The Network Security Basics You Need to Know

When is a computer completely safe from potential threats? When it’s completely disconnected and unplugged from the world. That’s today’s reality and it isn’t practical for anyone. That’s why all of the network security basics on this list were created — to prevent a computer attack from happening and to keep them from becoming a much bigger threat if they do. Let’s take a look at the heroes of everyday network security.

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE & FIREWALLS

Think of them as your first line of defense — a barrier that surrounds your entire network, keeping the intruders out. While they may not prevent every type of attack, they’re great deterrents and can often identify issues before they become more serious.

SOFTWARE UPDATES & PATCHES

Sometimes new threats can expose vulnerabilities in certain types of software. That’s why Microsoft, Cisco and other companies release regular patches and updates. Patches and updates are often crucial to your network’s self-defense plan, so you’ll want to make sure your IT team stays on top of them.

PROACTIVE MONITORING

Maybe your business or IT provider has a Network Operational Center, or a sophisticated help desk solution. But if they aren’t looking at trends or user behavior, they won’t be as effective. Trends, like regular outages or users who set off frequent alerts and red flags, could signify that larger issues are at play.

DATA ENCRYPTION

It’s that extra step that provides an extra layer of protection for your data. It ensures that only the people you authorize can actually read your data, even as you send it across the Internet, back it up on a server or carry it around in your pocket.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING

All it takes is one phone call or email to put your company at risk so you’ll want to educate your employees about your company’s security policies early and often. Tell them what to watch out for and how to handle potential threats so they know what to do when the time comes.

BACKUP & DISASTER RECOVERY PLANS

Disasters come in many forms — hurricanes, fires, floods, data breaches and malware attacks. If you don’t have a plan when the unexpected happens, you could lose your business. No matter what happens, you want to make sure you can restore your IT environment to its previous state and continue vital business operations during the recovery process.

Does keeping your company secure feel like a fulltime job? The team at UDT would be happy to walk you through all of the network security basics you need to know and put together a comprehensive solution to help guard your network against potential threats.

From remote monitoring and management to help desk services, to backup and recovery, UDT provides comprehensive support to businesses large and small.

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