Network security encompasses the many activities that a firm undertakes to protect their system and ensure a continuity of operations. When networks were sealed from the outside world, our job was much easier. Now with Internet access; internal email and website hosting; and remote user access, a comprehensive network security plan is both more difficult and more crucial. The best defense is to know your enemy and some of the threats to prepare for:

• Malware - viruses, trojan horses, spyware, etc.
• External attacks - network infiltration, reconnaissance, denial of service attacks, etc.
• Password hacking - social engineering, data interception, brute force, etc.

We employ a number of tools to protect your system from these risks:

• Antivirus software - important to install, but necessary to maintain.
• Spyware software - a bad spyware infection can cripple a computer.
• VPN - protecting and encrypting data that is exchanged between your network and remote users.
• Secure infrastructure - using hardware like routers and firewalls to supply intrusion protection, identity services and ensure secure connectivity.

No one solution will protect your network by itself, but the careful blending of the various tools at our disposal can be highly effective to keep your network as safe as possible.