Reliance on digital connectivity runs deep in businesses of all sizes and in all industries. We’re not talking about a minor crossover here – it’s the lifeblood pumping through our operations and communications, the backbone of our productivity.
Digital connectivity is vitally important and needs to be protected. If you don’t, you’re exposed to a litany of risks, from crippling downtime to litigation-inducing data breaches. Those collectively bring high costs and powerful headaches – but thankfully, you can avoid these or at least mitigate them with network security.
If you’re a Brisbane business striving to stay competitive, secure, and compliant, network security is imperative. Today we’re going to look at what it is, why it matters so much and what kind of protections it puts in place.
What is Network Security?
According to Cisco, network security “Network security is any activity designed to protect the usability and integrity of your network and data.” It refers to the practices and technologies protecting your business’s network infrastructure from unauthorised access or misuse.
Network security is more than simply stopping hackers. It’s about keeping your network strong in other ways too, such as protecting it from internal threats, software bugs and hardware failures. It protects your proprietary information, and importantly it protects your reputation too.
The ultimate goal of network security? A secure environment for business operations, with a safe data flow between systems, users, and the cloud. Here’s why that is so important.
Why Network Security is Important
1. Protection from Cyber Threats
1. Protection from Cyber ThreatsHackers are smart people – it’s difficult to stay one step ahead of them, but it is possible. Ransomware, phishing attacks, malware, and zero-day exploits are constant cyber threats to your business, and can result in data losses, legal ramifications and damage to your reputation. Mitigate these risks with the appropriate level of network security.
2. Safeguarding Sensitive Data
You have your own sensitive business data to worry about, such as your financial records and intellectual property. Then, you also have your customer data to protect. A data breach that exposes your customer information is a one-way ticket to getting into a lot of trouble with the law and with your clients themselves. Keep unauthorised users away from your sensitive data with network security.
3. Business Continuity
If you’re business isn’t operational, you’re not making any turnover. Downtime is a business killer – one that disrupts productivity and costs money. Secure networks are far more resilient to disruptions that cause downtime. Not only will they have detection methods in place that pick up on issues before they snowball, but they’ll also support disaster recovery plans to get you back up and running in the case of a problem.
4. Regulatory Compliance
Complying with the laws and regulations on data security has become essential no matter what industry you’re in. From healthcare to finance and the legal profession, there are rules to stick to help protect business and client data. Network security helps you stay between the lines and avoid legal repercussions.
5. Maintaining Customer Trust
A solid business relationship needs to be built on trust – your customers need to know their data is safe in your hands. Any kind of network breach damages your systems but also damages your brand and its public perceptions. Be committed to data privacy and build trust with your clients – get stronger network security!
Types of Network Security
There are multiple layers of defence in a network security strategy. Some of the common ones your managed service provider will implement for you include:
1. Firewall Protection
A firewall is often the first line of defence against external threats. It’s a barrier between your business network and the internet, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic based on a defined set of rules. It’s designed to keep the bad actors out of your theatre!
2. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS and IPS)
These systems monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and actively block attacks. They correlate huge amounts of global threat data, with Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) alerting you if something seems off. The Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) then actively block threats in real time.
3. Antivirus and Anti-malware Software
You’ve no doubt heard of antivirus software, which is a common and effective method of detecting and removing viruses, malware, spyware and so on from your computer. Vital for endpoint protection, it’s essential to keep your antivirus up to date so you’re protected against the latest threats.
4. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
A VPN is especially essential if you have team members working remotely who want a high level of protection on their network connectivity. VPNs encrypt the data transmitted between and endpoint and the network, creating a secure tunnel that prevents hackers from intercepting communications. They especially come into their own when you have to us public Wi-Fi facilities, like those at an airport.
5. Access Control
Keeping the wrong users out of your network is a cornerstone of security, and all businesses should have strong access control policies in place. Authorised users should be verified and confirmed through strategies like MFA (multi-factor authentication), roles and permissions and identity management systems.
6. Email Security
The humble email is one of the most common vectors for successful cyberattacks. Dodgy phishing links consistently make their way into employee’s inboxes – you need the right filtering and tools in place to prevent that happening. It also helps to have team members trained to spot threats, so they don’t get duped into clicking phishing links and giving out sensitive information.
Smile IT – The Brisbane Network Security Experts
At Smile IT, we understand that Brisbane businesses need robust and scalable network security solutions that grow as you organisation expands. We’ve got you – with an expert managed IT services team on the ground in Brisbane, we’re ready to assess your network vulnerabilities and helped implement advanced protection to boost your network security and keep your business safe.
From SMB’s to enterprises needing high-level defence, we can offer a bespoke approach to network security that includes the following:
- Network Security assessments
- Firewall setup and management
- 24/7 threat monitoring and response
- Remote work security with VPNs and endpoint protection.
We also provide network security training that educates your team and helps inspire a security-first culture in tour organisation.
Get in touch today and let’s get you on the path to healthy network security! A Smile IT team member is waiting to answer your questions.
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!