Be Ready for 3 Things in 2025

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Be Ready for 3 Things in 2025As we head into the new year, we face an uncertain business landscape. Politics, the economy, and technology advances create new tech-related challenges and opportunities. As you make your plans, be ready for these 3 things in 2025.

Windows 10 End of Life

Windows 10 reaches its end-of-life on October 14, 2025. As of this date, Microsoft will stop releasing new features, free security updates, and support.  You must decide when and how you will transition to Windows 11. 

Staying on Windows 10 without subscribing to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program exposes your systems to increased vulnerabilities, potentially impacting compliance with cybersecurity regulations.

While many devices currently running Windows 10 can support Windows 11, older machines may struggle with performance due to inadequate resources. You should expect to invest in some new hardware or upgrade existing components, such as memory, to ensure smooth operation. Given the anticipated surge in demand for new devices, early planning and procurement can mitigate potential cost hikes and supply chain delays.

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AI in 2025: From Hype to Practical Applications

The realm of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transition from theoretical enthusiasm to practical implementation. 2025 is the time to focus on AI’s tangible benefits, such as enhancing employee productivity and streamlining customer interactions. Rather than replacing human labor, use AI as a tool for augmenting capabilities and achieving efficiency gains.

Security remains a critical consideration as AI becomes more integrated into your business processes. Protecting your sensitive data and ensuring your compliance with regulatory standards is paramount, especially when using AI tools within Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. 

Assess the cost-effectiveness of AI investments, ensuring they provide a clear return on investment without duplicating existing capabilities. As AI tools continue to evolve, balance cost, security, and practicality to leverage AI effectively.

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Heightened Security and Evolving Threat Landscape

In an era where cybersecurity threats are ever-evolving, small businesses like yours should adopt a robust security framework to safeguard your operations. A comprehensive approach—encompassing communication, prevention, and recovery—is critical as new threats emerge. With incidents like business email compromise posing significant financial risks, maintaining a strong security posture is non-negotiable.

For smaller businesses, Resilience becomes a key focus of your cybersecurity strategy. Ensuring your operational continuity, even during cyber incidents, is crucial for minimizing disruptions. Resilience is not only protecting data but also enabling swift recovery and business continuity. 

As cyber insurance requirements become more stringent, Compliance with evolving security benchmarks and standards will increase coverage and lower premiums. The savings is a bonus to improved protections against potential threats. Penetration testing, or Pen Testing, can be an affordable way to benchmark and track your security profile against relevant industry and regulatory standards.

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Your Next Steps

If you are interested in planning your Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade, your use of AI, or your security improvements, book a free, no-obligation session with one of our Cloud Advisors. Or, send us a quick note and let us know how we can help.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America. Starting his first business at age 12, Allen is a serial entrepreneur. He has launched strategic IT consulting, software, and service companies. An advocate for small and midsize businesses, Allen served on the board of the former Smaller Business Association of New England, local economic development committees, and industry advisory boards.

* Discount RSA offer requests must be received prior to 3:00 PM EST on Dec. 31, 2024.

Business Email Compromise: The Second Costliest Crime

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Originally Posted December 9, 2024.  Updated to add a link to a related article published by the Washington Post.

Cyberattacks, specifically Business Email Compromise attacks are back in the national news. This feature story on CNN.com covers the risk, nature, and impact of Business Email Compromise attacks on a national level.

Back in March of 2022, we blogged about Real Estate Cyber Security and the rapid increase in Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks. We followed up in April of 2022, with a post Business Email Compromise – The Costliest Type of Cybercrime. The post explained how BEC attacks work and how you can prevent them.

Related Update: The latest housing scam: Using AI to impersonate your agent or lender, Washington Post, December 14, 2024.

Are YOU safe from Business Email Compromise Attacks?

A $2.9 Billion Problem

With 2023 adjusted losses exceeding $2.9 Billion, the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report identifies BEC attacks as the second-costliest type of crime. In a recent survey by CertifID, more than half of the 650 homebuyers and sellers were not fully aware of these types of fraud risks.

While the victims in the CNN article believe the compromise was from the title company, these breaches often initiate with the real estate agent or brokerage. The fragmented system of real estate franchisors, franchises, brokers/groups, and agents, gaps in cybersecurity awareness and protections are common. Real estate is a rich target for these BEC attacks. Large dollar amount transactions and low security-vigilance among agents, buyers, and sellers attracts cyber attacks.

Your Business Email Compromise Risk

The scope of BEC attacks spans businesses of all sizes.  Your small business is a target because you are less likely to have adequate cybersecurity protections in place.  As a small business, you are also less likely to have procedural checks and balances in place. Your chance of identifying and thwarting a BEC attack is lower.

Business Email Compromise attacks may target payments you make, or those your customers make to you. In either case, a successful BEC can destroy your reputation, expose you to litigation and liability, and cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

Your Next Step

Your best next step is to evaluate how well you are protected from BEC attacks.  Use Referral Code 24RSA50 to request savings of at least 50% off our Rapid Security Assessment*. You can also schedule a brief, free call with one of our Cloud Advisors to discuss your cybersecurity risk and protections.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America. Starting his first business at age 12, Allen is a serial entrepreneur. He has launched strategic IT consulting, software, and service companies. An advocate for small and midsize businesses, Allen served on the board of the former Smaller Business Association of New England, local economic development committees, and industry advisory boards.

* Discount RSA offer requests must be received prior to 3:00 PM EST on Dec. 31, 2024.

PC Continuity Means Business Continuity

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PC ContinuityIn today’s fast-paced business world, the ability to maintain continuous PC operations is crucial for your business. With limited resources and manpower, you cannot afford to lose data or prolonged downtime. A crashed laptop can take 4 or more days to repair (or replace) and rebuild. The impact on your ability to serve your clients, manage marketing and sales, and invoice will be operationally and financially disruptive.

Backup Covers the Basics

Backup solutions are foundational to business continuity, particularly for small enterprises. A reliable backup service ensures your critical data is secure and recoverable. Having backups off-premise, or in the cloud, extends your protection to physical hazards that can damage local backup systems.

Backups, while essential, come with challenges.  Before you restore, you need to repair or replace damaged equipment. This takes time. Restoring from the cloud is limited by bandwidth. This takes time.  Repair and restore gets you your data back, but slowly. Meanwhile, you will struggle to run your business.

Unique IT Challenges

As a sole practitioner or other very small business, you face unique IT challenges. With limited devices, a single computer failure can bring your business activities to an abrupt and extended halt.

Unlike larger businesses, you likely don’t have the budget to keep spare equipment on hand or to quickly purchase replacements.

As a small business leader, you want, and need, to strike a balance between risk, protection, and budget.


Connect with a Cloud Advisor

A Solution Set for Smaller Businesses

Fortunately, you have service options that help minimize your risk for business disruptions due to PC problems. 

PC Continuity

You can overcome the challenges and limitations of backup/recovery solutions without breaking the bank. PC Continuity solutions enable you to keep your business running while your PC is repaired or replaced and restored.

PC Continuity captures full images of your device multiple times per day. When needed, the image loads and runs on a virtual desktop in a cloud data center. You can access your system’s image from any device with a web browser or a thin client agent.

With PC Continuity, you can return to work quickly. For a small incremental fee above your backup/recovery service, your business keeps running.

Monitoring and Management

Ensuring your computers are current with respect to patches and updates helps ensure optimal performance and security.  Monitoring for system performance can also flag hardware issues before they cause damage or fail.

Remote monitoring and management services track the health of your computer and can alert your IT service team to issues and conditions before they become problems. The service allows for managing system and software updates and can provide remote access to your IT support team when needed.

Lifecycle Management

Larger companies use lifecycle management to manage their computer purchasing and upgrade cycles. For small businesses, lifecycle management focuses on extending the lifespan of your devices and understanding when it is best to upgrade or replace aging systems.

Besides tracking age and warranty status, these services can include extended warranty and accidental damage coverage plans.  These coverages provide repair or like-device replacement.  Having extended warranty and accidental damage coverage reduces the risk of maintaining older systems. In the event of an expected failure or accident, you can avoid early replacement costs.

Some lifecycle management services include certified electronics disposal, helping you avoid e-waste compliance issues and disposal fees.

Your Next Steps

Understanding the risks and impact of PC/Laptop problems, you should decide the value of the various levels of protections.  While protection and continuity services come at a cost, a single incident with your PC or Laptop can cost you in days of lost productivity, damaged or lost data, and thousands of dollars.

To assess your risks, protections, and business continuity needs, please contact us or schedule a brief intro call with a Cloud Advisor.  The assessment is free and without obligation.

About the Author

Bill Seybolt bio pictureBill is a Senior Cloud Advisor responsible for helping small and midsize organizations with cloud forward solutions that meet their business needs, priorities, and budgets. Bill works with executives, leaders, and team members to understand workflows, identify strategic goals and tactical requirements, and design solutions and implementation phases. Having helped over 200 organizations successfully adopt cloud solutions, his expertise and working style ensure a comfortable experience effective change management.

Prepare for Windows 10 End of Life and Windows 11

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Windows 11A Guide: From Windows 10 End of Life to Windows 11

Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide:

  • Free software updates, including updated or new features
  • Security patches and fixes
  • Technical assistance

Although you can continue to use Windows 10, doing so dramatically increases your risks of cyberattacks, security breaches, and other issues.

Know Your Windows 10 Options

Microsoft recommends that you upgrade all systems to Windows 11 before the deadline. While we generally agree, we understand that challenges such as software dependencies and costs may complicate this transition. Your current software may not function properly on Windows 11, and older PCs or laptops might not meet its requirements, potentially leading to significant expenses for hardware replacement.

You will need to assess whether your devices can run Windows 11 as-is or with upgrades. If they cannot, there are alternatives to purchasing new devices.

Plan your move to Windows 11 Free Consultation Schedule a free, no-obligation meeting with one of our Cloud Advisors.  

Microsoft recommends that you upgrade all systems to Windows 11 before the deadline. While we generally agree, we understand that challenges such as software dependencies and costs may complicate this transition. Your current software may not function properly on Windows 11, and older PCs or laptops might not meet its requirements, potentially leading to significant expenses for hardware replacement.

You will need to assess whether your devices can run Windows 11 as-is or with upgrades. If they cannot, there are alternatives to purchasing new devices.

  • Extended Security Updates (ESU): Microsoft will offer an ESU subscription providing critical security updates for Windows 10. While pricing details are not yet available, ESU programs for Windows 7 were more than $100 per device annually. We expect the ESU program for Windows 10 will be more expensive.
  • Virtual Desktop Services: You can also mitigate the cost of upgrading by moving to virtual desktop services. This option is best if you are facing multiple system replacements.

Determining the right path forward depends on your unique IT environment, budget, and business needs. 

Plan for Windows 11

Regardless of the strategy you choose, proactive planning is crucial. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition to Windows 11:

  1. Assess Your Current IT Environment:
    • Review your inventory of all devices running Windows 10. This includes computers, laptops, servers, and any embedded systems.
    • Identify which devices can run Windows 11, which can be upgraded, and which devices you should replace.
    • Identify the business-critical applications and tools you currently use and whether they are compatible with Windows 11. You may need to upgrade some of your software.
  2. Create Your Budget:
    • Budget the cost of upgrading and/or replacing devices that cannot run Windows 11. Keep in mind that older systems may require replacement soon, even if upgraded now.
    • Include the cost of any tech support or professional services you may need to transfer applications and data to the new devices.
  3. Develop a Transition Plan:
    • Plan on the timing for upgrades, purchases, and migrations.
    • Remember that you may need to test some of your software on Windows 11 before upgrading or replacing devices.
  4. Train Your Team:
    • Provide learning resources to help your team learn and become familiar with Windows 11.
    • If you need to upgrade any of your business software, consider providing training on new features and capabilities.
  5. Stay Informed:
    • Monitor Microsoft’s official updates and announcements to ensure you have the latest information about Windows 10 end of life.

Your Next Step

As with any major operating system upgrade, we expect demand for PCs and laptops to increase during 2025. Prices will likely increase and availability may become an issue. Plan now and execute soon.

For assistance, schedule a brief, free call with one of our Cloud Advisors to discuss your assessment, plan, and upgrade needs, priorities, and budget.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America. Starting his first business at age 12, Allen is a serial entrepreneur. He has launched strategic IT consulting, software, and service companies. An advocate for small and midsize businesses, Allen served on the board of the former Smaller Business Association of New England, local economic development committees, and industry advisory boards.