The visibility gap on the way to CMMC Compliance

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In a small business with a million and one things to do – At the end of last year, a machine shop that had been supplying small parts to a defense contractor was audited on its handling of CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information). CUI is not classified military intelligence; it’s working documents like technical drawings, specs, contract pricing and supplier information. The audit showed that the shop couldn’t fully account for how CUI was being handled. The situation had to be remedied immediately or the contract was in jeopardy. No one had been intentionally negligent, and this needn’t have been an emergency — if the machine shop had understood the importance of being able to show its work … [6 min. read; audio available]

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too permissive

Admin access

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How much thought goes into IT when a business is starting out? Most organizations begin with a single person or a group of like-minded people. That group then expands as business needs evolve and become clear.

Whether or not the organization has IT staff, speed usually wins – it’s rare to give computer use more thought than as a tool for getting work done, storing data, and driving sales.

Reasonable, for sure. But there is one issue that has been wrestled with in computing circles since just about its inception: how much access to give users. Too much, and the system becomes vulnerable in ways that aren’t obvious until something goes wrong. Too little, and access controls start to feel like they’re getting in the way of working … [5 min. read; audio available]

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Leaving the key under the doormat? SSO can fix that

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At the very least the current AI-dominated climate has made attacks more relentless and deceptive.

That means the fundamentals of security need to be in order. If your employees have questionable password practices like easy-to-guess passwords or passwords being reused or if they change passwords just the bare minimum, or are using vulnerable SMS texts as the second security factor, you should consider Bryley’s Single Sign-On (SSO) offering that’s been showing high-adoption because it’s easy to use with a simple interface … [5 min. read]

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Life saver on the ocean as an analogy for surviving data volume

“Even increased efficiency can create new problems”

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AI goes fast. And because of this it amplifies the challenges to data security. For one example I saw on the way to posting this interview: in a joint Boston-area-school study of the recent surge in OpenClaw – an autonomous agent intended to take over a machine and work on behalf of the machine’s owner – the variety of security troubles the agent got in surprised even the researchers who were anticipating some problems.

And this brings us to the fundamentals, that brings us to my talk with Masters Academy International (Stow, Mass) data analyst and Bryant University adjunct professor Brian Degon. Previously Brian spent twenty-three years as a data and process analyst for WPI in Worcester, Mass … [5 min. read]

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When and How to Stop Google Chrome From Running in the Background

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By default, when you close Google Chrome, the browser window closes, but the application itself continues to run in the background. There are a few reasons for this.

First and foremost, this makes it faster to open a new browser window. Since Chrome is already running in the background, there is less that has to take place behind the scenes before your new browser window appears.  This makes the browser feel quick, even on slower machines.

Running in the background also allows any Chrome extensions you might have installed to continue to operate. These are applications that run within Chrome and either enhance the browser’s existing features, or add new ones. Extensions range from those that change Chrome’s background colors to those that add support for third party applications.

This behavior, however, might not always be desirable.

If you are running an older or less powerful computer, you might find that forcing Google Chrome to stop running in the background could noticeably improve the overall performance of your computer.

Similarly, if you are using a laptop, having Google Chrome running in the background could negatively impact your battery life.  By forcing Chrome to close completely, you might find you can stretch your battery life just a little further.

If you fall into one of these two categories, or would simply prefer to avoid having Chrome run in the background, you can follow the instructions below to disable this behavior.

In Google Chrome:

1. Select “Settings” in the Chrome Menu

2. Click on “Advanced” at the bottom of the settings page that appears.

3. Under the “System” heading, find the box next to “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.”

By default, the toggle button next to that text will be set to the right with a blue background.  To prevent Chrome from running in the background, simply click the button so that the toggle is to the left, with a gray background (see screenshot above).

If, in the future, you decide you would like to allow Chrome to run in the background once again, simply repeat the steps above and move the toggle back to the right.

The Importance of Server Maintenance

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Let’s face it, servers, like any piece of hardware, will eventually need to be replaced, but in the meantime, keep it running until it’s time to replace it. Developing a checklist of the tasks that need to be done regularly can go a long way in ensuring your servers consistently perform at their best. Because servers take care of all your data, it is important to watch and properly care for them. Such maintenance involves constant monitoring and continuously analyzing how the server is functioning. Preemptive maintenance not only reduces server issues, but also may increase the longevity of your server.

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When To Replace a Server

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Every IT professional would agree that servers are the lifeblood of your organization. No matter what daily task you perform, whether it is responding to email, preparing for a presentation, or completing other workday tasks, it’s important to have a server in your office that runs smoothly. No organization, no matter what the size, wants to face the IT issues associated with a slow or non-responsive server. While there is no way to accurately predict when a server will need to be replaced, there are some general guidelines you should observe to ensure that this critical piece of equipment is running properly.

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Bryley’s Prestigious Channel Partners 360° Award Celebrates Fall

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After being honored as one of 25 recipients worldwide, our prestigious award is traveling the U.S. in celebration – being one of the most sought-after in the industry of technology solutions.  This month it stayed local to celebrate Fall in New England

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Bryley is getting into the Fall spirit.  Stop by on Halloween
as we join several other businesses in Hudson to hand out
treats to the youth in our community.

 

Cathy Livingstone hands out candy to local residents.

All Aboard!

The cutest mouse trap we’ve ever seen!

 

 

“Bryley Systems works toward continuous improvement; we strive to manage, optimize, and secure our client’s information technology, which brings substantial business benefit and value to their organizations. Our team-focused, best-practices-oriented approach, coupled with high-value/low-risk service options, enables us to provide our clients with Dependable IT at a Predictable Cost™.  We thank Channel Partners for this prestigious Channel Partners 360° award!”                      

      – Gavin and Cathy Livingstone, Co-Owners, Bryley Systems, Hudson, MA

Bryley’s Prestigious Channel Partners 360 Award Travels the U.S.

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After being honored as one of 25 recipients worldwide, our prestigious award is traveling the U.S. in celebration – being one of the most sought-after in the industry of technology solutions.

About Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwestern Utah is famous for the largest collection of hoodoos—the distinctive rock formations at Bryce—in the world. Pillars of red, white, and orange cut through bluest skies, forming some of the world’s most famous breathtaking views. Bryce Canyon first became a tourist destination in 1916 with Union Pacific. It was then declared a National Monument in 1923, and officially established as a National Park in 1928.

 “Bryley Systems works toward continuous improvement; we strive to manage, optimize, and secure our client’s information technology, which brings substantial business benefit and value to their organizations. Our team-focused, best-practices-oriented approach, coupled with high-value/low-risk service options, enables us to provide our clients with Dependable IT at a Predictable Cost™. We thank Channel Partners for this prestigious Channel Partners 360° award!”                

    – Gavin and Cathy Livingstone, Co-Owners, Bryley Systems, Hudson, MA