YOUR IT COMPANY IN ATLANTA AND YOUR FIREWALL

Building a network to store information and facilitate communication is very advantageous for businesses of all sizes, even small businesses. The downside is that there will be sensitive information flowing through the internet and it becomes extremely vulnerable to online threats. The key to network security is a firewall. A network firewall benefits a small business by offering an extra layer of security against threats.

In this age of technology when computers worldwide are all connected through the internet, it is critical that you protect your assets. Nearly all businesses are connected to the internet for a variety of services. Geek and Tweek, your IT company in Atlanta, offers the reasons why your small business needs a strong firewall.

WHAT IS A FIREWALL?

A firewall acts as a filter between computers or computer networks and the internet. Firewalls allow administrators to determine what gets in a network and what gets out of it. This provides security from both internal and external threats.

Businesses need a higher grade of firewall than what is found on your personal computer.

BLOCKING UNAPPROVED WEBSITES

Most people are aware that a firewall keeps malicious code from getting into your network. A firewall can also allow you to block websites that are not approved. Which means you can stop users from accessing certain websites. For example, you can set up a policy that blocks social media websites like Instagram and Facebook from your network.

PROTECTS AGAINST HACKERS AND OTHER UNAUTHORIZED USERS

Your firewall acts as a shield or barrier between your business network and the rest of the internet. If you don’t have a firewall, it is possible for anybody to access whatever is on your server. This means employee records, receipts and other data are at a constant risk.

CLOUD-BASED BUSINESSES NEED A FIREWALL

Many business owners believe that cloud-based computing eliminates the need for a firewall since their data is protected by a host. While the data in the cloud is protected, the laptops, desktops, phones and other devices you and your employees use for business purposes every day are not. So when you fetch that data you need on your iPhone, a firewall is what protects it.

MORE THAN JUST GOOD SECURITY

Good firewalls do more than just block Facebook and keeps hackers out, they can be used to provide your business with detailed reports about network traffic. Your firewall can also help enforce policies you put into place like internet usage and content filtering tools.

FIREWALLS NEED TO BE UPDATED

A firewall is only as good as its most recent update. New security threats come about all of the time, so you can’t just set up a firewall and ignore it. If you are managing your own firewall and falling behind on updates and other maintenance, you are leaving your business vulnerable to attacks.

If you aren’t up to the task, you need a company that can help manage your firewall. And if you think that a data breach is relatively rare, statistics will show you otherwise.

Don’t hesitate, call GA Tech Solutions today.