When you have a team of individuals working on different computer systems for organizational benefit, it forms a computer network. All these systems/devices are connected to share resources and information. While this network is quite beneficial from an operational point of view, it is also essential to maintain security to prevent any unauthorized breach. This is where network security comes into the picture.
In technical terms, network security refers to the process of deploying a set of technologies to protect the integrity and usability of an organization’s network.
In this post, we will cover different sides of network security and its benefits in detail.
Network Security: Definition and Importance
Network security refers to the steps taken to protect the computer network integrity and the data it encompasses. It keeps sensitive information secure and prevents/reduces the impact of cyber attacks to maintain the usability of the network. Efficient network security measures involve deploying multiple security solutions like antimalware software, encryption technologies, and firewalls, to name a few, for data protection purposes.
The importance of network security can be gauged from the fact that it prevents unauthorized users from gaining access to valuable, sensitive data. Losing such data in the hands of hackers can cause myriad problems, including identity theft and reputational damage.
Here’s why protecting your organization’s network and the data that flows within holds significant importance:
- Adequate network security reduces the risk of operational disruption that may arise when malware, viruses, or cyberattacks compromise the business network.
- External exposure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) can cause hefty financial damage to the victim organization, be it in terms of fines, restoration of damaged devices, and loss of clients.
- Inadequate network security can also result in intellectual property theft, which can be quite damaging.
- Non-compliance with data security regulations can lead to bans, fines, and possible jail time.
Network Security Protects Against
- Viruses are malicious downloadable files that can infect multiple computers connected to a business network and destroy network data.
- Worms – a form of malware that tends to slow down the performance of a computer network and can propagate independently of other files
- Trojan, which is a backdoor program that paves an entryway for malicious users to access computer systems connected to an organizational network
- Ransomware – a type of trojan cyberware aimed at gaining money from an individual or organization whose network it affects
- Spyware – a virus that collects information about an organization or its clients and sends/sells the same to a third party without their consent.
How Does Network Security Work?
Network security is ensured with the help of both hardware and software-based tools and prevents unauthorized access between parts of or into a network. However, it requires hiring a specialized team to keep an organizational network secure and abide by the security policies/regulations.
Every system in a network where a user can access business-critical information is a point at which data security can be compromised. This usually happens either because of an external intrusion attempt or internal mistakes made by authorized users.
To further understand the working of network security parameters, it is essential to dig deeper into the security tools.
Types of Network Security Protections
While the choice of security tools varies from one network to another, here are some commonly used types of network security tools/methods:
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Access control
This security method limits network resources and systems access to only a specific set of users. As a result, it denies access to the users or systems that are not sanctioned otherwise.
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Application security
It involves monitoring and protecting firms’ business applications for various operational and administrative needs.
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Network behavior analytics
It analyzes a computer network’s behavior and functioning and automatically detects abnormal activities.
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Cloud Security
This refers to the level of security provided by cloud solution providers hired to host software and data. Here, the onus of investing money to deploy and upgrade software lies on the cloud provider.
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Firewalls
Firewalls are positioned in different areas of the computer network to inspect both incoming and outgoing traffic and prevent fraudulent access.
Switch to Verito’s Cloud for a Highly Secure Environment
For every business, it is important to understand network security and adapt to the changes in technology. As more and more information travels over the network, you must know what it looks like from the outside and how to protect it.
To protect your business data hosted on the cloud, switch to Verito’s Technologies and benefit from our best-in-class security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection, and multi-factor authentication, to name a few.
