The internet holds many sensitive data that can be accessed through networks. The different data that spans the internet cuts across diverse industries, including technology, security, finance, etc. If these data are not appropriately protected, they could get into the wrong hands and be used against an organization; hence, network security becomes necessary.
What is Network Security?
Network security is all the strategies and practices deployed to ensure sanity within a network and secure data from unauthorized access.
Network security harnesses tools and various solutions to stop potential cyberattacks and prevent the spread if a breach occurs. In today’s world, every organization is prone to network attacks regardless of the industry. While Fortunly states that the finance industry experienced 71% of all attacks, those in the fashion, energy, and least attacked sector remain vulnerable.
When implementing network security, all solutions must be implemented under the foundational principles of network security. For example, almost everyone practices the authentication process of assigning a user ID and password before accessing resources. But network security also concerns monitoring how data is used, controlling access to different aspects of resources, and preventing any attempted modification or misuse in the system.
Now let’s take a brief look at why you must highly consider network security.
Why is Network Security Important?
The use of the internet has increased massively, especially as COVID-19 subsides and organizations resumed integrating both remote and hybrid systems. Unfortunately, due to this spike in internet use, hackers and attackers have also increased massively, making the internet experience a high number of attacks.
Network security is very important to the protection of business resources based on the following points:
Network security is critical for data protection: Big and small businesses and private and public individuals who use the internet, whether regularly or occasionally, have the information they tag ‘sensitive’ and would not want to be easily accessed. This information could be personal or financial, and integrating an effective security system will restrict that information to where you authorize them to be used.
Network security enhances how your network performs. Aside from securing your cyberinfrastructure, network security also helps to make your network run better. It prevents redundant apps and tools and unwarranted activities from affecting your network efficiency.
Network security prevents ransomware: Ransomware is the most common attack experienced on the internet. They are the kinds of attacks that involve the attacker threatening to block total access to your data if a ransom is not paid. They can affect both small and big organizations alike.
Network security saves money: The kind of experience that comes with a successful cyberattack has devastating effects on organizations. For instance, the breach on Yahoo! company ended up costing them a whopping $350million. Attacks can leave a company in total wreck.
Network security is highly lucrative: Network security is in huge demand globally due to increased cyberattacks. As a result, companies are constantly looking to employ network security specialists to help improve their cyber security and performance.
ZipRecruiter says the average salary of a Network Security Specialist in the United States is $97,655 a year. A figure equivalent to $8,138 per month, $1,878 per week, and $46.95 per hour!
Types of Network Security
1. Web Security
Web security software protects a customer’s web gateway and restricts internet access for employees to prevent connection with malware-infected sites.
2. Firewalls
Firewalls are popular measures to secure cyberspace. They filter traffic coming in and going out of a network by comparing data packets against a provided set of rules and policies, thereby avoiding breaches on the network.
3. Application Security
Application security is a type of network security that involves incorporating, testing, and improving security features in an application to prevent threats and attacks or unauthorized modification of resources. Routine checks are very important on applications to help organizations uncover and mitigate flaws in web applications.
4. Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware
Anti-virus and anti-malware are critical to preventing access to malicious software on networks. Cybercriminals use malware and viruses to create a backdoor to infiltrate networks and manipulate data.
Anti-virus and anti-malware are not the same in their functionalities. While anti-virus prevents and protects networks by proactively halting infected endpoint access, anti-malware detects and eliminates malicious activities.
5. Email Security
Email security defends networks from experiencing phishing attacks. Phishing attacks aim to trick email users into downloading malware to a network or clicking unsecured links. Email security combats phishing by identifying these potential attacks and filtering them out before they wreak havoc on a network.
6. Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
VPNs secure remote network access by encrypting data transferred and disguising user and location identity. VPNs help to bolster enterprise network security and are widely used by a remote workforce that needs to access a company’s network and use data required for their role.