Network security is a big issue and growing bigger daily. Scams originating from around the world are increasingly sophisticated and getting harder to detect and for the legal authorities to shut down.
There are 10 reasons why you should regularly review your network security listed below:
1. Effective password policy: Employees and staff come and go but they can leave with the key that can unlock information that the ex-employee may wish to gather at a later date. Alternatively, it may be that a disgruntled ex-employee passes on the codes and passwords to a third party for a fee. In many organisations where security is crucial passwords are often changed daily. Password security is one of the most neglected areas in the business world akin to leaving the front door open at night.
2. IP leasing: there are many reasons why organisations undertake IP leasing and usually it is solely because it offers flexibility. However, involving third parties involves a tiny element of risk and it is important when an IP lease expires and is passed on that security within your organisation is entirely refreshed before taking out a new IP leasing contract.
3. Machine names: large and not so large networks name their computers which can then undertake procedures within the scope of IP leasing. Sometimes machines go missing or are lost or are stolen and so regular reviewing of all machine names within a network and identifying their presence, is a key element of network security.
4. Remote access: in business, remote access is often a key element of the day to day running of a company or organisation. Network security cannot be so tight that remote access is impossible but it is an area that should be regularly reviewed with regard to code numbers and passwords.
5. Network maintenance: it often makes sense for a network to be maintained by a third party company for reasons of efficiency. In order to examine and test network security it is part of the process to test the system. Once such tests have been completed, the code numbers and passwords should be renewed for added security.
6. Shredding: passwords are so profligate these days and there are so many personal and business passwords to remember that people instinctively write them down. Often paper is collected into recycling sacks and dumped for collection. Many banks have lost vital information through the painstaking search of crucial information jotted down on a scrap of paper. It may seem incredible that people would go to such lengths for a password, but there are organisations that have access to vast sums of money and illegal groups based overseas are more than happy to pay local thieves to collect rubbish sacks.
7. Fault tolerance: computer networks have to include a certain level of fault tolerance so that malicious attack and genuine faults do not crash the system. It is a fine balancing act for a system to defend itself against malicious attacks and at the same time to have a certain level of fault tolerance. 100% security and a level of fault tolerance are incompatible which is why regularly reviewing network security is essential.
8. Managed firewall: it is important to review existing contracts with regard to your managed firewall provider. There are new systems coming on stream all the time and what was right for protecting a small network may not be the best managed firewall provider now.
9. Renewing hardware: there are many environmental concerns when it comes to renewing hardware but the security implications are just as important. When an item of equipment is retired from active service it is important to have a competent technical engineer ensure that it does not carry with it important secrets including passwords.
10. Trojan hardware: new hardware will be tested off-site before being delivered. A critical aspect of your network security is to check that the new item of equipment is entirely free of any malicious content.
Backup and off site storage is important for network security; sometimes malicious software causes a catastrophic meltdown. To ensure that no virus attack can destroy your network it is important for data to be stored offline and off site, daily.
Ian works in the IT Industry and looks at why it is important to regularly review your network security IT Support Bristol and also IT Support Bath.
