For many modern businesses, IT security is an issue of paramount importance. As customers, we hand over a vast range of personal data to banks, retailers, government bodies and service providers and place our trust in them to keep it secure.

The recent Heartbleed issue has brought the subject of IT security to the fore once more, as many websites were forced to admit that their customers’ information, including usernames and passwords, may have been accessible to attackers using the exploit. In responding to the issue, many businesses were somewhat vague about the specifics of their security – stating only that they did not use the affected version of OpenSSL, or that they had already fixed the issue at an unspecified date. This is by necessity – most businesses would not want to advertise the specific encryption that they use, because this removes a step for any attacker trying to breach their systems; knowing exactly what systems are in place.

So the question for many businesses is; how can you ensure the safety of your customers’ data?

There are many factors involved in this; some are system-based and others are user-based. To ensure complete security for your network, you need to look at both.

To ensure the security of your network and systems, you need to make sure that you have up-to-date software, with all the latest patches and fixes installed as they are made available. You should use reliable encryption software for sensitive data, and ensure that such data is adequately protected by passwords. Network monitoring is also important – ensuring that if a breach occurs or if there are any problems with the security of your network, they are identified and recognised quickly, so that a prompt solution can be put in place.

On the user front, you need to make sure that your staff are properly trained to protect the network. Their passwords should be unique, secure and changed regularly, and they should never leave their computer unattended whilst logged in to secure systems.

For a free health check of your systems and network, or to find out more about the IT support services in London which we provide, please call us on 01707 378453 today.