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What is Ransomware?

Ransomware attacks have been on the rise in recent years, targeting businesses of all sizes and industries. As a provider of managed IT services, GoodSuite understands the importance of protecting our clients from this growing threat. In this blog, we will define ransomware, discuss its impact on businesses, and provide strategies for preventing and responding to ransomware attacks.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s files, making them inaccessible until a ransom is paid. The ransom typically demands payment in cryptocurrency, making it difficult to trace and recover. In some cases, ransomware may also threaten to leak sensitive information if the ransom is not paid.

Ransomware attacks can be delivered through various means, including email phishing scams, software vulnerabilities, and drive-by downloads. Once the ransomware is installed on a victim’s device, it can quickly spread throughout a network, causing widespread damage.

Impact on Businesses

Ransomware attacks can have a devastating impact on businesses. The loss of critical data can disrupt operations and result in significant financial losses. In addition to the ransom payment, businesses may also incur costs associated with data recovery, legal fees, and reputational damage.

Small and medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable to ransomware attacks. They may not have the resources to implement robust cybersecurity measures or may be less likely to have backups in place. However, even large enterprises with robust security measures are not immune to ransomware attacks.

Preventing Ransomware Attacks

Preventing ransomware attacks requires a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity. Here are some strategies that businesses can use to protect themselves:

Implement security awareness training: Educating employees on how to spot phishing emails and other social engineering tactics can help prevent ransomware attacks from succeeding.

Use anti-malware software: Anti-malware software can detect and block ransomware threats before they can cause damage.

Keep software up-to-date: Software vulnerabilities can be exploited by cybercriminals to install ransomware. Ensuring that all software is up-to-date with the latest security patches can reduce the risk of a successful attack.

Use a firewall: A firewall can help prevent unauthorized access to a network, reducing the risk of a ransomware infection.

Backup critical data: Regularly backing up critical data is essential to ensure that it can be restored in the event of a ransomware attack.

Responding to Ransomware Attacks

If a ransomware attack does occur, it is essential to respond quickly to minimize the damage. Here are some steps that businesses should take:

Isolate infected devices: Disconnecting infected devices from the network can prevent the ransomware from spreading.

Contact IT support: A managed IT services provider can help assess the damage and develop a plan for recovering data.

Do not pay the ransom: Paying the ransom does not guarantee that data will be restored, and it may encourage further attacks.

Restore data from backups: If backups are available, they can be used to restore encrypted files.

Finally, businesses should consider working with a managed IT services provider that specializes in cybersecurity. A managed IT services provider can help implement best practices for preventing and responding to ransomware attacks, including regular security assessments, security awareness training for employees, and incident response planning.

In addition to the prevention and response strategies mentioned above, there are other measures that businesses can take to protect themselves from ransomware attacks. One such measure is to implement a disaster recovery plan that includes regular data backups and a plan for restoring systems in the event of a ransomware attack.

Regular backups are essential to ensure that data can be restored in the event of a ransomware attack. Backups should be stored in a secure location and tested regularly to ensure that they can be restored if needed. A disaster recovery plan should include procedures for restoring data from backups, identifying the source of the attack, and implementing measures to prevent future attacks.

Another measure that businesses can take to protect themselves from ransomware attacks is to implement access controls and permissions. By limiting access to sensitive data and systems, businesses can reduce the risk of a ransomware attack spreading throughout the network. Access controls can also help prevent unauthorized access and data theft.

Finally, businesses should consider working with a managed IT services provider that specializes in cybersecurity. A managed IT services provider can help implement best practices for preventing and responding to ransomware attacks, including regular security assessments, security awareness training for employees, and incident response planning.

In conclusion, ransomware attacks are a growing threat to businesses of all sizes. By implementing a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, including security awareness training, anti-malware software, software updates, firewalls, and data backups, businesses can reduce the risk of a successful ransomware attack. In the event of an attack, businesses should respond quickly, isolating infected devices, contacting IT support, and restoring data from backups. By working with a trusted managed IT services provider, businesses can ensure that they have the resources and expertise necessary to protect themselves from ransomware attacks.

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Brent Portera

Director of Managed Services

Brent has been in the Managed Services field for 12+ years focusing on strategic client alignment. He began his career in the document imaging space as an Account Executive and consistently overachieved expectations with a primary focus on Managed Print Services. He has served at numerous roles in the past ranging from MPS Specialist to Vice President of Sales & MPS. Brent has a degree in Computer Science which has continually aided in his ability to deliver custom tailored solutions for his clients. Brent is currently leading the charge for GoodSuite as the Director of Managed Services focusing on Managed IT, Managed Print, and Managed Phone systems for our clients enabling each customer to leverage technology to reach their organizational goals. Brent also focuses on devoting time to coaching his children in numerous sports and loves to unwind at Dodger Stadium with his family.

John McMillan

IT Analyst

Originally from Tennessee, John McMillan joined GoodSuite’s IT team in 2017. He has over 8 years of experience and brings to the table a background in cyber-security. As an IT Specialist, John works closely with all GoodSuite’s clients as a trusted advisor. He also graduated from Full Sail University in 2011 and is glad to spend much of his free time volunteering at his local church. John is an avid Star Wars fan.

Jorge Alvarez

IT Analyst

Jorge Alvarez joined GoodSuite at the start of 2018. Since then, he has become our lead Analyst for installations for our various types of technology solutions. Before taking the leap into Information Technology, he attended CSUN to pursue education in law enforcement. Jorge is an avid backpacker and most weekends, you can find him in the Angeles forest doing some exploring. Jorge currently holds a brown belt in Judo and a black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Clint Noji

Manager of Fufillment Operations

Clint has 20 years of Warehousing experience and is certified for Loan Servicing. He is responsible for expediting customer orders and quality control through effective leadership and directing. Known to spread positive vibes among people with great customer service and sharing industry knowledge, Clint is always working hard with a smile on his face. Clint was a lead singer in a band and had played all over Los Angeles, including the Troubadour. Clint also has a twin whom he works with at GoodSuite.

Saleh Shirafkan

Technician

Saleh brings 16 years of industry knowledge to the team and is copier certified on Sharp, Xerox, HP, Samsung, Brother, and Oki. His attention to detail, need for efficiency, and superior customer service skills earns him constant praise from customers and colleagues alike. As a great leader and a fast learner, Saleh is always eager to learn more. When he’s not troubleshooting, Saleh enjoys playing soccer, poker, or solving jigsaw puzzles in his spare time.

Sergio Ruiz

Technician

Sergio has experience in various environments within the electronics industries for 28 years. He has a degree in Applied Science Electronics. He has copier certifications for Xerox, Sharp, and Konica. Sergio possesses strong knowledge of manufactured products sold by GoodSuite and delivers great customer service skills. When not working on machines, Sergio likes to work on personal vehicles in his spare time.

Musa Ra Men

Technician

Musa has been in the copier industry for 30 years. He has a degree from Oxnard Community College. He has copier certifications for Xerox and Sharp and possesses excellent customer communications skills. Musa is a proud father of two daughters who graduated with degrees in chemistry and biology. He will be celebrating 30 years of marriage in 2019. Outside of work he enjoys long walks on the beach and is interested in history and human nutrition.

Garry Dominiak

Technician

Garry has a 30 year history in the industry and carries a degree in electronics technology. He has completed courses with network administration and is also certified for Xerox, HP, Sharp, Samsung, Oki, and Brother copiers. Garry is a demonstrated hard worker who is willing to go above and beyond to complete job tasks. Garry’s interests include education, street bikes, recreational activities, camping, travel, and family time.

Eddie Olmos

Director of IT

Eddie has been with GoodSuite since February 2016. He brings to GoodSuite over 15 year’s experience working in the Information Technology field, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and a wide range of knowledge. Eddie oversees the IT Departments operations, monitoring, and IT projects at GoodSuite. He is also a U.S. Navy Veteran who served during Operation Enduring Freedom on board the USS John C. Stennis. Outside of the office he’s a father to two kids and two dogs and never stops rewatching The Office.

Tanya Nakamura

Accounting Clerk

Tanya brings 8 years of accounting experience to GoodSuite. She gratuated from the University of Hawaii Maui. Tanya brings exceptional work ethic to the team. Along with her knowledge of accounting, she’s a team player and is always available to help our team any way she can. Don’t be mistaken by her quiet demeanor, she’s a strong competitor with integrity first in mind and always works at the speed of business to serve our internal and external customers. In her free time,Tanya likes to challenge herself through playing all type of games, such as board games, puzzles, and computer games.

Colby Noji

Vice President of Service

Colby has been in the copier industry for 27 years. With a degree in electronics and various network certifications, he brings a lot of industry knowledge to GoodSuite. Colby is certified on the following brands: Sharp, Xerox, HP, Samsung, Brother, Oki, Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Canon, and Risograph. He has great customer communications skills and is a strong leader, team player, and self-starter. Outside of the office, Colby likes to bowl, exercise, watch sports, and make trips to Vegas when he gets the chance.

Colby Noji

Vice President of Service

Colby has been in the copier industry for 27 years. With a degree in electronics and various network certifications, he brings a lot of industry knowledge to GoodSuite. Colby is certified on the following brands: Sharp, Xerox, HP, Samsung, Brother, Oki, Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Canon, and Risograph. He has great customer communications skills and is a strong leader, team player, and self-starter. Outside of the office, Colby likes to bowl, exercise, watch sports, and make trips to Vegas when he gets the chance.

Thomas Chacko

Controller

Thomas Chacko holds a master’s degree in Accounting and brings more than 15 years of industry experience to GoodSuite. He has held a variety of roles, which enable him to identify areas of opportunity and solutions quickly. His honest, humble yet determined personality makes him an invaluable resource. Thomas has always enjoyed sports. Highlights of his high school baseball career include pitching two no-hitters. In his free time, he plays both basketball and softball in recreational leagues. He also loves cooking, experimenting with new recipes all the time. If he is not playing sports or cooking, you can find him exploring nature with his family.

Stuart Fratkin

Executive Vice President

You may recognize Stuart from his previous career as a professional actor in which he amassed over 20 years’ experience in entertainment. Most notably, guest starring on Friends, N.Y.P.D and Judging Amy several times. He co-starred in the films Teen Wolf Too as “Stiles” and the cult classic Ski School as “Fitz”. He starred in his own TV series in 1989-1990 called They Came From Outer Space.

In 2002, wanting to transition to a career that could provide steadier income for his family, he started as a Xerox Account Manager. He worked his way up to Training Manager and began his role as Sales Operation Manager with Copier Headquarters in 2006. He was promoted to Vice President of Agency Operations in 2010 and to his current position as Executive Vice President in 2015. Stuart’s main focus is training his sales staff to bring levity to every situation you are in, people always remember who made them laugh. He is focused on being the anti-salesman; creating relationships and reasons to make the office easier to work in, which are always more beneficial than a quick sale.

Dan Strull

Founder / CEO

After graduating from the Marshall School of Business from USC, Dan worked in various roles at Xerox Corporation for 11 years learning the industry before starting Copier Headquarters, now GoodSuite in 1998.

Dan’s focus from day 1 has been to provide the best level of customer service at the speed of business. Dan’s ambition to be the number one vendor in the area is by trying to find a way to improve the level of service by thinking of creative ways and using dynamic consumer tools to stay ahead of the market.

Dan is proud of what he has built and has used the company success to be a beacon in the community and give back. The company feels that giving time and effort is more important and the company provides two days a year for Volunteer Time Off to serve the community. After all, if you are not giving, you are not living.

Christianne Strull

CFO

Christianne Strull graduated from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She has been GoodSuite since its infancy, and her role has expanded along with the company. She is excited to see the growth and transformation of GoodSuite has managed over the years. Christianne enjoys spending time with her family, their dogs and attending USC football games, among other pursuits.

Dan Strull

Founder / CEO

After graduating from the Marshall School of Business from USC, Dan worked in various roles at Xerox Corporation for 11 years learning the industry before starting Copier Headquarters, now GoodSuite in 1998.

Dan’s focus from day 1 has been to provide the best level of customer service at the speed of business. Dan’s ambition to be the number one vendor in the area is by trying to find a way to improve the level of service by thinking of creative ways and using dynamic consumer tools to stay ahead of the market.

Dan is proud of what he has built and has used the company success to be a beacon in the community and give back. The company feels that giving time and effort is more important and the company provides two days a year for Volunteer Time Off to serve the community. After all, if you are not giving, you are not living.

Nasim Attaripour

Marketing Coordinator

Nasim brings 5 years of Graphic Design experience to GoodSuite and has been with the company for a year now. She minored in Psychology and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design from California State University, Fullerton. Nasim is extremely detail oriented, creative, and loves building relationships. Nasim is a big asset to company and her strive to constantly learn more has allowed her to grow from her original position as an Administrative Assistant to her new position as Marketing Coordinator. Nasim is a big Foodie and is constantly searching for new places to dine and has a passion for traveling to new places and learning about new cultures when given the chance.

Michael Shoop

Field Service Supervisor

Field Service Supervisor Michael is a Sharp Master Technician. If you aren’t familiar with that term, it’s a bit like winning Iron Chef – the best of the best. There aren’t a lot of them around. He is a veteran and was with AOA for 30 years. His main service area will be Ventura County. He is also very committed to his customers, and always seeks to provide world class service.

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Sarah Steiger

Admin Manager

Sarah was with AOA for over 30 years. As the admin manager, she wore many hats. She handled contract billing, bids, accounts receivable and supply ordering, among many other things. She has a good relationship with her customers and makes taking caring of them her top priority. You won’t believe it to look at her, but she has 10 grand-kids.

Hector Sevilla

Managed Services Consultant

Hector brings a proven track record of dedicated customer service and value-driven results for his clients. He studied Marketing and Business Administration while on an athletic scholarship for wrestling at the University of Colorado. Hector has over ten years consultative sales experience with a strategic focus throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. Hector has leveraged the ability to satisfy the most rigorous customer interactions, which led him to the Technology Industry, where he has gained knowledge and continues to learn, making him an invaluable resource to business owners he engages with.

Lerik Thongham

Managed Services Consultant

Bio will go here

Mark Marmorstein

Account Manager

Mark has been in Sales and Sales Management for 38 years and 11 years in the Office Solutions Industry. He graduated from Fullerton College and is trained on Xerox, Ricoh, Kyocera, and all Corporate Direct. Mark brings a wealth of experience in Professional Sales and Management, customer service, and is a leading sales professional in follow up and customer satisfaction. Mark also has an adventurous side, and has walked on 10 feet of hot coals at an Anthony Robbin’s seminar.

Gary Dergazarian

Vice President

Gary brings 15 years of experience in the technology, office software, and equipment world. He is a business development professional and a workflow solution solver with proven success as a sales leader in services and technology organizations. Gary has been one of our Top selling producers and strategists year after year. He possesses major strengths such as excellent communication skills and business acumen. Gary is passionate, dedicated, and creative. He thrives when working with other business leaders to find innovative ways to create better efficiency and productivity in their offices, and he is comfortable providing solutions for many different types of industries. He is an avid fisherman and outdoors man. When he is not problem solving, Gary loves to hike, golf, and enjoys cycling.

Jeff Wagner

Account Manager

Jeff Wagner joins GoodSuite from Advanced Office Automation (AOA) and brings great sales momentum.

Ken Sikes

Technician

Ken is our San Luis Obispo technician. He has quite the varied experience and interests, not the least of which is botany, and has taught university level classes.

Dan Strull

Founder / CEO

After graduating from the Marshall School of Business from USC, Dan worked in various roles at Xerox Corporation for 11 years learning the industry before starting Copier Headquarters, now GoodSuite in 1998.

Dan’s focus from day 1 has been to provide the best level of customer service at the speed of business. Dan’s ambition to be the number one vendor in the area is by trying to find a way to improve the level of service by thinking of creative ways and using dynamic consumer tools to stay ahead of the market.

Dan is proud of what he has built and has used the company success to be a beacon in the community and give back. The company feels that giving time and effort is more important and the company provides two days a year for Volunteer Time Off to serve the community. After all, if you are not giving, you are not living.