What is network infrastructure security?
Your organization or enterprise has put in a great deal of time and effort to establish your network’s infrastructure. Countless hours have been invested in developing the proper resources to ensure your network provides connectivity, operation, management, and communication. The intricate architecture and strategy of your hardware, software and services are all now functioning for optimal and reliable use.
But how do you protect all of this dynamic and hard-earned effort?
We examine an understanding of how you can secure your network infrastructure in this article. This discovery involves defining network infrastructure security and offering insights into the benefits and necessity of prioritizing your network’s security.
Introduction to network infrastructure and security
Let’s first define what security will cover.
Your network infrastructure is comprised of numerous parts. Networks contain hardware, ranging from routers and switches to cables, LAN cards, and more. These structures also consist of network software, including operating systems, intrusion detection systems, management systems, firewalls, or security applications. The final primary component of a network infrastructure relates to its services. Examples of such services may involve T-1 lines, IP addressing, satellite, DSL, or wireless protocols.
Each of these necessary components—hardware, software, and services—may contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited by intentional or unintentional actions. Network infrastructure security is designed to offer complex and multifaceted resources for securing against internal or external threats. Infrastructures can be vulnerable to attacks such as denial-of-service, unauthorized access, spam, or malware.
These threats are mostly associated with external attacks, but network security measures should also consider internal issues. Examples may include deletion, modification, data leakage, accidental downloads of malicious content, or illegal activities.
The function of network infrastructure security
Network infrastructure security is a set of procedures that cannot be approached as a stagnant process. Establishing a security strategy for your network involves regular and perpetual effort. To implement a security method is only the first step. Your network’s underlying infrastructure should consider a variety of approaches to implementation, maintenance, and ongoing active processes.
We recommend the following practices when considering how your network infrastructure security should function successfully and reliably.
Validate and monitor hardware/software: Any network security function relies on valid hardware and software. We recommend that there be formal and regular practices to verify and monitor your network’s hardware and software. Some illicit products can be manufactured with malicious content that may intentionally present vulnerabilities. Confirming the good character of any new products should be conducted before installation. And to ensure the ongoing integrity, security strategies should perform continuous monitoring and validation efforts on hardware and software.
Dynamic security access: An advisable function of any network security is to take an active security access approach. This relates to the level of access offered to members of the organization or business. Administrative access or constraints can be applied in a dynamic method, managing access privileges and administrative credentials. Further securing the authenticity of users through multi-factor authentication is highly recommended.
Structured subdivisions: A core function of network security also employs a structure of subdivisions. Creating segmented portions in your infrastructure provides an opportunity to mitigate the spread of a potential threat. Suppose one segment of a network is attacked. In that case, the other components can be shut down or warded off to avoid the risk’s proliferation. These segments can be executed using physical or virtual resources. Multiple physical routers can be established to manage varying network segments, or virtual designs can be implemented without hardware.
We have covered a few core functioning principals to network infrastructure security, but there are numerous other functions for developing reliable protection. It is also recommended to adhere to industry standards concerning encryption, strong passwords, securing routers, backing up data, and finding ways to restrict access to hardware components.
Any network infrastructure security strategy can also benefit from a team of experts in technology and business, such as the services provided by Network Coverage.
Varieties of network infrastructure security
Different varieties of security are involved in network infrastructure. These varying types include both physical and virtual security measures. We have listed some of the most common varieties below.
Firewalls: At its most basic, a firewall functions to monitor and mitigate traffic through a network. Firewalls can consist of hardware and software resources. In many cases, firewalls serve as a buffer against unauthorized access from the internet. They can also be used on routers to permit the safe transfer of data on private networks or secure remote access to a network.
Antivirus Protection: These are solutions designed to monitor, identify, and discard threatening software. Implemented initially to combat viruses on computers, antiviral software can also institute protection from adware, keyloggers, spyware, URL threats, spam, and common phishing threats.
Virtual Private Network (VPN): Using advanced methods for encrypting connections between endpoints, a VPN can generate secure data transfer channels through the internet.
Detection Systems: Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems monitor, record, defend, and report any potential destructive activities in a network. These intrusion detection systems can observe the network, document information about an activity, implement response protocols, and submit exhaustive reports that detail its observations.
There are numerous ways to categorize varieties of network infrastructure security. This list covers a few of the most common and critical. Other security types regard control to access and application, analyzing behavior, or securing wireless devices and activities.
Resources
The benefits of network infrastructure security are broad and essential. A company or enterprise stands to reduce costs, improve productivity, secure internal communications, and ensure critical data remains protected.
Implementing and maintaining a viable security strategy for your network infrastructure can be complicated and require significant effort. Specialists can assist in this essential and ongoing process.
For experienced advice and support on designing and implementing effective security measures, you can explore expert technology solutions for business strategy by setting up a consultation with Network Coverage.