SMB Series: Secure your perimeter

Small- and medium-sized businesses are all the rage at the moment.

From storage vendors to applications developers, the SMB market in Australia is booming at rapid pace.

In the networking realm, for instance, Cisco last year launched a new suite of products aimed at countering what it acknowledges is a lack of strength in the local SMB market.

Cisco's managing director Ross Fowler admitted the company had previously tried to bridge its SMB "product gap" with lower pricing on high-end products.

"We've really suffered in Australia and New Zealand, because this [the SMB dollar] is the sweet spot of the market", he said. Fowler said the new products were the closest his company had gotten to the lowest end of the networking market under the Cisco brand. Its subsidiary Linksys operates in the home networking space, but under its own name.

And according to IDC research manager Jean-Marc Annonier, the packaged software market alone for this segment is expected to exceed AU$880 million, up 13 percent from 2004.

As cost-conscious SMBs look to the Internet to innovate and grow their businesses, the issue of security has taken centre stage. This guide is aimed at helping such companies stay safe.

Bolstering your network at the perimeter
Learn how a content-aware, dedicated Internet filtering appliance, which inspects Web, IM, and P2P traffic based on URL destination, can help SMBs reduce the risks of legal liability and lost productivity.

IT security in SMBs
Small- to medium-sized businesses have unique characteristics that set their security needs apart from those of larger enterprises. How can SMBs cope with security minus dedicated IT staff?

Reducing password security risks
This white paper describes a variety of security risks associated with password-protecting systems and applications, and explains what you can do to bolster your security.

The pros and cons of Windows Firewall
Once simply alarm systems for the network, Intrusion Detection Systems have evolved to encompass a whole lot more. ZDNet Australia reviews six sophisticated security devices.

E-mail archiving a whole-of-company issue
E-mails are usually regarded as an IT issue, but most Australian companies haven't prioritised regulatory compliance and the risks associated with actions such as legal discovery. This could cost them dearly.

Inside Vista's Security Center
The Security Center in the Windows Vista October Community Technical Preview (CTP) is sporting a status bar titled Spyware Protection. We explore its implications.

Microsoft Windows Defender beta 2
With Windows Defender beta 2, Microsoft beefs up its free antispyware app with a new name, engine and tools.

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006
PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 has a few shortcomings, but overall it's an affordable and feature-packed security suite that reliably defends against online threats.

F-Secure Internet Security 2006
F-Secure Internet Security 2006 provides reliable protection against viruses, spam and other online menaces. Although its spyware defence needs work, F-Secure is a steadfast defender and a solid, affordable choice for newcomers.

Bugs bite into popular browsers
Newly disclosed, unpatched flaws in three browsers could make the Web a more dangerous place to surf, security experts have warned.

Microsoft probes Outlook Express patch trouble
Does bad luck indeed come in threes? A Microsoft security fix for Outlook Express could be the third of last week's patches to cause trouble for some users.

Rootkit numbers rocketing up: McAfee
Rootkits, used by hackers to hide malicious software, are on the rise and becoming more complex, according to security company McAfee.