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How to Secure a Network for a Small Business
Here are some essential steps to making sure your small business network is secure. 1. Encrypt your access points. Lots of sites have found that a majority of wireless networks are without passwords. This makes it easy for people to gather sensitive information by sitting in a close proximity. Some people fiddle with securing MAC addresses, but a better resolve would use WPA2 encryption. WPA2 is much more effective than other encryption methods and isn't as easily broken into. 2. Hide the SSID, or the identification name of your network, or change it to something that may be identical to another network, or something that won't reveal the identity of your network. All wireless usually have uncommon identifications when they become active. As opposed to then placing real information that can identify the location or identification of a business, use something weird such as "router" that does not divulge anything. If multiple routers are an issue, simply number them. 3.Web routers sometimes tend to have an interface which allows you to manage them from the internet. Disable this if possible. Also be sure to change passwords to information that only you know, as soon as possible. If you do not, you may have intruder accessing your network and making it their own. Once that has happened, you won't get anything back. 4. Make sure you are running a windows operating system. However cliché that a PC is better than a MAC, it holds true that windows computers are far more secure. Make it imperative to download optimal and effective antivirus and anti spyware programs, as well as those which protect against fishing. This should be a given, however, but it is important to remember that malicious programs can potentially takeover and steal your passwords and information that others could use to access your network. 5. If running a LAN web server, make sure to use a DMZ which creates an extra cushion of protection for your server with a safeguarded sub network. 6. Make sure that all printing and file sharing services are disabled. As once these are in operation, anyone within range may be able to access your personal files or documents so long as they have an access code. However this should not be left to chance. File sharing is possible through e-mails and other services, so running file share software in a business may be an easy fix, however it is extremely unsafe. 7. If your internet service provider allows it, make sure to use a virtual private network so that you may have access back to your LAN or remote server. And it all else fails, consult with someone who has a knowledge of how to handle internet security, perhaps someone with a cyber security degree. Following these tips should keep your small business network locked up like Fort Knox. However, if you have any doubts about your network's security, there are also a plethora of additional services and layers of protection available (usually for purchase) to keep your information safe.
