Business internet safety should be a top concern for any company that allows their employees access to the Internet. Business internet safety is more than just installing a firewall to protect your business network. The right combination of hardware, software and educating your employees will provide your business with a safe internet environment.
Do Not Download/Install "Free" Software, Music or Ebooks
The old adage that "Nothing in life is free" holds true in cyberspace too. As businesses try to cut costs, save money and operate more efficiently, they tend to look for bargains when it comes to software. But, just like you, everyone is out to make a buck. Yes, there are some very good "free" programs, but ask yourself, "How is somebody making money off of giving this software away?" Adobe gives away their Adobe Reader program, but they sell Acrobat that creates the files that you download. AVG gives away a very good antivirus program in the hopes that you will upgrade and buy their more advanced program
Avoid Believing the Big Three Safety Myths
- Firefox is Safer Than Internet Explorer
All browsers are programs that display data and run code from websites. Therefore, all browsers are equally at risk. Microsoft's Internet Explorer is always being patched because of security holes. Firefox is no different and Firefox Add-ons can contain malware just as easy as any other browser.
- Only Porn and Gambling Sites Are Dangerous
It goes without saying that these site should not be allowed into your business, but to believe that these are the only type of sites that can harm your business is totally untrue. In fact one of the fastest growing sites on the web is the socially networking site Facebook. This site is known for its lax security methods and at the same time businesses are starting to use it as a marketing and customer communication tool.
- The "Lock" Icon Means You're Safe
The Lock icon only indicates that data that is being transmitted between you and the website you are visiting is encrypted. It does not indicate that the site is a safe. In fact the complete opposite is true because any internet security products will not be able to tell what is being transmitted since it is encrypted. For example, if the website is loading some sort of malware on to your computer, it will be encrypted and will fly right past any protection mechanism installed on your network.
Install a Hardware Web Appliance
A hardware web appliance is inserted in between your local area network and your internet connection. These appliances can filter out spam, stop malware from being downloaded, restrict Internet access and generate reports on employee web surfing. Price depends upon the size of your company and the level of control you want to enforce on your company's web surfing habits. The average price ranges from $1,700 to $2,400. This is a small price to pay to protect your company's information systems from hackers or unprincipled employees. Avoiding the cost of one law suit will pay for this unit several times over.
The following are two examples of hardware web appliances.
Monitor Employee Internet Usage
If you can't monitor employee web surfing habits you will not be able to control it. Some web appliance (as mentioned above) can perform reporting functions, but on a limited bases. The best way to monitor employee surfing habits is a software based solution. The standard configuration consists of a central server that gathers information from the software that is installed on every employee's computer.
Some of the more popular employee web monitoring packages are:
Educate Yourself and Users on Social Media Dangers
Internet security company Sophos has published a guide to help you educate yourself and your users on the proper use and dangers of social media. The Threat Beaters: Social Media Toolkit is available free of charge and contains documents, PowerPoint presentations and multimedia files for presentation.
- Download Quick Link: The Threat Beaters: Social Media Toolkit