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Computer Security in 6 Easy Steps

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Computer security is important to the integrity of your business' security plan. Confidential business information, customer personal information and other important details are kept on computer systems in today's world. How secure is this information from theft, inadvertent leaks or hacking?

Canadian businesses will be subject to federal regulations on January 1, 2004 with the implementation of the Personal Information Protection and Electronics Documents Act (PIPEDA). Failure to comply to the regulations could result in a fine of up to $100,000. The security of customer personal information is paramount to this act.

Whether your business is on-line or off-line, some serious thought should be given to the security of your operation. Prevent inadvertent leaks of information or the theft of confidential data. Here are six steps to making computer security easy.

1. Use Smart Passwords
Passwords are used to unlock your desktop, E-mails, accounts and other computer activities. Make sure your password(s) are as secure as you can make them. To make your passwords secure:
· Use combinations of alpha and numeric (a.k.a. letters and numbers) characters
· Avoid using easily discovered passwords such as your birth date or child's name
· Don't write them down (post it type notes are the greatest threat to password invasion - especially when they are tacked to the computer or on bulletin boards near the computer)
· Make your password easy to remember for yourself but hard for others
· Keep them private - don't share with friends or relatives
Too many passwords to remember them all? Try single sign-on software like Novell's eDirectory.

2. Make Solid Firewalls
Firewalls are the moats that ring you castle. If you have a high-speed connection via cable or DSL (digital subscriber line) then your computer acts as an open doorway to Internet traffic whenever your computer is on, even if you aren't using it.
Don't invite hackers and virus creators to your computer:
· Check your computer as it may have built in firewall hardware or software, if it is there turn it on
· If it is not there, you can purchase firewall software
· Or use external firewall devices
Stop invaders from getting into your castle and critical information.

3. Stay Healthy
Avoid catching a virus. Your computer can be infected and once infected it can infect other computers via viruses planted in emails and attachments, in downloaded programs and files, in floppies and even websites that you visit. Every laptop that is used at another location should be screened before entering the network environment.
Preventing viruses is easy:
· Get an anti-virus program that automatically updates itself
· Get an anti-virus program that can repair damage
· Don't open attachments to emails from people you don't know, and be wary of those you do know - best rule of thumb, don't open it unless you are expecting it
· Only download from trusted sources
· Don't forward E-mail warnings about new viruses as these hoaxes are often used to spread the virus, plus it is a form of spam
· Check all remote computers before logging them back onto the network

4. Back It Up
Back ups are the best safety deposit box you can have to guard your valuable data. Our back up advice is to:
· Ensure that you are not relying on paper back ups (re-entering all your information is costly and time consuming)
· Use floppies for small files and CDs or removable tapes for larger files
· Some files should be backed up every time a change is made and others not so often
· Schedule a back up and stick to the schedule
· Store backups in locked, fireproof containers
Talk to Nautalex about the best method of backing up your data.

5. Stay Up to Date
Keep ahead of hackers and virus creators - don't fall behind.
· Take advantage of patches supplied by software manufacturers
· Get updated anti-virus software at least twice yearly
· Update your firewall regularly

6. Control Access
Minimize the chances of breaches in your computer security.
· Set up control measures and ensure that all users follow them
· Keep passwords secret
· Turn your computer off, when possible
· Report all suspected security problems

A final note: Learn more about computer security and how you can prevent invasion.

Contact Nautalex, to learn more about how to prevent the loss of confidential information. For more information on PIPEDA, check out this article PIPEDA Goes Into Effect January 1, 2004 - Are You Ready?