Network Security: Why It's So Important!!

In all networks, whether it be a personal or organizations network, ensuring it is secure is one of the most important things you can do. Whether it entails the installation of anti-viral software, having separate storage methods such as a removable hard drive or completely separate hard drive, these can be preventative measures you can take with very little expense. With all of the ways that hackers have to get into systems, knowing how to mitigate or prevent these attacks is something that everyone that works with computers should have a basic knowledge of. I have included only two ways both people and systems can be vulnerable and some possible ways to prevent becoming a victim. 

Email Spam

            Email spam and phishing can go hand in hand. One of the most common ways threat actors can access a network or system is by using spam email. To gain access, hackers will try to fool the email recipient into thinking the email is legitimate. These emails can come in the form of a notification, such as something is wrong with your bank account, your computer, or even an email from a coworker or family member. Once the email is opened, it can allow a hacker to install a virus or another type of malware into the system, gain access to personal data or even steal money from the recipient. The best way to prevent these types of attacks is to be aware of who the email is from, do not open any attachments in an email unless you are familiar with the sender, and only open emails from a verified source. Some ways to tell if an email is spam are grammatical errors in the subject line or the sender’s address, attachments that look unfamiliar and unsolicited emails.

Social Engineering

            Social engineering is another common tactic hackers use to gain information about network topography. However, they use human nature and deceit to do this. There are multiple ways that they can gain information simply by just being in the right place at the right time. When a hacker applies social engineering, they can attempt to convey a sense of urgency to get information, such as claiming they are someone else, such as a superior or another figure of authority, they are from another organization familiar with the target organization, or some other entity. With more and more organizations using remote devices to conduct business, it is even easier for someone to obtain information by such acts as shoulder surfing which can reveal passwords or other account information, social networking, or becoming friendly with someone within the target organization, piggy backing to bypass security measures and using websites and social media accounts to learn about employees and companies. There are several ways to avoid being a victim of social engineering, such as being aware of your surroundings when using your cell phone in public, at ATMs, and using public Wi-Fi.

A Favorite Tech Topic

Tech Topic

                The topic chosen for this post is network security. Network security is an integral part of any organization's infrastructure and should be one of the first things to consider when developing any network or personal computer system. The importance of having a security plan in place allows for the prevention of lost or stolen data such as personal, financial, or business information. It also prevents a system from being compromised or infected with malware or a virus. After taking a few courses in cybersecurity, I found myself fascinated with how easy it was for potential threat agents to access systems and was intrigued by how to prevent these types of incidents. Unfortunately, my interest in this field came towards the end of my program, or I would have switched majors. However, I do plan on pursuing this more on my own once I graduate. The organization I currently work for is switching to the Azure cloud, so learning as much as possible about keeping that data secure before the implementation will give me an advantage when searching for another position within the company. At this juncture, cybersecurity is needed more than ever with the constant introduction of new technologies and the ever-increasing instances of hackers compromising systems from banks to hospitals to entire governments.    Security should be a combination of several things, having a strong security and access policy should be where the basis of network security starts. In terms of organizational security of a network, every employee from management to the end user should be aware of what they should have access to in order to do their job, but also have the knowledge of how unauthorized access to certain aspects of the network can be detrimental not only to the organization, but the clients they serve. Secondly, having some type of infiltration prevention such as a strong firewall, anti-viral software and intrusion prevention systems. Performing regular audits of network security, ensuring these prevention methods are regularly updated and maintained, and having the system regularly tested for vulnerabilities can be invaluable. Although some of these processes can only be performed by IT professionals, there are a lot of ways that as a regular user of a network can apply these practices. One of the simplest ways for anyone to do their part is to not share vital information with anyone such as log in or password credentials, making sure that they have some type of firewall or anti-viral software is in place and ensuring that network connections secure such as making sure public wi-fi or unsecure networks are not used to access the network.