Your business’s network security is one of its most important considerations. After all, protecting your network is like protecting the physical building of your business itself — attackers can cause damage, steal important information, and even cripple your business in the long term.

Knowing the basics about how to protect your network, and what you can do to prevent attacks and breaches, can be the difference between your business being prosperous and facing disaster. There are several tools available in your arsenal to protect yourself, though, and knowing how each of them will help you is vital.

In this article, we’re going to go over the ins and outs of network security, and let you know about all the main methods you can use to protect your company against attackers and other security threats.

Understanding Firewalls

Firewalls are one of the most important parts of your network security. They essentially control which networks can connect to your organisation’s network, by creating a barrier to block out untrusted networks and filter access to your business’s network.

This means that you can protect the data on your network from being lifted under your nose, and you can ensure that no unwanted networks have access to your network or network endpoints and devices. You can therefore protect your employees, your company, and your long-term prosperity.

There are many different types of firewalls. Hardware firewalls are physical devices that do this, whereas software firewalls are installed on individual devices and protect them. You can also have cloud firewalls, allowing you to protect yourself if you’re a business operating in the cloud.

Firewalls are one of the most common forms of security for businesses, as they are relatively easy to implement and maintain, but they also aren’t all-encompassing. They are, however, essential, and any business should ensure they have one to make sure they can block any unauthorised incoming connections.

The Importance of Access Control

Much like your building’s physical security, access control is vital to ensure that nobody can get unauthorised access to your business’s network. It ensures that everyone who does want to access your systems is verified as someone who should have access to the system, and everyone else is blocked.

Proper access control ensures that sensitive data, systems, and assets are protected from unauthorised access — after all, much like someone breaking into your office, not having access control means someone could do some serious damage to your business if they wanted.

Good access control and authentication measures can reduce the chance of a cyberattack significantly, as they act as a stop gate if someone manages to breach your systems. Even just a simple password can sometimes make a difference, but in the modern world, more complex access controls are becoming favoured.

However, against more complex attacks, there is a chance that access controls can be bypassed or completely ignored, so it’s important to combine access control with other security methods for greater security and success.

Network Monitoring Essentials

Tools that block, prevent, or secure your network are very important, but so are monitoring tools. These give you a greater way of understanding what’s happening within your network and will let you take action in the event of an attack. Knowing exactly what to monitor is vital, though, as this will ensure you know the signs of a possible threat.

Here are some of the signs you should be aware of:

  • Bandwidth Usage: Bandwidth usage will help you determine if extra bandwidth is being used, which could mean there’s an abnormality that needs to be addressed.
  • Latency: Higher network latency than usual could mean that your network is under extra stress.
  • Endpoint Monitoring: Monitoring the endpoints in your network and flagging any unusual activity will ensure that you’re aware of devices that may need to be treated with caution.
  • Firewall Logs: Monitoring firewall logs will help you track potential security threats by examining incoming and outgoing traffic.

All of these together should help you paint a clear picture of your business’s security and are vital to keep track of to know your network health. Making sure to monitor and log every event will save you a lot of headaches in the long run, and is just as important as other prevention methods.

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a network system that monitors network traffic for signs of security breaches or suspicious activity. It essentially does the work of monitoring, and ensuring that any potential threats are raised so you can stamp them out before they can cause damage.

The IPS does a few steps:

  • Analysis: Your IPS will analyse your network traffic and compare it to known attack patterns or behaviours, to point out any common attacks coming your way. This can be a signature, anomaly, or even just pointing out unique patterns that could signal an attack.
  • Prevention: An IPS will block traffic, quarantine the affected system, and alert administrators to ensure that action can be taken swiftly. This is to mitigate damage and protect the wider network.
  • Logging and Reporting: The IPS will log and record every security event. This is valuable for auditing, troubleshooting, and compliance reporting.

All in all, an IPS will be able to ensure that your network is safe and protected and alert you if anything seems out of the ordinary.

Protect Your Business Today

Your business’s security is vital, and that includes your network security. Being able to take control of your network security will ensure that you’re prepared against any nasty threats, and will fortify your first line of defence, so prioritising it should be one of your company’s main goals.

If you’re looking for a helping hand but don’t know where to start, reach out to us today. We’ll make sure you’ve got everything covered, and that your network has everything you need to be able to continue to protect it in the long run.

Get in touch with us now and see how we can help.