Fundamentals of Network Security

A network is two or more computers linked together to share data. From a security standpoint, the problem is that networks unauthorized persons may also be able to access these data. Network security is a term that encompasses all of your system to keep your network as impenetrable as possible, whether hardware, software, policies Company or.

If your network is composed of two computers or two hundred computers, there are some basic safety measures, you should have in place. Most of these steps are not complicated or expensive, and require no special expertise in networks or computer security.

One of the most basic steps for securing your network is to have an anti-virus software in place. An anti-virus software regularly scans your computer looking for known viruses. You can also choose to test anti-virus at any time. Once launched the software generates a report that lists the viruses detected. You're able to choose, if any, of viruses detected in quarantine and you want removed. It is important that you keep your software updated as new viruses are created and released every day.

Then, make sure you have a firewall in place. A firewall is like a guard. It is a hardware / software combination that allows you to decide what goes in and out of your network. You determine the level of confidence "that your firewall is enabled. The confidence level that dictates the network connections will be automatically allowed and what which require specific authorization. Firewalls come with a "default" setting that will probably not strict enough to meet your security needs. For optimum safety, you must still manually configure the trust settings to a greater degree of control.

Firewall and antivirus software are essential for another very important reason: they help protect your system against spyware and Adware. Adware and spyware range from annoying to very dangerous. Adware slows your system and generate irritating pop-ups that interfere with your work. Spyware is much more serious. It tracks your computer usage habits, and opens a door at the bottom of your network that allows hackers to penetrate your system without your knowledge.

Another simple measure is to regularly download patches for your software. Computer programs are tested for vulnerabilities and potential exploits before they are distributed to the public. However, it is impossible to detect all the vulnerabilities single advance. As new exploits are discovered, companies patch their software and programs to prevent exploitation this vulnerability. Without these fixes, software and programs on your computer is vulnerable.

Network security also depends sense. Weak passwords can cause big problems, but can be easily avoided. Never use easy to guess, such as your name number telephone, or date of birth. Always use a combination of letters and numbers. Your best bet is to avoid real words in total and use a string of numbers and letters that stand a saying or a phrase that is easy to remember.

Another common security measure is the meaning of delete suspicious email. More importantly, do not open or download an attachment from an e-mail you do not recognize. This could be invited a virus in your computer right. If in doubt, follow this simple rule: delete without opening.

If your business, you must also set establish security policies to govern the conduct of authorized users. Even authorized users can present a serious risk to safety sometimes without realizing it. For example, "I love dancing, I like to sing" could be "1L2D1L2S," with the number 1 replacing the letter I.

Some elements of a strong network security policy:

• Require your employees to change their passwords every three months.
• Do not allow employees to set their passwords on their desktop or workstation
• stop immediately departing employee access to your network.
• operate on the computer network equivalent of the "need to know. Only allow an employee access to programs and data that are essential to his job.
• Put all your instructions Security in writing, the post where all your employees can see them.

You want your network security policy to be tight but not completely rigid. In other words, if a given security measure is not feasible or hardship, be ready to adapt. You can often get the same result by different means.

Last but not least, the safety review your network on a regular basis. A network is secure today may not be secure a few months on the road. Hackers are intelligent and are constantly developing ways to circumvent security measures. Be smarter than the hackers left on the cutting edge of security technology network.

About the Author

Paul Walsh, of www.protocolsolutions.co.uk asks the scariest question out there: Think your network is safe from malicious attack? Find out for sure – a quick, complimentary chat will help you sleep better.

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