Synology’s Tony Chu recommends how SMBs can prevent business disruption even during corona outbreak; Conduent tweaks its Maven platform to ensure faster Corona detection; SonicWall tracks down Corona virus themed mobile malware app
The Corona virus (COVID-19) is assuming epidemic proportions and threatening to become a mass weapon of destruction across the world. There is a growing global concern of Corona virus outbreak that is subtly bringing unease upon Asia and could soon be having devastating global economic impacts. On 2nd of March, the head of the World Trade Organization said that he expected the coronavirus epidemic to have a ‘substantial’ impact on the global economy.
In the wake of these unfortunate events, there is the need for an efficient IT infrastructure that supports remote team collaboration and file syncing capabilities. Tony Chu, Head—Marketing, Synology examines how these can be implemented to ensure stable performance and business continuity during difficult times. He suggests on how remote access and cross office file sharing would help all businesses including SMBs during difficult times.
Creating a More Mobile & Remote Workforce
According to a recent study by global research company IPSOS, over 57% of Indian employees telecommute on a frequent basis and nearly one-third work remotely every day. From employee’s perspective, cloud-based software benefits people to continue to work from any location, while solving problems like longer commutes and family commitment. From businesses’ perspective, the implementation of likes of Network Attach Storage (NAS) into the existing IT infrastructure can ensure effortless remote file sharing and syncing, data ownership and security, higher levels of communication and teamwork, and long term productivity. Reducing movements across multi locations can counter against the threat of Corona Virus.
A flexible and dynamic solution for collaboration & remote work – NAS
The remote access limitation has always been the obstacle for traditional file server that utilizes Windows SMB protocol. Businesses are unable to cope with the growing trend of remote workforce that requires dynamic remote team collaboration and file sharing capabilities, which the traditional file servers fail to deliver. On the other hand, SaaS models that operate on clouds which answer to these challenges often face other backlashes including recurring subscription fees, data leak and security issues.
To instill more complexity, the recent waves of ransomware, which threaten victims’ data and block their access via Windows SMB protocols, have been disrupting IT systems government bodies and corporate worldwide. Thus, a flexible and dynamic solution such as a Network Attached Storage (NAS) server that brings the best of both worlds should definitely be looked upon.
An ideal modern day file server, in addition to having
remote access to file services and dynamic team collaboration tools, should
also have the capacity for cross office synchronization, self-serve IT, and
compatibility with different devices. As the scales of businesses grow, along
with the BYOD and enterprise mobility trends, and ultimately the recent
chain of unfortunate events and disasters, not all companies can have the
luxury to have enough IT resources, and the IT environment can only get more
complex and sophisticated. What this translates into is that there is no need
for disruption in your business even when your workforce is working from remote
locations.
Smart solution can help employees work
smartly
The right solution should allow employees to safely handle many storage issues themselves including changing passwords or restoring lost files from backups, access files that are synced across the offices from all over the world, and give users the ability to access files from anywhere across multiple devices. That way, employees can easily access or share files from outside the office with the benefit of keeping sensitive data stored on the company’s own equipment without needing to rely on IT personnel heavily.
Many businesses are still hesitant to move on from conventional file server that may pose potential risk to data security and performance issues in the long run. In the wakes of many global hazards and incidents like the Corona epidemic, by implementing a more dynamic modern day file server infrastructure, businesses can better manage risks, establish more robust file management rules, streamline team collaboration in order to ensure business continuity and productivity.
Conduent Tweaks Maven Platform for Corona
While what Synology’s Tony Chu suggests are tactical counters to Corona, there are reports that New Jersey-based Conduent has come out with a new software module for its disease surveillance and outbreak management platform, Maven is configured to securely track, manage and report on cases of corona virus (COVID-19).
Maven is a software platform currently used by approximately 40 organizations —primarily U.S. public health agencies, as well as international clients — to manage cases of more than 90 communicable diseases. Conduent’s new module to track COVID-19 is specifically designed to support case management, information integration and coordination among epidemiologists, medical professionals and health departments.
Maven users can also customize the platform on their own to track diseases most prevalent in specific geographies or communities. Maven can assist with critical efforts at local levels to monitor not just the individual cases of the disease, but also citizens whom may be at risk of exposure.
The Maven platform supports agencies with reporting requirements to authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and integrates with geocoding tools and services to create a geographic visualization of outbreak areas and case clusters.
“Agencies and other organizations can quickly take advantage of Maven’s robust capabilities to assist with tracking and help in the fight against COVID-19,” said Mark Brewer, President, Global Public Sector Solutions, Conduent. “The platform has shown to be an essential tool for public health, especially when health agencies require more timely and accurate analytical tools for collaboration — a critical part of preventing the spread of highly contagious diseases.”
Coronavirus Surfaces as Malware Too
One man’s meat is often another man’s poison. This adage has again been substantiated during the current times. Even as the world is grappling on how to deal with Corona virus threats, there is a Corona virus themed Android app on the prowl to infect mobile devices.
SonicWall Capture Labs Threats Research team recently observed malware writers misusing the recent Corona virus scare to propagate their malicious creations. An Android app that goes by the name Coronavirus has been spotted that requests the victim to re-enter the pin/pattern on the device and steals information, while repeatedly requesting for Accessibility Service capabilities.
With additional capabilities based on traces present in the code, the attacker can control the device remotely making this malware a RAT (Remote Access Trojan). This malware persistently tries to invade/ embed itself in the device through multiple means. Android’s battery optimization feature puts an app in a suspended state to conserve battery, but since this malware is a RAT it works best when it is constantly listening for incoming commands from the attacker.
Upon installation this malware asks the user to ignore battery optimization for this app thereby preventing this app from going in a low power/sleep state. Later, when the SonicWall team tried revoking this permission from the app, it pulled a basic trick where it presses the back button just before the permission could be revoked. The same trick is used, once the user tries uninstalling the app.
In his observations, Debasish Mukherjee as VP, Regional Sales – APAC, SonicWall said, “This is a classic case of the attackers being opportunists. They ride on the fear of the larger public and develop codes to steal sensitive information and control mobile devices remotely. It is advised that people use discretion before falling prey to such attacks.”