It is easy to run your home wireless network with very little security and not feel any sense risk. After all, you don't feel exposed and unless you venture outside your home with a laptop, you may not be thinking very hard about who else has access to your network. You have to get used to the idea that now your network and any computers or other devices attached to it are accessible from outside your home. Hackers with plenty of time, just need to be close enough to be within range of your wireless signal, which can easily cover a city block with the newer wireless routers. There are some important steps you can take to reduce your vulnerability. A good list of these steps, with links to more extensive explanation and instructions can be found at About.com here: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelesssecurity/tp/wifisecurity.htm

This entry is part of the series Ten things you can do to improve IT security and reliability without spending money

We always get nervous when we go to a client’s offices and discover their servers are left out in open areas, amidst the hustle and bustle of daily activities.  This is not good.

Servers in open areas are exposed to all sorts of adverse environmental factors, ranging from being accidentally unplugged or being bumped or jostled by cleaning crews. And worse, servers in open areas become easier targets for unauthorized access by employees or others.

We know that often space is very tight and it is not possible to dedicate a server room or even a server closet, but with a little planning and creativity it is possible to create a safe, locked area for servers.  Many computer equipment manufacturers sell server cabinets that are small and can be wall-mounted, to create a secure space where the server will be secure and protected.  These products are relatively inexpensive ($300-$900, depending on size).  If these are still outside your budget, I bet you could construct something similar, on your own, for free.