Network Security

Understanding Network Security

Network Security refers to measures taken to protect data during its transmission over a network.
It deals with issues related to unauthorised access, unauthorised disclosure, and data integrity.
The end goal of network security is to ensure availability, integrity, and confidentiality of data.

Hardware: Includes firewalls, VPN concentrators, content filters, intrusion detection systems.
Software: Involve tools like anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and password management tools.
Policies and procedures: These are the rules set out by an organisation to protect its data.

Passive Attacks: In this type, attackers intercept transmissions without changing the content.
Active Attacks: Here, attackers alter or manipulate the data during transmission.
Examples of attacks include worms, viruses, trojan horses, phishing, and denial of service attacks.

Firewalls: Firewalls can be either software or hardware devices which control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on selected security rules.
Anti-virus and Anti-spyware software: These software help detect, quarantine, and remove malicious software from the system
User Authentication: Implementing strong password policies and two-factor authentication ensures only authorised users can access the network.
Encryption: Process of transforming information so it is unreadable without a special key.
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks): VPNs extend a private network across a public network and enable users to send and receive data as if their computing devices were connected to the private network.