A Guide to a More Secure Network

A small basic guide for securing your business network without spending a lot of money.

1 .Deploy a filter on your network for websites and emails using an untangle server
which is fully loaded with a spam filter and web filter. - It's important to block ads in your filter as they are the most common source of virus infections; see http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9138457/Drudge_other_sites_flooded_with_malicious_ads. Websites like Drudgereport or the New York Times
can infect you with viruses with their ads. - Next deploy a dns filter like opendns (free).

2. Make sure all software including Windows is up to date with the latest security fixes.

3.Install anti-virus protection on every PC, for example Symantec endpoint protection 11. This is good for old viruses, (disclaimer: corporate anti-virus software is worthless against new viruses. I have seen every new virus bypass it with flying colors. Home solutions anti-virus software is a little better such as Norton internet security 2010)

4.Deploy free prevx scanner to monitor your network.

5.Use common sense. Do not open websites or email attachments you are not familiar with and any ".exe" file.

6.Disable local users administrative access (Disclaimer: Doesn't help much for original infections but it does stop it from hijacking your entire PC)