South Africans are very aware of crime. We lock our doors and switch on burglar alarms every day - but when it comes to IT security we may be far less aware of threats.
To help plug the unseen leaks that may be lurking in company computer systems, Johannesburg-based hosting and IT solution provider Telspace is offering free basic security audits to SMEs across SA.
Bolting the door of your computer system means more than just having anti-virus and firewall software in place. IT security hazards range from merely defacing Web sites to the catastrophe of losing confidential data, and there are many possible points of entry for expert hackers.
The free Telspace audits (limited to one assessment per company) are intended to cover the full range of information security policy including fail-safe measures, steps to prevent corporate espionage, backups, data integrity, file server bug fixes and newly-discovered security holes.
Dino Covotsos, MD and founder of Telspace, explains that the company`s objective is "to do independent IT security risk analysis, which we then use to provide a complete report on the network".
The ensuing report shows exactly where security weaknesses exist and recommends various options to resolve these. "We can also use these details to deliver the intended security, whether it is a small bug fix or a full-scale firewall solution," adds Covotsos.
He points out that many South African companies are taking advantage of the current bandwidth boom through `always on` high-speed Internet connections. But, he warns: "Many companies connecting their businesses to the Internet via permanent links are doing so with little or no security procedures in place."
Once weaknesses in the system have been identified, Telspace offers a range of managed system security solutions. These cover patching of workstations and servers, firewall and anti-virus implementations, regular vulnerability scans, network security assessments and monitoring, protection of hosted servers, and a 24-hour emergency callout service.
Its network maintenance contracts cover data backup on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, on-site support on either a per hour or per workstation fee structure, and telephonic support and trouble-shooting. Differing response times can be negotiated from client to client.
"It`s about minimising the complexity around IT security solutions - after taking a close look at the associated risks and balancing this against the budget available to each customer," Covotsos relates.
If you are interested in keeping hackers at bay, keeping your information secure, having your network secured, making a security policy or even just asking about security packages, contact Telspace on 082 352 9296 or e-mail dino@telspace.co.za.
Telspace Web site: http://www.telspace.co.za
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