Catalyst 2960 -

CHATGPT -

When deploying Cisco Catalyst 2960 switches or any network device, it's crucial to follow best security
practices to mitigate potential risks and ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of your
network infrastructure. Here are some recommended security practices:

1. Keep Firmware Updated: Regularly update the switch firmware to the latest stable release
provided by Cisco. Firmware updates often include security patches to address known
vulnerabilities.

2. Secure Management Access:

 Enable strong authentication mechanisms such as SSH (Secure Shell) or SNMPv3 for
remote management access.

 Use strong, unique passwords for administrative accounts and consider implementing
multi-factor authentication for added security.

 Restrict management access to trusted IP addresses or networks using access control

lists (ACLs) or management VLANs.

 Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to limit access privileges based on job roles
or responsibilities.

3. Enable Port Security:

 Implement port security features such as MAC address filtering, sticky MAC address
learning, and limiting the number of MAC addresses allowed per port to prevent
unauthorized access.

 Configure port security settings based on the specific requirements of your network
environment.

4. VLAN Segmentation:

 Use VLANs to logically segment your network and isolate sensitive or critical resources
from less secure parts of the network.

 Implement VLAN access control lists (VACLs) or private VLANs (PVLANs) to enforce
network segmentation policies and control traffic flow between VLANs.

5. Enable Authentication and Authorization:

  Implement IEEE 802.1X authentication to control network access based on user
credentials or device identity.

 Utilize RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for centralized authentication, authorization, and

accounting (AAA) services.

 Configure role-based access control (RBAC) to assign specific access rights and
permissions to users or groups.

6. Encrypt Sensitive Traffic:

 Enable encryption protocols such as SSH, HTTPS, and SNMPv3 to secure management
traffic and sensitive data in transit.

 Consider implementing network layer encryption technologies like IPsec VPNs for secure
communication between remote sites or endpoints.

7. Monitor and Log Activities:

 Enable logging and monitoring features on the switch to track and analyze network
activity, security events, and potential threats.

 Use syslog or SNMP-based monitoring tools to centralize log data and generate alerts
for suspicious activities or policy violations.

8. Physical Security:

 Physically secure the switch in a locked cabinet or secure location to prevent

unauthorized access or tampering.

 Implement measures such as cable locks and tamper-evident seals to protect physical
access to the device.

9. Regular Security Audits and Assessments:

 Conduct periodic security audits and assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities,

misconfigurations, or compliance gaps.

 Perform penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to proactively identify and

remediate security weaknesses.

10. Employee Training and Awareness:

 Provide ongoing training and awareness programs to educate employees about security
best practices, policies, and procedures.

 Foster a security-conscious culture within the organization to encourage employees to

report security incidents and adhere to security guidelines.
By following these best security practices, you can enhance the security posture of your Cisco Catalyst
2960 switches and help protect your network infrastructure from potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Additionally, staying informed about the latest security advisories and updates from Cisco can further
strengthen your defenses against emerging security risks.

NIST

The NIST SP 800-53 provides a catalog of controls that support the development of secure and resilient
federal information systems. These controls are the operational, technical, and management safeguards
used by information systems to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and security of federal
information systems.

NIST guidelines adopt a multi-tiered approach to risk management through control compliance. SP 800-
53 works alongside SP 800-37, which was developed to provide federal agencies and contractors with
guidance on implementing risk management programs. SP 800-53 focuses on the controls which can be
used along with the risk management framework outlined in 800-37.

The controls are broken into 3 classes based on impact – low, moderate, and high – and split into 18
different families. The NIST SP 800-53 security control families are:

 Access Control

 Audit and Accountability

 Awareness and Training

 Configuration Management

 Contingency Planning

 Identification and Authentication

 Incident Response

 Maintenance

 Media Protection

 Personnel Security

 Physical and Environmental Protection

 Planning

 Program Management

 Risk Assessment
  Security Assessment and Authorization

 System and Communications Protection

 System and Information Integrity

 System and Services Aquisition

NIST SP 800-53 also introduces the concept of security control baselines as a starting point for the
security control selection process. These baselines outline a number of key considerations like
operational and functional needs as well as the most common types of threats facing information
systems. A tailoring process is outlined too to help organizations select only those controls appropriate
to the requirements of the information systems in use within their environment.

1. Access Control (AC): Controls related to controlling access to system resources, including network
devices, based on policies and user roles.
2. Audit and Accountability (AU): Controls related to monitoring and recording system activities to detect
and respond to security incidents.
3. Configuration Management (CM): Controls related to managing configurations of network devices,
ensuring they are securely configured and maintained.
4. Identification and Authentication (IA): Controls related to verifying the identity of users and devices
accessing the network, such as through passwords or cryptographic mechanisms.
5. Incident Response (IR): Controls related to detecting, responding to, and recovering from security
incidents affecting network devices.
6. System and Communications Protection (SC): Controls related to protecting communications and
network infrastructure from unauthorized access and disruptions.
7. System and Information Integrity (SI): Controls related to ensuring the integrity of network devices and
information transmitted across the network.