Why connected to the internet ?

[jcole]

Mark,
Since you should be taking the same steps to secure a machine that is not connected to the internet as one that is, why not connect it.
Having one secure network is easier to maintain and provides a lot of benifits over two separate networks, on secured, and the other (your main business network) not secured in the false hope that it is not at risk. Keep this in mind, nearly all major corporations have thier "heartbeat" machines connected to one network and able to access the internet (remember, they are protected by a firewall wich means that they cannot be reached from the internet). In fact, the only time I have ever found an organization that ran two networks, was at the US Army Space Command, and there we were dealing with secret stuff
In most cases, expecially when your short on manpower, simpler is better in security issues. Your main business computer should be protected from viruses and intrusion attempts from both local and remote threats. Firewall's and virus scanners are how you do that.

[Haole Mark]

Thank you jcole.. you've made the case well enough. I guess the fact that I'm totally "computer illiterate" coupled with the fact that no one..including a personal friend that is a computer "guru"..can walk me through the differant security issues is what makes me nervous. When I get an answer to one question I immediately get conflicting reports from someone else or get the answer that "this works" for "this" issue "EXCEPT"...! It's all the "excepts" that make me wonder which is the best of the different programs to use.
Thank you, Mark

[jcole]

Mark,

Computer security is a very complex subject. Your goal, when considering network security (both LAN and WAN) is to try and make it easier to throw a rock through your window and steal the computer itself (which does happen).

There are no software packages available for the tanning industry yet, that provide security at the network level. That, coupled with an insecure operating system, make virus threats and internet intrusions one of the easiest security problems to solve. Every store should have an active virus scanner and should keep it up to date. Every store that has any type of internet connection (dialup or otherwise) should have some kind of firewall in place (software or hardware).

The remaining threats of employee's, customers and thieves remain, and there is not much you can do about that with current software.

Just be thankfull you don't have a wireless network. That is a security nightmare, and a fairly complex setup to secure correctly. Imagine a competitor in your parking lot opening Helios or Suntouch and accessing all of your data

Don't be scared of the internet, but be aware of the dangers. Practices safe computing everywhere!