The purpose of this document is to provide small business owners and network administrators with a better understanding of security needs and to outline the actions that can be taken to ensure the safety of networks and their data.
Introduction"What you don't know about network security can hurt your business.
"With broadband usage quickly becoming a standard in the business world and network security hazards on the rise, small businesses without a dedicated IT team are faced with the great challenge of protecting their networks from threats. However, in order to meet this challenge, small businesses must first face a greater challenge: understanding and acknowledging the threats.
The purpose of this document is to provide small business owners and network administrators with a better understanding of security needs and to outline the actions that can be taken to ensure the safety of networks and their data.
Why Are Small Businesses Vulnerable?Perhaps the greatest threat to small business networks is the owners’ false sense of security and their lack of proficiency in protecting their networks. Very often, small business owners push network security issues down the priority list in favor of more pressing matters, and in many cases, network security is not a concern at all.
To better understand the severity of this phenomenon, consider the following research results:
Many small business owners wave off network security concerns, claiming that the size of the company and its insignificance in the market will deter hackers from targeting the network. This is a very misguided approach. Strict regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act require enterprises to invest more in information security. Enterprises are aware of various security threats and often employ in-house specialists to defend their networks from various threats. Companies with large networks own complex firewall and intrusion prevention systems that are regularly updated and maintained. Small businesses cannot be expected to have manpower, money, or time to invest in maintaining an enterprise-scale network security system. However, this does not mean they should ignore security threats.
A good example of the vulnerability of small networks in comparison to enterprises is the effect of the My.
Doom worm (released in January 2004). According to the Internet Security Alliance data, one out of three small businesses was affected, while only one out of six enterprises was affected. It is not always personal. As you will learn later, most attacks and security threats are aimed at the general public and not directed at any specific company or network. A hacker can run a software program that scans networks and IP ranges, looking for potential weaknesses. When such weaknesses are found, the hacker can take over the machines or infect them, in order to use them as a “zombie army” in larger scale attacks.
What Happens If I Do Get Hacked?According to a Gartner study , 40% of small businesses that use the Internet for more than email will be successfully attacked by the end of 2005. More than half of the businesses attacked will not even know it. Could you be one of those businesses? Are you aware of the damage a severe attack could inflict on your business? Think of what would happen if a computer containing important business data was physically stolen, and the data was not backed up. · How much would a new machine cost?· How much irreplaceable data would be lost?· How much would this data loss cost your company?· Can you afford the financial costs, downtime, and hassle?Each business is different in both vulnerability and risk. The questions above can assist you in beginning to assess the potential damage of an attack on your network. However, there are other threats beyond hacker attacks and loss of information. Know them, and protect yourself.
What Are the Threats?Like any technology, Internet security threats are changing and evolving at all times. Hackers adjust their methods and develop them to take advantage of both technological vulnerabilities and psychological weaknesses of employees. Some current threats are:
Doom, which, along with its variants, caused several billion dollars worth of damage to businesses, ISPs, and home users.
Ten Steps to a Secure Small Business NetworkNot Just the Technology – Before you go out and shop for firewalls, antiviruses, and network security service providers, be sure to set the goal. Asses your needs, examine your current resources, and estimate the potential benefits of having a secure network.
1.Awareness. Perhaps one of the most important ingredients of a secure network is awareness. Familiarize yourself with various security threats. Be sure to check the availability of security updates and software patches. Increase awareness among your workers. Have them read this document, if necessary. Make sure they do not bring unprotected mobile devices into the network, that they do not open unexpected email attachments, and so on.
2.Security Policy. Technology is but a tool in the enforcement of certain rules that are meant to keep your data safe and your business running smoothly. A security policy should consist of various rules and behaviors, such as a password policy requiring users to have passwords that cannot be easily guessed or broken and firewall rules permitting specific traffic in and out of the network. It is highly recommended to consult with a network security specialist when compiling a security policy for an office with more than ten users. It is necessary to enforce the policy once it has been created, to ensure its effectiveness. The Basics The following three resources are a must for any single computer or network connected to the Internet.
3.Firewall . A firewall acts as the security guard between your network and the Internet. Software firewalls that are installed directly on the computer are required in cases where the machine leaves the office, or where it is the only computer in the business. Hardware firewalls installed on firewall-dedicated machines are required in networks comprised of a number of computers. Firewalls differ from one another: some provide in-depth firewall protection and additional security services, while others simply provide Internet connection sharing with NAT translation, allowing only very basic protection. The main purpose of a firewall is to keep out unwanted traffic, such as a computer worm attempting to infect computers with a specific vulnerability. Note that some firewalls can also be used to block specified outgoing traffic, such as file sharing programs, and to block specified incoming traffic, such as instant messengers or any other service the firewall administrator chooses to block.
Many hardware firewalls offer additional services such as email antivirus and antispam filtering, content filtering, and secure wireless access point (AP) options. When selecting a firewall, define the requirements of your business. Many firewall vendors provide customizable firewalls with pricing depending on the range of services you select. If you can, get technical assistance from a local network security service provider.
4.Antivirus. Antivirus (AV) software is used to scan files on the computer on which it is installed, files that are downloaded to the computer, and of course email. In addition to implementing AV solutions on each machine, it is important to have an AV gateway: a local or remote machine where email messages are scanned for viruses while they are being downloaded to the client computer. It is crucial to keep the antivirus software updated at all times, as new viruses are found almost every day.
Do not forget that simply having the software is not enough. Schedule an automatic scan if possible. If not, then set a reminder to ensure that you and other office employees run the scan on their computers periodically.
5.Patches and Updates. Microsoft and other software vendors provide updates that are meant to fix bugs and patch potential security holes in their software. Make sure you regularly check for updates. You can even decide on a specific day (once in two weeks is usually enough) on which to remind yourself and your employees to run the software updates or check the software manufacturer Web site for any updates that may be available. Disaster Recovery Be prepared if something goes wrong. Beyond network security issues, there are many more things that can disable your network or leave it vulnerable.
6.Backup. Always backup information. The more important the information is, the more copies of it you should have available. Make sure not to leave it lying around or misplace it. Create a backup policy to back the data up regularly. If possible, encrypt sensitive information and always keep a non-rewritable copy (CD-ROM) of the files in a safe location. It is also recommended to back up firewall, email, and Internet configuration settings to enable quick access to these settings in case of a failure.
7.ISP and/or Gateway Failover. For businesses that are dependant on Internet connectivity, it is crucial to have a backup Internet connection and a backup firewall/gateway to preserve connectivity and production in the event that your primary Internet connection goes offline or the main firewall/gateway malfunctions. Several firewall gateways offer smooth and automated failover and ISP backup options. If temporary connectivity loss means potential profit loss, be sure to have failover options.
Annoyances Spam and spyware are not only annoying, but they can be quite dangerous to your network security and, of course, productivity. Another threat to productivity is sites with questionable content, as well as file sharing software.
8.Antispam and Antispyware. Spam filtering can be implemented on the mail server, on the firewall/gateway, or on the machine receiving the messages. Most antispam software uses various filters and blacklists to attempt to eliminate spam without deleting legitimate emails. In small networks with few mailboxes, you may consider locally set antispam software, but in larger networks with more users, you may want to use spam scanning on the firewall/gateway.
Spyware can be removed by using antispyware software on the local machine. You may want to include this in your weekly or bi-weekly routine of updates and scans, and scan your network computers for spyware, as well as viruses and worms.
9.Blocking Specific Sites, IM Clients, and File Sharing Programs. The best way to deal with questionable sites online, IM conversations during work hours, and bandwidth-wasting file sharing is to enforce their exclusion on the gateway. Some firewalls allow you to select specific services to which access should be blocked and to filter Web sites by address and/or by category.
Improving Productivity Safely Access your office network whenever you need it, wherever you need it – safely.
10.Remote Access VPN and Site-to-Site VPN. Virtual private network (VPN) technology allows you to connect two or more networks in a private connection, creating a tunnel of encrypted data between the two points. This technology was adopted to replace expensive private networks (such as frame relay) with increasing popular and available broadband Internet connections. VPNs provide privacy and encryption for the data as it is transferred over the Internet. This is especially useful if you have two or more branches in your business or would like to access your office network remotely. For example, your sales representative does not have to carry confidential information on his laptop when visiting abroad. All he has to do is connect to the Internet and access the data in the office through a secure connection.
Numerous security appliances offer VPN server and endpoint capabilities. If accessing your office network increases productivity, or if you have been accessing your office network without using a secure VPN, you should select a gateway appliance that offers this feature. Check Point® Safe@Office® Small Business Security and Remote Access SolutionThe Safe@Office appliance delivers a modular small business security solution that can be tailored to any small business network and its requirements. By combining enterprise-level Stateful Inspection firewall protection and IPSec VPN capabilities with customization options and ease of use, Safe@Office delivers a cost-effective solution for offices with three to seventy-five users.
No security expert is required for appliance installation and configuration, as wizard-driven setup options allow simple and quick customization of the firewall and VPN settings to match the company security policy.
Safe@Office Internet Security Appliance FeaturesSafe@Office network and remote access security appliances are high-performance, hardware-based platforms that provide advanced firewall protection and support a wide variety of security services from Email Antivirus to Dynamic DNS. All Safe@Office appliances include the following features:
Safe@Office 400W keeps your information secret from unauthorized intruders by using mature IPSec technology to encrypt all wireless transmissions. Your network will also be fully protected against external Internet attacks by the world-class Check Point firewall.
For increased productivity, Safe@Office 400W also supports secure remote access and the creation of VPN networks, enabling remote branches and on-the-road employees to remain securely connected to office resources at all times.
For more information on Safe@Office solutions please visit the Safe@Office homepage at http://www.safeatoffice.com, and use the automatic product selector to choose the right solution for your business. If you have any questions, please feel free to use our live chat service to speak with a Safe@Office security expert. If you are interested in posting this document on your Web page or any other media, please contact marketing@sofaware.com .
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKSCopyright © 2005 SofaWare, All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from SofaWare. Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on part of SofaWare Technologies Ltd. SofaWare, the SofaWare logo and Safe@Office are service marks or registered trademarks of SofaWare Technologies Ltd. Check Point and the Check Point logo are service marks, or registered trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. or its affiliates. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The products described in this document are protected by U.S. Patent No. 5,606,668 and 5,835,726 and may be protected by other U.S. Patents, foreign patents, or pending applications.