If you’re like most people, you probably think of network security in terms of passwords and firewalls. But there’s a lot more to it than that! In this post, we’ll give you a basic introduction to network security and how it works. We’ll also talk about some of the common threats that networks face today. So whether you’re new to the world of network security or just want to learn more, read on!
Cyber Risk to Network Security
Network Security is the process of protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your information against cyber risk. Networks are at the greatest risk from cyberattacks. It is not a matter of if there will be an attack but when. The biggest challenge for most organizations is in understanding the risks and how to address them.
Hackers have become sophisticated and have developed new ways to hack into your network. A good understanding of the various forms of cyber risk is essential to securing your data.
Data and Cybersecurity Risk
The amount of data in the world is growing exponentially. The average person creates 1.5 GB of data daily while the average company creates over 1 PB per day! How can we secure this data?
Data on its own is not a risk; however, it can be used in risky ways. For example, customers’ personal information is valuable to hackers. It can be used for identity theft or sold on the dark web. Therefore, it must be protected.
There are four main categories of cyber risk: confidentiality, integrity, availability, and accountability (CIA). All data breaches fall under one or more of these categories.
Confidentiality
The unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information can cause a breach of confidentiality. Confidentiality risk is heightened by developments in technology, such as cloud computing and BYOD (Bring Your Device).
Integrity
The unauthorized modification of data can put integrity at risk. It includes attacks such as ransomware. This is encrypting your data and demanding payment to release it, stealing or modifying information, or adding malicious code to the software.
Data Security
Sensitive information must be kept confidential. The following information must be encrypted: your name, address, social security number (SSN), driver’s license, passport number, and credit card number. Also, this includes the mother’s maiden name, bank account numbers, and passwords.
If a hacker gains access to this information, he/she can use it for theft or identity theft and can create financial havoc for you. Encryption also helps prevent the loss of data in the event of a hardware failure. Computer login information must be secure.
This includes usernames and passwords. Passwords should be difficult to guess and changed regularly. A secure password should have a combination of upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
Passwords should also belong (8 characters or more) and be complex enough to make cracking them very difficult or impossible. So, hackers commonly use dictionary attacks and brute force attacks to crack passwords. But these can easily be avoided with the right precautions in place.
If a password is guessed or cracked then it must be changed as soon as possible. Otherwise, there is a chance that it will fall into the hands of hackers. Since they are the ones who can use it to get into your computer system or email account.