How to ensure employee Internet usage isn't putting your network at risk

Security threats have changed dramatically over the past several years. Assuming every business has a firewall, hackers are capitalizing on their secret weapon — end users. The majority of threats that exist today are due to unsuspecting employees who are putting their business computers at risk. All it takes is a click on an e-mail attachment or a link to a Web site, and a computer can be instantly infected with malicious software — putting your sensitive and confidential information in the wrong hands. So what can you do to protect your business?

In an environment where threats are constantly evolving, the best way to protect your business is to sign up for a security service that proactively monitors your network 24/7/365. This spares you from the tedious task of monitoring employee Internet activity and constantly running manual security updates, allowing you to focus on more pressing business concerns.

A vital feature of a security solution is the ability to continuously update threat definitions, which ensures the most up-to-date protection and responds immediately to problems. It should also employ multiple tiers of protection, including monitoring of network gateways and examining data for threats as it passes through the firewall.

"Many business owners feel installing off-the-shelf antivirus software is all it takes to protect themselves. But many of these products quickly become obsolete and can't protect business networks from adaptable threats like worms or hackers," says Don Kosec, vice president of Business Class Services for Time Warner Cable Business Class, Northeast Ohio. "The best security solutions come from providers with dedicated professionals whose sole job is to monitor and manage the security strategy for customers."

Most importantly, your security-solutions provider should understand your needs as a business. Given the serious consequences of data breaches or a disabled network, your security provider should actively provide feedback and respond to threats immediately.