With the rising adoption of technology applications in today’s digital workplace, it is more critical than ever for organizations to take the necessary security measures to protect their sensitive data and information, and it all starts with network security.
Businesses, regardless of size or industry, face cybersecurity threats each day. To safeguard your business and its valuable data, you must ensure your network is protected from the inside out.
Importance of Network Security
At a high level, network security is a culmination of the technologies and practices a business puts in place to protect its IT infrastructure. Though no business is immune to attacks, network security provides several layers of protection for your business and helps reduce the risk of data theft.
There are numerous reasons why network security is important to protect your business, but this blog is going to focus on a few key considerations.
Protect Against Hackers
If your business’s network security is not sufficient, your company is at risk for a potentially catastrophic security breach. This could negatively impact your brand’s reputation for years to come and even cause your business to fail.
Some of the most common types of threats to a business network today include:
- Phishing
- Malware
- Ransomware
- Insider threats
Any one of these threats could allow unauthorized access to a private network and lead to data loss, sensitive information being leaked, and more.
With the increase in remote working, the importance of network security has never been a more pressing issue. Without secure internet connections or wireless networks, daily exercises – such as sending an email or file sharing – can be potentially hazardous.
Because of BYOD policies, employees may also be conducting business via their mobile devices, which presents the need for additional types of network security such as encryption and multifactor authentication.
Ensure Business Continuity
Today, cybersecurity consulting services and business continuity services go hand in hand. Even the smallest cyberattack or security incident can impact productivity and profitability and upend business operations completely.
Network security should be a key element of your business continuity plan, as it can serve as a mitigation strategy to reduce the likelihood of network failures and data loss.
In the event of a cyberattack, network security measures can help protect IT-dependent applications and reduce the impact of the cyberattack. For example, if a network is infiltrated, multifactor authentication can protect against hackers gaining unauthorized access until the incident is resolved.
Achieve and Maintain Compliance
Network security requirements have become quite stringent due to the increasing reliance on technology and the threats associated with it.
Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to abide by very specific regulatory compliance rules to protect the confidentiality and accessibility of sensitive data and information and how it is stored or transferred. At the root of any compliance protocol or certification are strong network security policies, such as rigorous password guidelines, email security, and advanced endpoint protection.
It is important to regularly assess your network security system and conduct a compliance risk analysis to inspect for areas of non-compliance that could lead to hefty fines or data loss.
Improve Network Performance
When your network is properly protected, you will benefit from enhanced performance, too.
It is easy to download security monitoring and endpoint protection products and think you’re covered – but are they really the right tools for your environment?
Working with a managed security service provider will take the guesswork out of which technologies to incorporate into your IT security strategy, giving you all the tools you need for success – and nothing that you don’t. This will ultimately lead to an overall more efficient solution and allow for improved network performance.
Once an MSSP identifies the tools and technologies best suited to your environment and security initiatives, they can take their support a step further and proactively manage and monitor this suite of products for you to ensure every aspect of your network security is functioning efficiently.
Need more help with your organization’s IT security? Learn about our services.
Take the Stress Out of Your Network Security
Whether you need a network security assessment to build a solution from the ground up or to identify gaps in your existing infrastructure, Buchanan’s team of trained security experts are here to help you implement the best methods and technologies to create a robust network security solution for your business and provide ongoing management and support.
Contact Buchanan today to get started.
