About 57% of businesses don’t have a dedicated vendor monitoring their systems. Hire an IT consulting firm, such as HRCT, to handle your network security.
Hackers access your network via a computer virus or a massive data breach. You can protect your business by hiring an IT consulting company to monitor network security and guard against attacks. However, 57% of businesses say they don’t have a dedicated resource or vendor monitoring their systems. Only half of businesses have best practices to protect their confidential data. Here are a few ways that cybersecurity can help you protect the private data of your clients and business.
How Can You Train Employees in Basic Security Principles?
First, establish security policies and procedures for your workforce. Require a strong password and Internet use guideline with defined penalties for violating the rules. The procedure should show employees how to handle customer data appropriately.
What’s the Best Way to Protect Computers and Networks?
Keep workstations and connected devices clean. Install the latest web browser, security software, and operating system to defend your system against malware, viruses, and online threats. You can set antivirus software to scan the device after every update. Install key software updates immediately since they may include patches to protect against known threats.
How Can You Provide Protect Your Internet Connections?
A firewall is a set of programs that keeps unauthorized users out of your private network. Free firewall software is available online. For employees working from home, ensure their home network is protected by a firewall.
What Is a Mobile Device Action Plan?
Mobile devices are a real challenge from a security standpoint, especially if they have access to the corporate network. Basic requirements should include password protection on the devices, data encryption, and security apps to protect the device on public networks. You can also set up reporting protocols for lost or stolen devices.
How Can You Control Physical Access?
It’s just as important to control physical access to devices and to create user accounts for every employee. This lets you track usage and prevent fraudulent access or use of business equipment. Laptops are easy targets for theft, so they should be locked up when not in use.
Administrative privileges should be reserved to a few trusted IT employees.
What’s the Best Way to Secure your Wi-Fi Networks?
Most workplaces now have one or more Wi-Fi networks. It’s important to secure, hide and encrypt all of them. To hide a Wi-Fi network, simply set the access point or router so it hides the network name, called the Service Set Identifier (SSID). You can also password protect router access.
What About Software Installation?
Restrict software installation to your IT managed service provider and key IT personnel. No regular employee should have access to every data system. To protect the network, provide access only to the system’s employees need to do their jobs.
Why Should You Choose HRCT?
Often, it’s more cost-effective to hire an IT consulting firm, such as HRCT, to handle your network security. Our IT consulting and managed services include services to prevent downtime and keep cybercriminals outside the firewall, including:
- Monitoring and alerting
- Patch management
- Network documentation
- Mobile device and asset tracking
- Preventive maintenance
- New user setup
- System backup and disaster recovery planning
- Onsite and remote support available
Contact HRCT today for a free consultation about your business’s IT needs.