It might seem overwhelming at times to maintain a secure network for your company. How do you weed out the short-term versus the long-range, the necessary versus the precautionary? Well we would like to provide you a quick hits list of things you can do TODAY.

1. Stream, Don’t Download

Let’s face it – as long as we can get sound out of computers, people are going to want to listen to music on them. To strike a healthy balance between the “all or nothing” policies of many admins, we recommend configuring a policy that allows users to connect and listen to streaming music radio stations. There are plenty to choose from (Shoutcast and Pandora being two of them) and since it is completely legal, you won’t have to worry about the RIAA knocking on your door anytime soon.

2. Check all of Your Anti-X Definitions Daily

So you’ve picked up the last package of antivirus/antispam/antispyware software. You’ve deployed and configured it and now you are protected for the rest of your life, right? Wrong. If it has been more than a week since you have updated your tools, they are already obsolete! New viruses, trojans and spyware are written everyday, and if your anti-x programs don’t know about the new threats, they can’t protect you from them. So be diligent and continually update! (by the way, as you’ve read this, a new virus/malware program has just been written!

3. Don’t Forget to Look Within  

Most of the time when we are thinking of security, we think about our perimeter – the area where our network connects to the outside world. But this is just one piece of the overall puzzle. Internal vulnerabilities are just as devastating. Not every security attack that comes at you is an outside hacker. Sometimes employees, unknowingly, can bring in viruses or other security threats. Train your employees regarding proper practices.

4. CTRL-Alt-Del is a Good Habit to Have

When you leave your house you lock the door, when you leave your computer you need to do the same thing.  CTRL-Alt-Del is your dead bolt. Simple press CTRL-Alt-Del and select “Lock Computer.” Using it every single time you walk away from your computer ensures no damage is done to the network in your name.

5. Talk to an Outside Consultant

Applying steps 1-4 gets you going in the right direction. But for every step you take to ensure your secure network, there is someone out there looking for ways to circumnavigate these protective measures. Don’t fret - you have help! There are a number of IT consulting companies resolving these issues on a daily basis.

Kevin McGarry serves as the senior systems analyst at Eureka Software Solutions. Please contact Kevin if you have any questions about this newsletter or questions about IT service offerings. Call Kevin at 512-459-9292 ext. 291 or email him at kevinm@eurekasoft.com.