IT Security Best Practices Checklist for Every Business

Keeping your network secure from invasive entities is of great importance to any company. A company’s data is extremely valuable, and if that information were to fall into the wrong hands due to a lack of proper IT security protocols, mechanisms and practices , massive financial losses or reputation-damaging incidents may occur.

Fortunately, there is a way to keep the virtual gates guarded from would-be on-line trespassers. By following this set of IT security best practices, and implementing these in your company, you’re well on your way to keeping the perimeter a lot safer.

Assign digital certificates or two-factor authentication on all of your sites and networks that are deemed critical, transactional and may contain sensitive information.

Be ready to replace digital certificates in case of breach. Certificates are vulnerable to security threats, and so, a company must put in place a system for certificate replacement, in case one gets “broken in” by a security attack. The digital certificates should be of different certificate from the original one.

Data loss prevention and vigilant auditing practices must be enforced and observed. In order to keep sensitive network data away from prying eyes, a company must be able to monitor its traffic. Implement an IT security process where you can audit files, monitor the flow of data in your network, and audit the files that come into your networks.

Implement email spam filtering in your systems. Another way that unauthorized entities may find a way into your network is via email spam. Make sure to employ a reliable spam filter, and that the employees are educated on how to identify harmful spam email.

Be strict with your removable media policy. Data can also come and go in your networks in a physical manner with USB drives, external hard disks and rewritable discs, to name a few. In order to control the data traffic caused by these devices, make sure to devise a usage policy that’s as strict as your online authentication processes. The policy should also be strictly enforced, monitored and managed.

Enforce SSL technology to restrict malware infections and unnecessary access. Make full use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology on your websites by scanning your sites and networks daily for a possible malware infection. The technology also allows you to set high-security access and the employment of SSL certificates featuring extended violation. These features combine to make a network environment that’s tremendously safer.

Impose a comprehensive network-based security hardware and software set-up. Implement a full gamut of hardware and software-based security features including firewalls, gateway antivirus, unauthorized entry detection devices, denial-of-service attack monitoring, virus detection, network authentication and hardware-based security features that protect from attempts to hack into your computers.

Remaining up-to-date is vital. Viruses, malware and other programs designed to break into your system constantly morph and transform to somehow pass through your fences. How do you keep the out? Make sure that you update both your software and hardware regularly, so they can keep combating these entities from infecting your system.

Educate, train and enable your users. The human element is an important determining factor in the success or failure of any IT attack. Your network can have the best hardware and software IT security features, but if the human element isn’t thoroughly and regularly trained or aware about new and existing potential threats, they could serve as the weak link. Make sure that users are informed properly and regularly to identify elements that could do damage to a network.

With these nine simple steps, you alleviate worries of having your network and its sensitive data breached. It’s definitely worth the investment to put up these walls rather than deal with the deadly and costly consequences.