TUTORIAL - DATA PROTECTION

This tutorial outlines measures to protect valuable company data;

Information back-up
A vital, but often overlooked element in any security system, is a system back-ups. It is essential to have a method of restoring data if anything goes wrong to ensure that your company is up and running within the shortest time possible.

The following should be considered when arranging back-ups;

What information or data does the company have that has to be backed up?

How often should I back my information up?

What is an efficient and cost-effective medium for backing up onto?

Has your company got the ability to restore information in the event of a loss of the computer, the back up machine, and the back up software?

Has your company tested the back up system to ensure that the processes are working correctly?

Where will your company store the back up data?

There are a number of methods a company can adopt to back up their data; this may be copying information onto a CD or other external media, or a fully replicated server system set-up in another location. With the advent of always-on connections to the Internet, using a managed service to back up systems is becoming more common. Information is backed up onto a remotely located server over a broadband connection to the Internet.

Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam software
It is essential to take appropriate steps to protect your network against viruses and spam, as the threat to networks is extremely high. To ensure you have the right solution, your company should be asking the following questions:

Do you have a centrally managed anti-virus solution that protects all users including telecommuter's?

How often does your anti-virus software update?

Can you immediately respond to an alert from any computer on your network?

Where are e-mails scanned for infection - at the Internet level or on the network?

There are a number of tiers within a network that pose a virus threat;

Desktop and laptop computers for local and remote users

Network file servers

E-mail servers

Managed services to connect beyond the local network

With so many tiers, the most economical approach to installing software across the network is to automate the process. This gives you the ability to install, administer and update the solution from a central location.

A heuristics based system can determine suspicious or malicious behavior and detect viruses before signatures are even developed. Heuristics can also identify new spam sources and create rules to block new instances.

Unsolicited e-mail (spam) is more of a nuisance than a security breach.

It is worth evaluating the various spam filtering tools that are on the market, as many companies have different ways of dealing with spam.

Anti-spam software should be flexible in the way it treats spam which requires a modular approach. As every person's spam criteria is different - one person's spam will be another's must-have e-mail - it is important to allow users to create their own spam filters and have the ability to review quarantined spam data. This method ensures that legitimate e-mails are not blocked.

Educating staff on the correct use of e-mail and limiting the visibility of e-mail addresses on the Internet can reduce the volume of spam a company receives.

Further Details
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