06/19/2013– Fulcrum Group Launches Free Computer Network Scanning Service for...

The Fulcrum Group announced today a new free service designed to uncover potentially serious security and performance issues hiding in the computer networks of local businesses, governments and non-profit organizations based in Tarrant County.

“When times are tough, small firms pay less attention to security, network standards and their technology in general,” said Fulcrum Group president Steve Meek, a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and member of North Texas Infragard. “We want to help educate firms about their security risks and equip them with the information they need to start limiting their exposure.”

The new free service employs the latest in network assessment technology, which quickly scans a computer network for an array of potential problems and issues without having to install invasive software programs or have agents running continuously to monitor the network activity. The results of the scan are then run through a sophisticated diagnostic tool which compares the data to industry standards and best-practices. The Fulcrum Group then analyzes the results and produces a detailed report that summarizes all the findings along with recommendations.

“We estimate more than 90 percent of the computer networks that we assess under this program are likely to have one or more serious issues that will require immediate attention,” said Meek. “Over time, new PCs are added, users come and go and new software gets installed, so it’s not uncommon for an array of security and maintenance issues to arise undetected.”

In explaining why Fulcrum Group is offering this service at no cost to local organizations in Fort Worth, vice president David Johnson said that small firms often have a false sense of security. “Some small businesses don’t realize that even if they don’t think their firm is a target, attackers want to gain control of intermediate sites to attack the businesses they really want,” said Johnson. “In other words, if I want to attack a bank, I don’t do it directly. First, I attack a small business that is easy to compromise and install remote control tools. Then, I can attack my real target remotely and cover my tracks when done. , I would do it remotely from an unsuspecting small business, so I can cover my tracks.

By helping vulnerable small businesses, Fulcrum Group hopes to reduce the number of attacks on all area businesses—and maybe get a new client out of the deal, Johnson adds.

In order to participate in this free service, businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies must be located in the Tarrant County area.

For more information, on how to request a free network assessment, organizations should visit the Fulcrum Group web site at www.fulcrum.pro/free-network-assessment.

About The Fulcrum Group, Inc.

The Fulcrum Group provides advanced technology deployment and outsourced IT services based in Fort Worth, Texas. The Fulcrum Group is dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) achieve their long-term goals through its SPOT Managed IT Services program. The company works with businesses that seek to build, maintain and optimize their technology assets at an affordable rate.