VC3

?? 4 Cybersecurity Drills You Should Run in 2025 ?? Simulated drills allow organizations to identify vulnerabilities, improve response skills, and strengthen security protocols. Here are four key drills to consider for 2025: 1. Phishing Simulations: Phishing is a common way attackers gain access. By simulating phishing attempts, you help employees recognize and avoid these threats, boosting your first line of defense. ?? 2. Tabletop Exercises: These exercises guide key stakeholders through a simulated security incident, ensuring everyone knows their roles and testing your response procedures for gaps. ?? 3. Vulnerability Scanning & Penetration Testing: Regularly scanning for vulnerabilities and conducting penetration tests reveals potential security weaknesses, enabling proactive improvements to defenses. ?? 4. Data Backup & Disaster Recovery Testing: If an attack disrupts your data, rapid recovery is essential. Testing your backup and recovery processes ensures you can restore data accurately and with minimal downtime. ?? Running these drills throughout 2025 will reinforce a culture of cybersecurity awareness and improve your organization’s ability to manage potential threats. Reach out to us to talk about a customized plan for your organization. #Cybersecurity2025 #RiskManagement #DataProtection #CybersecurityDrills

?? Does Your Municipality’s Email Send the Right Message? By partnering with a reputable email service provider, municipalities can enhance their security, ensure reliable communication, and comply with regulatory requirements. ?? Key Benefits of a .gov Domain: ?? Credibility and Professionalism: A .gov domain reassures residents that your communications are legitimate and trustworthy. Say goodbye to outdated email addresses like [email protected] and hello to [email protected]! ?? Email Delivery: Consumer-grade domains often get flagged as spam. A .gov domain increases the likelihood that your emails land where they’re meant to. ??? Compliance and Security: Enterprise-grade platforms like Microsoft 365 make records retention, open records compliance, and email security manageable and reliable. ?? Action Steps for Municipal Leaders: 1?? Secure a .gov Domain: Apply via the official .gov domain website and follow GSA guidelines for setup and security. 2?? Implement and Migrate: Partner with IT professionals to configure, migrate, and test your new email system. 3?? Choose the Right Platform: Ditch consumer-grade services like Yahoo or AOL for a reliable enterprise-grade solution tailored to your municipality’s needs. 4?? Inform Residents: Announce the transition through public notices, social media, and your website. The email platform you use has a huge impact on your municipality—for better and for worse. ?? Ready to make the switch? Let’s chat about how we can help your municipality streamline its email systems and improve security. #MunicipalIT #Cybersecurity #ProfessionalEmail #GovTech

?? Ready to budget for managed IT services? Our pricing calculator can give you a ballpark figure to help you plan with confidence! Here’s how it helps: - See industry-standard prices to guide your search ??? - Explore options tailored to your needs, from entry-level to full-service ??? - See how various parameters affect managed services costs??? - Gauge how different options may (or may not) be within your budget ?? Curious to know your estimated costs? Try the calculator and get a realistic view of what managed IT could mean for your organization >> https://hubs.li/Q02Xbv_y0 #ManagedIT #Budgeting #PricingCalculator

?? You’ve probably heard about how managed IT services saves businesses money and wonder if that’s possible for your organization too. Let's start with a high level pricing overview: Costs range between $150-400 per user, monthly, with variation based on service level. - Entry-level options start at $99-150/month, covering basic monitoring only (repairs billed separately). - Mid-Range Packages: Offering proactive problem-solving, IT strategy, cybersecurity, and onsite/remote support. Priced per device or user, this level is designed for more comprehensive needs. - Top-Tier Services: Advanced, fully hosted solutions ($250-400/user/month) include robust infrastructure, enhanced security, and project labor. ??The big question is how much will YOUR managed IT services cost? That’s going to be very difficult for you to figure out on your own without contacting IT service providers for full descriptions of their services, but here are a few questions to help get you closer to a ballpark number, and to ensure managed IT firms can give you a more accurate quote: - Do you want to have internal IT staff? - Do you want to pay a flat amount each month, or is a low monthly fee with varying additional charges okay? - How complex is your technology environment? - Do you want remote and onsite services? - Is your network in the cloud or on-premise? - Do you have regulatory compliance requirements such as HIPAA, ITAR, NIST, or CMMC? It’s important to understand that the EXACT services that each IT company offers will be different,?EVEN if the service packages are named the same thing. So be sure the vendors you’re interviewing are being transparent in what you’re ACTUALLY GETTING?with each service. Need help evaluating IT providers? We're happy to help, whether you choose to use our services or not. #ManagedIT #PricingGuide #ITServiceCost

Deployment Specialists at VC3 don’t just prep and set up hardware —they're the face of our company at client sites. When you work in this role, you'll travel to client locations, delivering and setting up new hardware while providing valuable face-to-face support. This unique opportunity allows you to interact with a variety of people, communicate effectively, and solve problems on the spot. Learn more about how our Deployment Specialists serve as VC3 ambassadors and enhance client experiences > https://hubs.li/Q02WH00H0 #WereHiring #ITcareers #DeploymentSpecialist #WorkatVC3

Strategic Advisors at VC3 love helping clients solve business problems. Every day brings new situations—like strengthening cybersecurity or improving IT setups—and advisors work directly with clients to find answers that have an impact. This role is designed for people who get energy from connecting business problems with technology solutions and enjoy seeing the results of their work firsthand. If you’re someone who wants to tackle the challenges that drive progress for our clients, this role could be a great fit. Learn more about this role > https://hubs.li/Q02Yr4LR0 #StrategicAdvisor #WorkatVC3 #WorkplaceNarrative #WereHiring

?? VC3 will be at some amazing municipal events this week! ??? Don't miss the chance to chat with Kyle at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Annual Conference! ?? Michelle will be at the AAMCA Winter Conference. Come by the booth and chat about how VC3 can help your municipality with your IT and cybersecurity needs! ?? Come find Neal at the South Carolina Councils of Governments Conference and chat about what is happening around the state when it comes to cybersecurity #conference #giveaway

?? Windows 10 End-of-Life Checklist ?? With Windows 10 support ending on October 14, 2025, planning for an upgrade to Windows 11 is critical for maintaining operational security and efficiency. Here are key steps to help you navigate this complex transition: ?? Start Planning Early Allow 8+ weeks for the process, factoring in possible supply chain delays and IT resourcing challenges. ?? Build Your Project Team Include internal IT, external MSPs, and other stakeholders with clearly defined roles to manage every step. ?? Define Project Scope Review device eligibility (i5 Processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD). Decide if you’ll upgrade, replace, or rely on HaaS (Hardware as a Service). ?? Secure Executive Sign-Off Ensure alignment with leadership for timeline, budget, and scope to keep the project on track. ?? Plan for Employee Support & Communication Inform teams early, provide backup and support resources, and schedule the upgrade during low-traffic hours. ?? Test, Roll Out, and Verify Test on non-critical devices, address any issues, and systematically deploy Windows 11 while ensuring data integrity. ?? Update Documentation & Provide Training Revise IT policies and offer training materials so employees are comfortable with Windows 11. By following these steps, municipal and business leaders can prepare for a seamless transition, minimizing downtime and risks. Need guidance? Our team is here to support your upgrade journey. #Windows10 #EndofLife #Checklist

Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, but safeguarding your municipality doesn’t have to be complicated. Our Cybersecurity Checklist for Municipalities offers practical steps for leaders to assess and strengthen defenses for 2025 and beyond: ??? Protect: Evaluate proactive measures like: - Employee training to detect threats - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to secure access - Intrusion prevention to block attacks ?? Detect: Ensure you’re set up to identify potential threats: - Dark web monitoring for stolen data alerts - Regular security scanning for system vulnerabilities - Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) for device protection ?? Respond & Recover: Minimize impact with: - Data backup and recovery testing - Incident response plans for quick, coordinated action - Cyber liability insurance to mitigate financial impact You can use the checklist to identify critical gaps and prioritize action. Strengthening cybersecurity builds resilience and demonstrates your commitment to secure, reliable services for residents. Ready to get started? Reach out for a consultation!

?? Prepare for 2025 Budget Planning: Actionable IT Budgeting Tips for Municipal Leaders ?? Prioritizing IT and cybersecurity investments in your 2025 budget will help you build a more resilient municipality. A strategic approach to IT budgeting helps uncover efficiencies, stay secure, and maximize impact on operational goals. Here’s how to get started: 1. Break Down Your IT Budget: Avoid lumping IT costs under one line item like “technology” or “office supplies.” Instead, allocate for hardware, software, cybersecurity, and capital vs. operational expenses to gain a clearer picture of IT investments. 2. Consider a Risk-Based Budgeting Approach: Identify potential risks and budget accordingly. This approach helps secure funds for critical areas such as: - Cybersecurity to protect sensitive data - Technology updates to avoid productivity losses - Key projects, ensuring they’re fully supported 3. Separate Project Costs: Define project budgets for both capital and operational expenses. Projects like website redesigns or infrastructure upgrades often have unique budget needs, which should be tracked as separate line items. 4. Translate the Technical to the Non-Technical: Connect each IT expense to real-world benefits like better resident services, enhanced productivity, or economic development. Communicate the impact of each investment to your council effectively to ensure informed decisions. Embrace IT budgeting not just as a cost but as a powerful investment in your municipality’s future. Need help with IT budgeting? We’re here to help. Check out our Guide to Municipal IT Budget Planning OR reach out to us today to talk about your IT budgeting gaps and challenges!