padlock-lock-chain-key-39624 Cyber-crime is growing at a tremendous rate. It’s become an organized big business opportunity for criminals, and is projected to grow to $600 billion this year, larger than any other form of crime. – Forbes, May 3, 2016 It may seem hard at times to keep pace with the ever-changing and emerging threats posed to your network, and by extension, to your business. The threats are constantly evolving and don’t discriminate based on the size of your business. It’s not a matter of whether your network is at risk; if you have a network, your network – and your business – are at risk. The real question that you need to answer is: are you prepared? So how do you prepare? You start by ensuring that your company is following Best Practices for your network’s security. These are the standards created by the best minds in the network security industry to protect your business.     To reduce the chance of employees creating additional cybersecurity risks, here’s a checklist of policy-based Best Practices items that should be included in your Information Security Program:
  • Acceptable use policy, to specify what types of network activities are allowed and which ones are prohibited
  • E-mail and communications activities, to help minimize problems from e-mails and attachments
  • Antivirus policy, to help protect the network against threats like viruses, worms, and Trojan horses
  • Identity policy, to help safeguard the network from unauthorized users
  • Password policy, to help employees select strong passwords and protect them
  • Encryption policy, to provide guidance on using encryption technology to protect network data
  • Remote access policy, to help employees safely access the network when working outside the office

How do I ensure that my company is following Best Practices?

The most effective tool is an IT Security Assessment. BAI’s IT Assessment tools are rated as the best in breed by Gartner Group and Forester Research, and we use industry best practices as defined by The Information System Audit and Control Organization (ISACA). All of our assessments include:
  • Vulnerability and Penetration Testing
  • Extensive Firewall Evaluation
  • Social Engineering Evaluation
  • Antivirus Best Practices Evaluation
  • Network Security Best Practices Evaluation
  • Remote Location (Branch) Evaluation
  • Remote Access Evaluation
  • Telco-Testing / War-Dialing Evaluation
  • Wireless Security Evaluation 
The best way to handle potential threats to your business is to be prepared for them. The best way to prepare for your network’s security is by having Best Practices in place.