Bad guys exist. They lurk behind firewalls and spoofed IP addresses and leverage cloaking tools to hide their location.

Bad guys do this because they are bad. Their intentions are bad and they exists both internationally, and maybe next store, by the hundreds of thousands.

That is why you MUST be diligent about developing a strong network management policies and procedures manual if you are to create a bulletproof network security program for your business.

A secure network essentially means that company employees and management do not have to worry about unauthorized attempts onto the network, hacking attempts, or any breach of security that may try to force its way through. In order for a company to have a successful and reliable network infrastructure, a variety of network management policies need to be created.

In short, instituting network management policies for your company forces management to analyze and make important decisions such as how to:

• Prevent phishing scams.
• Secure laptops that leave the facility with sensitive corporate data.
• Update ex-employee / disgruntled employee access.
• Handle patch management for security updates.
• Prevent data leakage via poor email practices.
• Authentication Policies

Employees need access to data to do their jobs. The data resides on multiple computer systems including e-mail messaging, HR, payroll and even finance and R&D. It’s precisely this access, though, that create the security risks that pop up when too many people are granted access to mission-critical applications.

And it’s not necessarily “the IT guy’s fault!” While user provisioning systems are quite sophisticated, many IT administrators are simply doing too much with too little and are time-strapped. This means they are not always actively updating the access and privileges of both happy and disgruntled employees.

In fact, research has shown that it can take 4 months to remove the user rights of a former employee. What type of havoc can an unstable, disgruntled employee wreak on your company in 4 days let alone 4 months?

The solution: You have many options when it comes to vendors capable of simplifying the user provisioning process. Entrust, for example, offers solutions that automate policy enforcement and delegate administration for user provisioning which helps maintain security levels while managing large numbers of users.

Another example is Courion. Their AccountCourier is an automated user provisioning solution that instantly grants, modifies or revokes access to any OS, application, Web portal or other IT assets without manual intervention.

Network management software can dictate what days of the week as well as what hours employees are aloud on the clock. In addition, it can require the use of strict passwords for authentication onto computer workstations and set network management policies for how to handle forgotten passwords and unauthenticated users.

Setting User Rights

Another way to effectively institute a set of network management policies is through the use of User Rights. As soon as employees are created and allowed authentication to the network, a script can be written that allows users and employees rights to different programs on a workstation.

In addition to making the network more secure, setting User Rights can dictate not only what they can’t use, but also what they can. All programs and system changes can be denied as a default setting unless specific programs and rights are given to employees. In addition, User Rights can also be set by the type of employee; there can be Employee Rights, Management Rights, as well as Executive Management Rights.

Creating a Network Directory

When network management policies and authentication rules are set for a specific company, it’s also vital to create a network directory so that everything can be organized for efficient functioning. Designing your direct tree is just as important because it gives you complete control over which users are part of what group and User Rights can also be set for specific groups.

The network management policies that govern the IT infrastructure of a company are vital to its security and reliability. Through the use of authentication policies, log-on authentications, User Rights, and Directory Tree settings, any size company can have an ultra-secure internet network.

Next Steps

With the proliferation of broadband, wireless and powerful laptops (not to mention bad guys) security through proactive network management must be a priority for your corporation.

You simply cannot afford the loss of goodwill, productivity and even morale that grinds firms down to dust when a security breach occurs.

Let X2 assist you with a free consultation followed by our one day “DDR: Discovery, Documentation and Remediation.” Look at it like a physical for your IT security. Maybe we won’t find anything wrong, but won’t you sleep better at night confirming that with a neutral 3rd party expert?

What have you got to lose…besides your business?