Data thieves are out there and they are always on the lookout for new networks to plunder. Keeping yourself off the internet may sound like the best way to avoid them, but it reduces your potential profits as more businesses and customers go online. Balancing your need for profit and security is an important part of business operations nowadays. Here are some tips on how to better secure your network in the long run:
Educate Your Employees
One of the first things you should be doing is to teach your people about proper security protocols. Most of the time, even if you have the most high-tech security, the weakest point in your security is your people. This is why they need proper training when it comes to data security. This starts with how they should update their passwords regularly as to why they should not open strange files that come from nowhere. Phishing and other social engineering attempts can leave your data open to everyone.
Have the Right Security Software
All of your computers should have solid antivirus and anti-malware programs on them. This is the second layer of defense after the hackers have bypassed your employees. They can prevent the damage from even happening if you have the best software out there. Have them set to auto-update so that you can have real-time protection without worry about it.
Firewalls are another thing you have to install. This protects your network from intrusion. Have them configured properly so that you can still have maximum functionality with the best protection.
Hire the Right People
You will also want experts to work for you. When you’re hiring your IT guy, ask them about their experience with security. If they know how to properly set the security settings for your network, then you’ve got a potential member of your team. Work with them to create a system that will be able to stand up against any hacking attempt.
Test Your Network
After all your improvements, you need to make sure they work. This is where regular security system penetration testing comes in. These are simulations of actual network penetrations and involve security experts trying to hack into your network on their own. This is a great way to ensure that your efforts are working while also identifying any problems with your security. You should do this every year so that you can have a good idea of what needs changing and upgrading.
Stay Up-To-Date
The regular penetration testing is only one part of your continued updates. Remember that technology changes every day. This means that what is secure today may not be so in the future. Fortunately, security updates are a part of these changes. You need to be sure that your IT ensures that all of your software is up-to-date so that there are no vulnerabilities in any of them.
There is no 100 percent defense out there against online hacking or data robbery. The key is to be constantly vigilant and ready to adapt. The tips above can be a big help in ensuring that your data is safe against potential thieves. Keep them in mind when you’re setting up your IT infrastructure.
