09th Jun 2008
How Many Security Holes Do You Have?
I’ll bet more than you think. The average small business has no security policies or procedures in place to identify and close security vulnerabilities.
I’ll mention some classic ones here that will hopefully show areas that are needed to be looked at, if not closed outright.
- USB ports - Today a 4 gigabyte usb memory stick costs less that $50. Most people move their USB memory sticks from one PC to the next without concern for the fact that, as a recognized drive it is also vulnerable to viruses, malware and anything else you PC system is because it is recognized as a system disk just like the floppy days.
- CD/DVD - Again, as people move data from one point to the other many people believe that a CD/DVD is less susceptible to viruses and malware. Untrue, especially if it’s created buy another user.
- Internet - You’re probably saying “DUH” but many small companies do not monitor internet usage at their office, making them vulnerable to misuse by employees as they download programs, games or illegal software…
- Smart phones - Since 2004, there have been cell phone viruses! Really… Most smartphone users simply sync their phones constantly, potentially moving files that are secure to an unsecured device.
These examples are just that, examples. You should consult your IT professional(s) to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, anti-virus and patches are up to date.
Also have your IT professionals review IT security sites and publications to ensure that they are up to date on the latest threats to you organization
I’ll bet more than you think. The average small business has no security policies or procedures in place to identify and close security vulnerabilities.
I’ll mention some classic ones here that will hopefully show areas that are needed to be looked at, if not closed outright.
- USB ports - Today a 4 gigabyte usb memory stick costs less that $50. Most people move their USB memory sticks from one PC to the next without concern for the fact that, as a recognized drive it is also vulnerable to viruses, malware and anything else you PC system is because it is recognized as a system disk just like the floppy days.
- CD/DVD - Again, as people move data from one point to the other many people believe that a CD/DVD is less susceptible to viruses and malware. Untrue, especially if it’s created buy another user.
- Internet - You’re probably saying “DUH” but many small companies do not monitor internet usage at their office, making them vulnerable to misuse by employees as they download programs, games or illegal software…
- Smart phones - Since 2004, there have been cell phone viruses! Really… Most smartphone users simply sync their phones constantly, potentially moving files that are secure to an unsecured device.
These examples are just that, examples. You should consult your IT professional(s) to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, anti-virus and patches are up to date.
Also have your IT professionals review IT security sites and publications to ensure that they are up to date on the latest threats to you organization
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