When it comes to router security, what’s really important? Almost every router offers security features but which ones give you the biggest bang for your buck?  Here are some of the many security features that are available on today’s leading routers and an explanation of how these features protect your data and your investment.

Firewall: An integrated stateful and application inspection firewall provides network perimeter security. Implemented in either hardware or software, firewalls are designed to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. This is one of the most basic and essential security features a router can have.

AES encrpytion: High-speed IPsec 3DES and AES encryption offers data privacy over the Internet. AES stands for ‘Advanced Encryption Standard’ which is a Federal government standard in the US for all routers handling commercial business. AES is what sends data in blocks of encrypted code which takes place in a series of steps making it difficult to decipher.

Social networking for both personal and professional reasons has exploded in the past couple of years and both individuals and companies are finding it to be an effective tool in reaching and communicating with friends and customers who were at the edge of communication circles before.  But is it a threat to network security?

Fifty-one percent of IT security professionals recently polled in a survey conducted on behalf of Cisco by InsightExpress, the survey polled 500 IT, say it is. IT security professionals across Germany,the United States, India, Japan, and China claimed “social networking” to be one of the top three highest security risks to their companies. Nineteen percent chose it as the highest risk they face.

But why? The nature of the problem seems to be from employees, particularly those under 30 years of age, that
consistently work around information technology security policies so that they can use unsupported devices
and applications. But this is just one symptom of today’s increasingly mobile workforce and the expansion of borderless networks. While social networking and the use of personal mobile devices truly keep people connected to their work, and allow them to integrate personal and professional lives, new challenges in IT security are bound to arise. More than one-third of the professionals polled claim to have had to deal with security breaches created by the use of unsupported network devices.

It’s clearly a problem, but what can you do about it?

Cisco is currently working on new security features that will allow for the use of these
devices and better social networking capabilities, but still protect critical data. It’s obvious
that these devices aren’t going out of style any time soon and the future of Cisco’s security technology lies
very much in the inclusion of these new business and personal approaches to connecting with customers and employees via the internet.

We do everything on a computer these days, but how safe are we?  Here are some tips for personal safety on the internet when using Social Networking Sites like Facebook:

1. On social networking sites, do not tag photos with your children’s full names.

2. Never update your status to suggest when you’ll be gone for long periods of time (like on vacation).

3. Use strong passwords that are hard to guess and hard to remember.

4. Never post your entire birth date or your address.

5. Set your privacy selections in your account so that you have control over who is seeing your personal information.

6. If there are items you only want certain people to see, email them privately instead of posting them for the world to see.

7. Change your password regularly.

8. Opt not to post certain personal information like hometown, personal email addresses, and chat usernames.

Everyone knows that defending your network against viruses, hackers, and other attacks is the key to protecting critical data and resources, as well as maintaining customer confidence and business continuity but many don’t add that extra level of protection because of the expense involved. Protecting your network doesn’t have to be expensive.

Adding security components, like Cisco’s ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances, allows for network expansion without the risk due to the series’ unified security platform that utilizes cutting edge firewalls, VPN technology, intrusion prevention, and more. The addition of such components actually lowers deployment and operating costs, not to mention the price of post-attack breaches and recovery, and the best way to add one of these security components is by purchasing them used.

Buying pre-owned and refurbished network hardware equipment isn’t the same as buying a used car. If you purchase, for example, an ASA-CSC-10-INC-K9, from a reputable retailer like MULTI-LINK Communications Products, you will not only pay less than you would from the distribution chain, but MLCP offers a better warranty than the manufacturer offers on the same product new.  Companies like MLCP also provide new equipment for less than the manufacturer as well.  Leasing is also an option if cash flow is minimal.

The point is, there’s no reason to risk an attack on your network and incur exorbitant costs later when purchasing security components is an affordable option.  Think of it as an insurance policy. Shop around, find the best price from the most reputable alternative Cisco provider, and protect your critical data. Isn’t your network and the information it contains worth it?

Network security is usually in the forefront of every network administrator’s mind. Protecting critical and confidential data, resources, and multimedia traffic, as well as business continuity from the myriad of potential attackers in cyberspace is key in maintaining not only business functions, but also your customers’ confidence.  What is the best way to secure your network?

Most routers and switches, and other network components have built in security protections like firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, encryption, etc.  But as you expand your network to include laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices, you broaden the attack surface, leaving your network– and therefore your data– open to hackers.

One way to add an additional level of security, and peace of mind, is through Cisco’s ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances. These components, designed for all network sizes, provide intelligent threat defense and highly secure communications services. In short, they help organizations lower their deployment and operational costs while delivering comprehensive network security through a unified security platform. Members of the ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances include the ASA5505-50-BUN-K9, the 8-port ASA5505-50-BUN-K8, and the ASA5500-HW .

Keep in mind that you can keep costs down by purchasing these components used for much less than the distribution chain through a reputable alternate distributor.

Have you heard the buzz phrase ‘Secure Borderless Networks from Cisco‘ and wondered if your network would benefit? We’re here to explain what Cisco’s Secure Borderless Networks is and whether it’s right for you.

First, you need to understand how a network– specifically yours– becomes susceptible to intrusion and attacks. It’s obviously important to keep critical data, resources, and multimedia traffic safe and that protection is typically provided by a laundry list of separate security measures like firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, VPN technology, and the like.  But the difficulty occurs with the addition of any-device connectivity to critical information and applications on the network.  This can be in the form of laptops that employees take with them, mobile smartphone applications, etc.  The more you expand your network’s borders, the higher the security risk you take on. But these expansion devices are necessary. They lower operational costs and increase efficiency. So how do you protect the network with a myriad of these devices out and about?  With Cisco’s ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances, Cisco Security Manager, and Cisco Security Monitoring, Analysis and Response System (Cisco Security MARS). These are all  fundamental components of the Cisco Secure Borderless Network.

Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances provide intelligent threat defense and highly secure communications services by creating a unified security platform. The unification allows cutting edge security measures to work together, simultaneously, and prevent security breaches before they affect business continuity.

Is it right for you?  The ASA 5500 Series works on any sized network, so you shouldn’t feel your network is too big or too small. The essential factor is whether your network utilizes the devices that put the network at risk. Even a few mobile devices that are in constant use can make the network susceptible to hackers, viruses, and other attacks. Determine whether the safety it provides is worth the price. If it still seems expensive, consider not only what it would cost you to lose critical data during an attack, but also consider purchasing security appliances used which lower your initial cost but still give you that added measure of security.

There’s no getting around the fact that we have become a global society that relies on technology and the internet to conduct business, stay connected to friends and family, and keep up on what’s happening in the world.  But the nature of the internet allows for certain dangers that everyone should not only be aware of, but know how to protect themselves, their children, and their data from being victimized.

Online Predators

The most common cyber-danger is online predators.  Predators, like all criminals, come in various forms.  Some are pedophiles seeking out children to exploit.  Some are thieves looking for a way to hack into your credit cards and bank accounts so that they can buy whatever they want under the cloaked anonymity of internet commerce and stick you with the bill. Others are looking to turn your computer into a netbot so that they can send out spam or hide the source of the viruses they’re creating.  It’s all criminal activity and it all puts you at risk.

So how can you protect yourself?

When it comes to children, the best thing you can do is know what sites your children are surfing and who they are connecting with online whether it be through email, chat rooms, or the many social networking sites.  There are software programs that not only allow you to give permission to each family member, controlling which sites they can log onto, but there are also programs that track what sites have been visited.  Limiting the time on the computer for children can also help.

When it comes to protecting your computer from virus attacks, consider a reliable anti-virus program.  For networks at your business, it’s important to have some sort of security services module that keeps not only your confidential data safe by employing firewalls and encryption, but also protects the privacy of your customers.

Lastly, learn good habits of buying items online.  Purchase products from reputable retailers and use PayPal or a credit card instead of a debit card for online purchases. Never send a credit card number in an email. Many credit card companies offer protection against online purchasing fraud so find out which of the cards you hold do and use those for online purchases.  Always check your statements to be sure you spent what you thought you were spending.