How To
IT Security Tips for any business
Nowadays, in a post 9/11 environment the business world is a more sober place and security is on everyone’s mind. I like to think that office security begins at the desktop and the central issue is with PCs—those boxes that sit on everyone’s desk. The security topics below are aimed at businesses both large and small.
Use “anti-virus software” and keep it updated on a daily basis. New viruses can appear at any time. If your anti-virus software doesn’t “know” about a new worm or virus it’s not going to “see” it. The good news is that the popular versions of anti-virus software can be automatically updated. Both McAfee (www.mcafee.com ) and Norton AntiVirus (www.symantec.com ) do a good job and cost under $50.
Don’t open e-mail attachments from unknown sources. If there’s any doubt about the source of an e-mail attachment, don’t even think about opening it!
Use hard-to-guess passwords and combine numbers and upper-case/lower-case letters. The best way to keep your passwords safe from hackers is to make them as meaningless as possible, change them regularly and never divulge them to anyone.
Protect your network or home computer from hackers — use “firewalls.” Home users on a budget can download free firewalls from ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com ) or BlackICE (www.blackice.com ). Small business however, need a more robust solution and might consider products from Sonicwall (www.sonicwall.com ) which comes with VPN, anti-virus software and content filtering options. Larger firms should look at Cisco’s PIX Firewall (www.cisco.com ) and Checkpoint (www.checkpoint.com ).
Don’t share access to your computers with strangers. This is not about loaning away your laptop. The issue is file sharing and properly configuring your computer to prevent someone else from looking at your data.
Check your network security on a regular basis. We think it’s good to perform a monthly vulnerability assessment against intrusion by hackers. There are some very good firms in town that can provide you with a snapshot of your IT security. Back up your computer data daily and store the data remotely. At the very least, take a back-up tape or CD home from the office every day. Portable hard drives such as the 3000XT from Maxtor (www.maxtor.com ) allow you to back up as much as 160 gigs and carry the unit away in your briefcase. You can also back up data on line from companies, such as ibackup.com .
Regularly download updated firmware for your firewall or “patches” for your browser. Browser software or firmware needs to be updated regularly to close security loopholes or flaws that might expose your system to hackers.
Microsoft makes this available on its “Windows update” portal that can be accessed at windowsupdate.microsoft.com .
If you follow the procedures I’ve outlined you’ll go a long way in keeping your network and your business safe. Just as importantly —it will also provide you with some peace of mind.
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