Effective Ways to Protect Your Company Network from Hackers
The same is also true for corporations and SMB industries. As our dependence on computers and the Internet increases, it makes us vulnerable to these potential threats. Another concern is that most of the small restaurants and other SMBs employ very low levels of security, making it all the more easy for hackers to target them.
Every business is responsible for securing their data as well as their customer's data. Here are some effective measures you can take to protect your network from hackers:
Firewall
Even if you have installed strong management solutions like Asure Software on your network, it is important to activate a firewall that complies with the PCI security data standards. It is important as it adds an additional layer of security and help you better protect your data.
Conduct Regular Scans
One of the safest ways of finding out if your network has been compromised is by regularly scanning your systems for irregularities and vulnerabilities. In case you think this is too much of a hazard, or if you lack the manpower or the knowledge to carry out the task, then it is best that you hire a professional IT security service firm that can do the job for you. That way you don’t have to worry about security and network attacks, and can concentrate more on expanding your business and sales.
Limiting Remote Access
Internet and technology has enabled companies both small and large to hire employees from remote locations. This means that these work-at-home employees need to be given remote access to the server and respective files.
This can pose potential threats to the security of the network in question. You may also need to provide remote access to not just regular employees, but maintenance guys who are performing regular backups and running security checkups on your network. Do not allow anyone and everyone remote access and those who are allowed remote access should be given so in a limited way. They should not be able to access everything and anything in the network.
Instead of using default generated passwords, implement strong and random passwords. Insist on due diligence, and educate your staff on the side effects of being irresponsible. Keep changing your passwords every three months and do not allow simple passwords. Instead ask employees to use alpha numeric passwords with upper and lowercase as well as special characters.
Data Encryption
POS equipment went extinct a long time ago, and if your company is still using them, then you are inviting hackers to take advantage of your situation. It is time for your company to upgrade to a new and better encryption technology.
POS technology has changed a lot over the years, and it is paramount for your company to make sure that you are on the latest version. It is essential to encrypt data the moment it is entered into the system, even before it is sent out to the third-party server or network. A popular example would be credit card information in the case of an ecommerce website. The moment a credit card is swiped, the data needs to be encrypted even before it leaves the server. Also, you should make sure that the data is not being stored remotely or temporarily. This can lead to potential threats and more ways that this vital information can be retrieved by nefarious forces.
Once again the PCI standard comes into the picture, so it is your responsibility to double check that your network and encryption technology is PCI compliant. Learn more about PCI DSS!
Network Segmentation
Network segmentation means that you are essentially keeping things separate on your network. For example, your PCI compliant POS data traffic is kept separate from your Wi-Fi systems, your CCTV camera data is kept separate from your digital menu boards and so on.
The idea is to make sure that every part of the puzzle is kept separate, making it all the more difficult for hackers to hack into your network and steal everything at once. This will ensure that in case of a network breach, only a part of your data is lost, thereby reducing the extent of damage and resulting in effective damage control.
Update Regularly
Last but not the least, it is necessary that you keep updating your security measures and network protocols from time to time in accordance with the development and the technological advancements. New malware and threats are being released and at the same time, new counter measures are also being developed in order to tackle these threats (the cyber war has been unleashed and it is raging), and therefore it is necessary to upgrade your system and network to better handle the situation.
The Cyber Hacker - website covers tutorials on cyber security, latest tech news, Linux & Ubuntu, programming, internet & computer hacking, how to guides, safety guides, and fixes to every day computer/internet problems. Enjoy Learning with The Cyber Hacker!
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon