Unified Threat Management Keeps Your Network Safer

Network security is equally important for businesses of all sizes. Ensuring that your infrastructure remains firm is one of the most crucial tasks in managing a business. You don’t have to do it alone, though. There are enterprise-level tools available that can give small businesses the same security standards as larger organizations, and it all starts with a Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution.

A UTM takes four of the best enterprise-level tools and combines them into one great package. You’ll have a firewall, antivirus, spam blocker, and content filter in place to keep your business secure. You’ll quickly discover that this is the best way to handle network security.

Firewall
Your firewall is the first line of defense for your network, tracking any incoming or outgoing data to keep threats at bay. If you keep threats from entering your network in the first place, you’ll decrease the likelihood of your business suffering a data breach or other similar attack. Granted, even the best firewall can’t keep out all threats, which is why the rest of the UTM is particularly important.

Antivirus
You might notice that most desktops come with a consumer-grade free antivirus, but this isn’t ideal for business purposes. It will only provide a minimal defense at best. Meanwhile, an enterprise-level antivirus solution can scan your system to check for any known threats on your network, including viruses, malware, spyware, and so much more. This type of tool is often the only way to find some of the more scrupulous threats on your network, so it’s a critical tool for any business that wants to take network security seriously.

Spam Blocking
Spam can be both a waste of time and a threat to your organization’s security. A single employee downloading the wrong attachment or visiting a malicious website could become a major problem for your business. Data could be compromised in the fallout, which could damage your organization's reputation and subject it to compliance fines. The most effective way to protect yourself from spam is a proactive solution that keeps suspicious messages out of your inbox in the first place. You can’t click on messages that aren’t there, right?

Content Filter
The Internet contains practically endless threats, and if you’re not careful, they can find their way onto your infrastructure via your employees’ browsing practices. There is malicious content on the web that can install malware or infect your computer with viruses. Furthermore, some websites might try to farm credentials from your employees, including personal or sensitive information. A web content filter can block these websites from being accessed on your network, allowing you to keep employees from accessing unsafe or wasteful online content. Plus, it can be implemented on a per-user basis.

Is your organization’s network lacking proper security measures? If so, Horne & Benik can help. To learn more, reach out to us at (603) 499-4400.