10 Reasons to Regularly Review Your Network Security

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.

10 Reasons For Installing An Anti-Spyware System

While the World Wide Web is a blessing in many ways it presents dangers in the form of spyware, adware, Trojans and so on. While adware most often is not dangerous spyware can monitor your movements and your privacy is at stake. Thieves can use the internet to steal bank and credit card information or important files form your computer system. Once spyware has entered your system it is time consuming to remove it. So, it is important to adopt systems that protect your computer at all times like anti-virus software or anti-spyware systems. The reasons you need to install anti-spyware systems are many but the most important are:

1. A serious security breach can mean loss of business or even bankruptcy. Information on the computer system that contains financial customer information can endanger not just you but your customers too.

2. Cyber theft using spyware systems can destroy your personal or business credibility, customer base, and sales.

3. When a business is dependant on online traffic downtime due to infection by viruses or the effort to remove spyware can be a huge set back.

4. Important business plans and valuable research and marketing data destroyed by spyware can be devastating. Stealing files of a computer is like stealing a person's or business' intellectual property.

5. The existence of wireless connectivity can compromise your otherwise secure networks. Identity theft can give a criminal free access to your network of clients, as well as sales and financial data.

6. Spyware attacks can destroy your future goals and plans and put your family under threat. Personal information stolen off a computer can be used for criminal or illegal activities apart from indiscriminate use of bank accounts and credit cards.

7. Spyware can track your online activities and this can be sold to your competitors causing loss of sales and customer base.

8. Spyware systems can help competitors learn of your discount schemes or special offers well before you are ready to launch any marketing promotion. This means that you are exposing your business strategy online and giving others ideas that would have lead to increased profitability.

9. If you are in path breaking research of some kind your work could be stolen or data corrupted through spyware systems. This means years of research could be vulnerable and your standing in the scientific community could be compromised.

10. Spyware can expose your personal finance and investments to thieves and you could loose your nest egg because you failed to protect your system from cyber thieves.

The list of dangers due to spyware is endless and experts advice that the computers personal or business should be like an impenetrable fortress. You should be able to enjoy the joys and convenience of the World Wide Web without loosing your sanity and exposing yourself to cyber thieves.

Arthur Raise is a writer for http://www.1855antispyware.com , the premier website antispyware software, free antispyware software, super antispyware, microsoft antispyware software, antispyware reviews, antispyware giant software, antispyware software free download and many more.