Companies often take their IT infrastructures for granted. As long as the internet is “working” and is offering fast speeds, email is up and running, and employees can access their working files and documents – many businesses assume their networks are operating just fine. However, it can be hard to say just how secure the organization’s IT infrastructure is. Oftentimes businesses overlook items such as if the IT environment is compliant with regulatory standards or industry best practices, or if it is capable of adapting to the company’s growing business operations.
Glazing over these details can leave your businesses IT operations vulnerable, or at the least, unable to adapt to increased demand as your business grows. Here are just a few of the benefits of having a comprehensive network security assessment performed on your company’s IT infrastructure.
Adherence to Regulations and Industry Best Practices
Different industries have different regulations and/or best practices that negate how digital information is collected, transmitted, handled, processed, and stored. For example, healthcare organizations (including health insurance companies and brokers) have to follow strict HIPAA guidelines for storing and managing electronic personal health information records of patients. Financial organizations have to ensure that data transmitted between clients and the company, or in-between employees is secured and encrypted. Even if you think you are secure in how you are handling and storing sensitive items such as banking information, social security numbers, and personal contact information – you can be sure that you are taking all steps necessary by having a network security assessment performed.
Fixing Security Flaws Before They Become a Major Issue
It is unfortunate, but more often than not, a company discovers flaws in their network security after an outside party has gained access. A lot of network security processes are reactive, in that they are responding to a system crash, a data breach, or a hack by a third party individual or group. Network security should be proactive in that it reduces the chances of having a network security event from happening by finding flaws before they can be exploited. A network security assessment takes a holistic view of your entire network. By analyzing all of your network components, the IT provider conducting the network assessment can identify vulnerabilities as well as offer suggestions for amplifying your current security efforts to make your network as secure as possible.
Opportunities for Growth and Efficiency
Besides helping to secure your IT infrastructure, a network security assessment performed by an IT services provider can help your organization find opportunities to improve their existing IT environment. The network assessment can identify areas that could use improvement. Perhaps the office is running its WiFi on outdated routers and could use an upgrade to ones that have further ranges, faster speeds, but use less energy and system resources. Your IT provider can suggest new technologies such as virtualizing existing physical servers or moving some operations to the cloud – to improve the day-to-day processes of your network.
