I am so pleased to have good news about fighting cybercrime. Aptica LLC is making a bold move to better protect our clients from destructive and costly hacks. Over the last several months Aptica has observed persistent and increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks that have compromised organizations through the exploitation of software. Given the increase of attacks, on both larger and smaller businesses, Aptica has made the decision to upgrade the cybersecurity defenses of the networks we manage. We will be installing software on your computers which will begin the process of implementing a zero-trust security architecture. There will be no additional charge to your company for this additional protection.

Zero Trust, And We Mean Zero

Zero trust means changing our strategy from blocking known threats to blocking anything from running that is not permitted. It is similar to creating a White List, but this is your pre-approval for any software on your network. This prevents the use of both unapproved applications and malware disguised as legitimate software. All unknown software will be denied unless it has been vetted. When trust is given, granular policy controls are enforced to stop vulnerable applications from carrying out malicious behavior. This should not eliminate employee awareness training, but it should shield your business from employee lapses of judgment.

What Should You Expect?

Over the next week you will notice a new icon in your system tray (the lower right corner of your screen with the date and time). It is outlined in yellow in the attached graphic. For the next 2 to 4 weeks, we will be accumulating data on the different applications which are already running on your computers. This will allow us to compare what is already installed against 1,000 common applications which are maintained within our new security software. Obviously, we will also white list custom applications or other business software which is not on this list. Our goal is to make sure we completely capture how you work today so when we fully migrate to zero-trust everything works normally.

We Plan To Communicate Back And Forth About This

Aptica will communicate with all our clients prior to activating the zero-trust platform. We will make sure everyone is fully aware of what to expect and how to contact us with questions or concerns which need to be addressed.

I have technology colleagues in other parts of the country that have been negatively impacted by cyber-attacks delivered through malicious software. It has been devastating to them and their clients. I do not want this to happen to you or Aptica. Your cybersecurity is vitally important, and the implementation of a zero-trust architecture has become critical in maintaining your cybersecurity.

I am excited to have this new weapon in our war chest against criminals. It is our job to protect your business and your data, and we want to be successful. Excellence in service and know-how is what drives Aptica. We will continue to search for the most efficient and most effective programs for our customers.

Jason Newburg, 260.243.5100, ext 2101, is the founder and owner of Aptica LLC. This IT management and support company has been serving small to medium-sized businesses for 19 years in the region that includes Angola, South Bend, and Fort Wayne, IN, Battle Creek, MI, and Toledo OH.