A data breach is a very common problem faced by businesses. A 2019 survey shows that 43% of data theft casualties were small businesses. When running a dental clinic, your patients’ files must be kept safe. Therefore it is vital to have a network security checklist in place.

Your network security essential checklist

You can negate the risk of cyber-attacks by following a few best security practices. Here is a comprehensive list that you can use to tick off every must-have network security component for your business.

Data loss prevention plan 

Data loss prevention is essential for network security monitoring, especially if you use cloud data storage solutions. It protects against unauthorized copying and data transfer to an unsecured network. Having a data loss prevention plan in place will help you monitor your employees, log their usage records, and track their access to sensitive data.

Antivirus – anti-malware – firewalls

Antivirus and anti-malware safeguard your network from unsafe programs, worms, spyware, ransomware, trojans, and viruses. This software constantly scans and monitors your systems and helps delete or quarantine untrustworthy files.

Firewalls are barriers that work on a set of rules. It screens the transfer of information from and to your network. This helps ensure that unauthorized traffic is stopped at the external network and does not reach your internal system. Installing a network security firewall is the first step your network security engineer will take after setting up your devices.

Consistent updates and upgrades 

Along with consistent network security monitoring, you must ensure your devices are regularly updated and upgraded. This will help in fixing security vulnerabilities. Delaying or avoiding this puts your data at immediate risk from cybercriminals.

Secure devices – equipment

All equipment or devices connected to your network should be secure. To ensure this, follow a few good practices.

Always purchase equipment from authorized, trustworthy sellers. Maintain a list of your hardware. Ensure all your devices use WPA2. Never disable your network security firewall.

Secure servers and workstations

Monitoring server logs, ensuring routine server back-up, and keeping all workstations updated helps to maintain their security. Having a strict network security firewall in place will help prevent unauthorized access.

Secure email and passwords 

Email security scanners to filter out spam and phishing messages should be an intrinsic part of your network security monitoring process. Poor passwords are a hacker’s dream. It would be best if you had a company policy in place to ensure that no system, person, or software uses default passwords.

Two-factor authentication is a must for any devices that are being used in your business. Anytime you set up a new device or install the software, you ought to set up a strong password. For security reasons, do not share passwords or write and stick them around your workplace. Update your passwords at regular intervals to keep your system protected.

Account management 

Access to data should be on a need-to-know basis. Get your network security engineer to create individual accounts, assign usernames and passwords to each employee, and set up restrictions on data access.

Policies, rules, and regulations in place 

Irrespective of how big or small your team may be, having strict IT policies, rules, and regulations in place is mandatory. You should be clear about who can access what data and have a network security monitoring process to track that access.

You need not have a network security engineer on your payroll to secure your network. Hiring a professional team like Priority Networks will ensure that you have a hassle-free network security installation for your clinic. They work efficiently towards keeping your network functioning optimally while staying updated and secure. Contact Priority Networks today for more information!