When operating a business, you want to protect the integrity of it as much as possible.

This is especially true for the sensitive information handled on computer networks, such as personal information about employees and clients.

You need to make sure your Network Security is up to snuff and not vulnerable. Here are five network security tips to remember.

Use encryption to its full potential

If you look at your website in the address bar, and it doesn’t start with “https,” you seriously need to remedy this. The “s” at the end stands for “secure,” and it serves as assurance that sensitive information on the site won’t be compromised. You should also Full Disk Encryption (FDE) for any work-related computers.

Most internet users who know about this distinction are extremely hesitant of putting any of their personal information into sites that are unsecure and unencrypted. Web-browsers like google chrome also incorporate warnings these days to protect even less educated users. Because of this, if your business website is unencrypted and unsecured, your online sales will be taking a huge hit. The cost of switching to a secured and encrypted site will be very small relative to the amount of customers who will feel more secure buying from you once those changes are implemented.

Make sure your programs are up-to-date

Network security has become increasingly stronger, because we have an increasingly better sense of how it’s compromised. You absolutely do not want to cut corners in this regard. If you’re using a program or operating system that is dated by even a few years, you could be putting the security of your company in jeopardy. Make sure that every aspect of your network’s security is up to snuff.

Have strong passwords

You might think that hacking is only accomplished through using the most sophisticated of technologies. However, weak passwords can be an easy entryway for crooks. You and the rest of your company should make sure that all your passwords are all but impossible to guess. Consider things like using odd characters and symbols in order to throw potential hackers off. You should also change your password at least once a month.

Beware of phishing

Have you received an email from another, unknown company with an offer that reads strangely and has a suspicious attachment? Don’t open it. Phishing scams can wreak havoc on your business, especially if you inadvertently let harmful software into your network. Make sure that your email server is designed to deal with spam and other malware, and that your staff is properly trained not to fall for such things.

Work with a professional data security service

If network security isn’t your specialty, there’s no reason to unnecessarily stress yourself out, trying to cover all the bases. Instead, you should reach out to a professional company like Global Learning Systems or someone similar. They can give you the most relevant advice and practical action. This will help you feel all the more secure.

We hope this has given you a good idea on how to keep your company’s computer network safe. While no one plans to get hacked, the ones who are often weren’t properly prepared. By following these tips, you can greatly increase your network’s security.