Skip to content Skip to content
Close
Search
Palitto Consulting Services
  • Home
  • About
    • Company Profile
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Employee Information
    • Community Involvement
    • Alliance Companies
    • Contact Us
  • Services
    • Hardware & Software Consulting
    • Custom Programming & Design
    • Business Consulting
    • LAN / WAN Networking
    • VoIP & Telephony Implementation
    • System & Data Security
    • Maximizing Mitel
  • News

remote access

Dropbox is Not a Remote Access Solution: A COVID-19 Case Study

April 30, 2020 by Kevin Denee
Dropbox is not a remote access solution article feature

The Scenario in Brief

During this challenging time, we all have had to scramble to adjust to a new normal, both on a professional and personal level.

Here is an example of a company that was trying to find their own way to work remotely. This particular customer has a case management suite that links to Dropbox in the office. Their case files and templates link to the cloud, their Dropbox. Our client decided to give all their employees access to Dropbox through their personal home computers.

It was easy.

The employee can work from their home computer, make their edits on Dropbox, and it updates to their case management suite. When we dug deeper, we learned that the computers they are using are shared with other family members.

If ransomware got on this computer from a clicked email that would then infect the locally-stored Dropbox files. This would then sync up to the cloud because Dropbox would not know that the data is compromised. It just sees data. The original data would not be available and the new data would be encrypted and locked.

From a support side, we had servers being backed up in the office, as well as other important folders. The client thought they had a backup, but they did not realize that Dropbox was not being backed up.

Further, the client was not aware that Dropbox stores a local copy of its files on computers that are synced. This means these confidential case client files were available to other family members in the household. To make matters worse, if the machine got infected, the case studies would be readily available to bad actors.

The Solution

We ended up setting up a VPN solution for this client, which allowed them to remote into their desktops. This is a common and easy solution, which gives employees their work environment at home. They now log in to their work computer that already had Dropbox. We uninstalled Dropbox on the unsecured personal computers.

People have this belief that everything that is going to be out in the cloud is going to be safe. Sometimes it is not clear that this “cloud” is just a server sitting somewhere else. The reality is unless you invest in creating backups, or backing it up yourself, it is as susceptible as your hard drive getting ransomware.

Finally, Dropbox has an additional plan that allows data retention for the 30 days. We implemented this as an extra safety measure.

The Lesson

Companies are going to find quick methods to solve their problems. This case study was an easy solution to remote access and our client had no idea they exposed vulnerabilities and security holes. Nothing had gone wrong, so they thought they were safe.

It’s always wise to engage a consultant in cases like this. We were thankful we could help in this regard and prevent what could have been a bad situation.

Categories Technology and Business News Tags cloud, COVID-19, data protection, data security, remote access

David Virkler Passes Microsoft’s Exam 70-741

January 17, 2018 by Kevin Denee
David Virkler News Story Photo

Congratulations to David Virkler for passing Microsoft’s Exam 70-741, “Networking with Windows Server 2016.”

This exam focuses on knowledge and skills needed to configure, manage and maintain a 2016 Windows Server infrastructure. The exam covered implementing domain name system (DNS), DHCP and IPAM, network connectivity and remote access solutions, core and distributed network solutions, and an advanced network infrastructure.

Our team at PCS focuses on staying up to date on all relevant technologies. We are thankful for our team members and their desire to learn to better serve all of our clients!

Categories Technology and Business News Tags david virkler, dhcp, distributed network soltuions, dns, education, ipam, microsoft, microsoft windows, network connectivity, network infrastructure, Palitto Consulting Services, pcs staff, remote access, technology, windows server 2016 Leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • “Aunt Kate” Retires after 17 Years at PCS
  • Trent Gasser Obtains Firewall Certification
  • Ben Zelei Speaks about Cyber Security on Podcast
  • Javan Miller Acquires Several Certifications
  • Palitto Consulting in Top 20 IT Services Firms in Northeast Ohio

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • November 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • June 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • June 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • December 2016
    • March 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • February 2015
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • September 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • January 2008
    • August 2007
    • March 2007
    • January 2007
    • November 2006
    • September 2006
    • August 2006
    • July 2006
    • May 2006
    • March 2006
    • February 2006
    • January 2006
    • December 2005
    • October 2005
    • September 2005

    Categories

    • Technology and Business News
    • Uncategorized

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Palitto Consulting Services

    150 Main Street
    Wadsworth, OH 44281
    P: 330.335.7271
    F: 330.335.7275
    Email Us
    Location Map

    Copyright © 2023 Palitto Consulting

    Content

    • Home
    • About
    • Services
    • News
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Maximizing Mitel

    Recent News

    • “Aunt Kate” Retires after 17 Years at PCS
    • Trent Gasser Obtains Firewall Certification
    • Ben Zelei Speaks about Cyber Security on Podcast
    • Javan Miller Acquires Several Certifications
    • Palitto Consulting in Top 20 IT Services Firms in Northeast Ohio
    Microsoft Gold Partner Logo International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners Logo Better Business Bureau Accredited Business Logo