The Weakest Link in Network Security Continued
by Peter Alexander
reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center
Let me give you an example. In March 2006, a major financial services firm with extensive network security disclosed that one of its portable computers was stolen. The laptop contained the Social Security numbers of nearly 200,000 people. How did it happen? An employee of the firm, dining in a restaurant with colleagues, had locked the laptop in the trunk of a SUV. During dinner, one of the employee’s colleagues retrieved an item from the vehicle and forgot to re-lock it. As fate would have it, there was a rash of car thefts occurring in that particular area at that particular time, and the rest is history.
The moral of that story is clear: No matter how secure your network may be, it’s only as secure as its weakest link. And people–meaning you and your employees–are often the weakest link. It’s important to note that poor security puts your business, as well as your partners, at risk. As a result, many enterprises and organizations, such as credit-card companies, now specify and require minimum levels of security you must have in order to do business with them.
So what can you do? Here are nine ways to minimize the risks that people can pose to the security of your company’s data:
The Alternatives? Lost Business, Lawsuits and More
Does all this sounds like a lot of trouble? Of course it does. But imagine what would happen to your business if all your customers’ credit-card information was stolen–simply because an employee left a laptop containing that data in an unlocked car? At a minimum, you risk angering and losing customers.
Also, many small businesses, particularly those in financial and health-care services, must comply with regulations that mandate information security. One stolen laptop, and your business could be faced with heavy penalties due to non-compliance.
In short, better safe than sorry. So get on the phone with your trusted IT advisor and start creating your detailed security plan today. You’ll sleep better tonight.
Carl Mazzanti is Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies, Microsoft’s four time Partner of the Year and one of the premier IT consulting services for businesses throughout the New York metropolitan area and internationally. Carl and his company manage over 400 active accounts ranging from professional services firms to high-end global retailers.
eMazzanti is all about delivering powerful, efficient outsourced IT services, such as computer network management and troubleshooting, managed print, PCI DSS compliance, green computing, mobile workforce technology, information security, cloud computing, and business continuity and disaster recovery.
Carl Mazzanti is also a frequent business conference speaker and technology talk show guest and contributor at Microsoft-focused events, including frequent prominent roles at the Microsoft Inspire (Worldwide Partner Conference / WPC).
Carl, a serial Entrepreneur, gives back to the community through Entrepreneur teaching engagements at Georgetown University, the company’s ocean wildlife conservation effort, the Blue Project, and Tree Mazzanti.
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