Business Network Security protects your network and data from breaches, intrusions and other threats. The term Network Security describes hardware and software solutions; as well as processes or rules and configurations; relating to network use, accessibility, and overall threat protection. Here you can read all about how to secure your business network. Make sure your data is safe.
Network security is designed to protect the usability and integrity of your network and data. Basically, to secure your business network. It includes both hardware and software technologies. The effective secure business network uses network security. That manages access to the network. It targets a variety of threats. It stops them from entering or spreading on your business network.
Computer network security breaches seem to be in the news every day. They’re costing the organizations that fall prey millions of dollars. The facts surrounding cybersecurity can be unpleasant, and protecting your system is critical. Yet, it’s hard to know how to secure a network. Especially for small and medium-sized organizations that don’t have a full-time IT staff to oversee system maintenance.
Fortunately, there are a number of computer network security best practices that business owners can implement today to secure their data and build more impenetrable protection against hackers and viruses.
Maintaining a secure small business or home network isn’t easy. Even for an IT team, it still takes time and energy to keep things locked down. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most critical steps you can take to keep your data from ending up elsewhere, and none of them take much time or effort to accomplish.
Most common security attacks
There is a range of ways that cybercriminals could gain access to your business network and compromise valuable data. This makes small businesses a tempting and easy target for cybercriminals. These are some of the most common cyberattacks:
Malware
Attackers install malicious software (for example Trojans, viruses, ransomware) onto your network of computers, often by enticing users to click a link or email attachment.
Phishing
Attackers steal login credentials or other sensitive data. They use fraudulent communications pretending to be from reputable sources.
Man-in-the-middle
Attackers steal data by disrupting a two-party transaction (also known as an “eavesdropping” attack).
Denial of service
Attackers flood systems, servers, or networks with traffic so that they aren’t able to process legitimate requests. They try to breach your business network security.
Structured Query Language (SQL) injection
Attackers insert malicious code into a SQL database that can modify or delete data, shut down your database, or even issue commands to your operating system.
You can read more about the most common threats online here. We gathered for you everything you need to know about online threats and how to avoid them.
Steps to secure your business network
Disable access
If your router has a Web management interface, disable access from the outside network. And change the admin default password now. Most routers have the ability to do both quite easily. You don’t want anyone else coming in and changing your settings or reading your log files.
Filter and delete spam emails
Phishing emails from hackers are crafted in a way to you to open them and click on sensational offers or links. Spam filters have advanced considerably and should be leveraged. Even so, the occasional spam email may make it through, especially if a hacker is mimicking someone you know, like a professional colleague or company you do business with. Employees need to use their common sense filters in addition to any spam filter software. Make sure you have a secure business network.
Set up a VPN to secure your network
A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts Internet connections and data transferred via your network. Setting up a VPN is a crucial second step to setting up a firewall. It ensures your secure business network. Most VPN services also have a built-in feature (a kill switch) that will disconnect hardware from your network when a protected connection is lost, thus keeping you safe from unexpected data leaks. Moreover, with a VPN you and your employees can securely use Wi-Fi during business trips without compromising your company’s sensitive data
Monitor your business network traffic
Monitor the traffic coming in and going out of your firewall. Read the reports carefully. Don’t rely on alerts to flag dangerous activity. Secure your business network. Make sure someone on your business team (or even better – you) understands the data and is prepared to take the necessary action. Get all the information such as traffic details, security attacks, VPN logon and logoff trends, and firewall rule changes.
Disable file sharing
Disable file/print sharing on everything other than your file server. You don’t need it on each desktop, and that just causes more vulnerabilities. This is particularly important for laptop users: You don’t want to be broadcasting your entire file system to everyone around you when you’re going to work at a public place like a cafe or breakfast place. Be careful and disable the file-sharing. Keep your network secure.
Use DMZ for network security
If you are running a Web server on your LAN, put it on a DMZ. If your router doesn’t have a DMZ, get a new router. Better yet, move to a collocation facility where someone who knows what he is doing can manage it. Having your own local Web server sounds like a good idea, but is a real security sinkhole, and many cable networks have made it harder to host your own from your home network anyway.
Install Antivirus software
Antivirus software is essential in today’s computing environment. It helps you get rid of adware, malware, and viruses – all of which are used by hackers to breach your network to cause further damage. It keeps your business network secure. Also, since most employees don’t always use safe computing practices – putting your system at higher risk for infection – antivirus software can detect and prevent any malicious programs before they’re installed on your computer.
Read everything you wanted to know about a good Antivirus in the article here.
Backup your data in the business network
Sometimes, the worst happens and you do get attacked. And your data does get stolen. If that were to happen; there would be only one thing that could save you: Backed up data. Make sure you have a secure business network. You should be backing up your data every single day for optimal protection. Every week at the very least. The data should be stored offsite in a safe and locked facility.
Install and monitor Firewall performance
A firewall is a piece or set of software or hardware designed to block unauthorized access to computers and networks. In very simple terms; a firewall is a series of rules that control incoming and outgoing network traffic. Computers and networks that “follow the rules” are allowed into access points. Those that don’t are prevented from accessing your system. Firewalls are becoming more and more sophisticated (right along with hackers) and the latest are integrated network security platforms that consist of a variety of approaches and encryption methods, all working to prevent breaches.
So to sum it up, there are so many things you can do nowadays to secure your business network. As you’ve learned here, it is extremely important to any business. Having a secure network means you can relax and focus on the important aspects of your business, knowing all your data is safe and secure.