What is Information Security (InfoSec)?

Information security (sometimes referred to as InfoSec) covers the

tools and processes that organizations use to protect information.
This includes policy settings that prevent unauthorized people from
accessing business or personal information. InfoSec is a growing
and evolving field that covers a wide range of fields, from network
and infrastructure security to testing and auditing.

Information security protects sensitive information from

unauthorized activities, including inspection, modification, recording,
and any disruption or destruction. The goal is to ensure the safety
and privacy of critical data such as customer account details,
financial data or intellectual property.

The consequences of security incidents include theft of private

information, data tampering, and data deletion. Attacks can disrupt
work processes and damage a company’s reputation, and also have
a tangible cost.

Organizations must allocate funds for security and ensure that they
are ready to detect, respond to, and proactively prevent, attacks
such as phishing, malware, viruses, malicious insiders,
and ransomware.

What are the 3 Principles of Information

Security?
The basic tenets of information security are confidentiality, integrity
and availability. Every element of the information security program
must be designed to implement one or more of these principles.
Together they are called the CIA Triad.

Confidentiality
Confidentiality measures are designed to prevent unauthorized
disclosure of information. The purpose of the confidentiality principle
is to keep personal information private and to ensure that it is
visible and accessible only to those individuals who own it or need it
to perform their organizational functions.

Integrity

Consistency includes protection against unauthorized changes

(additions, deletions, alterations, etc.) to data. The principle of
integrity ensures that data is accurate and reliable and is not
modified incorrectly, whether accidentally or maliciously.

Availability

Availability is the protection of a system’s ability to make software

systems and data fully available when a user needs it (or at a
specified time). The purpose of availability is to make the
technology infrastructure, the applications and the data available
when they are needed for an organizational process or for an
organization’s customers.
The CIA Triad defines three key principles of data security

Information Security vs Cybersecurity

Information security differs from cybersecurity in both scope and
purpose. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but more
accurately, cybersecurity is a subcategory of information security.
Information security is a broad field that covers many areas such as
physical security, endpoint security, data encryption, and network
security. It is also closely related to information assurance, which
protects information from threats such as natural disasters and
server failures.

Cybersecurity primarily addresses technology-related threats, with

practices and tools that can prevent or mitigate them. Another
related category is data security, which focuses on protecting an
organization’s data from accidental or malicious exposure to
unauthorized parties.

Information Security Policy

An Information Security Policy (ISP) is a set of rules that guide
individuals when using IT assets. Companies can create information
security policies to ensure that employees and other users follow
security protocols and procedures. Security policies are intended to
ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive systems and
information.

Creating an effective security policy and taking steps to ensure

compliance is an important step towards preventing and mitigating
security threats. To make your policy truly effective, update it
frequently based on company changes, new threats, conclusions
drawn from previous breaches, and changes to security systems
and tools.

Make your information security strategy practical and reasonable.

To meet the needs and urgency of different departments within the
organization, it is necessary to deploy a system of exceptions, with
an approval process, enabling departments or individuals to deviate
from the rules in specific circumstances.

Top Information Security Threats

There are hundreds of categories of information security threats and
millions of known threat vectors. Below we cover some of the key
threats that are a priority for security teams at modern enterprises.
Unsecure or Poorly Secured Systems

The speed and technological development often leads to

compromises in security measures. In other cases, systems are
developed without security in mind, and remain in operation at an
organization as legacy systems. Organizations must identify these
poorly secured systems, and mitigate the threat by securing or
patching them, decommissioning them, or isolating them.

Social Media Attacks

Many people have social media accounts, where they often

unintentionally share a lot of information about
themselves. Attackers can launch attacks directly via social media,
for example by spreading malware via social media messages, or
indirectly, by using information obtained from these sites to analyze
user and organizational vulnerabilities, and use them to design an
attack.

Social Engineering

Social engineering involves attackers sending emails and messages

that trick users into performing actions that may compromise their
security or divulge private information. Attackers manipulate users
using psychological triggers like curiosity, urgency or fear.

Because the source of a social engineering message appears to be

trusted, people are more likely to comply, for example by clicking a
link that installs malware on their device, or by providing personal
information, credentials, or financial details.

Organizations can mitigate social engineering by making users

aware of its dangers and training them to identify and avoid
suspected social engineering messages. In addition, technological
systems can be used to block social engineering at its source, or
prevent users from performing dangerous actions such as clicking
on unknown links or downloading unknown attachments.
Malware on Endpoints

Organizational users work with a large variety of endpoint devices,

including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones,
many of which are privately owned and not under the organization’s
control, and all of which connect regularly to the Internet.

A primary threat on all these endpoints is malware, which can be

transmitted by a variety of means, can result in compromise of the
endpoint itself, and can also lead to privilege escalation to other
organizational systems.

Traditional antivirus software is insufficient to block all modern

forms of malware, and more advanced approaches are developing
to securing endpoints, such as endpoint detection and response
(EDR).

Lack of Encryption

Encryption processes encode data so that it can only be decoded by

users with secret keys. It is very effective in preventing data loss or
corruption in case of equipment loss or theft, or in case
organizational systems are compromised by attackers.

Unfortunately, this measure is often overlooked due to its

complexity and lack of legal obligations associated with proper
implementation. Organizations are increasingly adopting encryption,
by purchasing storage devices or using cloud services that support
encryption, or using dedicated security tools.

Security Misconfiguration

Modern organizations use a huge number of technological platforms

and tools, in particular web applications, databases, and Software
as a Service (SaaS) applications, or Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS) from providers like Amazon Web Services.
 Enterprise grade platforms and cloud services have security
features, but these must be configured by the organization. Security
misconfiguration due to negligence or human error can result in a
security breach. Another problem is “configuration drift”, where
correct security configuration can quickly become out of date and
make a system vulnerable, unbeknownst to IT or security staff.

Organizations can mitigate security misconfiguration using

technological platforms that continuously monitor systems, identify
configuration gaps, and alert or even automatically remediate
configuration issues that make systems vulnerable.

Active vs Passive Attacks

Information security is intended to protect organizations against
malicious attacks. There are two primary types of attacks: active
and passive. Active attacks are considered more difficult to prevent,
and the focus is on detecting, mitigating and recovering from them.
Passive attacks are easier to prevent with strong security measures.

Active Attack

An active attack involves intercepting a communication or message

and altering it for malicious effect. There are three common variants
of an active attacks:

 Interruption—the attacker interrupts the original communication

and creates new, malicious messages, pretending to be one of the
communicating parties.
 Modification—the attacker uses existing communications, and
either replays them to fool one of the communicating parties, or
modifies them to gain an advantage.
 Fabrication—creates fake, or synthetic, communications, typically
with the aim of achieving denial of service (DoS). This prevents
users from accessing systems or performing normal operations.

Passive Attack
In a passive attack, an attacker monitors, monitors a system and
illicitly copies information without altering it. They then use this
information to disrupt networks or compromise target systems.

The attackers do not make any change to the communication or the

target systems. This makes it more difficult to detect. However,
encryption can help prevent passive attacks because it obfuscates
the data, making it more difficult for attackers to make use of it.

Active Attacks Passive Attacks

Modify messages, communications Do not make any change to data

or data or systems

Poses a threat to the availability Poses a threat to the

and integrity of sensitive data confidentiality of sensitive data.

May result in damage to Does not directly cause damage

organizational systems. to organizational systems.

Victims typically know about the Victims typically do not know

attack about the attack.
 Main security focus is on detection Main security focus is on
and mitigation. prevention.

Information Security and Data Protection

Laws
Information security is in constant interaction with the laws and
regulations of the places where an organization does business. Data
protection regulations around the world focus on enhancing the
privacy of personal data, and place restrictions on the way
organizations can collect, store, and make use of customer data.

Data privacy focuses on personally identifiable information (PII),

and is primarily concerned with how the data is stored and used. PII
includes any data that can be linked directly to the user, such as
name, ID number, date of birth, physical address, or phone
number. It may also include artifacts like social media posts, profile
pictures and IP addresses.

Data Protection Laws in the European Union (EU): the GDPR

The most known privacy law in the EU is the General Data

Protection Regulation (GDPR). This regulation covers the collection,
use, storage, security and transmission of data related to EU
residents.

The GDPR applies to any organization doing business with EU

citizens, regardless of whether the company itself is based inside or
outside the European Union. Violation of the guidelines may result
in fines of up to 4% of global sales or 20 million Euro.

The main goals of the GDPR are:

 Setting the privacy of personal data as a basic human right

 Implementing privacy criteria requirements
 Standardization of how privacy rules are applied

GDPR includes protection of the following data types:

 Personal information such as name, ID number, date of birth, or

address
 Web data such as IP address, cookies, location, etc.
 Health information including diagnosis and prognosis
 Biometric data including voice data, DNA, and fingerprints
 Private communications
 Photos and videos
 Cultural, social or economic data

Data Protection Laws in the USA

Despite the introduction of some regulations, there are currently no

federal laws governing data privacy in general in the United States.
However, some regulations protect certain types or use of data.
These include:

 Federal Trade Commission Act—prohibits organizations from

deceiving consumers with regard to privacy policies, failure to
adequately protect customer privacy, and misleading advertising.
 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act—regulates the
collection of data related to minors.
 Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA)—
regulates the storage, privacy and use of health information.
 Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA)—regulates personal information
collected and stored by financial institutions and banks.
 Fair Credit Reporting Act—regulates the collection, use, and
accessibility of credit records and information.

Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for

protecting users from fraudulent or unfair transactions such as data
security and privacy. The FTC can enact regulations, enforce laws,
punish violations, and investigate organizational fraud or suspected
violations.
 In addition to federal guidelines, 25 US states have enacted various
laws to regulate data. The most famous example is the California
Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The law went into effect in January
2020 and provides protection to California residents, including the
right to access private information, request deletion of private
information, and opt out of data collection or resale.

There also other regional regulations such as:

 Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) CPS 234

 Canada Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents
Act (PIPEDA)
 Singapore Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)

Information security, often referred to as InfoSec, refers to the processes and

tools designed and deployed to protect sensitive business information from
modification, disruption, destruction, and inspection
What is the difference between cybersecurity and information security?
Information security and cybersecurity are often confused. InfoSec is a crucial part of
cybersecurity, but it refers exclusively to the processes designed for data security. Cybersecurity
is a more general term that includes InfoSec.
What is an information security management system (ISMS)?
An ISMS is a set of guidelines and processes created to help organizations in a data breach
scenario. By having a formal set of guidelines, businesses can minimize risk and can ensure
work continuity in case of a staff change. ISO 27001 is a well-known specification for a
company ISMS.

What is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?

In 2016, the European Parliament and Council agreed on the General Data Protection
Regulation. In the spring of 2018, the GDPR began requiring companies to:
 provide data breach notifications

 appoint a data-protection officer

 require user consent for data processing
 anonymize data for privacy
All companies operating within the EU must comply with these standards.

What certifications are needed for cybersecurity jobs?

Certifications for cybersecurity jobs can vary. For some companies, their chief information
security officer (CISO) or certified information security manager (CISM) can require vendor-
specific training.
More generally, nonprofit organizations like the International Information Systems Security
Certification Consortium provide widely accepted security certifications. Certifications can range
from CompTIA Security+ to the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Types of InfoSec
Application security
Application security is a broad topic that covers software vulnerabilities in web and mobile
applications and application programming interfaces (APIs). These vulnerabilities may be found
in authentication or authorization of users, integrity of code and configurations, and mature
policies and procedures. Application vulnerabilities can create entry points for significant
InfoSec breaches. Application security is an important part of perimeter defense for InfoSec.

Cloud security
Cloud security focuses on building and hosting secure applications in cloud environments and
securely consuming third-party cloud applications. “Cloud” simply means that the application is
running in a shared environment. Businesses must make sure that there is adequate isolation
between different processes in shared environments.

Cryptography
Encrypting data in transit and data at rest helps ensure data confidentiality and integrity. Digital
signatures are commonly used in cryptography to validate the authenticity of data. Cryptography
and encryption has become increasingly important. A good example of cryptography use is the
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The AES is a symmetric key algorithm used to protect
classified government information.

Infrastructure security
Infrastructure security deals with the protection of internal and extranet networks, labs, data
centers, servers, desktops, and mobile devices.

Incident response
Incident response is the function that monitors for and investigates potentially malicious
behavior.
In preparation for breaches, IT staff should have an incident response plan for containing
the threat and restoring the network. In addition, the plan should create a system to preserve
evidence for forensic analysis and potential prosecution. This data can help prevent further
breaches and help staff discover the attacker.

Vulnerability management
Vulnerability management is the process of scanning an environment for weak points (such as
unpatched software) and prioritizing remediation based on risk.
In many networks, businesses are constantly adding applications, users, infrastructure, and so on.
For this reason, it is important to constantly scan the network for potential vulnerabilities.
Finding a vulnerability in advance can save your businesses the catastrophic costs of a breach.
Information Security is not only about securing information from unauthorized
access. Information Security is basically the practice of preventing unauthorized
access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording or
destruction of information. Information can be physical or electronic one.
Information can be anything like Your details or we can say your profile on
social media, your data in mobile phone, your biometrics etc. Thus Information
Security spans so many research areas like Cryptography, Mobile Computing,
Cyber Forensics, Online Social Media etc. 
Information Security programs are build around 3 objectives, commonly known
as CIA – Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability. 
At the core of Information Security is Information Assurance, which means the
act of maintaining CIA of information, ensuring that information is not
compromised in any way when critical issues arise. These issues are not limited
to natural disasters, computer/server malfunctions etc. 
Thus, the field of information security has grown and evolved significantly in
recent years. It offers many areas for specialization, including securing
networks and allied infrastructure, securing applications and databases,
security testing, information systems auditing, business continuity planning etc.
What is information security?
Information security, often shortened to infosec, is the practice, policies and
principles to protect digital data and other kinds of information. infosec
responsibilities include establishing a set of business processes that will
protect information assets, regardless of how that information is formatted or
whether it is in transit, is being processed or is at rest in storage.
Generally, an organization applies information security to guard digital
information as part of an overall cybersecurity program. infosec's three
primary principles, called the CIA triad,
are confidentiality, integrity and availability.

In short, infosec is how you make sure your employees can get the data they
need, while keeping anyone else from accessing it. It can also be associated
with risk management and legal regulations.

Network security is the protection of the underlying networking infrastructure from unauthorized
access, misuse, or theft. It involves creating a secure infrastructure for devices, applications,
users, and applications to work in a secure manner.
How does network security work?
Network security combines multiple layers of defenses at the edge and in the network.
Each network security layer implements policies and controls. Authorized users gain
access to network resources, but malicious actors are blocked from carrying
out exploits and threats.
How do I benefit from network security?
Digitization has transformed our world. How we live, work, play, and learn have all
changed. Every organization that wants to deliver the services that customers and
employees demand must protect its network. Network security also helps you protect
proprietary information from attack. Ultimately it protects your reputation.

Network security defined

At a foundational level, network security is the operation of protecting data, applications,

devices, and systems that are connected to the network.

Though network security and cybersecurity overlap in many ways, network security is most
often defined as a subset of cybersecurity. Using a traditional “castle-and-moat analogy,” or a
perimeter-based security approach – in which your organization is your castle, and the data
stored within the castle is your crown jewels – network security is most concerned with the
security within the castle walls.
In this perimeter-based scenario, the area within the castle walls can represent the IT
infrastructure of an enterprise, including its networking components, hardware, operating
systems, software, and data storage. Network security protects these systems from
malware/ransomware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, network intrusions, and
more, creating a secure platform for users, computers, and programs to perform their functions
within the IT environment.
As organizations move to hybrid and multicloud environments, their data, applications, and
devices are being dispersed across locations and geographies. Users want access to enterprise
systems and data from anywhere and from any device. Therefore, the traditional perimeter-based
approach to network security is phasing out. A zero-trust approach to security, wherein an
organization never trusts and always verifies access, is fast becoming the new method for
strengthening an organization’s security posture.

Types of Network Security

Firewall protection
A firewall is either a software program or a hardware device that prevents unauthorized users
from accessing your network, stopping suspicious traffic from entering while allowing legitimate
traffic to flow through. There are several types of firewalls with different levels of security,
ranging from simple packet-filtering firewalls to proxy servers to complex, next-generation
firewalls that use AI and machine learning to compare and analyze information as it tries to come
through.
Learn about firewall security 
Intrusion detection and prevention
Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) can be deployed directly behind a firewall to
provide a second layer of defense against dangerous actors. Usually working in tandem with its
predecessor, the more passive intrusion defense system (IDS), an IDPS stands between the
source address and its destination, creating an extra stop for traffic before it can enter a network.
An advanced IDPS can even use machine learning and AI to instantly analyze incoming data and
trigger an automated process – such as sounding an alarm, blocking traffic from the source, or
resetting the connection – if it detects suspicious activity.
Discover intrusion detection and prevention management  
Network access control (NAC)
Standing at the frontline of defense, network access control does just that: it controls access to
your network. Most often used for “endpoint health checks,” NAC can screen an endpoint
device, like a laptop or smart phone, to ensure it has adequate anti-virus protection, an
appropriate system-update level, and the correct configuration before it can enter. NAC can also
be programmed for “role-based access,” in which the user’s access is restricted based on their
profile so that, once inside the network, they can only access approved files or data.
Cloud security
Cloud security protects online resources – such as sensitive data, applications, virtualized IPs,
and services – from leakage, loss, or theft. Keeping cloud-based systems secure requires sound
security policies as well as the layering of such security methods as firewall architecture, access
controls, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), data encryption or masking, threat-intelligence
software, and disaster recovery programs.
Read more about cloud security 
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
A virtual private network (VPN) is software that protects a user’s identity by encrypting their
data and masking their IP address and location. When someone is using a VPN, they are no
longer connecting directly to the internet but to a secure server which then connects to the
internet on their behalf. VPNs are routinely used in businesses and are increasingly necessary for
individuals, especially those who use public wifi in coffeeshops or airports. VPNs can protect
users from hackers, who could steal anything from emails and photos to credit card numbers to a
user’s identity.
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Data loss prevention (sometimes called “data leak prevention”) is a set of strategies and tools
implemented to ensure that endpoint users don’t accidentally or maliciously share sensitive
information outside of a corporate network. Often put in place to comply with government
regulations around critical data (such as credit card, financial or health information), DLP
policies and software monitor and control endpoint activities on corporate networks and in the
cloud, using alerts, encryption, and other actions to protect data in motion, in use, and at rest.
Explore data security solutions 
Endpoint protection
Often requiring a multi-layered approach, endpoint security involves protecting all of the
endpoints – laptops, tablets, smartphones, wearables, and other mobile devices – that connect to
your network. Although securing endpoints is a complex endeavor, a managed security service
can help keep your devices, data, and network safe using antivirus software, data loss prevention,
encryption, and other effective security measures.
Explore endpoint security options 
Unified threat management (UTM)
With UTM appliances, organizations can reduce costs and improve the manageability of network
protection and monitoring using multiple network-security tools such as firewalls, VPNs, IDS,
web-content filtering, and anti-spam software.
Secure web gateway
This security technology prevents unauthorized network traffic from entering the internal
network and protects users and employees that may access malicious websites that contain
viruses or malware. Secure web gateways typically include web-filtering technology and security
controls for web applications.

What is network security?

Network security is a set of technologies that protects the usability and integrity of a company’s
infrastructure by preventing the entry or proliferation within a network of a wide variety of
potential threats.  
A network security architecture is composed of tools that protect the network itself and the
applications that run over it. Effective network security strategies employ multiple lines of
defense that are scalable and automated. Each defensive layer enforces a set of security policies
determined by the administrator. 
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Why network security?

In today’s hyper-connected world, network security presents a greater challenge as more
business applications move to private and public clouds. Moreover, the applications themselves
now tend to be virtualized and distributed across many locations, some of which are outside the
physical control of IT security teams. With the number of attacks on companies climbing ever
higher, protecting network traffic and infrastructure is critical. 

Benefits of network security

Network security is key to an organization’s ability to deliver products and services to customers
and employees. From online stores to enterprise applications to remote desktops, protecting apps
and data on the network is essential to advancing the business, to say nothing of protecting an
organization’s reputation. In addition, effective network security can improve network
performance by eliminating downtime due to successful attacks.  

How does network security works?

The elements of a complete, multilayered security architecture that implements network security
across an organization fall into two general categories: access control and threat control. 

Access Control
Network security starts with access control. If bad actors gain access to a network, they can
surveil traffic and map infrastructure. Once they have mapped infrastructure and applications,
they can launch a DDoS attack or insert malware. Access control restricts the movement of bad
actors throughout the network. 
Threat Control
Even with access control in place, problems can arise. For instance, a bad actor may compromise
an employee’s credentials to gain entry. Thus the need for threat control, which operates on
traffic that is already permitted. Threat control prevents the actions of bad actors from doing
damage within the network.
Threat control technologies begin with the firewall and load balancer. These devices protect the
network from DoS/DDoS attacks. Next, IDS/IPS counters known attacks traveling through the
network. Finally, unknown malware objects traveling through the network are captured with
sandbox technologies, while anomalies in network traffic that may be symptoms of a threat are
caught with NTA/NDR. 

What are the key tools of network security?

A multi-layered approach to network security implements controls at numerous points
within a network to provide comprehensive access control and threat control.  
  Firewall : A firewall establishes a barrier between the trusted and the
untrusted areas of a network. Thus, a firewall performs access control and
macro-segmentation based on IP subnets. The same firewall may also
perform more granular segmentation, known as micro-segmentation. 
 Load Balancer :  A load balancer distributes load based on metrics. By
implementing specific mitigation techniques, a load balancer can go
beyond traditional load balancing to provide the capability to absorb certain
attacks, such as a volumetric DDoS attack. 
 IDS/IPS : The classic IDS/IPS is deployed behind a firewall and provides
protocol analysis and signature matching on various parts of a data packet.
Protocol analysis is a compliance check against the publicly declared
specification of the protocol. Signature matching prevents known attacks
such as an SQL injection.  
 Sandbox :  A sandbox is similar to an IDS/IPS, except that it does not rely
on signatures. A sandbox can emulate an end-system environment and
determine if a malware object is trying, for example, to execute port
scans.  
 NTA/NDR : NTA/NDR looks directly at traffic (or traffic records such as
NetFlow) and uses machine learning algorithms and statistical techniques
to evaluate anomalies and determine if a threat is present. First, NTA/NDR
tries to determine a baseline. With a baseline in place, it identifies
anomalies such as traffic spikes or intermittent communication. 

What Is Network Security?

Network security is the deployment and monitoring of cyber security solutions to
protect your organisation's IT systems from attacks and breaches. It also covers
policies surrounding the handling of sensitive information.

Network security involves the following solutions:

 Network segmentation
 Data loss prevention (DLP)
 Firewalls
 Intrusion  prevention systems (IPS)
 And more

Every year, cybercriminals develop more intuitive programs to exploit businesses.

Organisations that regularly invest in their IT system security and educate
themselves on the latest security issues stand a better chance of avoiding and
surviving cyber-attacks.
7 Common Network Security Issues
If your company is aware of the threats listed below, you can create more
comprehensive strategies and practices to ensure that your organisation will not
fall prey to the cyber world's worst.

1) Internal Security Threats

Over 90% of cyberattacks are caused by human error. This can take the form of
phishing attacks, careless decision-making, weak passwords, and more.

Insider actions that negatively impact your business's network and sensitive data
can result in downtime, loss of revenue, and disgruntled customers.

2) Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

A DDoS attack causes websites to crash, malfunction, or experience slow loading

times. In these cases, cybercriminals infect internet-connected devices (mobile
phones, computers, etc.) and convert them into bots. Hackers send the bots to a
victim's IP address.

This results in a high volume of internet traffic bombarding the website with
requests and causing it to go offline. These attacks make it difficult to separate
legitimate and compromised traffic.

3) Rogue Security Software

Rogue security software tricks businesses into believing their IT infrastructure is not
operational due to a virus. It usually appears as a warning message sent by a
legitimate anti-malware solution.

Once a device is infected with a rogue program, the malware spams the victim with
messages, forcing them to pay for a non-existent security solution, which is often
malware. Rogue security software can also corrupt your pre-existing cyber security
programs to prolong their attack.

4) Malware

Malware are malicious software programs used to gather information about victims
through compromised devices. After successful deployments, hackers can mine
devices for classified information (email addresses, bank accounts, passwords, etc.)
and use them to commit identity theft, blackmail, or other business-damaging
actions.

Malware includes:

 Worms – exploits weaknesses in computer systems to spread to other devices.

 Rootkits – grants unauthorised access to systems in the form of fraudulent access
privilege without the victim's knowledge.
 Trojan viruses – slips under a network's radar by hitchhiking on other software and
provides hackers with unprecedented access to systems.
 Spyware – gathers information on how devices are used by their owners.

5) Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts files within infected systems and
holds them for ransom, forcing victims to pay for a decryption key to unlock the
data. This can take the form of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS).

RaaS is like software-as-a-service (SaaS), specifically for ransomware. RaaS dealers

develop codes that buyers can use to develop their own malware and launch
cyberattacks. Some common RaaS examples include BlackMatter, LockBit,
DarkSide, and REvil.

6) Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are scams where hackers disguise themselves as a trusted entity
and attempt to gain access to networks and steal personal information, such as
credit card details. Phishing scams take the form of emails, text messages, or phone
calls.

Similar to rogue security software, phishing attacks are designed to appear

legitimate. This encourages victims to click on malicious links or download
malware-laden attachments.

7) Viruses

Computer viruses are commonly attached to downloadable files from emails or

websites. Once you open the file, the virus exploits vulnerabilities in your software
to infect your computer with malicious code to disrupt network traffic, steal data,
and more.
Viruses are not to be confused with worms. Though they both are a type of
malware, the difference is in how they penetrate networks. Simply put, computer
viruses cannot infect systems until their host (the file) is opened. Worms can infect
networks as soon as they enter a business's IT infrastructure.

How To Protect Your Organisation's IT

Infrastructure
There are various ways companies can protect their data and networks from
malicious hackers and disasters. While many of these measures can be outsourced
to a managed service provider (MSP), they also require you and your staff to remain
alert and responsive to potential threats.

You can safeguard your networks by:

 Backing up data and files.

 Investing in comprehensive cyber security awareness training for you and your
team.
 Promoting a work environment that values application security and safe practices.
 Installing anti-malware solutions, such as next-generation firewalls.
 Restrict access to your network's security controls for authorised personnel only.
 Upgrade devices and secure your endpoints with multi-factor authentication, strong
passwords, etc.

Taking cyber security seriously can help mitigate the chances of your company
becoming a victim of data breaches and losing money and time.

Secure Your Network And Data With A Team

Of Cyber Safety Experts
From mobile devices to computers, network security is not a trend that will
disappear. It is a way of conducting safe, ethical business and your company's
systems need to leverage the latest practices to streamline organisational growth
and innovate your processes.

The cyber security consultants at Essential Tech specialise in protecting business networks

with the latest software and hardware. Talk to the team today to have them improve your
cyber security posture, empower your staff with industry knowledge, and achieve greater
corporate safety.
 Common Network Security Threats
Security is an important part of any company. As time passes, it’s easy to become lax
on security measures.

You don’t know the importance of proper network security until your company is victim
of an attack.

So what security threats does your company face? Some of the most common threats
include:

 Malware
 Viruses
 Spyware
 Adware
 Trojan horses
 Worms
 Phishing
 Spear phishing
 Wi-Fi attacks
 Denial of service (DOS) attacks

With so many network security threats, knowing how to protect your company is vital.

5 Ways to Protect Your Company

Protecting your company is a must. Here are 5 security measures to implement.

1. Bolster Access Control

Access control is an important part of security. Weak access control leaves your data
and systems susceptible to unauthorized access.

Boost access control measures by using a strong password system. You should have a
mix of uppercase and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, always
reset all default passwords.

Finally, create a strong access control policy.

 2. Keep All Software Updated
As pesky as those update alerts can be, they are vital to your network’s health.

From anti-virus software to computer operating systems, ensure your software is

updated. When a new version of software is released, the version usually includes fixes
for security vulnerabilities.

Manual software updates can be time-consuming. Use automatic software updates for
as many programs as possible.

3. Standardize Software
Keep your systems protecting by standardizing software. Ensure that users cannot
install software onto the system without approval.

Not knowing what software is on your network is a huge security vulnerability. Make
sure that all computers use the same:

 Operating system
 Browser
 Media player
 Plugins

Standardization also makes system updates less of a hassle.

4. Use Network Protection Measures

Protecting your network is crucial. To keep your network and its traffic secured:

 Install a firewall
 Ensure proper access controls
 Use IDS/IPS to track potential packet floods
 Use network segmentation
 Use a virtual private network (VPN)
 Conduct proper maintenance
5. Employee Training
Sometimes external threats are successful because of an insider threat. The weakest
link in data protection can be your own employees.
Ensure your employees understand network security. Your employees should be able
to identify threats. They should also know who to contact to avoid a security breach.

Provide security training throughout the year, and be sure to update it. There are new
security risk every day.

8 Most Common Security Threats

Protect yourself against common network security

threats!

Over the last two decades, cyberattacks have become increasingly frequent,
sophisticated, and difficult to defend against. Cybersecurity experts also believe
network security risks will continue to grow more complex and aggressive. I’ll
cover the 8 most common network security threats. 

1. Malware Attacks
Malware is an all-encompassing term for malicious programs that cybercriminals
use to damage a target network. In malware attacks, the cybercriminal utilizes
malicious software to exploit security vulnerabilities and cause a data leak.
Malware attack examples include:
Computer Viruses

A computer virus is malicious code that embeds itself in a genuine program, called

a host file. The virus also takes advantage of the program to replicate itself.
Viruses may remain dormant in a system until the user executes the host
program. Then, the executed virus can corrupt, delete, or steal your
data, compromise system security, and destroy your network structure. Viruses
may also exploit your network to infect other systems. 
Trojan Horses

Trojan attacks can give a cybercriminal unauthorized access to your network, steal
sensitive data, or affect the overall system performance. In trojan horse
attacks, cybercriminals hide malware behind a legitimate email or file to deceive
you into running the program. Once you open the email or download the file, it
immediately installs malware on your system. 
Adware and Spyware

Adware is a program that monitors your browsing activity and uses your

browsing data to constantly display unwanted advertisements. Developers may
even include adware in their free programs to help recover development costs. 

Spyware is a malicious program that invades your network privacy to spy on your

valuable data and send it back to the malicious actor. 
Computer Worms

A computer worm is self-replicating malware that takes advantage of a host

network to infect many systems. Once a worm infects your system, it quickly
explores your network for connected systems. Then, it makes copies of itself to
infect those connected systems.
Rogue Security Software

Rogue software attacks start as pop-ups while you’re surfing a website. The pop-
ups carry a message informing you that your system has viruses or an out-of-date
security patch. The pop-up will prompt you to click a link to download paid
software to erase the virus or update your security. However, downloading the
software installs malware on your system. 

2. Phishing

A phishing attack is social engineering used to manipulate you to divulge your

passwords or other sensitive information. Phishing attacks commonly utilize
phony emails. The email contents vary, but they generally prompt you into
opening a malicious site. There, a malicious actor steals your data. Vishing is
another common attack where the criminal tries to get confidential details over
the phone.

Once the cybercriminal gains unauthorized access to your system, they may
embed a rootkit in your network. A rootkit is a malware collection that hides deep
within a computer’s operating system. Rootkits give cybercriminals backdoor
access by evading standard network security measures. Cybercriminals can then
control your network, disable anti-malware, or steal your data. 

3. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

In man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, cybercriminals insert themselves in the

middle of your private communications. This way, they can intercept data and
communications between your device and another. They can then steal your data
while it’s transmitted on the network. These cybercriminals may alter the
information transmitted between both devices or steal sensitive private data. 

Spoofing is also a common MITM attack where a cybercriminal disguises a display

name, website, text message, email address, phone number, or website URL to
convince a target they’re interacting with a known, trusted source.
DoS attacks bring down your server and negatively impact customer experience.

4. DoS and DDoS Attack

Denials of service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) are common

networking attacks that target a website’s servers. These attacks work by flooding
the server with data packets, causing the server to overload and crash. When this
happens, legitimate website users can’t access its services. 

The difference between DoS and DDoS attacks is that a DoS attack is carried out
by one computer, while DDoS attacks are executed by several computers
worldwide. Usually, the computers involved in a DDoS attack are part of
a botnet that the cybercriminal creates by installing malware in a previous attack.

5. SQL Injection Attack

Many websites and web applications utilize SQL servers to store user data.
Cybercriminals exploit a website’s server vulnerabilities to steal user information
and other relevant data through SQL injection attacks. A malicious actor inputs
a malicious SQL query in a web application’s input field during these attacks. The
SQL database receives the malicious query, then executes the commands
embedded within the query. As a result, this gives the cybercriminal control over
the web application. 

6. Privilege Escalation

Privilege escalation is a group of networking attacks that enable users to increase

their permissions scope on a system. Cybercriminals commonly execute privilege
escalation to increase their access to data after gaining unauthorized access to a
network. 

7. Insider Threats

Some security risks originate from people with authorized access to your security
system. These are known as insider threats and are commonly perpetrated by
disgruntled employees. They’re also hard to detect or prevent and are very costly
to organizations. 

8. Supply Chain Attacks

In supply chain attacks, cybercriminals gain access to your security systems

by exploiting an authorized third party or outside supplier with access to your
data and security systems. These attacks are hard to detect since the
cybercriminal doesn’t exploit you directly. Rather, they take advantage of your
supplier’s systems to gain access to your network.

Now that I’ve explained the 8 common networking attack types, I’ll address some
common solutions to these attacks.

Protect Yourself Against Network Security Threats

You can employ several measures to protect yourself against various network
security threats. These measures include:

 Patch management by acquiring and applying updates to existing software

and applications.
 Cloud security tools and techniques to protect cloud-based data and
applications.
 Endpoint security to protect network endpoints, such as computers and
mobile devices, against security threats.
  IoT security, like monitoring and securing smart devices and
their connected networks.
 Physical security to protect your physical infrastructure, including servers
and data centers, against intrusion. 
I also suggest using network security software to implement frontline defense
against several common threats. Network security software continuously
monitors your network traffic and alerts administrators if suspicious activity
occurs. It helps to respond quickly and stop an attack before it causes too much
damage. Let’s consider some of the best security software on the market!

Best Software for Network Security

After some research, I’ve identified the top 3 network security software
options for maximum protection. 

1. GFI KerioControl 

Top
network security solution for small and medium-sized businesses.

KerioControl is a comprehensive network security risk management solution that

provides intrusion detection and prevention, antivirus, bandwidth optimization,
traffic monitoring, application, web content filtering, and firewall capabilities. 

KerioControl is easy to deploy and features a simple online user interface. It’s the
go-to network security solution for small and medium-sized businesses.
KerioControl offers the following features:

 Out-of-the-box firewall configuration

 Efficient traffic monitoring and intrusion protection
 Easy, flexible deployment
2. Imperva
 Looking for a trusted network security
software?

Imperva features a high-grade firewall, anti-DDoS solution, bandwidth

optimization, and security monitoring and reporting capabilities to ensure your
website is free from various network security threats. Additionally, Imperva
provides:

 Simple architecture with fast deployment options

 Insightful attack vector analysis and reports on all websites
 Automatic updates and high-grade security for web applications
 Robust cloud security
3. Proofpoint

Use
Proofpoint for all your enterprise network security needs!

Proofpoint is an enterprise network security solution with on-premise and cloud

deployment options. It provides an effective email protection solution by
blocking unwanted or malicious emails. Proofpoint features include:

 Secure email routing using advanced firewalls

 Efficient email management to help users avoid spam or malicious emails
 Frequent data backup and recovery to ensure that users don’t lose valuable
data
 Out-of-the-box regulatory and compliance policies to ensure organizations
meet regulatory standards
Using network security software ensures you’re always one step ahead of
unscrupulous cybercriminals!
Final Thoughts
Malware, social engineering, and denial of service are common network attack
types that can occur at any time in any organization. If you don’t
understand common network security risks, you can’t protect yourself against
them. 

Beyond understanding the risks, you must implement threat prevention

techniques, including deploying network security solutions like KerioControl
to ensure your data is safe from cyberattacks. 

Do you have more questions about network security threats? Check out the FAQ
and Resources sections below.

Get The Latest Cybersecurity News

FAQ
What are the sources of a network threat?

Network threat sources include cybercriminals, hacktivists, hostile governments,

government agencies, terrorists, industrial competitors, former employees, and
even current employees. These sources usually have different motivations behind
their attacks. For example, hostile governments may launch networking attacks to
damage another nation’s systems, while cybercriminals may launch attacks
for financial gain.

Can network threats go undetected?

Network threats often go undetected for prolonged periods before manifesting

and causing phenomenal damage. Cybercriminals may also install malicious
programs on a network to read and transmit data which they utilize for other
attacks. Malicious programs don’t cause any overt harm and can go undetected,
especially when no detection software exists. 

How can you find hidden malware?

The most effective way to detect hidden malware is to download an efficient anti-
malware software. Ensure the anti-malware solution comes complete with adware
and spyware detection and that you regularly update it to get the latest
functionalities. Additionally, run regularly scheduled scans on your system to
detect any new malware.
How does malware spread?

Malware infects your system when you download infected software from
untrusted sites or open malicious emails and attachments. Once on your system,
the malware embeds itself on different programs. Then, it spreads using your
network. So, when you send an email or file to a contact, it carries a copy of the
malware. Malware also spreads when you transfer files via USB.

What is cyber security?

Cybersecurity is the act of protecting internet systems, including data,

applications, and infrastructure, against cyber threats. These threats aim to exploit
vulnerabilities in network security to steal sensitive data. Cybersecurity practices
protect individuals and organizations that work on the internet against various
networking attacks, ensuring their private data stays protected. 

Five Ways to Defend Against Network Security Threats

Businesses of all sizes are susceptible to network security threats. Since hackers and
cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to exploit network vulnerabilities, business
owners must take steps to protect their data and infrastructure. This article will discuss five ways
to prevent network security threats.

The Importance of Network Security

Before we discuss specific methods for thwarting network threats, it’s essential to understand the
importance of network security. Having a secure network is vital to protecting data and
preventing unauthorized access to systems. Additionally, maintaining a secure network can be
part of meeting compliance requirements and protecting brand reputation (Bailkoski, 2021).
Businesses that neglect network security are more likely to experience data breaches, which can
be costly and damaging.
Common Network Security Threats
Businesses can face many types of threats to their networks. Some of the top network security
risks include:
 Malware. Malware is a term used to describe a wide range of malicious software, including viruses,
trojans, and spyware. Malware can be installed on a system without the user’s knowledge, where it
can then cause damage or steal data.
 Spyware. Spyware is software that collects information about a user without their knowledge. It can
track what websites a target visits and collect sensitive data, like passwords and credit card numbers.
 Phishing. Phishing attacks involve sending fraudulent emails or text messages to obtain sensitive
information from recipients. The messages may appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a
bank or credit card company, but are in reality sent by scammers.
 Ransomware. Ransomware is malware that locks users out of their computer or mobile device until
a ransom payment is made. Ransomware viruses can be challenging to remove and can damage or
delete files on a user’s system.
 Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. A DDoS attack is one of the most dangerous types of
security threats (Mathew, 2021). It is a type of cyberattack in which multiple systems flood a target
with traffic, making it unavailable for legitimate users. DDoS attacks can be very costly and difficult to
defend against.
How to Prevent Network Attacks
There are many different ways to defend against network-related threats. Here are five of the
most effective methods.
1. Install antivirus software.

One of the first lines of defense against malware and other viruses is to install antivirus
software on all devices connected to a network (Roach & Watts, 2021). Antivirus software can
detect and prevent malicious files from being installed on a system, and it should be updated
regularly to include the latest definitions.
2. Create strong passwords.

Another essential step in protecting a network is to create strong passwords. Passwords should be
at least eight characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. They should
also not be easy to guess—for instance, the user’s name or the name of the company.
3. Enforce security policies.

A third way to reduce risk of attacks on a network is to enforce security policies. Security
policies can help ensure that all devices on a network are protected against viruses and malware
and that users are using strong passwords. These policies can also restrict access to some
network regions and limit user privileges.
4. Use firewalls.

Firewalls are another essential tool in defending networks against security threats. A firewall can
help prevent unauthorized access to a network by blocking incoming traffic from untrusted
sources. Additionally, firewalls can be configured to allow only certain types of traffic, such as
web traffic or email.
5. Monitor activity.

Finally, it’s important to monitor activity on the network. Tracking logs and other data enables
suspicious activity to be identified quickly, allowing security personnel to take steps to
investigate and mitigate potential threats.

Consequences of Network Breaches

Network security breaches can have severe consequences for businesses, including:
 Data loss. A network security breach can result in the loss of sensitive data, such as customer
information or financial records.
 Damage to reputation. A breach can also damage a company’s reputation and make it difficult to
regain the trust of customers and other stakeholders.
 Loss of revenue. In some cases, a network security breach can lead to a loss of revenue as customers
take their business elsewhere.
 Increased costs. Breaches can also lead to increased costs, such as hiring new staff or upgrading
security systems.
How to Become a Network Security Engineer
If you want to learn more about how to protect networks against security threats, consider
enrolling in a network security certification course with accredited program provider EC-
Council. EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender (C|ND) program is designed to cover
everything you need to know about network security protection, from the basics to advanced
techniques.
The C|ND is designed to provide cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge and skills they
need to defend networks against various security threats. The program covers a wide range of
topics:
 Network security concepts. Get introduced to common security concepts, including viruses,
malware, and firewalls.
 Network security threats. Learn about different network security threats, how to protect networks
against them, and how to gain security access control.
 Operating system security. Understand the various features that can be used to secure Windows
and Linux systems.
 Application security. Find out how to secure applications like web browsers and email clients.
 Networking fundamentals. Explore key networking concepts, such as TCP/IP packets and switches.
 Endpoint security. Learn about the different types of security measures that can be used to protect
endpoint devices like laptops and smartphones.
 Traffic analysis. Become proficient in using tools like Wireshark to analyze network traffic and detect
security threats.
 Incident response. Find out the steps that should be taken in the event of a security incident.
 Forensic investigation. Learn what occurs in the digital forensic investigation process,