by Karen Moore

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: January 31, 2009

Protecting network security for any business should be a two-pronged process. Threats to any network can come from two sources man and Mother Nature. Man can attack a network from outside the business, but more often than not those attacks come from within the business. Mother Nature can destroy everything within a matter of moments and has done her fair share of putting small and medium businesses out of business for good. Lack of planning and preparation, which often is the mind set "it won't happen to me" lie behind most network security breeches.

Threats to a network can be made against the hardware, the software and the information on the network. Looking at your business network from these three angles will help you develop measures against most threats to your network. There are no guarantees that your network won't be breeched, but you can lessen the impact and prevent many cases that can be avoided with good practice and policy.

Human Threats

Network security starts with protection against all the threats that are a daily plague on any network that is connected to the world. Protecting your business information from being stolen and/or from being wiped out due to a virus can be conquered with good software and hardware protection. These protections will vary depending on the amount of time spent hooked to the Internet and how many systems within your business are connected to the Internet.

Firewalls help keep certain intruders out but hackers can rain havoc on even the best system. Determine what the needs of your business are and add protection accordingly. Think outside the box and research what types of threats have destroyed the smaller businesses. Don't ignore the protection information that came with the system you have put in place for your business.

Many software programs today offer protection from viruses, spyware and adware, but whichever program you chose make sure it is compatible with your system and can be upgraded when new threats are found. If the program does not run automatic scans of your system make it a habit to scan your system daily to protect your network. Internal security is only a portion of the overall network security picture. This protection will need to be applied to each computer station and laptops that are used for your business. The type of software protection that is put in place for your system will be dependant on your business. Research the possibilities and find a program that has service and support available

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