4 Tricks for Optimising a Small Office Network
Small businesses are increasingly adopting technologies such as cloud computing for safe and reliable storage of data. However, security breach remains a serious threat to small businesses, and thus, newbie IT technicians must find ways to prevent such risks. The effects of an insecure network are far-reaching, for instance, loss of confidential information and financial resources. Therefore, preventive measures can go a long way in not only protecting organisational information but also safeguarding the brand name. Here are some network security tips for small offices.
Off-Site Backups -- In case of theft, fire, or employer negligence, you might lose valuable data such as personal information and business contracts. Ensure that you have an off-site backup system that you can use to retrieve information when such an eventuality occurs. You can go old school and store information on multiple DVDs or external hard disks. However, there are also several data storage vendors, both offline and online, that can provide backup services. When backing up data, make sure that you synchronise the data as regularly as possible so that information stays up to date.
Disk Encryption -- Although the use of passwords on personal computers and laptops is one way of ensuring data security, it might not be full-proof when someone steals the computer. Full-Disc encryption (FDE) adds another layer of protection by transforming the data in the hard drive into a format that cannot be understood until a key is used to decrypt the information. For a small business, a network administrator can use one key on multiple computers for encryption on top of individual computer passwords. Disk encryption also secures the operating system of the machine.
Buy Your Own Wireless Router -- A small organisation should invest in a modern router that meets international connectivity standards. Apart from enabling regular updates of firmware, the router should allow for connection of several devices. Most internet service providers (ISPs) offer modems that are integrated with wireless routers. While the ISP option can be convenient, it might leave your company's network vulnerable because of limited control by the user. Take full control of your office network and connected devices by purchasing your router instead.
Encrypt Wireless Access Points -- The basic level of encrypting a wireless network is by use of WPA encryption. However, the level of network protection is vulnerable to intrusion especially if the network administrator uses alphabetical or short passwords. Therefore, WPA2 encryption offers better data protection than its counterpart. Due to backward compatibility, you can use WPA2 on WPA network. However, depending on the configuration of your network, WPA could diminish the speed of the network because of the high computation power requirement.