Sun Tzu Says, Protect Your IT Network!

The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The ancient Chinese military general Sun Tzu might have been around long before the Internet was a thing, but he sure knew how to make an impression on the world. In his extremely influential book on ancient Chinese warfare, The Art of War, he says that "every battle is won before it's ever fought." This applies to protecting your IT network, too.

What he means is that the best offense is a good defense, and a good defense is built by preparation - if you keep your people safe, they live to fight another day. So long as your IT department is adequately capable of handling disasters, you won't have to worry about any IT emergencies of your own. Heart of Texas Network Consultants, with the help of Sun Tzu's text, has put together four tips to help you emergency-proof your IT infrastructure.

Assume Nothing
"Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated."

One mistake in your defense could lead to your overall defeat. You should never assume that you are safe from threats. Some, such as advanced persistent threats (APTs), aren't entirely detectable if you aren't actively looking for them. They could infiltrate your system and steal sensitive information in a matter of minutes if you aren't careful.

The lesson? Assume nothing, and always be vigilant. It will save your company a lot of pain later on by taking measures to secure your system today.

Stay Updated on New Threats
If you spend some time reading over the latest threats, you'll learn how best to go about handling them. As Sun Tzu says, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete."

Heart of Texas Network Consultants can help you stay up-to-date on all of the latest threats and security vulnerabilities. More and more are revealed every day, and you can never hope to learn all about them on your own. We can be your eyes and ears on the battlefield so you can concentrate on the war against online threats at hand.

Back Up Your Data
"Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources."

You don't want to be caught with your pants down, so to speak, when it comes to your company's data. Most of the time, an extended loss of data and downtime can be the end of your business. Instead, implement Heart of Texas Network Consultants' Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution. Take advantage of the tools we can provide your business with so you will never have to face defeat in the event of an unexpected natural disaster or hardware failure.

Spread the IT Knowledge Around
"Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous."

When it comes to your employees, they should know the basics about IT network security. After all, their jobs depend on the safety of your company's IT infrastructure, and if your business falls, so do their careers. Anyone who deals with client information, sensitive data, and other crucial parts of your infrastructure should be aware of the dangers that IT risk poses - not for just the business, but for themselves as an individual.

Heart of Texas Network Consultants can provide a lot of these services for your business, and we will rigorously fight to defend your company from the threats of the Internet. By contacting Heart of Texas Network Consultants, you'll be doing exactly what Sun Tzu talks about in The Art of War - winning the fight before it actually starts. Call Heart of Texas Network Consultants today at (254) 848-7100 and you'll be taking the right step toward securing victory in the future.