Infrastructure is a big topic these days. The recently passed $1.2 trillion “Build Back Better” legislation aims to improve physical infrastructure across the country. The bill also includes $65 billion in funding to expand broadband capabilities, especially for underserved or rural communities.  

As the nation gets ready to update and revitalize everything from highways, rail lines, and bridges, it’s also essential to improve and secure digital infrastructure in every business, small and large. Companies must do this to run efficiently and secure their data and proprietary information, especially if that data directly impacts local, state, and even federal government agencies. That’s why every business must focus on improving and securing their digital infrastructure a top priority.   

Recently, President Biden declared this past November as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience month to elevate awareness around this critical topic.   

Based on recent recommendations from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), here are things to consider when enhancing and securing an organization’s digital infrastructure.  

Shared Responsibility and Risk 

As the saying goes, “no man is an island.” That saying could now also be updated to say, “no system is an island.” Unless a business’ digital infrastructure is completely isolated for a valid reason, it’s very likely it’s connected to and works with various other digital systems, cloud-based, or similar, for the daily business to run smoothly.   

This “system of systems” is very much dependent on each other. A disruption or attack or one system could directly impact your business within a week or even within minutes. Cyber-attacks or ransomware threats launched in one part of the world can quickly make an impact everywhere, significantly if it affects specific software or technology used by thousands or even millions of customers.   

As organizations share the risk if one infrastructure is compromised, each organization must also share in the responsibility of ensuring their own company’s systems are up-to-date and secure. If an organization thinks that the government or another entity will do the work for them, think again. The reality is that no one government agency or private corporation has all the information on hand to manage systemic risk or prevent most online threats that exist today. 

That’s why each organization must commit to enhancing and securing their digital infrastructure, not just for their own benefit but also for everyone.  

Secure Public Gatherings Connected to Technology 

More than ever, public spaces and buildings are connected to digital infrastructure. While cyber-attacks and ransomware threats may directly impact data and propriety online information, they also could impact computer security systems and other equipment (HVAC, water, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, etc.) needed to safeguard and protect people while they are inside a building – including sports arenas, places of worship, and stores, to name a few.   

While disruption of these digital systems during a public gathering might seem like something only possible in a movie or television drama, terrorists and other extremists are becoming more sophisticated in planning out these kinds of attacks.   

That’s why the phrase “soft targets” just doesn’t apply to a building’s physical structure or layout anymore. While a building or businesses’ owner or administrator may already have a security or evacuation plan in place, it is also imperative that they have a digital security plan in place, just in case any of their digital systems are either attacked or experience a malfunction that could result in any duress to the public.   

Make Security and Resilience a Daily Priority  

Many small businesses may feel that only large corporations have to deal with cyber-attacks and ransomware threats. But cyber intrusions from outside agents are becoming more prevalent for small businesses every day. Even if your company is not directly attacked, not frequently maintaining or enhancing your digital infrastructure can leave your business vulnerable to either an attack or a disruption to your operating environment.   

When deciding to upgrade or build an entirely new digital infrastructure, ensure that resilience is part of your overall strategy, including its design. A digital system that cannot withstand a potential cyber-attack or even remain relevant several years into the future is not worth the initial effort and expense. After the system is complete, be sure to incorporate regular “stress tests” and other checkpoints to ensure that everything is working properly.  

In addition, companies must keep their internal digital infrastructure up to date and be aware of any changes to outside digital providers or managed service providers (MSPs) and regularly advocate for enhanced cybersecurity practices from them. Working with a dedicated IT consultant can be a great solution if a business owner feels that they lack the staff or time to manage and keep up to date with this.  

How Misinformation Weakens Infrastructure  

Just as it’s crucial to secure digital infrastructure and practice vigilance when it comes to daily online operations, it’s also important to monitor and address misinformation from an operational standpoint. This misinformation could appear anywhere, verbally or written within an organization, on social media where someone may post something utterly false about your organization, or online in what appear to be creditable sources.   

If your organization or business oversees sensitive materials, physical or digital, it’s vital to monitor misinformation in any form that might allow outside agents to disrupt your operation potentially. Ensure that the management team and daily staff are aware of best practices when dealing with any misinformation, especially if it is accessible to the public. This includes spam and phishing attempts through email or even text messages anyone on your team might receive. Frequent training of the internal IT or tech security team on best practices is also a good way to counter this growing problem. 

Today’s digital infrastructures impact all of daily lives. Organizations must be proactive, stay current, and accept the responsibility of maintaining and enhancing their internal systems that frequently interact with outside systems and service providers. Doing this will ensure a stable and secure digital network and marketplace for everyone. 

Does your organization need guidance or additional support to improve your organization’s digital infrastructure? Reach out to J5 Consulting and get connected with our team of IT experts.

The supply chain, which exists to provide goods and products from manufacturers to consumers, has continued to experience multiple delays and issues since the pandemic started last year. These issues stemmed from a halt in manufacturing early last year, which have triggered shortages as consumers ramp up purchases this year at a record pace.

In one capacity or another, all organizations depend upon the supply chain. They either rely on it for supplies to keep their business going and provide products and services for their customers. This presents a quandary for all industries since these issues will likely continue to exist even as the pandemic’s impact hopefully begins to fade at the start of next year. Businesses can help mitigate supply chain challenges by updating current technology and strengthening organizational resiliency – not only to help solve short-term problems but provide long-term solutions to help prevent or reduce future disruptions.

Threat Modeling:

Disruption of a business’s supply chain can come from anywhere. Some of that is due to natural forces, like bad weather and disasters, for example. Sometimes the interruptions can come from specific data networks that are now under extreme stress or increased demand. Other times it can come directly from hackers and cyber attackers looking to harm a business or a specific industry. This is especially true if an organization is a government contractor that manufactures sensitive equipment for the military or another federal agency. If the attacker knows where critical supplies are sourced, say from another company, they could even target that separate company as well. 

Threat modeling is a necessary action to take in minimizing these potential disruptions. A threat modeling expert can conduct a thorough audit of the varying levels of threats an organization may face and suggest appropriate actions and preventative measures.

Update Legacy Systems:

The world is changing, but many companies still rely on older, legacy systems to handle the complex data necessary to make their businesses work. While that might save money in the short term, the long-term costs could be even more significant, especially if the older system can’t keep up with changes in the marketplace and does not equip users with the right tools to analyze data and make informed decisions. There is also no guarantee that a legacy system’s creator or developer will continue to support the existing system, as the developer may move on to newer or even wholly different system offerings. 

That’s why replacing a legacy system with either a cloud-based version or even an AI (artificial intelligence) based system is a more strategic approach. It helps to future proof against potential legacy system issues or cancellations. It allows teams to have the newest tools available to review data, share insights within the organization, and ultimately determine the best way to use the data. An experienced tech consultant can review a company’s current system and help determine the best solution among the myriad of new options available today.

Organizational Improvement:

While technology is key to helping drive positive change, that technology is only as good as the people who work with it. Organizations should now take a hard look at their personnel and management and how they respond to delays and unexpected roadblocks. Is the staff up-to-date on the necessary technology and software that they need to perform at their best? Is management able to communicate effectively, especially during a crisis? Does organizational alignment need to be reviewed and adjusted to respond to today’s ever-changing global marketplace?

Making sure that the internal house is in order is a great way to respond to any outside situation and best answer your customer needs. This may include adding or updating technology, reorganizing workflows, and learning how to automate more daily tasks to improve efficiency.

Enhance Data Accuracy and Speed:

Processing customers’ data, especially for any commercial transaction, is key to making sure products are delivered on time. Establishing a series of time-sensitive yet accurate protocols is paramount for e-commerce, internet banking, and email communication to be successful.

Start by ensuring organizational infrastructure for handling customer data is secure and up-to-date. This includes any necessary encryption, digital certificates, and/or other security measures needed for customer data. Your organization will also want to ensure that any outside suppliers or vendors they work with keep their own customer data systems up to date and compatible to prevent any unforeseen delays in deliverables.

Cost-Effective Operations and Maintenance:

One big issue many companies face when dealing with the supply chain is not having immediate access to needed resources. If a company relies on one vendor for a specific product or a service, and they are out of stock or even out of business, alternative sources must be found. This is true even for technology companies who rely on specialized IT services or support to keep their operations moving forward. 

Finding the right solutions at the right price is critical, especially when an organization needs to secure new vendors to meet sensitive deadlines. An experienced consultant who focuses on operations and maintenance for IT services can suggest effective solutions that ultimately meet project goals and satisfies customers’ expectations.

Disruptions to the global supply chain will likely be an issue for some time. While organizations can’t solve all the underlying problems, they certainly can focus on what they can improve and enhance internally to minimize current pain points or prepare for future delays while simultaneously ensuring project goals and customer deliverables are all met on time. 

Interested in learning how your organization can put some of these strategies into practice? Reach out to J5 Consulting and get connected with our team of IT experts.

Not that long ago, teleworking was considered an as-needed option for organizations to address specific projects or individual needs. Then, in the blink of an eye, the pandemic forced many organizations to adopt telework procedures—for 100% of their staff in some cases.  

Companies pivoted quickly to provide technology and additional resources, especially for sensitive company data and files, to adapt to the situation. Due to the sudden shift, many of these same companies, across all industries and sizes, are still essentially developing and refining their telework policies, in effect “making it up as they go along.” This makes it even easier for hackers and others to launch ransomware attacks and phishing schemes that can cause significant issues across the organization. 

Executives, IT teams, and general staff must be aware of telework best practices to ensure that an organization’s data is secure to prevent disruptions to everyday workflow. Everyone in your organization should view cyber or online activities as a business risk. What would be considered a catastrophic cyber event? What would be the most damaging data breach to the organization and your partners? What is the level of risk your organization is willing to take? What steps are the company and everyone working there taking to ensure that data and files are secure? Also, how can your company create long-term resiliency to minimize future cybersecurity risks?  

Based on The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) telework essentials toolkit, here are security guidelines and action steps that everyone in your organization should take right now.

Executives

Review and Update Current Organizational Policies and Procedures 

• It’s essential to review current telework procedures, especially if your organization has pivoted to a fully remote workforce. Clearly communicate any new workflows, processes, policies, expectations, or security requirements to your workforce. This also includes any transitions to new equipment, network providers, or additional technology upgrades.

Implement Cybersecurity Training Requirements 

• For your organization, every employee should be aware of, and then demonstrate, basic knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and required actions should a security breach occur. Determine if your IT department needs to provide additional training or guidance to employees as needed, especially for sensitive projects that require access to remote data or important files.  

Determine Risks for Moving Organization Assets from Corporate to Home 

• When employees work from home, it’s crucial to know how vital organizational assets are accessed, especially when employees use personal devices at home (phones, personal computers, printers, etc.). It’s important to establish clear procedures when employees use organizational equipment (computers/phones/etc.) at home and that such equipment is securely configured to either the home internet provider or an outside internet service provider.  

Creating a Secure Hybrid Culture 

• A hybrid workforce that includes employees who telework year-round, staff in the office year-round, and those in-office and telework requires a clear strategy. Regularly train staff on proper cyber hygiene when it comes to maintaining cyber security standards, being aware of phishing attempts, use of external USB drives and other removable media, along with other protocols to ensure year-round compliance. 

IT Professionals

Ensure patching and vulnerability management are up to date 

• IT teams should ensure that hardware and software inventories and supplies are up to date to keep with new advances in patch and vulnerability management. Also, enable automatic software updates or suitable solutions so that workforce equipment is using the latest version available. 

Invest in enterprise cybersecurity controls 

• Focus on investing in enterprise cybersecurity controls to securely connect all employees with the organization’s network and assets. The first step is to evaluate and review the current security architecture and ensure it provides proper protection and visibility into all remote sites and endpoints, including employees who may use public Wi-Fi. In some IT environments, zero trust architecture may be preferred to a virtual private network (VPN) due to the lack of perimeter defense in cloud and distributed systems. 

Enforce multi-factor authentication 

• Multi-factor authorization (MFA) is a must when it comes to organizational systems and services. Some of your workforce may feel that the extra time and effort is not worth it, but MFA is a much-needed added layer of security, especially if employees use weak passwords to access their equipment or data. Develop contingency plans if MFA is not a feasible or available option for your organization, including mandating strong passwords and changing them frequently. 

Maintain a list of organizationally approved products 

• Create, maintain, and update an approved list of organization products. This includes third-party collaboration tools and teleconferencing applications. Provide frequent guidance on the use of these tools. 

Perform frequent backups 

• Frequent backups performed regularly are crucial in protecting data and sensitive information and are an essential defense in minimizing potential cybersecurity attacks. Be sure to store necessary data backups offline and offsite. 

Implement a domain-based message authentication 

• A Domain-Based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) validation system will serve as a solid countermeasure for any phishing attacks or compromised business email systems, especially in a remote environment. DMARC essentially serves to validate who is sending an email, specifically in the sender’s “From” field, the business name, and the domain. This prevents “spoofing” when a hacker attempts to send a fake email from an organization that looks legitimate.

Teleworkers

Ensure the home network is properly configured and hardened 

• Make sure teleworkers are connecting their equipment to a home network that is securely configured and, if possible, hardwired and not relying on wireless. Be sure staff use strong, complex passwords and change them often. Ensure any home wireless router is configured to use WPA2 or WPA3 wireless encryption. Ensure the home network name does not reveal any physical locations (address, apartment numbers, etc.) and that it does not reveal the router manufacturer or model. 

Follow secure practices and organizational policies 

• When handling sensitive data at home, ensure that teleworkers are following proper procedures. That includes avoiding storing sensitive organizational information on personal devices, including personally identifiable information, classified materials, sensitive client information. On personal devices, make sure the latest patch and security updates are added. Secure home devices with additional options, including password authentication and approved anti-virus software.  

Use caution when opening emails and links and attachments 

• All staff should use extra vigilance when opening email attachments or clicking links in messages from people or organizations that they are unfamiliar with as these may be phishing attacks. Report any such activity to the IT team.  

Communicate suspicious activities 

• Advise staff on the procedures for reporting any suspicious activities that they may encounter to the IT team or other appropriate members in your organization. Any delay in reporting could lead to other staff, not being aware of the situation to inadvertently exposing the organization to the wider threat. 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is in October of each year. But cybersecurity should be a year-long priority for every organization. By implementing these best practices, your organization will make cybersecurity a year-long priority. For additional resources or assistance in creating a cyber secure organization, reach out to J5 Consulting today and let us help meet your mission needs. 

J5 Consulting is pleased to announce that we recently earned ISO 9001:2015 Certification. Over the past several months, the voluntary certification process allowed us to review and improve our company’s quality management system. This enhanced system ensures that our company is more efficient and that we are constantly striving to improve the overall customer experience of our products and services. 

Through certification, we sought to improve our internal processes, ensure that we always address our customer’s current needs, and better anticipate emerging challenges and developments that could impact the industry. 

ISO Certification makes J5 Consulting stand out as a leading IT and software consulting company throughout the world. 

J5 Consulting’s ISO Certification Process 

ISO Certification is always conducted and granted by an independent and certified third-party accreditation body. This process ensures that the overall review and certification are authentic and free from any bias or opinion. ISO standards are reviewed every five years to determine if any updates or revisions are required. 

At the start, J5 Consulting underwent an evaluation process that included quality management system development, a management system documentation review and audit, a review of our existing processes, and an initial assessment that concluded that no non-conformances were identified. 

Based on guidance during our accreditation process, we created a specific paradigm to ensure that J5: 

• Offers products and services on a consistent basis that meets customers’ needs. 
• Meets or exceeds statutory and regulatory requirements. 
• Works constantly to enhance customer satisfaction. 
• Addresses risks and opportunities for our customers and their specific projects. 
• Demonstrates conformity for specific quality management system requirements. 

How ISO Certification Benefits Our Customers 

Customers today face a variety of IT challenges and also must be prepared for emerging trends and future threats that could impact their business. 

The ever-changing and evolving threat of cyber attacks on a company’s infrastructure and equipment requires solutions that can adapt and respond in real-time to prevent disruptions, theft, and loss of productivity. Customers also seek to protect their vital assets and sensitive data, including personally identifying information, to ensure continuity of their operations.  

ISO Certification ensures that J5 has optimized procedures to meet our customers’ exact needs when facing these issues. This is found in every phase of the solutions we provide, from development to execution. With this certification, our customers can trust that J5 Consulting will utilize best practices and stringent quality assurance in every aspect of our services.  As a result, we consistently offer software that meets world-class standards so our customers can be assured of a lower risk for product delays, defects, or lack of satisfaction. 

Our enhanced quality process also extends throughout the wide range of services that we offer. That includes providing engineering and technology services, cloud-based solutions, system architecture design, staff training, and more. 

As every customer and project is different, ISO Certification ensures that the process for successful development and implementation of the necessary solution adapts to the specific needs of the customer while at the same time adhering to our company’s fundamental standards.

The Blueprint: Quality Management Principles 

The foundation of a solid quality management system is grounded on seven key principles. When followed and implemented on a consistent basis, these principles lead to enhanced value for our customers and their mission needs.

• Customer Focus – Simply put, it means meeting and exceeding customer needs throughout the entire process for both current and future projects.  
• Leadership – Ensuring that leadership throughout our company is focused and unified in meeting customer goals. 
• Engagement of People – Making sure that every member of our organization is engaged, eager, and empowered to achieve their best each day. 
• Process Approach – Understanding how internal processes and the people that managed them work together. This leads to more satisfying and consistent results. 
• Improvement – Always being ready to see what needs to be improved, especially when reacting to changes in the external environment as it relates to our customers. 
• Evidence-Based Decisions – Ensuring that decisions are made based on data and/or quantifiable reasoning to achieve goals. 
• Relationship Manager – Making sure that all relationships, internal and external to the company, are effective and managed properly to ensure successful outcomes.

Quality management system ISO 9001:2015 Certification benefits our organization in many ways. Our newly enhanced system guides us daily on our processes, our workflows, and our teams and how they interact together to improve our company, our products, and the overall customer experience. We continuously challenge ourselves to improve. 

Solutions for IT Challenges – Now and in the Future

Today’s companies have a wide variety of choices when deciding upon an IT consulting firm. Knowing that J5 Consulting is ISO Certified inspires confidence that our products and services meet international standards and that J5 Consulting will aim to achieve excellence each day.  

J5 Consulting is committed to the success of every organization we serve. Whether you seek to enhance your current IT infrastructure or want to stay ahead of emerging cybersecurity trends and threats, we are always ready to help you reach your mission needs.