by myCREcloud | May 19, 2025 | Company
The cybersecurity landscape in 2025 is more complex—and more dangerous—than ever before. While the tools and technology used to defend against threats have evolved, so have the attackers. Today’s hackers are no longer focused solely on breaching large corporate networks directly. Instead, they’ve shifted their attention to a much softer and more vulnerable entry point: the end user.
Cyber Risks on the Rise
Cyberattacks are growing in both frequency and sophistication. In 2025, the most common threats include:
- Phishing and social engineering attacks: Designed to trick users into giving up passwords, opening malicious links, or approving fraudulent requests.
- Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): Cybercriminals now offer ransomware kits to less-skilled attackers, making it easier than ever to launch an attack.
- Business Email Compromise (BEC): Hackers impersonate executives or vendors to steal sensitive data or reroute payments.
- Credential stuffing: Using stolen usernames and passwords from one breach to access other systems where users reused the same credentials.
- AI-assisted threats: Malicious actors are now leveraging AI to create hyper-realistic fake content, automate attacks, and bypass basic security systems.
These attacks are often successful not because of a failure in enterprise-grade firewalls or endpoint protection software, but because of a human error—someone clicking the wrong link or trusting the wrong message.
How Hackers Have Evolved
In previous years, attackers focused heavily on penetrating perimeter defenses—trying to break through company firewalls or exploit unpatched servers. But modern cybersecurity tools have made that route much harder.
So, hackers adapted.
Rather than forcing their way in through hardened defenses, they now walk in through the front door—by targeting individual employees. This strategy is faster, cheaper, and often more effective. All it takes is one unsuspecting person to click a bad link or approve a fake invoice, and the attacker is in.
These campaigns are often tailored, well-researched, and surprisingly convincing. Using public information from social media, leaked databases, or previous breaches, attackers can personalize messages to sound legitimate and build trust with their victims.
Why End Users Are the New Front Line
With this shift in tactics, the weakest point in a company’s security is no longer its servers—it’s its people. Employees, contractors, and even executives are now the first line of defense. Unfortunately, many are unprepared to spot the signs of an attack.
This is why security awareness training is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Training helps users recognize suspicious activity, understand common attack patterns, and respond correctly when something seems off. Companies that invest in ongoing cybersecurity education are far more resilient, even when under pressure from sophisticated attacks.
A Human-Focused Security Strategy
The best cybersecurity strategies in 2025 combine strong technical defenses with a human-centered approach. This includes:
- Regular, realistic phishing simulations
- Clear protocols for reporting suspicious activity
- Mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Restricted access to sensitive data on a “need-to-know” basis
- Ongoing employee training and certification
By treating every employee as part of the security team—and equipping them accordingly—businesses can dramatically reduce their risk.
In 2025, cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. Hackers have adapted to our stronger tools and turned their attention to the individuals inside the network. That’s why the future of effective cyber defense starts with empowering and educating end users.
If your organization hasn’t made security training a priority yet, now is the time. One click can still cause major damage—but one trained employee can stop it in its tracks.
by myCREcloud | May 14, 2025 | Company
If you’re new to IT or digital services, you may have heard the term uptime tossed around—but what does it actually mean?
What Is Uptime?
Uptime is a simple way to describe how reliable a digital system, website, server, or service is. It refers to the amount of time that system is up and running without interruptions. It’s usually measured as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the more dependable the service is.
Imagine a website that’s supposed to run 24/7. If it’s working nearly all the time without crashing or going offline, it has high uptime. The goal for most service providers is to keep uptime as close to 100% as possible.
The “Nines” of Uptime
You’ll often hear uptime described in terms of “nines.” This refers to how many nines appear in the uptime percentage, and it’s a common way to rate system performance. Here’s what that looks like:
- 99.9% uptime (three nines) means about 43 minutes of downtime per month, or around 8 hours and 45 minutes per year.
- 99.99% uptime (four nines) brings downtime down to around 4 minutes each month, or just under an hour per year.
- 99.999% uptime (five nines) is incredibly reliable, with only about 26 seconds of downtime each month—or a little over 5 minutes a year.
These numbers help people quickly understand how dependable a service is without needing to dig into detailed logs.
Why Does Uptime Matter?
Uptime is one of the most important ways to measure the reliability of a service. For businesses, every minute of downtime can mean lost revenue, frustrated customers, or disrupted workflows. That’s why many companies set uptime as a key Service Level Objective (SLO)—a goal they promise to meet to keep users satisfied.
Monitoring uptime also helps IT teams spot early signs of trouble. A sudden drop in uptime could mean a larger problem is developing behind the scenes.
Uptime is one of the simplest and most important ways to understand how reliable a system or service is. Whether you’re managing a website, server, or cloud platform, keeping uptime high means keeping users happy and operations running smoothly. The better your uptime, the more confidence your users will have that your service will be there when they need it.
by myCREcloud | May 7, 2025 | Cloud, MSP
Why Human Error Remains the Weakest Link—and What MSPs Can Do About It
When people think of cybersecurity threats, they often imagine faceless hackers, complex malware, and sophisticated phishing schemes. But in reality, the biggest security risk in any company is much closer to home: its people.
Human error continues to be the leading cause of security breaches—whether it’s clicking on a malicious link, falling for a phishing scam, using weak passwords, or misconfiguring cloud settings. No matter how robust your firewall or how advanced your antivirus software, it only takes one careless click to open the door to disaster.
As Managed Service Providers (MSPs), we are in a unique position to address this challenge head-on. Here’s how we can help businesses mitigate the risk that comes from within.
1. Security Awareness Training: Make Security Second Nature
The first line of defense is education. Your clients’ employees can’t avoid threats they don’t recognize.
MSPs should implement ongoing, interactive security awareness training programs. These sessions need to go beyond annual check-the-box exercises. Think monthly micro-trainings, simulated phishing attacks, and quizzes that reinforce critical thinking.
Tailor content to real-world scenarios—like suspicious invoice emails or fake file-sharing notifications—that employees might encounter. Over time, this helps build a “human firewall” that’s just as critical as any software-based defense.
2. Enforce Strong Access Controls and Password Policies
Even well-meaning employees can put systems at risk if given too much access or allowed to use weak passwords.
MSPs should help clients adopt least privilege access principles—only granting users the permissions they need, and nothing more. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is no longer optional; it should be standard practice across all accounts.
Additionally, encourage (or better yet, enforce) the use of password managers and complex passphrases. A single compromised password can unlock an entire network if left unchecked.
3. Deploy Endpoint Protection and Monitoring Tools
If someone does make a mistake, early detection is key to limiting the damage.
Managed detection and response (MDR), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools allow MSPs to spot unusual behavior and respond quickly. These systems can alert you to unauthorized access attempts, lateral movement across a network, or unexpected software installations—all signs that an error has been exploited.
By combining automation with human oversight, MSPs can contain breaches before they become catastrophic.
4. Create a Culture of Accountability—Not Blame
Mistakes will happen. The goal is to catch them fast and minimize their impact—not shame the person who made them.
Encourage your clients to foster a cybersecurity-conscious culture where employees feel safe reporting suspicious activity or admitting when they’ve clicked something they shouldn’t have. A quick response often means the difference between a minor incident and a full-blown breach.
MSPs can provide guidance on creating clear response protocols, internal communication plans, and escalation paths so no alert goes ignored.
5. Offer Ongoing Risk Assessments
MSPs should regularly evaluate the human element in cybersecurity as part of their overall risk assessment services.
This might include reviewing which users have access to sensitive data, auditing employee training completion rates, and tracking phishing simulation results. These insights help refine security policies and training over time, ensuring continuous improvement.
Final Thoughts
Technology is constantly evolving, but one truth remains the same: people are—and will always be—the weakest link in cybersecurity. As MSPs, our job isn’t just to sell tools and software. It’s to act as trusted advisors, helping clients build smarter habits, safer systems, and resilient teams.
In a world where a single click can lead to a crisis, human-centered security is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity.
by myCREcloud | May 5, 2025 | Company, Sage
Once Windows 10 reaches end of support:
Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical assistance.
- Your computers will continue to function but may become vulnerable to security risks
- Compliance issues could arise for businesses in regulated industries. New software and hardware may eventually become incompatible
We’re Here to Help:
Our team is ready to assist with your transition to Windows 11.Ongoing support during and after transitionTogether, we’ll develop a timeline that minimizes disruption to your operations.
by myCREcloud | May 2, 2025 | Cloud
Many businesses assume that cloud-based platforms like Microsoft 365 (O365) and Google Workspace automatically protect their data. While these services offer robust uptime and basic retention policies, they do not provide comprehensive backups that protect against data loss from accidental deletion, cyber threats, or compliance violations. That’s where SaaS (Software as a Service) protection comes in—providing reliable, third-party backups to ensure business continuity and data security.
The Misconception About Cloud Data Security
Microsoft and Google provide high-availability cloud environments, but their shared responsibility model places data protection in the hands of the user. While they secure infrastructure and application uptime, they do not protect businesses from:
- Accidental Deletion – Files, emails, and entire accounts can be mistakenly deleted, sometimes permanently.
- Malicious Insider Threats – Employees may intentionally delete or alter data before leaving a company.
- Ransomware and Cyberattacks – Attackers can encrypt or delete cloud-stored files, leaving businesses without access to critical data.
- Retention Policy Limitations – Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace only retain deleted data for 30 days. After this period, any deleted emails, files, or accounts are permanently lost unless a third-party backup solution is in place.
- Compliance and Legal Risks – Many industries require long-term data retention that native cloud services do not always provide.
Why SaaS Protection is a Must-Have
SaaS protection solutions provide automated, secure, and independent backups for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Key benefits include:
1. Protection Against Data Loss
With a dedicated backup solution, businesses can recover lost files, emails, or even entire accounts with minimal downtime. SaaS backup tools provide automated, scheduled backups that capture data changes in real time or at set intervals.
2. Ransomware Recovery
If ransomware infects cloud accounts, SaaS protection ensures that clean, uncorrupted backups are available for restoration. Instead of paying ransoms or losing valuable data, businesses can quickly revert to a safe backup version.
3. Overcoming the 30-Day Retention Limit
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace only store deleted data for 30 days. Beyond that, recovery is impossible unless a separate backup solution is in place. SaaS protection provides long-term, independent data retention, ensuring businesses don’t lose critical information.
4. Granular and Full Restore Options
SaaS backup solutions allow businesses to restore:
- Individual emails, contacts, and calendar events
- Specific files and folders in OneDrive or Google Drive
- Entire user accounts, including mailboxes and shared drives
5. Long-Term Data Retention for Compliance
Many industries have strict compliance requirements for data storage, such as HIPAA, FINRA, and GDPR. SaaS protection ensures that data is archived securely and can be retrieved for audits, investigations, or legal needs.
6. Email and File Versioning
Built-in file versioning enables users to restore previous versions of documents and emails, preventing accidental overwrites or unwanted changes.
7. Fast and Reliable Data Recovery
Without a third-party backup, recovering deleted data from Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace can be time-consuming—or impossible after the 30-day retention window expires. SaaS backup solutions provide quick and efficient recovery, reducing downtime and minimizing business disruption.
How SaaS Backup Works for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
A cloud-to-cloud backup solution integrates directly with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, securely storing backups in a separate cloud environment. The process typically includes:
- Automated Backups – Backups occur at regular intervals, capturing emails, files, contacts, and calendar data.
- Secure, Encrypted Storage – Data is encrypted in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.
- Fast Search and Recovery – Users can quickly locate and restore specific emails, files, or accounts.
- Admin Controls and Reporting – IT teams get visibility into backup activity and can enforce policies to meet compliance standards.
Choosing the Right SaaS Backup Solution
When selecting a SaaS protection provider, businesses should look for:
- Comprehensive Coverage – Ensure support for emails, contacts, calendars, OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive, and Teams.
- Granular Restore Options – The ability to restore individual files or entire accounts.
- Retention Customization – Long-term storage and compliance-friendly retention policies.
- Security Features – End-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and audit logs.
- Ease of Use – A user-friendly interface for quick searches and recoveries.
While Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace offer excellent collaboration tools, they do not provide long-term data retention or robust backup options. With only 30 days of deleted data retention, businesses risk permanent data loss if they don’t have a separate backup solution in place. SaaS protection ensures businesses have a secure, independent backup of their critical data, protecting against accidental deletions, cyber threats, and compliance risks.
