with them, you’ve lost the sale.

How To Make A Positive Experience For Unhappy Customers

When a customer is upset with your business or team, you may think there’s no way to sway their opinion. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You have the power to please and change the views of unhappy customers. By utilizing the following strategies, you’ll know how to handle displeased customers and maybe even turn them into lifelong clients.

Listen To Them. Your customer’s complaint likely has nothing to do with you personally, but how you respond to them can make or break their lifetime value. Be empathetic and listen to what they say.

Be A Creative Problem-Solver. After you hear the concerns or complaints from your clients, ask yourself if their problem is solvable. In most cases, it is, but it will require some brainstorming. Think outside of the box and deliver exceptional service, and you’ll gain a customer for life.

Work Efficiently To Solve The

Problem. When you get a complaint from a customer, don’t sit on it. They want an immediate solution or response, so take a minute to think and come up with a solution that works for everyone.