7 Basic Network Security Mistakes You're Probably Making

The continual evolution and growth of computer systems and the Internet mean that robust network security management is now a primary concern for network administrators. It's now common for sensitive, business-critical data to reside on multiple systems and to be transmitted over the Internet. Any network security oversights or mistakes may expose a company's assets and risk a company's reputation and competitive advantage in the market.

Network security threats -- including viruses, worms, spyware, adware, zero-day attacks, hacker attacks, denial of service attacks, and many more -- are scattered all over the Internet. No single security solution is enough to protect an organization's network infrastructure against all threats, so organizations are implementing multi-layered security tactics to enable total security for their networks.

The good news is that, with robust network security in place, your organization can experience business benefits beyond security. A robust, secure network helps improve business productivity and saves time and money by reducing the need to battle security loopholes. Overall, network security also shields a business's reputation, which is a key asset for any organization.

An optimally secured network typically comprises many components, including passwords, encryptions, backups, identities, up-to-date threat information, and more. All of these components must work together and comply with industry standards and regulations.

With dynamically changing trends and technologies, it's easy to miss one or more of these important components, leaving loopholes that compromise the security of the network. On the following pages, we've listed seven common network security mistakes that users and IT pros are making somewhere in every enterprise. Root these out, and you'll have a strong foundation for network security.

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