The Importance of Regular Network Security Assessments

A well-oiled system to provide superb network security should be a top priority for any successful company, regardless of size or industry. This is where network security assessments come in handy. However, many businesses neglect to perform network assessments on a recurring basis, which can have negative, unforeseen consequences over time. Thankfully, your security vulnerability can all be patched up with consistent checkups.

Continue reading to learn more about network security assessments, why they are necessary, typical concerns discovered during an evaluation, and how to know if you need one.

Importance of Regular Cyber Security Assessments

What Is a Network Security Assessment?

A network security assessment is a detailed analysis scan that evaluates the current condition of your IT protection. Enlightening information is brought to the surface in an evaluation, including details about a company’s existing hardware and software, communication, employee competence, threats and vulnerabilities, network performance, and more. This information is then used to compile a network report, which is invaluable in upgrading your current operations and strengthening business security.

Why Are Recurring Network Risk Assessments Crucial?

Testing your business’s network security is critical, but regularly conducting tests is even more so. You can’t simply troubleshoot systems, make improvements, and assume that’s the end of it. Innovative technology is constantly advancing, and so are potential threats. Assessments must occur at least once or twice yearly to ensure safe and protected data. This guarantees that your security is always up to date and ahead of most threats.

Some of the benefits that come from consistent network security assessments include the following:

Have a clear understanding of your IT operations
Aware of security weaknesses
Consistently configured hardware
Reduces the chance of successful cyber attacks
Highlights opportunities for improvement
Increases productivity

Frequent Concerns Found During Business Network Assessments

Many typical concerns arise during the vulnerability assessment process, and one or more of these issues are likely to surface during your next network inspection. But there’s no need to worry. Identifying these issues is beneficial, allowing teams to target the problems and work to improve them.

Many common network security issues found during a vulnerability scan include the following:

Dated Hardware

Old and outdated hardware can lead to a plethora of issues, such as security breaches, technical errors, and not being able to perform the latest updates to protect your systems. This can prevent your network security from adequately safeguarding your data and other vital information.

Insecure Passwords

Constantly updating passwords and jumping through hoops to make them secure is a pain, but the alternative is much worse. Network security assessments discover weak passwords far too often, which pose the threat of being hacked and your data being stolen.

Not Implementing Firewalls and Antivirus Software

Firewalls and antivirus software protect your network from external threats, but as simple as they are to implement, many businesses fail to do so. This leaves them wide open for cyber attacks and hackers. If an assessment finds that your security needs to take advantage of firewall and antivirus software, you should invest in them immediately.

Firewalls are excellent defense systems for protecting your network from potential threats. Medlin’s managed network router and switch services include advanced firewall solutions that prevent unwanted attacks. Learn more here:

Firewall Solutions

Inadequate Backup Plans

Having backups of company data can come in handy in the event of a cyber attack, natural disaster, or accident. These are typically stored in the cloud or at a data center, allowing crucial information to be recovered when needed. But many vulnerability assessments find that a percentage of companies don’t prepare contingency plans at all.

Untrained Internal IT

If you don’t currently use managed IT services, your internal IT team becomes the backbone behind any network security. This means that they need to have the proper training, skills, and knowledge necessary to prevent catastrophes from occurring. Unfortunately, security assessments can sometimes reveal that this is not the case and that, occasionally, IT teams are ill-equipped to deal with the problems at hand.

Signs You May Require a Network Security Assessment

Understanding the importance of regular network security assessments can open your eyes to potential issues and encourage you to schedule a vulnerability scan. But what signs could indicate that you need an assessment soon, regardless of your last inspection?

You Don’t Remember Your Last Assessment

An assessment should occur once or twice yearly to ensure systems are updated and running smoothly. Suppose you have yet to schedule recurring network risk assessments and can’t remember the last time one was conducted. In that case, this indicates that your business desperately requires a security scan.

Your Network Has Recently Been Breached

Hacks and cyber attacks are genuine concerns. Even with protection from advanced firewalls and antivirus software, they can happen. If your network has succumbed to a recent breach, undergoing an assessment could shine a light on possible holes in your security and help patch them up.

Lagging Internet Speeds

Internet lag can occur for several reasons and doesn’t necessarily mean something catastrophic has happened, but if it keeps up, this could mean you need a network vulnerability assessment.

There Was a Recent Natural Disaster

Cyber attacks and faulty equipment aren’t the only cause of a disruption in your network security. Natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes, can cause damage to servers or lead to lost data. Your systems may have been impacted if your facility recently experienced a disaster.

Let Medlin Communications Perform Your Regular Network Security Assessments

Undergoing regular network security assessments is essential, but they’re only as impactful as the team performing the analysis. Regarding your business security, you want to put your trust in a reliable, experienced company capable of delivering the best outcome possible. Let us give you that experience.

Medlin Communications has supported businesses with exceptional telecommunications and network security for over 30 years. We’ve continued to grow and refine our processes over the years, creating systems that deliver top-of-the-line customer results.

If your business needs a security risk assessment, contact Medlin—we’re fully prepared to assist you in any way we can.

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The Importance of Regular Network Security Assessments

What Is a Network Security Assessment?

Why Are Recurring Network Risk Assessments Crucial?

Frequent Concerns Found During Business Network Assessments

Dated Hardware

Insecure Passwords

Not Implementing Firewalls and Antivirus Software

Inadequate Backup Plans

Untrained Internal IT

Signs You May Require a Network Security Assessment

You Don’t Remember Your Last Assessment

Your Network Has Recently Been Breached

Lagging Internet Speeds

There Was a Recent Natural Disaster

Let Medlin Communications Perform Your Regular Network Security Assessments

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