With the increasing dependency on information technology, it is becoming vital to apply security at every aspect of online data and processes. The protection of data integrity is now one of the crucial aspects for organizations to consider. Network security plays a crucial role in preventing and protecting networking infrastructure against unauthorized intrusions. Network security compliments endpoint security and focuses on individual devices, the interaction of those devices, and the connecting link between them.
| According to Techopedia, “Network security is an over-arching term that describes that the policies and procedures implemented by a network administrator to avoid and keep track of unauthorized access, exploitation, modification, or denial of the network and network resources. It means that well-implemented network security can block viruses, malware, cybercriminals, etc. from accessing or altering secure information.” |
The significance of network security lies in defending your system or network from getting hacked when cybercriminals try to get to it over the network.
Phases of Network Security
The phases of network security should be the underlying framework for your cybersecurity strategy.
Protection: Configure your network or systems correctly
Detection: Identify changes in configuration or when a problem is indicated in the network traffic
Reaction: Responding to the problem immediately and returning to the safe state.
Relying on a single line of defense is dangerous as it can be easily defeated by a determined attack. Having a defense in depth strategy can help regroup and expel the attacker when you have been partially invaded. Your network is not a line of security but is a territory and an organized network defense can help you overcome critical security situations.
Why Is Network Security Important?
When you work on the internet, LAN or other methods, network security becomes vital to the business, either small or big. There is no network that is not prone to cyber threat and therefore, an efficient network security system is essential to protect the IT infrastructure and data. Having a good network security system reduces the risk of cyber threats and data sabotage.
Network security provides layers of security to break down information into smaller parts, encrypt each of them and transmit them through independent channels. Thus, it prevents the data from Man in the Middle attacks and eavesdropping. You will receive huge traffic when connected to the internet which may cause vulnerabilities issues in the system. Network security monitors the system and application for any suspicious transaction against sabotage.
Role of Network Security in Cybersecurity Team
To implement the in-depth defense strategy, the network defender follows a variety of network security techniques as part of their role in securing a network
Access Control:
As a network security engineer, you should be able to block unauthorized users and endpoint devices from accessing your network. Users should be defined with only an authorized amount of access which they require to perform their defined tasks.
Application Security:
Network security applies locks or permissions to insecure applications as they are severe vectors to vulnerabilities. The network defender should follow the secure software development lifecycle to establish security norms on these apps.
Anti-malware Software:
Trojans, worms, viruses and different types of malware attempt to spread across the network in the absence of effective network security. Such malware can hide on the infected machines for a longer time and can spread across the other systems on the network. A network security engineer works efficiently to remove malware making their way through the network and prevent the infection from growing.
Firewalls:
Firewalls are a must-have for network security. The network engineer can program them with the defined rules and permissions or can restrict the traffic from entering your network via the internet. With firewalls, network security can establish a boundary wall between your safe zone and the wild world outside.
Loss of Data:
Network security engineers also train and implement appropriate security measures among employees. They implement strategies and security norms on the access of employees so that they deliberately or in ignorance do not send sensitive information outside the organization.
Email Security:
Email security is another important security concern that network engineers deal with. Phishing is the most common attack that happens via a network. By deploying email security tools, exchange of emails can be filtered on security grounds.
Intrusion Prevention:
As a part of network defense, the network engineer correlated databases with activity signatures of known attack techniques which help them identify and block attacks through network traffic.
Performance Analytics:
A network security engineer understands the normal performance of the network and that is how any change in the behavior or abnormality is traced.
Endpoint and Wireless Security:
Endpoint and wireless devices are potential threat vectors. An extra level of security defense by the network security engineer can protect the network from intrusions through these devices.
Browser Security:
Network security should also define browser usage to block web-based threats. Employees should be trained on the perks of safe-browsing, as browsers are prone to infecting your network.
Impact of Inefficient Networks on Individuals and Companies
Vandalism of Business:
When a network is breached, there is a possibility that the attacker may have acted with the intention of bringing your business down. They may also try to induce misleading information that would question your company’s integrity, misleading your customers as well.
Damaging Intellectual Property:
A faulty network system may damage intellectual property. By infiltrating the network, the intruder gains unauthorized access to sensitive information of the organization and may either damage the compromised data or publish it online without respecting the privacy rules.
Loss of Revenue:
A network attack is not restricted to only intellectual property loss but also leads to revenue loss. During the downtime, your business must cease transactions leading to revenue loss. The longer the downtime, the higher the revenue loss. Apart from which the company might lose credibility among its customers.
If you want to protect networks from crucial cyberattacks you need the right training to do so. EC-Council University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security (BSCS) degree that gives you the required knowledge to start a career in cybersecurity. It comes with three industry-certifications from EC-Council, including the Certified Network Defender (C|ND)! Learn more by visiting https://www.eccu.edu/academics/bachelor-of-science-in-cyber-security/
