1. Eliminates costly inefficiencies related to routine work

Repetitive tasks do not generate revenue, they drain it. Every hour spent on routine maintenance is an hour not spent improving client systems, identifying upsell opportunities or expanding service offerings. This inefficiency slows response times, reduces client satisfaction and ultimately leads to higher churn rates, which negatively impacts your bottom line.

Automation solves this by eliminating the manual workload, allowing technicians to focus on high-value tasks that drive profitability. According to our upcoming 2025 Global MSP Benchmark Survey Report, nearly 60% of MSPs ranked automation, including auto-remediation of tickets, as the most valuable RMM feature.

Some of the ways automation helps cut costs and improve efficiency are:

• Fewer on-site visits and emergency calls: Automated monitoring and remediation allow for remote issue resolution, reducing infrastructure and labor costs.
• Optimized software licensing: Better resource allocation ensures that MSPs only pay for the licenses they actually need instead of overprovisioning.
• Reduce downtime-related losses: Proactive automation keeps systems up and running, reducing financial losses associated with downtime for both MSPs and their clients.
• Minimize SLA breaches and penalties: Automated alerts, patching and system optimizations help meet SLAs consistently, preventing costly service credits or contract penalties.

2. Helps you scale cost-effectively

Every new client brings more tickets, more maintenance and bigger security challenges. Without streamlined processes, the only way to keep up is to hire more technicians, which drives up payroll costs and cuts into precious profits.

Instead of expanding your team, automation helps you do more with the resources you already have. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed in minutes without constant technician intervention. This efficiency increases revenue per technician, driving higher profitability per client and improving overall margins.

The survey also found that winning new clients is the biggest challenge for MSPs in 2025, with competition making it harder to stand out. Without automation, scaling will only get tougher. By automating routine tasks, the leadership team can shift focus from daily IT operations to building a strong sales infrastructure, improving marketing efforts and expanding the client base.

Check out Kaseya’s Partner First Pledge, designed to share both the success and risk our partners experience.

3. Enables more reliable service for higher profitability

MSPs that struggle with slow response times, unresolved tickets and inconsistent service risk losing business to competitors who deliver faster, more reliable support. Frustrated clients lead to churn, negative reviews and lost revenue.

Automation makes IT support faster, more proactive and highly efficient. Instead of waiting for problems to escalate, MSPs can resolve issues instantly, often before clients even realize there is a problem. Here’s how automation helps you deliver better service and drive profitability:

• Faster resolution, happier clients: Automated IT monitoring fixes issues in real-time, reducing downtime and ticket volume. Clients enjoy seamless IT support, leading to stronger retention and fewer escalations.
• Proactive vs. reactive support: Scheduled maintenance, automated updates and AI-driven diagnostics reduce emergency fixes, lowering operational costs while improving service efficiency.
• Consistent, high-quality service: Manual processes leave room for human error and inconsistency. Automation creates standardized workflows and delivers predictable outcomes, so every client receives the same high level of service — critical for securing long-term contracts.
• Increased client referrals and upsell opportunities: Happy clients stay longer, renew contracts and recommend your MSP to others.

4. Makes security your strong suite

Security is not just another service on your roster — it is a key driver of profitability. Our MSP Benchmark Survey found that MSPs earning 15% or higher margins have advanced security services in their portfolio. However, offering cybersecurity alone is not enough. To command higher prices and scale profitably, automation is essential.

Cyberthreats are relentless, and ransomware attacks, data breaches and compliance failures can lead to devastating legal fees, regulatory fines, downtime and lost business. Worse, a single security lapse can permanently damage your reputation, making it harder to retain or attract clients.

Automation is the key to delivering strong, scalable security while keeping costs under control. Here’s how:

• Premium security equals higher margins: You can differentiate your MSP by offering advanced security solutions, like managed detection and response (MDR), AI-driven threat protection and automated compliance management, that justify higher service fees.
• Lower incident response costs: Automating patching, vulnerability scanning and endpoint protection prevents issues before they escalate, reducing the need for expensive emergency response efforts.
• Scaling without hiring a full security team: Cybersecurity expertise is expensive. Instead of hiring a team of specialists, automation enables your team to manage security at scale with AI-driven threat detection, automated response playbooks and proactive monitoring.
• Stronger compliance: Meeting security and compliance standards manually is time-consuming and expensive. Automated security tools ensure policies are enforced, logs are maintained and reports are generated instantly, helping avoid costly fines and contract breaches.

5. Empower technicians to perform and drive revenue

When technicians are buried under repetitive tasks, productivity drops, burnout sets in and top talent walks out the door. Losing skilled IT professionals is costly and disruptive, making it harder to scale your MSP.

Now, imagine a stress-free team where technicians log in to start their day and see that routine patches, updates and security scans have already run overnight. Instead of wasting time on tedious maintenance, they focus on high-impact projects that strengthen client relationships, improve service quality and create new revenue opportunities.

Automation frees technicians to do their best work and actively contribute to business growth. Here’s how:

• Lower stress, fewer mistakes: Automating routine tasks reduces errors, prevents downtime and helps meet SLAs effortlessly.
• More time for high-value work: Technicians can focus on strategic initiatives, security improvements and proactive client support instead of endless troubleshooting.
• Increased revenue potential: A technician who is not overwhelmed with busy work can spot upsell opportunities, recommend security enhancements and drive service expansions — turning IT support into a profit center.

Scale and save with Kaseya 365 Endpoint

You don’t need multiple tools or a complicated strategy to achieve everything we just covered. One solution does it all. Kaseya 365 Endpoint gives you everything you need to manage, secure, back up and automate your endpoints, all under a single subscription. By consolidating tools into one powerful platform, you reduce licensing costs, eliminate manual inefficiencies and lighten the administrative workload. With up to 70% cost savings, your MSP is set up for success — less stress, more control and the confidence todominate your market. Click here to know more about Kaseya 365 Endpoint.

The post Top 5 Ways Automation Increases Profitability appeared first on Kaseya.

With the latest Automated Posting & Invoice Creation feature in Kaseya BMS, we’re making billing easier than ever. This enhancement gives you more control, flexibility and efficiency in your invoicing workflows, eliminating tedious manual tasks and ensuring accuracy every step of the way.

Automate what matters: More control, less work

Previously, Kaseya BMS had three automation options for billing. Now, with improved naming, added descriptions and two additional Action Types or Workflows, you have even more flexibility in customizing your billing workflows.

The five billing automation Action Types:

1. Post Line Items for Invoice Creation (Previously Post > Billing): Automates posting of line items for invoice creation.
2. Post Line Items and Generate Invoices (Previously Post > Billing > Invoices): Automates both posting line items and generating invoices.
3. Complete Billing: Post, Create Invoice and Generate PDF (Previously Generate Invoice PDF): Automates posting, invoice creation and PDF generation.
4. Create Invoices from Ready-to-Bill Items (New): Automates invoice generation of previously posted line items.
5. Generate Invoice PDFs (New) – Automates the creation of PDF copies of previously generated invoices.

By breaking down these tasks into separate automation actions, you gain full control over your billing process and can tailor automation to your specific needs.

Why this matters for your business

• Save time and reduce manual work: Instead of spending hours manually posting line items and generating invoices, let automation handle it. Your team can now focus on higher-value work instead of repetitive administrative tasks.
• Improve accuracy and reduce errors: Billing mistakes can lead to delays and disputes. Automating invoice creation ensures consistency, accuracy and timely billing, reducing human error and improving cash flow.
• Flexible workflows for every business need: Not all businesses want to automate the entire process. Some only want to post line items, while others just need invoice PDFs. With these new automation types, you get to choose exactly how you want to streamline your billing.
• A competitive edge in IT billing: Billing automation has long been a major selling point for Kaseya BMS, setting it apart in the PSA market. Unlike other solutions, BMS gives you true end-to-end automation for your invoicing workflows, ensuring you stay ahead in efficiency and operational excellence.

Get started with automated billing today

With the latest enhancements, automating your billing in Kaseya BMS is easier than ever. Simply navigate to your billing automation settings, select the workflow that suits your needs and let BMS handle the rest. Say goodbye to tedious manual invoicing and hello to a faster, more reliable and fully automated billing process.

Want to see it in action? Book a demo with one of our product experts and experience the power of automated billing with Kaseya BMS.

The post Streamline Your Billing Process With Kaseya BMS Automated Posting & Invoice Creation appeared first on Kaseya.

NIST is globally recognised for its comprehensive Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), a benchmark for managing cybersecurity risks. On the other hand, Essential Eight, developed by the ACSC, outlines eight key strategies that establish a baseline security framework to mitigate common threats.

While NIST is widely implemented across industries in the United States and has broad applicability worldwide, Essential Eight is tailored to the needs of organisations in Australia and New Zealand. Let’s explore how these frameworks can streamline compliance efforts and enhance your organisation’s cybersecurity.

What is NIST?

The NIST CSF, established by the U.S. Department of Commerce, is one of the most trusted standards for managing cybersecurity risks. First introduced in 2014 in response to an executive order to strengthen critical infrastructure security, it has grown into a global benchmark for best practices thanks to its flexibility and scalability. The latest Version 2.0 was released on February 26, 2024.

NIST CSF takes a risk-based approach, a strategy that helps organisations focus on the most pressing threats. By addressing the highest-risk areas first, organisations can allocate resources more effectively and minimise potential impacts. Instead of applying uniform measures across all areas, this approach focuses on identifying vulnerabilities, prioritising responses and aligning security efforts with business goals.

Core NIST CSF functions

The framework is built around five primary functions that outline the critical activities required to achieve comprehensive cybersecurity:

• Identify: Gain a clear understanding of your organisation’s critical assets, including data, systems and infrastructure, to determine what is at risk. This involves assessing potential vulnerabilities, mapping system dependencies and recognizing external threats that could impact operations.
• Protect: Establish safeguards to secure critical systems and data. This includes implementing access controls, encryption, employee training and other proactive measures to prevent unauthorised access or misuse.
• Detect: Set up monitoring and detection systems to identify potential cybersecurity events or unusual activities in real-time. These mechanisms help uncover threats early, allowing for faster responses.
• Respond: Create and implement a detailed response plan to address identified threats or breaches. This includes clearly defining roles, communication strategies and actions to mitigate an incident’s impact.
• Recover: Develop strategies to restore operations following a cybersecurity event quickly. This involves data restoration, system recovery, and evaluating the effectiveness of a response to improve future preparedness.

Key industries and applications

NIST CSF is widely adopted across industries due to its adaptability and comprehensive approach. Key sectors include:

• Government and defences: Mandated by federal regulations, NIST is crucial role in securing national security assets and critical infrastructure.
• Healthcare: Ensures compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, protecting patient data and maintaining its confidentiality and integrity.
• Finance: Helps financial institutions manage risks, safeguard sensitive information and secure transactions.
• Energy: Protects vital infrastructure, such as power grids and pipelines, from potential cyberattacks.
• Technology and telecommunications: Adopted by IT service providers and software vendors to meet global compliance standards and enhance security practices.
• Education: Protects sensitive student and institutional data from breaches, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and maintaining trust in academic systems.
• Retail: Secures payment processing systems, customer information and supply chain data, helping retailers mitigate risks like data breaches and payment fraud.
• Manufacturing: Protects operational technology, proprietary designs and intellectual property from cyberattacks, ensuring continuity in production and safeguarding competitive advantages.

NIST’s broad applicability and detailed guidelines make it an invaluable tool for organisations aiming to establish a strong cybersecurity foundation. 

What is Essential Eight?

The Essential Eight, developed by Australia’s leading authority on cybersecurity, the ACSC, was created to tackle the rising threat of cyberattacks. Formed to strengthen Australia’s digital infrastructure, Essential Eight provides businesses with clear, actionable steps to secure IT environments, mitigate vulnerabilities and minimise the impact of cyber incidents.

Recognising that many organisations, particularly small and midsize enterprises (SMEs), struggle to implement complex cybersecurity frameworks, the ACSC designed Essential Eight to combat frequent and preventable threats. These include ransomware, data breaches and phishing attacks, which pose significant risks to organisations of all sizes.

The framework focuses on eight core strategies that help businesses establish a baseline level of protection, ensure critical assets are safeguarded and simplify compliance requirements.

The Eight Core Strategies

These eight strategies target common vulnerabilities and are designed to mitigate risks effectively. They are:

• Application whitelisting: Only allow trusted applications to run on systems, preventing malicious software from executing.
• Patch applications: Regularly update software to fix vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
• Configure macros: Restrict the use of macros in documents is a common source of malware infections.
• Restrict administrative privileges: Limit access to administrative accounts to reduce the potential impact of compromised credentials.
• Patch operating systems: Keep operating systems up to date to protect against known security issues.
• Multifactor authentication (MFA): Implement MFA to enhance login security by requiring multiple forms of verification.
• Daily backups: Perform regular backups of critical data to ensure recovery in the event of data loss or ransomware attacks.
• User application hardening: Disable unnecessary features, such as Flash or Java, to reduce the attack surface.

Focus on Australian and New Zealand businesses

The Essential Eight is particularly relevant for businesses in Australia and New Zealand, where cybersecurity awareness is growing alongside the rising threat of cyberattacks. Essential Eight’s localised approach sets it apart, addressing the unique cybersecurity challenges organisations face in these countries. At the same time, it aligns with global cybersecurity standards, ensuring businesses in the region can protect themselves effectively while meeting broader expectations. This combination of practicality and adaptability has made it a trusted choice for improving cybersecurity across various sectors.

Additional Reading: Top Compliance Standards and the Differences Between Them: SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST and PCI DSS

Key differences between NIST and Essential Eight

While both NIST and Essential Eight aim to enhance cybersecurity, their approaches and applications differ significantly. Below is a comparative summary of the two frameworks.

Similarities between NIST and Essential Eight

Although NIST and Essential Eight are distinct frameworks tailored to different regions and needs, they share several core principles. These similarities highlight their shared commitment to improving cybersecurity and reducing risks for organisations.

Risk management as a cornerstone

Both frameworks emphasise the importance of risk management in cybersecurity. They guide organisations in identifying potential threats, assessing vulnerabilities and prioritising actions to mitigate risks effectively.

Shared principles of protection, detection and response

NIST and Essential Eight both prioritise the essential activities of protecting systems, detecting threats and responding effectively to incidents. NIST organises cybersecurity principles into broad core functions, like protection, guiding organisations to implement measures systematically as part of a larger framework. Essential Eight, in contrast, provides specific, actionable steps like enabling MFA or performing daily backups, making it quicker for businesses to address immediate risks.

Overlapping requirements

Both frameworks address common cybersecurity practices, including:

• Patch management: Regularly updating software and operating systems to close security gaps.
• Access control: Restricting user privileges to reduce unauthorised access risks.
• Incident response planning: Establishing protocols for efficiently managing and recovering from security breaches.

Improved security posture and risk mitigation

Both frameworks aim to enhance organisational security and minimise the impact of cyberthreats. By implementing their guidelines, organisations can create a robust security environment that proactively addresses vulnerabilities and ensures continuity during incidents.

Best practices for adhering to both NIST and Essential Eight

Adhering to NIST and Essential Eight can be a powerful way to build a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. By combining the strengths of both frameworks, IT professionals can effectively address vulnerabilities and maintain operational resilience. Here are practical steps for aligning with both standards:

Risk assessment and baseline establishment

NIST’s approach focuses on identifying risks and monitoring for potential attacks. The framework emphasises early detection to prevent or minimise damage. Essential Eight’s approach prioritises remediating risks and responding to vulnerabilities as soon as they’ve been identified.

Best Practice: Use NIST guidelines to establish a risk management process that detects and assesses threats early. Apply Essential Eight’s actionable strategies to address vulnerabilities immediately and reinforce security controls.

Patch management

Patching is a core requirement for both NIST and Essential Eight. It ensures that vulnerabilities in software and operating systems are resolved promptly.

Best practice: Automate the patching process to save time, reduce errors and ensure compliance. Regularly update both applications and operating systems to close security gaps and prevent exploitation.

Access control and privilege management

Both frameworks emphasise restricting user access to reduce the attack surface.

Best Practice: Implement MFA to secure account access and adopt least privilege policies, granting users only the permissions necessary for their roles. This minimises the impact of compromised credentials.

Incident response

NIST’s Response and Recovery functions provide a robust framework for planning, containing and recovering from security incidents. Essential Eight strategies reinforce incident response with regular backups and privilege restrictions to limit damage.

Best practice: Combine the strengths of both frameworks by using NIST’s detailed guidelines to build incident response plans and Essential Eight’s specific strategies (e.g., daily backups) to ensure quick recovery.

Additional Reading: 5 Tips for Incident Response Plan

Automation

Automation plays a crucial role in effectively implementing NIST and Essential Eight strategies. It simplifies compliance and enhances an organisation’s ability to stay ahead of evolving risks.

• Use automation tools to continuously monitor systems for compliance with both NIST and Essential Eight standards, such as tracking access controls, system updates and security configurations.
• Automate routine security checks and patch management to minimise the risk of vulnerabilities, ensuring systems are always up to date with minimal manual intervention.
• Implement automated remediation processes to respond quickly to vulnerabilities or detected threats, reducing downtime and minimising potential damage.

By combining NIST’s focus on proactive monitoring with Essential Eight’s actionable strategies, organisations can create a streamlined, efficient approach to cybersecurity that is both practical and comprehensive.

Additional Reading: Maximize Efficiency With Kaseya 365’s Automation Power

How Kaseya 365 simplifies compliance through automation

For IT professionals, managing compliance while maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture can feel like juggling competing priorities. The constant need to address risks, adhere to regulations and respond to threats often overwhelms teams. This is where Kaseya 365 transforms the game, using automation to simplify compliance and streamline security management.

Kaseya 365 has two configurations — Kaseya 365 Endpoint and Kaseya 365 User.

Kaseya 365 Endpoint

Kaseya 365 Endpoint provides everything needed to manage, secure, backup and automate endpoints under a single subscription. From ensuring consistent patching to enforcing security policies, Kaseya 365 Endpoint helps organisations maintain compliance effortlessly.

• Compliance Advantages: Automatically apply and track updates, enforce endpoint policies and generate compliance reports, reducing the risk of missed requirements.
• Automation Perks:  It automates routine tasks like patch management, threat detection and system monitoring, freeing up IT teams to focus on higher-priority tasks.

Kaseya 365 User

Kaseya 365 User is tailored to prevent, respond to and recover from user-based threats through tools like anti-phishing, security awareness training, simulation and testing and dark web monitoring.

• Compliance Advantages: Automates user training and testing schedules to meet regulatory requirements for cybersecurity awareness and threat preparedness.
• Automation Perks: Delivers ongoing security awareness programs and actively monitors user vulnerabilities, ensuring proactive protection with minimal manual oversight.

Together, the Endpoint and User configurations provide a unified, automated approach to compliance, empowering IT teams to maintain a strong security posture while eliminating the complexity of manual processes. With Kaseya 365, compliance becomes seamless, proactive and efficient.

Benefits of using Kaseya 365

Kaseya 365 integrates critical IT management tools into a single platform, leveraging automation to handle repetitive and resource-intensive tasks easily.  Automation ensures that essential compliance and security measures are implemented consistently, minimising human error and saving valuable time. Here’s how automation in Kaseya 365 helps align with NIST and Essential Eight:

• Reduced manual workload for IT teams: Automation eliminates repetitive tasks, enabling IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives and reducing burnout.
• Real-time monitoring: Automated tools continuously monitor systems for vulnerabilities and compliance gaps, ensuring issues are flagged before they escalate.
• Compliance reporting: Generate detailed compliance reports at the click of a button, simplifying audits and reducing the manual effort involved in tracking adherence to NIST and Essential Eight standards.
• Patch management: Keeps applications and operating systems updated automatically, meeting NIST’s risk mitigation guidelines and Essential Eight’s patching requirements.
• Incident response: Pre-built response playbooks automate containment and recovery actions during security incidents, ensuring rapid and effective remediation.
• Enhanced efficiency through centralization: Combines IT management tasks into one platform, streamlining workflows, reducing redundancy and boosting productivity.
• Scalability across regions and industries: Kaseya 365 is adaptable to businesses of all sizes and designed to meet the needs of organisations operating in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

By leveraging these benefits, Kaseya 365 transforms compliance and cybersecurity into manageable, efficient processes for organisations.

Additional Reading: Break Free From Your IT Groundhog Day: Top Tasks to Automate

The future of compliance made simple

Understanding frameworks like NIST and Essential Eight is essential for building a strong cybersecurity foundation, but managing compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With its unified approach and automation-driven features, Kaseya 365 simplifies compliance and strengthens security across your organisations. Take the first step toward seamless IT management and enhanced protection. Book a demo of Kaseya 365 today.

The post NIST vs Essential Eight: Compliance Standards for IT Professionals Made Easy appeared first on Kaseya.

The introduction of Collision-Free Ticketing and Cooper Copilot brings powerful features designed to streamline workflows, improve accuracy and enhance service delivery — all at no additional cost. Together, they represent a significant leap forward, enabling IT teams to work smarter and faster. Here’s everything you need to know about these game-changing features.

Collision-Free Ticketing: Smoother workflows, zero overlap

Handling service tickets is a critical function for any IT team, but overlapping efforts often lead to inefficiencies and user confusion. Collision-Free Ticketing addresses this pain point by ensuring that your team is always aligned and informed.

Key Benefits:

• Real-time collaboration alerts: The system intuitively displays when another technician is viewing the same ticket, preventing duplicate work or overwritten updates. This ensures efforts are not wasted and resources are effectively utilized. Technicians no longer need to worry about stepping on each other’s toes while working on the same issue.
• Instant change notifications: Any modifications made to a ticket’s fields are immediately visible to other users accessing the same ticket, maintaining data integrity and avoiding miscommunication. This minimizes the risk of conflicting updates and ensures everyone is on the same page.
• User response awareness: If an end user adds a note or responds to the ticket while a technician is drafting a reply, the system ensures the latest updates are visible before the response is sent. This avoids redundant responses and maintains professionalism in communication, fostering better relationships with users.

By eliminating unnecessary overlaps and improving communication between team members, Collision-Free Ticketing streamlines ticket resolution and enhances customer satisfaction.

Cooper Copilot: AI-powered assistance for technicians

AI is reshaping industries, and Kaseya is bringing this transformative technology to its PSA solutions with Cooper Copilot. Designed specifically for BMS and Vorex, this AI assistant empowers technicians with tools to deliver faster, more accurate service while easing the cognitive load of complex tasks.

Cooper Copilot’s core features:

1. Smart Ticket Summary

   Technicians often lose valuable time navigating lengthy email chains to understand an issue. With AI-generated summaries, Smart Ticket Summary provides concise overviews of email threads or escalations, highlighting key details and actionable next steps. This allows technicians to focus on resolving issues efficiently without getting bogged down in unnecessary reading.

2. Smart Writing Assistant

   Communicating technical details clearly to end users can be challenging. The Smart Writing Assistant helps technicians craft clear, professional and user-friendly responses, ensuring updates are both accurate and easy to understand. By enhancing communication, this tool fosters trust and clarity while maintaining a polished, professional tone.

3. Smart Resolution Summary

   Documenting resolution steps manually is often tedious and time-consuming. Smart Resolution Summary automates this process, capturing detailed resolution steps to build a knowledge base for future reference. This feature not only accelerates problem-solving for individual technicians but also boosts team-wide collaboration and efficiency over time.

Cooper Copilot leverages state-of-the-art large language models (LLMs) to interpret human language with remarkable speed and accuracy. This capability equips technicians with insights that improve their efficiency and customer interactions, making AI an indispensable part of the IT workflow.

Why these features matter

Kaseya’s introduction of Collision-Free Ticketing and Cooper Copilot underscores its dedication to enabling IT professionals to do more with less effort. These tools simplify day-to-day operations, reduce errors and empower teams to focus on delivering exceptional service. Importantly, they’re included at no additional cost, providing immediate value without straining budgets.

A new standard for PSA tools

With the addition of these features, BMS and Vorex solidify their status as industry-leading solutions for IT professionals. Whether it’s preventing ticketing missteps or harnessing AI to streamline resolutions, Kaseya continues to deliver tools that redefine productivity and user satisfaction.

For IT teams looking to elevate their service desk performance, the message is clear: innovation doesn’t have to come at a premium. Collision-Free Ticketing and Cooper Copilot are here to transform the way you work — efficiently, seamlessly and affordably.

The post Kaseya Delivers More Value to BMS and Vorex Users With AI-Powered Features at No Additional Cost appeared first on Kaseya.

With the stakes higher than ever, automation of cybersecurity processes has become indispensable for organizations to ensure their safety. And that’s where a comprehensive and unified remote monitoring management (RMM) solution like Kaseya 365 can be your game changer. By automating critical processes, like real-time monitoring, patching and rapid threat response, Kaseya 365 not only mitigates cyber-risks like ransomware but also prevents IT teams from burnout and guarantees considerable cost savings.

In this blog, we’ll discuss how Kaseya 365 leverages automation to tackle today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. From automating tasks like patch management to real-time monitoring and efficient threat response, we’ll explore how Kaseya 365 streamlines your cybersecurity processes, cuts costs and bolsters resilience against evolving cyberthreats.

The transformative role of automation in cybersecurity

As ransomware attacks become increasingly sophisticated and relentless, manual cybersecurity processes find it challenging to keep up. The latest ransomware attacks leverage leading-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and malicious tools like infostealer malware to infiltrate and paralyze systems stealthily. By automating essential cybersecurity processes, organizations can strengthen their defenses, detect these threats early and act quickly to contain threats.

Here are some of the ways automation drives cybersecurity success:

• Reduced risk of human errors: Cybersecurity tasks that rely solely on human input are vulnerable to mistakes, which can expose systems to threats. Automation minimizes these risks by ensuring consistent, accurate execution of routine tasks.
• Increased efficiency and speed in threat response: Automated systems detect and respond to threats in real-time, drastically reducing the time it takes to identify and mitigate risks. This faster response not only limits potential damage but also allows IT teams to act on issues before they escalate.
• Enhanced focus on strategic initiatives: With automation handling repetitive, time-consuming tasks, cybersecurity teams are free to concentrate on high-impact, strategic initiatives like improving overall security frameworks and developing long-term cybersecurity strategies.

Automating patch management: A critical step in ransomware defense

With outdated software and unpatched vulnerabilities providing easy entry points for cybercriminals, patch management is a critical frontline defense against ransomware attacks. However, manual patch management comes with significant challenges — teams often struggle with missed patches, overlooked vulnerabilities and outdated systems due to limited resources. Such gaps create a larger attack surface, increasing an organization’s vulnerability to ransomware. Additionally, manual patching is also time-consuming, placing extra strain on IT teams and delaying other crucial security efforts.

How Kaseya 365 automates patch management

Kaseya 365 simplifies and strengthens patch management by automating the entire process, ensuring seamless, consistent protection across all systems.

• Automated detection of vulnerabilities and missing patches: Kaseya 365 continuously scans for software vulnerabilities and missing patches, automatically identifying gaps that could expose the network to attacks.
• Risk-based patching with CVSS score integration: The solution prioritizes patches based on the risk level defined by the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), addressing high-risk vulnerabilities first to provide optimal protection.
• Scheduled patch deployment during off-hours: Kaseya 365 enables scheduling of patch deployment during non-business hours, ensuring updates don’t disrupt daily operations.
• Compliance reporting: It also generates detailed compliance reports to verify that all systems are updated, helping teams maintain regulatory standards and a stronger security posture.

Benefits of automated patch management with Kaseya 365

Automating patch management with Kaseya 365 provides significant benefits for organizations looking to strengthen their defenses while reducing the strain on IT teams.

• Reduces the attack surface: Consistent, automated patching keeps vulnerabilities closed, lowering the risk of ransomware exploitation.
• Minimizes manual effort and prevents burnout: Automation handles the bulk of patching, allowing IT teams to focus on higher-value tasks and preventing fatigue from repetitive patch management.
• Ensures timely updates for security and compliance: By keeping systems up to date and compliant with regulatory standards, Kaseya 365 supports a robust, proactive defense against ransomware and other cyberthreats.

Automating monitoring: Strengthening cybersecurity with proactive detection

Continuous, real-time monitoring is critical to identifying ransomware and other cyberthreats early before they can cause serious harm. By constantly tracking system activity and behavior, organizations can gain invaluable insights into potential vulnerabilities and unusual patterns that could signal an impending attack. Without automated, round-the-clock monitoring, threats can go unnoticed until it’s too late.

How Kaseya 365’s monitoring capabilities enhance security

Kaseya 365 provides powerful, automated monitoring tools that enable organizations to stay ahead of threats and ensure a proactive approach to cybersecurity.

• 24/7 monitoring of network activities, endpoints and user behavior: Kaseya 365 continuously monitors every endpoint and network activity, enabling comprehensive visibility into an organization’s digital environment.
• Instant alerts for suspicious activities: When anomalies or suspicious patterns suggest a potential threat, Kaseya 365 sends instant alerts, allowing teams to address issues before they escalate.
• Threat intelligence integration: By integrating threat intelligence feeds, Kaseya 365 keeps teams informed about the latest emerging threats, ensuring that defenses stay up to date with current trends in cybercrime.

The benefits of real-time monitoring with Kaseya 365

Automating monitoring with Kaseya 365 delivers critical advantages for cybersecurity teams, enabling them to maintain a robust defense without constant manual oversight:

• Proactive threat detection: Real-time monitoring allows teams to detect and respond to threats before they become full-scale incidents.
• Reduced manual oversight and team fatigue: Automated alerts and monitoring reduce the need for continuous manual checks, allowing IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine surveillance.

Automating remediation: Fast, seamless recovery from attacks

In the event of a ransomware attack, time is your most valuable asset and every second counts. The longer the ransomware gets to spread across an organization’s systems, the more damage it inflicts, compromising data, disrupting operations and driving up recovery costs. A rapid, automated response is essential to contain the threat immediately, limit its reach and minimize the potential harm to business operations.

How Kaseya 365 delivers automated remediation

Kaseya 365 is equipped with robust, automated remediation capabilities that allow IT teams to act instantly and effectively in response to an attack.

• Automated isolation of infected endpoints: When a potential ransomware infection is detected, Kaseya 365 automatically isolates compromised endpoints from the network to prevent further spread.
• Execution of pre-defined response scripts: Pre-configured scripts initiate critical actions, such as shutting down system access, logging suspicious events and collecting data for later investigation.
• Seamless integration with backup and disaster recovery: For rapid restoration, Kaseya 365 integrates with backup and disaster recovery solutions, ensuring quick access to data backup and reducing downtime.

Benefits of automated remediation with Kaseya 365

By automating the remediation process, Kaseya 365 provides organizations with significant advantages that strengthen their resilience against attacks.

• Quickly mitigate attack impact: Automated isolation and response contain the ransomware immediately, reducing the scope of the damage.
• Minimize downtime and disruption: Fast remediation ensures that systems are restored and operational with minimal interruption, ensuring business continuity.
• Shift focus to recovery and investigation: With initial containment handled automatically, IT teams can concentrate on restoring data and investigating the attack, enabling a faster, more thorough recovery.

Why Kaseya 365 is the solution you need for comprehensive cybersecurity

Kaseya 365 brings together a powerful suite of automated tools that address the essential needs of an advanced cybersecurity strategy, offering a complete solution for organizations looking to effectively defend against today’s complex cyberthreats, like ransomware.

• Comprehensive patching automation: With automated patching that includes flexible scheduling and compliance tracking, Kaseya 365 ensures that vulnerabilities are consistently addressed, keeping systems protected without burdening IT teams.
• Advanced monitoring with real-time intelligence: Kaseya 365’s monitoring capabilities deliver constant oversight, complete with instant alerts and real-time threat intelligence integration. This proactive approach empowers teams to spot and respond to risks before they can escalate, maintaining a strong security posture.
• Efficient, automated remediation: Kaseya 365 simplifies remediation with automated threat isolation and streamlined restoration processes, enabling organizations to contain potential threats quickly and restore operations without delay.

With Kaseya 365, organizations have a robust, unified solution that strengthens endpoint security and minimizes the load on IT teams — all without breaking the bank.

Take control of your cybersecurity with Kaseya 365

Automating cybersecurity processes with a robust RMM solution like Kaseya 365 provides powerful protection against today’s most advanced threats. By streamlining essential tasks, such as patching, continuous monitoring and rapid response, Kaseya 365 reduces vulnerabilities, protects systems proactively and lightens the load on IT teams. The result? Unparalleled cybersecurity, reduced costs and empowered teams ready to focus on strategic priorities.

Experience the difference automation can make for your cybersecurity. Schedule your free demo today.

The post How RMM Automation Reduces Ransomware Risk, IT Burnout and Cost appeared first on Kaseya.

In this blog, we’ll discuss three of 2024’s most chilling ransomware incidents, exploring what went wrong for the victims. But don’t worry — we won’t leave you in the dark. We’ll also share actionable strategies and powerful tools to help you stay protected from growing ransomware threats.

Cyber hauntings of 2024: Inside the year’s scariest ransomware attacks

Let’s uncover three of the year’s most devastating incidents, exploring how attackers breached defenses and the scale of damage they left behind.

Incident 1: CDK Global ransomware attack

The victim: CDK Global, a prominent software service provider for the automotive industry, serves nearly 15,000 dealer locations across the U.S. and Canada. Headquartered in the U.S., CDK’s software underpins essential dealership operations, supporting vehicle sales, financing, insurance and repairs. With its broad client base, CDK Global has been a critical player in the industry’s daily digital operations.

The haunting: In June 2024, CDK Global became the target of a severe ransomware attack orchestrated by the BlackSuit ransomware gang. The attack led to the encryption of CDK’s critical files and systems, forcing the company to shut down its IT infrastructure. However, as CDK worked to recover from this initial breach, a second cyberattack struck, compounding the damage and heightening the disruption across their network.

The chaos: The attack sent shockwaves through the automotive industry in both the U.S. and Canada, significantly disrupting operations across dealerships and automakers. Unable to rely on CDK’s software, dealerships had to revert to manual processes, creating widespread delays in vehicle sales and services. The financial repercussions were staggering: a study from the Anderson Economic Group (AEG) estimated losses of over $1 billion for auto dealerships during the outage.

The wreckage: The incident left lasting scars on CDK Global’s reputation within the automotive sector. Beyond operational disruptions, the ransomware group reportedly received $25 million in ransom. Additionally, CDK Global faces a heavy financial toll, agreeing to pay $100 million in a nationwide class action settlement with retail auto dealerships impacted by the cyberattack.

Incident 2: Ivanti ransomware attacks via Connect Secure and Policy Secure gateways

The victim: Ivanti, a U.S.-based IT management and security company, provides essential software solutions for IT security and systems management to over 40,000 organizations worldwide. Ivanti’s Connect Secure virtual private network (VPN) solution is widely relied upon by corporations, universities, healthcare organizations and banks, enabling secure remote access for employees and contractors across the globe.

The haunting: In December 2023, Ivanti’s Connect Secure and Policy Secure gateways became the focus of a sustained attack by Chinese state-sponsored hackers. These attackers exploited multiple zero-day vulnerabilities, allowing them to bypass authentication, craft malicious requests and execute commands with elevated privileges. Despite Ivanti’s efforts to release patches, attackers quickly identified and exploited new flaws, turning these gateways into a recurring target for infiltration and control. A third vulnerability in Ivanti’s VPN products soon followed, deepening the threat and raising alarms across industries.

The chaos: As news of these exploits spread, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in partnership with international cybersecurity agencies, issued an urgent advisory on the widespread exploitation of Ivanti’s VPN vulnerabilities. Although Ivanti has since patched the affected products, security researchers warn that the risk of additional attacks remains high, with more threat actors likely to exploit these flaws, potentially impacting numerous organizations.

The wreckage: With over 40,000 customers worldwide, including critical sectors such as healthcare, education and finance, Ivanti’s VPN vulnerability has created a lingering security crisis. Any unpatched devices connected to the internet are at high risk of repeated compromise, leaving organizations exposed. This underscores the critical importance of continuous monitoring and swift patching to thwart cyberthreats.

Incident 3: Change Healthcare ransomware attack

The victim: Change Healthcare, a key subsidiary of UnitedHealth, processes nearly 40 percent of all medical claims in the U.S. As one of the country’s largest healthcare payment processors, Change Healthcare plays a vital role in the seamless operation of healthcare billing, payment services and patient data management.

The haunting: In February 2024, Change Healthcare fell victim to a ransomware attack executed by the BlackCat ransomware gang. Leveraging stolen credentials, the attackers infiltrated Change Healthcare’s data systems, exfiltrating up to 4TB of highly sensitive patient data. The gang then deployed the ransomware, paralyzing healthcare billing, payment operations and other essential processes. This attack has been described as one of the most significant threats ever encountered by the U.S. healthcare system.

The chaos: The ransomware incident triggered a nationwide healthcare crisis, disrupting patient access to timely care and exposing personal, payment and insurance records. In the wake of the attack, reports indicate that Change Healthcare paid a non-verified ransom of $22 million in hopes of securing the stolen data. However, the aftermath of the breach left a profound impact on healthcare services and patients’ trust in the system.

The wreckage: The investigation revealed that the breach exploited a lack of multifactor authentication (MFA) on remote access servers, a basic requirement under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. In response, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a formal investigation, scrutinizing the unprecedented risk posed to patient care and privacy from this catastrophic incident.

Unmasking the gaps: Common security failures behind ransomware attacks

Ransomware attacks often exploit overlooked security gaps, haunting even the most established organizations. As seen in Ivanti’s case, unpatched devices create an entry point for cybercriminals, while Change Healthcare’s lack of MFA left its systems exposed. In this section, we’ll explore four critical security gaps that pave the way for ransomware attacks, revealing the common pitfalls that organizations must address to protect themselves.

1. Lack of timely software patches and updates

Outdated software is an open invitation for ransomware. When organizations delay updates and skip patches, they leave critical vulnerabilities exposed, creating easy access points for attackers. As we saw in Ivanti’s case, unpatched systems allow cybercriminals to exploit known weaknesses. This highlights the urgent need for routine patch management to close dangerous gaps.

• Insufficient endpoint protection for VPNs and remote devices

With remote work becoming the new norm, endpoint security for VPNs and remote devices has become critical. Insufficient protection can turn remote connections into entry points for ransomware. Cybercriminals often target weakly secured remote devices to gain network access, making robust endpoint protection vital to secure VPNs and all remote devices.

• Lack of continuous monitoring and proactive threat detection

Without continuous monitoring, ransomware can lurk undetected, spreading through systems before anyone realizes it. Proactive threat detection is crucial in spotting suspicious activities early on, giving security teams a chance to halt attacks in their tracks.

• Weak backup and disaster recovery plans

A weak backup and disaster recovery strategy can turn a ransomware attack into an operational catastrophe. Without reliable, up-to-date backups, organizations will be forced to negotiate with attackers or face prolonged downtime. Strong backup and disaster recovery plans ensure that even if ransomware strikes, recovery is swift, minimizing disruption and reducing attackers’ leverage.

Building a shield: Key strategies to combat ransomware

Here are four essential strategies to strengthen your cybersecurity and keep ransomware attacks at bay.

1. Proactive patch management

Keeping all software and VPNs up to date is crucial in shutting down known vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Proactive patch management ensures that organizations stay a step ahead, closing security gaps and making it harder for ransomware to infiltrate through.

• Implementing MFA and strict access controls

Implementing MFA and stringent access controls for devices and VPNs adds an essential layer of defense. By requiring multiple verification steps, MFA makes it significantly harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access.

• Comprehensive endpoint security and monitoring

With every device acting as a potential entry point, endpoint security is critical. By securing and continuously monitoring all devices connected to the network, organizations can quickly identify and respond to suspicious activity, stopping ransomware in its tracks.

• Regular backups for quick recovery

Frequent, reliable backups ensure that even if ransomware strikes, organizations can recover quickly without having to pay a ransom. By maintaining recent copies of critical data, businesses can minimize downtime and restore operations with minimal disruption.

How Kaseya 365 protects you from ransomware

Ransomware has swiftly ballooned into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with cybercriminals leveraging cutting-edge technologies and tactics to launch large-scale, sophisticated attacks. However, organizations can effectively defend against these relentless threats with a comprehensive approach, and that’s where Kaseya 365 comes into the picture.

Kaseya 365 offers a robust cybersecurity suite to help you tackle ransomware threats with ease and confidence. By automating critical processes, like 24/7 real-time monitoring, patch management and rapid threat response, Kaseya 365 helps successfully defend against cyber-risks like ransomware.

• Real-time 24/7 monitoring to detect threats early: Kaseya 365’s real-time monitoring gives organizations instant visibility into every endpoint and network activity. Its continuous surveillance enables you to detect suspicious behaviors early, allowing security teams to intervene before ransomware can spread, minimizing the risk of costly damage and downtime.
• Automated patch management for proactive protection: With automated patch management, businesses can confidently stay ahead of ransomware risks. The solution scans continuously for software vulnerabilities and automatically identifies any gaps that could expose the networks. Scheduling updates during non-business hours means security never interrupts your productivity, while detailed compliance reports help you effortlessly meet regulatory standards.
• Multi-layered endpoint security: Kaseya 365’s multi-layered endpoint security protects every entry point into your network. This includes comprehensive mobile device management, ensuring all devices are secured and continuously monitored. With this level of endpoint security, you can confidently support remote work without opening doors to ransomware attacks.
• Fast recovery with integrated backup and disaster recovery: In the event of an attack, Kaseya 365’s backup and disaster recovery solutions enable quick restoration of critical data and systems, minimizing operational disruption. This integrated approach allows organizations to resume business without delay, bypassing ransom demands and ensuring resilience even in the face of ransomware.

As ransomware threats continue to grow in frequency and sophistication, strengthening cybersecurity defenses is more critical than ever. Kaseya 365 empowers organizations to stay protected by eliminating ransomware and other cyberthreats, all while reducing IT burnout and lowering costs. Don’t wait until it’s too late — secure your organization’s future with comprehensive, proactive protection. Get a free demo today and see how Kaseya 365 can keep you one step ahead of threats like ransomware.

The post Ransomware Horror Stories of 2024 and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Kaseya.

To stay compliant, businesses rely on key standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST and PCI DSS, which offer essential guidelines for meeting regulatory requirements. In this blog, we’ll break down these compliance frameworks, explore their differences and explain how they help organizations meet their compliance needs.

Top compliance frameworks

With cyberthreats becoming increasingly advanced over the years, more stringent regulations have been implemented to mitigate their risks. These regulations play a key role in keeping data safe, protecting customer information and building trust in today’s complex digital world.

Let’s take a quick look at the four major compliance frameworks that IT professionals follow:

• System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2): This standard focuses on managing customer data by following five principles — security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.
• International Organization for Standardization 27001 (ISO 27001): An international standard that helps organizations manage information security. It provides a framework for creating, implementing, maintaining and improving an information security management system (ISMS).
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): This offers a set of security guidelines originally for government agencies but is now widely used by private organizations to enhance their cybersecurity practices.
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): This standard ensures that companies processing, storing or transmitting credit card information maintain a secure environment to protect against fraud and data breaches.

With the right tools and systems, IT professionals can simplify compliance, automate audits and manage multiple frameworks more easily. This helps maintain ongoing compliance and quickly address any issues, allowing teams to focus on innovation and growth while staying secure and aligned with regulations.

Note: Regulation and Compliance Updates Every IT Professional Needs to Know

SOC 2: Protecting customer data with rigorous security controls

SOC 2 is a must-have compliance standard for any organization that handles customer data, so let’s examine it more closely.

What is SOC 2?

Developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), SOC 2 is a set of compliance criteria focused on how organizations manage and protect customer data. It ensures that businesses have proper processes in place to safeguard sensitive information and meet strict security standards.

Purpose: SOC 2 is based on five key principles that guide how data should be managed:

• Security: It ensures systems are protected against unauthorized access, covering measures like firewalls, encryption and multifactor authentication.
• Availability: It guarantees systems remain accessible as per service-level agreements (SLAs), with backup solutions, disaster recovery and monitoring in place to minimize downtime.
• Processing integrity: It ensures data is processed accurately, completely and promptly, reducing the risk of errors or data corruption.
• Confidentiality: Enforces strict controls so that only authorized individuals can access sensitive data. This includes access controls, encryption and secure data disposal when no longer needed.
• Privacy: Ensures personal data is collected, used and shared in line with the organization’s privacy policies and regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA, throughout its entire lifecycle.

What SOC 2 aims to accomplish

SOC 2 is designed to help organizations across industries achieve the following key goals:

• Data protection: SOC 2 ensures strong safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access or breaches. It also guarantees that systems remain available and maintain data integrity, so businesses can meet operational demands without disruption.
• Privacy: It enforces strict controls to ensure customer data is handled responsibly. This includes restricting access to sensitive information, ensuring it is used only for its intended purpose, and securely disposing of it when no longer needed.
• Trust: Demonstrating SOC 2 compliance shows clients and partners that a business is committed to protecting their data. This builds trust and credibility, reassuring stakeholders that their information is secure.

Who follows SOC 2?

SOC 2 is commonly followed by:

• SaaS providers: Software-as-a-Service companies that handle user data.
• Cloud computing companies: Organizations that provide cloud-based services and manage customer information.
• Any business storing customer data in the cloud: Including hosting providers, managed service providers and third-party vendors.

ISO 27001: Setting the global standard for information security management

ISO 27001 is a globally recognized standard that provides a clear framework for managing information security. Here’s a simple breakdown:

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is an international standard that outlines the requirements for creating, maintaining and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It helps organizations identify, assess and manage security risks in a structured way.

Purpose: The goal of ISO 27001 is to help organizations evaluate potential threats to their information systems and put security measures in place that align with their business objectives, such as maintaining productivity, protecting intellectual property and building customer trust. By aligning security measures with these goals, businesses can better allocate resources and balance risk management with growth.

What ISO 27001 aims to accomplish

ISO 27001 is designed to help organizations achieve the following goals:

• Systematic security management
  • Policy development: Establish clear policies for how information is managed, shared and protected.
  • Implementation of controls: Use technical, administrative and physical controls to protect information from threats.
  • Ongoing monitoring and review: Regularly audit and review security practices to keep the ISMS effective and up to date.
• Risk management
  • Risk assessment: Regularly identify and evaluate threats to information systems.
  • Risk treatment: Implement security measures to mitigate or eliminate risks.
  • Prioritization: Focus on the most critical risks based on their potential impact.
  • Incident response planning: Develop a plan to handle security incidents quickly to minimize damage.
  • Continuous monitoring: Keep an eye on emerging threats and update security strategies as needed.

Who follows ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is commonly followed by:

• Multinational corporations: Large global companies looking to standardize their security practices across multiple locations and jurisdictions.
• Financial institutions: Banks, insurance companies and other financial services that handle vast amounts of sensitive customer and transaction data.
• Organizations with global reach: Any business that needs to meet international security standards, especially those handling critical data or operating in highly regulated industries.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework: U.S. government standards for security

The NIST CSF offers clear guidelines to help organizations improve their cybersecurity. Here’s what it covers:

What is NIST?

NIST is a voluntary framework created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It provides a structured way for organizations to manage and reduce cybersecurity risks, with the flexibility to tailor it to their specific needs.

Focus: NIST CSF provides best practices for identifying and managing vulnerabilities, strengthening security systems and building resilience. This helps businesses protect their data and systems from potential cyberattacks.

What NIST aims to accomplish

NIST CSF is designed to help organizations across industries achieve the following goals:

• Identify: Understand the assets, data and systems at risk.
• Protect: Implement safeguards to ensure critical infrastructure and data are secured.
• Detect: Put mechanisms in place to identify potential cybersecurity events.
• Respond: Develop plans to react to detected security breaches or incidents.
• Recover: Enable quick recovery from cybersecurity incidents to minimize damage and downtime.

Who follows NIST?

NIST is widely adopted by:

• Government agencies: Used extensively by U.S. government bodies to protect sensitive data and systems from cyberthreats.
• Defense contractors: Defense and aerospace companies rely on NIST standards to meet strict cybersecurity requirements.
• Highly regulated industries: Sectors such as finance, healthcare and critical infrastructure that require strong security protocols often turn to NIST for guidance.

PCI DSS: Payment card industry data security standard

The PCI DSS sets important guidelines to ensure businesses that handle credit card information maintain a secure environment. Here’s a breakdown:

What is PCI DSS?

PCI DSS is a set of security standards designed to protect payment card data. It applies to any business that processes, stores or transmits credit card information, ensuring they have the proper security measures in place to keep payment data safe.

Focus: These standards cover key areas like network security, encryption, monitoring and incident response to protect cardholder data throughout every stage of a transaction.

What PCI DSS aims to accomplish

PCI DSS is designed to help businesses:

• Protect cardholder data: Securely store and handle credit card information, ensuring that data is encrypted, protected and only accessible by authorized personnel.
• Prevent fraud and breaches: Reduce the risk of data breaches and fraud by enforcing strict security controls for all systems involved in processing payment information.
• Maintain a secure payment environment: Establish a secure, compliant environment for handling transactions, reducing the likelihood of payment fraud.

Who follows PCI DSS?

PCI DSS is commonly adopted by:

• E-commerce companies: Online businesses that handle digital payments rely on PCI DSS to secure customer payment data.
• Retail businesses: Brick-and-mortar stores that accept credit card payments must follow PCI DSS to protect transactions and customer information.
• Financial institutions: Banks, payment processors and credit card companies use PCI DSS to ensure the safe handling of payment data.
• Any business handling credit card transactions: Whether online or in person, any organization that deals with credit card payments needs to comply with PCI DSS.

Key differences between SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST and PCI DSS

This table highlights how these standards differ in terms of focus, scope and certification processes, helping organizations choose the right framework based on their needs.

How Kaseya can help simplify your compliance journey

Navigating the complexities of compliance can be challenging for any organization, but Kaseya offers integrated tools designed to streamline the process, ensuring your business meets the requirements of frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST and PCI DSS easily.

Kaseya’s Compliance Manager GRC is a powerful tool that automates many of the time-consuming tasks involved in compliance. It helps IT professionals manage risk assessments, policy creation and compliance reporting with ease. By automating these processes, Compliance Manager GRC reduces the burden of meeting compliance requirements, making it simpler to stay aligned with various frameworks.

For businesses operating within Microsoft 365 environments, Kaseya 365 offers an all-in-one solution to unify data security and compliance. It provides continuous monitoring, management, and protection of critical cloud data, helping ensure that your organization remains compliant while also safeguarding sensitive information.

Drive growth with Kaseya’s powerful tools

With Kaseya’s tools, managing compliance becomes much easier. You can streamline the entire process, reduce the complexity of handling multiple frameworks and focus on growing your business without sacrificing security. Schedule a demo of Compliance Manager GRC and Kaseya 365 today to see how these solutions can simplify your compliance efforts and help you meet your security goals.

The post Top Compliance Standards and the Differences Between Them: SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST and PCI DSS appeared first on Kaseya.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

HIPAA is a critical regulation for IT professionals working in the healthcare sector since it establishes national standards for protecting sensitive patient information. The act is divided into several key components, including the privacy rule, security rule and breach notification rule, each of which outlines specific requirements for managing and securing patient data.

• Privacy rule: Focuses on safeguarding patient information, ensuring that it’s kept confidential and only shared when necessary.
• Security rule: Sets standards for the secure handling, transmission and storage of electronic protected health information (ePHI).
• Breach notification rule: Mandates the procedures to follow in the event of a data breach, including notifying affected individuals and reporting the breach to the appropriate authorities.

Recent changes to HIPAA

HIPAA regulations have evolved to address the growing needs of modern healthcare IT environments, particularly with the rise of telehealth and remote work. Some recent updates include:

• Privacy rule adjustments: New provisions allow for more flexibility in sharing patient information during public health emergencies, enhancing patient care without compromising privacy.
• Guidelines for secure communications: With the increasing use of telehealth, new guidelines have been introduced to ensure that patient data remains secure during virtual consultations.
• Enhanced enforcement: There has been a significant increase in the enforcement of HIPAA regulations, with stricter penalties for non-compliance, particularly in cases of data breaches and improper handling of patient information.

Impact on IT professionals

The recent changes to HIPAA regulations require IT professionals to adapt their strategies for data management and security. Key considerations include:

• Data handling and storage: IT teams must review and update their data storage protocols to ensure they align with the latest privacy and security requirements. This includes using encryption and secure data transfer methods.
• Security measures: Implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) and regular audits are crucial steps in maintaining compliance. IT professionals must ensure that all systems and devices used in the healthcare setting are properly secured against unauthorized access.
• Remote work compliance: With more healthcare professionals working remotely, IT teams must develop strategies to secure remote access to patient data. This includes providing secure VPNs, monitoring remote sessions and ensuring that all remote devices meet HIPAA security standards.

Additional reading: Automated HIPAA Compliance: IT Automation Makes it Simple

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

PCI DSS is a critical framework for businesses that handle payment card information, ensuring that sensitive data is protected from breaches and fraud. It sets forth a series of security controls and requirements designed to safeguard cardholder data throughout its lifecycle.

Core requirements: PCI DSS outlines 12 core requirements designed to protect cardholder data, ensure secure systems, and continuously monitor and test networks. These requirements cover everything from implementing strong access control measures to maintaining a secure network. They are:

• Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data.
• Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters.
• Protect stored cardholder data.
• Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks.
• Use and regularly update antivirus software or programs.
• Develop and maintain secure systems and applications.
• Restrict access to cardholder data based on business needs.
• Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access.
• Restrict physical access to cardholder data.
• Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data.
• Regularly test security systems and processes.
• Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel.

Security controls: The standard also emphasizes the importance of maintaining security controls, such as encryption, to protect data both at rest and in transit.

Recent changes to PCI DSS

The latest version of PCI DSS, such as PCI DSS v4.0, introduces several updates aimed at addressing the evolving landscape of payment security. Key changes include:

• New encryption requirements: The latest updates have strengthened encryption standards, ensuring that payment card data is protected even more robustly against potential breaches.
• Enhanced authentication measures: New guidelines emphasize the need for stronger authentication protocols, including multifactor authentication, to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive payment information.
• Vulnerability management enhancements: The updates also introduce more rigorous requirements for vulnerability management, ensuring that businesses are proactive in identifying and addressing potential security weaknesses.
• Flexible security approaches: PCI DSS v4.0 offers more flexibility, allowing organizations to customize their security measures to better fit their specific risk environment while still meeting the standard’s requirements.

Impact on IT professionals

These updates to PCI DSS require IT professionals to make significant adjustments in how they manage and secure payment card data. Here’s what these changes mean for day-to-day operations:

• Security protocol adjustments: IT teams will need to revisit and update their security protocols to align with the new encryption and authentication requirements, ensuring that all systems are compliant.
• Adoption of new technologies: Compliance may necessitate the implementation of new tools and technologies, such as advanced encryption methods and more robust authentication systems, to meet enhanced security standards.
• Continuous monitoring and risk assessment: There’s an increased focus on ongoing monitoring and risk assessment. IT professionals will need to ensure that their systems are continuously tested and monitored for vulnerabilities, maintaining a proactive stance against potential security threats.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

GDPR is a cornerstone of global data protection, setting the standard for how personal data should be handled, especially within the European Union (EU). It has far-reaching implications for businesses worldwide, as it governs the collection, storage and processing of personal data, ensuring that individuals’ privacy rights are respected.

Key principles: GDPR is built around several fundamental principles, including data minimization, accuracy and storage limitation. It also establishes strict guidelines for data processing, requiring that organizations obtain clear consent and provide transparency about how data is used. The key principles are:

• Lawfulness, fairness and transparency
• Purpose limitation
• Data minimization
• Accuracy
• Storage limitation
• Integrity and confidentiality (security)
• Accountability

Individual rights: GDPR enshrines several rights for individuals, such as the right to access their data, the right to be forgotten and the right to data portability. These rights empower individuals to have greater control over their personal information. Here are the eight individual rights the GDPR protects:

• The right to be informed
• The right of access
• The right of rectification
• The right to erasure
• The right to restrict processing
• The right to data portability
• The right to object
• The right to not be subject to automated decision-making

Recent changes to GDPR

GDPR continues to evolve as new challenges and interpretations arise. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) regularly issues updates and clarifications that impact how businesses must comply with GDPR.

• EDPB updates: Recent guidance from the EDPB has provided additional clarity on complex issues, such as the legal basis for processing data and the obligations of data controllers and processors.
• Data transfer guidelines: One of the most significant developments involves the implications of the Schrems II decision, which invalidated the Privacy Shield framework for transatlantic data transfers. New guidelines have been introduced to ensure that international data transfers meet GDPR’s strict requirements.
• Increased enforcement: There has been a notable increase in penalties and enforcement actions, with regulators imposing substantial fines for non-compliance. This trend underscores the importance of adhering to GDPR’s provisions.

Impact on IT professionals

For IT professionals, these developments mean staying vigilant and proactive in managing data protection and compliance efforts.

• International data transfers: IT teams must ensure that all data transfers, particularly those involving third countries, comply with the new guidelines. This may involve revisiting existing data transfer mechanisms and implementing additional safeguards.
• Strengthening data protection: With the increased scrutiny and penalties, it’s essential to strengthen data protection measures. This includes regularly updating security protocols, conducting data protection impact assessments, and ensuring that data processing activities are fully compliant with GDPR.
• Keeping up with EDPB guidelines: Staying informed about the latest EDPB guidelines and recommendations is crucial. IT professionals need to regularly review these updates and adjust their practices accordingly to ensure ongoing compliance.

Recent changes by regulatory agencies (FCC and others)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a crucial role in regulating communications and technology, impacting a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, broadcasting and internet services. IT professionals must stay informed about FCC regulations since they can directly affect how technology and communications infrastructure is managed and secured.

• Net neutrality regulations: The debate over net neutrality has led to several changes in FCC regulations, affecting how internet service providers (ISPs) manage and prioritize data traffic. These changes have significant implications for how data is transmitted across networks and could impact the performance and accessibility of online services.
• Cybersecurity requirements: In response to increasing cyberthreats, the FCC has introduced new cybersecurity requirements for telecommunications providers. These regulations are designed to protect critical communications infrastructure and ensure that providers are taking the necessary steps to secure their networks against potential attacks.

Other regulatory updates

Beyond the FCC, there have been important updates from other regulatory bodies that IT professionals must be aware of, especially regarding privacy and cybersecurity.

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA ): The CCPA has undergone several amendments, tightening the rules around how businesses collect, store and share consumer data. These changes require businesses to enhance their data protection practices and offer greater transparency to consumers about their data rights.
• State-level privacy laws: Several states have introduced their own privacy laws, creating a complex patchwork of regulations that businesses must navigate. These state-level laws often have unique requirements, making it essential for IT teams to stay informed and ensure compliance across different jurisdictions.
• NIST Updates: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continues to update its cybersecurity frameworks, providing new guidelines and best practices for protecting information systems. These updates are particularly relevant for IT professionals responsible for maintaining robust security measures and ensuring that their organizations adhere to the latest standards.

Impact on IT Professionals

These regulatory changes require IT professionals to be agile and proactive in adapting their practices to meet new standards and requirements.

• Telecommunications regulations: IT teams need to stay updated on changes in telecommunications regulations, particularly those introduced by the FCC. This may involve adjusting network management practices and ensuring that cybersecurity measures align with the latest requirements.
• Privacy and cybersecurity measures: With the tightening of privacy laws like CCPA and the introduction of new state-level regulations, IT professionals must enhance their data protection strategies. This includes implementing stronger access controls and data encryption and ensuring that consumer data is handled in accordance with the latest legal requirements.
• Monitoring state-level developments: As more states introduce their own privacy and cybersecurity laws, it’s critical for IT teams to monitor these developments and adjust their compliance strategies accordingly. Keeping up with these changes will help avoid potential legal pitfalls and ensure that the organization remains compliant across all regions where it operates.

Essential resources for IT professionals

Keeping up with regulatory changes can be challenging, but there are plenty of resources available to help IT professionals stay informed like:

• Official websites: Regulatory bodies like the FCC, EDPB and NIST regularly update their websites with the latest guidelines and changes.
• Industry associations: Joining industry associations, such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) or the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), can provide valuable insights and networking opportunities.
• Professional networks: Engaging with professional networks and forums, both online and offline, can help you exchange knowledge with peers and stay ahead of industry trends.

Stay compliant and secure with Kaseya 365

As regulations evolve, so must the strategies and tools that IT professionals use to protect data, manage networks and ensure privacy.

This is where Kaseya 365 comes in. Designed with these evolving needs in mind, Kaseya 365 integrates endpoint management, security, backup and automation into a single, cohesive platform. With everything you need to manage your endpoints available on one screen, you can quickly take the right actions at the right time.

This streamlined approach not only enhances your efficiency but also ensures that your systems remain compliant with the latest regulations, giving you peace of mind in a constantly changing landscape. Experience the power of Kaseya 365 for yourself — schedule a demo today to see how this all-in-one platform can help you stay ahead of regulatory changes and keep your systems secure and compliant.

The post Regulation and Compliance Updates Every IT Professional Needs to Know appeared first on Kaseya.

Learn How Kaseya is Changing the Game for MSPs

As an MSP, you know how essential you are to your customers’ viability and ultimate success.

Your role in ensuring all systems are always available and always secure has become exponentially more difficult in the past decade. Shouldn’t your books reflect that?

Unfortunately, the unit economics of the MSP industry have not yet caught up with the complex challenges and the value that MSPs provide. Unlike legal, financial and other professional services firms — which can take a month-long hiatus without significantly impacting their clients’ day-to-day operations — an MSP that goes dark for even a short time could return to find customers’ doors shuttered.

Similarly, a corporate legal or accounting crisis at midnight is rare and can wait until morning; an IT outage typically demands immediate resolution.

Yet, despite being the unsung heroes who keep SMBs (and, by extension, the broader economy) running smoothly, MSPs worldwide average profit margins of only 8% to 12%, while legal and financial services firms consistently achieve 30% to 35% profit margins.

Kaseya’s mission: To change the unit economics for MSPs

A decade ago, Kaseya set out on a journey to right this financial injustice. A major milestone in this mission came with the recent launch Kaseya 365.

Kaseya 365 is the first significant step toward enabling MSPs to achieve profit margins comparable to those of the legal, financial and other professional service firms that also serve their customers.

In the few short months it’s been available, Kaseya 365 has added over $300 million of annual run rate profitability to the 4,000-plus partners that have adopted it.

This is just the beginning. The next step in this transformation will be announced at DattoCon Miami in October. Following DattoCon, we’ll have an announcement in Washington, D.C. in late January 2025. The fourth and final announcement will be made in Las Vegas in April 2025 at Kaseya Connect Global.

Don’t wait. See the impact Kaseya 365 can have on your business.

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Small to midsized businesses (SMBs) are often called the drivers of economic growth and innovation. Unlike big enterprises that have systems and policies firmly rooted in place and may experience change at a slower pace, SMBs move with greater agility and enjoy a rapid pace of growth.

However, they are also vulnerable to major shifts in technology and the economy and must examine their budgets carefully before making a business decision. The Future of IT Survey Report (2024), previously known as the Kaseya IT Operations Survey, aims to provide insights into key trends shaping IT departments at midsized organizations, helping our readers anticipate what lies ahead and align themselves with the larger market direction.

In this blog, we have highlighted the most important takeaways from the report, giving you a quick and easy way to stay informed. We highly recommend that you read the full report to see the complete picture. 

Five key insights and observations

Here are five key takeaways from the survey:

AI is the star of the show

Love it or hate it, AI has numerous practical applications. With the ability to automate tedious tasks and speed up processes, it’s no surprise companies are rushing to adopt it. With 28% of organizations focusing on AI and 29% aiming to boost IT productivity through automation, it’s clear that leveraging this new technology to simplify things is a key strategy.

Looking ahead to 2025, automation and AI are poised to be big spend areas, with 40% of the respondents prioritizing investments in IT automation, 37% in AI and machine learning, and 23% in ChatGPT.

Access the full report here to get insights on the impact businesses expect from AI.

Cybersecurity first

Compared to a decade ago, when cybersecurity was an afterthought in IT budgets, it’s now a top priority for organizations. After experiencing some devastating cyberattacks, businesses have learned the hard way that it’s better to take cybersecurity precautions than to deal with an attack after it happens.

Cybersecurity and data protection top the list of concerns, with 48% of organizations identifying this as a primary challenge. As threats from ransomware, phishing and other malicious activities grow, companies are increasingly focusing on enhancing their security measures and investing in advanced protection strategies.

However, it’s encouraging to see that improving IT security is the top priority for nearly half (43%) of respondents in the 2024 report. Key investment areas include email security, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and ransomware protection, which are essential for fighting sophisticated threats.

Download the report for more details on other cybersecurity investments.

Increasing preference for shorter vendor contracts

Respondents have shown an increasing preference for shorter contract periods with vendors. By going for shorter contracts, businesses can adapt to new challenges and opportunities more easily and not be locked into long-term commitments that become less relevant as technology and the market change.

Shorter contracts allow them to pivot quickly and invest in new solutions that better suit their needs, thus helping them to be more agile and competitive in a fast-changing world.

Steady budgets

IT departments have always had to do more with less. Although 21% of organizations see budget constraints as a major issue, budgets for 2024 look relatively stable, suggesting that companies feel better equipped to handle economic challenges and are more optimistic about navigating the uncertainties ahead.

In 2024, 38% of organizations are seeing an increase in their IT budgets, which is a slight dip from 40% in 2023. But here’s the good news: the number of organizations reporting budget cuts has dropped from 18% in 2023 to just 13% in 2024. This trend shows a positive shift in IT spending, with fewer companies scaling back their technology investments.

Unified solutions

SMBs value time, efficiency and speed. One way to achieve all three is to use a unified solution that lets them manage their entire IT from one place. This can’t be done with legacy systems.

That’s why legacy systems holding back growth is one of the top IT challenges for respondents. These old systems are slow, clunky and often incompatible with modern solutions, severely restricting an organization’s ability to innovate and scale. Plus, they are costly to maintain and create inefficiencies that hold back growth.

This is why unified solutions are so valuable. Whether it’s endpoint monitoring, cybersecurity, backup or IT operations, being able to do everything from one place without having to jump between tools is a big advantage for IT departments at SMBs.

Discover more in the report

The report offers detailed information on all the topics covered, along with fascinating data points and valuable insights on work-life balance, the most beneficial integrations, detailed insights on IT budgets and much more. Download the full report now to get the complete scoop.

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