If you don’t work to protect your computers and network, anyone with access to a computer can tamper with your business. Someone can corrupt your files, steal confidential information, spread viruses, and plant system crawlers that wreak havoc. Without security to protect your business you’ll get no warning until it’s much too late.

Use a Firewall First, you need to know about Firewall Fundamentals. Firewalls are security gateways that filter what comes into your network and control what your computers send out. Windows XP includes a firewall. Setting it up is a one-click operation. Internet Explorer also offers security zones that will give you control over when it will download and run content from websites. Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express offer security features to help block malicious code.

Don’t just leave it at that. Set your own business security policy to govern and control who has access to what internally and what they can do externally. Update your security regularly with all the latest online add-ins to keep you current. Managing your people is important. Are they downloading inappropriate material? What content are they distributing and could it reflect badly on your company? Are they spending too much time shopping online? With a strong security policy, you can defend your business and control what happens online.

You can also protect your website and customer transactions using digital certificates. A digital certificate on your site proves your authenticity and reassures customers.

Security Service Options If you need to outsource help with your internet security, there are several options available at different costs. Some are subscription based and you’ll be asked to renew your contract each year and with each new product release, or upgrade. Others simply offer protection or security with defence, control and small business management products. Increasingly, security providers are offering composite solutions that will give you all that you need now and deliver all that you’ll need in the future.

Sekhar writes articles for Microsoft India Small Business