| Like any new technology, security threats are | | | | your network security, set up a web filter, virus |
| constantly evolving and up-to-date network security is | | | | scanner and your firewall rules at one central point in |
| vital to businesses of all sizes. In order to meet this | | | | your network, instead of having to make sure that the |
| challenge, you must first understand and acknowledge | | | | virus definitions for each and every computers |
| the threats. Quite often business owners push network | | | | anti-virus suite are kept up to date. This is also known |
| security issues down the priority list, and in many cases | | | | as unified threat management. There are various web |
| network security is not a concern at all. But what if | | | | network security solutions out there for Windows and |
| one of your servers gets infected by a virus and must | | | | Linux as well as proprietary hardware appliances that |
| be taken down from the network, cleaned and | | | | have all the required functions built in. Typically such |
| restored to the previous state? How great would be | | | | solutions are subscription based, but the price also |
| the financial cost, downtime, and hassle be to get your | | | | depends on the number of clients inside your network |
| systems back online? | | | | and number of features you want. |
| Protect your Network | | | | Further steps to secure your network and IT |
| Computer and network security is not only about the | | | | infrastructure |
| hard- or software that you use, but also about the | | | | - Update your systems. Keep your operating systems |
| human sitting in front of it. A user who honestly | | | | and applications up-to-date and install the latest |
| believes that the bank of Nigeria wants to offer them | | | | security patches. |
| 12.6 Million US Dollars will click their way through every | | | | - Security policy. Make sure your workers don't bring |
| "Are you sure?", "Allow access?" or "Confirm security | | | | any use any removable media such as USB-sticks, |
| exception?" popup that the operation system, browser | | | | iPods or CDs to work and don't open any unexpected |
| or virus scanner throws at them to get it. By doing this, | | | | email attachments. |
| the user has effectively invited trouble into the | | | | - Strong passwords. Enforce a password policy that |
| network. Social engineering is the unifying threat that | | | | won't allow weak and easy-to-guess passwords such |
| puts all computers and their users at risk. | | | | as 'qwerty', '123456', names, car brands or sports |
| One way to protect your network is to filter out all | | | | teams. Good passwords should be meaningless, not in |
| undesirable traffic at the edge of the network in your | | | | any dictionary and be a mix of upper/lowercase |
| internet gateway, before it can reach all your | | | | letters and numbers. |
| workstations and users. This is a good primary line of | | | | - Secure your data. Backup at least daily, and also |
| defense. There are various internet management | | | | make sure you can restore the backup quickly if |
| suites available that allow you to control your network | | | | required to. Store the backup media at a different |
| traffic. A professional network security suite should at | | | | physical location. |
| least allow you to: | | | | - Change the default administrative log-ins after you |
| - filter web traffic and prevent access to inappropriate | | | | install new applications. Change administrative |
| websites, such as chat rooms, news sites, sports | | | | passwords regularly. |
| results or adult entertainment. | | | | - Decide if you want to outsource your Network |
| - scan web downloads and email for viruses | | | | Security to a local specialist, or if you have the |
| - block instant messengers such as MSN, ICQ, Yahoo, | | | | manpower and knowledge to handle the setup and |
| etc | | | | maintenance by yourself. |
| - block P2P and other file sharing software | | | | - The internet isn't the only gateway into your servers |
| - require user authentication to access internet | | | | that must be secure. Keep physical security of the |
| resources | | | | servers in mind in case of unauthorized access to the |
| - firewall the network to prevent unauthorized access | | | | hardware. |
| to your network resources | | | | - Your network security is a process, not a state. |
| - manage internet bandwidth usage | | | | Keep your IT staff trained so they can keep up with |
| The beauty of this solution is that you can maintain | | | | the latest security developments. |