VMit

We're Cyber Essentials Plus certified!

Ever heard of the phrase, Put your money where your mouth is?
Today we achieved Cyber Essentials Plus status, showing that not only do we meet a stringent set of security requirements, but that we can prove to an independent auditor we meet those requirements. Can your IT company do that?

Today, Ben received his Apprenticeship results, and earned a well deserved pass after completing in just 14 months, some 10 months ahead of schedule.
He will be continuing on at VMit as a full time employee
Well done!

Check our latest blog post on being Proactive vs Reactive
https://www.vmit.co.uk/general-news/being-proactive-vs-reactive/

On the 14th March 2023, Microsoft issued a urgent announcement that a critical vulnerability had been discovered in Outlook on Windows devices. The same day they had also released an update for Office 365, which was encouraged to be installed as soon as possible.
For more information, read the following article issued by the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre: https://www.ecrcentre.co.uk/post/threat-alert-microsoft-mitigates-outlook-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability

For all of our managed customers we immediately ensured all machines had been updated to the latest version, and made contact with those that needed the update to be run manually.

Do you look into your network cabinet, and close the door straight away in despair?
Look at this before and after shot for one of our clients. How has it been done?
- Moved to cloud hosted VoIP phone system ✔️
- Installed cloud hosted managed PoE switch ✔️
- Physically removed all old equipment ✔️
- Replaced cabling with shorter patch cables ✔️
- Labelled key equipment ✔️
- Installed power distribution bar ✔️
- Moved equipment down to be within arms reach ✔️
And out of shot:
- Documented connections to ease future troubleshooting ✔️
- Removed power injector for VoIP handset ✔️
- Installed Uninterruptible Power Supply ✔️

IT is always on a journey, so as other network equipment come up for renewal we will return to this client and maintain their cabinet.
Give your network cabinet a spring (or autumn) clean - why not give us a call today to see how we can help?

VMit closure

VMit will be closed on Monday 19th September 2022, the day of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral.

If you expect to need support on this day, please contact us on 01603 867 103 as soon as possible so we can make prior arrangements.

Microsoft update their Microsoft 365 licencing

Our latest newsletter is out, including crucial information on Microsoft New Commerce Experience which radically changes their licencing model. Unless you are already licenced under the new NCE model, you need to take action now.

It also includes an update on the latest Apple security vulnerability.

For more information, please contact us on 01603 867 103 or refer to https://mailchi.mp/e817cd737fad/vmit-newsletter-20171992

VMit Summer News

Just published our latest newsletter including all the essential cybersecurity software and procedures we think small business cannot ignore.

Also, a belated welcome to Ben Waite.

Please have a look at

http://ow.ly/1Er150K4ftY

Do you have Omricon?

Have you ever wondered why people go through all this trouble to send you smishing texts and cannot even get their mate to double check the spelling?

Well, I guess we should be thankful for that. So, keep your eyes peeled, typos are still be best marker of phishing or smishing.

Company description

VMit Ltd is a specialist IT company providing high end support to business customers with an emphasis on cybersecurity.

We are a growing company offering a great opportunity for advancement. Professional development as well as staff well-being are our core values and we will train you so you can leave but treat you so you don't want to.

Job description

Job Purpose:

To provide first level onsite and remote IT technical liaison, support and network assistance to our customers, with responsibility for the full lifecycle of incidents and problems. The position will require close working with both colleagues and clients to enable the highest quality of IT Technical Support and Engineering.

Principle Accountabilities and Tasks:

Manage and record all incoming requests for support.
Analyse, replicate and resolve or escalate the request for assistance.
Perform desktop builds, installations, images for new client systems.
Maintain the integrity and accuracy of Client system documentation (including customer resources spreadsheets, physical and logical mapping of customer environment)
Carry out scheduled day to day maintenance, e.g. Back-ups
Installing, supporting and maintaining IT hardware and software
Installing, supporting and maintaining Terminal Server Systems
Install new software releases, system upgrades, evaluate and install patches and resolve software related problems.
Analysing and resolving faults, from a major system crash to lost password
Managing e-mail, anti-spam and virus protection
Provide first class Technical Support for Desktop, Server and Mobile devices and applications.
Setting up user accounts, permissions and passwords
Monitor client’s network, server and system performance remotely
Suggesting and providing IT solutions to business & management problems
Undertake routine preventative work and maintain network security
Provide training & technical support for clients of varying levels of IT knowledge, skills and competence
Implementing IT projects
Liaise with third part suppliers, for warranty issues, parts supply etc.
Undertake occasional physical network installations
Completion of additional duties as assigned by management
Selling, upselling and recommending products to customers. Ensuring that we meet the highest level of ethical selling as well as supporting the business through residual income.
Taking phone calls

Nature and Scope:

The 1st Line IT Support Technician is a specific job role within the Business. The role provides an important service in engaging and building rapport with customers/clients to identify and resolve IT problems.

The job holder will be expected to undertake a wide scope of roles and responsibilities within the business. A key aspect of this role requires the job holder to work under agreed procedures and methods, utilising computer software available.

The nature of the 1st Line IT Support Technician work also requires a high level of attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise and plan workload efficiently and effectively to meet the needs of the customer/client.

Qualifications, skills and experience required for this role:

Ability to use initiative
Comfortable to work alone, on your own initiative, as well as the ability to work with and support the team.
Methodical approach to work and good attention to detail
Dependability, responsibility and integrity.
Experienced or knowledge of requirements of a B2B IT Technician.
An acceptable DBS (CRB) Check to Enhanced Level.
Must be able to demonstrate experience and understanding of first, second and third tier levels of support.
Knowledge, experience and understanding of Terminal Server, Exchange, SQL, Microsoft Server 2016, 2019 & 2022, Windows 10 and 11 Networking as well as Microsoft Office 365.
Experience of providing both onsite and remote support, with demonstrable experience of upgrade, daily & preventative maintenance.
Knowledge and experience of Active Directory, Wireless Networking, Security, Routers, Firewalls and Managed Switches.
Full UK Driving Licence.
Outstanding customer service skills (both face-to-face and on the phone), as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Good standard of General Education

Other relevant information

A full, current driving licence is required.
You will require your own car as well as business insurance due to office location and customer requirements
This is a full time, permanent position with ongoing Training and Development to ensure you reach your full potential.
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 09:00 till 17:00 with 30 mins lunch break

NordPass, sister product of the NordVPN/NordLayer product we sell here at VMit, has just released their list of the Top 200 Common passwords across the World.
Do you commit any of the password crimes they have identified?
https://nordpass.com/most-common-passwords-list

Top 200 Most Common Password List 2021 Many people use the same weak passwords year after year. Check our 2021 list of top 200 most common passwords used around the world.

2FA can be bypassed

Just have a quick look at this brilliant under 1min video from Wizer Training which will show you why you should use an authentication app for your 2FA (2-Factor Authentication) rather than a text to your mobile. Could not explain it better. Please share.

https://www.wizer-training.com/

Free Security Awareness Training, Phishing Simulation and Gamification 1-minute viral videos that your team will LOVE to watch! It’s Security Awareness like it should have always been.

Microsoft dumps Chromebooks

In recent years, Chromebooks have appealed to budget conscious users who wanted to use the internet without breaking the bank buying a fully fledged Windows laptop.

From 2017, this was boosted with the advent of Microsoft Office 365 Apps for Chromebooks.

However, Microsoft announced they were retiring Office 365 apps on Chromebooks due a lack of functionality (or maybe Chromebooks becoming too good an alternative? 😈)

To find out what this means for you, have a look at our latest blog http://ow.ly/JfoC50GMnZt)

Microsoft dumps Google – VMit Ltd Like any relationship there are going to be ups and downs. Microsoft and Google, giants of the computing world, are no different. Background Microsoft launched Office 365 in June 2011, which also happens to be the exact month Google released their Chrome OS. Acer and Samsung were the first manufactu...

Norfolk B2B exhibition

Great event yesterday albeit a bit squeezed down to a small table despite plenty of space.

No signs of Covid so far despite dropping the mask after seeing we were the only ones to wear them. Fingers crossed 🤧

Also ran a quick IP scan on the available wifi and could see more than 100 hundred IP addresses or computer names on there. Hope you were all using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) 😁.

Norfolk B2B, less than a week to go

Last year's event was missed so we are even more looking forward to next week.

Don't hesitate to come and see us to find out what a specialised business IT support company looks like and also to get your cybersecurity basics right.

Please let us know if you if are attending as well and we'll make sure we find you out.

Important news update:
Due to the ongoing and ever changing situation with fuel supplies, to ensure our staff (and their families) are not using their fuel unnecessarily we have relocated to working from home and temporarily closed the office.
Customers should not notice any difference in support (and if an on-site visit has been arranged/needs to be arranged this will also not be affected), however please be patient and bear with any background noise you may experience when calling us.
As always, if you have any concerns or queries please call us on 01603 867 103

Windows 11 - is it time to change?

Check our latest blog to find out our verdict and what it's all about.

https://www.vmit.co.uk/general-news/windows-11-is-it-time-to-change/

We would also be delighted to hear from you so let's get the debate started. What do you think?

How many variations of the same set of passwords have you got? Can you remember them all?

As the separation between work and home life has become more blurred, we continue to see the number of hacking attempts increase.
Unfortunately it only takes one of these attempts to be successful to cause damage to your business and potentially your reputation.
The simpler the password, the easier it is to guess and the easier the target you become. With accounts over multiple websites, we can easily fall into the trap of using basic passwords that are at risk of compromising our entire online presence

We recommend, and have used for many years ourself, the software Dashlane. This creates and saves complex passwords, and autofills them too, removing the need for messy sticky notes and improving your security at the same time. For businesses Dashlane also provides a sharing option, including read only and hidden - great for sharing passwords between other users for common applications.

Find out more information on Dashlane, click on the link below or call us today on 01603 867103
https://www.dashlane.com/

Have you ever wondered what's inside your computer? Wires and cables and electrical wizardry is the response we normally get.
But the answer is also, dust. Depending on your environment, potentially quite a lot of it too.

Why is it a problem though? Dust in computers can prevent airflow circulation, which can lead to computers overheating or slowing down. In extreme cases crashing can also occur. Fine dust particles can also cause connection issues.

Thankfully there are easy ways to keep the dust at bay:
- Hoover those floors! No need to go mad, but keeping the dust out of the carpet will help
- Run a dry cloth over the outside of the desktop once a month to remove loose dust. Alternative, use the fluffy nozzle on your hoover
- Avoid smoking or va**ng near your computer - this makes the dust stickier!
- If you are in a harsh environment (sawmills, skipyards, those with pet hair), consider specific computer cases with dust filters

As part of our service to customers, whenever we perform healthchecks or maintenance in our office we clean out the inside of computers*. For customers with multiple computers, we also visit and clean these together.

* Please note, we can only perform external clean for laptops

The writing is on the wall

Well literally. Password security 101 during an onsite visit this week 😱.

And not any password, THE admin password.

It’s Cartoon Friday

I remember seeing this cartoon a long time ago and had been looking for it ever since. This is the essence of a cartoon, explain in one picture what would take a thousand words.

In this case the fact it is easy to think that the solution to cybersecurity is technological only. So, please make sure that ongoing training is part of your cybersecurity strategy.

Good basic cybersecurity advice we endorse! (included in a solicitor’s communication)

It's cumulative update week (yaaaayyyyyyy!)

More seriously, Microsoft cumulative updates are updates that bundle multiple updates, both new and previously released.
They always require a restart and that is not a problem for individual workstations but can get a bit more complicated when it comes to servers.

Indeed all our servers (and I mean including our customers' servers) are encrypted with BitLocker and as an overnight restart is required, there is always the possibility that, despite suspending encryption for a single restart, a server cannot fully restart because it requires manual entering of the encryption password.

Which is why, on the day after we release the latest cumulative update, we check all our servers manually at 06:30 AM to make sure that none of our customers come into the office to find a locked server then have to contact us and wait for the server to reload. We know there is nothing more frustrating than coming in bright and early for work to make a head start and have to wait for 15 mins for your server to kick off.

Phishing Thursday.

We should go to Specsavers.

What has it got to do with phishing I hear you say?

Well... Phishing emails often use hyperlinks as bait. The aim of the game for the attacker is to make the fake link look as credible as possible. One common strategy is "Typosquatting" using slightly different spelling (amozon.com anyone?). However, those are less and less effective due to anti-phishing software picking up the "typos" and to the increased cybersecurity awareness of users.

So here come Malformed URL Prefix attacks

For instance, the link prefix will look something like http:/\ instead of https://.

Why is it particularly effective?

Because the trick is still largely new and unknown to users, even cybersecurity aware ones
the slashes are largely superfluous so browsers and anti-malware scanners ignore them.

So, keep your eyes peeled. And if necessary, go to Specsavers (or Vision Express for that matter) 😀

New OneDrive warning in MSO 365 when renaming a file

In February, Microsoft introduced this new warning which will appear each time you delete a file in OneDrive or in Sharepoint. This will nag you until you select the "don't show this reminder again"

Although we will come back to this in a future blog, we just wanted to highlight that a number of our customers have called us for re-assurance as they were getting this same message when renaming a file.

After extensive testing, it seems that on some (not all) occasions, rather than simply renaming the file, OneDrive deletes the file with the old name and creates a brand new one with the new name.

So, nothing to worry about and should there be any problem, you can still check/recover your old file in the OneDrive recycling bin.