Microsoft Charges
From 1st April M365 will increase prices by 9% in the UK.
Microsoft has announced price changes for #Microsoft 365 products (previously Office 365) which will include popular offerings such as #Azure.
In the past, variations in currency meant that organisations could purchase outside their primary region to save money. @Microsoft says the “price harmonisation” will bring local currency pricing in line with US Dollar (USD) pricing.
The focus now is mainly on “Commercial Cloud”. On-premises products will also be included but Microsoft says that several local factors will also be considered, including business models, competition, and local inflation.
Pricing will be assessed every 6 months in local currency, aligning up or down, to keep pricing in line with USD. Price increases will not take effect until the customer's subscription anniversary date.
https://news.microsoft.com/europe/2023/01/05/consistent-global-pricing-for-the-microsoft-cloud/
A phishing attack is when an attacker tricks an individual into revealing their credential or sensitive information – phishing attacks are on the rise.
ONS (2021) shows that those aged 25 to 44 years are most likely to be targeted
Attackers target the vulnerable and those in financially difficult situations, for example with the promise of energy or council rebates
Phishing attacks come in many forms; email, SMS/text, social media, and phone
Advance Free Fraud is significantly higher than pre-pandemic. An advance free fraud victim pays upfront for goods or services which are never delivered
Organisations can be vulnerable if employees are not fully aware of the dangers, and are trained to spot potential threats
The user could be sent an email which directs them to a fraudulent website (they look very convincing) which encourages the user to enter their credentials.
The other common strategy is for a user to open a malicious script or executables on their machine which allows the macro to download malware. This renders the individual and business vulnerable to ransomware, property sabotage and intellectual property and money theft.
How to protect your business
The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving which means businesses must keep one step ahead and have up-to-date defences in place to deal with the barrage of threats. A multi-layered approach, combining process, technology, and people is the most robust defence, offering multiple opportunities to spot and deal with an attack before any damage can be done.
Protect your business by:
1. Making is as difficult as possible for an attacker to reach your users. Filter and block emails before they reach your teams
2. Training users so they can spot a potential threat. Encourage users to report phishing attempts so you can build a picture of how your business is being attacked
3. Protecting against undetected phishing. Ensure your security policies are up to date and cover all remote users and apply Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) https://www.conformedia.co.uk/single-post/multi-factor-authentication-mfa
4. Having processes in place to respond quickly to a security breach. Have a plan and act quickly
How MSP can help protect against a Phishing Attack
The most efficient way for SMEs to ensure their organisation is protected is to have a Managed Service Provision. Conformedia offers clients peace of mind by taking care of IT security for your organisation. Systems are continually monitored; any issues are automatically logged and dealt with.
Protection against cyber-attacks is provided by a multi-layered approach including Antivirus, Malware and Ransomware Protection, Email Spam Filtering and Security, Firewalls and Device Encryption.
We offer flexible packages so your MSP can be modified to accommodate any changes in your business.
All it takes is one compromised credential to cause a data breach.
Contact Richard for more information.
If you’re using M365 and Microsoft Teams then you can sign up to Operator Connect; this means you can use MS Teams for all your calls which could save you money every month as you’ll no longer need a phone line.
With everyday costs rising it’s good to know there are opportunities for businesses to make savings and this is an easy to implement initiative.
You’ll get 2000 minutes per user with flexible usage, so your high-volume callers can take advantage of the pooled minutes. If you still need more minutes, you can add these.
What is Operator Connect?
Operator Connect is a new operator-managed service from Microsoft that provides seamless calling between public switch telephone network (PSTN) and VoIP using MS Teams.
You can call a standard (PSTN) phone number from Teams; one comprehensive telephony solution for your business
You can assign telephone numbers to your users
No need for a physical phone system
Carrier grade reliability
Give the team a call today and start making savings on your calls.T: 0113 234 1548
