Security 101: How to Protect Your Network
Your business’s network security is so important for preventing and detecting cyberattacks. After all, protecting your network is like protecting the physical building of your business itself — attackers can cause damage, steal important information, and even cripple your business in the long term.
Knowing the basics about how to protect your network, and what you can do to prevent attacks and breaches, is more crucial than ever given all the recent cyber attacks on retail giants M&S, Harrods and Co - op.
In this article, we’re going to go over the ins and outs of network security, and all the main methods you can use to protect your company against attackers and other security threats.
Understanding Firewalls
Firewalls are one of the most important parts of your network security. They essentially control which networks can connect to your organisation’s, by creating a barrier to block out untrusted networks and filter access.
This means you can protect your employees, your company, and your long-term prosperity.
There are many different types of firewalls. Hardware firewalls are physical devices that do this, whereas software firewalls are installed on individual devices to protect them. You can also have cloud firewalls, allowing you to protect yourself if you’re a business operating in the cloud.
Firewalls are one of the most common forms of security for businesses, as they are relatively easy to implement and maintain, but they also aren’t all-encompassing. They are, however, essential, and any business should ensure they have one to make sure they can block any unauthorised incoming connections.
The Importance of Access Control
Much like your building’s physical security, access control is vital to ensure that nobody can get unauthorised access to your business’s network. It ensures that everyone who wants to access your systems is verified as someone who should have access to the system, and everyone else is blocked.
Proper access control ensures that sensitive data, systems, and assets are protected from unauthorised access. Much like someone breaking into your office, not having access control means someone could do some serious damage to your business if they wanted.
Good access control and authentication measures can reduce the chance of a cyberattack significantly, as they act as a stop gate if someone manages to breach your systems. Even just a simple password can sometimes make a difference, but in the modern world, more complex access controls are becoming favoured.
However, against more complex attacks, there is a chance that access controls can be bypassed or completely ignored, so it’s important to combine access control with other security methods for greater security and success.
Network Monitoring Essentials
Tools that block, prevent, or secure your network are very important, but so are monitoring tools. These give you a greater way of understanding what’s happening within your network and will let you take action in the event of an attack.
Here are some of the signs you should be aware of:
· Bandwidth Usage: Bandwidth usage will help you determine if extra bandwidth is being used, which could mean there’s an abnormality that needs to be addressed.
· Latency: Higher network latency than usual could mean that your network is under extra stress.
· Endpoint Monitoring: Monitoring the endpoints in your network and flagging any unusual activity will ensure that you’re aware of devices that may need to be treated with caution.
· Firewall Logs: Monitoring firewall logs will help you track potential security threats by examining incoming and outgoing traffic.
All of these together should help you paint a clear picture of your business’s security and are vital to keep track of to know your network health. Making sure to monitor and log every event will save you a lot of headaches in the long run, and is just as important as other prevention methods.
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a network system that monitors network traffic for signs of security breaches or suspicious activity. It essentially does the work of monitoring, and ensuring that any potential threats are raised so you can stamp them out before they can cause damage.
· Analysis: Your IPS will analyse your network traffic and compare it to known attack patterns or behaviours, to point out any common attacks coming your way. This can be a signature, anomaly, or even just pointing out unique patterns that could signal an attack.
· Prevention: An IPS will block traffic, quarantine the affected system, and alert administrators to ensure that action can be taken swiftly. This is to mitigate damage and protect the wider network.
· Logging and Reporting: The IPS will log and record every security event. This is valuable for auditing, troubleshooting, and compliance reporting.
All in all, an IPS will be able to ensure that your network is safe and protected and alert you if anything seems out of the ordinary.
Protect Your Business Today
Your business’s security is vital, and that includes your network security.
If you’re looking for a helping hand but don’t know where to start, reach out to our expert team today.