More and more businesses and organisations rely on their computer systems for critical processes and data storage. Without said systems, they might simply be unable to operate – and whether it’s about losing your livelihood, leaking sensitive customer data, or seriously compromising the security of a country’s defence, it is absolutely essential to keep your eye on the ball and protect your systems at all times. Between Wikileaks and the constant stream of customer data hacked on an almost regular basis, the importance of these measures are emphasised to us on virtually a daily basis. From a single employee to a hacker to a virus, it’s up to you to ensure that you’re not vulnerable. Outlined below are a few precautions you should always take, and remember that if you truly have something essential to protect, you should always consult a professional.

-          Keep your anti-virus and malware security systems up to date at all times. This is probably something everyone has told you before, but it is truly very important. Make sure your employees regularly patch their PCs and upgrade your operating systems to the most secure version. If you keep your systems in top condition, you’ll not only be less likely to be infected but it will be easier to fix your systems if something does happen.

-          Ensure your wireless network is secure and all of your systems are protected from outside intruders. Keep sharing between computers as a minimum and choose a wireless password that is secure, encrypted, and not easily hacked. Many common wireless networks fall prey to hackers, so ensure you have the best possible protection for the size of your network. Even if someone does manage to hack into the network, check to make sure each individual PC is protected against sharing where possible, especially work laptops, and that employees know how to use all of their security features on each PC.

-          Keep reliable backups and schedule them to occur on a regular basis. This ensures that even if someone isn’t there to do it at any time, backups will still occur and will keep your systems relevant and up-to-date in case of any emergencies. By scheduling them, you’re eliminating the possibility of human error and forgetfulness, which is always essential.

-          Store data in different locations. This does mean that you will have to secure them both, but in the case of catastrophic system failure, you should still have one viable. Remote backups through a secure IT company in a reliable, protected facility are your best option here.  Less important data can be stored in the cloud, which is usually the most affordable solution for small and medium businesses with less secure data.

Security should be at the forefront of every system installation; this is how we ourselves handle IT support and how we recommend it to others. These tips are a start for the small business, but large businesses and government organisations should consult a professional on the state of their systems.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 23rd, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under IT Support. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.