The Ontario Broker - October 2019 - 16

THE BROKEN
WINDOWS THEORY
OF CYBER SECURITY
WITH SPENCER HEATON, CEO, A&S SYSTEMS

yber security and data breach risks are a very real threat to businesses, especially
when both their information and their customers' information is up for grabs by
cyber criminals.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that they're ending support for all Windows 7,
Server 2008 systems and Internet Explorer 10 beginning January 2020. Spencer Heaton,
CEO of A&S System Consultants outlines the risks of not having the most up-to-date
software and what will happen in 2020 when Microsoft ends support for these three
heavily-used systems within small businesses.
"If your brokerage relies on any systems that are still using these products after the
deadline, regardless of your current cyber security protection spend, you're a prime target
for cyber crime."
Microsoft releases software patches for its Windows operating systems on the second
Tuesday of every month. "In the IT world, this day is known as Patch Tuesday. But as of
January 2020, they'll no longer be releasing updates or security patches for these three
products."
Although it may seem as though small businesses wouldn't be targets for cyber criminals,
it's well known that they don't often have the same resources as a large IT team. "A
recent CrowdStrike report advised that 70% of cyber attacks target small businesses.
Cyber criminals know that small and mid-size companies are unable to spend what big
corporations typically spend on cyber security measures."
If your brokerage is still using one of the systems listed, you have a few months to
take action. "After identifying the systems that will be at risk, follow Microsoft's
recommendations of upgrading all Windows 7 PCs and 2008 servers to a more modern and
supported operating system.
"Internet Explorer users are advised to move to a more secure browser like Microsoft Edge,
Firefox or Google Chrome. Beyond security, using a more modern and secure browser
will enhance the user's overall experience-typically pages load faster and more sites, like
banking platforms, allow access to their data."
Building a long-term IT strategy is important for any brokerage in today's digital world.
Equally important is ensuring all systems and software are being updated regularly. "Patch
management for all software on your systems-not just Windows-including broker
management software and office productivity suites, has to be monitored. If patch issues
occur, they must be identified and resolved immediately. Even one unpatched system
leaves your network and data at risk."

OCTOBER 2019

MICROSOFT IS ENDING
SUPPORT FOR ALL
WINDOWS 7, SERVER
2008 SYSTEMS AND
INTERNET EXPLORER
10 BEGINNING
JANUARY 2020. IF
YOUR BROKERAGE
RELIES ON ANY
SYSTEMS THAT ARE
STILL USING THESE
PRODUCTS AFTER
THE DEADLINE,
REGARDLESS OF YOUR
CURRENT CYBER
SECURITY PROTECTION
SPEND, YOU'RE A
PRIME TARGET FOR
CYBER CRIME.

Kevin O'Hare, IBAO Education
Supervisor & Instructional
Designer, speaks about the
struggles of Internet Explorer
and why it's not compatible
with IBAO's new Learning
Management System.
"Internet Explorer was created
before smartphones and tablets,
when computers were much
bigger. Internet Explorer 11 can't
do what all current software
does on both desktops and
portables. The question is, why
build any new software to be
compatible with something that
will disappear in 2020?"

WWW.IBAO.ORG

http://WWW.IBAO.ORG

The Ontario Broker - October 2019

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