Cybersecurity

6 ways to secure your Wi-Fi and improve business security.

October 20, 2020

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6 ways you can secure your workplace’s Wi-Fi network

The top 6 ways to secure your business Wi-Fi

Your Wi-Fi network is likely a cornerstone of your business. It allows for quick communication and collaboration between your coworkers. It even keeps your customers happy with guest Internet access while they enjoy a space with clear safety measures against the pandemic.

However, the pandemic shouldn’t be the only risk on your mind. If you’re not careful, your Wi-Fi network can also be a vulnerability to your business. This short checklist will help you make your Wi-Fi secure, and provide tips on how to reduce risks and improve your business security.

Set your employee network to WPA2.

This is the most reliable encryption setting for your network. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is also secure, but slightly less so. Just make sure you stay away from public, or Wireless Access Point (WAP), networks. Public networks allow access to anyone and have been proven to be fairly easy to crack.

Choose your name wisely.

Opt for a discreet name for your Wi-Fi network. Specifically, avoid using your business’s name in your Wi-Fi network. It might be easier for guests to find, but it also makes it just as easy for people with bad intentions to identify which network is yours if they’re looking to launch a targeted attack. Instead, try choosing names people wouldn’t expect, like the names of planets or dog breeds. Making it so that guests actually have to ask for your Wi-Fi name also helps decrease the chance of neighbours or passers-by hopping on your network and being a drain on your bandwidth.

Choose your passwords even more wisely.

If your network name should be obscure, then your password should be even more so. Make sure you use a mix of lower case, upper case and numerals, and avoid obvious words or phrases. Also, make sure you’re changing your password on a regular basis and when the circumstance feels necessary to do so (such as an employee leaving your organization).

Stay updated.

Make sure you’re updating your firewalls and antivirus software regularly. Because threats are constantly evolving, hardware and software companies continually update their software with security fixes. Your network can be vulnerable if the software on your firewalls, routers and devices are out of date.

Use a separate guest network.

While offering free Wi-Fi is always a great way of appealing to customers, letting them have access to the same network as your employees is always risky. If you have a separate network setup for guest use, you can keep work-related documents out of the wrong hands.

Get a managed network solution.

Ensure your Wi-Fi infrastructure is supported by the right network architecture. Your Wi-Fi access points and internal network need to be supported by a service gateway, or switch. It’s important that you choose a switch that includes protection features like firewalls and encryption standards. For improved security against all attacks, choose a managed Wi-Fi service, which includes a secured private connection for your staff and a switch with built-in firewalls.

Not only does a managed Wi-Fi service enhance your business security, it can also improve your revenue. Your customer-facing network can be used to promote your products and services on a customizable splash page, while also monitoring customers with in-built analytics to better understand their needs.

Improve your Wi-Fi security, while also promoting solutions, and entertaining and understanding your customers.

Get a secured Wi-Fi service

Managed Wi-Fi

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The top 6 ways to secure your business Wi-Fi

Set your employee network to WPA2.

Choose your name wisely.

Choose your passwords even more wisely.

Stay updated.

Use a separate guest network.

Get a managed network solution.

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