Most IT alerts don’t feel urgent. They pop up, get ignored, and quietly pile up until someone finally says, “We should probably look at that.” The problem? Some alerts aren’t just noise—they’re early warnings. And waiting until tomorrow can turn a small issue into a serious incident.
Here are five IT alerts you should always investigate right away, even if everything seems fine on the surface.
1. Suspicious Login or Impossible Travel Alerts
If an account logs in from two locations that don’t make sense—or from a country your business doesn’t operate in—that’s not a coincidence.
Why it matters:
These alerts often indicate stolen credentials. Even if access was blocked, repeated attempts suggest someone is actively trying.
What to do now:
Verify the user, reset passwords, and review recent account activity.
2. Multiple Failed Login Attempts
One failed login happens. Ten in a row doesn’t.
Why it matters:
This is a classic sign of a brute-force attempt or automated attack trying to guess passwords.
What to do now:
Check which account is targeted, lock it temporarily if needed, and confirm MFA is enabled.
3. Antivirus or Endpoint Protection Disabled
Any alert showing security software turned off—by anyone—is urgent.
Why it matters:
Malware often disables protection first so it can operate undetected.
What to do now:
Investigate the device immediately, scan it fully, and confirm the change wasn’t user-initiated.
4. Unusual Email Activity Alerts
This includes new inbox rules, forwarding enabled, or a spike in sent emails.
Why it matters:
Attackers often set forwarding rules to quietly copy emails—or use compromised accounts to launch phishing campaigns.
What to do now:
Review mailbox rules, remove suspicious changes, and reset credentials.
5. Backup Failure Notifications
Backup alerts are easy to dismiss—until you need them.
Why it matters:
A failed backup today means no recovery tomorrow if something goes wrong.
What to do now:
Confirm why the backup failed, rerun it, and verify recent restore points are usable.
Why Speed Matters
Most cyber incidents don’t start with dramatic system failures. They start quietly—one alert at a time. The faster you investigate, the easier the fix and the smaller the impact.
Final Thought
Not every alert is an emergency, but the five above should never wait. Treat them like smoke alarms: most of the time nothing’s burning, but when it is, you’ll be glad you acted fast.
At ETTE, we help businesses monitor, investigate, and respond to alerts before they become real problems—so tomorrow stays business as usual.