You Shall Not Pass

Protecting your data from loss and failure is the first piece of advice most technology professionals will offer up, but what is the first line of defense for you and your business against data corruption, theft, and viruses? Good anti-virus/malware/spyware/adware is key to the security and health of not only your machine, but also your network and all the machines connected to your network. A single breach on your network can lead to widespread issues for all the computers, printers, and other devices in your office.

So what steps do you and your company need to take to ensure the virtual security and livelihood of your machines? To answer that let’s first examine what threats you face. Viruses, spyware, adware, and malware are all types of programs that can infect, corrupt, take over, and use your machine without you knowing it before it is too late. They might be there to steal your processing power, take your personal information as a simple malicious prank, or as a way of coercing revenue towards an endeavor. While the reasoning behind the creation of these programs is subjective, they all pose a very real threat to the security of your business.

The first step is to establish a strong computer security suite on your machine and the various machines in your workplace. Your security portfolio should include an anti-virus program and a program for malware, spyware, and adware. Some programs offer coverage for multiple types of threats. These programs should be standardized across your network for the ease of making sure that your programs are up to date and operating properly as well as for being sure that you know exactly what you are covered against.

The most common issue with amateur computer security setups is conflicting programs. There are countless programs out there to protect your machines and ensure the security of your office. Some programs are significantly better than others and some conflict with each other, so only install what you need. It’s important to know that setting up a bad set of computer security programs could actually be more damaging than installing nothing at all.

Taking the time to adequately assess your needs in terms of security is bound to save you time and money in the long run.

​While security software is a great first step toward overall security, it is worth noting that all the security software in the world will not protect you sufficiently without proper data backups. Secure, redundant data backups offer you the best safeguard against cyber threats and data loss. In our next blog we will further address data backups, what should be backed up, and how and when to back up your data.