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Network Security
by
Syed Ali
|
July 16, 2019
In order to manage a secure IT environment, it’s essential to know what devices & applications are in your business operations network in the first place. An unsecured network carries a lot of risks, and if you aren't ensuring that your network is secure, then you leave your business open to attack. Network security works by combining more than one layer of defense in the system and at the edge of it to prevent security breaches. Each layer of protection that you put into place will implement new controls and policies so that only authorized users can enter the network, with the unauthorized parties unable to carry out their threats and harmful intentions. If you’re having issues with your network, we have compiled 7 ways to troubleshoot your network.
We all live in a digital world now, with technology transforming the way that we live and work every single day. Every business out there needs to be able to deliver a service that customers can trust, which is why network security is so vital, and understanding what makes a network secure is the first step.
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Your small business network security needs to be at the top of the list of essential things to you as a business owner. The more we become aware of the security vulnerabilities in the servers, network, and data storage, the better equipped we are to protect them. This involves knowing what network you’re using managed v unmanaged, and making sure your business is utilizing the necessary network trio. However, every time a business makes a change toward better security, the changing threat landscape steps up their game a little more. You have to be willing to continually assess the threats around you, and step up as a business to prevent, detect and respond to those threats. Without adequate prevention of threats to your business, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to attack. Cybersecurity has become a huge focus in 2019.
As part of your network, you have the IT security chain. The more links that you have through the network, from APIs, cloud-based servers, and mobile applications - the more chance for exposure you face as a business. It's important to know that when it comes to your IT security, there is no one size fits all approach - there can't be. Every single business network is individual, and there is a range of different tools, applications, and even skilled professionals who can create the best possible security plan across the entirety of your business. These security plans cannot remain stagnant, requiring you to update them, upgrade them, and repair them on an ongoing basis. Network administrators are responsible for the reliability and usability of your network, and a hacker is a person who gets around those preventative measures and interrupts your business processes.
For our protection, there are many different variables that can be put in place. Firewalls, anti-spyware, anti-malware, and even encryption can make it harder for anyone to interrupt your business network. Ensuring that your communication channels and your system are secure can also include encryption protocols, along with WebSockets, HTTPS, end-to-end encryption, and frequent updates and upgrades to your network programs.
The technology solutions that you can use for your business can be deployed in more than one way, but it's difficult for a business to decide which is the best security measure they need. There are always different options for the delivery of service technology, so it's essential that you know the differences between the top three out there:
These are the security solutions that are physically located on the site of the business. Your business can choose this option when you want all of the application and data that is associated with it to be stored on a local server or even a private cloud in the business location. While there are benefits, such as the business maintaining control over their own security, it also means that the company is responsible for the maintenance of the access to that server.
These are solutions that are both delivered and hosted via an external cloud system. All of the business data is held in the cloud, and all updates to it will be the responsibility of the company delivering the service in the first place. Most cloud usage usually costs a fee, and they are also typically subscription-based.
Most organizations like to use a mix of both on-premises services and cloud services, and there is a solution for that. Hybrid cloud solutions can nail this for your business, offering flexibility for workloads to move between both the on-premises server and the cloud. In a private cloud, the confidential information for your business can be held, with things that are less critical being stored in the public cloud area. Public cloud services can give your business the chance to scale up, paying for the resourced that your company uses rather than more than that. Having the technology in place for both on-premises and cloud storage to work together is imperative.
There is no guarantee of which of these options will be the most secure for your small business network. It's going to depend on the way that you access the network. Some people think that on-premises options are the least secure, as you have to rely on your own IT team to maintain the system and its upgrades, patching it where necessary. A hybrid cloud is known as the best of both worlds, which could be the best solution for your business overall.
At FieldEngineer.com, you can find different types of engineers who can help you at various levels of servers and networks. As the engineers here are freelance, you can rely on those on our platform to help you to maintain your network security at all times. Not only do we have freelancers ready to take on the challenge of updating and upgrading your network, but they can also either be local to you or work remotely. FieldEngineer.com offers you a marketplace that connects your business with engineers on demand, ensuring your job is done when you need it to be.
Keep your business safe and secure with knowledgeable freelance network security engineers. Download Field Engineer and hire your first engineer today !
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