Your network is the essential component to communication and productivity across your IT infrastructure. But your network faces a wide range of potentially crippling threats every day, and no single precaution can provide adequate security. That is why it's important to take a multilayered approach to security. Today's security threats require that you provide a layer of security around your network gateway, e-mail and Web applications, wireless network access points and desktops. These threats also demand staff diligence in the identification and handling of suspicious files.

Protect your network gateway
A gateway is a network point that acts as an entrance to another network. Your gateway is the point at which your office network connects to the Internet. E-mail and Web applications are the typical conduits for information exchanges at your gateway.

E-mail is your primary vulnerability. Protect your e-mail application with real-time virus protection, spam prevention, a firewall and content filtering software. You have an array of tightly integrated e-mail protection software packages from various manufacturers to choose from. In addition to protection from outside e-mail threats, most of these products can also detect any viruses transmitted internally, preventing users from sending viruses to one another.

Gateway security appliances are an excellent addition to your network. In addition to performing local area network (LAN) and wireless LAN (WLAN) switching capabilities necessary for traffic management on your network, these appliances can provide additional security with firewall protection, virus protection, content filtering and antispam protection.

Protect from within your network
There's good reason to go beyond protecting just your e-mail server. Notebook mobility makes it possible for an unauthorized user to access your network and infect it with a virus or gain access to your data. To protect against this, make sure your wireless network meets the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) standard. This standard, devised in 2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), enables the highest levels of data encryption and user authentication for wireless network protection. Once an authorized user has access to your network, e-mail sent from their notebook is scanned for viruses by the security software on your e-mail application, protecting the rest of your network.

Don't overlook desktop protection
Be sure to take precautions on each PC connected to your network. Install and run up-to-date antivirus and antispyware programs at each station.

Create and follow basic security procedures and policies
Be sure that the applications you run are updated. Web servers and network services software typically require updates or patches to minimize exposure of your data to hackers. These patches and updates are available at manufacturers' Web sites for download. Establish procedures to patch these applications regularly. And be sure to keep the antivirus and antispyware software you've installed on each desktop updated. You can configure most antivirus and antispyware software to update automatically.

Educate your staff on how to identify and handle suspicious e-mail attachments. Proper and consistent handling of suspicious e-mail can significantly reduce the risk of spreading viruses. Make everyone aware of the file formats often associated with viruses, including .pif, .vbs and .exe.

Trust CDW for the best in network security
CDW offers a wide selection of network security products. Your account manager can explain all of the options to you and help you find hardware and software suited to your exact needs and management capabilities.

For more information, contact your account manager, %%AM_FNAME%% %%AM_LNAME%%, at %%AM_PHONE%%.

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