On 6^th October 2021, Twitch fell victim to a sophisticated hack, the result of which meant sensitive and confidential information such as its source code, top streamer revenues, 3D emotes, and future plans was leaked to the world. So what happened and what vital lessons do we need to take away from it all?

For those less familiar with the Amazon-owned platform, Twitch describes itself as ‘An interactive livestreaming service for content spanning gaming, entertainment, sports, music, and more… Where millions of people come together live every day to chat, interact, and make their own entertainment.’ It averages around 140 million active users per month, making it a well-used and well-trusted brand – trust they will have to work hard to rebuild.

According to the BBC’s Cyber Reporter, Joe Tidy, ‘If it is all confirmed, it will be the biggest leak I have ever seen – an entire company’s most valuable data cleaned out in one fell swoop’.

The company’s first response to the hack was to assure users that their teams were ‘Working with urgency to understand the extent of this’. They acknowledged that ‘Some data was exposed to the internet due to an error in a Twitch server configuration change that was subsequently accessed by a malicious third party’. They then reset all stream keys, and many Twitch users changed their passwords, (although Twitch assured users there was no evidence that login credentials were accessed by the hackers).

Those thought to be responsible for the hack, claimed on 4chan that they had done so because they perceived the Twitch community to be ‘A disgusting toxic cesspool’ and they believed the leak would help ‘To foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space’.

Commenting on the leak, incovo’s CEO, Chris Thomas, explains; ‘Sadly, data leaks are not uncommon, but to see one on this scale is rare. It just goes to show how important it is to take every necessary action to ensure sensitive data remains secure online at all times. For businesses, that means investing in quality cyber security to protect all confidential information. It also means having digital experts on-hand to minimise potential damage should the worst happen. And it means educating all team members so they fully understand cyber risks and how to avoid them.’

Lessons to be learned from the Twitch hack

• Should your business come under a cyber-attack, act fast. Having a dedicated team of cyber security experts on-hand to deal with any issues the instant they arise can make all the difference to minimising fallout.
• Remain in contact with your clients. Honest and transparent communication is key. If your clients’ personal data has been compromised, they have a right to know immediately so they can take any necessary action, such as changing passwords for example.
• Ensure all staff receive thorough and regular training in cyber security to make them aware of the latest threats to look out for, and make sure they have a designated point of contact to report any suspicious activity.

Protect your business now

incovo is trusted by countless businesses across Scotland and beyond to provide effective cyber security. Working with leading names such as Sophos, incovo specialises in providing anti-virus solutions and anti-malware solutions, ISO 27001, and Cyber Essentials Plus certification.

Get in touch with our team of digital experts on 0345 450 8400 or email support@incovo.com to book a consultation today.

As firm advocates of remote working, the team at incovo and Remote Easy have long predicted that when restrictions ease and employers start to request a ‘return to normal’ and a return to the office, there would be a sizeable backlash from employees. Indeed, as the BBC recently reported, workers at companies such as Apple are pushing back, challenging what they call ‘A disconnect between how the executive team thinks about remote/location-flexible work and the lived experiences of many of Apple’s employees’. Here, we look at the reasons we believe the traditional office working environment, habits and attitudes should be made a thing of the past, and show how your business could benefit from a more modern, flexible, and freeing way to work.

How to get ahead in your career

The debate about how to get ahead in your career is an age-old one, but opinions have been polarised in recent months thanks to the pandemic. There are many who believe that showing an eagerness to return to the office is a sign of ambition and drive, and that only by sharing a workspace with your boss can you truly show them what you are capable of.

There are, of course, countless others who would strongly disagree. Choosing to continue to work from home bears no relation to one’s hunger to progress in their career. A remote worker could be just as eager to get that coveted promotion, and research shows they may in fact work harder, more efficiently and productively working towards that goal if they do so from home.

The end of presenteeism

A change in working habits and attitudes is long overdue. For far too long, many businesses have glamorised overworking. They have praised those who have continually worked more than their contracted hours or dragged themselves into the office even when they are ill. Why? Because it apparently shows they are dedicated to their job. Yet we wonder why so many people are suffering stress, anxiety, depression, and burn-out. For this reason, the pandemic has presented many businesses with a valuable opportunity to reassess their outdated emphasis on presenteeism.

Enjoying life outside work

Recognising that employees have a life outside of work is an important step towards building a more productive organisation. Having a personal life, family commitments, hobbies and pastimes does not mean a person is any less ambitious. In fact, we at incovo believe that when staff are encouraged to follow their passions in their spare time, they become happier and more fulfilled. In our experience, these workers are more well-rounded individuals with wider skill-sets, a more positive attitude, and a more productive work ethic.

Sometimes, life has to come first

One of the biggest problems with the return to the office and the traditional ‘9-5’ model of working is its total lack of flexibility. It is possible, to a certain extent, to plan appointments and personal errands after working hours or during lunch breaks, but sometimes life is unpredictable. Sometimes, a worker’s personal life needs to take priority. And no employee should ever be made to feel as if they are less committed to their career because of this.

Switching to a more flexible form of remote working enables employees to respond to these unpredictable moments better. It takes away the additional stress of rushing to the office or perhaps facing colleagues if, for example, they are dealing with a personal issue and would rather not have to make small talk.

Most importantly, employees need to feel empowered to decide when personal issues need to take priority over their work schedule, and employers need to trust their staff and support them in making that judgement call for themselves.

Practical solutions for the future

Countless businesses have proved that switching to remote working has no detrimental effects on their worker’s ambition and drive. In fact, the opposite can be said to be true. Many remote workers are more productive when working from home and one reason for this is because technology is now so advanced and so accessible.

Apps like Microsoft Teams enable staff to chat, video, share files and more at just the click of a button and all from a mobile phone. The digital experts at incovo provide comprehensive training to businesses looking to utilise this software to the fullest, enabling you to collaborate as quickly and seamlessly as if you were all in the same room.

We also provide anti-virus software from one of the leading names in cyber security, Sophos. Our highly experienced tech experts can recommend the right package for your business and install the software at a time that suits you best. So you can carry on working towards your business goals, safe in the knowledge that your data is protected.

Success stories

If you would like to find out more about making a success of remote working, speak to the team at incovo. We’ll be happy to discuss your unique requirements, and share tips and advice on how to make it happen.

Whatever the size of the business, whatever the industry, one fundamental thing unites them all – every single one is built on trust. Trust underpins every vital business relationship, whether that be with employees, customers, suppliers, or investors.

But earning trust isn’t just necessary when launching a business, it is the key to continued growth and success. Therefore, if a business wants to stay ahead of the competition, they need to continually earn and build upon that trust.

Top ways to build trust in a business

• Be honest and transparent: The truth will out! Be open with any facts, figures, and info your customers need to know.
• Put a face to the name: Customers are more likely to form a trusting relationship with a brand if they know and like the people behind it.
• Manage expectations: Over promising and under delivering is disappointing to customers and damaging to brands.
• Be consistent: Customers should experience the same high level of service at every step of their journey.
• Start from within: Create a culture of trust within your workplace and set an example of the sort of relationship you would like your employees to have with your customers.
• Get people talking: Use customer reviews and employee testimonials to build your profile and spread the word. A personal recommendation can make all the difference in swaying a customer’s decision.
• Welcome feedback: Make sure customers are able to contact you via phone, email, web chat and / or social media. Take on board all honest, constructive feedback and use it to prove you genuinely care about your customers.

A breach of trust can have significantly damaging effects on a business. In fact, it could spell the end of the business. When customers lose confidence in your brand, they will look for alternatives. If the reputational damage is significant, they may not return.

How can incovo help your business earn the trust of your customers?

One of the most important ways to avoid a breach of trust is to avoid a breach of data. With the majority of businesses online in some form, customers need to have full confidence that their personal and financial details will be safeguarded at all times.

It therefore pays to invest in cyber security. incovo is partnered with one of the leading names in cyber protection, Sophos, and offers a range of anti-virus and anti-malware solutions to protect your business from cyber attacks which could result in the loss of sensitive data.

Our highly qualified and experienced IT experts can tailor solutions to suit your company size and IT infrastructure, and can guide you through the whole process – from product selection to design, implementation, configuration, and deployment.

Our digital team specialises in:

• Threat management
• Access control
• Data risk management
• Proactive security monitoring
• Regular maintenance and updates
• Software patching
• Vulnerability management
• Security incident response
• Support and training

If you would like to find out more about cyber security from incovo and how it could be a key factor in building customer trust in your brand, contact us at enquiries@incovo.com or call 0345 450 8400.

A secure and reliable server is pivotal to most businesses. Its key purpose is to manage, store, and send important information, as well as process vital data. So it follows that you should only turn to a well trusted company for server installation, migration, and support in order to safeguard your business. Want to know why so many businesses rely on incovo to look after their server infrastructure? Read on…

We treat you as an individual
We know that no two businesses are the same and that is why our services are specifically tailored to each company’s individual needs. With us, you’ll be sure to have a server suited your unique workload, IT needs, and budget.

We understand what’s important
We know that saving time and money are key priorities for most businesses right now, so we go over and above the competition to help reduce time spent maintaining the server and aim to keep running costs to a minimum.

We know what a difference a good server can make to a business
We like to refer to the server as the driving force of your IT estate. We know that a poorly performing server can directly affect a business’s productivity. By upping your server speed, we can effectively up your productivity too.

We meticulously plan every job
Our expert engineers have extensive experience in server migration and will work with you to ensure the switch is as seamless as possible every step of the way:

• Analysis: Our engineers will analyse your existing server infrastructure to minimise any potential inconvenience to your business during the migration process.
• Planning: We’ll work with you to develop a strategy on how and when the migration will take place.
• Backup: We’ll ensure all data is securely backed up throughout the process
• Migration process: Throughout this period we’ll make it our priority to ensure any downtime is kept to an absolute minimum to limit any potential effect on your business.
• Post-migration testing: After we have successfully migrated your server, we’ll run a series of tests to confirm everything is performing as it should.
• On-going monitoring and support: Our ultimate aim is to ensure your server is updated and running seamlessly and securely at all times, that’s why we offer 24/7 support. We offer built-in firewall protection to prevent any unauthorised access, and our highly skilled engineers are fully equipped and certified to handle any potential points of vulnerability.

Our experts are always on hand to help
Want to know more? Speak to the IT experts at incovo by emailing enquiries@incovo.com or call 0345 450 8400 and find out how we can safeguard the security and reliability of your server, and in turn, boost your business.

Here at incovo, we understand what it takes to grow a business. Consistently delivering projects on time and on budget is what we’re known for. And we’re keen to share our expertise with you. That’s why we offer Project Management – a service that could radically change the way you approach and achieve your business goals. To discuss this in more detail, we sat down with Craig Beveridge, who leads our expert team of Project Managers.

What skills, experience and qualifications do you have in Project Management?
I have extensive experience in Project Management – over 35 years in fact. I started my career working for a small telecoms company in the early ‘80s, and progressed from Telecoms Engineer to Project Manager. I’m a fully certified PRINCE2 Practitioner (Projects In Controlled Environments) and it’s my job to ensure all projects run smoothly, whether small or large.

Tell me more about PRINCE2
Essentially, it’s a well-respected method of dividing up projects into manageable and controllable stages. This makes it easy for everyone within the business to understand what direction they’re heading and what they need to achieve. It also helps employees become accountable for the important individual parts they each play in achieving the collective business goal.

What are these stages?
Put simply, the key stages are Initiation > Planning > Execution > Monitoring > Closing. Every project, no matter the size, timescale, or budget, can be broken down into these five elements.

What are the main benefits of the PRINCE2 approach used by incovo?
From my many years of experience, the PRINCE2 approach is the best for offering the following benefits:

• Common language
• Consistent approach
• Optimised clarity
• Defined roles
• Risk management
• Continuous improvement
• Adaptability to individual projects
• Controlled start, middle, and end
• Regular progress reviews
• Assurance that the project continues to have a business justification

What’s the secret to delivering a successful project?
It all comes down to the four P’s:

• Plan: What are your goals and how do you aim to achieve them?
• Process: How will you approach it?
• People: What are the dynamics of all involved? How will they collaborate and communicate?
• Power: Who are the key decision-makers? What policies need to be taken into account?

What makes a good Project Manager?
A good Project Manager needs to combine multiple disciplines to deliver real results. This includes leadership, influence, negotiations, politics, change and conflict management. A good dose of humour often helps too!

What difference could a Project Manager make to my business?
Hiring a skilled Project Manager can help you deliver projects on time and within budget, manage risk, and mitigate perceived problems. It can improve productivity, boost team morale, lead to greater profitability, and ultimately help you achieve your business goals.

How can I find out more about Project Management from incovo?
Project Management is just one of the many Professional Services we offer here at incovo. Each service is flexible and can be adjusted to meet your exact business requirements. To find out how we could help your business, call 0345 450 8400 or email enquiries@incovo.com.

Top image: Project Manager Craig Beveridge and Head IT Consultant James Myles