Very few businesses can function without a network of computers. Be they Windows or *NIX based, communication is the name of the game. Unfortunately allowing your computers to communicate with each other does have inherent risks, whether that be malware or unauthorised access.

However, if managed carefully a good security policy can dramatically lower the risk of these threats. Being a small business does not shield you from the attention of Cyber-Criminals, depending on your business area it may even make you more of a viable mark.

Your very first task in creating your secure network is to carefully draft a security policy, this policy should contain the rules that your employees must adhere to. You should consider every perceived threat when drafting your policy, no matter how unlikely it may seem. Include policies on the use of removable media, Password Management, Internet facilities and e-mail. Also make your employees that all activity will be logged and could lead to disciplinary action.

Once you have created your first draft, it's time to begin planning the network itself. It may be that you have a network in place already and are reviewing security, if so plan the security from scratch to ensure you haven't assumed that a defence is already present.