News

Protecting Your Company Against Deadly Online Threats is Mission Critical
Is Your Technology Provider Advising You on What to Do? 


Alexandria, VA — November 18, 2010 — While the US economy is still reeling from the recent financial turmoil, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are driving the economic recovery. In today’s marketplace, the Internet is their gas pedal. Everything, ranging from website marketing to online transactions to web-based meetings to industry research is taking place online. While the Internet has presented businesses with access to a wide array of resources, it can also endanger the security of businesses. Most are familiar with the wide range of security threats posed by the expansion of the internet – viruses, SPAM, malware, spyware, etc. – but as technology continues to evolve, business owners face an entirely new set of issues. What are my employees actually doing with their time? Are my employees putting my business at risk? How can I protect my business from internal risks, external risks or even unknown risks?
   

    Today it is important for business owners to be able to monitor their employees’ web usage in order to improve productivity. Social networking sites have been a major driver in decreased productivity at work related to internet usage. When you walk by and see what looks like your employees working diligently at their computers, they could in reality be flipping through a friend’s recent Facebook photo album or tweeting about their weekend plans. 
   

    Non-business related sites can pose a risk to your computer and network in that some of them might be a reservoir for viruses, phishing, spyware or other malicious software. Internet filtering is a way to eliminate these risks, yet many businesses are not aware that these tools exist.
   

    Phishing is the illegal capture of personal data for criminal use, and can result in the dissemination of personal information. The legal and security risks associated with sharing private information can be detrimental to an organization’s health, but can be prevented through tools such as Web Defense Plans or Network Security.

    Maintaining an adequate amount of Internet bandwidth for legitimate business use is critical because different technologies require larger amounts of data to travel through a finite space. There is a myriad of different safeguards available, yet each technology demands a different application, which is why many SMBs are partnering with Technology Advisors. These advisors can leverage their experience to help improve an SMBs security.
While many businesses are looking for ways to eliminate overhead, one solution is increasing the number of virtual workers at their organization. Oftentimes there is a substantial difference between the amounts of security at the office compared to the security of a home office network. 

    These threats are dynamic. As long as hackers and criminals are in existence, new threats will follow. This is why many SMBs are taking a long-term view of technology and aligning themselves with Technology Advisors through strategic partnerships. This allows business owners to alleviate their concerns with technology and delegate the management of their technology to a trusted partner who can protect their organization proactively. In today’s global marketplace, leveraging outside resources are keeping SMBs on track and profitable.
 

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON NETWORK, INC.


   Founded in 1987, The Washington Network, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, provides computer networks, VoIP phone systems, IT support and other technology solutions for associations and businesses in the Washington, DC Metro area.

   Serving clients without a large in-house IT staff, The Washington Network lowers operating costs while increasing worker productivity. The company’s flat-rate managed services include remote network monitoring, preventive maintenance, help desk, redundant back-ups and on-site support.

   A member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Network has been honored as the Chamber’s Professional Service Business of the Year.

   Through its strategic membership in the Technology Assurance Group, The Washington Network serves and supports clients with multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada.

   The Washington Network is located at 30 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. For more information on The Washington Network, call 703.212.7100 or visit www.WashingtonNetwork.com.