Software companies are constantly looking for ways to help businesses and home computer users upgrade and protect their networks.

Sereniti Inc. (sereniti.com), located in the southeast metro area, is one of those companies. Its NetTrooper software can set up, map, manage and secure a home network.

Rocky Tech editor Darrell Proctor recently saw a demonstration of the software at Sereniti's office and sat down for a conversation with Fahim Siddiqui, the company's chief executive officer.

What makes NetTrooper popular?

As more and more people get broadband into the home, you have to become your own IT administrator. You have to be sure of your security setup, you have to set up the router, all the parts.

Our focus is on simplifying the use of computers at home. It's software for the home network.

You offer identity theft insurance and anti-virus protection as part of the package. Has that been a big selling point?

We give users $25,000 in ID theft insurance as part of the 12-month subscription ($29.99, with a free 30-day trial available at the Web site). And we keep your anti-spyware updated. Those are selling points but so are all the ways we connect and map the home network, all the computers in your home. That's another level of security, being able to see everything happening on your entire network at any given time.

There are lots of security products out there. What do people need to consider before they buy a particular software?

The biggest challenge for home users is there is no one piece of software that protects you from everything. And then if you have the software running, is it configured correctly? Are you taking advantage of everything it can do?

What's a common mistake?

People may think they're protected because they're running software that says it protects. But you may be protected from viruses but not from spyware. NetTrooper helps configure your network and allows the user to know the status of the software you're running.

Where do you see the future of computer security such as Sereniti offers?

It's about education. Think of all the things on your computer, and think of all the things you have in your home. You have insurance on your assets. What's on your computer is your life assets in digital form - photos, music, documents. The home network has become a microcosm of the Internet.