Storing files in the cloud is common nowadays, making things convenient for business owners who want to manage their data on the go. But the number of ways to do this can be daunting, especially to the uninitiated. Don’t get lost in the sea of options. This handy guide will tell you whether SharePoint or OneDrive is right for you. Both SharePoint and OneDrive help business owners manage and share data. But selecting the best platform can be difficult and give anyone a big headache. For instant relief, here’s a quick reference to help you choose wisely. Office 365 comes with different storage and sharing options to make business owners more productive. Two of these are OneDrive and SharePoint, both of which have a long list of features and benefits. Which option is best for you? Keep reading for the answer. Looking for a secure platform to manage your files? Where do you go for help? Should you choose SharePoint or settle for OneDrive instead? If any of those terms sound Greek to you, don’t worry. You don’t need a degree in computer science to figure it out. This article will give you the lowdown on what to expect from these services. Both SharePoint and OneDrive are cloud-based services from Microsoft that allow you to store, share, and sync files across different devices. SharePoint was released in 2001 and reportedly has over 190 million users. OneDrive, on the other hand, was launched in 2007 and has more than 250 million users. SharePoint is marketed mainly as a document management and storage system, but it can be configured to do much more than that. OneDrive, which was previously known as SkyDrive and Windows Live Folders, is part of the Office suite of online services. What the two have in common For starters, both platforms make use of Office 365 to help companies organize information and share this with others. To keep things secure, documents go to a cloud drive, so employees can easily track changes in a single file that is stored in one central location. One of the main reasons these platforms are so popular is because users can add comments and notes using real-time collaboration. Since data can be synchronized and is readily available, everyone sees the most up-to-date information regardless of how they view the document. With OneDrive, it’s personal OneDrive makes use of a SharePoint backdrop to work. This connects the two programs. The difference is that OneDrive is made for an individual, and the user remains in control even if the file is shared to different people. This means multiple teams can collaborate simultaneously as long as the original owner shares the document via a secure link. That person determines who can edit and view the file. There’s more to SharePoint With SharePoint, employees throughout the company can view and edit the stored file. Changes are tracked and higher-ups will know who is working on the document. This is ideal for human resource surveys or updates that need the attention of other team members. With SharePoint and OneDrive, businesses can improve the way they work. If you want to learn how online document sharing programs can improve your company’s visibility and productivity, get in touch with Multi IT now on 011 435 0450. We’re here for you.

80 percent of hacking related breaches leveraged either stolen passwords or weak, guessable passwords. The thing is, about 76 percent of people use the same or a similar password for most, if not all, websites. Which means if an employee has their personal life hacked, your organization could be compromised in a matter of minutes. Because ransomware is so common, that’s what businesses expect now. Yes, ransomware is easier monetization for the hacker. But it’s not the only risk. There are all sorts of malware strains and attack types that skim credit card details, health information, social security numbers and financial data – all that they can sell on the dark web. We know of a company that lost $800,000 because one of their vendors got hacked and didn’t know it. The attacker watched email traffic for a couple of months, observed and copied how they requested money and changed the financial transaction information to an offshore account. This is just one example of how creative and unexpected these attacks can be. How malware is detected It takes an organization an average of 191 days to identify a data breach. Malware used to be so obvious. Things would break, computers would slow down dramatically and disk drives would spin loudly, whirring into action even though you were just playing a game of Solitaire. It was clear something was running that wasn’t supposed to be. Things changed. Hackers today realise that getting detected works against them, so they are all about stealth mode. That’s why it takes an average of months to detect anything. The symptoms we all came to expect aren’t there anymore. It often isn’t until unauthorised transactions start taking place or someone receives notifications that their accounts are logged into that they realise something is wrong. By that point it’s too late to do damage control. If you’ve been hit with ransomware or malware Once you’ve been breached, it can bring any organization (corporate, small tax firms, nonprofits, cities, you name it) to their knees. Extensive data breaches or ransomware almost always go public and cause exposure of intellectual property, financial records, client files and other information. Any data exposure can be very costly. Your company can’t operate until things are remediated, and your reputation will take a hit. If you’ve been hit successfully at any point, you stand a higher likelihood of becoming a target again. Not to mention that there could be trace malware on your systems that you have not yet detected. The safest thing to do is to wipe and restore your backup files then change all accounts and passwords. Yes, all of them. Next, start taking immediate steps to heighten your security: Use complex passwords and make sure nobody is using the same passwords across multiple accounts Add local disk encryption to prevent access to files Use encryption in email to avoid stealth attackers and man-in-the-middle attacks Enable multifactor authentication – this reduces data breaches significantly Ensure regular systems patching; new vulnerabilities are discovered regularly and those patches close those holes Have a user cybersecurity awareness training session. This should be done annually, but if you’ve experienced a breach, a remedial session is in order. Leverage solutions that monitor outbound traffic (as well as inbound) to detect unusual behavior. Treat requests for money suspiciously and verify unusual requests by picking up the phone and calling a trusted phone number for the party requesting funds. Monitor the dark web to stay in front of information that is out on the dark web that could damage your business. Multi IT has helped many clients recover from ransomware, malware and other data breaches. If you think you’ve been breached, don’t wait – contact us online or call us on 011 435 0450.

Amidst the current climate of malware, hacks, and phishing scams, the internet really isn't safe for any company that doesn't take precautions. Without safeguards, browsers that you or your employees use are vulnerable to cyber attacks that may cripple productivity and profit. There are wise steps that every company should take to browse the net safely. Data stored on desktops, servers and in the cloud, doesn’t make it safe. If anything, it makes it available to anyone who has the desire and capabilities to hack into your system and cause mayhem for your business operations. One thing you should be doing to protect your data – and your company – is to make use of privacy-protecting browser extensions. Depending on the nature of your business, both you and your employees are likely to be online at least some, if not all, of the working day. What are some of the browser extensions that can make the experience more secure? Prevent browser tracking If you don’t like the idea of a third party (reputable or otherwise) being able to track your browsing habits, try installing a tool for private browsing. These programs offer protection against tracking by blocking third-party cookies as well as malware. Some extensions also boast secure Wi-Fi and bandwidth optimization and can guard against tracking and data collection from social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook or Google+. Blocking adverts While online ads may seem harmless, the truth is they can contain scripts and widgets that send your data back to a third party. A decent ad blocking program will block banner, rollover and pop-up ads, and also prevent you from inadvertently visiting a site that may contain malware. Many blockers contain additional features such as the ability to disable cookies and scripts used by third-parties on a site, the option to block specific items, and even options to ‘clean up’ Facebook, and hide YouTube comments. The major blockers work with Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox and you’ll be able to find everything from user-friendly solutions to more advanced tools that are customizable down to the tiniest degree. Consider installing a VPN Unfortunately, browser tracking, malware, and adware are not the only internet nasties that you need to be concerned about. but the good news is that there a number of other extensions that you can download to really get a grip on your online safety. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is something else to consider. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, effectively shutting out anyone who may be trying to see what you’re doing. Commonly used in countries where the internet is heavily censored by the powers that be, a VPN allows for private browsing as well as enabling users to access blocked sites – in China’s case that’s anything from blogs criticizing the government to Facebook and Instagram. There are hundreds of VPNs on the market so do a little research and find one that suits you best. Finally, it goes without saying that having anti-virus and anti-malware software installed on your PC, tablet, and even your smartphone is crucial if you want to ensure your online safety. Is browsing at your workplace secure? Would you like a more comprehensive security system for your business? We can tell you all about it and help your business protect itself from online threats. Get in touch with Multi IT on 011 435 0450 today.