Most of us know and understand the convenience and power of a personal or business computer. Computers enable us to convert information into a standardized format and back up data to avoid the permanent loss of information. Further, data computing creates efficiency and streamlines processes to save time and money. Data collection is also important as it can be used for banking, billing, insurance and storing of confidential or personal information. In fact, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there were 656 known data breaches that exposed nearly 35.7 million records last year. These breaches occurred at businesses, financial institutions, medical facilities, educational institutions and government agencies.
You can minimize data and network breaches by implementing three simple methods: securing computer data, wireless security, and using a network professional.
1) Computer data security
Good data security measures begin with strong encryption practices. Strong encryption protects data and passwords and includes two primary methods for WiFi computer networks:
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
WPA is a security technology which provides stronger encryption than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) through the use of protocols or advanced encryption.
- Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).
WEP is a security technology which transmits data over radio waves, thereby data is not secure without encryption.
2) Wireless network security
A wireless network involves connecting a cable or DSL modem to a wireless router to access the Internet. To prevent unauthorized use of a wireless network, you should use encryption methods to protect data, as indicated above.
There are a few easy steps to secure a wireless network:
- Limit the specific devices which access your wireless network
Configure your wireless routers to only allow specific devices to access the network.
- Safeguard your network router
Develop a unique name for your router to guard against unauthorized access.
- Never use the manufacturer’s pre-set password
Develop your own router password containing at least 12 characters and a mix of symbols, numbers and upper case letters. Keep your router software current by periodically downloading updates.
3) Hire a data and network security professional
Network and data security is a serious matter. If there are no good management practices to protect and store data, sensitive and confidential information may become compromised. At Bluwater, specially trained professionals with expertise in threat detection (on-line threats, hackers), susceptibility testing and anti-virus protection can help secure your system and data. So, contact Bluwater today to schedule a consultation and safeguard your network and information.
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