Network Security Best Practices

Our top 10 tips to securing your network

To complement our previous post on computer workstation security best practices, this week, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the top 10 security best practices for your computer network.

Your IT network, just like your desktop computer, is vulnerable to a myriad of threats. But even more important is the fact that a loophole in your network security can lead to a security leak that compromises not just your computer, but your entire system.

Threats can come from a variety of sources, the obvious ones being hacking, user negligence or error, and release of malware through accidental malicious email or website exposure. To combat some of these vulnerabilities, here are our top 10 network security best practices:

1. Install and configure a good quality hardware-based firewall to protect your network: Do this in addition to software firewalls such as the firewall built into Windows. Additionally, if you are running web applications, use a Web Application Firewall to protect your online presence.  Using a quality firewall will allow you to:
   1. Monitor user activity across your network, especially as attacks can come from within your organization, as well as from outside.
   1. Monitor incoming and outgoing traffic
   1. Check all traffic for malicious code, and
   1. Quarantine any message content that appears malicious
2. Beware of scams: The simplest way for hackers to get into your system is just to ask for it, so you need to educate your users to be aware that emails and web pages may not always be what they claim to be. Reputable companies will never ask for your password or ask to access your system by email or across the web; make users aware of this.
3. Limit network access: Give your users only the access level and resources they need in order to do their job.
4. Save your network access logs on a daily basis: This allows you to trace any suspicious activity and usage.
5. Keep your systems up to date: Ensure all of your systems – computers and hardware devices, such as firewalls and routers – are up to date with security patches and firmware upgrades.
6. Educate your users: make sure they know how to identify a phishing email, how to create a strong password, and how to be responsible for company data.
7. Outline your security policies to new users: Make sure that new hires know what’s expected of them, where to find security info, and enroll them in your orientation program. This goes hand-in-hand with (6) above.
8. Create a data breach response plan: So that if a breach does occur, you know how to handle it.
9. Maintain professional compliance: Being compliant with, for instance, PCI-DSS and ISO standards can increase your data security.
10. Encrypt your data: Use encryption across all of your systems and data to maximize your security. Even if they get your data, they can’t read it!

That’s it; if you need additional help or advice in securing your company network, please contact us.

Do you need help or advice securing your systems?

Call TechPoint today to discuss 1-888-801-1777, email us at sales@tech-point.ca, or use the form on this page to contact us.

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