How to Secure a Business Network
Just as you lock your doors to avoid being the victim of a burglary, you must secure your business network to protect your company’s bottom line. This is why learning how to secure a business network should be top priority for every business, large or small.
In the era of digital transformation, there’s no doubt that businesses rely heavily on technology and the internet to streamline their operations and connect with customers. But, with the convenience of technology comes the risk of cyberattacks, which can wreak havoc on a company’s reputation and revenue. That’s why it’s critical to increase security on your company’s internal network so you can protect it from data breaches and other malicious attacks.
In this article, we’ll share the vital steps you can take to safeguard your business from the ever-evolving landscape of cyberattacks.
What’s corporate network security?
Business network security refers to the measures taken by a company to protect its computer network from unauthorized access or malicious attacks. This includes various hardware and software technologies, policies, and practices that are put in place to ensure that the network and the data it contains are secure. Thus, the goal of a secure enterprise network is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information stored on a company’s network.
Why you can’t ignore business network security
Before we go over how to secure a business network, let’s talk about the consequences an insecure network can bring.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of cybercrime that uses deceptive tactics to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, bank account details, or credit card numbers. You can think of phishing as a fisherman casting a baited hook to catch fish– except the fisherman is a cybercriminal and the hook is a fake email or website designed to look like a legitimate one.
The goal is to lure unsuspecting victims into clicking on a link, downloading an attachment, or entering their personal information into a fake website. Once the cybercriminal has this information, they can use it for financial gain, such as stealing money from bank accounts or making unauthorized purchases.
How phishing can impact your business
Without securing your network, your business can fall victim to phishing, which in turn, can hurt your bottom line. A successful phishing attack can result in cybercriminals gaining access to sensitive company information, such as login credentials or financial data. This can lead to significant financial losses. Moreover, cybercriminals can use this information to steal money from company accounts, make fraudulent purchases, or even sell the information on the dark web to other criminals. Lastly, phishing attacks can cause operational disruptions, like network downtime or loss of critical data. As a result, this can cause lost productivity, missed deadlines, and lost business opportunities.
Data breaches
One of the most important reasons for learning how to secure a business network is that you can avoid company data breaches. A data breach occurs when unauthorized people gain access to confidential or sensitive information belonging to a business or organization. It can result from cyber attacks, theft, or accidental exposure of data. Examples of susceptible data are personal information of customers or employees, financial information, trade secrets, or intellectual property.
How data breaches can impact your business
When hackers or cybercriminals gain access to sensitive information, it can have severe consequences for a business. For example, let’s say that customer data is stolen. This can result in a loss of trust and reputation damage. If customers feel that their personal information isn’t secure with the company, they may decide to take their business elsewhere. So, not only can this hurt your business’s reputation, but it can also lead to a loss of revenue.
Intellectual property theft
Another reason why learning how to secure a business network is critical is that an insecure network can result in intellectual property theft. When cybercriminals steal a company’s intellectual property– such as patents, copyrights, or trade secrets– they’re stealing that company’s competitive advantage. In turn, they’re taking away the company’s ability to make money off their ideas, research, and hard work.
How intellectual property theft can impact your business
Intellectual property theft can result in a devastating blow to a business’s net earnings. Not only can it cause lost revenue and a decline in market share, but it can also make it incredibly tough for the company to recover. In some cases, it has taken several years for a business to come back from intellectual property theft.
Securing a network
Below, we’ve listed four popular measures your business can take to effectively secure your network. These measures include using a VPN, installing antivirus software, using WPA2 encryption, and installing a firewall.
How to secure a business network
1. How to secure a network with a VPN
Let’s talk about how to secure a business network with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN provides a secure and encrypted connection between remote devices and a company’s network. This means that any data transmitted over the internet is protected from potential cyber threats.
So, by using a VPN, your employees can access the company’s network from anywhere in the world while maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive data. Likewise, a VPN can help prevent unauthorized access to your business’s network by verifying the identity of remote users before granting them access.
2. How to make a secure network with antivirus software
Installing antivirus software is one of the best ways to secure a network. Antivirus software plays a big role in identifying and eradicating malicious software, a.k.a malware, that poses a threat to the network. The software scans files, programs, and data on the network for known malware signatures and suspicious behavior. Once detected, the software alerts the user and removes or isolates the infected file, preventing it from causing further harm.
So, if you want to know how to secure a business network with antivirus software, it’s a pretty straightforward approach. All you need to do is implement the software on all network devices. Once it’s effectively installed, it’ll shield your systems against a broad range of cyber threats like viruses, worms, and Trojans.
3. How to protect your network with a WPA2
WPA2 encryption is a wireless security protocol that protects wireless networks from unauthorized access. It provides a secure and encrypted connection between wireless devices and the network, making it difficult for attackers to intercept and read transmitted data.
Wondering how to secure a business network with a WPA2? Well, by using WPA2 encryption, you can ensure that your business’s wireless network is secure from potential cyber threats, such as eavesdropping and hacking attempts. Also, since WPA2 encryption uses stronger security measures than its predecessor– WEP– it’s less susceptible to attacks. All in all, using WPA2 encryption can add a layer of protection to your company’s network security and reduce the risk of data breaches or other security threats.
4. How to secure your network with a firewall
Before we go over how to secure a business network by installing a firewall, let’s talk about what a firewall is. A firewall acts as a protective barrier between the business’s computer network and the internet or other networks, analyzing all incoming and outgoing network traffic. It’s a software or hardware-based network security tool that examines the data packets and blocks potentially harmful traffic while allowing legitimate traffic to pass through.
Thus, installing a firewall can help prevent hackers, malware, and other cyber threats from gaining unauthorized access to the network and causing damage. As a result, your business can gain greater control over your network traffic, monitor the activities of connected devices, and protect sensitive data from being compromised.
How to secure a business network: The bottom line
In today’s technology-driven world, securing your company’s network is more critical than ever. Neglecting to learn how to secure networks for your business isn’t a risk you can afford to take. Now that you know the steps you can take to protect your company’s network, take action today to ensure your business’s sensitive data is secure and your customers’ trust is maintained.
So, don’t let cybercriminals have the upper hand. Remember, your network’s security is your business’s first line of defense against cyber threats, and prevention is always better than cure.