PC and Network Security

By: Ron Carter, Network Consultant

T he key word in this title is Security. How good are you or your employees protecting your Intellectual Property or more basically your business lifeline? Many businesses from top management down only give lip service when it comes to protecting their Intellectual Property. However, it is my view that security and protection of Intellectual Property is the responsibility of everyone within an organization.

The Key to Good

Security is your Awareness

and Involvement

Protection of Intellectual Property consists of the following basic security issues:

Identification of Assets

Classification of Assets

Identification of Risk

Security Measures Required

Awareness

Training

Implementation of Prevention Methods

Auditing

Security requires good planning and involvement by everyone to insure that security is not jeopardized or that important data is not compromised due to sloppy handling of Intellectual Properties by anyone within your organization. Protection of data starts when all personnel become aware that there is a risk if they do not become involved in the protection of information that is created, maintained, updated, stored or archived as part of their daily business activities. In today's environment businesses are placing most of their important data on PC’s, File Servers, Data Base Servers, etc... in order to better utilize the advanced tools that are provided in accomplishing their duties. Therefore, many of the tasks each of you perform on a PC or Terminal by entering data, or manipulating data adds to the Intellectual Properties wealth of your organization. Therefore, it is also your responsibility to identify data that is confidential, secret, or top secret for your employer business.

Simple tasks to Secure your PC.

Lock your PC by using passwords or electronic locks.
Do not leave confidential displayed when unauthorized persons are near your PC.
Password protect files needing additional protection.
Maintain data that is critical on removable media that can be locked up when not in use.
Do not give your password out to others that do not have a need to know.

Simple tasks to Secure your PC on a Network.

Again use passwords.
Lock out users from using your files or directories utilizing special locks and permissions that are part of network security.
Only let those individuals with a need to know have access to your data.
Logoff the network when you are gone to prevent unauthorized access of our directories or files.
Turn off modems to prevent unauthorized outside access of your network or PC. Use call back modem dialing as an additional measure to prevent access.

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