Categories: Technology

2 Facts Every Business Should Know About The Security Of Their Networks

All active company websites have one certain thing in common; they are all vulnerable to network security threats. While we only get to hear about high profile cases of network security breaches, there are numerous daily instances of network security threats and the high cost imposed on businesses as a result.

In the past, only large corporations had serious concerns regarding failures in their network security. However, in more recent times where every person from the simple home user to big companies rely on technology for a myriad of functions ranging from social media engagement to the storage of confidential information, it seems everyone is vulnerable to the mayhem that hackers, viruses, spyware, and worms can wreak.

In light of these realities, small businesses are often at cross-roads on what to do to keep their networks secure. The fact that many small companies do not allocate a specific budget for IT means that a negligible portion is allocated toward maintaining network security. Nonetheless, the failure to maintain a secure network can cost an organization far more compared to what it would have spent on network security.

Here are two important facts every small company should know to minimize the risk of becoming part of the network security statistics.

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1. Employees Are Your Greatest Asset And Risk

Research shows that a significantly large proportion of all incidents of network security breach occur from inside the company. This invokes an image the disgruntled employee sitting behind a computer in an isolated room with a sinister plot to develop a virus that will bring the firm’s operations down.

Although this undoubtedly does occur, in many cases it is the apparently innocent actions of your employees that may pose a threat. For instance, an employee may innocently web-surf on websites that carry viruses and other malware without their knowledge. Alternatively, consider an employee who receives an email with an attachment and opens it, launching a virus that spreads to computers and servers within the entire company’s network in minutes.

Consequently, companies should try to cultivate a culture of caution and vigilance. Try to create awareness to educate employees about the possible risks and how to avoid falling prey to them. The company can also implement a policy that restricts web-surfing on non-business sites.

2. A Fool-Proof Solution To Ensuring Maximum Security Without Unplugging From The Internet Does Not Exist

Going by the rate at which new malicious applications are introduced, it appears that it is not possible to keep up all the time. For instance, recent statistics on the severity of network threats indicate that over 80% of unwanted emails in circulation contain links to malicious sites and spam sites. Over 70% of websites with malicious codes are legitimate sites that have been compromised. So what can businesses do? The best thing to do is to have an elaborate plan to deal with these threats before and after they are detected. See IT Support Utah for detailed solutions to preventing 90% of web threats.

Now that you already know these two facts, the other important thing to keep in mind is that for you to have a secure IT network, you must not ignore the basics of network security. Some of the basics include encouraging the use of strong passwords, installing email spam filters and up-to-date anti-virus software on all servers and workstations, and using the latest anti-spyware technology and installing firewalls with secure traffic policies to restrict and permit communication.

If you are interested in even more technology-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels then we have a lot to choose from.