Secure your network equipment with a reliable network intrusion detection system

Your servers are the internal organs of your company's information. When a server is hacked, you can lose proprietary information, important records and significant communications. Lock down your servers to avoid lost data, lost productivity and lost assets.

I recommend: IDS network solutions such as Symantec Endpoint Security secures your servers from external threats. Total Protection for Endpoint from McAfee serves the same function, and is better suited to an environment that already uses McAfee products.

Protects user workstations from threats with software IDS

After your servers are secure, you need to think about how to secure your users' workstations. Software IDS is the logical choice for workstation security. Depending on the size of your company, there are a variety of options available to meet your needs.

I recommend: Intrusion detection system software such as LANDesk Host Intrusion Prevention is ideal for a large organization with many workstations. IT professionals can install and update LANDesk Host Intrusion Prevention remotely and on a large scale. For smaller organizations, Spyware Doctor from PC Tools Software may be more appropriate.

Implement strong physical security to enhance your network-based intrusion detection system

Setting up network based IDS does little good if unauthorized users can walk up to a computer or server and just begin using it. Your physical security must be at least as strong as your network security. Security of laptops when users travel is an especially important component of physical security.

I recommend: Consider laptop security packages from SecurityKit.com to lock your users' laptops when they're not in use. For physical access to server and data centers, consider card-based physical security solutions from CoreStreet.