Data Breach Notice

When it happens, you feel powerless. You get an email or letter from a business saying someone breached your data. It happens all too often today.

Data breaches happen at banks, online sites like Facebook, and ecommerce stores. Not only that, but governments are also victims. This leaves things like your address, SSN, and credit card details exposed to thieves.

A business getting hacked is something you have little control over. But you can take important steps afterwards. We’ve outlined the most important things to do below. These steps can help you mitigate the financial losses.

Change Your Passwords

The very first thing you should do is change your passwords. Change the password for the service that sent you the breach notification first. Then, change it for any logins using the same password.

This is one of the reasons it’s a best practice to use unique logins for every site. Many people get in the habit of using the same password in several places. This leaves more than the single breached login at risk. Use a password manager to help you create strong passwords. You only need to remember one to access all the others.

Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Multifactor authentication can keep accounts secure, even if a hacker stole the password. Enable it for the breached service. Then, ensure you have MFA activated for all other logins, where possible. MFA is also called two-factor authentication or two-step verification.

Common forms of MFA are:

Text message

Authentication app

Security key

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Check Your Bank Accounts

If payment card details were breached, check bank accounts. You’ll want to watch these for several weeks for fraudulent charges. Report the breach to your bank to have them issue you a new card, if needed.

Notify your bank about the 3rd party data breach. This can help keep you from being held responsible for fraudulent charges. It’s good to get out ahead of it. Your bank can then help you with appropriate steps to avoid fraud.
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Freeze Your Credit

Online criminals will often sell breached personal details. These details can enable someone to take out credit in your name. Contact the three credit agencies. They each have ways to freeze your credit to protect you. You can do this right on their websites.

The three credit agencies are:

Equifax
Experion
TransUnion

Carefully Review the Breach Notification

It’s important to understand exactly how the data breach may impact you. Review the notice you received. Additionally, look for updates on the company website.

These are the things you should be looking for:
The type of data exposed (passwords, card numbers, etc.)
What reparations the company is making (e.g., credit monitoring)
Any instructions given to secure your account

Regularly check the company’s website. Often, they don’t immediately know how far reaching the breach is. You may check back later and find out other types of sensitive data were exposed.

Get Good Cybersecurity Options

Make sure you protect your device and network. There are some simple tools you can use to beef up personal device security. These include:

A good antivirus/anti-malware program
DNS filtering to block malicious sites
Email spam filtering for phishing

Another good protection you can use is a VPN. This helps mask your traffic. It is especially helpful if you’re using a public Wi-Fi. VPNs are easy to use. You can use VPNs for both computers and mobile devices.

Be on the Lookout for Phishing Scams

Emails are often exposed in data breaches. This means you may receive an uptick in phishing emails. Phishing is very convincing since criminals have AI at their disposal. Phishing emails often are hard to spot from the real thing.

Stay ultra-aware of any unexpected emails. Follow best practices to avoid becoming a phishing victim:

Hover over links to see them
Go to websites directly
. Don’t click email or SMS links
Beware of unknown senders
Watch for phishing on social media and text messages
When in doubt, double check through an official source

Make Sure to Update Software and Systems

Hackers often exploit unpatched vulnerabilities. How do you get unpatched vulnerabilities? Most times it’s from failing to keep software updated.

Make sure to update your device operating system. Update all apps or software on your devices. Update firmware for routers and printers. Update firmware for smart devices.

There are so many updates we need to do with our electronics. Automating your updates is a good way to stay protected.

Managed Security Services You Can Count On

The cashless revolution is here. It’s time for small businesses to embrace it. By adopting digital payments, you can enhance your customer experience as well as improve efficiency and reduce costs.

As your trusted IT partner, we're here to support you every step of the way. Let's make the transition to cashless payments a seamless one for your business.

Reach out by phone or email to schedule a chat today.

Simple Backup and Recovery Plans Every Small Business Needs

CrossNewsletter

July 16, 2025•3 min read

What would happen if you lost all your business data tomorrow? Could you bounce back, or would your operations grind to a halt? For many small to medium businesses (SMBs) in Newcastle, the answer is alarming: they aren’t prepared.

At Crossover IT, we help SMBs safeguard their critical data with backup and recovery strategies that work. Let’s break down the basics so your business stays protected, no matter what comes your way.

Why Regular Backups Matter

Without regular backups, you’re gambling with your business. Whether it’s a ransomware attack, accidental deletion, hardware failure, or a natural disaster, losing your data could be catastrophic.

According to FEMA, nearly 40% of small businesses never reopen after a major disaster, and another 25% shut down within a year. That’s a huge risk — but one you can manage with a smart backup plan.

Build Your Small Business Backup Strategy

Here’s how to build a simple, effective plan:

1. Know Your Storage Capacity

Run out of backup space, and your systems will fail you when you need them most.

Pro tip:

Audit your backup storage monthly
Enable alerts for low storage
Leave at least 20–30% of space free for emergencies

2. Embrace Cloud Backup

Cloud backup has become the go-to for SMBs because it’s affordable, secure, and off-site. It protects your data even if your physical office is compromised.

What to look for in a cloud backup provider:

Automated backups
· Encryption
· Version history
· Regulatory compliance

Popular options include OneDrive, Google Workspace, or advanced tools like Acronis or Backblaze.

3. Automate Your Backup Process

People forget, software doesn’t. Automate your backups:

· Daily for mission-critical files
· Weekly for large system images
· Monthly for archives

Run backups overnight to avoid slowing down daily work.

4. Test Your Recovery Plan

A backup is worthless if you can’t restore it. Schedule quarterly recovery drills to confirm your backups actually work and your team knows their roles in a crisis.

5. Keep a Local Backup

Cloud is great, but a local copy gives you quick recovery during internet outages. Use encrypted external drives or network-attached storage (NAS) systems, stored securely and rotated regularly.

6. Educate Your Team

People are the weakest link in cybersecurity. Train employees on:

How to store data securely
· Spotting phishing attempts
· Who to contact if data goes missing

· Empowered staff = stronger protection.

7. Maintain Multiple Versions

Versioning saves you from corrupted or infected files. Keep at least three previous file versions in case something goes wrong.

8. Monitor and Maintain

Check your backup logs weekly. Update your backup software, rotate hardware, and assign someone to oversee it all. Backups aren’t a “set it and forget it” job.