Numerous states have placed a formal ban on the use of the popular social media platform TikTok, leaving users to question its safety surrounding data and asset privacy.Today, Jason, Steve, and Matt discuss the restrictions, current threat model, and perceived threats in hopes of easing some concerns. The team encourages being proactive and protecting your data before worrying about platforms accessing it.

Last month, the Vancord team attended the NorthEast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP) Conference, which annually brings together individuals in IT and higher education. From ransomware concerns to heightening security awareness and meeting compliance deadlines, many productive conversations took place.Tune in as Jason and Steve sit down with Krystal Racine, Account Executive at Vancord, to playback a few interview clips from NERCOMP of attendees' cybersecurity experiences.

A data breach has occurred in your organization– what now?Who do I legally have to notify? What types of data require notification? There are many influencing factors in state data breach laws that organizations must consider regarding discloser requirements.Today on Cybersound, Jason, Steve, and Matt are joined by Vancord’s Data Privacy Consultant, Rob McWilliams, to discuss the overall message: If you are equipped to respond properly to incidents, you should seek guidance to meet your regulatory obligations.

As cyber threats increase, so does the importance of keeping your critical infrastructure systems secure. Inventorying your operational technology (OT), being aware of the risk, and implementing cybersecurity best practices are ways to maintain and assess these devices.Today, Jason, Matt, and Steve address these fundamental issues and guide you on where your organization needs to be when protecting your infrastructure.

The Connecticut Data Privacy Act (or “CTDPA”) is going into effect on July 1, 2023, making Connecticut the fifth state to pass a comprehensive data privacy law that protects consumers. How will this new law impact your organization, and are there any obligations you should know?On today’s episode of CyberSound, Jason, and Steve talk with Rob McWilliams, Data Privacy Consultant at Vancord, to educate listeners on what this law means. Read more on the CTDPA here.

Over the past few years, supply chain issues have significantly impacted the IT industry. From extensive lead times to unfulfillable hardware needs, it is more important than ever to understand the risk, ensure you have a supply chain strategy in place and plan early and often.Tune in as Jason Pufahl, and Matt Fusaro sit down with Daniel Kaupp, Vice President of Professional Services, to discuss how Vancord has overcome some of these issues and provide recommendations for organizations to get around these kinks.Read more in Dan’s article here.

Microsoft is continuously developing its stack of security capabilities and staying innovative in the cloud space.Today, the team at Vancord is proud to announce a proactive approach they have adopted, utilizing Microsoft Azure Cloud to better manage clients' data. Vantage Protect is a suite of services provided by Vancord's expert engineers that maximizes the performance and reliability of security systems in an automated fashion.Learn more about Vantage Protect today.

OpenAI's ChatGPT is an emerging phenomenon in the cybersecurity space. However, as Artificial Intelligence technology advances, so does the potential for misuse. From generating phishing emails to disrupting the academic environment for youth, ChatGPT can have different impacts, and it is critical to practice appropriate usage.Today, the team at CyberSound share their thoughts with listeners on the emergence of this AI software, as well as read a script generated by ChatGPT itself.

The ever-changing cyber world poses risks for children. It is critical to ensure they are using technology appropriately. As a parent, how do I address these concerns with my child, and are there any preventative measures I can take?As a Part 2 in our Growing Up Online series, Jason, Steve, and Matt are joined today by the VP of Client Success at Vancord, Lou Ardolino, to discuss how they’ve learned to provide ethical guidance to their children in behaving appropriately online.

With the emerging cybersecurity threat landscape, it’s increasingly important to have a Security Operations Center (SOC) that can recognize and respond to attacks in an efficient manner. Understanding what attackers are thinking and how they plan to use malware ensures that as these new threats emerge, a defense against them is also being built.On this episode of CyberSound, Jason and Matt sit down with the Vice President of Threat Hunting and Counterintelligence at Binary Defense, Randy Pargman, to break down how his company prepares their SOC analysts for threat hunting.

Managing and funding the operations of internet infrastructure in schools can be a difficult task. The Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, better known as E-Rate, exists to help make it easier for these entities to get the equipment and services they need at an affordable price.Today, Jason is joined by the CEO of E-Rate First, Joseph Pillo, and Owen Black from Vancord to reveal the E-Rate process and the benefits of applying for this program.

As we near the end of 2022, the team at Vancord looks back on their security predictions, shares optimism about the future of the cybersecurity and information technology industries, and encourages you to focus on the fundamentals for the upcoming year.Today, Jason, Steve, and Matt are joined by the President & CEO of Vancord, Michael Grande, as they dive into hot trends they've witnessed in 2022. Tune in for a recap on 5G, issues with Twitter, the evolving financial landscape, and the increased usage of smart home devices.

In recent years, purchasing methods of consumers have drastically changed. Relative to the security space, the introduction of Electronic Wallets (eWallets) and the need for convenience and safety has become crucial.Today, the team at Vancord discusses this topic of eWallets, mention their recommendations for use, and addresses a few of the security concerns you should consider. The team believes this up-and-coming feature will be the new reality over the coming years.

On October 11, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration released a Fact Sheet revealing the increased efforts of the White House to improve the Nation’s cyber defenses. But how exactly are they promising to lead Americans toward a more cyber-safe future?Today, Jason, Steve, and Matt divulge a few key ideas that may benefit our listeners, such as developing a new label, building up the cyber workforce, and security relative to quantum computing. Read the official document here.

Password protection management is a fundamental practice you and your organization should utilize to keep your credentials safe.There are many password managers available, but today, Jason, Steve, and Matt dive into their preferred software, LastPass, to speak on the marriage of security and convenience this tool provides. The team stresses how incidents can prove the value of password vaults and reassures any concerns about using these platforms.

It’s no secret that full-size candy bars are sought after and tracked down on Halloween night.In this fun, holiday-esque episode, Jason, Steve, and Matt introduce an easy-to-follow scenario to walk you through the different stages of a cyberattack and guide your understanding of the Cyber Kill Chain.Keep yourself safe from cyberattacks this Halloween season.

Information security is an intellectually stimulating and somewhat challenging industry, but at the heart of it is the collectivity of the environment. When there is an emerging or urgent situation, there is a need to come together and solve the problem.Tune in as Jason, Steve, and Matt share their thoughts and appreciation for working in a field with such a great sense of community and share with listeners that security does not exist without a community effort.

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Each year, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announces a theme for October; this years it's "See Yourself in Cyber".As we head into the month, the team at Vancord puts a twist on the theme with an informative and thought-provoking conversation on the direction they see cybersecurity heading. The overarching message is simple: cybersecurity should be at the forefront of your organization. Learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month here.

Zero trust is an important security framework that ensures users, assets, and resources are protected from all angles. The rise of remote work has made this even more prevalent. It’s the responsibility of organizations to employ a variety of these measures in a workplace and build stronger operational systems.Join us today on CyberSound for an informative episode with the team on what zero trust is and building a strategy to fit it into your plan.

Understanding the behavior of attackers can increase reactivity, improve your overall security stance, and give you a leg up in detecting malicious activity.On today’s episode of CyberSound, Jason, Steve, and Matt discuss common indicators of an incident in hopes of improving your defense tactics and recommend technologies that may be useful for you to deploy.