Why wait around for your network to become compromised? There are some simple methods you can start putting in place now to be proactive in this hacker day-of-age.
1. Get Support
The buy in and measurements required to support a network-wide security measure is imperative. You need to get your manager’s/boss’s full support, so they understand the scale of what you want to do and the threat that is making you want to take those measures.
The best way to garner support from those key executives is to show them the numbers. High-level employees/board members want to see the costs involved and what they can gain from those expenses. Also, remind them that this is not a “one-time” fix to a problem. Network security is an ongoing problem that will need budget allocations every year to keep up with the new threats out there.
2. Create a Companywide Policy and Enforce it
Good intentions are just that, good intentions. Make sure there is a companywide policy that states what the best safety measures for your organization and distributes it to all employees. Make sure this is a “living” document, to ensure all changes or unforeseen events are added or modified if necessary. Once your policy is in place, and everyone has a copy, you need to ensure enforcement within the company. A policy does no good to protect your network security if people don’t follow the safety guidelines.
3. Training Your Personnel
A policy is a great start, but what if your employees have no clue what the jargon means? It is important to train your employees WHY there is a policy and WHAT it means. The plan will include what to look for, what things to avoid, and who to send questionable items to if they aren’t sure if it is safe or not. Make them understand that not knowing something isn’t a bad thing, it is a learning opportunity, and it is better to be “safe than sorry.”
4. BYOD
This policy is entirely up to each company. People bringing in and using their own devices can potentially cause a threat to an organization’s security if not managed the correct way. Some of these devices don’t follow safety guidelines. They can be a target for hackers to gain entry to even the most secure networks. Figure out if the risk is worth it, or if you want to enact specific security guidelines on those using their own devices. Also, make everyone stick to the policy.
5. Backups
Always have a plan in place in case of an emergency. Even with the most secure networks, there is a possibility of a breach, if the hacker wants to gain entrance bad enough. It is smart to have a very reliable and up-to-date backup of all documents that they might need in the future. Make sure to keep an eye on your backup to ensure it is doing its job. Test to see if you can restore data from it if that day ever comes.