We Need Security?

We Need Security?

One of the biggest problems in computer security is that people have trouble believing that anything bad can happen to them — until it does. The truth is that bad things do happen, and they happen quite a bit. Surveys conducted by the Computer Security Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimate that 90 percent of corporations and government agencies detected computer security breaches in 2002. Of those corporations and agencies, 80 percent acknowledged resulting financial losses.

Many small business owners believe that they do not need to worry about security. They reason that ‘Those things happen to the big companies, not us.’ While it is true that small businesses are not usually primary targets as larger companies, there are three big flaws with this reasoning.

First, small businesses often end up as part of larger attacks, such as mass worm outbreaks or efforts to harvest credit card numbers.
Second, security is becoming tighter than ever at larger companies.
Therefore, small business networks look increasingly tempting to attackers.
Third, it is assumed that all attacks come from the outside.

Regardless of how or why your business is attacked, recovery usually takes significant time and effort. Imagine if your computer systems were unavailable for a week. Imagine if you lost all the data stored on all the computers in your company. Imagine if your worst competitor was able to obtain a list of your customers, along with sales figures and sales notes. How long would it take before you noticed? What could these breaches cost your company? Could you afford these losses?
You would not leave your building unlocked at night, that is just common sense. The same is true with information security, and a few simple steps can make you a lot less vulnerable. Technology experts have a way of making basic security seem like a huge and difficult issue. Luckily, securing your business is easier than you might think.
Of course, there is no way to guarantee 100 percent security. However, you can achieve a reasonable level of security and be prepared in case breaches do happen. Properly weighing risks and consequences against the cost of prevention is a good place to start.

Some Security Tips:

Backup critical data
If the thought of losing everything stored in your computers terrifies you, there is a simple solution. Schedule regular back ups!
Update your software
If there is a patch available, install it. It is a simple way to avoid serious problems, yet many fail to do so.
Protect against viruses
Viruses can cripple companies large and small. Make sure every company computer is fully protected.
Set up a firewall
This is not as intimidating as it sounds — and it is the most important thing you can do to thwart hackers.
Tighten in-house security
Not all threats are high-tech. A casual break-in or disgruntled employee can cause serious damage too.
Strengthen passwords
If you are using simple passwords and/or fail to change them regularly, your company is vulnerable.
Embrace smart Web browsing
Unscrupulous sites, as well as pop-ups and animations, can be dangerous. So can browsing from a server.
Safeguard wireless network
They are a great innovation, but wireless networks are more vulnerable than cabled networks. Therefore, securing these networks is even more important to reduce your risks.
Lock down your server
Your servers are your network's command center. If your servers are attacked, your entire network is at risk.
Lock down your clients
A lack of stringent administrative procedures could sabotage all of the security safeguards you have put into place.
Connect remote users securely
Remote access to your network may be a business necessity, but it is also a security risk. Monitoring and safe guards need to be in place.

Stay Informed