What Is Network Security? Definition, Types, and Best Practices

Network security protects your computer and the information it contains from unauthorized access. A variety of means may implement network security.

It may involve firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), anti-malware software, and encryption technologies. Network security threats include external attacks such as viruses or hackers; internal attacks such as:

  • An employee uses a stolen laptop to read confidential information on company servers.
  • Single points of failure that can be protected or eliminated but will take time, money, and expertise.
  • Software flaws can cause damage through as much hacking as malicious employees stealing data off servers remotely.
  • Unsecured email servers are a top risk for businesses.

This article briefs you about what network security is, how firewall as a service works, its benefits if you have a business in a public cloud, a few network security examples, and some of the network security best practices.

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Network Security and Its Benefits

Network security is a collection of tools, policies, and procedures designed to protect your computer and its information from unauthorized access. A variety of means may implement network security.

This includes physical protection (such as locking doors), network segmentation (using firewalls or virtual private networks), and monitoring tools.

Many organizations use firewalls as part of their network security infrastructure because they provide several benefits:

  • Allow you to control what traffic passes through them.
  • Can limit the amount of bandwidth used by certain applications.
  • Prevent unauthorized access by stopping all traffic from reaching certain ports on your computer if an attack occurs.
  • Provide an added layer of protection against common attacks such as buffer overflows and packet sniffers.

Firewall as a Service

A firewall is a network security device that blocks access to specific applications and services, it is used to protect your organization’s internal networks from malicious attacks, such as viruses, attacks, and other malware.

They also protect your business from unauthorized access by users on the internet, who could exploit weaknesses in the system through vulnerabilities in software or hardware components.

Firewall as a service provider provides all of the above features plus additional services like:

  • Monitoring traffic flows across their networks using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to identify suspicious behavior before it ever reaches your computers or servers.
  • Providing threat intelligence updates for all users so they know about any new threats which may impact them directly.
  • Providing custom application whitelisting technology so you can control which applications can be accessed through their security solution without having to individually configure each one manually every time there’s an update available.
  • Offering customized reporting capabilities so you can analyze trends over time that help identify any patterns related to malicious activity in our environment.

If your business is in the public cloud domain, you might wonder if a firewall as a service is right for you and your business’ growth.

It is a quick and easy solution to protect your network, then a firewall as a service may be the best option. It allows you to quickly deploy a secure network without spending time or money on hardware and software maintenance.

Also Read: What is Public Cloud

Public Cloud Network Security

Cloud security is a complex problem. It’s a shared responsibility between the cloud provider and customer, but it’s also an evolving one that requires ongoing vigilance. The layers of complexity can be broken down into three main areas:

  • Security controls within the network itself.
  • Threat detection and prevention mechanisms.
  • Enforcement of policies or regulations.

Network Security Example

Here are a few network security examples that will help you understand why you must deploy network security in your organization:

  • A network security incident is an attack on a network. It can be a threat to your company’s data, or it could just be someone trying to intrude on your systems.
  • A network security breach means someone has gained unauthorized access to a computer system, such as through password guessing or by installing malware on their computer.
  • A network security attack is when someone tries to hack into the systems of businesses and organizations to gain access and steal valuable business assets such as credit card numbers, money, and personal information. This kind of activity is cybercrime because criminals use hacking tools that allow them to do this activity without being detected by authorities.

Best Practices for Network Security

Network security is a topic that can be confusing to understand, and you must be aware of what network security best practices are. Here are some things you should keep in mind:

  • When considering network security, think about:
  • How does your organization handle data?
  • Is there an expectation that all employees should use their own devices?
  • Do they need to access information from other departments or outside vendors?
  • How will those policies change over time?
  • Ensure that everyone in your organization understands how to respond if they’re ever exposed to an external attacker. That includes employees who aren’t directly responsible for IT operations (for example, a business analyst). In addition, establish procedures for reporting any suspicious activity so that you can take appropriate action immediately.

Public Cloud & Network Security Threats

Network security is a collection of tools, policies, and procedures designed to protect your computer and its information from unauthorized access. This is done by using firewalls, anti-virus software, or even just having good passwords.

Network security threats are categorized as external attacks and internal attacks.

  • External threats include viruses, worms, and Trojan horses that come through email or file sharing programs like Dropbox.
  • Internal threats include hackers who attempt to break into systems to steal data or cause other problems for businesses or individuals who use these networks.

Also Read: Block Storage Vs Object Storage

How to Implement Network Security?

You can implement network security is a wide variety of means. The tools, policies, and procedures used to protect your computer and the information it contains from unauthorized access can fall into one of three broad categories:

  • External attacks – An external attack is when a hacker attempts to access your network outside your system. These attacks are characterized by their sheer size and scope.

They often involve thousands of computers worldwide or even in many different countries simultaneously.

  • Internal attacks – An internal attack occurs within your network rather than through an external connection (like a public internet).

These attacks tend to be smaller in scope with fewer targets than their external counterparts because they require physical access to most networks.

This is why these kinds of intrusions are difficult to implement for most people without sophisticated tools available only at a high cost.

External threats are more likely to come from outside the network, while internal threats are more likely to arise within the organization. The most common external threat is hacking or malicious activity.

In contrast, internal threats can include human error (e.g., a user accidentally clicking on an infected link).

Once you’ve identified a threat that could impact your network security policies and procedures, it’s time to implement some type of solution!

Understanding a Single Point of Failure (SPOF) in Network Security

If you’re looking for ways to secure your network, you may have heard the term single points of failure (SPOF). This refers to a component in a network most vulnerable and susceptible to attack. SPOF can be protected or eliminated, but it takes time, money, and expertise.

For example:

  • A single internet router could be taken down by malware on an infected computer; this might prevent other users from accessing their data (and causing them all sorts of problems).
  • A single server hosting important information could be attacked by hackers—or even a leaky pipe!

Also Read: How to Find Best GPU for Deep Learning

Are Software Flaws Dangerous?

Software flaws can cause as much damage as hackers or malicious employees. They are often the source of larger attacks that affect your network and your company’s reputation.

Software flaws are a common source of security breaches because there are so many different ways to exploit them, like:

  • Malicious individuals can use software vulnerabilities to break into systems; this includes: Social engineering
  • Phishing scams (where an email contains a link that looks like it leads somewhere safe but goes to a site where you’re asked for personal information
  • Other types of manipulation or trickery
  • Malicious software will also exploit these vulnerabilities by taking advantage of known bugs in operating systems/applications/hardware components like routers/firewalls/webcams etc.

Because of this, you need extra precautions against threats because even if those things don’t have any problems themselves, they may still be able to access sensitive data without your notice if someone else has already exploited one beforehand!

Unsecured email servers are a top risk for businesses. Email servers are vulnerable to attacks. They can be hacked to steal data, send spam, malware and phishing emails, or ransomware.

Email servers are a top risk for businesses because they store all of your company’s critical information and business records in one place.

Any hacker who gains access to the network can access sensitive data, passwords, and other authentication credentials that could give them full control over your entire network infrastructure.

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Importance of Network Security Is Growing

Network security is more important today than ever before. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including:

  • A rise in cyber attacks
  • Increase in data breaches
  • Major ransomware attacks (like WannaCry) and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) that target networks for financial gain or national security purposes.

Conclusion

To keep up with these changes in technology, you need to understand how networks work. Today, as more and more information travels over the internet, it’s increasingly important to be aware of what your network looks like from the outside.

Network security is a constantly evolving field that can make or break your public cloud business if it isn’t handled correctly.

That is why it is wise to contact a good firewall as a service provider to implement those best practices into your environment so that everyone has a safe place for their data to live.

About Nolan Foster

With 20+ years of expertise in building cloud-native services and security solutions, Nolan Foster spearheads Public Cloud and Managed Security Services at Ace Cloud Hosting. He is well versed in the dynamic trends of cloud computing and cybersecurity.
Foster offers expert consultations for empowering cloud infrastructure with customized solutions and comprehensive managed security.

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