The open nature of the Internet makes it increasingly important for growing businesses to pay attention to the security of their networks. As companies begin to move more and more business functions to the public network, they need to take precautions to ensure that the data won't be compromised.
Unauthorised network access by an outside hacker or disgruntled employee can wreak havoc with proprietary data, negatively affect company productivity, and stunt the ability to compete. It also can harm customer and business partner relationships, raising questions about your company's ability to protect confidential information.
"Security is one of the most essential requirements on the network today, allowing access where it is required and facilitates business, but maintaining the integrity of core company data," says Quintus Theron, Cisco product manger at Siltek Distribution Dynamics (SDD), a member of JSE-listed Siltek Limited, SA's largest Technology Supply Chain Group.
Theron says the rise of security in importance is due to the implementation of competitive business differentials such as e-commerce and virtual private networks. "Providing a secure ordering and partnering environment is crucial to encouraging online sales and building customer confidence in your firm," he says. Failures in e-commerce systems could mean permanent loss of data for the company due to hackers or a reputation among customers of sloppy security.
"The ability to verify the identity of users and ensure that transmitted data is kept safe are the differentiators between a successful and unsuccessful Virtual Private Network (VPN) implementation. Migrating wide area connectivity to the Internet requires the proper security measures be in place," says Theron.
For more advanced users, Internet-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, customer relationship management, collaborative work and other productivity-enhancing applications mean highly confidential data will be moving across the Internet. Theron says: "Strong security measures are required by both the user's company and the company hosting that data."
"E-mail is one of the most pervasive technologies in use today, and one of the easiest means of transporting information. That information is sometimes harmful, in the form of computer viruses, and efforts need to be taken to limit the chances the network may fall prey to these viruses at all points," concludes Theron.
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