[BreachExchange] 7 Network security tools every small business owner must have

[Audrey McNeil]

http://www.itproportal.com/2016/06/15/7-network-security-tools-every-small-business-owner-must/

If a big business has a security breach in the computer network, they may
end up dealing with a public relations nightmare. They will have to work
hard to convince their customers that they have taken steps to correct any
problems caused by the security breach and that they have made sure that it
does not happen again.

Large businesses can survive a security breach because they have the
resources to fix the problem. They can launch a campaign informing
customers about how they have handled the situation and they can invest in
the hardware and software to fix the problem. The deep pockets of a big
business make this possible.

Small businesses do not always have such deep pockets, the in-house IT
department or the access to what they need to fix security breaches.

Protection and Prevention is the Key

If a small business wants to survive a security breach, the best thing they
can do is to prevent one from occurring. They need to take steps to protect
their network and they need to make sure that all of the employees involved
in the business are aware of how to prevent possible security breaches and
network problems.

While small businesses may not have an IT department, that does not mean
they cannot find the tools needed to protect their network. There are
several ways that a small business can accomplish this goal. It is possible
to find the security they need within their budget. When a business has the
right combination of tools, they will have a much smaller chance of having
to deal with a security breach in their network.

The Tools

There are good tools and bad tools that are available to protect the
network of a small business. Some of the choices of tools depend on the
needs of the business, but these are the most common tools being used by
small businesses.

1. Up to Date Firewall: Firewalls are not new to computers. It has long
been known that a basic line of defence is to make sure that the firewall
on a computer is turned on. Like all other technology, the technology of
firewalls has improved over the years. A small business should have the
latest generation of firewalls available to protect their network. These
firewalls focus on the source and destination of an IP address, the source
and destination of ports and attention is paid to a specific protocol and
its destination.

2. Up to Date Antivirus Software: Another basic of computer and network
security that has been around for many years is the use of antivirus
software. This software is designed to constantly scan the computers in a
network for any suspicious or potentially harmful software that is trying
to find its way onto it. The software should always be kept updated to
protect from new threats. It should be able to not only detect any viruses
or malware; it should also be able to remove it safely.

3. Intrusion prevention: A newer idea for protecting networks is the idea
of the use of an intrusion prevention system. The goal of these systems is
to maintain a database of the known ways that networks are being attacked
and be able to recognise these attacks to stop employees or any network
user from making a mistake that allows an attack to occur. These systems
are a great way to prevent an intrusion from happening by accident.

4. Web Filters: One of the biggest threats that a small business has to
face is when someone using the network decides not to follow the rules. If
one person decides to download or access content that they should not be
using, they could be opening up the network to possible problems. Web
filtering is a good way for the small business to control what is accessed
by anyone on the business’s network. A filter can block users from
accessing different kinds of content on the web and can be used to filter
email content as well.

5. VPN: Virtual private networks are another great tool for small business.
The VPN essentially creates a private network within the public network. It
is a good way to keep the information on a public network more secure.

6. Denial of Service System: This is similar to the web filters and the IPS
systems, but it is on a higher level. It is possible for the filters or the
IPS to miss the signs of a malicious software or possible attack. The
denial of service system is able to recognise more attacks and can also
block rate-based or protocol threats.

7. Prevention of Data Loss: There are many different kinds of data that are
stored by small businesses. Some of the data is more sensitive than others.
Private information for the customers of a small business needs to be
protected better than other less sensitive information. There are tools
available that can prevent the more sensitive information from being
attacked or stolen from the outside. By preventing private information from
being stolen, the small business is able to focus on building their
business instead of recovering from the data loss.

These are seven of the tools that a small business can turn to to protect
their network. Some of what a business decides to use will depend on what
type of information is stored on the computers in their network and how
securely it needs to be kept. No matter what industry a small business is
in, if they are using computers, they need to make sure that protection of
their network is a priority.

The cost of the protection will pale in comparison to the cost of dealing
with the damage of an attack. Businesses should look at this protection as
another form of insurance for their business. When it works, it may seem
like it is money that is being wasted, but it is actually better to spend
the money now than to figure out how to declare bankruptcy later.

What do you think a small business’s role is in network protection? What
are the business’s responsibilities in this area? Feel free to share any
thoughts, ideas or suggestions you have with us.
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