Xmas Round up 2024
Wow another year has blitzed past as we race towards the end of 2024.
Before we get ready to spend time with friends and family Integer would like to thank all our clients, suppliers and employees for their support over the last 12 months.
Here is our brief look back at what we got up to during 2024:
January to March
It was a Happy New Year in January, as we quickly got back to work reminding everyone that Microsoft were ending security patching for Windows 10 and Office 2016/2019 in October 2025, it sounded a long way off, but these things have a habit of creeping up on us, we hoped to get companies thinking about it at least even if it was for budgetary reasons only at that point. A lot of companies have already upgraded previous Windows 7 devices to be compliant for Windows 10 but Windows 11 is an additional processing leap too far so it was really a call to action.
We tackled a lot of DNS (Domain Name System) updates as Google and Yahoo tightened the security screws which prevented their emails being delivered. This was easy when we had access to DNS settings and not at all easy when we didn’t!
We also highlighted what businesses can do to help themselves in the case of a cyber event. Planning is essential – who will do what when, as well as being ready, planning a response and the recovery phase with the remediation work required thereafter.
On a lighter note, every quarter we select a venue for an office Beers and Burgers night out. This time around found us sampling ale at Settlers Inn and getting some pool practice in as well as setting the challenge of not talking about IT whilst out as a team. Not easy!
April to June
In June we reported that MediSecure was infiltrated in what was Australians biggest data theft of 6.5TB of personal data files as part of a ransomware attack. Or put another way 12.9 million Australians patient records. The reputational damage of the theft and subsequent selling of the data on the dark web for $50,0000 was so devasting that the administers were called in a month after the attack. A horrendous outcome and one only must wonder what the ransom demand value was and what would have been the outcome if they had chosen to pay it.
We also updated our own website this quarter adding a meet the team page so our customers and suppliers know who they are talking to with a little bio. We all do other things outside work as being IT nerds is only one part of our personality.
Tacking Point Tavern was selected for Burgers and Beers this time around with more pool being played and the competitive spirit in full flow.
July to September
The new financial year kicked in and we spent much of the quarter installing new Sophos firewalls as replacements for their end of supportable life counterparts. We also tightened up security profiles on all these devices as part of our continuous improvement policy in security standards. We also completed our first Cyber Incident Reponses Plan for a client in Port Macquarie, which we believe is just the first of many as legislation and compliance requirements are tightening.
After years of supplying Hewlett Packard printers for clients and the shrinking number of the managed print offerings within the Mid North Coast we partnered with HP to provide their comprehensive print options. It is early days but the signs look promising for clients being able to commit to managed print from the same IT company they contact for help when they are having print related issues.
This time around Little Shack got the nod for our team outing.
October to December
October was officially Cyber Security Month, so Integer hosted its second Cyber Security Educational event at Charles Sturt University in conjunction with Business Port Macquarie, CSU and our security vendor Sophos. The focus this time round was how easy it is to get inside a client’s email system and how 24/7 security is now recommended as technology is moving a lot quicker than our human ability to keep up. Managed Threat Response was the theme as well as an overview of some real life Mid North Coast cyber incidents within our town that we have been involved in.
It is worth noting that ASIC have shifted their stance from being an educator to an active enforcer when it comes to cyber security as their chairman stated:
The days are long gone where directors of any company… can say, “Well, I don’t really understand that technology, I don’t really understand how data works”.’ – ASIC chairman Joe Longo.
Fittingly, Foundation Security Audits were a hot topic throughout the period which will enable future infrastructure projects to be successful in 2025, by highlighting potential risks especially for those clients moving from on premise servers to cloud delivered services or tightening up security to be compliant. We shall all able to sleep a little easier at night if we have the basics right.
Our Christmas office event will be spent at The Grill on Clarence Street. We are so lucky to have so may great venues in our town.
All of us at Integer wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year and we look forward to working with you 2025.
