| Network security is a big issue and growing bigger | | | | 6. Shredding: passwords are so profligate these days |
| daily. Scams originating from around the world are | | | | and there are so many personal and business |
| increasingly sophisticated and getting harder to detect | | | | passwords to remember that people instinctively write |
| and for the legal authorities to shut down. | | | | them down. Often paper is collected into recycling |
| There are 10 reasons why you should regularly review | | | | sacks and dumped for collection. Many banks have |
| your network security listed below: | | | | lost vital information through the painstaking search of |
| 1. Effective password policy: Employees and staff | | | | crucial information jotted down on a scrap of paper. It |
| come and go but they can leave with the key that can | | | | may seem incredible that people would go to such |
| unlock information that the ex-employee may wish to | | | | lengths for a password, but there are organisations |
| gather at a later date. Alternatively, it may be that a | | | | that have access to vast sums of money and illegal |
| disgruntled ex-employee passes on the codes and | | | | groups based overseas are more than happy to pay |
| passwords to a third party for a fee. In many | | | | local thieves to collect rubbish sacks. |
| organisations where security is crucial passwords are | | | | 7. Fault tolerance: computer networks have to include |
| often changed daily. Password security is one of the | | | | a certain level of fault tolerance so that malicious |
| most neglected areas in the business world akin to | | | | attack and genuine faults do not crash the system. It is |
| leaving the front door open at night. | | | | a fine balancing act for a system to defend itself |
| 2. IP leasing: there are many reasons why | | | | against malicious attacks and at the same time to |
| organisations undertake IP leasing and usually it is solely | | | | have a certain level of fault tolerance. 100% security |
| because it offers flexibility. However, involving third | | | | and a level of fault tolerance are incompatible which is |
| parties involves a tiny element of risk and it is | | | | why regularly reviewing network security is essential. |
| important when an IP lease expires and is passed on | | | | 8. Managed firewall: it is important to review existing |
| that security within your organisation is entirely | | | | contracts with regard to your managed firewall |
| refreshed before taking out a new IP leasing contract. | | | | provider. There are new systems coming on stream all |
| 3. Machine names: large and not so large networks | | | | the time and what was right for protecting a small |
| name their computers which can then undertake | | | | network may not be the best managed firewall |
| procedures within the scope of IP leasing. Sometimes | | | | provider now. |
| machines go missing or are lost or are stolen and so | | | | 9. Renewing hardware: there are many environmental |
| regular reviewing of all machine names within a | | | | concerns when it comes to renewing hardware but |
| network and identifying their presence, is a key | | | | the security implications are just as important. When an |
| element of network security. | | | | item of equipment is retired from active service it is |
| 4. Remote access: in business, remote access is often | | | | important to have a competent technical engineer |
| a key element of the day to day running of a | | | | ensure that it does not carry with it important secrets |
| company or organisation. Network security cannot be | | | | including passwords. |
| so tight that remote access is impossible but it is an | | | | 10. Trojan hardware: new hardware will be tested |
| area that should be regularly reviewed with regard to | | | | off-site before being delivered. A critical aspect of |
| code numbers and passwords. | | | | your network security is to check that the new item of |
| 5. Network maintenance: it often makes sense for a | | | | equipment is entirely free of any malicious content. |
| network to be maintained by a third party company | | | | Backup and off site storage is important for network |
| for reasons of efficiency. In order to examine and test | | | | security; sometimes malicious software causes a |
| network security it is part of the process to test the | | | | catastrophic meltdown. To ensure that no virus attack |
| system. Once such tests have been completed, the | | | | can destroy your network it is important for data to be |
| code numbers and passwords should be renewed for | | | | stored offline and off site, daily. |
| added security. | | | | |