By Jason Kohn, Contributing Columnist

In the 20 years we’ve had to get used to the Internet, we’ve learned a lot about web security and our own role in keeping ourselves safe from the nastiest things out there. At the very least, most of us now recognize the need to install antivirus software on our computers and to keep that software updated.

When it comes to the other kinds of computers we use though – our ubiquitous smartphones and tablets – it’s a different story. According to a 2011 report by Canalys, just 4 percent of the smartphones and tablets shipped the previous year had some form of mobile security installed.

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Tags: antivirus, malware, mobile, security, Service Provider, smartphone, software, tablet

VPNs, protected devices, and secure wireless LANs are keys to successful remote security.

Everyone understands how important it is to batten down the security hatches at company headquarters. But in the haste to protect the network and devices that store a small company’s critical business data and host its key applications, remote offices are sometimes forgotten. You need to make sure remote offices are equally secured, with an eye toward handling a few challenges specific to a location far from headquarters.

Any place someone works outside of your main facility can be considered a remote office, whether that’s an employee’s spare bedroom or a rented suite in a different state. All remote offices share a few security risks: a connection to your network via the public Internet; personal devices used for work, such as laptops; and the potential for unauthorized access to your company’s computing assets, both the equipment and the data stored on it.

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Tags: antivirus, remote worker, security, small business

Every morning before I leave the house, I do a quick security check: Are the windows closed? Is the back door locked? Is the garage door down? I even take a quick look at the front door to make sure my husband hasn’t left his keys in the lock again.

Securing your small business might not be as simple as returning an errant set of keys to your forgetful partner, but it definitely starts with locking down all possible entry points; physical and virtual. You need to install security devices and software at every point on your network by which someone from the outside could gain access to your company data. For most small businesses, the first place to start is email security.

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Tags: antispam, antivirus, email, security, small business, spam blocker