Would you lend your laptop out to someone you didn’t know, even if sensitive information was easily accessible? Of course you wouldn’t. However, many people are taking a similar risk by failing to install network security.
Many companies use a company network. This means that each computer in the office runs through the same source. While this is certainly convenient, it also has to the potential to be very dangerous. If a hacker were able to get into the network, they would have access to everyone’s information. What are some other reasons you should think about network security?
Internet attacks happen to everyone
You would think the biggest, most successful companies in the world would have no problem with network security right? Wrong.
In January of this year for example, Facebook announced that they had been “targeted in a sophisticated attack”. A mobile developer website apparently installed malware (short for malicious software) on company computers. The company immediately called the cops. While Facebook announced that no user data was lost or compromised, imagine what could have happened. If Facebook user’s information was stolen or used for illegal purposes, the company could have potentially lost much of their business. Twitter and Apple also recently announced that they had been attacked. The lesson from this example is simple: not even the biggest companies are free from internet attacks.
What could I lose from hacking?
Most of the time hackers are looking for information. It may be information about the company’s clients, business reports, financial reports, or a number of other things. Don’t put it past those who obtain this information to sell business secrets to competing companies. It has happened before. Additionally, hackers could use internal messaging on the network to defame specific employees if they want. This is why many businesses that have highly valuable information to protect hire teams of people dedicated to protecting their network. However, for small businesses that can’t afford such teams, installing network security is the next best option.
Hackers also have the potential to seriously harm one of your company’s greatest assets, employees. Many employees have personal information stored on their work computers. If hackers can get in to the system they could steal phone numbers, addresses, emails, passwords or other information that can help them commit identity theft. Not to mention, if they are able to disable the network for a long period of time, no one will be able to work. Your company could lose important customers. In today’s tough economic times, employees cannot really afford to go without work for a couple of weeks. All of this could be prevented if stronger measures were taken to prevent a breach in the first place.
For these reasons and many more, the smart thing to do is install network security. Don’t join the hundreds of companies who are taken advantage of every year. While the upfront cost and effort may seem excessive, it will be worth it in the long run. Your employees will be safer, your clients will be safer and your company can focus on the more important things.
Rick Delgado is a tech guru. From the latest gadgets to securing networks for major businesses to protect against advanced malware, Rick has seen and wrote about it all. Rick has over 12 years of professional experience in technology and is currently a freelance writer in Park City, UT.
