In today’s hanged security environment we need to focus towards protecting our businesses from attacks coming from in and outside sources. Attacks from outside try to get us bust by overloading us with mails or even virus infected mails. Some hack at our web servers or even try to pass firewalls or break into RAS systems. Theft and human engineering is an easier method to get inside your walls.
Attacks from inside start at disgruntled workers, infected CDs and games on your servers. Even harmless ideas such as using your corporate PDF Converters to transform MP3 files into PDF can lead to productivity loss. Yes, you are right. You cannot convert a sound file into a PDF but you can get the system to halt like this.
Protect your data by strong password schemes and security tools. A common procedures is to make employees sign information protection agreements.
Let us discuss the feasibilities of such agreements. If your corporate environment and culture mean strong agreement then you can be satisfied by such a document. But most businesses know that such agreements are surpassed by users accessing hot sites, reading/sending private mail and using other systems for private use.
A possible response is to shut down internet access. This leads to lower productivity, disharmony and internal conflicts. Intensifying security measures and blocking special sites can help prevent harsh methods.
Information security is only as strong as you live it.
By Christian Bartsch MCT, MCSE, IT Project+