Give your Network a Flu Shot

The 'From' name on the email message looks familiar, and the subject line -- "Hi!" or "I have a question" -- is believable. Maybe you knew someone with that first name in high school, and think it's a long-lost friend getting back in touch. Or maybe it's a question from a member, patient, or customer. You open the email, but it doesn't contain a message from a long-lost friend: Instead, it contains a virus which infects your computer.

How could you have averted this problem?

All of the recent worms and viruses of note have exploited known security flaws (and user gullability). Anti-virus software helps by identifying known viruses in email attachments and quarantining or removing these portions of the message, but clearly the problem is not under control -- new viruses continue to make headlines for the destruction they wreak on networks across the world. It's time that we start treating our computers' health the way we treat our own -- proactively.

To illustrate this point, let's look at human viruses like the flu and the common cold. To reduce the spread of these viruses, we take precautionary measures such as covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze, washing our hands frequently, and even using hand-sanitizing soaps and lotions. These techniques help keep us from getting sick from the viruses around us, but unless we live in a fully sterilized environment, we cannot avoid some contact with germs and viruses. So how can we protect ourselves?

In the fall, many of us receive flu shots. In exchange for a sore arm for a day, we greatly reduce our chances of catching the flu over the following winter. Each year, these flu shots are concocted to thwart the most common current flu strains circulating. After a flu shot, you will not be susceptible to infection from the common strains against which you have been inoculated.Not everyone thinks flu shots are worth it. But its worth noting that these viruses change and mutate over time. Last year's flu shot won't give you the benefits that a new flu shot will. To be protected against the newest strains, you need a shot that has been updated with inoculations against the newest strains.

Update Your Protection

Performing a vulnerability assessment on your network and fixing its critical security flaws is like giving your network a flu shot. A little effort up front will keep your network much safer from the next virus making the rounds. And just like a flu shot, you need updated protection. Regular vulnerability assessments are essential, but be certain that your provider is able to locate the newest vulnerabilities. Also, make sure that you receive unlimited vulnerability assessments from your provider so that you can confirm that your security fixes have worked with a re-test after repair. Anti-virus software is like wearing a surgical mask or staying away from people who are already sick -- it's a way to try to keep the viruses out from the start. A vulnerability assessment, like a flu shot, dramatically limits the impact of viruses that reach you.

Other Ways to Stay Healthy

Just as a flu shot isn't 100 percent protection against getting sick, a vulnerability assessment won't guarantee your protection. Effective virus prevention for people includes getting enough rest, a good diet, and staying hydrated. A shot cannot provide you with these things. In the same way, effective network security protection goes beyond vulnerability assessments. Anti-virus software will improve your odds of protection, as will a properly configured firewall. Employee training programs and security policies will address the human side of your security risk. Remember: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!Meg Barker, director of marketing & training, Digital Defense.