Managed IT Services

The A-Z of Business Wireless Network Security

  1. Home Home
  3. Managed IT Services
  5. The A-Z of Business Wireless Network Security
15 September 2020

Whilst wireless networking has made our work lives immeasurably easier, it does pose a risk to the safety and security of our IT environment. If at any point, your business’s wireless network is compromised, there could be serious repercussions. 
If cyber criminals hack into your business network, they can hijack confidential client information, infect your system with malware or upload/download illegal materials that could subject you to a potential lawsuit. 
This is why wireless network security has to be a top priority in all organisations. 
At Redpalm, we have compiled a list of comprehensive tips that will help you keep your wireless network secure and avoid potential problems!
Let’s take a look!

Use WPA2 to Access Wireless Network and Communications

Every wireless router comes equipped with robust encryption capabilities. You can leverage this encryption to jumble your data and make it practically unreadable to anyone who isn’t the recipient. 
The three most common types of encryption methods are WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (WiFi Protected Access) and WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access2). It is highly recommended to use WPA2 as it engages the toughest encryption algorithm to keep your network safe. 
Use WPA if you have an older router that doesn’t support WPA2. Avoid using WEP as it is now very outdated and can be hacked into easily. 

Remove Rogue Access Points (AP)

Any unauthorised point of access into your network is considered a rogue AP. These points are often created by someone who is a part of your network but has poor connectivity. While that’s perfectly reasonable, the problem is that these points might not be properly configured with adequate security when compared to the rest of your IT environment. This might potentially present an unguarded and vulnerable point of entry to cyber criminals. 
For round the clock network monitoring, call Redpalm. Additionally, we also perform access point scanning to keep an eye on potential digital threats. 

Protect Systems That Access Your Wireless Network

Even with the best security measures in place, there is always a risk that hackers can infiltrate your wireless network security. To mitigate the damage and to keep all your systems up and running, it’s important to install antivirus and anti-malware software on all endpoints that have access to your network. 
More importantly, for thorough patch management and disaster recovery, you need to ensure that all your operating systems, devices and applications are up to date to avoid issues with bugs and system vulnerabilities. 
At Redpalm, we provide robust cyber security solutions that safeguard your business network while keeping digital threats at bay. 

Use a Strong Password for Your Router Login

Wireless routers usually come with a default password for the administrator account. It is extremely important that you change this default password to a strong one that is at least eight characters long with numbers and special characters. Use both uppercase and lowercase letters but not in a predictable pattern. Changing and regularly updating your passwords is the best way to safeguard your business network.

 

Set Up and Configure Private and Public Access

Having both employees and the general public work, connect and communicate over the same network is a digital disaster waiting to happen. For enhanced wireless network security, it is best to separate the traffic on your business network. We can help you create two different access points using SSID (Service Set Identifier) to maximise security. 
We create a business-grade access point for your employees and a public one for your customers and clients. This way, your business devices can be isolated from guests, offering an additional layer of security and protection.

Don’t Connect to Public Wireless Networks…

…Unless you’re using a secure VPN. Although the major public wireless providers are taking steps to increase the security of their public wireless networks they are still notorious hotspots for hackers.

This not only poses a risk to your device and data whilst connected to the wireless network, but could lead to a greater breach in your business network at a later date, if your device is unknowingly infected with malware that allows a cyber criminal access over a period of time.

Set Up a Network Policy Server (NPS)

A network policy server allows you to configure business-wide rules to limit access of unauthorised devices to your network; giving you an additional layer of protection to safeguard the health and security of your infrastructure.

A unique feature of NPS is that it be used as a health evaluator for network access – performing authentication and authorisation checks to ensure that only devices that pass predetermined health compliance tests are able to access your network.

For help setting up your network policy server (NPS), you can call our team of experts on 0333 006 3366.

Partner with a Managed Network Services Provider

Teaming up with a managed network services provider like Redpalm will allow you to control the security and performance of your business network with 24/7/365 monitoring and hands-on network operations support. 
With us by your side, you can implement a robust company-wide wireless security policy that will significantly reduce the risk of a data breach, allowing you to concentrate on your day-to-day business operations and functions. 

Call Redpalm for Enhanced Wireless Network Security

Irrespective of the size of your business, your data is at the core of your operation. If that is compromised, you risk losing mission-critical information or systems that are integral for you to function on a day to day basis. 
Leverage Redpalm’s cyber security expertise to safeguard your IT environment and infrastructure. With our managed IT support and exceptional technical proficiency, we ensure that you are not an easy target for hackers and cyber criminals. 
Ensure you have the maximum security available to protect your business from cyber threats compromising your system’s data integrity.
Give us a call today to make the most of our cyber security prowess!

Search For Posts

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe to receive industry news and insights.

    Trending Articles

    Software Licensing – Why Is It Important?
    cyber criminal tactics, two individuals hacking into a computer system

    7 Common Cyber Criminal Tactics to Watch Out For
    phishing email scam, paper email icon on a hook above a laptop

    A Deep Dive Into HR Phishing Email Scams

    Latest From The Blogs

    holiday scammers, man using laptop
    Cyber Security

    7 Ways to Protect Your Business From Holiday Scammers

    The Christmas holiday season in the UK is a pivotal time for businesses across industries, marked by a significant increase in sales and customer interactions. However, alongside these opportunities, there’s also a rise in holiday scams and cyber attacks as fraudulent individuals exploit the Christmas holiday rush. 

    Read More
    cyber risk report, IT technicians discussing report on tablet
    General

    Redpalm and Hexiosec – Importance of Cyber Risk Reports

    As cyber security threats in the UK evolve in sophistication and prevalence, cyber security risk has become a growing concern

    Read More
    prevent a data breach, computer devices with code and access denied displayed on screen
    Cyber Security

    5 Effective Strategies to Prevent a Data Breach

    Data breaches occur when any sensitive information is leaked or exposed to the public without authorisation. They can lead to the loss of your organisation’s intellectual property, customer data, or other confidential information.

    Read More
    cybersecurity metrics, woman next to data projection
    Cyber Security

    7 Cyber Security Metrics Every Business Should Track

    The ever-evolving nature of cyber threats means tracking cyber security metrics is essential for evaluating your company’s cyber security posture and maintaining cyber defences.

    Read More
    digital privacy, person typing in their login credentials
    General

    Understanding the Future of Digital Privacy

    Technological advancements have reshaped how personal information is collected, shared, and used, and privacy has emerged as one of the biggest challenges in this digital age.

    Read More
    cyber security certification UK, two males working on a computer in server room
    Cyber Security

    5 Tips to Secure Your Cyber Essentials Certification in the UK

    According to the 2024 Cyber Security Breaches Survey conducted by the UK government, 50% of UK businesses experienced a cyber attack or security breach in 2023.  With a growing frequency of cyber attacks, many businesses have begun to prioritise cyber security and cyber security certification in the UK.

    Read More
    cyber security strategy, woman and man working on computers
    Cyber Security

    How to Build a Strong Cyber Security Strategy

    According to cyber security stats, cyber attacks have become more prevalent in recent years, not only increasing in number of incidents but also in their level of sophistication. This increase in ransomware, phishing, and other types of cyber attacks has only emphasised the need and importance of a cyber security strategy for businesses across industries.  An effective cyber security strategy helps you protect your digital assets, such as your systems, networks, and data, from unauthorised access and damage. A well-constructed strategy involves procedures, policies and frameworks to help reduce risks, respond to incidents and safeguard sensitive data.  Your cyber security strategy isn’t meant to be perfect; it’s intended to act as a strongly educated guess as to what you need to do to keep your business safe. As your organisation and the world around you evolve, your strategy needs to evolve as well.

    Read More
    cyber criminal tactics, two individuals hacking into a computer system
    Cyber Security

    7 Common Cyber Criminal Tactics to Watch Out For

    Cyber crimes are attempts by cyber criminals, hackers or other malicious individuals to gain unauthorised access to a computer network or system. These attacks often target a range of victims, from individual users to organisations and even governments, which begs the question, can cyber crime be curbed?

    Read More
    improve online security, a person using a laptop with visual of security overlaid on top of image
    Cyber Security

    6 Simple Ways to Boost Your Company’s Online Security

    Online security, aka cyber security, involves protecting your business’s sensitive information and critical systems from unauthorised access and theft. With data networks being almost universal, fraudsters are becoming more and more innovative with their scams. Every day, countless cyber criminals scan unsecured or poorly secured networks, looking for an opportune moment to attack.

    Read More
    phishing email scam, paper email icon on a hook above a laptop
    Cyber Security

    A Deep Dive Into HR Phishing Email Scams

    Have you ever received an email from your HR team that appeared too good to be true? Or perhaps there was something about it that sounded a little off. Beware—you may have narrowly avoided falling into the clutches of an HR phishing email scam.

    Read More