Avalamedia

If you are thinking about starting a business, information systems will probably factor into your plans at sometime. The business will require some sort of application software and the requisite information created from the application – whether the solution is simply an Excel spreadsheet or something more advanced and automated like QuickBooks Pro or an enterprise resource management system. Subjects like disaster recovery, data protection, cyber security, web filtering, etc., are subjects entrepreneurs should be thinking about. Securing your business is the next article in a series of articles that will introduce the new,and experienced, business owner to information technology intricacies that should be included in your business plans. Because security should be a layered approach this first issue will introduce the idea of Network Security.

Cyber security should be a layered approach like the physical security of your business. To secure your business for the evening, you lock yours doors and windows, turn on an alarm system, lock up your valuables or whatever is important to you in a safe or take the items off site with you. Cyber security is no different and maybe even a little more intimidating. At least physical security is somewhat of a tactile event, meaning you can touch and feel what you are trying to protect. With computer systems, attacks can appear intangible until the systems are penetrated and information is stolen. If your business is connected to the Internet, someone is trying to break into your network or, at the very least, scanning your network looking for vulnerabilities to exploit all of the time. Continue reading →