Security in itself covers a wide range of subjects in terms of businesses. Whether it is a network or physical security, corporate resources should be reinforced against potential threats. Network security is a crucial element for corporates to sustain their business over time.
Since various risks are present, businesses should secure the network infrastructure and perimeter and strengthen potential vulnerabilities. Network infrastructures face both internal and Internet-based risks daily. How to block or minimize threats is up to the network security of businesses.
There are numerous ways to ensure network security — ranging from the fundamentals to more advanced methods.
The last couple of years changed the workflow and structure of businesses, and it resulted in a shift to digitalization and cloud usage. In the digital environment, cyberattacks got more sophisticated and elaborate.
The shift to cloud-based infrastructures has increased the attack surface dramatically, leaving an open the door to exploit numerous vulnerabilities if not properly secured. According to Forbes, cybercrimes even threaten human life and safety — not only financially, reputationally, and legally.
Therefore, businesses need to take extra precautions for a secure network. Additionally, cyber-attacks are constantly evolving to be able to exploit current development within security.
That’s mainly why network security solutions can’t be considered bulletproof and should be reinforced and updated with continuous advancements in cyber threats. Also, there is no all-in-one solution for network security.
So, implementing various solutions and adopting security practices is recommended to ensure network security throughout your organization and mitigate risks.
Network Security Tips
Before implementing security solutions and practices, organizations must perform a network audit. A network audit assesses the current condition of your business. Network security audit involves analyzing potential vulnerabilities, the health of servers, applications, and software, the strengths of firewalls, anti-virus and anti-malware software, and so on.
This is to ensure security where it’s needed and identify current infrastructure. After performing a network security audit, a plan for improving security can be constructed.
Various methods exist for ensuring network security along with common auxiliary practices. These common practices include having strong network security and password policies, training employees, taking physical precautions, and updating the necessary equipment, software, application, and features.
Let’s look at 4 tips to ensure network security more broadly.
1. Get Dedicated IP
Dedicated IP, also known as static or fixed IP, is a unique identification address that is assigned to individuals via private gateways and dedicated servers. Private gateways used for dedicated IPs ensure secure and agile access to network infrastructure. Dedicated IPs are invariant and stay unique for individuals. Only assigned users can utilize dedicated IPs, and this ensures a simpler identification process.
Also, dedicated IPs are separate from local IP addresses. So, it protects the user’s identity online and ensures data privacy. Dedicated IPs allow accessing business resources and data anywhere and anytime while preventing unauthorized access with IP allowlisting. Overall, it grants control of network access in a more specific way. Click here to learn more about dedicated IPs.
2. Adopt Zero Trust Network Access
Zero Trust Network Access is a cybersecurity technology and model that secures remote access to company resources, applications, and services with a set of defined individual permissions. ZTNA embodies the Zero Trust working principle and never trust any device or user until their credentials are verified. In this manner, it is similar to IAM technology.
Additionally, ZTNA considers VPN and DMZ barriers of security perimeter as untrusted and asks for authentication whenever it detects a user or device that requests to exceed the DMZ barrier. That’s why it performs more effectively. It heavily relies on authentication and authorization.
ZTNA is a cloud-based technology and easy to establish and manage. It offers increased visibility and micro-management upon implementation. Additionally, it ensures maximized performance and availability. ZTNA is a precise technology that grants access to needed resources according to specific permissions and privileges by authenticating the identities. It enables detailed monitoring of network activity and limits network infiltration opportunities.
3. Creating Virtual Private Network
Investing in a Virtual Private Network and strong VPN protocols is crucial for companies. Since VPNs create virtual tunnels to extend the network to a remote server and secure this connection with protocols, they encrypt the connection between users and the server. A VPN ensures privacy by hiding activity and data with masked IP addresses.
A VPN also decreases the possibility of cyberattacks. It protects activities, data, files, communications, and personal information over the public Internet. It is relatively cheaper and highly accessible. Additionally, VPNs can be used as a method for companies to stay compliant as it secures customers’ data.
4. Establishing a Security Maintenance System
Maintaining the security system is just as important as ensuring initial network security. Keeping the security system up to date is essential for mitigating potential threats damaging the business. The maintenance of network security can be established by several key measures. These measures include updating software, regular revision of network names and passwords, running frequent assessments, data backups, and activity reports.
Many more practices can be implemented as a part of your maintenance schedules. Depending on the complexity of the business infrastructure and business size, the maintenance scale will change. But note that maintenance shouldn’t be left behind.
Being proactive in maintaining the current network security structure is crucial. Corporations should be aware of the rising cyber threats and act accordingly to protect the network against these dangers. An additional tip for maintenance is to keep up with and learn the latest developments in cybersecurity.
Final Remarks
Cloud environments can pose various risks to business networks. Especially in today’s world, potential threats and cybercrimes have significantly increased. Cybercriminals are continuously advancing their attacks using methods such as social engineering, phishing emails, and malvertising.
Against more sophisticated cyber threats, network security should be improved. There are numerous practices to ensure network security for your enterprise. Implementing security solutions and fundamental practices will tightly protect your corporate network if it is done properly.
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