coronavirus (COVID-19)
Official Statements
Relevant Articles
Solutions
Scams
official Statements
Vendor Promotions: Primary Customer Resource to Solve Business Continuity Challenges due to COVID-19
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Service Update
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COVID-19 Remote Office Hours
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statement
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relevant articles
Vendor Promotions: Primary Customer Resource to Solve Business Continuity Challenges due to COVID-19
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This Month in Cyber Security: March 2020 (2:12)
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3 Essential Tips for Working From Home Efficiently
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Microsoft Teams: Office 365 E1 Trial
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Teams 202: Improve Teamwork with Voice & Conferencing (2:22)
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Tips for Working Remotely with Microsoft Teams
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Managing a Remote Workforce
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Does your company suddenly need to work remotely due to COVID-19? Use O365!
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Teams 201: Optimize Teamwork with Top 10 Practical Use Cases (4:15)
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Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams Security
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Microsoft Teams 101: Why You Need Teams, How to Secure Teams, and Getting Started
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Securing company data on personal devices
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Boosting Efficiency with Microsoft Virtual Windows Desktop in Azure
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Enhance Productivity with Cloud Managed IT Services
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Teams: A Pillar of Solid Project Management
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Microsoft Teams – Data Storage Diagram
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remote work solutions
Peters & Associates has decades of experience implementing secure remote access solutions to help our clients adapt to modern workstyles. COVID-19 has forced many organizations to accelerate these plans. The solutions below were developed to help our clients quickly and safely implement or expand remote work. Each solution includes additional health and performance monitoring, security log review, and support.
VPN
VPN is a popular choice for many organizations because it can be configured with existing firewalls. However, additional licensing, capacity, user training, and security must all be considered before proceeding. Many firewall vendors, including Citrix and Cisco-Meraki, are offering free or discounted licenses to help organizations through the COVID-19 crisis.
Remote Access
Remote Access provides employees access to their work laptop via a secure portal. This is an attractive option for many organizations that need have a solution implemented quickly. Licensing can be added on a temporary basis, but organizations will need to consider network capacity, user training, and security awareness to optimize the solution.
Citrix
Citrix Virtual Apps and Virtual Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop) provide one of the most secure solutions for accessing organization resources. Central management allows for more oversight and control. However, implementation requires more planning, additional hardware or software purchases, and involves more time than the options above. Citrix should be viewed as a more permanent solution than the prior options.
Teams Voice
For organizations that are not currently setup for remote work, accessing and managing the phone system can be one of the most challenge obstacles to overcome. Peters & Associates has developed a turnkey cloud-based soft phone setup so that your employees can send and receive calls from anywhere on any device. We can quickly get your business running with voice, conferencing, and more using Microsoft Teams. For a limited time, Microsoft is offering free licenses to help organizations through the COVID-19 crisis.
Microsoft Direct Access
As an alternative to traditional VPNs, Microsoft offers a seamless connected experience for domain-joined Windows 7/8/10 Enterprise clients. This allows users to work remotely with the exact same capability as in the office and without the need for separate VPN licensing or agents. For remote employees, it is seamless so training needs are minimized.
scams
Millions of remote desktop accounts attacked every week
While it is not recommended, hundreds of thousands of employees use RDP as a way to remotely connect to their office computer with the same privileges they would have on site. Using brute-force techniques, hackers are gaining…
From ITProPortal, May 2020
Hackers target remote workers with fake Zoom downloader
Researchers have uncovered a new cyber-criminal campaign attempting to exploit the current circumstances to trick remote workers into installing RevCode WebMonitor RAT. While the Zoom loader installs and works successfully, in the background a….
From ZDNet, May 2020
FBI Sees Rise in Fraud Schemes Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Online Posts Falsely Claim Census Response Will Lead to Cash
CHICAGO (AP) — You won’t get a check in the mail for filling out this year’s census as claims circulating on social media suggest. The inaccurate posts on sites including Facebook and Twitter urge people to click on the link.
From AP Newswire, March 2020
Live Coronavirus Map Used to Spread Malware
COVID-19 Map Malware Can Spy On You Through Your Android Microphone And Camera
Watch out for any links texted to your Android phone promising an app to track coronavirus.
Lookout, March 2020