How to take care of the network in an IT company?
The network in an IT company is its business card and confirmation of high competence. Maximum throughput, high functionality and uncompromised security are the three most important areas to pay special attention to. We suggest how to do it in practice.
How to take care of corporate network security
Network security is a multi-faceted issue that includes not only the security of the computer network itself, including its wireless portion, but also the router, which is usually the heart of the infrastructure, and the security culture understood and practiced - ideally, spontaneously - by its users.
Companies involved in "IT" in general can differ greatly from each other in the specifics of the services they provide and, consequently, their own needs as to infrastructure. While in a typical installation company, the functions of switch, router, NAS server and Wi-Fi access point will probably be performed by separate devices, in a software development office, or implementing helpdesk and remote support services, everything can be taken care of by multifunctional vPN routers, which further simplify operation and guarantee better integration of systems.
Network security and its high standard is often imposed precisely by the router. Certified SPI-class firewall, will provide protection against attacks from the Internet, and content analysis and blocking of dangerous sites will protect against potentially dangerous behavior of internal users. Update your router for network security will also be of great importance, as threats are also evolving, making it necessary to constantly improve security, implemented in the latest versions of system software, to ensure a company's cyber security.
For companies providing 24/7 services, consistent, uninterrupted Internet access can be a security issue, as interruptions in smooth operations will be directly convertible into revenue losses. In such cases, it's a good idea to equip yourself with a router with a backup Internet connection, such as via LTE or 5G, such as FRITZ!Box 6890. If the connection to the default link goes down, the router will automatically switch to the backup access.
Security of network equipment and infrastructure
Computer network security is all about preventing unauthorized access. While the task is fairly straightforward with cable infrastructure, high-speed Wi-Fi with long range will require strong security measures, such as WPA-3 with complex passwords and access control at the MAC address level, and perhaps even individual user profiles with hourly scheduling of usage.
Using a VPN in the company IT is pretty much a given, especially with the popularization of remote working and B2B services. VPN server, integrated into the router, for example, as is the case with FRITZ routers!Box. When providing remote network access, we must be sure that the connection over the public Internet will be absolutely impenetrable to others, especially those who might have bad intentions.
Why data security copy is so important
Cyber security for companies also includes protecting critical data not only from unauthorized access, but also from loss and destruction. Disk failures, malware and even cyber extortion can threaten files stored on computer disks. So it is a very good practice to create on a separate disk or a whole set of them, a backup from which you can restore important data in case of failure.
Basic NAS mechanisms are built into FRITZ routers!Box. They allow you to connect a USB 3.0 drive directly to the device and share its resources over the network using SMB and FTP protocols. When the day is over, such a data drive can be easily unplugged from the router and placed, for example, in a safe for even greater protection. For additional data security, a copy of your data can be automatically uploaded to the cloud, as the FRITZ router's built-in!Box NAS server supports WebDAV technology.
