Level 2 – Proactive Benefits

We make an entire suite of world-class tools and services available to make your internal IT department even more professional, your systems even more secure, and your end users even safer.

• IT Staff Meetings and Discussions
  We will meet with IT staff on a regular basis to discuss security-related issues, projects, and problems.
• Physical Security Review
  Easy entry to your facility can provide a huge step towards a breach of system security. To prevent unauthorized access to the facility, our team will perform a physical security assessment and, if needed, brief social engineering tests. From the review, we will provide the results and simple to follow recommendations and training to help strengthen physical security, if appropriate.
• Wireless Security Review
  Unauthorized or unsecured wireless access points connected to your internal, trusted network can provide a playground for hackers and mischievous neighbors. It can be difficult to find the time to search for these rogue devices. Our team will walk through and around all local company facilities in search of unauthorized or unsecured wireless devices. Results and immediate actions will be provided to management.
• Firewall Security Review
  Firewalls are the primary mechanism to keep the bad guys out and the good guys in. But over time, firewall rules grow and grow. The list of rules can become long, confusing, and potentially unsafe since old “holes” may remain even after they are no longer needed. Our team will review your firewall rules and make suggestions for cleaning and/or optimizing.
• Anti-Virus Security Review
  Viruses are prevalent and growing worse every day. Anti-virus software while powerful is only as good as the latest signature update. Our team will review anti-virus status on servers and desktops to validate that staff are monitoring anti-virus and that this key protection mechanism is being utilized as completely as possible.
• Network Architecture Security Review
  Beyond firewalls and anti-virus software, the actual design and configuration of network architecture – both LAN and WAN connections – can have a significant impact on the security of the organization. Our team will review and evaluate the network infrastructure and architecture to ensure that it supports your company’s security posture. In addition, as network architecture changes are contemplated, our team will evaluate the security impact, if any, they might have.
• DNS Security Review
  The Internet’s Domain Name System provides an easy way for humans to interact with computers by replacing awkward IP addresses with easy to remember names. However, improper naming or publishing of DNS information can actually lead to a compromise in security. Our team will review your published DNS information to ensure that only the minimum amount of information is published with as few discernable aspects that could be used by a hacker.
• Server/System Vulnerability Assessments
  Without a team of security experts and library of up-to-date tools, it’s almost impossible for a company to offer the types of tests and analysis that SlingStoneIT offers. Using multiple, up-to-date vulnerability scanning tools, our team will assess all critical business systems throughout your network (both LAN and WAN) on a periodic basis.
• Security Alert Bulletin for IT Staff
  In addition to general security awareness and training, there are often security “risks of the moment”. It is important that all IT staff, and possibly end users, be notified of precautions to protect themselves and the company’s systems. Our team will provide a brief security bulletin to IT staff when critical security issues are at hand, summarizing the threat and what can be done to mitigate the risk.
• Security/Risk Process Review Meetings
  Attend risk assessment meetings, review new projects for proper risk classification, assist with risk identification of new acquisitions, etc.
• Patch Management Review
  With constant software updates to operating systems and databases, it is difficult to determine which patches should be implemented (or even considered) versus which ones are not critical. Our team will perform a review to determine what patches, if any, should be considered for critical
• TOTAL System (Virus) Protection (OPTIONAL)
  You don’t need to pay outrageous prices for world-class anti-virus software to protect your internal systems. Your organization can have world class, multi-layer protection from viruses. The best protection is achieved by multiple layers that weed out the worst offenders while leaving you easy access to the information you need. No upfront investment, just complete organization-wide virus protection every day. Our anti-virus solution provides top-notch malware protection for desktops, laptops, and servers. And unlike most AV packages it has minimal performance impact. You never need to worry about anti-virus purchasing headaches, conflicts, or upgrades again.
• TOTAL E-mail (Spam) Protection (OPTIONAL)
  You can have world class, multi-layer protection from viruses and the ever-annoying spam. Without this service, substantial investment in software tools along with on-going maintenance and management is required to successfully protect the organization.
• TOTAL Network Protection (OPTIONAL)
  Think your systems are protected by your existing firewall/router? Think again. If you aren’t using a business class firewall rather than the consumer-oriented SOHO products, you could be in trouble. Although cheap firewalls work well for basic purposes, they quickly fall short of protecting your systems. Our network protection service includes not only a world-class firewall which will increase the speed and reliability of your Internet connection, but also an intrusion prevention system to stop attacks that come across legitimate ports into your network. And we also provide content filtering and added layers of spyware and virus protection. We link the managed firewalls into our central global management system to increase alerting and monitoring capabilities. Plus, we keep spare units on hand locally in case of failures and we perform all necessary updates and management.
• TOTAL Remote Backup (OPTIONAL)
  Tape backup is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Backups fail. Tapes get worn out or lost. SlingStoneIT has invested in a world-class remote backup solution using advanced compression and integrity checking to make remote backup and restore a feasible solution for our clients at cost that is often less than tape backup and traditional off-site storage. (Storage included varies depending on service purchased. Additional storage can also be purchased.)