SECRETS OF HOME NETWORK ADMINISTRATION

DARIEN GRAHAM-SMITH EXPLORES THE TIPS AND TOOLS THAT CAN HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL LAN LIKE A PRO

- DARIEN GRAHAM-SMITH

Administration isn't just for corporate IT departments.

If you're responsible for the stability and security of any sort of computer network – even a few computers at home – you're an administrator, whether you like it or not. So why not borrow some ideas from the world of professional IT management?

Putting a little effort into administration lets you focus the rest of your time and energy on being productive, rather than being distracted by unplanned troubleshooting and housekeeping tasks.

Windows comes with a decent set of builtin, user-friendly management features, including account security, builtin virus protection and automatic updates. But there's plenty more that you can accomplish by digging beneath the surface, and by downloading a few judiciously chosen third-party additions. Here are some of our favourite tips and tools for keeping your network running smoothly and securely. There’s an old saying, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” — and who wants to worry about network devices that seem to be working fine? Unfortunately, when you leave them untouched, the risk grows that they'll become susceptible to newly discovered vulnerabilities.

KEEP ONLINE DEVICES SECURE

Things aren’t as bad as they used to be. Almost all connected devices in a modern home should be capable of receiving online updates. There’s usually even an auto-update option, so that’s something you don’t need to be continually chasing - but you do need to ensure it’s turned on. Indeed, you should check the default settings of all your devices, paying particular attention to any optional privacy and security features.