Skimming on security for your guest network is never a good idea.
Here are three key reasons why you should consider a security upgrade for your guest wireless network.
1. Cybercriminals are Getting Smarter and More Insidious
Don’t be fooled into thinking cybercriminals are just stereotypical hoodie-clad hackers that happen to other people. These are proper criminals, acting alone or in syndicates, making it their business to find new and devastating ways to exploit your network to their own gain.
Single Attacks and Advanced Persistent Threats
Traditionally this may have taken the form of a single attack, simple by nature, in which a perpetrator attempted to gain temporary access to your network, leaving it quickly before being discovered. However, another form of attack has become prevalent, namely the advanced persistent threat (APT).
Simple attacks pale in comparison to APTs. During an APT attack, the goal is to gain and maintain access to your network, and then to steal information over a prolonged time period. And while simple attacks may often be thwarted by intrusion detection systems and antivirus software, it takes a fortified approach to network security to avoid falling prey to an APT attack.
2. Guest Users Can’t Be Trusted With Network Security
In an ideal world, guest wireless network users would all have the latest in antivirus software, super secure and clean devices, and the consciences of saints when connecting to your network. Sadly, this isn’t the case, and it’s ultimately up to you to secure your guest network, both for the sake of your users and your company.
Your network could be compromised by guest users at any time, so beefing up your approach to security is a crucial element in combating threats against your guest wireless.
3. Your Network (and Data) Needs Protection
Malware. It’s out there, and it’s going to find you if your guest wireless network isn’t secure. Gartner predicts that employee-owned devices will be compromised by malware at more than double the rate of corporately-owned devices, and that’s not even taking guest users from outside the company into account.
Whether it’s sucking up your bandwidth and slowing your wireless network to a crawl, corrupting your data or monitoring your systems, the effects of a malware attack can cripple a company.
Consider the serious implications of data theft for espionage purposes, or ransomware that holds your most important data hostage. And the threat continues to grow as more companies embrace BYOD policies with insufficient foresight into the risks they’re facing. Protecting your data and network from these attacks is a crucial reason to upgrade your guest wireless network security measures.
Staying informed through reading threat reports and making use of security tools such as NAC and next-gen firewalls are just some of the ways your network security can be improved upon, so don't wait until it's too late to make a change for the better.
