Network security

What is Network Security?

Network security includes various technologies, processes, and practices that defend an organization's network from cyber attacks, phishing, breaches, damages, and much more. The introduction of network security enables rules and configurations that protect the integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of computer networks and sensitive information using both software and hardware technologies. Regardless of size, industry, or infrastructure, every organization requires cloud security solutions that help protect it from today's ever-growing cyber threats.

Network security protects an organization's network from unauthorized access and risks. Network administrators employ preventive measures that protect their networks from potential security threats. Any computer network involved in regular transactions and communication with the government, individual customers, or other businesses requires security. The most common practice of network protection is the use of passwords that are unique to each team member in the organization.

In today's ever-evolving and complex cyber environment, attackers search for vulnerabilities existing in servers, computers, mobile devices, data, applications, and more to breach an organization's network. For this reason, organizations require stringent network security management tools and regulatory compliance training for their team members. A few minutes of downtime can cause widespread disruption and massive damage to an organization's finance and reputation.

Protecting data and data loss is a critical aspect of network security. Network security solutions include various security protects with layers that help implement control over an organization's software and hardware. 

Types of Network Security

  • Firewalls: They are the simplest and most basic security controls that an organization must use. They monitor incoming and outgoing network traffic and decide whether to block or allow particular network traffic with the help of a defined set of security rules.
  • Access control: Not every user should gain access to your organization's network. This security protection software blocks or gives partial access to the data endpoint to block potential attackers or malware.
  • Email Security: Email gateways spread maximum malware, spam, and phishing attacks. Email security secures access and data of an email account by blocking incoming attacks and controlling outbound messages.
  • Endpoint Security: Endpoint security technology protects a corporate network when accessed from different remote devices in network security. 
  • Behavioral analytics: With behavioral analytics tools, your network can automatically distinguish abnormal activities. Your security team can then identify indicators that pose potential threats and quickly remediate them.
  • Cloud security: You can better manage your technologies, policies,  IP defense applications, services, and other critical data with cloud security. You can shield users against threats anywhere by securing your data and applications in the cloud.

Business benefits of Network Security

  • Detection of malware in encrypted traffic: With the help of machine learning, businesses can find threats on a network by constantly looking out for anomalies. Machine learning can identify malicious websites and prevent users from accessing them. It also protects sensitive user data by providing endpoint malware protection and cloud protection.
  • SD-WAN for flexible security: A software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) offers consistent protection across branches, clouds, and users for flexibility in routing traffic, based on factors like priority policies and connecting directly to the Internet, other branches, or the cloud. 
  • Network virtualization: With the virtual private network (VPN), organizations can maintain the confidentiality of users with various security protocols. Businesses can now ensure the security of information transferred over the Internet at costs that fit their budget.
  • Build client confidence: Customers prefer organizations that protect their data from hacking and cyber-attacks. Robust network security controls boost client confidence and protect your organization's reputation.
  • Protects sensitive information: Network security ensures the protection of sensitive information and data shared across the network for your clients and team members. 
  • Modern workplace: Network security solutions allow employees to work securely from any location using VPN and encourage collaboration with secure network access. Robust network security also provides various levels of protection to scale your growing business.
Related content