In this article, we shall be discussing the importance of Network Security Protection. Network security protection is the protection of the underlying networking infrastructure from unauthorized access, misuse, or theft. It involves creating a secure infrastructure for devices, applications, users, and applications to work in a secure manner. It is the protection of your network and data from vandals, intruders, and other threats. This is a broad and all-encompassing term that describes hardware and software solutions and processes or rules and configurations related to network usage, accessibility and overall threat protection. Network security includes access control, virus and antivirus software, application security, network analytics, firewalls, VPN encryption, and more.
Importance of Network Security
Cybersecurity is critical to protecting customer data and information, keeping shared data safe, ensuring reliable access and network performance, and protecting against cyberthreats. A well-designed cybersecurity solution reduces overhead and protects organizations from costly losses caused by data breaches or other security incidents. Ensuring lawful access to systems, applications and data facilitates business operations and the delivery of services and products to customers.
Here are four main reasons why securing your network and the data it contains is important:
- Operational risk. Businesses without proper cybersecurity can disrupt their operations. Business and home networks rely on devices and software that cannot function effectively when compromised by viruses, malware, and cyber-attacks. Businesses also rely on networks for most internal and external communications.
- The financial risk of a personally identifiable information (PII) breach. Data breaches can be costly to both individuals and businesses. Organizations that handle personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers and passwords, must keep it secure. Exposure can cost victims money in the form of fines, remediation, and repairs to damaged equipment. Data breaches and disclosures can also ruin a company’s reputation and expose it to lawsuits.
- Financial risk for compromised intellectual property. Organizations may also have their intellectual property stolen, which is costly. Loss of a company’s ideas, inventions and products can result in loss of business and competitive advantage.
- Regulatory issues. Many governments require companies to comply with data security regulations that cover all aspects of cybersecurity. For example, healthcare organizations in the United States must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, while organizations in the European Union that process citizens’ data must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Violation of these regulations may result in fines, bans and possible imprisonment.
Types of Network Security Protections
Firewall
Firewalls use predefined security rules to control incoming and outgoing data traffic on a network. Firewalls keep unfriendly traffic out and are an essential part of everyday computing. Network security relies heavily on firewalls, especially next-generation firewalls that focus on blocking malware and application-level attacks.
network segmentation
Network segmentation defines boundaries between network segments where assets within a group share a common function, risk, or role within the organization. For example, a perimeter gateway separates a corporate network from the Internet. Protect against potential threats outside your network and ensure your company’s sensitive data stays on-premises. Organizations can go a step further by defining additional internal boundaries within their network that provide enhanced security and access control.