Secure Your Operating System
Learn how to effectively secure your operating system to protect your small business.

If your small business is like most, then you rely on computers a great deal. You cannot afford to put the sensitive data, records, and other important information stored on your computers at risk, nor can you afford a system shutdown that would render your computers useless for any length of time. Behind every computer is an operating system (OS) that manages all other programs (known as applications), and enables communication between computer software and hardware. The OS is essentially the backbone of your computer, and paying special attention to its security is vital.

Types of Operating Systems
When you buy a computer, it will likely already have an operating system installed on it. You may also choose to install a different operating system than the one that is currently on your computer. One of the most common is the suite of Microsofts Windows operating systems, which has five versions in use around the world: XP, 2000, ME, 98, NT, and 95. Other operating systems include: Unix, Linux, and Mac OS.

Every kind of OS falls into one or more of the following categories:

GUI (Graphical User Interface) - has icons and graphical images, which you can click on with a computer mouse to access different programs
Multiprocessing - uses more than one computer processor
Multitasking - can run several software processes at the same time
Multithreading - allows different parts of a software program to run at the same time
Multi-user – allows multiple users to use the same computer at the same time usually through a network so that users can access it through another computer or a terminal

Many versions of Windows and Unix are multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, and multithreading operating systems. Unlike Unix, Windows offers a GUI, which allows users to navigate using icons instead of text. The Mac OS is used exclusively on Macintosh computers and has a different GUI than Windows OS.

Both Linux and Unix are frequently used for web and email servers and within specialized environments such as computing labs and universities. Linux requires some specialized technical knowledge, however, and is not as commonly used in small businesses.

Security Risks
Having said all that, your small business likely employs a Windows or Mac OS. However, no matter what kind of OS you have, it is important to recognize common OS security weaknesses that could compromise your business. These risks include:

Intruders breaking in
Exposure to current and future threats
Compromising of data integrity
Inefficiencies and unnecessary services
System failures

Security Solutions
Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect your business. First, you should assess your current status by noting what operating systems you have. After that, you can proceed to the following:

Operating System Hardening: Since most "out of the box" operating systems are designed for ease of installation and use, they are not usually at the highest security by default. That is why you need to take steps to harden your OS. This involves removing all non-essential tools, utilities, and system administration options and then activating all appropriate security features. If the hardening process seems daunting, there are now pre-hardened systems available on the market.

Patches, updates, and upgrades: Manufacturers of operating systems often release security patches as they find and fix problems. You may be able to purchase a service contract from your OS vendor to provide you with patches, upgrades, and other customer assistance. You can also go to the website of your OS manufacturer for patches and upgrades. Windows offers an Automatic Updates feature with its operating systems. It's free and will activate any time a new Windows patch is released.

Upgrade to new security software: Although renewing your security software regularly is a good idea, it is also important to periodically upgrade to more recent versions in order to take advantage of the advances that have been made in antivirus and security threat protection.

Additional considerations
There are other steps you can take to shore up OS security in your business. These include:

Trusted Operating Systems: Depending on the type of business you operate, you may need a level of security that you cannot configure on your own. Known as Trusted Operating Systems, vendors have developed variations on mainstream versions of Unix and Windows, which are specifically designed to offer maximum security.

Third-party firewall: Many operating systems come with a software firewall that you can enable to protect your computer from unauthorized users. However, if your OS does not have a built-in firewall, you can install a third-party firewall to block incoming connections from other computers on the Internet.

Log monitoring: Under the administrator login, you have access to the security log and can monitor events including invalid logon attempts and the status of files, including when files are created, opened, and deleted. You can then look for unusual and suspicious activity and take immediate action to prevent further damage.

Conclusion
The security of your small business can really come down to the security of your operating systems. As hackers and cybercriminals get more advanced and detect new ways to gain access to computer systems, operating systems pose an ongoing security risk. By taking the steps outlined in this article and periodically upgrading to new security software, you can help secure your operating systems and ensure the safety of your business.

from Symantec