Network security: Building your lines of defense to protect against every threat

The network security game has changed

Company data is becoming more and more difficult to secure. The firewall built to keep security threats from entering a company’s network will do its job, but it is no longer enough. With increasing capabilities to connect, digitize, and mobilize technologies or drop data in the cloud, companies are taking full advantage. However, this innovation poses new opportunities for security breaches and companies need to approach network security in layers.

If you build it, they will come -- so you must protect it

Cybercriminal activity is at an all-time high, especially targeting small to mid-size businesses. Cybercriminals know small companies are often vulnerable, lacking the expertise or resources to fend them off. Today’s pernicious attackers have far too many ways to make inroads into your company’s networks. Some can lurk on company networks for months and even years before they are discovered.

Their offenses include but are not limited to:

• stolen access credentials
• malware
• ransomware
• phishing
• structured query language injection attacks
• distributed denial-of-service attacks

What if the greatest security threat is an inside job?

The biggest blind spot is so close it’s sitting next to us--or even staring back at us in the mirror. Employees are still the weakest link in any security defense. IBM has been preaching about this since at least 2014 when its Cyber Security Intelligence Index reported that 95% of incidents were a result of human error. Time and again, hackers use calculated tactics to gain employee trust and encourage them to click on malicious links, authorize wire transfers and enter their details into fake websites. The best remedy to this blind spot is employee education, thus building up Human Firewall Security.

Read more on pointers to share with employees to help fortify The Human Firewall

Network security in layers

If you imagine your network and computer security in layers, every layer of defense is important and works in concert with the other layers to create a wraparound strategy.

Beginning from the inner core of an organization,  your human firewall must be vigilant for threats and cybersecurity breaches. This may require training. For other layers,  regular testing should occur on your technologies and systems.

Want to learn more about the layered approach?

Download the Security in Layers white paper

Proactive IT network security requires threat hunting

To optimize your data security, you need a threat hunter. It requires proactive monitoring and neutralizing of network threats before they materialize.

The SANS Institute describes threat hunting as a "focused and iterative approach to searching out, identifying and understanding adversaries that have entered the defender’s networks." If implemented correctly, a threat hunting capability can reduce attacker dwell time on your network, and prevent your exposure to new risks.

Threat hunting essentially flips the script on passive data security that simply seeks to respond to security incidents and alerts. Threat hunting will require your company to identify potential vulnerabilities within your systems and network in order to protect those assets first.

Ransomware is the top IT security risk businesses face. A recent example involves South Korean web-hosting firm Nayana which agreed to pay $1M to unlock computers that hackers had frozen. Needless revenue lost to hackers can affect every reach of an organization. 

This infographic highlights four areas to focus your efforts to keep your data secure.

The home user

While not all products and services that keep businesses and enterprises secure are available for home users, IT security is just as important -- especially when users are sharing and storing personal data.
This page offers a host of resources and concepts to fortify your home IT security.

Considering a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

Trained analysts with skills in security operations, incident response, forensics, and malware analysis can protect your companies’ valuable assets and help your IT gain a competitive advantage.

Many companies find hiring an MSP for their IT a worthy investment. It is nearly impossible for 1-2 people to have all the skills needed to handle all of the data security as well as the daily IT needs a business needs to keep it moving forward. This is where an MSP differentiates itself from an in-house IT person. MSPs have deep skills in a wide range of technologies and are capable of threat hunting at a level that reduces risks for the long-term.

“When it comes to digitally transforming a company’s business, cybersecurity must be part of that conversation from the start.” - MIT Technology Review

Does your organization need an in-depth assessment of its network security?