What is the Purpose of Network Security

What is the Purpose of Network Security?

If companies didn’t have network security, the internet as a whole would be in shambles. With everything already being online, network security is more important now than ever before. It doesn’t help that with COVID, remote work is becoming more of a norm and can require sensitive data, secure communications, and other important project collaborations to be all online. Without leaving all of this up for grabs to unauthorized users, Fognigma is here to help protect your infrastructure as well as keep you informed on how to innovate. Read more on everything there is to know about the purpose of network security.

What is Network Security, and Why is Network Security Important?

Network security are measures that IT teams take to protect your data. This could be through specific practices, firewalls, passcodes, and other technologies that are ultimately designed to protect information and keep it confidential. When network security is in place, it can keep out internal and external threats so that any sort of content you want protected isn’t taken or manipulated. Hackers are becoming more and more intelligent with how they can get into systems, and it’s network security’s job to limit that from happening.

Key Measures to Enhance Network Security

Having your network security constantly monitored and updated can go a long way in enhancing its power. Read more below on some key measures you can take:

1. Maintain Software

When your software infrastructure is up to date as far as the antivirus programs or other things installed, then it can be consistently effective. Remember to install updates as soon as they become available so you don’t have a dated system. It’s easier for your information to be hacked if your software hasn’t been updated in a while.

2. Make Visibility a Priority

A lot of times, military organizations only secure their data against external threats and forget about internal risks. Most of when security breaches occur, it originate from an insider threat, so you’ll have to be aware of monitoring user activity both inside and outside your organization. Also, restrict access to certain websites so that it’s easier to mitigate risks.

3. Restrict User Permissions

When insider threats happen, most of the time, its accidental, but intentional ones can cause significant damage. To prevent this from happening, you’ll need to limit user permission and accessibility to sensitive information. Additionally, using company-provided devices can help control the software and access permissions more effectively.

4. Establish a Security Policy

It’s best to let everyone in the organization know how security policies will be implemented and set clear expectations early. Providing ongoing security training and having a clear incident response plan in place can also help maintain security measures.

Types of Network Security to Have in Place

Believe it or not, there are multiple types of network security to have in place to keep your data safe, and having all or some is the safest practice. Here are some popular options.

1. Firewall Protection

Firewalls are perfect for creating a barrier of sorts between external and internal trusted networks. If you or your team collaborate over the internet a lot, firewalls are great for monitoring traffic, whether it’s outgoing or incoming. Then, when it’s used alongside your security rules, the data is completely secure.

2. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPNs are very popular in remote environments. It’s also a smart choice to create a secure connection over the internet without showing unauthorized users where you’re located. This is also a great tool for remote workers trying to get into their company’s network in the safest way possible.

3. Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

These systems work together to detect and prevent unauthorized access to networks or devices. IDS monitors network traffic for suspicious activity, while IPS takes action to prevent potential threats.

4. Data Encryption

Having your data protected is one thing, but having it encrypted is a whole other layer of security. Data encryption is the process of having a specific code or safeguard method that prevents outside users from accessing it. It makes it challenging for hackers to decipher information even if they were to intercept it.

How has network security changed over the years?

The internet, in general, has changed drastically over the years. Only a couple of decades ago, it was first created, let alone being about to use it for communication. With the growth of the internet and communicating online come more threats and cyber attacks. Network security has no other option but to continue to be better and offer more effective levels of protection. In the past, traditional firewalls were considered enough to protect a network. Fast forward to today, and additional measures such as intrusion detection systems, virtual private networks (VPNs), and data encryption have been implemented.

Moreover, with the rise of cloud computing and remote work, network security has shifted towards protecting not just physical networks but also virtual ones. This includes implementing multi-factor authentication and access controls for remote users to ensure secure connections. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning has also become increasingly important in detecting and preventing cyber-attacks. These technologies can analyze large amounts of data in real-time to identify potential threats and respond quickly. The biggest thing to take into account is that cyber attackers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it’s your job to be prepared for the worst with effective and efficient network security in place.

Summary

The purpose of network security is to protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access to networks. It involves a combination of measures such as software maintenance, user permissions, establishing security policies, and staying updated on the latest technologies and threats. As technology continues to advance, it’s crucial for military operations to prioritize network security to safeguard their data and maintain the integrity of their systems. With Fognigma’s secure networking solutions, military organizations can stay ahead of potential threats and keep their networks protected. Visit our website for more information on how to get started.

What Are Honeypots in Network Security

What Are Honeypots in Network Security?

In network security and the IT world, honeypots are a popular term that is a fake digital asset or environment that is used to attract cybercriminals. The term honeypot obviously comes from attracting bees with honey as well as the world of espionage, like with anything that has to do with hostile activity. The same strategy is used to detect hacking attacks or attempts and further protect data. Read more on how honeypots are a great tool to use for cybersecurity and how companies like Fognigma can help military organizations.

What is Honeypot in Network Security?

Honeypots are great if you are having cyberattacks and don’t know where they’re coming from. Read more below on what you need to know about implementing honeypots within your data infrastructure.

Distraction and Improved Security Posture

Honeypots are also great for distracting unauthorized users or hackers from accomplishing their goals. They can do this by giving out useless or fake data as well as false access. Honeypots can also improve an organization’s security posture by helping with increased visibility and defense that firewalls and other encryption applications sometimes can’t prevent. This added layer of security is great for military organizations to see what proactive measures they need to take before their data becomes exploited.

Early Detection

IT professionals can use honeypots to provide an early warning when an attack is about to occur so that it can get everybody prepared and respond quicker than they would without one. It would be so helpful for your team to know when a threat is near without it already getting into your system. By attracting cyber hackers, you can spot the attack quicker and eliminate them before it’s too late. Also, this strategy can help in analyzing new attack vectors and knowing how to identify them so that in the future, they’re prepared for anything.

Types of Honeypots

You might be surprised to know that honeypots come in various forms with specific purposes. Here are some of the popular types:

Low-Interaction Honeypots

These types of honeypots are mainly used for an extra layer of protection but not too much of an interaction within your cybersecurity. A lot of times, IT professionals use this kind of honeypot to just have a little more security than what they had before, so they don’t have to have too much of a resource investment put in.

High-Interaction Honeypots

These kinds of honeypots are probably the most used and give the most realistic environment. It allows attackers to be able to interact with them directly while also giving your team insights into how these attackers work and what methods they use to extract data and communication information. It is worth being said that high-interaction honeypots do require a lot more time and maintenance than others.

Use Cases for Honeypots

Most people start to consider honeypots when there is a lot of malicious activity going on, and they can’t tell where it’s coming from. So, with honeypots installed, they’re able to detect insider threats as well as being extremely helpful in remote work environments.

Monitoring Remote Work Environments

With the rise of remote work came the rise of cyber attacks. It was becoming more and more difficult for IT teams to protect data with employees being within their homes in different locations. Honeypots are helpful tools that help monitor remote work for potential threats, as well as add a layer of security for all employees working remotely.

Implementing Honeypots in Your Security Strategy

So you’re sold on honeypots. Great news! Here’s how to implement it within your security strategy.

Identify Key Assets

Sit down and figure out which assets your company has and what systems are most important in everyday operations. Once you have your list of key assets, you can focus your honeypot strategy on deploying it and creating protection for these systems and assets.

Develop a Deployment Plan

With your assets in mind, creating a deployment plan with lots of details can help protect the data and the entire network. Make sure to keep in mind factors like resource requirements, placement, and how much maintenance it’s going to need once deployed.

Monitor and Analyze

Once the honeypot is released, it’s now time to sit back and see what it can do. It’s important to make sure you’re analyzing the data and regularly monitoring it. Otherwise, the purpose of the honeypot is ruined. Once you have enough information, you can improve your overall security by making updates accordingly. Also, knowing what emerging threats there are can get you better prepared for the future.

Difference between honeypots and firewalls in IT?

Firewalls and honeypots are often described as the same thing in that they protect networks, but each protects the network in different ways. First, firewalls act as a barrier between external and internal networks and can block unauthorized users under predetermined rules. On the other hand, honeypots are designed to bring attackers in by attraction and then gather information about their tactics to better secure your data.

Another difference these terms have is that firewalls actively allow or block traffic based on what the IT team configures, while honeypots passively collect the info by alluring attackers. Some like to say that honeypots are more of a proactive security strategy, and firewalls are more reactive.

Conclusion

What are network security threats? After reading this, you should be well-versed in what honeypots are in the network security world. Honeypots are great for detecting online threats, hackers, and unauthorized users quickly while also improving your security. This early detection can help your organization stay ahead of emerging threats. Our team of experts can help you customize and automate your network security and countermeasures, ensuring your organization remains protected in an ever-evolving threat landscape.