Due to the convenience of ADSL &
Leased Lines being permanently
connected to the Internet we
unfortunately find our Servers at
risk to intruders from the outside
world. These threats can obviously
have serious implications on a
business.
Therefore we need to implement a
Firewall solution. This can be
either, or both a Hardware or
Software solution depending upon
security level requirements. All
data passing through the Firewall is
checked & blocked when applicable to
prevent unauthorised user
connectivity & to eliminate
exposure.
Due to so many different IT
infrastructures we advise upon
carrying out a site visit to
determine the best option available
for that particular site. This then
enables us to advise upon the best
options available & to prepare a
competitive quotation accordingly.
Every company should have a
comprehensive security strategy.
This should involve the integration
of numerous technologies into a
solid security policy. This
two-pronged approach, combining
technology and business practices,
offers the best chance at keeping a
network secure.
There are many tools and methods
to protect your business:
• Firewalls
Corporate firewalls are a necessity.
Yet it's also wise to install
personal firewalls on individual PCs
that workers use to access the
network remotely. Some personal
firewalls also monitor outgoing
traffic and alert users when an
unauthorized program tries to send
data across the Internet.
• Network infrastructure
Switches and routers have hardware
and software features that support
secure connectivity, perimeter
security, intrusion protection,
identity services, and security
management.
• Network monitoring
Routers can mitigate
denial-of-service attacks by
limiting the bandwidth available to
each type of application, thus
making bandwidth unavailable to
attackers.
• Access control
Perimeter and physical security are
essential. In addition, easy-to-use
authentication, authorisation, and
accounting services ensure that only
authorised users gain access to the
network.
• Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
These networks provide access
control and data encryption between
two different computers on a
network. This allows remote workers
to connect to the network without
the risk of a hacker or thief
intercepting data.
• Anti-virus software
A growing number of companies and
Internet service providers are using
anti-virus software at gateways to
combat the onslaught of viruses,
worms and Trojan horses.
• Intrusion detection and
protection
Port scans and denial-of-service
attacks are an ongoing reality on
the Internet —and a firewall can't
protect against them. However,
intrusion detection and protection
tools can identify potential threats
and allow a company to take
immediate action to block a hacker
or a particular IP address that's
being used to launch an assault.
Packet analysis tools allow even
more sophisticated detection. In
addition, host-based intrusion
detection can protect servers from
attack, particularly when a Trojan
horse or worm such as Nimda or Code
Red gets inside the firewall and
infects PCs across a network.
• Encryption
Unsecured e-mail and documents can
represent a threat for organisations
sending sensitive data across the
Internet. Likewise, wireless
local-area networks lacking
encryption create an easy way for
data thieves to steal information.
• Secure wireless local-area
network access
The use of wireless local-area
networks (WLANs) within corporate
intranets is soaring. Employees like
the freedom and mobility that WLANs
provide, and companies like the
increased employee productivity they
bring, which enhances the bottom
line. But IT managers see the risks
of illegitimate network access from
rogue access points and unauthorized
client devices. To mitigate attacks
and keep the network secure,
corporate WLANs need to be installed
with robust authentication and
encryption capabilities.
