FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance 60% of small businesses close within six months of a cyberattack. That’s a scary metric, not just for small businesses but for local communities as well. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and when they close, it can have a ripple effect on the entire community.

A recent study from Barracuda Networks, analyzing millions of emails across thousands of companies found that on average small businesses with less than 100 employees will experience 350% more social engineering attacks than larger companies — with 1 in 5 small businesses seeing at least 1 cyberattack last year.

“Hackers no longer rely solely on ‘traditional’ threats such as spam or malware, therefore traditional email filtering technology is no longer sufficient to prevent modern-day attacks.” —  Mike Flouton, VP of Product Management, Barracuda Networks

A cyberattack can result in financial loss, a ruined reputation, and the inability to recover from the attack. Small businesses often lack the resources to recover from cyberattacks, making them especially vulnerable to these types of incidents.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your business data and systems

What is Social Engineering?

Becoming a victim of a cyberattack is a simple and easy mistake without the proper wherewithal and protections. Imagine an employee for your company receiving an email from somebody pretending to be you — their boss. The email uses similar language you use, has a very similar email address, and asks the employee to click on a link or send over a few documents. Without proper training or services to detect the fake email, that employee may click on a virus that infects your whole system or hand over private documents to a hacker without even knowing.

Almost 50% of small businesses have experienced a cyberattack, with nearly all attacks involving some form of social engineering.

Days later your entire system is compromised, you and your client’s data are in the hacker’s hands and you either must pay an exorbitant amount of money to get the data back or it’s lost forever and/or likely sold on the dark web. That is the threat of ransomware. Your company’s future, reputation, and data all rest on the hope that you have the protections in place to secure your data from cyber threats — because it’s not a question of if you’ll be attacked, but when.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your email from viruses, phishing, malware, and more

The Three Ways to Prevent Cyberattacks — AID

Protecting your company data is paramount. Training your staff on identifying these threats and implementing tools and people to combat them is key to surviving as a small business — just as important as profit margins, customer satisfaction, and knowing your industry. Cybersecurity is all of these things, wrapped up in one fragile ecosystem. But there are ways to build resilience!

By creating a plan for action, not a plan of action, you can anticipate these challenges, minimize risk, and prevent these threats before they occur.

► Assess

Gather your core team, senior leadership, investors, and key decision-makers within your company to gauge your current level of cybersecurity.

• Ask questions: Is somebody responsible for our company’s cybersecurity? What safeguards and plans do we have in place in the event of a cyberattack? Is our security strategy cohesive and thorough, or are there areas that require improvement? If necessary, can we identify and address our vulnerabilities?

► Identity

Designate a key figure or company to take charge of your cybersecurity. Conduct a wide sweep of your entire organization to ensure that everyone is aware of cyber threats and can recognize them when they happen.

• Ask questions: Who should we put in charge of our cybersecurity, and/or should we hire an experienced company to protect and maintain our network and systems for us? What is our cybersecurity budget? How can we establish a system to promote accountability? What measures can we take to communicate and raise awareness regarding cybersecurity within our various departments and teams?

► Decide

Create an inventory of your assets, assess their worth, and prioritize your most vital resources — intellectual properties, employee records, customer data, financial information, etc. Contemplate the ways you can protect those assets and weigh the benefits of partnering with a cybersecurity specialist or provider.

• Ask questions: Which assets do we need to safeguard the most? If a client/customer asks us to audit these assets, can we reliably show them that their information is safely protected? Should we enhance our security by backing up our data in a cloud-based solution? In the event of a natural disaster, is our data recoverable? If you are unsure of the answer to these questions, then you may need to seek the help of a cybersecurity specialist like Xobee.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect, backup, and restore your data in the event of a cyberattack

How Does Xobee Protect My Business?

It is a widely known fact that year by year, the frequency of cyberattacks is steadily increasing. Among all the states in the US, California stands out for being at the forefront of cyberattack defense, having experienced more than twice the number of data breaches than any other state.

The confidentiality of your company’s private data should always be shrouded in secrecy. Just as you entrust a doctor to safeguard your health, it is imperative to rely on cybersecurity experts to safeguard your digital footprint and valuable company information.

Despite the alarming surge in cyberattacks by 50% in recent years, most small businesses overlook the importance of investing in cybersecurity. It is only a matter of time before a malevolent actor snatches your company’s sensitive and confidential data.

Rather than being an easy target, take action and protect your business and employees from potential harm. Make it a priority to remain competitive in the current landscape by implementing reliable cybersecurity measures.

Become one of the many business owners taking action to secure their company’s assets and data, and staying vigilant against the rising tide of cyberattacks by contacting one of our team members today.

Learn more:  How Xobee can handle all of your IT needs, with one flat-rate and affordable monthly cost

Xobee now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & The Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

As we continue to come out of the global pandemic, we as a civilization have learned many lessons. One economic lesson, in particular, was learned by small businesses almost immediately: If your business does not have an online presence, then it may as well not exist. Those that adapted to this shift in the consumer market maintained a competitive advantage. Those that didn’t, were likely to see their doors closed for good.

“To stay competitive in this new business and economic environment requires new strategies and practices. Our findings suggest that executives are taking note: most respondents recognize technology’s strategic importance as a critical component of the business, not just a source of cost efficiencies.” —  McKinsey Global Survey of Executives, 2020

The meteoric rise in online purchasing was fueled by the pandemic but continues to increase as people grow more familiar with the technologies, become comfortable with the convenience it offers, and display a willingness to shop online even if sometimes ultimately choose to purchase the same items in-store.

But an online presence can be a double-edged sword for any business. While it can bring your organization new streams of profit growth or open new avenues to more clients/customers, it also puts your company at risk of cyber threats.

That’s where the expertise of a Managed Service Provider (MSP) like Xobee Networks can help save your business, while still empowering you to reach those new growth margins.

Learn more: How you can easily protect your business and save money

How Can a Managed Service Provider Help My Business?

Outsourcing your technology to a Managed Service Provider gives your business a hands-off approach to endpoint protection, innovation, and access to dedicated professionals for both support and installation.

Outsourcing means freeing up more time for you and your business and putting the headache of IT nightmares into the hands of the experts. This simple shift gives your company access to several benefits:

• IT Consulting. Expert installation of hardware, software, network, and infrastructure, from technicians you can trust. Cost-effective network design and start-to-finish project management from a team of professionals, allowing you to focus on your business.
• Advanced Cybersecurity. In today’s technological landscape, the threats are numerous. Protect your business with advanced cybersecurity — shielding you from hackers, viruses, phishing scams, malware, ransomware, and more.
• Website & App Development. Employ a team of highly skilled designers and programmers to build attractive, customer-centric, and easy-to-use websites and apps with tailor-made solutions and industry-leading technology. Flexible pricing, full monitoring and maintenance, and complete optimization are just some perks you can enjoy with an experienced web development team.
• Off-site Data Protection & Recovery. Highly secured disaster recovery solutions and off-site data protection give you peace of mind knowing your data and network are maintained and secure in the event of system failure or total data loss. Whether it’s from a natural disaster, a data breach, or a power failure, rest easy knowing your business infrastructure is safe.
• State-of-the-art VoIP Phone Service. In the past, IP-based phone systems have only been available to ultra-large corporations (Microsoft, GM, IBM, etc.), but with the convergence of technology and cost-effectiveness, these systems are now available to small and medium-sized businesses. With VoIP, businesses are able to lower costs and increase communication by consolidating their Internet and voice communication service with one company.

While all of these are services a small business can facilitate on their own, with a Managed Service Provider both the cost and time spent on these needs are drastically reduced. For small-to-medium-sized businesses, this cost-saving solution provides much-needed support while you focus on growing your business and engaging with your customers.

Learn more: How Xobee can save your small business at an affordable low cost

Cybersecurity Is a Basic Business Need

It’s no secret that with each passing year, cyberattacks are on the rise. California leads the nation in cyberattack mitigation — with over double the amount of data breaches compared to the next closest state. What should be a secret though, is your company’s private data and information.

Just as you trust a plumber to fix faulty pipes or a mechanic to fix your car, you should look to the experts in cybersecurity to protect your digital footprint and company data.

Most small businesses don’t invest in cybersecurity, and with cyberattacks increasing by 50% over these last few years, it’s only a matter of time before your business falls victim to a bad actor who has stolen your company’s proprietary and confidential data.

Don’t be a sitting duck. Stay competitive and protect your business and your people.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your small business with advanced cybersecurity

The Cloud Can Save Your Business

MSP services are more than a shield against cyberattacks, they are also a sword in an ever-changing, ever-growing, competitive business landscape.

To stay competitive in today’s economic world, businesses at the very least need to stay secure and change with the times. That innovation is as simple as securing your data in a virtual desktop cloud.

What does the cloud mean for your business? It means that your business can exist anywhere and everywhere — whether it’s remote offices, work-from-home solutions, or just a simple way to back up and access data within a safe and secure off-site network.

Moreover, the cloud eliminates the need for expensive servers, networks, and storage in an office — saving you excessive overhead and energy costs, as well as precious space.

Learn more: How Xobee can secure your business safe in the cloud

What Next?

We at Xobee Networks are committed to protecting client data, taking proactive measures against cyberattacks, safeguarding our clients’ infrastructure, and building tailor-made technology solutions that serve your business needs. To learn more about how we can future-proof your business, contact one of our team members today.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & The Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

There are several factors at play right now with the world’s economic state, and how that’s affecting small businesses. With a looming recession, high inflation, and supply chain struggles that are fueled by climate change and the ongoing pandemic, some businesses are barely able to keep their head above water.

“SMBs are at a crossroads. Many feel positive about their own company’s prospects and are planning to invest more in their business by increasing their IT spending, for example, but they feel less optimistic about the macroeconomic environment,”— Bob Takacs, Research Director and SMB practice leader at Analysys Mason

While 85% of small businesses cited inflation as the most challenging economic headwind, other unforeseen factors are playing into these pessimistic forecasts. Cyberattacks and data loss caused by natural disasters are just a few examples of the most unpredictable flashpoints that can cause a small business to go bankrupt.

Learn more: How Xobee can future-proof your business from these risks

How You Can Future-Proof Your Business

Despite their discouraged view of the current state of the word, small and medium-sized businesses across the country are hopeful for the future of their brands — expecting a growth in revenue compared to the previous year. This positive outlook is fueled by an increase in protections against key risks, which includes strong investment in IT infrastructure.

“We found that 84% of small business decision-makers believe that investing in the right technologies will help them prepare for the future, which is more important and true than ever,” — Yancey Spruill, CEO of DigitalOcean

After surveying over 550 small-to-medium businesses, startup owners, CEO, and CTOs DigitalOcean found that the vast majority of small businesses that invested in new technology felt they were future-proofing their organizations. Services like cloud solutions, managed services, and hosting ranked among the top priorities for businesses looking to future-proof their services.

The biggest hurdle for businesses in overcoming these technical challenges is the process of actually implementing these changes. Nearly 50% of businesses surveyed reported that the process of migrating to a better technology was somewhat difficult.

That’s where Xobee Networks comes in.

We are the #1 Managed Service Provider for innovative, cost-effective, and cutting-edge technology solutions in California. What that means for you is that we are the tech experts, who take the struggles of technology solutions off your hands — enabling you to focus on your business and your people.

Learn more: How Xobee can help you install and maintain reliable and efficient technology solutions

What Are Your Next Steps in Surviving These Economic Headwinds?

These past few months (and years, really) have seen small businesses struggling, but those surviving these uncertain times are asking themselves these three important questions:

• How is technology serving my business?
• How is technology or the lack thereof affecting my bottom line?
• What can I do to change that?

If the answer is unclear, you need to consult a Managed Service Provider to see how and where new technology services could benefit your business. In some cases, technology shortcomings hinder your profit growth.

How Does a Managed Service Provider Help My Business?

We at Xobee Networks understand how resilient small-to-medium businesses can be when they invest in the right technology. While businesses that are protected by state-of-the-art technologies are not immune to economic downturns, they are far more secure.

The best and most secure decision you can make when avoiding any form of bankruptcy is to invest in the right business strategies. This includes infrastructure, technology upkeep, and technology services that aid your business efficiencies and security.

Learn more: How Xobee can handle all of your IT needs, with one flat-rate and affordable monthly cost

We at Xobee Networks are committed to protecting client data, taking proactive measures against cyberattacks, safeguarding our clients’ infrastructure, and building tailor-made technology solutions that serve your business needs. To learn more about how we can future-proof your business, contact one of our team members today.

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & The Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist

According to the Better Business Bureau, online scams rose by nearly 90% from 2015 to 2022, while phone scams have dropped by 42%.

“The shift in scam tactics is driven by a range of factors such as the rise of social media, world events, and changes in consumer behavior.” — Melissa Lanning Trumpower, Executive Director of the BB Institute for Marketplace Trust

In 2022 alone, scams that were committed online outweighed all other scams by 55%, with 75% of people losing money when targeted by fraudsters — the highest percentage to date.

Other scam delivery methods such as texting, phone, and postage mail are also rising at an unprecedented rate. One of the newest ways scammers are defrauding companies is by impersonating other businesses and using SMS messaging services to reach a larger portion of targets that are offline.

“While online scams are the most prevalent, the new way they’re finding the victims is by using impersonations and text messaging,” — Jessica Hamlin, Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio

The biggest targets for scammers are people between 18-24 and small businesses, according to the Better Business Bureau, with vendor fraud being one of the most sinister ways scammers deceive their victims.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your small business from vendor fraud

The Most Common Small Business Scams

Business Email Compromise or “BEC”. This is one of the most prevalent ways scammers defraud small businesses, resulting in more losses than any other type of business fraud in the U.S. BEC is an email phishing scam targeting payroll and finance departments — anyone who pays the bills. The fraudster pretends to be a vendor, asking for payment or money to be wired to an account they control. Sometimes they won’t ask for money, but rather just personal information about the victim or their company.

Fake Invoices. Your business will receive a fake invoice, through email or the postal service, demanding you pay for a product or service you never ordered or received. These fake invoices look official, and oftentimes fly under the radar. Always check the fine print of any invoice you receive, and if it’s fake it’ll likely say it’s a solicitation.

Example of a Fake Invoice

Directory Scams. Directory scams have been around for years. The scams involve fraudsters attempting to trick businesses into purchasing ad space for a fake directory. Regardless if the directory actually exists or not, the listing will never deliver potential clients or customers. Even if the directory sounds real, it’s not. Your business will be billed hundreds of dollars for ad space you didn’t agree to which generates no new business.

Learn more: How Xobee can protect your email from spam, viruses, and more

The Most Common Small Business Scam Tactics

• Scammers pretend to be somebody you trust or a trusted company.

• Scammers create a sense of urgency to rush you into a bad decision.

• Scammers use intimidation and fear.

• Scammers typically use untraceable payment methods.

Learn more: How Xobee can help protect your business from scammers

The Best Way to Protect Your Business from Scammers

The best and most secure decision you can make when avoiding any form of cyberattack — whether it’s scammers, viruses, ransomware, or more — is to invest in a cybersecurity budget.

We at Xobee Networks are the premier Managed Service Provider for innovative, cost-effective, and cutting-edge technology solutions in California. With over 25 years of experience, our highly skilled team of technicians has helped businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and other organizations by providing advanced cybersecurity against these rising threats.

We are committed to protecting client data, taking proactive measures against cyberattacks, and safeguarding our clients’ infrastructure. To learn more about how we can protect you from these ongoing threats, contact one of our team members today.

Other Ways To Protect Your Business

Outside of investing in a secure and trusted company like ours, there are a few things you can do in-house to avoid being defrauded.

Source: The Better Business Bureau & The Federal Trade Commission

Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & The Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.

Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks

FRESNO, California (Business Wire) —

Today, Xobee Networks, California’s largest-growing Managed IT Support company, is announcing the acquisition of Myers Network Solutions; San Jose’s partner of choice for computer business technology. This acquisition continues to build on the success of Xobee Networks and its clients, by allowing Xobee to scale resources and products to an even larger range of businesses in the San Jose area.

Earlier this year, Xobee Networks signed a definitive agreement with Myers Network Solutions to purchase the San Jose-based company for $1.7 million dollars, maintaining the entire staff at Myers and welcoming them to the growing team of talented technology experts within the Xobee Networks family of brands.

“Through this investment, Xobee will embolden and scale our resources and services to clients within San Jose and across the state. We are investing in Myers Network Solutions because they are the marquee computer business solutions experts in San Jose, and we are well-positioned to help strengthen their team, resources, and products toward current and future clients.” — Eric Rawn, Xobee Networks Founder & CEO

Myers Network Solutions is comprised of reliable long-term employees and experts in the technology space. By adding them to the Xobee team of over 100 highly skilled tech experts, Xobee Networks can expand its offerings of enterprise-level computer business solutions such as Managed Support, cloud computing, cybersecurity, telecommunications, web development, networking, and more at an affordable cost.

Since the agreement between Xobee Networks and Myers Network Solutions earlier this year, Xobee has been able to increase revenue month over month with an 18% growth in host services offerings.

About Xobee Networks

Xobee Networks, a Managed IT Service company, has thousands of clients throughout the state of California, including law firms, school districts, nonprofits, construction, and other businesses. Through Xobee’s wide range of technology services and exceptional customer support, Xobee makes technology a successful component for businesses and organizations at an affordable price.

Xobee Networks was founded by Eric Rawn as a single-person consulting firm in 1996. Eric was ranked one of the top 40 business leaders under the age of 40 in 2008 and is actively involved with other socially responsible organizations.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Eric Rawn, please Cody Sarhan at 559-579-1400 x736 or e-mail at csarhan@xobee.com.

FRESNO, California (The Business Journal) —

Xobee Networks, the premier Managed IT Support tech experts across California, is today announcing the acquisition of Interconnect Networks — a pioneer in technology solutions based in Palm Springs, California. Interconnect has been an oasis of trustworthy, fast, and affordable technology for clients within the Sonoran Desert for many years, and now is a cornerstone member of the Xobee Networks family of brands.

The acquisition of Interconnect enables Xobee to empower businesses and other organizations throughout the state by further extending technology services, cybersecurity, and network support to more businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. With the advancement of the modern workforce, Xobee aims to equip companies with more efficient and cost-effective IT support solutions.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Interconnect to the Xobee team. Their expertise, experience, and strong commitment to clients will only strengthen our own company culture and capabilities as we continue to advance and grow our suite of technology solutions. We are excited to offer our services to a new region of clients within Palm Springs and be a gateway into affordable but effective technology solutions that they may previously have not had access to.” — Eric Rawn, Xobee Networks Founder & CEO

Xobee will work with Interconnect to enhance its services and capabilities in cybersecurity, managed support, cloud solutions, web design, and computer network maintenance and monitoring. With a client-first mentality, Xobee seeks to bring new and existing clients the most advanced and affordable technology solutions. This continues to further Xobee’s position as the leading provider of IT services and support that are both affordable and effective, no matter where you are.

About Xobee Networks

Xobee Networks, a Managed IT Service company, has thousands of clients throughout the state of California. Through Xobee’s wide range of technology services and exceptional customer support, Xobee makes technology a successful component for businesses and other organizations, at a price that is affordable.

Xobee Networks was founded by Eric Rawn as a single-person consulting firm in 1996. Eric was ranked one of the top 40 business leaders under the age of 40 in 2008 and is actively involved with other socially responsible organizations.

If you would like to schedule an interview with Eric Rawn, please contact him directly at 559-579-1400 x711 or e-mail at erawn@xobee.com.