How Small Businesses Can Protect Their Networks There are many obstacles that small businesses face today, and one of the most critical aspects necessary to maintaining a successful business is maintaining a secured technological network. With the recent emergence of trends such as cloud desktop hosting, the ability to preserve your company’s private information is at an all-time high. The following will illustrate some of the most effective network security practices currently available, as well as the various advantages of each specific option. Possibly the most important method to help keep your small business protected is by maintaining an effective physical safeguard. Though it is very possible for security threats to access your information remotely, it is extremely crucial to keep your physical equipment – whether that is a single computer or a server room – safe from all potential threats. Some great suggestions for preserving your business’ physical safety include installing access control and validation procedures. Physical perimeter security (i.e. security staff and/or intricate door locks) and subsequent reporting are also critical measures that will help keep your business physically fortified. Utilizing anti-virus software and spam filtering processes are also excellent strategies that should be observed by all businesses, as even the tiniest of security breaches can turn into a very big problem. There are a number of different software options available nowadays, most of which can be acquired with a simple click of the mouse. Make sure to diligently research each potential option before making the final purchase, as there is a wide variety of packages and offers available from each respective software vendor. Another way to keep your small business’ network secured is by adopting enhanced administrative safeguards of your data. Administrative precautions can entail a wide variety of different measures, ranging from a simple “policies and procedures” handout, to installing a contingency plan should your private data be compromised at any point in the future. One simple yet effective idea for business owners is to generate a compilation of rules and regulations for your employees. By ensuring that your employees are versed on the company’s security practices, you will stand a better chance at maintaining your overall security. Another crucial measure to help keep your small business secured is by initiating technical safeguards of data. Examples of this include applying unique user identification and authentication, audit controls, and advanced encryption. Even if your business is already utilizing these tactics, technological threats are ever-changing beasts, which is why it is very important to constantly update your system’s security processes. Finally, one other effective security precaution you can take as a business owner is to organize a network performance monitoring and reporting system. Known as an effective early-warning system, performance monitoring simplifies detection, diagnosis, and resolution of network issues before outbreaks occur. Additionally, these systems are also capable of displaying your systems’
performance statistics in real-time, as well as tracking response time, availability, and uptime of routers and other SNMP-enabled devices. As you can see, there are a number of network security resources available for today’s small business owner. Though no one alternative may be considered “more effective” than the others, it is highly recommended that a combination of any – if not all – of the aforementioned practices be adopted into today’s modern workplace. In doing so, you can help to ensure your business’ security and overall well-being without having to risk breaking the bank along the way.