Safeguard your digital world with proven cybersecurity practices
A staggering 113,356 individuals and organisations fell victim to fraud and cybercrime from April 2022 to March 2023, according to Action Fraud.
From phishing emails to suspicious pop-ups, it's clear that safeguarding your digital security and well-being has never been more critical.
"A network security breach can have severe financial implications for individuals, businesses, and organisations,"
said David Ballard, Director at Performance Networks, a UK leading WiFi specialist.
"The cost of recovering from an attack, data loss, reputational damage, legal consequences, and regulatory penalties can be substantial. Network security helps minimise these risks and potential financial losses."
But how can you protect your data online?
Top tips for securing your network
David Ballard added: "Safeguarding your digital assets and data integrity online is of paramount importance. Network security includes all activities that protect your network and data, through a combination of hardware and software solutions.
"The heart of network security is creating multiple layers of defence, with a layered approach ensuring only authorised users have access. Even if one defence fails, others continue to provide security.
"Here is what you can do to protect your data:
1. Use strong password policies
"Even the smartest of us can let our guard down when it comes to reusing the same easy-to-remember but easy-to-hack passwords.
"Ensuring the use of complex and unique passwords, strong password policies, and using password managers, such as 1Password, form the first line of defence against unauthorised access.
"Plus, the simple things matter: when building a password, remember to avoid consecutive strings of numbers, don't use your maiden name, and use a mix of upper and lower case letters."
2. Do regular patching and updates
"Staying up to date with system patches and updates is crucial in fixing security vulnerabilities and enhancing network resilience.
"Make it a routine to install security patches and updates as soon as they're available. Automate the process where you can to ensure you're always up to date. This practice not only strengthens your defence but also demonstrates a proactive commitment to security."
3. User access controls and privilege management
"Though more advanced, this practice involves defining and restricting the rights of users within a network, ensuring only necessary access is granted and reducing the risk of internal threats.
"Your company can do this for you by regularly reviewing and adjusting access rights and monitoring user activities for unusual or unauthorised actions. This practice is essential for reducing the risk of internal threats and maintaining a secure network environment."
4. Guard your data with encryption
"Encrypting data ensures it can only be read by the intended recipients, protecting sensitive information from interception during transmission. You can do this by either enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) or finding a secure cloud storage service such as Google Drive or Dropbox to store your data.
"Especially when using public WiFi or accessing the web from untrusted networks, use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it more challenging for others to intercept your data."
5. Network segmentation and isolation
"Think of your network like a city. Network segmentation is like dividing the city into neighbourhoods. This separation prevents issues, like cyber-attacks, from easily spreading between network sections, enhancing overall security, similar to castle walls protecting different areas.
"Use firewalls to separate these segments. Firewalls act as guards, controlling the traffic that can pass between segments. Configure your firewalls to only allow necessary communication.
"By dividing a network into several segments, this method prevents an issue in one segment from spreading to the others, thereby improving overall security."
"Conducting regular backups of data ensures that, in the event of a data loss incident, critical information can be restored quickly and efficiently.
"This involves creating redundant copies of important data and storing them in secure offsite locations. Automated backup solutions, such as cloud-based services, can help streamline this process. Additionally, implementing a robust data retention policy that specifies which data should be backed up and for how long can further enhance data protection."
7. Employee awareness training
"Educating employees about potential security risks and how to avoid them equips them with the knowledge to act as another line of defence against threats.
"Comprehensive employee awareness training programs should cover topics like phishing attacks, social engineering tactics, password hygiene, and safe browsing habits. Regularly updated training materials and simulated phishing exercises can help keep employees informed and vigilant in identifying and reporting security threats."
8. Network monitoring and logging
"Constant monitoring and logging of network activity helps in early detection of anomalies and potential security incidents, enabling a swift response.
"Advanced intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) can be deployed to automatically flag suspicious network behaviour. In addition, log analysis tools can be used to aggregate and analyse data logs from various network devices and applications, providing valuable insights into potential security breaches."
9. Incident response planning
"Having a plan in place for how to respond to a security incident reduces downtime and potential damage, ensuring the network can quickly return to normal operations.
"An effective incident response plan should outline specific procedures for identifying, reporting, and mitigating security incidents. It should also include a well-defined chain of command, communication protocols, and a list of contacts for external organisations."
10. Third-party risk management
"Assessing and managing the risks associated with third-party vendors protects the network from potential threats that could be introduced by these external entities.
"Maintaining ongoing communication with third-party vendors regarding security updates and incidents is essential to ensure a cohesive security strategy across the network ecosystem."
About Performance Networks
Performance Networks is a specialist WiFi consultancy with an uncompromising commitment to maximising the performance of clients' WiFi networks, without risk exposure.