Recommendations to preserve the security of your network

To ensure maximum security for your company's computer network, proceeding in stages is necessary.

1. Centralize and simplify

A unified threat management solution has three significant advantages: it reduces the costs associated with IT security, ensures the compatibility of different security components and effectively coordinates surveillance efforts. This centralized solution saves not only money but also time. It is not necessary to devote several hours to the coordination of the various cyber security services since they already are—the result: a much faster response in the event of a cyber attack. With a centralized system, it is also easier to train employees and ensure that everyone understands how networks work. Also, buying other complementary services would contradict the consolidation objective.

2. Encrypt information

The idea is to encrypt all its hard drives, to confuse the information in the eyes of potential hackers. This is necessary if a hard drive is cloned, after being stolen, for example, as it can even reveal files that were thought to be deleted. To encrypt data, Windows users can use BitLocker software, free with the professional version of Windows 8 and the Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows 7. Mac users automatically benefit from FileVault, which is part of the operating system. If your business operates with a cloud, such as Dropbox, encrypting the information uploaded, there is also necessary, since cloud computing has become a target of choice for hackers. The peer-to-peer synchronization offered automatically replicates data on private computers, breaking the information into an infinity of small pieces to facilitate and secure the operation.

3. Secure input ports and connection points

It is essential to secure the gateways because they are responsible for the connection between computer networks. The safest approach is to block threats at the edge of the network, using deep packet inspection. Threats usually take simple forms: email, file exchange, or mobile apps. This technology can analyze the content of packet data to identify malware hidden in these seemingly harmless files. Securing connection points is essential, given the reality of teleworking and the proliferation of mobile devices. Clean VPN technology analyzes the security of external devices that connect to the network and can upgrade them remotely. It ensures that once the connection is secure, the data circulating on the network is free from threats.

4. Integrate redundancy

A single point of failure should not compromise the activities of a company, that is to say, that the system collapses because a component has a problem. The costs of such a risk are enormous. The second piece of equipment must always be ready to take over from the first. Failover redirects the failed service to a second device or backup network to maintain the company's activities. It is even possible to maintain secure transactions from an online store in the event of a problem.

5. Integrate compliance into surveillance

Companies nowadays have to follow many security protocols and checking them one by one can become tedious. Network compliance is only the basis of IT security, and it is not enough to ensure maximum security. However, many companies neglect this verification, which thwarts their overall strategy. Automating network compliance is the simplest and most effective solution. It is also integrated into the UTM solution. Automation also frees up time for security workers who can focus on more critical tasks.

6. Physically secure your networks

All these measures are useless if we leave the door wide open to criminals! In addition to ensuring that only the right people have access to sensitive devices and networks, installing complex passwords is mandatory. You also need to be able to wipe data from a lost or stolen device remotely. Containerization, which divides the content of a device in two, more effectively separates critical content that must be quickly erased. This measure is better received by employees, who would be reluctant to have their family photos erased from their device to prevent sensitive information concerning the company from ending up in the wrong hands.

7. Prepare for the unexpected

In the face of computer threats, one must not only be reactive but proactive. Companies that put in place proactive security measures were 53% more effective in blocking cyberattacks, while those that remained reactive improved by only 2%, according to a study by Accenture and the Ponemon Institute. An unforeseen event can be as commonplace as a water leak in the offices! For all situations, the IT team must predict how it would react and test its effectiveness in the face of these threats, which range from simple phishing to denial of service attacks. If the integrity of the network is physically compromised, a virtual private network such as Avanture bytes offers employees the possibility of accessing the corporate network remotely. Performing each of these seven steps ensures optimal security for your company's networks. Also, remember that all security employees must be trained and aware of the importance of computer security to ensure the success of the operation