Please note that as of 5th June 2026, Bridged Group is now operating as Bridged Group (Aus) Pty Ltd.
We understand that recent events related to the CrowdStrike software update may have caused concern. We want to assure you that your environment remains unaffected by this incident. Here are the key points:
The Issue: A faulty software update from CrowdStrike led to widespread outages affecting Windows computers globally. However, this was not caused by a cyberattack but rather a defect in the update for their flagship security product, Falcon Sensor.
Risk Mitigation: Our account managers will proactively reach out to discuss future risk mitigation steps. We prioritise your security and will work closely with you to ensure robust protection against incidents from any vendor platform.
Thank you for your trust in our services. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your account manager.
Deployment of an APRA-compliant AWS platform for a leading Australian financial organisation and a project that helped a university exit its data centre are among the finalist partner projects in the Modernising Infrastructure category of the 2024 CRN Impact Awards.
The awards, sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS), recognise the impact of Australian IT channel-led projects, innovation, ESG initiatives and leaders. Winners will be revealed at the gala CRN Impact Awards dinner which will take place at the 2024 CRN Pipeline conference on August 15.
The Modernising Infrastructure category recognises Australian partner projects that moved end-user customers IT infrastructure to modern platform to support cost savings, efficiencies, growth or innovation.
The cloud is rapidly becoming essential for businesses, offering streamlined operations, enhanced collaboration, and adaptability to evolving demands. However, the journey to the cloud can seem daunting to the unfamiliar, filled with perceived challenges that make some businesses hesitant to make the move.
Studies indicate that many businesses view cloud migration as excessively expensive and limiting of their decision-making capabilities. There’s also a significant gap in understanding how the cloud operates and how it can be leveraged to enhance business performance.
Thankfully, these concerns are largely unfounded. Microsoft Azure, for instance, offers a vast array of applications designed to help businesses manage, streamline, and grow efficiently. Moreover, Azure’s onboarding process is both cost-effective and straightforward, making cloud migration as seamless as possible.
Let’s address some common misconceptions about cloud migration and uncover why they are myths.
MYTH: Migrating to the cloud is complicated and time-consuming, leading to significant business downtime
The worry that the Azure migration process might halt your business operations is understandable, but unfounded. Any downtime can be minimised through careful planning and assessment.
In fact, a thorough assessment is crucial when migrating to Azure. This involves a real-time review of your business data to develop a clear and feasible migration roadmap. The review covers your strategies, workloads, costs, and capacity. At Bridged Group, we compile these findings into a detailed report, typically ready within 72 hours. This report helps determine the optimal migration strategy, whether it suggests a quick migration with minimal impact or a phased approach to reduce disruption.
MYTH: Cloud migration is more expensive than updating existing systems
While there are initial costs, the ongoing expenses of using Microsoft Azure are significantly lower than maintaining outdated systems and physical IT infrastructure. Legacy systems often struggle to match the performance and speed of modern technologies, leading to higher costs for resources like CPU and memory.
Azure helps reduce operational costs with automatic updates, cost management, and analysis tools that provide insights into cloud expenses. It sets spending thresholds, identifies opportunities for cost optimisation, and features automated tools that enhance business processes. By using Azure’s Microsoft Cost Management, businesses can potentially save up to 34% in the first year.
MYTH: Migrating and using the cloud is too complex, requiring extensive training and restructuring
Adopting new technology can be challenging, but Azure is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, regardless of your IT expertise.
We offer subsidised Azure technical training through Microsoft Learning and accredited partners, along with a library of self-guided resources tailored to your needs. Additionally, Azure engineers provide step-by-step guidance to mitigate risks.
MYTH: Migrating to the cloud increases the risk of IT issues and cybercrime
Operating on the cloud might seem like it exposes your business to new threats, but Microsoft Azure is equipped to keep your business secure.
With Microsoft’s $1 billion annual investment in cybersecurity, Azure is one of the most secure cloud platforms globally. Supported by over 3,500 cybersecurity experts, Azure offers built-in disaster recovery and backup capabilities to minimise downtime and data loss. It also guarantees 99.95% availability, with 24/7 support and continuous health monitoring through its extensive network of data centres in over 60 regions.
Book your cloud assessment and move to the cloud with Bridged Group
Now that we’ve debunked these myths, we’re ready to help you experience the benefits of Microsoft Azure. Bridged Group can guide you through an Azure Cloud Assessment to unlock the full potential of cloud migration.
Our team of experts will ensure a smooth and secure transition for your applications and data. With Azure, you’ll gain access to a powerful suite of cloud services that drive innovation, enhance collaboration, and propel your business to new heights.
Don’t miss out on the advantages of cloud technology. Click below to register for your cloud assessment and discover how Microsoft Azure can elevate your business.
Phishing attacks persist as a pervasive and highly effective form of cyber threats in today’s digital landscape. It’s imperative for businesses like yours to comprehend the gravity of this danger.
Without a clear understanding of how threat actors exploit phishing emails, your business could easily fall prey to their tactics.
In this Insights article from Bridged, we’ll delve into the motives behind phishing emails, the diverse types of phishing attacks, and most importantly, effective measures to fortify your email and overall business security.
Understanding the Objectives of Phishing Emails
Phishing emails are crafted by cybercriminals with a singular goal: to deceive unsuspecting victims into taking actions that can severely impact business operations. This may include actions like transferring funds, sharing passwords, downloading malware, or revealing sensitive data.
The prime objectives behind a phishing attack are:
- Financial Theft: The most prevalent aim of a phishing attempt is to pilfer money. Scammers employ various tactics, such as Business Email Compromise (BEC), to facilitate fraudulent fund transfers or instigate ransomware attacks, ultimately extorting money from their targets.
- Data Theft: For cybercriminals, acquiring your data – including usernames, passwords, identity information (e.g., social security numbers), and financial data (e.g., credit card numbers or bank account information) – is akin to a treasure trove. This stolen data can be utilized to perpetrate financial thefts, inject malware, or be sold on the dark web for profit.
Recognizing Phishing Attempts: Stay Vigilant
Maintaining vigilance is paramount to fend off phishing attempts. Here are some red flags to watch for:
- Suspicious Links: Exercise caution if an email prompts you to click on a link. Phishing emails often conceal malicious software within such links, aiming to steal your data and personal information.
- Dubious Websites: Be cautious when directed to a website by an email. It could be a malicious website designed to pilfer your personal information, including login credentials.
- Attachments: Exercise alertness if an email contains an attachment. Malicious extensions disguised as documents, invoices, or voicemails can infect your computer and compromise your personal information.
- Urgent Actions: If an email rushes you into an urgent action, such as fund transfers, skepticism is prudent. Always verify the authenticity of such requests before taking any action.
The Diverse Phishing Tactics
Phishing attacks are continuously evolving, targeting businesses of all sizes through various mediums beyond just emails. Here’s an overview of the diverse phishing traps you should be wary of:
- Spear Phishing: Highly personalized emails targeting individuals or businesses to coerce them into sharing sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card details.
- Whaling: A more sophisticated form of spear phishing, specifically targeting high-level executives by impersonating trusted sources or websites.
- Smishing: Utilizing text messages claiming to be from reputable sources to persuade victims into sharing sensitive information or making financial transactions.
- Vishing: Voice phishing involves cybercriminals impersonating trusted entities via phone calls to extract sensitive personal information.
- Business Email Compromise (BEC): A spear phishing attack employing a seemingly legitimate email address to deceive recipients, typically senior-level executives, into initiating unauthorized fund transfers.
- Angler Phishing: Targeting social media users, cybercriminals create fake customer service accounts to trick users, especially from financial institutions and e-commerce businesses, into revealing sensitive information.
- Brand Impersonation: Phishing scams involving impersonation of popular businesses across emails, texts, calls, and social media messages to deceive customers into disclosing sensitive information.
Strengthening Your Email Security
While emails are vital for your business, ensuring their security necessitates expertise and dedicated resources. Implementing email best practices and safety standards can be challenging on your own. That’s where partnering with a seasoned IT service provider like Bridged becomes invaluable.
We possess the resources and tools essential for shielding your business against cyber threats, enabling you to concentrate on crucial tasks worry-free.
Contact us today to fortify your defenses against cyber threats.
In today’s business world, staying competitive means staying on top of the latest technology trends and innovations. But for many companies, managing the day-to-day IT operations can be a daunting task, taking valuable time and resources away from what they do best – their core business.
A partnership for better IT
- Network management and monitoring
- Cloud solutions and migration
- Cybersecurity and data protection
- Helpdesk and end-user support
- Disaster recovery planning
- Compliance and regulatory compliance
Make your IT management cost effective
Where to start?
Disasters come in many forms – natural, man-made, or technological – and they can happen at any time. As a business owner, it’s essential to have a plan in place to protect your business and data from potential disasters. There are simple steps you can take to ensure that your business and data are protected in the event of a disaster.
Conduct a Risk Assessment
The first step in protecting your business and data from disaster is to conduct a risk assessment. This will help you identify potential threats and the impact they could have on your business. Once you have identified the risks, you can take steps to mitigate them and develop a plan to respond to them.
Develop a Business Continuity Plan
A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a comprehensive plan that outlines how your business will continue to operate in the event of a disaster. It should include procedures for dealing with various types of disasters, such as natural disasters, power outages, and cyberattacks. A BCP should also include a disaster recovery plan (DRP) which outlines the steps that will be taken to restore your business operations and data.
Backup Your Data
One of the most critical steps in protecting your business and data from disaster is to regularly back up your data. This includes your financial records, customer information, and any other critical data that your business relies on. Backups should be done on a regular basis and should be stored in a secure location, such as an offsite data centre.
Monitor and Test Your Systems
To ensure that your business and data are protected, it’s essential to monitor and test your systems regularly. This includes monitoring your network for potential threats, such as malware or unauthorized access, as well as testing your disaster recovery plan to ensure that it is up-to-date and effective. Regular monitoring and testing will help identify any potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses in your systems and allow you to take steps to address them before a disaster occurs.
Implement Cybersecurity Measures
Cybersecurity threats, such as hacking and data breaches, can have devastating consequences for a business. To protect your business and data from these threats, it’s essential to implement robust cybersecurity measures. This includes implementing firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems, as well as educating employees on safe computing practices.
Partner with an IT Service Provider
Working with an experienced IT service provider, like Bridged, can be an effective way to protect your business and data from disaster. We can help you conduct a risk assessment, develop a BCP and DRP, backup your data, monitor and test your systems, and implement cybersecurity measures. We can also provide ongoing support, maintenance and monitoring to ensure that your IT infrastructure is always running at its best.
Protecting your business and data from disaster is a critical task that should not be taken lightly. By taking some simple steps above and partnering with us for support, you can ensure that your business is prepared for any eventuality.
We understand that cyber safety can seem like an extremely complex and technical area of ICT and something that is difficult to make time for when you have a business to run.
Unfortunately the impacts on businesses, big and small, can be devastating.
In some cases, these impacts may have been avoidable with strong cyber security plans and risk mitigations in place.
How you can protect your business
The Australian Cyber Security Centre has developed a series of ‘quick wins’ documents designed to help you better understand technology issues and provide some tips for quick wins that you can implement across your business’ network, including:
● How to secure your portable devices, such as mobiles and tablets
● why you should take extra steps to protect your website, data and reputation
● what you should do when your software and programs reach the end of their digital life
● what a password manager is and why it is an essential part of a modern workplace
Where to go for help
Learning about these security risks and quick wins is the easy part – but when implementing, it can be hard to know the best place to start.
Here at Bridged, we can help you.
We have a project team that can work with you to fine-tune the project scope and find a best-practice solution to implement security improvements for your business.
And following implementation, we have a dedicated team who can assist you with monitoring your ICT equipment and system, mitigating risks before they get out of hand and working with you to keep your business running.
Get in touch with us today to learn more.
Did you know that outsourcing your ICT needs could increase your business competitiveness?
We know that in-house ICT costs can be expensive, especially for small to medium businesses.
Between staff costs, product and software licences, and limited hours of in-house ICT operation, small to medium businesses can have difficulty competing at level with larger corporations in the technology space.
An improved ICT service or product for your business can lead to:
Increased productivity
Larger corporations have enterprise-wide programs and software optimised specifically to improve their business. With outsourced ICT, you can access similar software or have it customised to your needs at a cost-effective rate, without having to purchase a potentially costly off-the-shelf product that may not be fit for your unique requirements.
Streamlined processes
Have you ever had an idea that would significantly improve the way your business runs, but keeps getting pushed down the list of jobs to do as more urgent priorities arise?
As with productivity, outsourced ICT can see improvements in process implemented within your business that you may not have the time to project manage yourself.
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Reduced risk of damaging security incidents
Effective cyber security requires both constant monitoring of current systems, as well as a finger on the pulse of system enhancements, security changes and potential risks to ensure your business is running its security optimally.
It is near impossible for a small-medium business to facilitate an in-house cyber security with 24/7 support availability – which is why outsourcing ICT may make sense for you.
Through Bridged Managed Services, you will have access to the same systems, products and help desk support that a larger organisation may have in-house, without adding to your payroll. Ultimately helping you to grow your business in economic and reputational terms.
We can provide you with the support you need day-to-day, as well as round the clock ICT monitoring and support, to improve your ICT systems and take on your competition on an even playing field.
Contact us to find out how we can help you.
Did you know that moving from an on-premises phone system to a hosted phone system online could improve your business function?
In the past businesses ran with an on-premises phone system – hard-wired handsets and phone systems connected to a business location, limiting flexibility in workforce growth and working location, while also adding additional phone and hardware maintenance costs.
Today, we can move this system online.
An online hosted phone system, will ensure you can:
● maintain a professional image for your workplace and clients
● enable your teams to work from anywhere
● enable your staff to use many different devices including handset, desktop, mobile, or all of the above!
A hosted phone system will also provide connectivity with other communication tools that are far more cost effective and easier to maintain via remote support than traditional phone systems – such as chat features, project management tools and task integration features.
If your business is looking to expand, a hosted phone system will provide a scalable solution for workforce growth with real time monitoring and reporting tools at your fingertips.
If your phone system is due for an upgrade, get in touch with Bridged to find out more.