A secure network is the foundation of a secure business. Without the right network security controls in place, every other security measure you've implemented can be bypassed. Here are the most important network security practices every business should have in place.
Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
A traditional stateful firewall simply tracks connections. A next-generation firewall adds application awareness, intrusion prevention, SSL inspection, and threat intelligence integration. For any business with more than a handful of employees, an NGFW (Fortinet, Palo Alto, or Cisco Meraki are popular options) is essential.
Wireless Security
Your wireless network is often the most exposed part of your environment. Best practices include:
- WPA3 or WPA2-Enterprise authentication for corporate WiFi
- Completely isolated guest network
- MAC address filtering as an additional layer
- Disable WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) — it has known vulnerabilities
- Hidden SSID for corporate networks (minor but worth doing)
DNS Filtering
DNS filtering is one of the highest-value, lowest-effort security controls available. By routing DNS queries through a filtering service (Cisco Umbrella, Cloudflare Gateway), you can block connections to known malicious domains before any content even loads — stopping malware, phishing, and command-and-control communication at the DNS layer.
VPN for Remote Access
All remote access to internal resources should go through a VPN. Modern solutions like Cisco AnyConnect, Fortinet's FortiClient, or WireGuard provide strong encryption and can enforce device compliance before allowing connection.
Network Monitoring
You can't protect what you can't see. Implement network monitoring that gives you visibility into traffic flows, connected devices, bandwidth utilization, and anomalous behavior. Many NGFWs include this capability — make sure someone is actually reviewing the data.
Regular Security Audits
Network security isn't a set-it-and-forget-it discipline. Conduct or commission regular security audits — at minimum annually, ideally quarterly — to identify new vulnerabilities, misconfigured equipment, and emerging threats.
Contact Zirkle Tech to schedule a network security assessment for your Cleveland business.