Most businesses depend on the internet to operate on a daily basis. While the internet has proven to be invaluable for businesses, there is also a dark side to the World Wide Web: many companies are suffering computer breaches that cost them thousands and even millions of dollars. Therefore, it is essential that all businesses do what they can to protect themselves from these devastating attacks. Here are some of the important network security solutions businesses in Colorado Springs should implement to protect themselves against cyberthreats.
1. Firewalls
One top network security solution that all businesses should make use of is the firewall. Firewalls refer to a software that is intended to create a barrier between internal digital information and the world outside the network. Firewalls fulfill the purpose of preventing unauthorized access to a business network and identifying intrusion attempts. Before any employee uses a computer to access the internet, your firewall should be enabled.
2. Antivirus Software
Key loggers, computer viruses, and Trojan viruses are all major threats in this day and age. Fortunately, there is no shortage of antivirus programs available that can protect your computer against viruses, worms, or malware. These types of malicious software can slow down your computer, steal information, or delete important files. Antivirus software is essential in terms of protecting your system by detecting these types of threats in real time to protect your data. Automatic updates is an extremely beneficial feature common among advanced antivirus programs. Once you install antivirus software, be sure to schedule or manually run virus scans of your personal computer on a regular basis.
3. Anti-Spyware Software
Spyware refers to a malicious software that monitors and collects organizational or personal information. Spyware is often difficult to remove and detect. Typically, spyware leads to unwanted search results and advertisements. There are some forms of spyware that record all of your keystrokes to obtain access to your financial information and platforms. Anti-spyware typically protects against key logging and is included in many antivirus packages. Anti-spyware will provide you with protection by scanning all information received via your computer and blocking identified threats in real-time.
4. Two-factor Authentication
The first layer of protection against cybercriminals is the password. However, there should be a second line of defense in case a computer hacker is able to crack your password. Two-factor authentication is an added layer of security that mitigates the vulnerabilities of a password-only approach. In addition to your password, two-factor authentication requires you to type in a code provided to something only the user has access to, such as a mobile device or email account.
5. Data Encryption
All businesses should utilize data encryption for security purposes. Even if your sensitive data is stolen or your internet connection is being monitored, encryption scrambles your data, preventing unauthorized parties from being able to interpret and use this information. Be sure to encrypt all flash drives that have sensitive information, encrypt your web traffic with a VPN, and only buy online from websites that are encrypted. You can identify a website that is encrypted by the "https" in the web address and the closed padlock sign in the address bar.
As cyber-crimes become more and more commonplace, network security is more important than ever. Even big companies with large IT teams and budgets are falling victim to massive cyberattacks. However, as you can see, there are numerous security solutions that can help protect your sensitive data. If your Colorado Springs-area business would like help to secure your network, contact Verticomm today to speak to one of our network security experts.