ONSITE IT NETWORK AND SERVER SECURITY
Network and Security Overview
HOW SECURE IS YOUR NETWORK?
Network & Server security is an often overlooked issue in Small to Medium Enterprises.
By looking at this page you have shown the foresight to think about the security of your I.T.
Would you leave your wallet or purse in a public place unguarded ?
Having insecure I.T. systems can lead to far greater losses !!
For example your competitors could potentially gain access to all your files on the system including quotes, your client list, bank details and more.
Server monitoring, as it sounds, is the implementation of a system that keeps vigilance over the health and status of a server. The more mission critical a server's function is, the more important monitoring becomes. As technology becomes more and more reliable, servers are often left alone to do their job. However, it is still important to always be alert to their status. ONSITE IT can help you do that!
Before discussing the various techniques available to monitor a server, let's first address the reasons you might want to use monitoring.
Intrusion
- Intrusion is a big reason for monitoring a server. More often than not, servers are compromised without anyone knowing.
- By monitoring for intrusion, an administrator is made aware that someone is trying to compromise server security, and s/he may then take steps to prevent it in the future or maybe even find out who is intruding.
- Monitoring hardware status is just as critical, if not more, than checking for intrusion. If a server is configured well, then it is fault tolerant against drive, controller, NIC, and motherboard failure.
- This means that if one of those components fails, the server stays up and running. However, an administrator needs to know as soon as possible that hardware has failed, so that the component can be replaced.
- If there is little or no fault tolerance, monitoring becomes even more important, as the server may stop functioning altogether until a failed component is replaced.
- Similar to hardware failure, it is important to know that mission critical applications are running and running correctly.
- There are many other security features that an administrator may need to monitor. Some possible examples are:
- Password strength
- NetBIOS shares
- Unwanted services
- File sharing programs like Napster, Utorrent, Bit Torrent software and Limewire File Sharing etc.
Hardware
Application Failure
Other Security Considerations
Logging
Logging is a simple feature that should always be utilized when monitoring a system or task for that matter. A majority of applications, operating systems, and devices have some form of logging feature. Depending on the program or device that does the logging, a systems administrator can configure a system to alert him/her when certain logging events occur.
Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP/Windows 2003 Server and Windows Vista products have various logging features. System and application logging are enabled by default. However, there is a security-logging feature that needs to be turned on manually. It logs successful and unsuccessful logon activity. It also logs activity from other applications that are created to record information here, such as SQL and Exchange server as well as third party programs. Some third party monitoring programs may utilize this native logging feature to complement their application and/or system.
Now that we know why monitoring is important why don’t you make a call to ONSITE IT who will gladly guide you in the right direction on the various types of solutions you need and the best way to implement them in a cost saving package to fit your business needs.
Onsite IT can help you implement sensible security policies within your organisation to deter and repel unwanted visitors.
Why not speak to one of our Microsoft Certified Experts about the benefits of ONSITE IT.
Call us on 01621 850550
or email info@onsite-it.co.uk for more details.
