PC Medics of Alabama – Network Security
Network Security
Network security is often seen as a single item, as opposed to a number of parts. Simply having anti-virus in place on your computer isn’t enough anymore.
PC Medics of Alabama will examine your entire business and break it down into five parts when it comes to security:
- Perimeter – Your network is in its own space. Everything between your internal network and the outside world is the perimeter. Just like you wouldn’t leave your home’s front door unlocked, you also don’t want to leave your network’s door unlocked. PC Medics of Alabama will make sure that the perimeter is secure using various methods, including firewalls, routers and switches. When it comes to PCI Compliance, the perimeter is internal as well as external. Your POS devices need to be segregated from your other non-POS devices. Our engineers will secure the internal perimeter as well.
- Internal Network - Just because you’re inside the network doesn’t mean you’re not exposed to attacks. Our engineers will configure and diagram your internal network to make it as secure and safe as possible. If you are one of our PCI Compliance clients, the internal network will also be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any rogue devices that may get on the network. A rogue device is a device that is not part of the original baseline group of devices, meaning we need to determine why it is now on the network. Often times someone will add a device to the network, such as a laptop, that may be infected with malware that could compromise the network. We are immediately notified of rogue devices and begin to investigate their origin and intent.
- Host – A host is a device on the network. PC Medics of Alabama will examine all hosts on the network and make sure they are up to date on software and patches. An unpatched host can wreak havoc on a network, not only by creating unnecessary network traffic, but also be a conduit for hackers and a place for malware, such as viruses and Trojans, to reside. Just a single host on a network that is not up to date will make the network not PCI compliant. Our engineers will check and update all hosts during our regular maintenance scheduled visits.
- Application – An application, also known as a program, can also create huge security risks on a network. We will scan for, and examine all computers that are used on the network for applications that could potentially be a risk, as well as update any applications that have patches that need to be applied. Many everyday programs have flaws that are discovered and need to be patched on a regular basis otherwise hackers will exploit those vulnerabilities. During our visits, will we scan for and update those programs.
- Data – Your files are also known as data. How you acquire, store, and update the data on your network is critical. We make sure that you know the safe methods of putting data on your network, who has access to your data, and that your data is backed up. PCI Compliance requires that all log files be stored for a minimum of 90 days and that regular backups take place.
As you can see, there is much involved with the day-to-day aspects of network security. PC Medics of Alabama will ensure that your network is secure by implementing the latest hardware and software tailored to your budget, and that your key staff is trained in what to look for in order to avoid any breaches in security. Because security is an ongoing process, and because the “bad guys” are always finding new ways to find vulnerabilities, we place our PCI Compliance clients on a regular maintenance schedule to make sure your system is always up to date.
PC Medics of Alabama is based in Hoover, Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, and we serve Alabama, Georgia, the Florida Panhandle region, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
PC Medics of Alabama • PO Box 26762 • Birmingham, Alabama 35260 • 205.201.0389 Voice • 928-244-4879 Fax • pcmdxal@gmail.com • www.pcmdx.net