The article "Peer 2 Peer Networks & Your Businesses Risks" is about computers, it has been created by Brian Wilson.
As most of us had heard of p2p networks and services like Kazza and limewire what we don’t think about is that businesses are responsible for the activities on there networks.
When an employee, vendor, or customer is on your businesses network do you know what they are doing?
Well for businesses like Hotels, Internet Café’s, or Public Access Points you're at highest risk for users to abuse you network.
You will need to restrict cretin activiites or you will find you ISP terminating your service or worse getting sued from the RIAA or MPAA. For the rest of the business owners you might want to understand the risks of lax network security and the true cost you colud pay. Employees might want to surf the World Wide Web when they are at break or though out the day. This can be fine if you have web filetring.
Some issues faced with web surfing at work is that if an employee downloads or installs peer 2 peer software. The biggest trouble with most peer 2 peer programs that 80%+ of the contend hosted in the networks is stolen copyrighted content or viruses. This means if the owners of the content notice the donwload your business is liable for the theft. Other issues are viruses and Troajn programs that might compromise your Businesses data.Understanding the issues is the first step to preventing your business from liability.
Most businesses that have avioded that issue are implementing Web filters, Network Security, and employee training.
Some the of things you can do is make sure you have a firewall isntalled and understand the ports that peer 2 peer software uses and then you're on your way to blocking the software.
Here is a list of the most popular P2P programs and networks. Hotels, World Wide Web cafes, public wirelses spots, etc. should block these ports to avoid any copyright issues with the use of their World Wide Web access.* BearShare, Mopheus, Limewire, Gnutella6346 and 6347 TCP, UDP* Kazza, Grokster1214 TCP, UDP* Autonp, BeNapster6699 TCP* Napster, Duskter, Gnap6700 TCP* Inapster, Jnap, WinMX6701 TCP* Edonkey4661, 4662, 4665 TCP, UDP* iMesh4329 TCPThe above listed is just of the most common peer 2 peer network software & ports.
It is alwyas recommended to consult you networking vendor to insure you have the most up to date software and hardware to protect you business.
In addition to port blocking there are other things can do to help you businesses netowrk. Impose ntework policies for all users and keep all you network protection software up to date (Anti-virus, Spyware, Ad blockers). Provide Tarining to you users to explain the risks of the World Wide Web. One of he biggest risks to business networks are the users and the only way to insure network safety is to make sure the uesrs fully understand network policies.
Once your users have an understanding of the risks online and fully understand there rseponsibilities as a network user. You are that much colser to a safe digital work place. As always most local network consulting firms can provide what I have discussed and you may need to take additional step to meet the needs of your business. With HPIPA and Sorbian Oxley there is no reason to risk liability on your company’s networks. As we see in the media eevry day more and more businesses have been learning the hard way about corporate liabilities.Brian Wilson
CCNA, CSE, CCAI, MCP, Network+
Slimjim100@gmail.Com
http://www.Middlegeorgia.Org
http://www.Middlegeorgia.Info
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