Understanding Network Security
Focusing On What Is important
Businesses are often so concerned with their day-to-day operations that they forget to focus systematically on their network security. Others understand the need for a comprehensive network security policy, but continue to neglect it, which can be detrimental in the event of a data leak. Understanding what network security entails, as well as the best practices that you can adhere to, will ensure your company’s network is secure from the numerous outside threats looking to infiltrate your network. It is essential to keeping your data, and ultimately your business, safe.
What is Network Security?
Network security consists of the policies adopted to prevent and monitor unauthorized access, misuse, modification, or denial of a computer network and network-accessible resources.
On the surface, it might appear that your existing security policy is simply keeping your data safe, but there’s far more to it than that. When you set in motion a plan to secure your company’s network, you should first take into account the protection you need from high-level and low-level threats alike. It likely consists of some sort of regular maintenance which includes the patching of software systems to seal vulnerabilities, integration of security hardware and software on your network, as well as the regular monitoring of your network traffic to help determine the presence of any abnormalities. These steps produce a comprehensive network security policy that will keep unwanted intruders off of your company’s network.
What Can Network Security Protect Your Business From?
Big Data Needs Big Security
In part, this is due to how society has grown heavily reliant on the Internet. Here are some of the threats which proper network security can protect your business from:
- Spyware and Adware: While not particularly threatening, they can invade your privacy and pave the way for more dangerous infections. Spyware can log your keystrokes, collect information about email addresses, transmit your passwords and bank account info to the hackers. Adware is simply an annoying means to present unwanted ads to gain profit.
- Phishing and Identity Theft: Hackers will often try to pose as a reputable institution which your business has relations with in an attempt to steal information from you, such as credit card numbers, banking credentials, or passwords. They’ll do this by appearing legitimate through an email or an elaborate, fake website designed to look like the real deal.
- Viruses, Malware, and Exploitation of Vulnerabilities: The goal of a hacker is to infiltrate your computer network and make off with valuable information, or to leave a Trojan backdoor behind for later access at their leisure. Hackers often infect systems with viruses or malware which can either cause damage or allow for remote code execution. These measures take advantage of vulnerabilities found within a piece of software or an operating system, and they can be difficult to remove once they’ve been implanted.
Network Security from MitechOne
Security should be everyone’s concern, but it’s our business.
A comprehensive network security policy keeps threats of all kinds from entering your network and neutralizing those which do. Some examples are:
- Firewalls: Firewalls are your first lines of defense against outside threats. A firewall analyzes the traffic and data going to and from your network. Think of it like a virtual bouncer which keeps dangerous entities from entering your network.
- Antivirus Software: If a virus or piece of malware does manage to get through your firewall, it can be neutralized with an enterprise-level antivirus software. An antivirus eliminates threats as quickly as possible while limiting damage done.
- Spam Blocking: Not only is spam annoying and useless, some phishing emails might slip through your defenses. Instead of going directly to your inbox where you might fall for their tricks, it goes to the spam folder, where it can be promptly ignored and deleted.
- Content Filtering: Not all web content is safe for viewing, so it’s important that your team can tell the fake sites from the real ones. Content filtering allows you to block certain websites from access, so it’s also good for increasing productivity in the office by limiting employee access to time-wasting websites like Facebook, BuzzFeed, and others.
With MitechOne’s managed IT services, we can handle these business-critical tasks for you while you stay focused on running your business. Our network security services are part of our regular monthly IT support tasks and it allows you to avoid having to deal with these issues before they turn into disasters. A healthy network is a strong network. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, give us a call at 954-689-2488 ext.101 or 844-MITECH1.