It’s that time of the year when most of us return to the stress of our jobs after having enjoyed a well-deserved summer vacation. But, if getting over the post-vacation blues is hard for anyone, for the members of the IT team it is a real nightmare: out-of-date computers, new software vulnerabilities, systems that do not work, organizational changes… It’s time to get ready for the situations you’ll have to face in the return to normality. And you better do it as thoroughly as possible to avoid risks. Here is a list of things you need to do in order to make sure that everything is in order.

Update

The first thing you must certainly do is update all systems, patch all applications, and download the latest malware signatures and security updates. This process is critical and must be completed immediately. You never know what may have happened during the time you’ve been on vacation.

Check your operating systems’ hardening status 

Hardening your computers’ operating systems is essential to keep your entire network safe. There are some differences between general and specific hardening. However, in both cases you must check that all necessary security measures are properly in place. And if you don’t have a hardening plan yet, now is the time to implement one.  Evaluate the possibility of unauthorized access, prevent user misuse, protect your network from known attack vectors, etc.

Review security rules with your network users

It is essential that your organization’s employees and other users are aware of the basic security protocols required to ensure network protection. Remind them of the need to comply with the company’s password policy, and ban the installation of non-corporate software on corporate computers. Reviewing all of these security aspects and procedures with your employees will save you from future headaches.

Use a centralized security tool

The best security solution for your business is a centralized defense system that allows you to monitor your network in real time, make decisions, and take immediate action. With Panda Endpoint Protection, you’ll be able to keep your company safe from a single, centralized, cloud-based console, across all platforms and with minimal resource consumption.

Monitor your networks

Having a good intrusion detection system (IDS) is crucial. Intrusion detection systems inspect network traffic thoroughly, comparing it against identifiers of known attacks and suspicious behavior. Check the HIDS system deployed to your customers and your network IDS to make sure that everything is in order.

Check your firewall rules

Having a good firewall is essential too. Hardware firewalls are great allies, but perimeter protection rules must be regularly checked and updated. Some security solutions, such as Panda Adaptive Defense, allow organizations to monitor connections efficiently and automatically, maximizing efficiency and minimizing efforts.

ISO 27001, your best ally

ISO/IEC 27001 is an information security management standard that specifies all the directives you must follow to keep your corporate network safe. Regardless of whether or not you apply for the certification, the ISO standard can be used to check that you comply with every single safety procedure required to ensure that your systems are operating properly. The aforementioned recommendations are just a summary of the directives included in the ISO standard, which covers all of the above and much more. Faithfully following all these recommendations may seem difficult, but it is definitely the best starting point to make sure your business runs smoothly. And what better time to do this than now that you have just returned to work charged up after your vacation?