If you have a network at home or in your office, then you may have to take extra steps to protect it from hackers. Today, we’re going to show you a few simple ways to make your network more secure and protect your personal or business information.
Install a good firewall
Having a firewall on each computer on your network won’t prevent hackers from gaining access to network information. If you want to truly protect your network, then you need a hardware firewall, which will provide comprehensive security to your network and every PC on it.
Once installed, a hardware firewall acts as the doorman for your network. Think of the entrance to your network as a gigantic wall with only a single door that people can use to enter. In front of that door is a massive bouncer who can swat aside any attack that approaches your server. This keeps all sensitive data safely secure within your network’s walls while preventing unauthorized users from gaining access.
A hardware firewall is an investment in the security of your business and your network, and if your business deals with the sensitive data of clients, then you owe it to them to invest in a good firewall.
Install good antivirus and anti-spyware programs
Now that you’ve installed server-wide protection in the form of a hardware firewall, it’s time to focus on the individual users. Find a good antivirus program and install it on each and every machine on the network. This will prevent users from inadvertently harming their computers and will wipe out any malware threats that currently exist on their PCs.
Whether you’re securing your home or business network, a good antivirus program is a valuable investment. It’s a bad feeling when you realize that you could have saved hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars in computer repair costs if you had invested in one $40 antivirus program just a few days earlier.
Acceptable-use policies
No matter how much antivirus software you buy, you’re never going to be able to fully protect your network from its biggest threat: the users. If you work in a business environment, then having employees sign an acceptable-use policy is a great way to teach them about the consequences of their internet usage.
In the acceptable use policy, you may mention guidelines on choosing a secure password, or tell people not to hook up phones and other wireless devices to the network. Depending on how tech-savvy your network users are, you may also want to include basic information on defending yourself from security threats online, like how to spot a phishing scheme or how to avoid downloading malware files.
If you are securing a home network, you may not want your family to sign an acceptable-use policy (that’s just weird). However, you should teach your family about the importance of protecting themselves online. Walk them through how to use an antivirus program, and make sure they know which files can safely be downloaded, and which ones should be avoided.
