How Google’s Latest Scam Protections Highlight the Importance of Layered Security Against Scams

Online scams aren’t new—but they’ve never been this convincing.
According to Google, nearly 60% of people globally experienced a scam in the last year. Thanks to AI voice cloning, deepfakes, and social engineering, even seasoned professionals are being fooled.

This rise in realism underscores something every business should take seriously: the importance of layered security against scams. No single tool can protect you from all threats. However, a layered approach makes scams far easier to stop before they strike. This strategy is like the one Google is rolling out across its platforms.

Layered Security Stops Scams Cold

Google’s New Scam-Fighting Features

Google’s latest updates show how even tech giants need constant innovation to stay ahead of scammers. Here’s what’s new:

  1. Safer Links in Google Messages
    Messages that contain suspicious links now trigger an automatic warning. Users receive this warning before they click. Access is blocked unless the message is marked “not spam.”
  2. Key Verifier for Android Users
    Android 10+ users can now verify encryption keys through QR codes. This ensures private messages are truly between trusted contacts.
  3. Recovery Contacts for Google Accounts
    Users can now assign trusted friends or family as backup verifiers. This is useful in case of account compromise or forgotten credentials. It serves as an extra safety net when other recovery methods fail.
  4. Sign-In with Mobile Number
    If your phone is lost or replaced, this feature simplifies account recovery. You can use your mobile number and previous device passcode.
  5. Be Scam Ready Game
    A gamified tool that helps users recognize real-world scam patterns through interactive scenarios.
  6. Public Awareness Campaigns
    Google is partnering with organizations like the National Cybersecurity Alliance and AARP. The goal is to fight elder fraud and strengthen cyber-education across the U.S.

These initiatives emphasize proactive protection—a philosophy we share at SofTouch Systems.

What Businesses Can Learn from Google

Google’s innovations reinforce a core truth of cybersecurity: awareness and technology must work together.

At SofTouch Systems, we help businesses apply that same principle through multi-layered defense strategies that stop scams at every point of contact:

Password Managers (1Password) – Reduce credential reuse and block phishing attempts.
Antivirus + DNS Filtering (Bitdefender) – Identify malicious sites before they load.
VPNs and Encryption – Keep your team’s communications private from impersonators.
Cloud Backups and Monitoring – Ensure recovery if data is ever compromised.
Employee Scam-Awareness Training – Teach staff how to recognize and report threats.

Each layer protects what the others can’t. Together, they form a “human + technology firewall” strong enough to withstand even AI-driven scams.

Protecting People Means Protecting Businesses

While Google focuses on protecting billions of users, SofTouch Systems focuses on protecting your users—your team, clients, and data.

Scammers now use sophisticated tools that can mimic voices, forge identities, and even duplicate corporate email chains. That means your first line of defense isn’t just software—it’s strategy.

STS’s No Surprise IT framework delivers the same proactive protection approach Google advocates for. It includes predictable pricing, clear SLAs, and monthly “Trust Reports.”
Layered defense stack tailored to SMBs and nonprofits.
Employee phishing simulations and training refreshers.

Because staying safe online shouldn’t rely on luck—it should rely on preparation.

SofTouch Systems Managed Services Provider, Universal City Texas

Stay Ahead of the Scammers

Google’s efforts are proof that the threat landscape is evolving daily. Now is the time to strengthen your defenses. Whether you’re a local business in Texas or a digital nomad running global operations, you need to be prepared.

Start with a free Security Posture Assessment at SofTouchSystems.com.
We’ll evaluate your systems, train your staff, and layer your protection before scammers ever get the chance.

Understanding MSP Jargon, Part 2: 30 Cloud, Compliance, and Advanced Security Terms Explained

From Buzzwords to Business Benefits

In Part 1 (found HERE) of this series, we broke down the 30 most common terms you’ll hear. These come from Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like SofTouch Systems.
Now, we’re moving beyond the basics to cover cloud, compliance, and advanced security concepts, the language behind secure digital transformation.

When you understand these terms, you’re not just following along, you’re protecting your business.

Understanding MSP Jargon Pt 2: 30 Cloud, Compliance, and Advanced Security Terms Explained

Cloud Computing & Infrastructure Terms (31–40)

  1. Cloud Computing – The delivery of computing services—servers, storage, databases, and software—over the internet (“the cloud”) instead of local hardware.
  2. Public Cloud – Shared infrastructure hosted by providers like Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.
  3. Private Cloud – A cloud environment dedicated solely to your organization, offering greater control and security.
  4. Hybrid Cloud – Combines public and private cloud environments for flexibility and cost efficiency.
  5. Virtual Machine (VM) – A software-based computer that runs multiple operating systems on a single physical server.
  6. SaaS (Software as a Service) – Applications delivered via the cloud, like Microsoft 365 or 1Password for Business.
  7. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) – Virtualized computing resources such as servers and storage, rented on demand.
  8. PaaS (Platform as a Service) – A cloud platform for developing, testing, and deploying software applications.
  9. Scalability – The ability to increase or decrease IT resources as your business grows or demand fluctuates.
  10. Redundancy – Building backup systems to ensure services continue even if one component fails.

Compliance & Governance Terms (41–50)

  1. Compliance – Meeting legal and regulatory standards for data privacy and cybersecurity (like HIPAA or PCI-DSS).
  2. HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; governs how healthcare entities handle patient data.
  3. PCI-DSS – Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard; applies to businesses that store or process credit card information.
  4. GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation; a European privacy law that can affect U.S. companies handling EU data.
  5. CMMC – Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification; a framework for businesses working with U.S. defense contractors.
  6. SOC 2 – A third-party audit report confirming a service provider’s controls over data security, availability, and confidentiality.
  7. Data Retention Policy – Defines how long data is stored before deletion, helping maintain compliance and efficiency.
  8. Audit Trail – A record showing who accessed data, when, and what changes were made.
  9. Access Control – The process of managing who can view or use specific data or systems.
  10. Security Posture – The overall strength and readiness of your cybersecurity defenses.

Advanced Cybersecurity Terms (51–60)

  1. Threat Vector – The path or method used by attackers to breach your network (e.g., email, remote desktop, USB).
  2. Vulnerability – A weakness in a system that attackers can exploit.
  3. Exploit – The act of taking advantage of a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access.
  4. Zero-Day Attack – A cyberattack that targets a previously unknown vulnerability before a fix is available.
  5. SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) – This system collects security data from across your network. It analyzes the data to detect threats.
  6. IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection/Prevention System) – Tools that detect and block unauthorized activity in real time.
  7. Malware – Malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to systems.
  8. Botnet – A network of compromised computers used to carry out attacks such as spam campaigns or DDoS.
  9. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) – A cyberattack that floods systems with traffic, making them inaccessible.
  10. Incident Response (IR) – The organized approach to detecting, responding to, and recovering from security breaches.

Why This Knowledge Matters for SMBs

Cybersecurity is no longer a technical issue—it’s a business continuity issue.
For Texas small and midsize businesses, understanding how cloud, compliance, and threat management intersect helps you:

  • Protect customer data and reputation.
  • Meet insurance and vendor cybersecurity requirements.
  • Make smarter technology investments with confidence.

At SofTouch Systems, our role as your MSP isn’t just to manage your systems—it’s to translate IT into business success. Learn more at NIST.

Next in the Series

In Part 3, we’ll explore emerging IT and security terms. These terms are shaping the next generation of business protection. They range from AI and automation to cyber insurance and supply chain security.

Want to know how your business measures up?
Schedule a Free Security Posture Review with SofTouch Systems and learn where your strengths—and risks—really are.
Book Now | Secure. Simplify. Succeed.

When Data Fades: What Cambridge’s “Future Nostalgia” Teaches Us About Backups

Cambridge University is in a race against time. This should sound familiar to any business owner who’s ever lost a file.

This month, the University Library launched “Future Nostalgia.” This is a year-long initiative. It is dedicated to rescuing decades of data trapped on obsolete floppy disks before it’s lost forever. The project helps people recover everything from forgotten WordPerfect files to fragments of Stephen Hawking’s early research.

It may sound like a nostalgic tech rescue mission. However, it highlights a far more urgent truth: digital data doesn’t last forever.

When Data fades, Backups keep history alive.

When Data Storage Becomes Data Loss

Magnetic coatings decay. Drives disappear. File formats go extinct.
Cambridge’s archivists face the same challenges your business will—just on older hardware.

Their solution? Specialized recovery tools like KryoFlux and Greaseweazle. These tools sample the raw magnetic signal itself. This process rebuilds files that would otherwise be lost. It’s a process so delicate that even minor damage can mean the difference between recovery and permanent loss.

For small and mid-sized businesses, that’s a sobering reminder. If your data only exists in one place, it’s already at risk. The risk increases if it’s stored on aging drives.

History Repeats Itself: Unless You Back It Up

Cambridge is racing to preserve digital history. In the same way, modern companies must preserve their operational history. This includes emails, invoices, customer data, and contracts.

Here’s what every business can learn from Cambridge’s mission:
Technology Ages Fast: What seems “safe” today might be unreadable tomorrow.
☁Backups Need Testing: A backup that hasn’t been tested might as well not exist.
Formats Matter: Proprietary files can lock away your data. Old apps may also limit access. Aging servers can make data retrieval as challenging as using a floppy disk.

That’s why SofTouch Systems enforces a three-layer backup policy for every client:

  1. Local Backups – For fast recovery from minor issues.
  2. Cloud Copies – Offsite, secure, and ransomware-resistant.
  3. Verification & Testing – Monthly recovery checks ensure your data actually restores.

Because when data vanishes, recovery becomes a race against physics, not just time.

The Future of Nostalgia Is Prevention

Cambridge’s archivists are doing incredible work preserving the past.
But your business’s focus must be on protecting the present—and the future.

Every invoice, design, or client file you lose today could be your “digital archaeology” project tomorrow. Don’t wait for your own floppy-disk moment.

Start with a free Backup & Recovery Checkup at SofTouchSystems.com
We’ll make sure your data stays recoverable—not just remembered.