Networks Archives

Understanding Network Security Architecture

November 20, 2024

by Fognigma Networks

Having your information safe from unwanted eyes is extremely important in professional organizations, especially in the military sector. Fognigma is more than familiar with helping departments keep their information and communication as safeguarded as possible. Read more about learning all things regarding network security architecture, including secure communication, data integrity, and more.

What is Network Security Architecture?

When you think of architecture, you think of the building blocks of a bigger entity. It’s very similar when it comes to network security. The architecture of network security is the framework that is strategically built to outline the protocols, processes, and overall technologies it takes to protect a network. It combines all the elements that make up a network, like cybersecurity devices, nodes, data privacy protocols, and more. This specific kind of architecture is designed to withstand cyber threats and ensure system reliability, providing a resilient shield against potential breaches.

The Purpose of Network Security Architecture

If you don’t have the right network security architecture, you could risk your organization’s information to be compromised. When system components fail, hackers use this to their advantage to get into the framework and deliver a cyberattack. A well-installed architecture ensures that business operations continue smoothly during normal conditions and are robust enough to handle spikes in traffic or emerge unscathed from cyber threats.

How to Create Network Security Architecture by IT Professionals

How is network security architecture actually created? It can take quite a bit of time to implement the correct framework. Luckily, companies like Fognigma know exactly what to do. Our team is tasked with detecting and addressing potential threats, developing strategies for protection, and maintaining full control over our systems. A strong network security plan relies on strategically placing security measures for optimal defense.

Network Security Architecture Main Frameworks

What are the specific frameworks that go into a well-developed network security architecture? This may seem like gibberish to the common person, but for IT professionals and network engineers, having the right network security architecture is super important to keeping your data protected.

Zero Trust Model

Make sure your security is fully upgraded with the zero-trust model. Treat all devices as potential threats and evaluate access requests individually. Only authorized personnel can access resources supported by solid authentication systems like MFA and granular access controls.

(SABSA) Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture

SABSA is a risk-driven framework focused on aligning security measures with business needs. It’s built on Risk and Opportunity management framework, Governance Architecture framework, Security Domain framework, and more

What is Network Security, and Why is It Important?

Network security measures are critical for protecting sensitive data from internal and external threats. With cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, maintaining robust network security is essential for safeguarding confidential information and ensuring operational continuity.

How to Enhance Your Network Security

You can try a handful of things to enhance your network security before redesigning the framework. First, make sure your software is completely up to date. If you regularly update your antivirus programs, nine times out of ten, you can safeguard information from most emerging threats. Also, make sure visibility is a priority. Look into user activity and see if any outsiders aren’t authenticated. Then, focus on getting them out and having more ways to restrict user permission and mitigate external threats. Finally, establish a solid security policy. If specific guidelines or protocols are in place, your organization will likely follow them and have the ongoing training to reinforce these network security measures.

Types of Network Security

Some people think network security is simply having a password, but there are many types of network security. Here are some of the more popular ones you may be familiar with:

Firewall Protection: Establishes a barrier between trusted internal and untrusted external networks, crucial for monitoring and securing data traffic.
Virtual Private Network (VPN): Secures connections over the internet, essential for remote workers accessing company networks securely.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): IDS detects suspicious activity, while IPS actively prevents potential threats from compromising the network.
Data Encryption: Encodes data to prevent unauthorized access, adding an extra layer of security to protect sensitive information.
Access Control Lists (ACL): This focuses on least privileged user accesses to control what users can access what features in a network

What are the Components of Network Security?

The components of network security are all integral in creating a robust architecture. Think of VPNs, antiviruses, and firewalls as essential software and a key component in your network security. Also, Network Access Control (NAC) is another key component, which ensures all network devices are authorized and approved. Then, SIEM, which is security information and event management. It collects real-time data from various sources to identify potential threats and respond accordingly. These components work together to ensure that communication, data, and anything online is protected and safeguarded from hackers.

Summary

What is network security? What is network security architecture? What are network security protocols? These basic questions should be answered by reading some of our blogs. Fognigma understands how important your data is, so you should know how things like network security architecture play an essential part in safeguarding military operations. The last thing you want to worry about is if something as simple as an email got intercepted by an unauthorized user. Organizations can ensure data integrity, enhance operational efficiency, and stay ahead of evolving cyber threats by implementing a robust security framework. Explore our tailored solutions to reinforce network security architecture and protect critical data assets.

Exploring Network Security Protocols with Fognigma

November 20, 2024

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Networks

With the amount of users on the internet now, network security is more important than ever before. Safeguarding your data shouldn’t be viewed as a luxury service. It should be viewed as essential, especially for those involved in military operations. Read more in this blog on everything about network security protocols and how you can safeguard your data by keeping it away from unauthorized eyes.

What Are Network Security Protocols?

Having network security protocols can be crucial in keeping your data hidden and protected. If there aren’t any rules or regulations, it can make things messy. So, network security protocols are like conventions or guidelines designed to protect data during transmission through networks. Most common network security protocols look like WPA2 or SSL/TLS and serve some sort of function in safeguarding information. It also gives developers and network security administrators the ease of knowing their network security is working correctly rather than running rampant with data out in the open.

The Importance of Network Security

If you don’t have your network secure, there are tons of threats you’ll have to deal with on a daily, potentially hourly, basis. With the rise of remote work, digital data goes from network to network. Hackers know this, too, and use it to their advantage. Network security has become crucial for protecting sensitive data and maintaining business continuity. Believe it or not, effective network security protocols offer several benefits, including:

Data Protection: They encrypt data to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring only intended recipients can read the information.
Authentication: Network security protocols verify the identity of users and devices, minimizing the risk of data breaches.
Integrity: They maintain data integrity by detecting any alterations made during transmission, ensuring the information remains unchanged.
Availability: Well-implemented protocols ensure authorized users have uninterrupted access to the network and its resources.

Network Security Protocols in Action

So, what do typical network security protocols look like when they are in action? There are so many departments where network security shines. Take a look at some of the most common ones you’ll see in an everyday work environment:

Customer Service

In customer service, secure communication channels are vital for protecting client data. Protocols like SSL/TLS encrypt sensitive information during online transactions and interactions, ensuring both parties’ data remains confidential.

Data Analysis

Network security protocols facilitate secure data transmission for analysis, enabling businesses to make informed decisions without risking data breaches. They ensure the data collected is authentic and has not been tampered with during transit.

Supply Chain Management

In supply chain management, secure network protocols protect communication between vendors and suppliers. Protocols like IPsec ensure data integrity and confidentiality, reducing the risk of disruptions caused by cyber-attacks.

Government Use

Governments handle sensitive information related to national security, intelligence, diplomacy, and citizen data. A VPN ensures that this data is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access, both during transmission and at rest, even when communicated across potentially unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi.

Challenges in Implementing Network Security Protocols

Believe it or not, having network security protocols in place can sometimes bring challenges. If you don’t have the right people on your side, like Fognigma, network security can be messed up in the implementation period, and risk having your data available to unauthorized users or, worse, hackers. Here are some other ways there can be challenges:

Making Sure Users Follow Protocols Correctly

Often, someone within your department is the one who causes hacks or spam to occur based on pure human error. Ensuring that team members understand and follow security protocols is crucial. Military organizations must provide adequate training and emphasize the importance of adhering to these protocols to prevent data breaches.

Continuous Monitoring and Updates

Network security isn’t a one-and-done process. It requires ongoing monitoring and regular updates to stay ahead of emerging threats. IT professionals must remain vigilant, leveraging automation tools to simplify this process. Fognigma makes monitoring network traffic, application health, and threats easy for IT professionals.

How Fognigma Enhances Network Security

Now that you know why network security is important, who are you going to hire to help implement these protocols within your department? Fognigma provides advanced network security solutions tailored for military operations and departments. Here’s how we support secure communication:

Encrypting to an Advanced Level

Fognigma uses advanced encryption techniques to protect sensitive information, ensuring data remains secure and inaccessible to unauthorized users.

Managing User Access

Only authorized users can access sensitive information thanks to Fognigma’s vast access management systems.

Block Intruders Through Prevention Systems

Fognigma deploys intrusion prevention systems that detect and block unauthorized access attempts, maintaining network integrity.

Best Practices for Network Security

When understanding network security, remember that complex passwords are ultimately the best to use. No matter the device or system, have a long or thought-out password to protect your data. Also, as we’ve mentioned, continuously monitoring your network can spot threats quicker and easier. This also ensures your software is constantly updated to incorporate the latest security measures. Finally, all employees should understand the training and security protocols in place to be used most effectively in safeguarding.

Summary

Protect your organization as soon as possible with Fognigma. We can implement the right network security protocols within your system better than anyone else for military operations. Network security protocols are indispensable for protecting sensitive information and maintaining seamless communication in today’s digital landscape. With Fognigma’s expertise, military operations and departments can enhance their security posture, ensuring their data’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Check out our website for more information on how to get started.

What Does a Network Security Administrator Do?

October 7, 2024

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Networks

IT jobs are well sought after, especially considering how easily hackers can get into an online system. Network security is a great asset, so people like network security administrators are very much needed. So, what are these types of IT jobs? Read more on how Fognigma can explain network administrators’ duties and why they are important in protecting data, infrastructure, and more. Read on!

The Role of a Network Security Administrator

Most things you find a network security administrator doing is monitoring and protecting. Some key responsibilities include looking into firewalls, encryptions, and other security measures to make sure everything is up to code and doesn’t allow unauthorized users. If you’re a network security administrator, you’ll also be keeping tabs on network systems like CPU, RAM, and connection statuses. If a threat does occur, these positions are some of the first people to see if and should know how to attack these threats through specific regulations.

How Fognigma Supports Network Security Administrators

Fognigma has programs and user-friendly interfaces to help people like network security administrators and make their job just a little easier, especially considering they’re dealing with sensitive data. Here are some other things that Fognigma has that help these positions:

Automatic Event Tracking with Sensu: Sensu automatically tracks events for virtual machines in the network, performing regular checks on CPU, RAM, disk, and connection status without requiring manual configuration.
Scalability and Monitoring: Sensu supports Fognigma’s scalability, allowing administrators to monitor network and resource stress from a single interface. This enables rapid response before resources experience issues, preventing availability interruptions.
Cloud-Based Secure Communication: Fognigma deploys multiple communication and collaboration networks. Some can have a Sensu server to support various user groups. This is essential for organizations that require constant availability, anticipate network strain, and need to scale networks and resources without incurring excessive costs.

Why Network Security is Crucial

After COVID, hackers and unauthorized users have been able to access data more than ever before. Most took action to this by prioritizing network security. One way to do this is to hire the best network security administrators or engineers and have their skills speak for themselves. With the right staff, military departments can have peace of mind that their data and communication channels are protected. The demand for skilled network security professionals and what network security tools you need to continue to grow make it an excellent career choice with numerous opportunities for growth and advancement.

Importance of Having a Network Security Administrator on Your Team

As we’ve mentioned, having your online data protected is extremely important, especially in this day and age. Network security administrators are great assets on your team that can ensure your network environment is compliant and secure around the clock. All it takes is one little slip-up for a hacker to get all your data. To avoid this, get these professionals on your side and have them design, implement, monitor, and respond to potential threats, ensuring businesses run smoothly by protecting sensitive information from cyber-attacks.

What Does a Network Security Administrator Do?

It’s important to know common examples and case studies that you may encounter as a network security administrator. Read below for some common ones and what to do about them.

Maintain Software

Keeping your software updated and constantly maintained is extremely important in protecting your information. Sometimes, all it takes is a small antivirus software update, and someone forgets to do it, so hackers use this to their advantage. It seems like the simplest of tasks, but you’d be surprised how often these breaches happen because of software updates.

Make Visibility a Priority

Most may think that having their network visible makes them more susceptible to outside threats but believe it or not, many times, a threat comes in from within. Don’t worry, it happens most of the time by accident, but it still happens quite frequently. Companies can prevent insider threats by monitoring user activity within their network and restricting access to certain websites.

Restrict User Permissions

Make sure the right users have the right access. You don’t want someone in the mail office to have confidential information that higher-ups can access. Giving this limitation to most users in the staff is the safest way to ensure there are no internal threats. Upset or former employees who leak or steal company information pose a huge security risk. To mitigate this, companies should restrict access to only the resources necessary for employees to perform their jobs.

Establish a Security Policy

Another thing to do is ensure your team knows the importance of security policy. Training and performing security risk analysis are great ways to keep your employees informed about what’s going on in network security. Having a security expert on staff for users to contact when needed is also beneficial. These types of administrators often install honeypots to attract hackers and catch them.

Backup Your Data

An important thing to check off your list of duties as a network security administrator is to back up all data. When a network crashes or gets hacked, the data is often erased. Regularly backing up data ensures that a single data breach doesn’t compromise the entire organization.

Third Parties Are Just as Dangerous

Outside organizations, such as third parties, can be dangerous by accessing your network and confidential information. This opens the door to creating more entry points for malicious attacks. It is important to evaluate third parties carefully and restrict their access as much as possible.

Summary

Overall, now you should know how important network security administrators are and why they play such an important role in protecting data. Fognigma supports these professionals by making sure our solutions are user friendly and help enhance their daily tasks rather than making it harder. By staying updated on the latest trends and technologies, you can continually improve your skills and stay ahead of emerging threats in the digital world. Learn more about how Fognigma can support your network security needs today.

What is the Purpose of Network Security?

September 11, 2024

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Networks

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.

Enhancing Network Security: Solutions for Today’s Cyber Threats

April 2, 2024

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Networks

Online threats happen every day and are constantly evolving. It’s hard to be aware of what might be a cyber threat or a simple spam email, so knowing the levels of network security solutions that can be applied to your business is important. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated in their ways, and network security solutions can help protect your network in more ways than one. A potential breach is a company’s worst nightmare. Make sure it doesn’t become a reality.

Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as One of Many Network Security Solutions

Many people find multi-factor authentication (MFA) annoying, but it’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to enhance online network security solutions. MFA is primarily used when two or more verification factors are needed to gain access to a network. A simple password is not enough. This added layer of cyber security can help keep away unauthorized users from getting into your data and gaining access.

Utilizing Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW)

Another great thing to do to monitor incoming and outgoing network traffic in your online traffic is to invest in Next-Generation Firewalls. NGFWs are mainly used to figure out what is causing an intrusion in your data and how to prevent it. It can be done by being a cloud-delivered threat intelligence that fights against brute force attacks and other emerging threats. Advanced malware can have extended detection, along with other potential network security breaches.

Updating and Patching Software Systems

It’s always a good thing to update your software system from time to time. Once you keep your software and operating systems up to date, you can be one step closer to securing your network entirely. Have your IT team make regular updates, patches, and network security releases to ensure your system is always as secure as possible. By staying vigilant with your patch management program, you can significantly lower the risk of successful exploits.

Military Encrypted Phone Services

Recently, there has been an increase in businesses’ use of military-grade encrypted phone services. These services offer end-to-end encryption for all communications, making it virtually impossible for anyone to intercept and decipher sensitive information. This added layer of network security can be crucial in protecting confidential business data from cybercriminals. Fognigma has grade-a military encrypted phone services and solutions you can trust.

Application Security Solutions

Any sort of application or program companies are not as safe as one might think with security products. Threat actors can hack into any sort of email service providers or other app networks to get access to data and technology. It’s up to companies like Fognigma to offer solutions on protecting both web and mobile applications from threats. These types of endpoint security solutions can prevent attacks as well as monitor malicious activity.

Zero Trust Solution Providers

One of the emerging and most reliable approaches to network security is the zero trust model. This model ensures all users, whether internal or external, are not automatically trusted and must prove their authenticity before accessing any network resources. Many solution providers offer zero-trust solutions tailored to meet specific business needs. Consider incorporating a zero-trust model into your company’s network security strategy for enhanced protection against online and external threats.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Zero Trust Access (ZTNA) is a cloud-based approach that verifies and validates users and devices before allowing them secure access to the network. It’s one of the most proactive ways to prevent unauthorized access and protect against data breaches.

ZTNA ensures secure connectivity for all devices, whether they are company-issued or personal, making it an ideal solution for remote and hybrid work environments. It also enables granular access management and control, minimizing the risk of lateral movement in case of a breach.

Zero Trust Endpoint Network Security

Endpoints are often the most vulnerable entry points for cybercriminals looking to gain access to company networks. Zero Trust Endpoint cyber Security takes a proactive approach by continuously monitoring and verifying endpoints, ensuring they meet network security solutions standards before granting network access. This helps prevent malicious attacks from compromising sensitive data loss prevention and ensures all devices are up to date with the latest cloud security patches.

Conducting Security Audits and Penetration Testing

Having your IT team or Fognigma regularly do security audits and testing is a sure way to keep your network in tact. Think of these as like a practice drill for your security team and with these audits can help uncover weaknesses or vulnerabilities you hadn’t seen before. This is a great way to put extra layers of protection in place so that you can’t be blindsided. Treat these testing and audit exercises seriously otherwise your network defenses are at risk as well as your data.

Conclusion

In today’s increasingly digital world, businesses must prioritize network security to protect against online threats. Implementing multi-factor authentication, utilizing next-generation firewalls, regularly updating software and intrusion prevention systems, and incorporating zero-trust solutions are just a few ways to make your email security, and company network protected.

For a business looking to stay one step ahead of online hacks, Fognigma, a cybersecurity company, offers innovative solutions built to secure your network infrastructure. Our tools are designed to keep up with the dynamics of cybersecurity, and we’re committed to providing the protection your organization needs. Don’t let your guard down – enhance your network security with Fognigma today!

How to Know if a Network is Secure

January 29, 2024

by Fognigma File Server Fognigma Intelligence Community Network Dissociation Networks

In today’s world, securing and protecting business networks is imperative. There are so many scams and hacking that can affect a company negatively if they end up with access to information. Knowing if a company network is truly secure is one of the first steps to take to ensure maximum protection. Luckily for businesses, Fognigma is skilled in knowing what it takes and robust strategies, network security solutions, access management, intrusion prevention systems, and more for network security. Read on about how to keep a business safe and secure in the online environment.

What is considered network security?

remote employees can have a check point to prevent cyber attacks

Security is a lot more than having password-protected online security. Secure networks provide confidentiality, zero-trust solutions between service providers, and uninterrupted business operations. This is a valuable thing to have in today’s virtual landscape. Many would be surprised how often a business or big company gets hacked. When confidential information or data is accessed, there are a ton of negative things that can happen to an entire infrastructure. Many do not want just firewalls or antivirus software; most will need more than that. They can protect users on the surface. Fognigma can help set up extra network security services like regular audits, layered defenses, online updates, and more solutions. With these extra layers of cyber security, one can feel confident that a business will be well protected.

Identify unknown devices on a zero-trust network access.

Another great step in ensuring a network is secure is identifying unknown devices within a provider or system. One would be surprised how often customers need to learn what goes on within their network. These types of users can access, pose a significant risk, and even be a backdoor for hackers to access the information through a checkpoint. So, make sure regular checkups are happening to ensure a zero-trust network is secure.

Constantly monitor for vulnerabilities and cyber threats.

Another thing one can look out for is vulnerabilities. Any sort of new threats can creep into a zero-trust network through these vulnerabilities, and it is crucial to get rid of them so that there are not any repercussions. Sometimes, these threats are beyond control, which can be worrisome. That is why it is a good idea to trust the professionals at Fognigma to monitor these vulnerabilities through the network traffic. One will want to have real-time monitoring so that one can detect breaches early on before they cause any damage. Without help from people like us, a business’s data and end users are open to attack. Make sure to discuss how to protect service and technology before it is too late.

Enable encryption on a wireless network.

A password-protected internet sometimes cuts it. One will want to use things like WPA or WPA2 to enhance a network’s encryption for better overall zero-trust network security solutions. Also, a good networking tip is avoiding default network names or passwords. There are so many different people in the world who keep their passwords the same and simple. This is a sure way for hackers to get personal information and would require more in-depth network security solutions. The last thing most people want to do is have a person hack a firm’s data primarily because a password is too easy to guess. People often use different characters in their passwords as well as punctuation marks and numbers, so it takes more work to get secure access.

Be wary of suspicious emails and links.

There are always the common phishing emails or links that tend to be sent to employees company-wide. It is important to prepare the staff not to click strange links or open attachments from unknown senders. This is a sure way to have phishing attempts compromise an entire zero-trust network. Phishing attacks like this are one of the most common methods hackers use to gain access to a business and users’ data.

Work with a trustworthy network security solutions company.

Data breaches can happen any day, and the best thing to do is ensure a company knows data loss prevention strategies. If cyber security attacks are not taken seriously, most can face external threats affecting email security, access to sensitive information, and potentially an entire zero-trust network infrastructure. Fognigma is one of the best zero-trust solution providers and is more than knowledgeable on how to attack surfaces and malicious activity. Sensitive data will stay confidential and away from data theft or other threats. Customers sometimes need help figuring out what to do when faced with brute-force attacks, but Fognigma does.

Conclusion

Overall, thinking about a network being protected on the premises is important, and should take the necessary precautions sooner rather than later. The process can be ongoing, and various strategies, tools, and continuous monitoring are involved. Think about teaming up with a reliable cloud network security solutions Houston company like Fognigma so that one can have the highest level of protection without worrying about doing the work oneself. They have untraceable, zero-trust services that can be built across multiple cloud providers and more. Stay vigilant, and reach out to us today to learn more.

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Fognigma SOF Week 2023 Press Release

April 27, 2023

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Encryption Fognigma Intelligence Community IoT Encryption Networks VPN

Dexter Edward to demo Fognigma’s secure communication & collaboration, data security, mission partner network capabilities at SOF WEEK 2023.

Dexter Edward will be attending SOF WEEK 2023 as an exhibitor from May 8-11th at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida to demonstrate several communication and collaboration capabilities from the Fognigma product line suited for a wide variety of SOCOM operations in contested digital environments.

Fognigma is a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software that can create complete standalone mission environments in the cloud, complete with a variety of communication and collaboration tools incorporating end-to-end encryption, managed attribution, network & user anonymization and obfuscation, smart firewalls, and other security features. The product is now available for purchase via ITES-SW2 and SEWP V.

The following Fognigma capabilities will be demoed during the exhibition:

• Speakeasy. A self-owned, cloud-hosted videoconferencing solution that generates unique, disposable, user-specific misattributing access paths to conferences.

• Virtual Desktops (VDIs). Sandboxed, anonymizing cloud-hosted desktop instances deployed with a wide variety of mission tools for communication & collaboration, data collection & analysis, and more.

• Holler. A cloud-based telephony solution that protects user numbers, identities, and locations through several customizable voice & SMS capabilities for a wide variety of mission communication scenarios with trusted and untrusted parties.

• Wicket & Netcutter. A hardware device that protects the Internet activities of users and devices, facilitates connections to Fognigma’s private communication & collaboration networks, generates location-based network exit nodes, and provides remote LAN access capabilities.

Fognigma is a Technology Readiness Level 9 product that has been awarded nearly two dozen patents, and is ISO 9001:2015 accredited and FIPS 140-2
validated. The product undergoes regular penetration testing from multiple third parties, and new versions are developed, tested, and released regularly to improve security and add new capabilities driven by customer needs.

For more information on Fognigma’s capabilities, please visit booth #805 on the upper level at SOF WEEK 2023.

Securing Your Network In A Bring Your Own Device World

July 31, 2020

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Encryption Fognigma Intelligence Community IoT Encryption Networks VPN

When the entire world shifted to remote working, many companies did not have bulk technology available to let their employees take home to continue doing their job. This forced many to enforce ‘bring your own device’ or in other terms, they had to let their employees use their personal devices to continue working from home. Although this may seem like a benefit, the cyber security challenges and privacy concerns of using personal devices will cost companies more in the long run.

The Risks Of Employees Bringing Their Own Devices

Data Leakage

When employees access company information using their personal devices, especially from anywhere, it increases the possibility of company data being leaked. Mobile devices are the most susceptible to attacks. Additionally, mobile devices and tablets require frequent updates to prevent security loopholes, and if one update is missed and an employee has company data on their device, your company’s data becomes extremely vulnerable.

Higher Chances of Vulnerabilities

When employees access data from their personal devices, its nearly impossible for companies to track what data is saved on their devices. With that, if any employee connects to a public or suspicious WiFi signal, loses their phone, or forgets to install an update, whatever company data is on that device is at risk.

Malware Infections

Employees are not as careful on their personal devices as they need to be. If any employee unintentionally downloads malicious malware on their device, which is connected to the rest of the company’s network, depending on what type of malware it is, it could end up connecting to other devices on your company’s network. This would allow unauthorized users to gain access to usernames, passwords, and sensitive data posing a huge security risk.

Protecting Your Network While Allowing Your Employees To Use Their Own Device

Limit Access

Giving employees access to everything in the company is a huge security vulnerability. Employees only need access to the stuff they need to do their jobs. To ensure your company’s network security, you need to implement role-based access into your cyber security strategy. This limits employees access to only systems and data required for their job roles.

Two Factor Authentication

Nowadays, both passwords and physical devices can be stolen, which is why many companies are implementing two-factor authentication on their employee’s accounts. Two-factor authentication requires users to have two pieces of information to confirm identities before accessing whatever account they are trying to login to. Most two-factor authentication processes have a strong password with a second factor like a code sent via text message or phone. This ensure safety because even if a password were hacked or a device was stolen, the criminal would need the second piece of information to gain access to the account.

Enable Network Access Controls

Network Access Control (NAC) only lets devices connect to a network that are up to date on their software. Devices that are not will be denied access. This will save your company from a significant amount of vulnerabilities.

Lost or Stolen Protocols

Having a policy in place regarding when a device is lost or stolen will safeguard your data that is stored on that device. Its important to be able to remotely wipe the data that is on the device so that unauthorized users cannot use the device to access corporate data.

A Trusted Software Solution

In a bring your own device world, companies need a solution that secures their data no matter where their employees work, and what they are working on. Fognigma’s trusted patented software solution lets organization’s build secure, invisible, adaptable, networks anywhere, on any device, in minutes. Inside a Fognigma Network, users can quickly and easily deploy end-to-end encrypted, traceless communication and collaboration tools such as messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, phone calling, and more. Through Fognigma’s user-friendly interface, office administrators can create and assign users groups, ensuring employees only have access to the resources needed to do their job. Using simple software or hardware, users can instantly secure their connections and safely access company information from anywhere on any device. At the end of the workday, Fognigma Networks and resources can be destroyed in just a few clicks, ready to be redeployed the next day.

The Most Important Network Security Best Practices

July 23, 2020

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Encryption Fognigma Intelligence Community IoT Encryption Networks VPN

Thanks to COVID-19, most businesses are sharing sensitive company data, communicating with one another, and collaborating on projects virtually. Although the internet provides a great space for businesses to stay connected while most users are working from their homes. There is a downfall to this virtual connectivity – network attacks. The PwC Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey 2020 states that, the average number of frauds per company reported is about 6, which comes out to equal billions of US dollars lost because of these crimes. With so many threats and so much at stake, even the best network security teams cannot keep up. Companies should be following these measures to protect their business against the multitude of cyber-security dangers.

Maintain Software

One of the easiest, but most effective, solutions for network security is to update current antivirus software. Its imperative software updates are installed immediately as they become available. However, although valuable, this one single solution is not enough, especially since today’s threats are more sophisticated than ever.

Make Visibility A Priority

Most organizations think of their network security as a force repelling incoming enemies, and fail to realize that the people inside their walls are the biggest threat. According to Security Intelligence, 75% of security breaches come from insider threats. Most of these cases being unintentional but how can companies prevent insider threats? By monitoring their user’s activity within their network and restricting access to certain websites. By tracking what your users are doing, companies become aware of the situations and can see what actions happened that may have compromised their companies’ network.

Restrict User Permissions

While most insider threats are accidental, the intentional ones are the ones that cause the most damage. Most insider threats are from upset or former employees who leak/steal sensitive company information. Although it is common for most businesses to restrict access for each employee, giving users access to everything is a huge security risk. To keep your company and employees safe, employees should only have access to the resources they need to perform their job. Furthermore, organizations need to realize the malicious risks associated with employees using their own devices for work purposes. By using company-provided devices you are in control of what is on it and the accesses employees have.

Establish A Security Policy

Just by setting clear expectations and guidelines for your users can make the biggest difference. To be proactive and see where your policies fall short, perform a security risk analysis, and make adjustments where needed. To ensure employees are contributing to your network security, provide on-going security training. Its also beneficial to have a security expert on-staff, for users to reach out to when further clarification or assistance is needed.

Backup Your Data

A benefit of digital information, is that copies can easily be made. This allows organizations to copy their data information and store it in a separate, secure location off their network. This gives organizations something to refer to in case of a cyber-attack. It is important to regularly backup your data, so one data breach doesn’t ruin your entire organization.

Third Parties Are Just As Dangerous

If internal users represent such a huge part of data breaches, then third parties are just as dangerous. When organizations work with third parties, they need to access company information somehow. Giving them network access will create more entry points which creates more entry points available for malicious attacks. It is important to evaluate the third parties you are working with carefully and restrict their access as much as possible.

Education Is Key

Organizations can have a solid security strategy in place, but if their employees are not complying, your network will always be vulnerable. Securing your data and the users using the data should be a top priority. Train your employees on how to recognize and report threats, what to do to prevent them, and using/accessing data according to your company’s policy. Educating your users on how to protect your network is a huge step towards company cyber safety.

Be Prepared

You never really know when a threat is going to happen, so being prepared for the worst is crucial. Organizations must constantly monitor their networks for threats, analyze and fix the threats that do come through, and stay-up-date on cybersecurity best practices and trends.

Fognigma’s Network Solutions

Fognigma provides a variety of software and hardware solutions, that allows enterprises to completely secure their network connections. All solutions are wrapped in FIPS 140-2 validated, cascading AES-256 encryption. Fognigma’s network solutions include:

Fognigma VPN: A specialized VPN built providing streamlined, user-friendly access to private collaboration services, traceless Internet access, and discreet communications.

Wicket: A portable misattribution device that connects to a Fognigma Network and protects single users and small groups, as well as IoT and other network-enabled devices.

Gateway: A misattribution device for a headquarters environment or other facility, which provides multiple users access to multiple Fognigma Networks, over a hidden, protected network connection.

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Digital Transformation Technologies That Will Help Drive Growth

July 7, 2020

by Fognigma Cybersecurity Encryption Fognigma Intelligence Community IoT Encryption Networks VPN

While the COVID-19 crisis led organizations to face vital challenges like the inability to visit customers, decreasing sales, and stalled productions, it also drove them to improve the ability of long-distance collaboration, recognize the importance of today’s new-aged technologies, and aid digital formats of business development and operations.

Digital transformations in organizations are imperative to build long-term resilience. Just by digitalizing traditional processes will not help organizations succeed. The focus must shift to using technologies that do things in a new, improved way that embraces digital transformation. So, what digital transformation technologies will help organizations drive growth?

Automation

With social distancing becoming the new normal, businesses must adapt by automating their operations as much as possible. The benefits offered from automation is enhanced productivity and superior quality of products while keeping costs under control.

Additionally, adding automation to regular network tasks will enable services to minimize the involvement of its workforce in managing the network bringing down human error and enhancing efficiency and quality of services.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is skilled at identifying patterns from big data, and this aspect alone explains how it is significant in managing the current coronavirus crisis. The features AI applications have such as predictive analytics, natural language processing, speech recognition, image recognition, video analytics, and chatbots are helping healthcare workers diagnose and trace the spread of the COVID pandemic.

Besides supporting the healthcare industry, AI is helping sustain critical infrastructure industries like utilities, gas & oil, and transportation. Organization’s currently using AI can apply predictive analytics to map the real-time and historic data transmitted by IoT sensors on their equipment. This allows them to prevent failures before they occur, while also understanding the root causes of problems. AI makes processes quicker, more efficient, more secure, and safer.

IoT Devices

When COVID first hit, the number of businesses that deployed IoT technologies skyrocketed. The worldwide number of IoT-connected devices is projected to increase to 41.6 billion by 2025. Organizations that leverage IoT in their business strategies will come out on top, especially in cases of remote monitoring and product and process diagnostics when in-person visits are not an option. IoT devices provide increased productivity, minimizes costs with smart asset management, provide intelligent supply chain solutions, and analytics allowing organizations to unlock new revenue opportunities and enhance their customer experience. By incorporating IoT into everyday business lives organizations can track and trace assets, equipment, tools, and people.

Advanced Analytics

Uncertain times and competitive markets make it crucial for organizations to access the right data points and make informed decisions. By using data-analytics solutions, a business can be active and responsive to progressing situations. Advanced analytics will also allow organizations to identify risks and take action before major impacts.

Software That Allows Employees To Do Their Job Anywhere

With many organizations continuing their work from home structure, software like Fognigma, drives organization unity and security while building resilience even while remote. With Fognigma, users can create and deploy custom VPNs in minutes, complete with secured communication and collaboration solutions like video conferencing, secure file shares, VDIs, encrypted telephony, and user-specific message and file encryption for effective productivity.

Everything inside a Fognigma VPN is completely protected from observation, interception, and tracking, securing not only users but company data as well.