Types of Network Security

What are the different types of network security devices and tools?

There are quite a few different networking security tools you can incorporate into your line-up of services. The following list is by no means exhaustive, but available security tools can include:

• Access control. This refers to controlling which users have access to the network or especially sensitive sections of the network. Using security policies, you can restrict network access to only recognized users and devices or grant limited access to noncompliant devices or guest users. 
• Antivirus and anti-malware software. Malware, or “malicious software,” is a common form of cyberattack that comes in many different shapes and sizes. Some variations work quickly to delete files or corrupt data, while others can lie dormant for long periods of time and quietly allow hackers a back door into your systems. The best antivirus software will monitor network traffic in real time for malware, scan activity log files for signs of suspicious behavior or long-term patterns, and offer threat remediation capabilities.
• Application security. Each device and software product used within your networking environment offers a potential way in for hackers. For this reason, it is important that all programs be kept up-to-date and patched to prevent cyberattackers from exploiting vulnerabilities to access sensitive data. Application security refers to the combination of hardware, software, and best practices you use to monitor issues and close gaps in your security coverage.
• Behavioral analytics. In order to identify abnormal behavior, security support personnel need to establish a baseline of what constitutes normal behavior for a given customer’s users, applications, and network. Behavioral analytics software is designed to help identify common indicators of abnormal behavior, which can often be a sign that a security breach has occurred. By having a better sense of each customer’s baselines, MSPs can more quickly spot problems and isolate threats.
• Data loss prevention. Data loss prevention (DLP) technologies are those that prevent an organization’s employees from sharing valuable company information or sensitive data—whether unwittingly or with ill intent—outside the network. DLP technologies can prevent actions that could potentially expose data to bad actors outside the networking environment, such as uploading and downloading files, forwarding messages, or printing.
• Distributed denial of service prevention. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are becoming increasingly common. They function by overloading a network with one-sided connection requests that eventually cause the network to crash. A DDoS prevention tool scrubs incoming traffic to remove nonlegitimate traffic that could threaten your network, and may consist of a hardware appliance that works to filter out traffic before it reaches your firewalls.
• Email security. Email is an especially important factor to consider when implementing networking security tools. Numerous threat vectors, like scams, phishing, malware, and suspicious links, can be attached to or incorporated into emails. Because so many of these threats will often use elements of personal information in order to appear more convincing, it is important to ensure an organization’s employees undergo sufficient security awareness training to detect when an email is suspicious. Email security software works to filter out incoming threats and can also be configured to prevent outgoing messages from sharing certain forms of data.
• Firewalls. Firewalls are another common element of a network security model. They essentially function as a gatekeeper between a network and the wider internet. Firewalls filter incoming and, in some cases, outgoing traffic by comparing data packets against predefined rules and policies, thereby preventing threats from accessing the network.
• Mobile device security. The vast majority of us have mobile devices that carry some form of personal or sensitive data we would like to keep protected. This is a fact that hackers are aware of and can easily take advantage of. Implementing mobile device security measures can limit device access to a network, which is a necessary step to ensuring network traffic stays private and doesn’t leak out through vulnerable mobile connections.
• Network segmentation. Dividing and sorting network traffic based on certain classifications streamlines the job for security support personnel when it comes to applying policies. Segmented networks also make it easier to assign or deny authorization credentials for employees, ensuring no one is accessing information they should not be. Segmentation also helps to sequester potentially compromised devices or intrusions.
• Security information and event management. These security systems (called SIEMs) combine host-based and network-based intrusion detection systems that combine real-time network traffic monitoring with historical data log file scanning to provide administrators with a comprehensive picture of all activity across the network. SIEMs are similar to intrusion prevention systems (IPS), which scan network traffic for suspicious activity, policy violations, unauthorized access, and other signs of potentially malicious behavior in order to actively block the attempted intrusions. An IPS can also log security events and send notifications to the necessary players in the interest of keeping network administrators informed.
• Web security. Web security software serves a few purposes. First, it limits internet access for employees, with the intention of preventing them from accessing sites that could contain malware. It also blocks other web-based threats and works to protect a customer’s web gateway.

What are the principles of network security?

There are three principles within the concept of network security—confidentiality, integrity, and availability—which together are sometimes referred to as the “CIA triad.” A network can only be considered secure when it has all three elements in play simultaneously.

Confidentiality works to keep sensitive data protected and sequestered away from where it can be accessed by the average user. This goes hand-in-hand with the principle of availability, which seeks to ensure that data and resources are kept accessible for those who are authorized to access them. Challenges to availability can include DDoS attacks or equipment failure. The principle of integrity seeks to protect information from intentional or accidental changes in order to keep the data reliable, accurate, and trustworthy.

Every decision made regarding network security should be working to further at least one of these principles. This means that MSPs need to ask if each decision will ensure that data is kept confidential, that its integrity will be protected, and that it will be made more easily available to those with authorization to access it.

Why are these network security concepts so important? Cyberattacks are on the rise, with a recent report from Positive Technologies showing that government and healthcare organizations are becoming prime targets for hackers. The report also shows the goal of more than half of cybercrimes is data theft, and that financial gain was the motivation behind 42% of cyberattacks against individuals—and behind 30% of cyberattacks against organizations.

As our world becomes increasingly digitized, we rely more and more on the internet and networks to function. This in turn requires that the internet and networks provide us with reliable and secure service.

However, as more of our personal and sensitive data is stored in electronic repositories and archives, hackers are turning their attention to networked systems. For this reason, it is imperative that MSPs and security support personnel offer customers robust security systems that protect data from various threat vectors.

Interested in learning more about network security? Explore our product suite to see how you can monitor and prepare for potential threats.