August 20th, 2019 6:50 am

How to keep your office wireless network secure

These days when we’re called in to set up office networking, our clients assume wireless is part of that.

That’s because employees expect to be able to connect to the network whenever and wherever they want. They don’t want to deal with physical connections; they want to work on the go.

This freedom and mobility leads to increased productivity.

It also leads to more network security threats.

The Top WiFi Security Threats

Business wireless networks need more security than home networks because  business data is your most valuable asset. You need to keep that data safe.

A wireless network can provide external entry to your network, whether from malware to someone in the office next door. Not all threats are malicious, but they can all cause problems for your business.

And then there are the insider threats, again not necessarily malicious. An employee can open an email from a trusted source and download an infected file. Or, accidentally share confidential information in the background of a social media post.

The list goes on. Suffice it to say, ensuring your office WiFi Security is up to the task is important.

Keeping Your Office WiFi Secure

The first step toward keeping your office WiFi secure is  putting your router in a secure location, such as a locked server room. This will protect your Ethernet ports and your equipment.

Here are 5 key actions you can take that will significantly boost your office WiFi security:

1. Change your WiFi router’s default password.
   Did you know you can search a database for the default passwords manufacturers use for their routers? That means keeping the default password creates a big security gap. Change it to something secure and private (by the way, do this at home too).
2. Have separate WiFi networks for employees and guests.
   With a separate guest WiFi network, visitors can access WiFi without having access to any company data.
3. Use a Virtual Private Network.
   VPNs use encryption and other security techniques to keep network traffic private. It’s an extra layer of access for your employees, but it is well worth it.
4. Switch from WPA to WPA2 encryption.
   WPA2 is more secure than its predecessor WPA.  It improves the network’s security because it requires a stronger encryption method.
5. Pay attention to, and keep up with, patches and updates.
   It can seem like patches and updates come out every day, and updating them can be tedious. But manufacturers release them for a reason. These firmware updates and security patches  address known vulnerabilities and threats.
   

Need some help with any of these activities? Call our network security experts today at 703.581.7319.