The terms network security and computer security often refer to detection and prevention of various unauthorized users (Intruders) from accessing the important or confidential information from a computer or network. Security measures help in detecting and preventing the hackers from entering in to one’s Pc’s or the network systems. They help you in knowing about different intruders who tried to break in to a computer or network system. Detection helps you to find out about whether the intruders tried to break in to your computer or the network system, it also gets the detailed information about the activities of intruders if they successfully break in to your Pc’s or the network system.
Importance of Network security
Computers and internet have become an important part and parcel of one’s life. As per today’s technological advancements, life in the absence of computer is almost imaginary. We use it almost for every purpose like banking and financial transactions, education, payment of various bills, shopping, conducting trade and commerce and so on. Besides it also plays a crucial role in communicating with one and another through various chat and email programs like Yahoo, gmail, MSN, skype and so on. This communication may not be confidential and most important; yet there still exists a little scope for unauthorized users to break in to your Pc’s.
Lack of proper security arrangements may cause the huge loss of your confidential data such as your financial information, details of your shares and investments, information about your contracts/projects and so on.
Inappropriate security measures always hehlp the intruders to gain control over your Pc’s. It allows them to access all your private data by hiding in an unknown place. Even if you are connected to internet just to check your mails and play games, the intruders may still target your computer and rob the information that’s supposed to be hidden. They can even format your computer and change the data with out your knowledge.
Intruders, attackers or hackers can watch all your activities online; they can even take away all your user names/passwords and access your personal data like emails, photos, pictures, messages and so on. Once if they get hold of your computer, it’s very difficult for the users to escape from their hands.
This necessitated the emergence of network security in the industry. As many new companies and organizations of various fields are surfacing, the concept of network security aquired tremendous significance in the recent past.
The Process of Network Security
Network security and information security are used interchangeably. They both aim at providing the necessary security measures by keeping all unauthorized users or the intruders away from the office premises. Network security refers to deploying the required security forces at the boundaries of a company/organization to prevent the unauthorized users from entering in to the office. On the other hand, the information security refers to explicitly protecting the information from internal malwares or the mistakes commited by your internal staff members.
Network security can be implemented by deploying the proper user authentication system through establishing different security points in and around the company/organization. The users have to cross these boundaries to access the protected information. Once the users properly enter in with their assigned authentications, a firewall verifies the details and decides whether the required information can be accessed by the user or not.
The system of authentication varies from company to company depending on the level of their services. There can be one factor authentication, two factor authentication and three factor authentication depending on the severity of the data.
One factor authentication includes a user name and password. Two factor authentication consists of a security token or 'dongle', an ATM card, or your mobile phone, similarly, three factor authentication comprises a fingerprint or retinal scan besides the already assigned user name and password.
Network Security Management
Security for various networks cannot be the same as it varies from company to company. A small business or a home may require basic security measures while medium and large enterprises/organizations may require high maintenance with advanced hardware and software to keep out malicious attacks from hackers and spammers.
Network security system for small home or large business/enterprises
Whether it’s a small home or large business/organizations , they should continuously be monitored by the following security measures to prevent the hackers from attacking our Pc’s.- A basic firewall like COMODO Internet Security or a unified threat management system.
- Basic Antivirus and internet security software like AVG Antivirus, ESET NOD32 Antivirus,Kaspersky, McAfee, or Norton AntiVirus, An anti-spyware program such as Windows Defender or Spybot.
- Assign STATIC IP addresses to network devices.
- Disable ICMP ping on router.
- Review router or firewall logs to help identify abnormal network connections or traffic to the Internet.
- Use passwords for all accounts and change them on weekly basis
- Have multiple accounts per family member.
- Use non-administrative accounts for day-to-day activities.
- Disable the guest account (Control Panel Administrative Tools.
- Computer Management Users, Raise awareness about information security to children and employees).
- Use an optional network analyzer or network monitor.
- Appoint an enlightened administrator or manager.
- Exercise physical security precautions to employees.
- Implement physical security management like closed circuit television and IP cameras for entry areas and restricted zones.
- Security fencing to mark the company's perimeter.
- Fire extinguishers for fire-sensitive areas like server rooms and security rooms.
- Security guards can help to maximize security.
Conclusion
Thus, providing the required security for our computer networks is as important as the confidential information of the company. Therefore, whether it’s a small home/business or the large enterprise, the confidentiality of the information is indispensable for sustaining themselves in today’s technological world.
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