Vision Net CEO Discusses the Future of Cybersecurity and Tech with KRTV

Our CEO Rob Worden recently sat down with KRTV to discuss the future of telecommunications and cybersecurity. This insightful interview provides a window into how Vision Net aims to enable businesses to thrive through transformative tech.

Watch the full interview below with Rob Worden to learn more about how Vision Net can help your enterprise safeguard critical systems, leverage technology, and reach new heights.

You can read the full interview here: KRTV NEWS

Top 3 Cybersecurity Nightmares

For the past 30 years, the internet has gradually become ingrained into every aspect of our lives. We do everything online now, from shopping to paying bills and working remotely. Thanks to lightweight laptops, tablets, and smartphones, we can work from anywhere anytime.

Our high-speed connected lives keep us productive and engaged; however, being connected to the digital world 24/7 leaves your business vulnerable to cyber security threats that can cost money, time, and reputation. With employees increasingly working remotely, never has there been a more crucial time for businesses to learn about the threats that Vision Net can help protect against.

Learn about the top 3 cybersecurity threats, and how Vision Net will prevent these threats from disrupting your business.

  1. Security breach and loss of data

A security breach means a loss of time, revenue, and damage to a business's reputation. Businesses own sensitive data that, in the wrong hands, compromises the entire organization. Vision Net’s world-class Network Operating Center proactively monitors our client’s networks 24/7 to prevent security breaches from happening in the first place. But if a breach happens, it is important that your data is not lost or otherwise compromised. In the event of a disaster, whether man-made or natural, your first line of defense is Vision Net’s managed network to ensure your data is securely backed up offsite.

2. Ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks

Cyber attacks come in the form of malicious attacks cybercriminals use to block you from accessing your data, controlling your data, and monetizing your data. After the initial attack, ransomware may attempt to spread throughout your network to shared drives, servers, attached computers, and other accessible systems. Ransomware is a potential nightmare for unprepared businesses, but Vision Net’s proactive monitoring and security services can help keep your data safe.

3. Password manager hacking

More and more businesses require employees to use password managers as part of their security protocol. Randomly generated alpha-numeric passwords are safer than passwords we choose, but they’re not immune to hacking if your network is not secured. Combining a trusted password manager with a robust and secure network will make your business a hardened target that can deter hackers. Vision Net provides a complete suite of protection for your business.

Secure your business with Vision Net’s managed solutions that provide our award-winning expertise to your business and give your employees the knowledge to combat cyber apathy. We can provide information regarding cyber threats and provide insights on implementing best practices to better secure your business. It’s better to be safe than sorry; always be vigilant about your business’ security!

Though we usually hear about high-profile cyber-attacks on large corporations, cyber-criminals target even small-medium-sized businesses because your information is just as valuable and often, easier to access and sell. Businesses are unknowingly leaving themselves vulnerable to an attack, simply because they make cybersecurity mistakes that are easily exploited. Vision Net provides a complete security suite to help ensure your business thrives despite a cyber attacker’s malicious intent.

Your Business' Lines of Defense

It’s not your imagination, ransomware attacks are on the increase. In fact, in 2020, ransomware attacks increased 150% with the amount paid increasing more than 300%. Throughout 2021, ransomware attacks have garnered media attention after hackers targeted pipelines, meat suppliers, and education facilities across the country. Businesses need to remain vigilant against ransomware and cyberattacks 24 by 7, whereas a cybercriminal only has to be successful once. As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, learn about the resources that protect your business, your clients, and your business’ reputation from a cyberattack.

Hackers have become more sophisticated and to stay ahead of the next wave of attacks, businesses need to employ tools that will protect their network and their data. Antivirus software is a good start, but since cybercriminals have begun deploying a double-extortion technique wherein they gain access to a business’ network and then hold the data ransom, businesses need to go beyond standard antivirus software with a comprehensive and proactive solution. Vision Secure keeps your business ahead of ransomware attacks by providing you with a secure, fiber-backed network and offers secure and frequent backups in the event of a cyberattack.

The scary reality for businesses is that not only are cyberattacks increasing, but the money paid out is increasing. In some rare cases, such as the recent Colonial Access Pipeline hack, most of the money was recovered, but sensitive data was still exposed, and the company’s reputation suffered.

Protect your business’ assets and reputation by learning about the tools available to you. Each business’ needs are unique, and you need a technology solution that suits your needs.

Endpoint Security | One of the first lines of defense is securing the devices, or endpoints, your business uses. It’s easy to plug a thumb drive into a computer; but is that thumb drive safe? Has that thumb drive had malware installed? Inform your employees on the risks endpoints present, and how to prevent a malicious attack from them.

NOC | Vision Net’s Network Operating Center provides full network support for your business with our proactive monitoring, outage troubleshooting, dispatch services, escalation support, and performance assessments. Our team is prepared day or night to ensure your business remains secure.

RMM | Vision Net’s Remote Monitoring and Management service keeps machines up to date, one of the best defenses against most ransomware. Our managed firewall service is a great way to keep machines and services from being exposed to the internet that should not be as exposed. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services are a main vector for ransomware, along with phishing and using stolen credentials.

Disaster Recovery | Vision Net’s Managed Services can help your business develop a Disaster Recovery plan that includes stress testing your plan by conducting frequent audits and reviews. Using the information obtained during this process, Vision Net will outline recommendations to help you retrieve your data and mitigate the impact of a disaster; natural or man-made. Businesses experiencing rapid growth and change will find this service especially valuable. Risks change as businesses change requiring a recovery plan that can accommodate more variables and unknowns. Do not leave recovery to chance, plan ahead! Vision Net services keeps businesses prepared for the worst. Whether there is a dramatic natural disaster or data breach, a business’ survival hinges on its ability to resume normal operations as quickly as possible.

One silver lining to the increased cyber and ransomware attacks is that the attention paid to the risks cyberattacks present is helping and encouraging business owners and leaders understand why a robust security solution is in their best interest, regardless of size. Vision Net provides a comprehensive security package for your business, whether you have one employee or 1,000 or more. We are focused on the detection of known and unknown threats to reduce your risk of falling victim to an increasing range and scale of attacks.

World Backup Day celebrates your business' data security

World Backup Day is designed to highlight the importance of businesses developing a comprehensive security solution. If you’ve ever misplaced your phone, you understand the panic of lost pictures, data, contacts, and more. Imagine that same scenario scaled up to your business.

Client data and revenue could be lost, and your business’ reputation would suffer. This World Backup Day, take the pledge, and learn strategies to keep your business ahead of cyber attacks, disasters, and data loss.

Document Backup and Restoration Processes | Vision Net will help your business develop procedures to develop backup protocols before disaster strikes and develop a plan for data recovery. Vision Net can help you implement a stronger security strategy.

Vision Net’s Managed Services can help your business plan ahead and proactively prevent threats, data loss, and cyber breaches. Our complete security suite will ensure your business is in the best possible security position so you can focus on your business. We’re here to help!

Businesses are moving to the Cloud: learn why

Has your business been affected by a cyberattack? If so, you understand the time and money required to recover, to say nothing of the hit to your reputation, your client’s well-being, and the future of your business. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, business owners want to protect their businesses; shifting to a modern data platform is the most cost-effective and secure way to accomplish this.

Cloud has become the primary location for businesses storage; security, data modernization, and cost are among the top reasons businesses are migrating their data to the cloud. Vision Net makes it easy to manage your data, protect your network, and keep your business running. Cloud computing offers several benefits to your business.

Flexibility | Cloud is ideal for businesses with growing or fluctuating bandwidth demands. If your needs increase, Vision Net makes it easy to scale your capacity and if you need to scale down, that flexibility is available. Your businesses will see a real advantage over your competitors.

Low-Cost Disaster Recovery | Your business should invest in robust disaster recovery, and Vision Net’s Cloud solutions can help your business prevent data loss and help you recover vital data in the event of a natural or other disaster.

Software Update | The innovation of cloud computing is that the servers are off premises, out of sight, and out of your hair. Vision Net takes care of your servers, along with software updates so you don’t have to worry about wasting time maintaining your on-site server, giving you time to focus on your business.

Capital-Expenditure Free | Cloud computing cuts out the high cost of hardware. You pay for what you need, ensuring your cash flow goes toward your business. Along with the ease of setup and management, it’s easier than ever to take the first step to cloud adoption.

Increased Collaboration | When your employees can access, edit, and share documents anytime, from anywhere, they can to do more and do it better. Cloud-based workflow combined with our Work Anywhere Suite help your employees stay engaged, make updates in real time, and fully collaborate across offices and locations.

Once your business migrates to the Cloud, your files are centrally stored with employees having access to files. If you still use on-site storage, it could be time to learn about Vision Net’s streamlined network management methods; we’re happy to answer any questions and design your business’ 21st Century technology solution.

Enterprise Cloud delivers superior technology and business solutions

Enterprise cloud is a computing model where businesses can access virtualized IT resources from a public or private cloud services provider including servers, processing power, data storage, virtualization capabilities, and networking infrastructure. Vision Net’s Enterprise cloud computing creates new opportunities for your business to reduce costs while enhancing business resiliency, flexibility, and network security. Our Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure provides our clients with superior service and availability. Our geo-diverse centers leverage our investment into efficient operation and enhanced service offerings for our clients. We use the power of Cisco UCS fabric interconnect and security systems, EMC storage, triple redundant network connectivity by multiple vendors, and triple redundant power/environmental systems. For over 15 years, Vision Net has invested in the technology and infrastructure to bring Enterprise cloud technology to the region’s businesses and communities because we recognize the benefits Enterprise cloud offers. 1. Cost savings | Vision Net can build custom deployments to fit any budget. Leveraging our infrastructure allows for your business to scale quickly and efficiently while not having to make large capital expenditures for on-premise hardware, translating to faster speed to market and a more cost effective and robust server environment. 2. Security | businesses of all sizes can become a target for cybercriminals intent on stealing or exposing your data. Costly and time-consuming to repair, data breaches can negatively impact your reputation and customer relationships. With Enterprise cloud, your business can access security tools like system-wide identity/access management and cloud security monitoring, along with implementing network-wide identity and access controls. 3. Disaster Recovery/Business Resiliency | Without a solid Disaster Recovery solution, business resiliency is at risk in the face of a service outage, natural disaster, or cyberattack. Lost revenue, degradation of client trust, and loss of business. Vision Net’s world-class disaster recovery suite offers a solution that is powerful, affordable, and fully managed. We provide non-disruptive recovery testing, reliable back-up data storage, and we manage the disaster declaration and failover process. 4. Flexibility & Innovation | Vision Net’s innovative Enterprise cloud offers your business the flexibility to dynamically scale resource consumption up or down as needed, minimizing the upfront capital cost associated with launching a new product and removes barriers to innovation. Vision Net monitors and manages hybrid solutions on behalf of our clients. Are you ready to transform your business with Vision Net’s Enterprise cloud? Let us help you get started.

Vision Net is Montana’s Largest Network, providing comprehensive security solutions

Technology is at the center of change, enabling businesses to transform their operation models and respond nimbly to competitive threats. Every business’ needs are different and to succeed, you need innovative insight, a technology solution, and a secure network. Smart technology solutions will support your business’ success and help you improve employee efficiency aspirations, stay ahead of regulatory mandates, and guard against external cyber threats. Hosted Voice | Vision Net is a premiere provider of Hosted Voice solutions. We built our Hosted Voice platform with multiple layers of redundancy, providing your business with maximum uptime and continuous operation. Your business will have the power and functionality to receive and manage phone calls from anywhere, anytime. If your growing business is ready to improve your operations, your business needs the complete suite of Vision Net’s Hosted Voice. Endpoint | Vision Net’s Endpoint security suite secures devices, or endpoints, such as laptops, tablets, mobile devices, and servers. Our endpoint security systems protect your business’ devices on our cloud-based platform from cybersecurity threats. Evolving from traditional antivirus software to proactive and comprehensive protection, Vision Net’s Endpoint security is your business’ cybersecurity frontline. Over the last decade, the volume and sophistication of cybersecurity threats has steadily grown, and with the average employee connected to at least 5 endpoints, Vision Net remains committed to stay ahead of the trend with proactive tools, including our advanced endpoint security solutions. Microsoft Teams | Your business needs a professional communication suite that provides employees with professional chat and videoconferencing, file storage, and application integration. Vision Net’s Microsoft Teams integration leverages our carrier-grade telephone platform to process the voice side of your Microsoft Teams deployment. Unified Communication Suite for Business | With Vision Net’s Unified Communication Suite, your business’ collaboration, conferencing, and messaging are more immediate and flexible. Vision Net’s UC technology gives your business the accessibility and transparency to keep your team productive. As a premier provider of Unified Communications and Collaboration solutions, Vision Net delivers a mobile, flexible, and reliable voice and video solution seamlessly integrated with productivity applications to simplify your business’ communications and improve efficiency. UC through Vision offers business continuity, diversified workforce, and scalability. Metro Fiber | Supporting our business solutions and technology offering is our metro fiber network. For the last decade, Vision Net has invested in new fiber optic infrastructure throughout Montana to provide small, medium, and large businesses secure and reliable connectivity options. We proactively added several layers of redundancy into our network to ensure your business’ connection stays up and running and that your data is secure. If there is ever a complete outage situation with your main connection, Vision Net proactively detects and seamlessly transfers your traffic to the secondary connection so your business can continue to function, while your competitors wait for their provider to react. As your provider, we can integrate a world-class business solution. Our expertise as Montana’s largest independent network gives us the tools to give your business an agile, robust, and adaptive system within your budget and size. In 2021, stay ahead of threats, disruptions, and your competitors with a complete business solution from Vision Net.

2021 Technology Trends

2021 is here and with it, new opportunities for growth and trends among a variety of industries. As we saw in 2020 with the onset of COVID19, life can change quickly and the businesses that innovate and adapt are best positioned to survive and thrive. Learn about what is ahead for this new year, and how Vision Net will power what is ahead. Remote work and learning | Even after schools and businesses re-open to in-person work and learning, many parents, teachers, employees and employers will prefer to continue remote operations. Vision Net’s business solutions, including our Work Anywhere Suite, supports adaptable and flexible options so that schools, businesses, and organizations have the tools they need to be successful. According to a survey by Intermedia, 57% of small to medium-sized business owners said they will continue to offer remote work options into 2021. This means that you may need to invest in additional technology and software solutions to ensure that your employees can telework. Vision Net’s network of professionals can help you find the best solution for your business’ budget and needs. Videoconferencing | This area rapidly grew during the pandemic and shows no signs of slowing down. Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other videoconferencing are industry standards. Videoconferencing tools help remote teams engage, track workflow, and maintain productivity. With Vision Net’s Microsoft Teams platforms, your employees can create a virtual office that replicates working together in person, supported by our robust and reliable network to ensure output and communication is uninterrupted. Telehealth and telemedicine rapidly expand | The health care industry has shown its flexibility in providing care during the pandemic. A decade in the making, telemedicine has provided advanced medical technology to patients in rural areas. 2020 showed that telemedicine is an adaptable and viable option to in-person office visits and consultations. Many private and public practices have implemented telehealth options such as doctor-patient video chats, AI-based diagnostics, and no-contact-based medication delivery. Patient visits need to remain confidential and secure, and Vision Net’s security tools will keep all telehealth interactions secure and in compliance of HIPPA regulations. 5G | Demand for high-speed internet and a shift toward well-connected homes, smart cities, and autonomous mobility have pushed the advancement of 5G technology, a trend that will accelerate in 2021. This year, Vision Net will continue our investment in our robust and redundant fiber network along with the network upgrades to bring 5G to the region. Along with our partners, we are committed to ensuring businesses, communities, and our clients have the connectivity options they need.
Whatever 2021 brings, Vision Net has the resources and solutions to support your network, your business, and your success. Learn more on how Vision Net can help make 2021 an amazing year for your growth.

Cybersecurity Q&A: Keep your business safe with Vision Net's tips and tools

Vision Net's Senior Network & Security Engineer Ben Mayo answered questions designed to keep your business' network safe and secure to ensure your business continues to thrive in all conditions.

Click on the image to watch the Cybersecurity Q&A

Your Business' Disaster Recovery Strategy

Businesses never want the worst to happen, but the worst often becomes a reality when you least expect it. Compounding a Worst-Case Scenario is the lack of a cohesive recovery plan, including the steps a business takes to get back on track as quickly as possible following a disaster or security breach. Vision Net leverages technology solutions like cloud services and our Network Operations Center to proactively monitor threats. Following these 5 steps to create a backup and disaster recovery plan will help your business be prepared for Worst Case Scenarios.

1. Be Proactive with Disaster Recovery Planning | Disaster planning is tricky because a business must consider a spectrum of contingencies and account for unforeseen circumstances, including Cyberattacks, power outages, and local disasters. A good business disaster recovery plan focuses on forming a planning and recovery team to create a focused, oriented task force that can methodically move through the stages of drafting procedures for each contingency. Vision Net’s security team can develop a proactive plan that considers likely and unlikely scenarios and remember; the best and most effective business disaster recovery plans are those that allow flexibility and anticipate a wide range of possibilities.

2. Identify your Business’ critical functions and infrastructure | A business impact analysis predicts possible causes and outcomes of disruptions in business processes and establishes critical functions your business would cease to run without. Critical functions take many forms according to the nature of the business. For example, an online retail business might require the ability of users to complete purchases on the website to function whereas a critical function for a financial institution might involve transmitting electronic transaction data securely. Vision Net works with businesses to develops security plans unique to each business’ needs.

3. Create Emergency Response Policies and Procedures | The response to an emergency or disaster hinges on several factors, including what the law requires businesses to do. Vision Net will help your business document the correct procedures and develop security protocols that will make it easy for staff and management to get your network running and your business succeeding.

4. Document Backup and Restoration Processes | Vision Net will help your business draft procedures to create backup operations prior to a disaster as well as policies regarding data recovery. Our plans include alternative methods to store and access data in the event that some infrastructure becomes compromised. Vision Net’s managed IT services help in these situations as well. If your business already leverages cloud services for critical backups for data recovery, Vision Net can help you implement a stronger security strategy.

5. Perform Routine Tests and Exercises | Making routine tests and exercises a part of the disaster planning process will benefit your business’ recovery process immensely. Vision Net has developed a security strategy that includes penetration testing, phishing tests, and other proactive solutions that will keep your network safe from the start. Exercising a recovery plan reduces the amount of time employees take enacting it because they will already know what to do in the event of a disaster. Vision Net’s testing examines each step of a plan to ensure that it will perform as needed, and your business can find out what will go wrong with their plan before it needs to work.

Vision Net’s Managed Services can help with stress testing a recovery plan by conducting frequent audits and reviews. We use the information obtained during this process to develop recommendations on Vision Net products and services to assist in mitigating the impact of a disaster. Businesses experiencing rapid growth and change will find this service especially valuable. Risks change as businesses change requiring a recovery plan that can accommodate more variables and unknowns. Do not leave recovery to chance, plan ahead! Vision Net services keeps businesses prepared for the worst. Whether there is a dramatic natural disaster or data breach, a business’ survival hinges on its ability to resume normal operations as quickly as possible.

Vision Net’s Suite of products (Vision Connect, Vision Secure, Vision Voice) place your business in the best possible position in the event that disaster recovery is necessary. From Vision Net’s PCI compliant off-site backups and dual provider SD-WAN connectivity solutions to Vision Voice and UCaaS, you can rest assured that you’ve taken the steps to be prepared.