| If you want to keep your network running then that is | | | | employees understand why something is so they are |
| a hardware issue. | | | | far more likely to comply with your wishes. |
| If you want to keep that network under any kind of | | | | 2. Everyone is not equal. |
| control then that is a personnel issue. | | | | If your network security policy is written in a |
| When the age of the internet began there arose a | | | | background of paranoia then everyone will have a |
| group of people - hackers - who made it their goal to | | | | ridiculously high level of security applied to their work. |
| break into computer networls for many a reason. | | | | This can encourage essential sharing of resources to |
| The word 'hacker' has many connotations and | | | | be accomplished through employees sharing their login |
| meanings, the original of which was not negative at all. | | | | details or leaving their workstations switched on for |
| For the purpose of this article, though, assume that a | | | | others to view. Not good! |
| hacker is a bad guy; someone who would break into a | | | | 3. Hardware evaluation. |
| network to deface it or to steal information. | | | | Do you need to restrict access to the actual |
| Now, the sad truth is that you cannot ever hope to | | | | hardware? Would it be a more secure option to store |
| fully 100% protect your network from these guys - | | | | your backups off site where your regular employees |
| they are now well skilled, motivated, well informed and | | | | cannot access them? |
| have financial backing and this gives them a | | | | 4. Identify likely threats. |
| competitive edge over you. | | | | If you identify the likely threats to your network then |
| You can, however, reduce the risks to your network | | | | your policy can encompass counter measures and |
| by controlling the human element your end via a | | | | contingency plans to deal with them. |
| network security policy. | | | | Having a network security policy is essential these |
| Here are some simple but effective tips for creating | | | | days, both to protect your data from hackers on the |
| such a network security policy - | | | | internet and also from the threats inside of the |
| 1. Clarity is king. | | | | workplace. |
| When writing a policy it is important to communicate | | | | Get yours written now! |
| why certain decisions have been made. When your | | | | |