For many businesses, network security suffers from sprawl and inconsistency. Terms like authentication, encryption, firewalling and intrusion prevention get thrown around as requirements of the system, but are piecemealed together with incompatible technology and unverified procedures.

No wonder concern about network security is such a huge cause of ulcers and sleeplessness for business owners. If just one part of the system falters, critical business information can be in the hands of hackers long before you even realize there was a break in.

Business network security must consider that: