Author: Nostra

Windows 10 support is ending soon!

Windows 10 support in ending soon! Microsoft will retire support for Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025, meaning no more fixes, security updates nor new features will be released from that date.   Is your PC ready for Windows 11? Only PCs with modern processors can run Windows 11. Essentially, computers older than five years […]

Nostra Taking Out The Blindspots In Security

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, security remains a top priority for companies of all sizes. With the frequency of outages and cyberattacks on the rise, it’s becoming increasingly clear that no organisation is immune to these threats. The recent CrowdStrike outage serves as a stark reminder of how fragile systems can be, where a […]

Nostra has been recognised in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work Ireland 2024, powered by WorkL!

Another significant achievement for Nostra, this recognition comes directly from our own employees. Ensuring that employees are engaged and satisfied is a challenge for all companies, and Nostra has shown great dedication to guaranteeing the well-being and happiness of our team. Currently, the company has 350 employees across various locations, primarily in Ireland. Recently, Nostra […]

IT. Issues Facing Pharma & Life Sciences

What are the major IT. issues Pharma and Life Science businesses face? Let’s discuss: Nostra have experience and expertise working in the pharmaceutical industry, and we are very familiar with the specific IT. concerns that are common to this sector. This includes regulatory compliance requirements, data security, and tracking and monitoring requirements for clinical trials […]

Cyber Security Risks of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise many aspects of our lives, from healthcare and education to transportation and the way we work. However, with this increased reliance on AI also comes increased risks to cyber security. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the main cyber security risks associated with AI. 1. […]

If Any of Your Staff Work Remotely, You Need to Be On Top of This

Remote and hybrid working is now the norm for a lot of people. But a recent survey has found that, despite it being more than two years since many of us were forced to work from home, too many businesses still don’t have the right IT cyber security measures in place for those away from […]

How to Secure Your Hybrid Work Environment

As organisations move away from full remote working environments, we are all preparing for the next big shift – hybrid work. With the introduction of permanent hybrid work environments, where some users are operating remotely and others are in offices, organisations will be faced with new security challenges. Security has never been more important, as […]

10 Ways to Protect Your Business From Cyber Attacks

Every SMB organisation has information that it wants to protect from Cyber attacks, whether it’s financial records or customer data, but it isn’t always clear which is the best way to do this. At Nostra, we take security very seriously, working closely with our customers to deliver and support secure solutions to businesses large and […]

Nostra wins Managed Service Company of the Year at the Tech Excellence Awards 2022

The Tech Excellence Awards is Ireland’s principal badge of honour in the IT industry. This Awards programme recognises excellence not only in implementing tech solutions, but also in the business of marketing and implementing technology for business. Nostra was selected for this title by a highly experienced and long-standing panel of “industry luminaries”. The Managed Service Company […]

What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing To Your Business

Cloud computing services have become an everyday part of life for most individuals. Millions of people use Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive, and Amazon Cloud Drive daily. Well known companies such as DropBox and Netflix have been formed due to the emergence of cloud technologies. However, it is not just individuals who can benefit. There are […]

Using Microsoft Teams to Keep Your Business Secure

Working from home is now the new ‘normal’. Businesses able to do so have transitioned to remote working and, with no clear indication on the expected length of the COVID-19 lockdown, are getting comfortable; establishing remote routines, revising business strategies and implementing appropriate solutions to enable their employees to work from home efficiently. With increased […]

Secure your business using Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Every year, Microsoft spends billions of dollars on cybersecurity R&D. On top of this, Microsoft employs thousands of cybersecurity and compliance experts to constantly improve the speed, responsiveness, and strength of their security services. Then there are thousands of other people monitoring and neutralising the threats and attacks spreading around the globe. The result is […]

Surface Pro 3 Tips and Tricks You Can Use

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is being hailed as the tablet that can replace your laptop. The device is fully compatible with the specially designed Surface keyboards and includes a stylus pen to allow for more creative and functional usability. SURFACE PRO 3 The Surface Pro 3 has a bigger screen (12 Inches) than its […]

Is Cloud Infrastructure the Key to Business’ Digital Transformation?

For many businesses coming through the COVID era, it’ll be a wake-up call for them to start making their digital transformation, if they have not already started doing so. But what is digital transformation? Put simply, it is the harnessing of modern technology and digital services, to further enhance business processes, culture, and flexibility. Digital […]

Information Security Tips for Businesses

Many people ask our engineers for Information Security advice, so we decided to put together a list. Started at 5, grew to over 20 so thought we would limit to 10 to give some focus. We will share the other 10 with you next month! You are a Target Never say “it won’t happen to […]

How Microsoft 365 Can Help You Simplify GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in the news a lot over the last few years. A ground-breaking EU privacy framework, it has empowered individuals across the European Union to use technology freely and safely with much reduced risk. Yet despite all the hype around GDPR, the guidelines and rules are complex, and […]

Credit Union IT Support

Nostra has supported Credit Unions with Managed IT Services for over 10 years and has grown a prominent portfolio of Credit Union clients. Nostra makes compliance easy, and we give Credit Unions confidence in their IT, ensuring their IT systems are robust, reliable, and secure. We are an independent, Irish owned and managed ICT company […]

Why secure remote access is a strategic business imperative

Secure remote access ensures your business keeps productive in a disruptive, dynamic world Abstract Globally, the mobile workforce is here to stay – and on the rise. The benefits in agility, business IT continuity and productivity make secure mobile cloud based access strategically imperative for today’s business. However, to effectively support this workforce, IT is […]

5 Cybersecurity considerations for getting back to work securely

At Nostra, we believe the best defence is to consider a layered approach to Information Security and Cybersecurity at your organisation. As governments begin lifting emergency orders, company leaders are considering policies, technology and processes that will protect their workforces. Many of these factors rightly centre around health and safety. But we must also acknowledge […]

How to Spot Phishing Emails

Phishing attacks continue to play a dominant role in the digital threat landscape – as the mostcommon attack vector for cyber criminals. Despite major advancements in securitytechnologies in recent years, phishing attacks continue to increase in number and impact. Security has always been a major concern for all companies, but there’s a misconception thatthreats only […]

Ransomware & Cyber Security – Questions to Ask Your IT Team

“In February 2019, Microsoft Ireland looked at how poor employee security habits within large public sector and private organisations across Ireland threatened data loss cyber breaches. We found that 44% of employees have experienced problems with hacking, phishing and cyber fraud” This week we outline some practical, plain English steps that will help shore up […]

SonicWall Cyber Threat Report 2021

The 2021 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report offers a glimpse into how cyber-criminals think and operate, helping organisations better prepare to meet the threats of tomorrow. This Executive Summary offers a high-level overview of the full report. Download the 2021 SonicWall Cyber Threat Executive Summary: For the full report visit https://www.sonicwall.com/2021-cyber-threat-report/ For advice on a security strategy […]

Why is Two-Factor Authentication so Important? And What Exactly is It?

A Dublin University was fined €70,000 last week after being found to be in breach of GDPR. Usernames and passwords to accounts were published online, and two accounts were subsequently accessed. Nostra CEO Kevin O’Loughlin explains how multi-factor authentication (MFA) and two-factor authentication (2FA) can prevent GDPR breaches—and the best part? It’s completely free.  

Why Businesses Choose Nostra?

With over 16 years of experience in Managed IT Support and Services and working with the world’s most advanced, innovative, and reliable technologies, we make our client’s business stronger, more efficient, and more flexible. Put simply, we step in when the noise around IT gets too much. We convert tech talk into plain English and […]

Nostra’s 2021 Cyber Security Predictions

While 2020 was filled with great uncertainty, there are always guarantees in the technology space, specifically within cyber security. Cyber Security criminals continued to attack without any regard for the challenges faced by their targets throughout 2020. As a result, Cyber Security quickly became a top priority for many organisations and continues to be top […]

What Is DNS and How Can Nostra Help?

What is DNS protection? Before we talk about DNS security, you need to understand what DNS is and then we will look at how Nostra can help. The domain name system (DNS) works like a phone book for the internet. When a user enters text into a browser, DNS servers take that input and translates […]

Nostra acquires Brandon Global IT

Nostra, an independent, Irish owned and managed MSP company headquartered in Lucan, Co. Dublin has acquired Brandon Global IT for an undisclosed sum. The deal was funded by Bank of Ireland along with Nostra funds.  Nostra reported an EBITDA of €880,000 for year-end, 2019.  The acquisition of Brandon Global will now see the company’s turnover […]

Getting to know Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a chat-based collaboration tool that provides global, remote, and dispersed teams with the ability to work together and share information via a common space. So, we thought we’d share 3 quick tips to help you in getting to know Microsoft Teams and bring your workforce closer together.  Voice & Video Calls Stay […]

LEO Business Continuity Voucher

The Lean LEO Business Continuity Voucher is available to eligible companies to access up to €2,500 in training or advisory / consulting services support related to the continued operation of their businesses during the current pandemic. The voucher may be used to obtain consultancy services from approved providers, including our business continuity and recovery services. The new […]

6 Common Phishing Attacks and How to Protect Against Them

Common Phishing attacks don’t show any sign of slowing down. Per its 2019 Phishing Trends andIntelligence Report, PhishLabs found that total phishing volume rose 40.9 percent over the course of 2018. These attacks targeted a range of organizations, especially financial service companies, email and online service providers and cloud/file hosting firms. It’s, therefore, no surprise […]

6 security tips for safeguarding your bargain-hunting this Black Friday

Ulster Bank is urging online shoppers to stay alert and informed when browsing for deals this Black Friday. To help you we have put together 6 security tips for safeguarding your bargain-hunting this Black Friday. Black Friday is fast approaching and customers are gearing up for the global shopping event, taking place next week (29 […]

The 7 Biggest Technology Trends In 2020 Everyone Must Get Ready For Now

We are amidst the 4th Industrial Revolution, and technology is evolving faster than ever. Companies and individuals that don’t keep up with some of the major tech trends run the risk of being left behind. Understanding the key trends will allow people and businesses to prepare and grasp the opportunities. As a business and technology […]

4 Risks of Not Upgrading to Windows 10

If you’re still running Windows 7 or Windows 8, you could be vulnerable to a range of risks. That’s because Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 7 way back in January 2015, and its extended support will end in January 2020. Additionally, Microsoft discontinued mainstream support for Windows 8 in January 2018, and will end […]

Mid-Year Update: 2019 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report

It’s almost cliché at this point, but the cyber arms race — and respective cybersecurity controls and technology — moves at an alarming pace. For this reason, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers never stop investigating, analyzing and exploring new threat trends, tactics, strategies and attacks. They publish most of their findings — the data they […]

3 Ways to Improve Your Company’s Security

Nowadays data and network security are more important than ever. It is more common than people think that their information could be available for sale online on the dark web. Email passwords, remote PC logins, bank details and other vital personal information. That’s why we take security so seriously here at Nostra. You don’t have […]

Nostra announces 50 new jobs and unveils new facility

Nostra, an independent, Irish owned and managed ICT company based in Lucan, Co. Dublin has today announced 50 new jobs. The company was established by Kevin O’Loughlin along with Gary Byrne, Senan Finucane and Barry O’Loughlin in 2006 and has grown rapidly in the last number of years. The business has grown from just four […]

Camara on a mission to close the digital divide

An Irish education charity is delivering 21,000 computers to 840 schools in Ethiopia, writes Katherine Donnelly “Technology is a game-changer in education. Its power to transform teaching and learning is well documented, while familiarity with it can nurture a curiosity in students that may ultimately inspire further innovation. At the very least, digital literacy is […]

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