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Why Network Security Is Important

Network security involves adopting preventative actions to secure your network and its underlying infrastructure against the infiltration of ransomware and malware, the exfiltration of sensitive data, or potential damage to your ability to continue operating. When your network isn’t secure, your data and your customers’ data are at risk of being breached. This can have financial, reputational, and regulatory consequences.

Hardware and software solutions, as well as policies and best practises that your personnel should follow, are all part of network security. Different network security measures can be used depending on the network’s size and threat profile, but it is important to not underestimate the cybersecurity you will need.

The main areas of network security which Carden IT address are the following:

Installing, Configuring, and Monitoring Firewalls
A firewall separates your internal network from the rest of the internet. This enables you to regulate which incoming and outgoing connections are allowed, preventing your employees from visiting undesirable or insecure websites as well as helping to block malicious connections from attackers. Carden IT Services can help to configure your firewall correctly, install it in on your network, and monitor it on an ongoing basis – with our cyber-defence team responding immediately to any security alerts

Implementing Network Access Control
Network Access Control (NAC) is the process of setting who does and does not have access to your network. This is done by restricting which devices and users are allowed to connect to it. We can then set up various security controls, such as limiting what those individual users can do on your network and blocking specific devices or IP addresses which are known to be malicious. Analytics tools can monitor user behaviour and differentiate between typical and suspect behaviour, with automated notifications going straight to our cybersecurity team if anything is unusual.

Deploying Ransomware Protection and Other Anti-Malware Software
The majority of viruses, malware, and ransomware programmes are prevented by this form of network security software. Malware and ransomware are incredibly dangerous, and you might not even realise you’ve been infected until it’s too late. These threats can lurk on your network for a long time, waiting for a vulnerability or for the hacker who first sent it to activate it. Our cyber-defence software combats this problem by both detecting malware as it enters your network, and regularly scanning files for malware that may have already infected your systems.

Securing Your Email
Email security is critical for your business, and as email gateways are the most common source of security breaches, it is a critical component of network security. Attackers can use your personal information to perpetrate a range of crimes, including blackmailing you or tricking your clients by forwarding them forged invoices that include the attacker’s fraudulent account number as the payment information. Carden IT’s email security services can help you avoid these assaults by allowing you to control what is sent out while safeguarding you from incoming malicious emails and attachments.

Implementing Application Security
Application security is exactly what it sounds like: it’s protection for your programmes. Because no application is completely devoid of flaws, application security is critical… Even well-known and extensively used programmes may contain various security flaws or exploits that a hacker may exploit. This level of security is necessary because much of a modern company’s business is done using applications.

Securing Your Wireless Network
Although wired networks are more secure than wireless networks, some firms are forced to employ wireless for certain operations or systems. As a result, protecting your wireless network is a critical part of network security. Implementing encryption, enforcing password changes on a regular basis, and masking your SSID are some of the vital measures that Carden can take to secure your wireless network.

How Businesses Benefit From Professional Network Security

For good network security, all of the factors stated above are required. Some businesses may also require additional bespoke network security provisions due to specific threats or vulnerabilities. Our cyber-defence team will address these with you in your initial cybersecurity audit as well as at regular update meetings. 

Whatever type of business you run; Carden IT’s network security services help you to do the following:

  • Stay Compliant With The Relevant Regulations
    Almost every organisation is subject to some type of data protection legislation (such as the GDPR), and certain industries, such as healthcare, law, and finance, or accountancy, may have industry-specific requirements. Staying compliant with these regulations will necessitate implementing adequate network security precautions, and if you fail to do so, the consequences for a data breach could be far greater. Partnering with a professional network security provider like Carden IT Services gives you the best chance of staying compliant.
  • Safeguard Your Data From Threats
    The threat of stolen data has skyrocketed. Businesses use and store more data than ever before which only makes them even bigger targets. Carden IT Services can help you prevent future losses by introducing effective network security, which prevents business-critical data from being stolen, whether by a disgruntled employee, a shady competitor, or a hacker wanting to sell it on the dark web.
  • Decrease The Amount of Network Downtime
    Data breaches aren’t the only threat to your company’s network security. Network attacks also result in considerable periods of downtime, either directly or as a result of enterprises needing to shut down parts of their network until they are certain they are free of threats. This downtime can be avoided if you allow Carden IT Services to protect your network ahead of time.

Hopefully, this article has provided you a good grasp of network security and some of the advantages it may bring to your business. Whether you’re an established businesses or the latest start-up, network security is critical to your success and your survival, and the best network security of provided by professional managed IT services providers like us.

If you are worried about the security of your network, speak to Carden IT Services team today and book an initial cybersecurity audit.

Author: Dave King

Dave King is the Co-Founder and Director of Carden IT Services and the wider Carden IT Group. Dave has over 18 years’ experience in business IT networks with a focus on IT consultation and disaster recovery planning/testing.