Hybrid IT combines on-premises and cloud-based IT resources, providing organisations with benefits such as scalability, flexibility, security, and cost-efficiency. Despite its advantages, some organisations may be deterred from adopting hybrid IT due to misconceptions. In this blog post, we debunk three common myths surrounding hybrid IT and clarify why they are inaccurate.
Myth: Hybrid IT is too complicated to manage
Reality: Although managing a hybrid IT environment may present challenges, it is not necessarily too complex. Many organisations effectively manage hybrid IT environments using automation, orchestration, and management platforms. By implementing these tools, IT teams can simplify management tasks, reduce errors, and improve overall performance.
Some people believe that hybrid IT involves multiple platforms, vendors, and technologies, making it complex and difficult to manage. They fear that they will need to hire more staff, invest in more tools, and deal with more issues and risks. However, this is not always the case. Hybrid IT can actually simplify IT management by enabling organisations to select the best solutions for their needs. For example, cloud services can be used for applications that require high scalability and availability, while on-premises resources can be used for those requiring low latency and high security.
Organisations can also utilise a single management platform or service provider, such as BMIT, that integrates and orchestrates their hybrid IT environment, reducing the need for multiple tools and vendors.
Myth: Hybrid IT is more expensive than traditional IT
Reality: Although hybrid IT may require a higher upfront investment, its long-term costs can be lower than traditional IT. This approach enables organisations to select the best combination of cloud and on-premises infrastructure according to their specific requirements, avoiding over-provisioning, reducing waste, and scaling up or down as needed. Hybrid IT also offers redundancy and failover capabilities, which helps avoid costly downtime.
Another misconception about hybrid IT is that it is more expensive than on-premises or cloud-only IT because it demands more resources and investments. However, this is not necessarily the case. Hybrid IT can reduce costs by enabling organisations to optimise their IT spending and usage according to their needs and objectives. They can utilise cloud services for applications with variable or unpredictable demand, reducing the need for overprovisioning or underutilising on-premises resources.
On the other hand, they can utilise on-premises resources for applications with stable or predictable demand, reducing the need for paying for unused or excess cloud resources. Different pricing models and discounts offered by various providers, such as pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, and spot instances, can also be used to maximise their return on investment.
Myth: Hybrid IT is less secure than traditional IT
Reality: Hybrid IT can be just as secure as traditional IT or even more secure. To achieve optimal security, organisations can implement a comprehensive security strategy that includes both on-premises and cloud-based security measures.
This flexibility allows organisations to respond to security threats quickly by moving workloads between environments as needed. Contrary to another misconception, hybrid IT does not expose sensitive data and systems to the internet or third-party providers, as it can enhance security by leveraging the best practices and technologies of both on-premises and cloud-based IT.
Organisations can use encryption, authentication, firewalls, and other security measures to protect their data and systems in transit and at rest, regardless of their location. Additionally, they can use cloud services that comply with industry standards and regulations such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR to ensure their data and systems are handled securely and responsibly.
Hybrid IT is a flexible and powerful strategy to overcome IT challenges and achieve business objectives. Organisations should avoid falling for common myths and misconceptions by making informed decisions and implementing hybrid IT efficiently.
If you would like to talk to an experienced managed services provider like BMIT, fill in your details below and one of our experts will answer any questions you may have.
As advancements in cloud technology continue at an unprecedented pace, service providers often need to make significant changes to stay at the forefront. One such transformational move is on the horizon for Microsoft Azure users.
Say Goodbye to Azure Virtual Machines (Classic)
Microsoft has officially shared that Azure Virtual Machines (Classic) will take its curtain call on September 1, 2023. In the spirit of moving forward, Microsoft has made clear that no extensions will be provided beyond this date. For users of this service, timely action is paramount. After the stipulated date, deploying or operating your IaaS VMs using Azure Service Manager will become a thing of the past.
Navigating the Transition: Migrate to Azure Resource Manager
Migration might sound like a daunting task, but with a methodical approach, it's a breeze. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Go to the Virtual Machines (Classic) Portal Blade
Under Subscriptions, select all available subscriptions to get full list of affected classic VMs.
Click on Migrate to ARM.
Click on Validate. If validate failed, use the suggested methods in the error messages or in the Migration Overview document to fix the errors.
Click on Prepare. If prepare failed, use the suggested methods in the error messages or in the Migration Overview document to fix the errors.
View migrated virtual machines at Virtual Machines Portal Blade and Test their operation.
(Optional) Click on Abort to rollback migration.
Click on Commit. Commit finalises the migration and cannot be rolled back.
Public cloud services have become an essential part of modern businesses. With millions of companies incorporating cloud services and platform support into their workflows and core tech stacks, it's time to consider the advantages of using a public cloud.
1. Cost Savings
One of the most significant advantages of using a public cloud is cost savings. Public cloud providers offer a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which allows businesses to only pay for the resources they consume. This eliminates the need for businesses to invest in expensive hardware and software upfront. Moreover, businesses can avoid the costs associated with maintaining and upgrading their infrastructure, as public cloud providers take care of all hardware and software updates.
2. Scalability
Public clouds are highly scalable, which means businesses can easily increase or decrease their resources based on their needs. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with fluctuating demands, such as seasonal businesses. With a public cloud, businesses can quickly scale up during peak periods and scale down during low periods.
3. Workflow flexibility
Public clouds offer businesses the flexibility to choose from a wide range of services and configurations. Businesses can choose the services that best suit their needs and can easily modify them as their needs change. This allows businesses to stay agile and respond to changing market conditions and corporate needs.
4. Global Accessibility
Most public clouds have resources and tools available in almost every country and continent, making it possible to maintain remote teams all using the same tools - often already translated into their own languages and adapted to their time zones. Public cloud providers have data centres located in multiple regions around the world with multiple redundancies. This means businesses can easily deploy their applications and data in multiple locations to improve performance and reduce latency.
5. Reliability and Resilience
Public clouds are designed to be resilient, meaning that you can rely on the services, backed with robust failsafe systems to keep your tools and work environments online no matter what. Public clouds typically offer multiple layers of security, including physical security, network security, and data encryption. Moreover, public cloud providers regularly perform security audits and vulnerability assessments to ensure their services are secure.
6. Advanced Security
Public cloud providers invest heavily in security measures to protect their customers' data. Public clouds typically offer multiple layers of security that a small or medium sized business does not have the resources to implement or the budgets to purchase. Moreover, public cloud providers regularly perform security audits and vulnerability assessments to ensure their services are secure. Provider SLAs vary according to the criticality of the customer’s service needs.
7. Innovation and Agility
Public clouds are always adding new tools, creating new environments, and offering customised workflows for every industry. By accessing public clouds for your business resources, you unlock that innovation and agility as well.
Businesses have a lot to gain from expanding their operations into the public cloud. Businesses can build their operations, scale, go global, and try out new tools or services that may expand their capabilities.
Building a secure, efficient and resilient IT environment is essential for every organisation. With a requirement to support fundamental business objectives and goals, your IT infrastructure will be as unique as the organisation itself. It’s vital to understand your needs before deciding on your IT architecture, and to obtain the help and guidance required to ensure cost savings and efficiencies.
BMIT Technologies is among the largest IT solutions provider in Malta, running multiple datacentres and offering expertise in cloud and productivity solutions. We work with HPE to deliver services to customers across the globe.
Experts in industry solutions
BMIT’s expertise specifically targets the requirements of our customers, with industry solutions for large businesses; professionals and legal services; financial services; and gaming, where IT is ‘mission critical’ for the success of their operations.
Large businesses
Leading global names and large local organisations work with BMIT Technologies when they are looking for solutions with requirements in the areas of cloud, infrastructure, productivity and security. Offering private, public and hybrid cloud services and solutions, we also offer managed services to guarantee data and applications are always available and up-to-date.
Professionals and Legal
Right-scaling solutions for professionals, corporate service providers and legal firms, BMIT Technologies personalises services to meet the requirements of each customer, whatever their size. We can assist an IT department in setting up small or larger scale solutions, working with key expert partners, like HPE, to deliver flexible services that match the needs of our customers.
Financial Services
In the fast-paced world of financial services, solutions need to be future-proofed, reliable and protected. BMIT Technologies develops tailormade services to align with each customer’s requirements, ensuring a cost-effective, convenient and reliable solution. We are fully certified, accredited with ISO 27001 in Information Security Management and PCI DSS certifications, as well as using highly secure, sophisticated security and encryption systems.
Gaming
Offering an unrivalled level of expertise and specialised staff, BMIT is the go-to expert for online gaming organisations. We provide a one-stop shop, guaranteeing the best possible IT solutions for all online requirements. This includes advice and support for gaming-regulated jurisdictions, data, front-end and back-end services across different data centres, and a range of managed services.
Building an environment that’s right for you
It’s easy to think in a ‘cloud-first’ world that digital transformation is a simple step to the cloud, moving all workflows with a view to saving money. However, the opposite may be true in many cases. Not everything can be moved to the cloud, and it is crucial to understand exactly what you require, and the associated costs, before provisioning services.
We tailor solutions to the needs of each organisation we work with, and getting the right mix of technology is important. ‘Cloud’ can mean many things – public cloud – where services are owned by a third party; private cloud – services and infrastructure dedicated for your use, but managed by your service provider and residing within a datacentre; hybrid cloud – where private cloud is combined with one or more public cloud service; and multi-cloud – combining multiple clouds from different providers. Additionally, there are decisions to be made around whether equipment resides in a datacentre or is retained in your organisation, if it needs to be managed on a 24/7 basis, and in addition, planning for potential growth.
Hybrid IT solutions can make a real difference in the success of an IT ecosystem; spanning multiple cloud platforms and datacentres, as well as the organisation’s offices and facilities. All this sounds complex, and in many cases it is, and this is why advice and guidance on building a bespoke infrastructure is so important, to ascertain what kind of environment provides the cost savings, agility, efficiency and security that you need to move your organisation forward.
Ultimately, building and managing IT environments requires engaging with a service provider that has the right experience and expertise, but additionally the willingness to advise on the various options, risks, challenges – and opportunities – involved.
Security and efficiency
Building a secure and efficient solution is crucial to the success of an organisation. Security has evolved, with a growing need for organisations to become more resilient as attacks and threats become more sophisticated. Your security stance needs to cover data protection, user security, resilience to distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks as well as network security.
Additionally, your IT environment needs to be compliant; GDPR and similar laws require data protection and privacy, and contravention of these regulations can result in hefty fines or further penalties. Backup systems and disaster recovery plans are vital, and all this needs to protect and support the collaboration, real-time syncing and flexibility that remote workers require. We work with partners to build security into your IT systems, ensuring a robust security stance to protect your users.
No organisation can truly claim to have 100% expertise across the ever-increasing spectrum of IT infrastructure. This is where partnerships play a key role. For example, at BMIT Technologies, we work closely with partners such as HPE to ensure that we can provide the right advice, deploy the right solution and be able to manage and support you as required. Tapping into HPE’s extensive expertise means increased efficiencyand the provision of world-class solutions to our customer base.
This article was originally posted on Cloud28 Plus.
Cloud computing has transformed the way we use technology and enabled new possibilities for innovation and growth.
The concept of ‘cloud’ goes back to 1963, when theDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) gave the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a $2 million grant forProject MAC. They asked MIT to create a way that two or more people can use a computer simultaneously, sharing its resources and processing power.
Fast forward to 2006 and the launch of Amazon Web Services (AWS)’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) service – a move which laid the foundations for numerous cloud platforms that we are familiar with today.
Defining cloud computing
Microsoft offers a good definition of what cloud computing is: “The delivery of computing services - including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence - over the internet ("the cloud") to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale”.
The core elements of cloud computing
There are three core elements: infrastructure, platform, and software.
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) provides the basic computing resources, such as servers, storage, and networks. Users can rent these resources on demand and pay only for what they use.
Platform as a service (PaaS) provides the tools and frameworks for developing and deploying applications on the cloud. Users can focus on their business logic and leave the management of the infrastructure to the cloud provider.
Software as a service (SaaS) provides the applications that run on the cloud. Users can access these applications through a web browser, or a mobile app. SaaS eliminates the need for installing or updating software on the user's device.
The types of Cloud computing
Cloud environments fall into four broad categories:
Private cloud
This is a dedicated cloud environment used solely by one organisation. It can be hosted on-premises or in a third-party data centre. The organisation has complete control over resources and can tailor them to suit its unique requirements. Private clouds ensure strong security, privacy, and compliance with regulations. However, they entail substantial initial investment and ongoing maintenance expenses.
Public cloud
A shared cloud environment owned by a third-party provider (CSP) that offers cloud services to the public. It provides low cost, scalability, and flexibility, with access to a wide range of services. However, it has limited control, potential security risks, and compliance issues.
Hybrid cloud
Hybrid cloud combines private and public clouds, allowing organisations to use private cloud for sensitive data and applications, while utilising public cloud for less sensitive or scalable ones. It offers security and control of private cloud along with the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of public cloud. However, challenges include complexity, compatibility issues, management overhead, and network latency.
Multi Cloud
A multi cloud is an environment using multiple public clouds from different CSPs. It allows organisations to select the optimal cloud service for their data and applications based on performance, functionality, cost, and location. Multi clouds offer redundancy, availability, and access to diverse services. However, they come with drawbacks like complexity in integration, governance, and optimisation.
Why businesses choose the Cloud
Cloud computing has become so important because it offers many benefits for businesses and individuals. Here are a few:
Scalability and flexibility - Cloud computing allows businesses to scale their resources up or down based on demand. It provides the flexibility to quickly adapt to changing business needs without the need for significant infrastructure investments.
Cost savings - Instead of investing in costly hardware, businesses can use cloud services on a pay-as-you-go basis, paying only for the resources they use. This eliminates the need for upfront capital expenditures and reduces maintenance costs.
Data storage and backup - Cloud storage enables businesses to securely store and access their data without relying on physical servers. It offers scalable storage options and automated backup, ensuring data availability and protection.
Application hosting and development - Cloud platforms provide infrastructure and tools for hosting and developing applications. Businesses can deploy their applications in the cloud, taking advantage of the platform's scalability, performance, and global reach.
Collaboration and remote work - Cloud-based collaboration tools, such as document sharing, project management, and video conferencing, enable teams to work together efficiently, regardless of their location. Cloud computing facilitates remote work by providing access to business applications and data from anywhere with an internet connection.
Disaster recovery and business continuity - Cloud services offer robust disaster recovery solutions, including data replication and backup across multiple geographically dispersed servers. In the event of a system failure or disaster, businesses can quickly restore their operations and minimize downtime.
Data analytics and machine learning - Cloud platforms provide powerful analytics and machine learning capabilities. Businesses can leverage these tools to gain insights from their data, make data-driven decisions, and develop predictive models for various applications, such as customer behaviour analysis and demand forecasting.
Testing and development environments - Cloud environments offer on-demand resources for testing and development purposes. Businesses can quickly provision and configure virtual machines and infrastructure, reducing setup time and costs associated with traditional testing and development environments.
Internet of Things (IoT) integration - Cloud computing supports the integration and management of IoT devices and data. Businesses can collect, analyse, and process data from connected devices, enabling them to derive insights and deliver value-added services.
Enhanced security and compliance - Cloud service providers invest heavily in security measures to protect data and infrastructure. They often offer advanced security features, such as encryption, identity management, and access controls. Additionally, many cloud providers comply with industry standards and regulations, assisting businesses in meeting their compliance requirements.
The challenges and risks - Not all that glitters is gold and this holds true for cloud as well. Cloud computing faces several challenges and risks that need to be addressed by both cloud providers and cloud users.
Data security and privacy - This is the biggest challenge, as users cannot view where their data is processed or stored, and risks of data loss, leakage, theft, breaches, and hijacking can happen. Cloud providers need to ensure that they have robust security measures and encryption mechanisms to protect their customers' data. Cloud users need to be aware of their data protection rights and responsibilities and choose cloud services that comply with relevant regulations and standards.
Cloud management and governance - This involves monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the performance, availability, and costs of cloud resources. Cloud management can be complex and challenging due to the dynamic and distributed nature of cloud environments. Cloud providers need to offer tools and services that enable cloud users to manage their cloud resources effectively. Cloud users need to define clear policies and procedures for cloud usage, allocation, and optimization.
Cloud integration and interoperability - This refers to the ability of cloud services to work seamlessly with other cloud or on-premises systems. Cloud integration can be difficult due to the heterogeneity and diversity of cloud platforms, architectures, and standards. Cloud providers need to ensure that their cloud services are compatible and interoperable with other cloud or on-premises systems. Cloud users need to evaluate their existing systems and requirements before choosing cloud services that can integrate with them.
Internet connectivity and bandwidth - This is a prerequisite for accessing cloud services. Lack of sufficient internet bandwidth is a common problem when transferring large volumes of information to and from cloud data servers. Internet connectivity can also be unreliable or unavailable in some areas or situations. Cloud providers need to ensure that their cloud services are resilient and responsive to network fluctuations. Cloud users need to consider their internet connectivity and bandwidth needs before adopting cloud services.
Moving to the cloud is a decision based on a clear strategy that looks at the long-term costs, data security, compliance, resilience, and business needs. Once the strategy is in place, a cloud environment could help a business achieve its goals and address its IT challenges.
Find the right IT partner is critical to a successful cloud deployment. Talk to our experts at BMIT who can advise you on the cloud environment that best meets your business requirements and setup.
Cloud computing has profoundly changed the way we do business. Although cloud cost optimisation has become a top priority for organisations (Cloudwards.net), the cloud is still an attractive prospect for many. According to Gartner, enterprise IT spending on cloud computing will overtake spending on traditional IT in 2025.
Cloud is here to stay.
That doesn’t mean that cloud adoption does not have its challenges and concerns for business. It is true that embracing cloud can help businesses improve their agility, scalability and managed costs better, but it is not always a simple or straightforward process, particularly in sectors that have invested heavily in on-premises environments, operate in highly regulated industries or have many legacy applications with complex dependencies and security requirements.
Moving partly or fully to the cloud is a double-edged decision with implications for the business. Not surprisingly, some businesses are hesitant to migrate. The beauty of Cloud computing today is that businesses do not have to choose between only on-premises or only cloud.
They can opt for a hybrid IT architecture. This involves integrating and managing a mix of resources, including physical servers, virtualised systems, private clouds, public clouds, and possibly even edge computing devices.
(Note hybrid cloud focuses specifically on the combination of public and private cloud environments. Multi cloud environments combine multiple providers - Azure, AWS or Google Cloud using multiple private or public cloud setups.)
The goal of hybrid IT is to create a flexible and scalable infrastructure that leverages the benefits of both on-premises and cloud-based solutions. Businesses adopting hybrid IT typically have control over their infrastructure, allowing them to choose the most suitable deployment model for their applications and workloads.
Hybrid IT adoption is increasing
Every business has unique requirements. On-premises setups give companies full control over their servers, data, security and compliance. The downside is that it is expensive to build, secure and maintain. Cloud environments provide flexibility and allow businesses to scale their infrastructure, but data security, compliance and connectivity concerns mean businesses are cautious about adopting a fully cloud-based solution.
As organisations grow and their requirements become more complex, a hybrid IT approach is emerging as a viable solution that combines the best of both worlds.
Why Hybrid IT?
Hybrid IT enables businesses to leverage the benefits of both environments while addressing their specific requirements. For example, sensitive data or applications can be kept on-premises to meet compliance regulations, while non-sensitive workloads or productivity apps can be hosted on the public cloud for scalability and cost-efficiency.
Businesses gain several advantages when adopting this strategy.
Scalability: You can scale up or down your computing resources as needed, without the need for costly hardware or software investments. With hybrid IT, you can utilise the public cloud to handle peak demand or seasonal fluctuations while keeping your core applications and data on-premises or in a private cloud, ensuring better performance and security for critical operations.
Security: Hybrid IT empowers you to meet your security and compliance requirements effectively. By leveraging the hybrid model, you can store and process sensitive data on-premises or in a private cloud, while leveraging the public cloud for less critical tasks. Public cloud providers offer robust security features such as encryption, firewalls, identity and access management, and threat detection, further strengthening your security posture.
Cost-effectiveness: The hybrid cloud enables you to optimise your IT spending by paying only for the resources you utilise. This eliminates the upfront costs associated with purchasing and maintaining hardware and software, as well as the operational expenses of power, cooling, and maintenance. Additionally, leveraging the economies of scale and competitive pricing provided by public cloud providers for specific workloads can result in significant cost savings for your organisation.
Speed: With a hybrid IT, you can accelerate your time to market and foster innovation by gaining faster and easier access to new technologies and services. Utilising the public cloud allows you to swiftly test and deploy new applications or features without concerns about compatibility or integration challenges. Moreover, you can leverage the expertise and support of public cloud providers to enhance your IT operations and efficiency, enabling you to focus on driving innovation and achieving your business objectives.
Think security! Hybrid IT may involve sharing data and resources between different cloud platforms and on-premises systems, which increases the risk of data breaches, cyberattacks, and compliance violations.
Management issues. Managing multiple cloud platforms and on-premises systems, each with its own policies, standards, and interfaces can be a nightmare, leading to governance, provisioning, and scheduling issues, such as inconsistent service levels, resource allocation conflicts, and performance bottlenecks.
Migration pains. Migrating data and applications between different cloud platforms and on-premises systems, which can be challenging due to data transfer costs, compatibility issues, and downtime risks, is something not to be underestimated if going down that route.
Bringing it all together. Integrating different cloud platforms and on-premises systems can be difficult due to software and execution issues. For example, some software designs may need to run on a specific cloud platform or on-premises system for performance or security reasons, while others may need to communicate across the hybrid environment for functionality or collaboration reasons. Infrastructure-as-a-code (IaC) tools can address this pain point. These tools can help you automate the process of creating and managing your infrastructure resources across various environments. Terraform is an example of a such a platform.
Trust issues. You are trusting your data and systems to different cloud providers and on-premises system vendors and depending on the security, reliability, and quality of their services. This can raise concerns about compliance, accountability, and transparency.
It’s not all savings. You can save a lot with a hybrid IT strategy but be aware of hidden costs due to network bandwidth consumption, data transfer fees, integration expenses, management overheads, and security investments.
Hybrid IT is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a carefully planned and managed approach to maximise the potential of on-premises and cloud resources. Your business should assess its current and future business needs, existing IT capabilities, and constraints when formulating a hybrid cloud strategy.
Microsoft has announced that Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is becoming Microsoft Entra ID.
The company said the name change “represents the evolution and unification of the Microsoft Entra product family, and a commitment to simplify secure access experiences for everyone".
Microsoft insists that customers do not need to take any action, and Azure AD users can continue to use the service without interruption. “All existing deployments, configurations, and integrations will continue to function as they do today without any action from you”.
What changes?
Only the name changes. Licensing, terms, service-level agreements, product certifications, support and pricing remain the same. All features and capabilities are still available in the product.
Service plan names will change on October 1, 2023 as per the diagram below (source: Microsoft)
Other changes include:
Azure AD tenant becomes Microsoft Entra tenant
Azure AD account becomes Microsoft Entra account
Azure AD joined becomes Microsoft Entra joined
Azure AD Conditional Access becomes Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Microsoft Entra
Microsoft Entra protects all identities and secures network access everywhere. The expanded product family has:
Building resilience and a strong security posture require time and investment. Unfortunately, tight budgets and a lack of appetite to focus on security, particularly cybersecurity due to its complexity, leave businesses open to attack.
The Maltese government recognises the challenges local businesses face when implementing security measures and recently launched an initiative – the Cyber-ALT Grant Scheme - designed to empower them to digitally transform their operations and invest in cybersecurity solutions.
This is a fantastic opportunity, and at BMIT we are excited to help you leverage the benefits of the CYBER+ALT Grant Scheme. We specialise in enabling businesses to maximise their potential, implement state-of-the-art IT solutions, and guide them in securing the financing needed to transform their operations.
What is the CYBER+ALT Grant Scheme?
The CYBER+ALT Grant Scheme is a Maltese government initiative that provides financial support to small and medium-sized businesses to implement cybersecurity solutions.
Eligible businesses can receive funding of up to €60,000, covering a maximum of 80% of the initial investment. This financial support can be used to cover a wide range of cybersecurity projects, including:
Vulnerability Management
Threat Detection and Response
Enhanced Cloud Based Platform Security
End-to-End Data Protection
Identity and Access Management
Choosing BMIT as your IT partner
We understand the unique challenges faced by local businesses when seeking financing through various schemes like the CYBER+ALT Grant Scheme. BMIT’s extensive experience, expertise and excellence in servicing and providing local business with best-in-class solutions, make us the ideal partner to guide you through the grant application process. Expertise in Grant Application: Our experienced tech professionals are well-versed in the requirements and intricacies of the CYBER+ALT Grant Scheme. We will assist you in crafting a compelling application that maximises your chances of success.
Tailored Solutions: Every business is unique, and therefore, requires a personalised approach. Our experts will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and design a custom solution that aligns with your objectives.
Cybersecurity Strengthening: We will show you how to identify gaps in your enterprise IT setup and recommended the right solutions to build your cybersecurity defences. We have developed our own easy tool to help you do this in an effective way. Additionally, we will also train your staff on cybersecurity and how to become the business’s first line of defence.
Ongoing Support and Maintenance: We do not just offer a solution. We optimise it for you and provide continuous support and proactive maintenance. We let you focus on your core business.
Act fast
The CYBER+ALT Grant Scheme is a great opportunity to finance your cybersecurity plans. All applications are handled on a first come first served basis, and the scheme will close on 29 December 2023.
Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based subscription service that offers a suite of productivity tools and applications for businesses and individuals.
It includes popular programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, SharePoint, and more. Last year, Microsoft said it had 345 million Office users with 270 million Teams users (FY22 Q2 results).
But what makes Microsoft 365 so appealing and why has it gained so much in popularity?
First and foremost, M365 is a suite of productivity tools that can help modernise a business’s infrastructure and streamline daily operations. This allows it to focus on its core goals: revenue and growth.
With M365, businesses get a considerable upgrade from Office 365 in that you get a range of additional tools such as cloud storage and security, data analytics, customer support and email management. A major bonus for businesses that have multiple locations or are dependent on remote workers, is that they can benefit from all the features on any device, anywhere, anytime as long as there is an internet connection.
Let’s look at some of the benefits in more detail:
Enhanced Productivity and Collaboration
Microsoft 365 offers a suite of tools and applications designed to improve productivity and facilitate collaboration. Additionally, cloud-based file storage and sharing through OneDrive and SharePoint encourage real-time collaboration among team members, making it easier to work together on projects regardless of location or device.
Scalability and Flexibility
As a subscription-based service, businesses can scale their usage and pay only for the number of users they need. This scalability is particularly advantageous for growing businesses that require flexibility in terms of adding or removing employees from the service. Additionally, Microsoft 365 is accessible from various devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, providing employees with the freedom to work from their preferred device.
Data Security and Compliance
Microsoft has focused a lot on security and continues to invest heavily in security measures to protect user data and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Microsoft 365 includes built-in security features such as data encryption, threat detection, and multi-factor authentication to safeguard sensitive information. Moreover, it provides businesses with tools to meet various compliance requirements, making it suitable for organisations dealing with sensitive data.
Constant Updates and Innovation
Businesses benefit from continuous updates and access to the latest features and innovations. With regular updates, security patches, and feature enhancements to its applications, users have access to the most up-to-date tools and functionalities. This eliminates the need for manual software upgrades and ensures access to the latest technology and capabilities to improve operations.
Integration and Compatibility
Microsoft 365 seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and services, creating a cohesive ecosystem for businesses. Microsoft 365 supports compatibility with various third-party applications, ensuring businesses can leverage their existing software investments while benefiting from the productivity suite.
No matter what kind of business you operate, Microsoft 365 likely has tools that can help one or more facets of your operation. The breadth of services means that your operational and security posture are addressed as the business grows in size, complexity and need for security and risk management.
In December 2022, the European Union approved the final text of a new legislative framework called the Digital Operational Resilience Act or DORA for short.
Covering the financial services industry, DORA comes into force in January 2025 and imposes stringent requirements in relation to ICT and risk management.
While DORA is specific to one industry, the framework can be applied to any industry and business. After all, every business should do its utmost to be resilient when faced with challenging and unexpected events such as a data breach incident or a ransomware attack
What do we mean by ‘resilient’ and how do you build a resilient business?
Resilience building refers to the process of developing the ability to withstand and recover from various challenges, disruptions, and uncertainties. It involves creating a strong and adaptable organisational structure that can effectively respond to and bounce back from unexpected events or crises.
Simply put, it means doing everything possible to get back on your feet when you’re down for the count.
However, to build resilience you need to know what you’re up against, what the risks are (internal and external) and what gaps exist in those defences.
With the increasing reliance on technology and digital platforms, businesses are more vulnerable to cybersecurity threats than ever before. A cyberattack can have a devastating impact on a business's growth and success.
The first step in resilience building is to assess the business’s security posture.
What is a security posture?
A security posture is the overall state of its cybersecurity readiness and resilience. It reflects how well a business can identify and protect its assets, data, and operations from cyber threats, as well as how quickly and effectively it can detect, respond and recover from cyber incidents.
A business's security posture is not static, but dynamic and evolving. It changes as the business grows, expands, innovates, and adapts to new challenges and opportunities. It also changes as the cyber threat landscape evolves, with new types of attacks, vulnerabilities, and actors emerging constantly.
When you assess your business’s security posture you are identifying its strengths and weaknesses in cybersecurity, as well as gaps and opportunities for improvement. Cybersecurity alone will not build your business’s resilience, but its importance cannot be understated given that most threats come from cyberattacks.
A security posture assessment is an opportunity to measure its performance against the business’s goals and objectives, as well as industry standards and best practices. It can guide the business on which actions and investments it needs to prioritise to enhance its security posture and reduce exposure to cyber risks.
It is also a strategic issue. Your security posture impacts the business’s reputation, trustworthiness, competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability. It also affects its stakeholders, such as customers, partners, suppliers, regulators, investors, and employees. Therefore, a business's security posture is not only needed but must be aligned with the business’s vision, mission, values, and culture.
A business's security posture is not a one-time project, but an ongoing process. It is a necessity. It is an obligation. It is not a burden. It is a benefit.
How do you assess a security posture?
The starting point is to carry out a security discovery risk assessment. This assessment is typically based on one of several security frameworks such as NIST CSF or the CIS Framework. BMIT’s Cybersecurity Discovery Tool uses the 18 CIS v8 framework.
With over 200 checks, the cybersecurity discovery tool looks at 18 areas that cover cybersecurity from asset and inventory management to backup and disaster recovery strategies.
Any security posture assessment is influenced by many factors, such as the type of complexity of your IT infrastructure and network, the volume of data, how critical / sensitive it is; whether the business is required to comply with legislative frameworks; and budgets. The assessment should be seen as an investment not a cost, but at the end of the day it is a cost of doing business.
The assessment is also influenced by the business’s growth. A high-growth business with a high-risk profile will need regular assessments to ensure that its security posture is maintained.
The security assessment is step one in a long journey towards building resilience. The report that is generated from the assessment offers detailed recommendations and insights that will need to be addressed using different tools, systems, processes and frameworks.
A company should address IT Security governance, including the policies that govern the technology. It is useless, for example, to implement a tool to capture unauthorised assets when you do not have a governing process to review any findings. Here are more points to consider:
Achieving a strong security posture will take time, investment and proper planning.
Every approach will be tailored to that business’s needs, but a comprehensive approach could involve:
Developing a security strategy and roadmap that aligns with the business goals and objectives
Implementing security best practices and standards, such as encryption, authentication, backup, firewall, antivirus, etc.
Educating and training the employees and stakeholders on security awareness and policies
Monitoring and testing the security systems and processes regularly and updating them as needed
Responding to incidents quickly and effectively and learning from them
A business's security posture is not a static or one-time thing. It requires continuous improvement and adaptation to the changing threat landscape and business environment. By investing in your security posture, a business can enhance its competitive advantage and customer trust.
How can BMIT Technologies help?
A business's security posture is not a static or one-time thing. It requires continuous improvement and adaptation to the changing threat landscape and business environment. By investing in your security posture, a business can enhance its competitive advantage and customer trust. Contact us and one of our experts will reach out and guide you accordingly.
