Network Security: 5 facts
1. Educate Users
While any network should have antivirus, antispyware and other basic security measures, taking the time to help users understand smart use habits can help prevent many issues. Software can be buggy and create problems but more often than not many problems with IT security arise directly from user actions. Downloaded files, personal email browsing on websites, indiscriminate clicking on pop-ups, or “Great Offers” are examples of common network security missteps.
2. Implement a Computer-Use Policy
A policy for acceptable use is critical, especially here in California. This Policy is a protection for both the employee and the company, but mostly for the company. It should contain statements about ownership of the data on company systems, personal use of computers, installation of unapproved software just name a few.
3. Don’t assume all users have identical access needs
In most small businesses, the honor system is typically in play when looking at who has access to what on the network. More often than not this again represents a huge risk to the company who has the responsibility by law to protect the private information of their customers and their employees . Your username and password are your key to the network, and if everyone has the master key (administrator privileges) you risk the stability of the entire network .
4. Don’t prevent people from doing their work.
The are 2 basic approaches to network security:
1. Lock it all down and only give access to the bare minimum.
2. Lock the obvious items down and assume the benefits of access for some users to resources outside of their direct responsibility.
For some employees, lack of access to files or resources represents a convenient opportunity to do less, but network security should never be configured so as to prevent users from being able to get their work done.
5. Accept that mistakes will be made.
Ultimately, even the best-educated users will eventually make a security mistake, so make sure your firewall, antivirus, and spyware filtering are as robust as you can make them.
While any network should have antivirus, antispyware and other basic security measures, taking the time to help users understand smart use habits can help prevent many issues. Software can be buggy and create problems but more often than not many problems with IT security arise directly from user actions. Downloaded files, personal email browsing on websites, indiscriminate clicking on pop-ups, or “Great Offers” are examples of common network security missteps.
2. Implement a Computer-Use Policy
A policy for acceptable use is critical, especially here in California. This Policy is a protection for both the employee and the company, but mostly for the company. It should contain statements about ownership of the data on company systems, personal use of computers, installation of unapproved software just name a few.
3. Don’t assume all users have identical access needs
In most small businesses, the honor system is typically in play when looking at who has access to what on the network. More often than not this again represents a huge risk to the company who has the responsibility by law to protect the private information of their customers and their employees . Your username and password are your key to the network, and if everyone has the master key (administrator privileges) you risk the stability of the entire network .
4. Don’t prevent people from doing their work.
The are 2 basic approaches to network security:
1. Lock it all down and only give access to the bare minimum.
2. Lock the obvious items down and assume the benefits of access for some users to resources outside of their direct responsibility.
For some employees, lack of access to files or resources represents a convenient opportunity to do less, but network security should never be configured so as to prevent users from being able to get their work done.
5. Accept that mistakes will be made.
Ultimately, even the best-educated users will eventually make a security mistake, so make sure your firewall, antivirus, and spyware filtering are as robust as you can make them.
posted by RBS @ Tuesday, September 09, 2008
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