Network security is defined as the process of creating a strategic defensive approach that secures a company’s data and resources across its network. This article gives a detailed understanding of network security, its types, and best practices for 2021. Show
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What Is Network Security?Network security is defined as the process of creating a strategic defensive approach that secures a company’s data and its resources across its network. It protects the organization against any form of a potential threat or unauthorized access. Irrespective of the organization’s size, industry, or infrastructure, network security solutions protect it against the ever-evolving threat of cyberattacks. Network security comprises a wide range of technologies, devices, and processes. It refers to a body of rules and configurations uniquely designed to protect computer networks and their data. The integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of these computers are maintained with network security and software and hardware technologies. A network is considered secure only when it comprises three key components — confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This combination, called the CIA triad, is a well-known standard used while creating network security policies for any organization. In a world where the internet of things (IoT) is the new normal, network architecture is increasingly complex. This system is constantly under threat from hackers who are evolving and continuously finding ways to spot vulnerabilities and exploit them. Vulnerabilities exist in several areas such as devices, data, applications, users, and locations, among others. With even the shortest period of downtime, losses can be immense. Also Read: Rise of SASE Can Spell Doom for Legacy Network Security Technologies Type of network security vulnerabilitiesBefore examining different kinds of security attacks and how network security helps avoid them, understanding where the network’s vulnerability lies is key. Any vulnerability gives hackers the ability to access infrastructure, install malware, and even steal and modify data, if not destroy or erase it. These vulnerabilities include:
Also read: What Is Biometric Authentication? Definition, Benefits, and Tools Common forms of networking attacksVulnerabilities in the network will leave your organization open to a wide range of attacks such as:
Also Read: What Is Network Access Control? Definition, Key Components and Best Practices The fundamentals of network securityWhen organizations look at ways to work on their network security, they usually opt for a multi-layered approach. Since attacks can occur at any layer of a network’s set-up, all network hardware, software, and policies related to network security must be created to address each layer. The fundamentals of network security include:
Also read: Top 8 Disaster Recovery Software Companies in 2021 Types of Network Security With ExamplesLet’s understand the different types of network security with the help of examples. 1. Application security: Application security involves steps that a developer undertakes to spot, repair, and prevent security vulnerabilities at any point in the application’s development. Applications are not immune to vulnerabilities that are easy for attackers to access. Application security comprises software, hardware, and processes to plug any other vulnerabilities. Example: Suppose the developers of an organization are encountering frequent coding errors. These errors could allow and accept unverified inputs and easily turn into SQL injection attacks without anyone noticing it. This can further lead to data leaks if a hacker finds them. In such a case, employing application security can help the organization. 2. Data loss prevention (DLP): Data loss prevention involves taking measures to prevent employees from sharing data outside a prescribed network. It ensures that all information is transmitted safely. Example: If an organization collects and stores sensitive personal information and data that constitute intellectual property or trade secrets, the security level should be high. DLP helps to classify and tag data securely and flags unusual activity around it, adding an extra layer of security. 3. Email security: Email gateways are weak links that are often the source of a security breach. When phishing attacks are refined with social engineering tactics, emails are the primary source of these attacks. With email security, such attacks can be minimized. A secure email gateway placed either on-premises or in the cloud can prevent such malicious emails from coming through. Email encryption solutions offer protection from regulatory violations or data loss. Example: For example, suppose an organization regularly sends emails that include personally identifiable information like name, address, bank account details, or social security numbers. In that case, the company should encrypt its emails using an email security solution. Exchanging sensitive files or financial information by email is a potentially risky affair. This is because most emails are transmitted in plain text and are not well protected as it hops from one server to another. Hence, if organizations deploy email encryption software, the plain text would get encrypted, making it safer for transmission — since the contents of email, attachments, can be intercepted and read by an attacker. Also Read: Top 10 Network Access Control Software Solutions in 2021 4. Firewalls: Firewalls are the barriers between an internal and external network, such as the internet. They use a prescribed set of protocols to regulate incoming and outgoing traffic on the network. Firewalls are the first line of defense. If a company receives data that is not in keeping with its established set of protocols, firewalls prevent them from getting through. Example: Firewalls guard traffic at a computer’s entry point called ports, where information is exchanged with external devices. For example, a source address 165.12.2.1 is allowed to reach destination 171.14.2.2 over port 22. Here, only trusted packets with source addresses (165.12.2.1) will be allowed to enter the destination address (171.14.2.2). Besides this, firewalls also prevent unauthorized access to a system and can make your PC invisible when you’re online, preventing attempted intrusions in the first place. 5. Virtual private network (VPN): VPN creates a secure tunnel for information passage on the internet. The tunnel is encrypted from originating point to destination point, ensuring all data transmitted and received is protected. With telecommuting and work-from-home increasingly being the norm, employees often depend on insecure networks for the internet, leaving company data vulnerable to an attack. With VPNs, employees can be placed anywhere in the world yet have a safe network that does not leave the company data vulnerable. Example: For example, you are a company whose employees travel frequently. In that case, they may end up using public wi-fi networks. However, if a hacker is using the same network, your employees’ systems can get hacked in no time, putting the whole organization at risk. Using a VPN adds an extra layer of security by ensuring that all the communication is encrypted. Also read: Top 10 Customer Identity Management Solutions in 2021 Other types of network security include:
Also read: What Is Application Security? Definition, Types, Testing, and Best Practices Network Security Policy Best Practices for 2021Here are some best practices companies should follow while employing network security in 2021. 1. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)A Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report analyzed 41,686 security incidents, of which 2,013 were confirmed data breaches. It was found that these breaches were mainly caused by compromised, reused, or weak passwords. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a crucial tool in cybersecurity that helps prevent such breaches. It provides a device with an additional layer of protection by sending a one-time code to log in to a system. 2. Security awareness trainingEven though most of us know how phishing works, it cannot be considered common knowledge. The same Verizon report found that 1 out of every 14 users falls prey to a phishing attempt. Providing employees with security awareness training ensures that they recognize a phishing attempt when confronted with it. This goes a long way in protecting an organization from a data breach. 3. Cybersecurity risk assessmentAs a first step, companies should understand how secure their organization is to begin with. A professional assessment can go a long way to help an organization understand its weaknesses and help take measures accordingly. Redoing the evaluation at every level of growth is another important step companies shouldn’t miss. 4. Device management solutionWith the new norm of remote working, several devices access company data outside the organization’s security circle. Companies should ensure that they use relevant device management solutions to protect their network from threats. The solution can be used for something as simple as erasing the company’s data from a device to a multi-layered access protocol before a device connects to the network. Also Read: Top 10 Content Filtering Software Solutions in 2021 5. Security of backupBackups help a company recover in case of physical damage to hardware or unexpected glitches during downtime. However, very often, companies don’t think of security for the backup. If faced with a cyberattack, recovery needs to be quick. Ensuring that backup is protected from ransomware is essential. 6. Business continuity planBusiness disruption can come in all forms and sizes. Every organization needs to have a contingency plan in place to guarantee business continuity. However, it is important to test it to ensure that it is free from vulnerabilities. 7. Effective security policiesEnsure that every employee understands all the security protocols that have been put in place. These policies have to be created so that users or employees on the network make the right choices regarding behavior and security control. These protocols are also useful in guaranteeing compliance when an organization is looking to expand. 8. Vendor management programEvery business is as good as its vendors and business partners. Without them, no organization can grow or succeed. When planning for business continuity, it is important to have regulations to monitor your interactions with these partners. Incorporating these regulations into the functioning of an organization is essential to safeguard network security across the board. This system needs to be tested at regular intervals to ascertain that it is keeping pace with the company’s growth and functioning. Also Read: What Is Content Filtering? Definition, Types, and Best Practices 9. Cyber insuranceIn case of a cyber-breach or a major security incident, a business must be covered monetarily. Opting for cyber insurance is a good practice but, you need to read the fine print to see what can be covered. First-party coverage in such cases is for losses that are faced by the company. Third-party coverage deals with losses that your clients might face as a result of the breach. You will also need to examine investigation costs and how much of it is covered. If the attackers ask for a ransomware fee, is that covered too? These questions will help determine the best cyber-insurance policy for your company. It will also insulate your organization from heavy monetary losses. 10. Incident response plan (IRP)An IRP is a set of documents that acts as a roadmap if you are faced with a cyber-emergency. Think of it as a manual in case of danger. It should be thorough and consider every aspect that arises out of your risk assessment and what should be done in each case. These should be test-run as well. The documents must be easily accessible to all those who may need to know how to proceed in an emergency. Cybersecurity professionals can help you draft such documents, keeping in mind what is needed for your specific organization. Employees should also take the initiative to regularly test these documents. TakeawayNetwork security is critical to a work ecosystem that deals with large amounts of data. A business’s ability to keep critical information secure from threats enhances client trust and loyalty. It enables business expansion and the ability to function from anywhere in the world, safely and securely. Did you find this article useful? Let us know the measures you have taken for network security on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. What network technology can create a private network connection over a public network quizlet?A virtual private network (VPN) is a private network that users can connect to over a public network. Often a VPN is implemented with a firewall to allow remote employees to connect to local resources.
What type of network is a private network that can also be accessed by authorized external customers vendors and partners?An extranet is a controlled private network that allows access to partners, vendors and suppliers or an authorized set of customers – normally to a subset of the information accessible from an organization's intranet.
Is the technology which enables Authorised users to use an unsecured public networks as if it were a secure private network?Basically, VPN is a generic term to describe a combination of technologies allowing one to create a secure tunnel through an unsecured or untrusted network, such as public networks like the Internet.
Which is a private network that belongs to an organization that can only be accessed by approved internal users?An intranet is a computer network for sharing information, easier communication, collaboration tools, operational systems, and other computing services within an organization, usually to the exclusion of access by outsiders.
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