IT professionals have a vast understanding of computers and network security drilled into them. Sure, a PC might suffer actual hardware failure of some description or a server’s hard drive might fail, but the biggest threat against PCs and their network is through attacks. Malware, viruses, spam and other security threats–most IT professionals will tell you they spend far more time trying to restore compromised systems than they do in repairing actual hardware failures and the repercussions are much more severe. That is why companies and corporate IT departments dedicate so much time and resources to network security and why the laptop your employer provides is heavily loaded with spam blockers, virus scanners, passwords and everything else.
When a virus compromise a laptop’s security, it threatens the company you work for, as proprietary or confidential information could be accessed, and creates additional work for the IT staff; they must neutralize the threat, repair any damage to your computer, scan the network to determine if the incident is isolated and then file reports. Corporate security is usually strict and the security team must remain knowledgeable on the latest reports of threats reported online.
Given the emphasis on network and computer security in the workplace, it is surprising to discover that not everyone in the IT field is as proactive about security at home. It goes without saying that a home computer often holds a great deal of valuable and potentially damaging information, including everything from credit card numbers to bank accounts, personal e-mails and possibly even passwords to work related web services. It is also increasingly the database for irreplaceable digital content: your family’s digital photos and movies. Children use the PC to do their homework, play video games and chat with their friends. In many cases, the PC is also the home entertainment center, hosting and streaming movies, TV shows and music. What happens if the security to this critical piece of equipment is not enough to stop a virus? Kids don’t always know better than to open an e-mail attachment or to click a malicious link on Facebook.
Why do IT professionals sometimes overlook their own PC? There are usually a few reasons: The first is that their family PC isn’t usually a high end computer–it isn’t heavily loaded with RAM, the fastest processor or a huge hard drive. They don’t want the performance of the computer to drag because they’ve installed security software on it and CPU cycles are impaired. The kids will be complaining and soon everyone will demand a new, faster computer. The security suites they use at work can also be costly and buying a license for their home PC may be far too expensive. So they fiddle with the default OS-level security controls (which are hardly up to the task) and hope for the best.
An excellent alternative is to invest in one of the latest cloud-based security products. These packages provide an excellent solution that combines the high level of security they would expect to see from a professional security product, with the low CPU impact of server-based security solutions. Since the security system is hosted online (with many of the processes running on the provider’s servers), your PC is protected with a much smaller impact on local CPU and memory usage, while requiring significantly less hard drive space. A cloud based solution offers additional benefits, including the ability to intercept threats before they even reach your home computer.
Home security solutions have matured significantly with some very affordable products offering a level of protection with content security and advanced features familiar to an IT professional who is accustomed to configuring enterprise level systems. These include: secure file erasing, cloud-based secure file storage, protection for smartphones and tablets, antivirus and spyware protection with real-time updates, unauthorized change protection, spam blocker and enhanced firewall capabilities. In addition, these systems incorporate features that parents will appreciate, including: scanning for malicious social media links (Facebook, Twitter and others), protection against malicious websites, system tuner to enhance PC performance, data theft prevention safeguards (to protect your credit card numbers) and online backup and parental controls to help protect kids against exposure to inappropriate websites. Being a cloud based solution means easy set-up, low hardware load and low maintenance at an affordable price.
