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IT has changed significantly from the traditional client-server environment of years past to what we now have today, which is mainly driven by the widespread trend of digital transformation. This has led to an ever-increasing adoption and interaction of mobile devices and cloud resources like IoT, SaaS, and IaaS. Such innovations have ultimately expanded the communication abilities of people and devices alike, but amidst this constant change, one aspect remains constant, and that is the underlying network on which everything depends on. Therefore, no matter what form it takes, networks must be protected to ensure the integrity, accessibility, and confidentiality of everything connected to them. This is where network security comes in to do just that.
Network security is a broad term encompassing a multitude of devices, processes, technologies, and sets of rules and configurations designed to safeguard computer networks and data against data loss, unauthorised access, and cyberattacks. Apart from the network itself, it also secures network-accessible assets and traffic both inside the perimeter and at the network edge. While there is much that goes into making an effective network security programme, network security is crucial in modern networking, and there are a few simple implementations that can significantly bolster this key aspect of cybersecurity.
Organisations must have some degree of control security-wise over the devices that connect to their network, be they privately owned or belonging to the company. This ensures vulnerabilities – particularly those that piggyback on devices that were previously connected to insecure networks–are far less likely to make their way into the business’s digital environment.
For organisations with a remote or hybrid workforce, it becomes all the more important to balance security and accessibility so that employees can still securely access what they need to do their jobs without being severely inconvenienced. Naturally, the network they use at home or elsewhere will never be as secure as the one in the office, which is why it is recommended to implement solutions like virtual private networks or any other cybersecurity services that can facilitate secure remote work.
No software out there is perfect and free of bugs and security, hence the constant stream of patches and updates that roll out for virtually every application still in use today. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for these imperfections and security oversights that can be exploited for their attacks. As such, it is more important than ever to install these update packages as soon as they go live to avoid breaches and the dire consequences that follow them.
That said, even these patches often come with their own host of issues and can break things unexpectedly. This has given rise to the best practice of testing the update first before deploying the patch to their live systems. While this is not necessarily a bad policy, it is essential to complete this process as quickly as possible to prevent the organisation from being exposed to more risk.
One cannot talk about network security without touching on the idea of managing data access according to a user’s position in the company hierarchy and whether their role warrants access to the data in question. Not every employee requires access to the same information – data critical to one department may be irrelevant to another. More importantly, it is essential to ensure that only authorised users can access the network and its resources.
Security experts agree that relying solely on passwords for authentication is no longer sufficient, which is why virtually all industries have now adopted multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires users to provide an additional layer of identity verification. This could involve using time-sensitive codes or physical security keys, enhancing security by ensuring that access is granted only to verified users.
Understanding which security solutions you currently have in place and how they measure up against industry standards is essential. This involves comparing your practices to established benchmarks to see how well they align with what’s considered acceptable. These assessments provide valuable insights into where your security efforts may be falling short, which then pinpoints the critical gaps that require targeted actions for effective remediation.
Nowadays, modern businesses need to place their network security among their top priorities if they want to significantly mitigate the risk of data breaches and other cyber threats to their operations. Although managing this seems like a Herculean task at first, successfully implementing the concepts discussed above can considerably help secure your business’s future.
If your organisation is looking to bolster its network security, Group8 has the resources and expertise to make it happen. With our offensive-inspired cybersecurity solutions at your fingertips, you can rest assured that your overall cybersecurity posture can get to the level you want it to be. Contact us today at hello@group8.co to learn more about our services.