Network Security

Knowledge is power… so what happens when hackers know more about your network’s security than you do. Many online businesses have a false sense of security because they subscribe to numerous myths about their network’s security. This false sense of security puts many customers and company’s reputations at risk every single day. In an effort to enlighten online business owners, ControlScan refutes the most common myths to network security and gives the facts on how to properly ensure security.

Myth: "I have virus protection software so I am already secure"

Fact: Viruses and security threats are two completely different things. Your anti-virus software will not alert you of the 11,000+ security threats for which a ControlScan vulnerability assessment will test your network. A vulnerability assessment report will alert you of financial or customer records that are exposed and at risk to potential security breaches.

Myth: "I have a firewall so I don't need to worry about security threats."

Fact: Firewalls are great and typically provide a good layer of security. However, firewalls commonly perform services such as port forwarding or network address translation (NAT). It is also surprisingly common for firewalls to be accidentally misconfigured (after all, to err is human). The only way to be sure your network is completely secure is to test it. Among the 11,000+ security threats ControlScan tests for, there is an entire category specifically designated to search for firewall vulnerabilities.

Myth: "I have nothing to worry about; there are too many computers on the Internet."

Fact: People understand the need to lock their homes, roll up their car windows, and guard their purses and wallets. Why? If these precautions aren’t taken, sooner or later you will be a victim. People are just starting to be aware that the same is true with their computers and networks. A single hacker can scan thousands of computers looking for ways to access your private information in the time it takes you to eat lunch.

Myth: "I know the security of my network and information is important, but all the solutions are too expensive and/or time consuming."

Fact: While it is true that some network security products and services are very expensive and time consuming, ControlScan provides a service specifically designed to be very robust, efficient, and effective, yet still affordable for small, medium and large organizations.

Myth: "I can't do anything about my network's security because I'm not a geek."

Fact: While network security is a technical problem, ControlScan has gone to great lengths to provide a solution that can easily be understood by both non-technical people and geeks alike. No downloading, installation or configuration is needed. The vulnerability assessment report has a Business Analysis Report that explains all discovered security threats and provides charts, graphs, and overviews to give a better visual understanding of a website and its vulnerabilities. The Business Analysis Report is specifically written for non-technical business owners and home users.

Myth: "I know what is running on my computer and I am sure that it is secure."

Fact: Only 2% of the networks scanned by ControlScan’s Verified Secure Scan receive a perfect score. This means 98% of the companies have one or more possible security threats or vulnerabilities that a hacker could exploit. These threats could exist in your operating system, the software you run, your router/firewall or any other system running on your computer or network. The vulnerability assessment report also provides companies with a Comparative Security Ranking to let you know how the security of your network compares to all the other networks ControlScan has analyzed.

Myth: "I tested my network a few months ago, so I know it is secure."

Fact: New security threats and vulnerabilities are discovered daily. ControlScan' database of security threats generally grows by 5-10 new vulnerabilities every week. Sometimes, we have even seen more than 80 new security threats in a single month! Just because your network did not have any vulnerabilities this month, does not mean it will still be secure next month - even if you didn't change anything. Just as you should frequently update your anti-virus software, it is also good practice to regularly analyze your network’s security.