How to Eliminate Major Security Concerns for SME’s?

Given the various internet security threats there is a mad scramble for network security solutions by small and medium business. Many of them do not know the difference between an internet security appliance and unified threat management appliance. Some of them consult experts others just read reviews and browse to make a more informative decision. In this write up problems that small and medium enterprises face related to its network security will be highlighted. Also we look at the means to mitigate threats and ensure a safe network.

Concerns of Security for Small and Medium Enterprises

Many of the small and medium enterprises are e-commerce fronts for food and medical and other daily needs of the people. These are distribution agencies, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, government agencies, service industries etc…

The common concern; for many of these enterprises are

• Costs and budgetary constraints which prevent adoption of a proper security system
• No expertise in issues of computer security and lack of focus towards evolving security threats
• Even if they want to implement security they will have to deal with multi vendor hardware and create a multilayer defense.
• Time and personnel required to maintain this multi vendor network is hard to find.

Small and medium enterprises face a situation where limitations exist on the amount of protection they implement. If you are dependent on the internet for your business then network attacks can result in a downtime that leads to loss of revenue and production. The loss of data and information (confidential) can be more crippling and some times even irrecoverable.

A Look at the Dark Side

The security of SME networks are constantly under threat from external as well as from internal sources.

• Hackers
• Malware: Trojans, Viruses, Worms, Spyware, Adware and malicious scripts
• Social Engineering: IP Spoofing, Email ID spoofing, Phishing, Pharming.
• Flaws: Operating System and Software applications
• Within: Disgruntled employee, careless users, ignorant users.

The dark side of network security has prompted business network security policy for their enterprise networks. New enterprises require an expert look into the installation of the SME network and its security aspects. The SME’s with existing networks need a re-look of their networks and security threats and then observe whether changes need to be made for effective security and make them.

Continue to : Effective network security solutions

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