The team at ePareto, in partnership with Odoo, will satisfy all our client’s needs ranging from CRM, eCommerce, accounting, inventory, point of sale, project management, etc. with Odoo, an all-in-one app suite.

Odoo is open-source software that offers a range of tools in modules or Apps that can be used together or separately to help business owners and organizations run their businesses successfully. It provides a comprehensive solution to manage aspects of a company’s operations.

It was launched in 2005 and since then, it has gained widespread popularity because it offers an extensive solution to different aspects of a company’s operations, including sales, CRM, accounting, project management, manufacturing, inventory management, website builder etc.

ePareto’s partnership with Odoo gives us access to all available modules which can be configured and modified to suit each client’s needs, so we can offer a top-notch solution to our customers. In Ghana, companies like iStore Ghana, Dzata Cement, CBI Ghana, Nutmeg, Van Vliet Automotive etc. use modules from Odoo to manage aspects of their businesses.

Advantages of Odoo include:

1)        Customizable Apps: its flexible architecture allows businesses to select from the 30+ modules and customize them to fit their precise requirements. Each application provides specific functionality to help businesses manage their operations more efficiently.

2)        Easy to use: it has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate for all users, making it easy for businesses to get started on Odoo and manage their operations more efficiently.

3)        Odoo also offers a robust community, continually working to improve the software and add new modules and applications. The community provides support, documentation, and tutorials to help users get started with Odoo and make the most out of the software.

In summary, Odoo is a comprehensive and flexible business software solution that offers a range of modules and applications to help businesses manage their operations more efficiently. It is easy to use and highly customizable, making it an ideal choice for small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporations. With its modular architecture and active community, Odoo is a platform that can adapt to the evolving needs of modern businesses.

For further enquiries on what Odoo module works best for your business and other related questions, reach us at [email protected]

The festive season usually creates more online traffic, as most people are trying to shop online, pay for products and services, communicate with loved ones etc. An increase in online traffic also means an increase in online threats. Scammers and hackers will try to get your personal or private information this season.

Pay extra attention to online websites, phishing emails, online giveaways or even familiar links, as you may be one click away from being hacked.

We have compiled some safety tips to protect you and your family from online threats this festive season:

1. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): most websites and social media platforms encourage users to enable two-factor authentication for better protection. Two-factor authentication is adding a layer of protection to your account before logging in by requesting another form of identification different from the password (primary security/ protection). Forms of 2FA identification can be a password (primary security), OTP (one-time passcode) usually sent to your phone number, fingerprint scan etc.
2. Keep software up-to-date: ensure the software on all devices is up-to-date. This will ensure that your devices are protected by the latest security updates available on your software.
3. Visit reliable websites: only shop or make payments on verified and reliable websites. The internet is full of different websites, including ones trying to steal your personal and private information. A legit website will have:
   – A URL with the //HTTPS:// to start with (https//www.epareto.com) or has a lock symbol on the address bar. This means the website owner has ensured secured encryption on the website, to protect the transfer of sensitive information.
   – A contact us page: always check the contact us page of a website before transacting business with them. Ensure that they have multiple contact information provided (phone number, email address, physical address, social media accounts etc.).
   – A properly spelt website name: scammers can create websites with similar domain names to trick unsuspecting users by changing a letter in the original website’s URL e.g. Yah00.com = Yahoo.com.
   – Privacy policy page: various countries have made it mandatory that websites inform users how their information is collected, used, protected and used. A legit website will have a page or link to a document that explains this information.
4. Beware of giveaways: the festive season is when people want opportunities to save money, so scammers create giveaways and offer unsuspecting users exorbitant offers to save money or win prizes by just clicking on a link and inputting your private information. If it feels too good to be true, it usually is.
5. Use good antivirus: ensure the antivirus on your device(s) is verified and up-to-date.
6. Be careful what you open: malware may come in the form of an attachment or fake links in an email, posts, texts etc. Think twice before following such links or downloading the attached files as this may install malware or viruses on your device(s).
7. Check the age of the website: verifying the age of a website gives you confidence that the business has been around for a while, fraudulent websites usually have a short life span. Use www.whois.domaintools.com to check a website’s age, who it is registered to, where they are etc.

In our last newsletter, we started the data security series, detailing the importance of backup systems. In this edition, we continue the series, with the focus on explaining the significance of firewalls.

A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block traffic based on an organization’s established security policies. It typically establishes a barrier between an internal network and an external network.

Firewalls can either be hardware or software.

TYPES OF FIREWALLS

Proxy Server Firewall- is a type of gateway that hides the true network address of the computers connected to it. It is a mediator server that separates end-user clients from the destination that they browse. It connects to the internet, makes requests for pages, etc., and receives this information or data on behalf of the computer or user behind it. For example, if a user wants to visit an external website, then packets are processed through an HTTP server before they are forwarded to the requested website, packets from the website are then processed through the server before being forwarded to the user.

Packet Filters- This is the oldest and most basic type of firewall. It is a system that examines each packet (pieces of data that are formatted for internet transfer) entering or leaving the network. It checks information such as the destination and origination of an Internet Protocol (IP) address, packet type, port number, etc., and either accepts or rejects them based on the established policies. If the packet passes the test, it is allowed to pass, if it does not pass, it is rejected.

Stateful Inspection- is also known as dynamic packet filtering. It is a kind of firewall that keeps track of the state of active network connections while analysing incoming traffic looking for potential risks. Stateful firewalls can detect attempts by unauthorized individuals to access a network, as well as analyse the data within packets to see if they contain malicious code. It works by examining the contents of a data packet and then comparing them against existing data packets that have previously passed through the firewall.

Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW)- this is the combination of traditional firewall technology with added functions. It allows or blocks traffic based on state, port and protocol and filters traffic based on administrator-defined rules. A next-generation firewall (NGFW) does this, and so much more. In addition to access control, NGFWs can block modern threats such as advanced malware and application-layer attack. It performs roles beyond a stateful network firewall by conducting a deep packet inspection to identify and control applications regardless of the IP port used by the application.

BENEFITS OF A FIREWALL

Understanding the benefits of firewalls will help your company or organization effectively protect data in this digital age. Firewalls are beneficial to all businesses irrespective of size because they serve as the first line of defence against malware, external attacks, and hackers.

Promotes Privacy

A firewall offers services that can block the name of your website and Uniform Resource Locator (URL), hence protecting the user and the organization or company. Protecting your data and that of your client builds trust and credibility because nobody likes their private information stolen, since hackers are always looking for ways to get private information about an individual or organization. This would give an organization a competitive advantage over other companies or organizations.

Prevents Hacking

Hackers are constantly looking for ways to spread malicious content such as viruses, steal data and hold systems hostage. Hacking activities have made it important to use a firewall because they prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access to emails, data and systems.

Monitor Traffic

Firewalls monitor the traffic that passes through them because incoming or outgoing traffic creates opportunities for threats to affect your operations. If the firewall identifies these threats, it blocks them immediately.

Stops Virus and Trojan Attacks

Viruses and Trojans can shut down digital operations fast and with new threats developed daily, you must have a healthy defence system. Firewalls control all system’s entry points and can stop viruses and Trojan attacks and block them before they cause any damage to your system.

A Firewall is essentially a must-have for any business or individual because they protect your private information, guard against threats, malware, and viruses prevents hacking and most importantly monitor traffic.

In our next data security series, we will explain how data encryption is used for data security.

For advice on how to install and use a firewall, which firewall works for your organization, how to upgrade your firewall software and other inquiries, please contact ePareto at [email protected].