Network security – the risks

All Internet content you read, send or receive carries a risk . The Internet, e-mail, instant messaging and P2P are standard in today's workplace. As a result, network security and inappropriate usage concerns are now bigger than ever for all North West businesses. Firewalls, passwords and encryption alone can't protect you.

Network security – delcomp protecting business in the North West

Increasingly, businesses are being disrupted by computer viruses—new viruses appear every day. The only way to prevent this is a combination of correctly configured and regularly updated anti-virus software, properly configured and regularly maintained computers, putting a firewall in place, and implementing and adhering to a " safe computing " policy (see below) at your place of work. As part of our IT support agreements, delcomp ensures that your computer network is properly protected against hackers and viruses.

delcomp offer web and email filtering that stops spam, viruses, pop-ups and internet borne pests

The proliferation of unwanted email (spam), viruses, pop-ups and other internet-borne pests is an increasing concern and a real commercial danger to businesses. Time lost through coping with computer viruses, wading through spam or through employees' inappropriate use of the web and/or email soon adds up to a significant dent in the bottom line. delcomp can put systems in place to ensure that your business is protected.

Data Loss Statistics

The following statistics were gathered from various sources:

 

• 6% of all PCs will suffer an episode of data loss in any given year. Given the number of PCs used in the UK businesses in 1998, that translates to approximately 4.6 million data loss episodes. At a conservative estimate, data loss cost UK businesses £11.8 billion in 1998. (The Cost Of Lost Data, David M. Smith)
• 30% of all businesses that have a major fire go out of business within a year. 70% fail within five years. (Home Office Computing Magazine)
• 31% of PC users have lost all of their files due to events beyond their control.
• 34% of companies fail to test their tape backups, and of those that do, 77% have found tape back-up failures.
• 60% of companies that lose their data will shut down within 6 months of the disaster.
• 93% of companies that lost their data center for 10 days or more due to a disaster filed for bankruptcy within one year of the disaster. 50% of businesses that found themselves without data management for this same time period filed for bankruptcy immediately. (National Archives & Records Administration in Washington)
• UK business lost more than £7.6 billion as a result of viruses during first six months of 1999. (Research by Computer Economics)
• Companies that aren't able to resume operations within ten days (of a disaster hit) are not likely to survive. (Strategic Research Institute)
• Simple drive recovery can cost upwards of £750 and success is not guaranteed.
• Inserting a tape into your backup drive does not mean it will back up. Do routine checks to see exactly whats on your tapes.

 

If you are a business in the North West and want to discuss your computer network security, call delcomp on 01204 886639

Here are a few safe computing tips to get you started:

• Use a good anti-virus software
• Use strong passwords e.g. upper and lower case letters and numbers
• Check your software security settings are correct
• Download the latest security updates
• Use a firewall
• Make regular backups
• Protect against power cuts and surges by using UPS devices or surge protectors