What is network
security? How does it protect you? How does network security work? What are
the business benefits of network security?
You may think you know the answers to
basic questions like, What is network security? Still, it's a good idea to
ask them of your trusted IT partner. Why? Because small and medium-sized
businesses (SMBs) often lack the IT resources of large companies. That
means your network security may not be sufficient to protect your business from today's
sophisticated Internet threats.
What Is Network
Security?
In answering the question What is network
security?, your IT partner should explain that network security refers to
any activities designed to protect your network. Specifically, these
activities protect the usability, reliability, integrity, and safety of
your network and data. Effective network security targets a variety of
threats and stops them from entering or spreading on your network.
What Is Network
Security and How Does It Protect You?
After asking What is network security?,
you should ask, What are the threats to my network?
Many network security threats today are
spread over the Internet. The most common include:
·
Viruses, worms,
and Trojan horses
·
Spyware and adware
·
Zero-day attacks,
also called zero-hour attacks
·
Hacker attacks
·
Denial of service
attacks
·
Data interception
and theft
·
Identity theft
How Does Network
Security Work?
To understand What is network security?,
it helps to understand that no single solution protects you from a variety
of threats. You need multiple layers of security. If one fails, others
still stand.
Network security is accomplished through
hardware and software. The software must be constantly updated and managed
to protect you from emerging threats.
A network security system usually consists
of many components. Ideally, all components work together, which minimizes
maintenance and improves security.
Network security components often include:
·
Anti-virus and
anti-spyware
·
Firewall, to block
unauthorized access to your network
·
Intrusion
prevention systems (IPS), to identify fast-spreading threats, such as
zero-day or zero-hour attacks
·
Virtual Private
Networks (VPNs), to provide secure remote access
What are the
Business Benefits of Network Security?
With network security in place, your
company will experience many business benefits. Your company is protected
against business disruption, which helps keep employees productive. Network
security helps your company meet mandatory regulatory compliance. Because
network security helps protect your customers' data, it reduces the risk of
legal action from data theft.
Ultimately, network security helps protect
a business's reputation, which is one of its most important assets.
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