Cybercriminals are not a problem. What can companies of any size do to protect their intangible assets such as critical data and information? The best option consists of integrating network security tools into their processes that allow them to reduce the risks and uncertainty in the face of crimes in this category.
In this article, we will talk in-depth about the best network security solutions currently available. Let us see:
- Why an antivirus is so essential for your company?
- What do we mean by computer perimeter security?
- What is a proxy and how does it affect security?
- How does end-to-end encryption work?
- Why are vulnerability scanners a cybersecurity tool?
- Which are the most popular vulnerability scanners?
- Why is it important to have a VPN to maintain security in our networks?
- How can we finally define network security tools?
1. Why an antivirus is so essential for your company?
A system with no antivirus is equivalent to a home with an open door. An unprotected and open door will invite all thieves and house breakers into your home. Likewise, an unsecured computer will eventually invite all viruses to get into the system. Using an antivirus will act as a closed door with a security guard for your computer defending against all malicious intrusive viruses.
Antivirus software primarily performs a prophylactic function. It senses any possible viruses and then works to eliminate them. Note that all of this is done primarily before the virus damages the system.
Therefore, this means that most viruses are countered before they reach the point of damaging your systems. An antivirus can combat a lot of viruses in a typical day without you even noticing it. All this makes antivirus an indispensable network security tool.
Once a virus has attacked your system, you can potentially transfer it to your friends, family and networks. Therefore, if you want to protect your computer system, and the computers of your acquaintances, consider getting an antivirus.
2. What do we mean by computer perimeter security?
Perimeter security comes from an integrated multipurpose system that detects threats, performs surveillance, and analyzes attack patterns. As such, it often serves as a network’s first line of defense that detects and responds against many dangers that can damage connected systems.
In computing, perimeter security refers to a method of defending computer networks, which consists of installing communications equipment in which the necessary security policies set up for optimal operation are established.
This equipment consists of placing it between the external network and the internal network, allowing or denying access to internal and external users to the different services of the network.
Therefore, the main challenges of perimeter security are the reliability of detection. In addition, the behavior of the devices in adverse weather conditions, the adaptation to the physical characteristics of the perimeter, the transmission of signals, and the rate of false alarms. These features make it a competent network security tool.
3. What is a proxy and how does it affect security?
It means an intermediate device or computer that allows connecting to the Internet indirectly since it connects directly to the Internet. Also known as a web cache, it consists of a computer that resides within a network, from which it receives requests for access to the internet (HTTP).
When using a proxy server, the information first passes through this server, which sends it to the destination computer, preventing communication between the destination computers and ensuring the protection of the network.
Nowadays, many companies use a proxy server to give their users access to the outside of the network. With this measure, they can control the network traffic with the outside and minimize the threats that this entails.
But in addition to increasing security, a proxy allows the configuration time of the network equipment to be reduced, since it involves almost the entire configuration of the server.
4. How does end-to-end encryption work?
Data encryption refers to the process of using an algorithm that transforms standard text characters into an unreadable format. To explain, this process uses encryption keys to encode data so that only authorized users can read it. End-to-end encryption also uses this same process.
Generally, this system comes into play especially when privacy is of paramount importance. Examples of privacy include sensitive topics such as business documents, financial details, legal proceedings, medical conditions, or personal conversations. Consequently, the lack of security of private data could result in damage to companies and their customers.
End-to-end encryption offers more than just sending encrypted messages. It can also enable control to authorize user access to stored data. A privileged user policy administration system provides granular control on who has full access to what information.
5. Why are vulnerability scanners a cybersecurity tool?
Vulnerability scanners are software, hardware, or network security tools used to diagnose and analyze computers connected to the network, allowing networks, computers, and applications to be examined for potential security problems, and vulnerabilities to be assessed and corrected. Pretty useful for network protection and cybersecurity.
Through vulnerability scanners, various applications on a system can be checked for potential weaknesses that can be exploited by attackers. Low-level tools, such as port scanners, can also be used to identify and analyze potential applications and protocols running on a system.
Although these applications are not capable of detecting the vulnerability with total precision, they can detect certain elements that could trigger a vulnerability, greatly facilitating the work of researchers and engineers. It is common to perform vulnerability scans from the internal network, to see what can be done once you have access to the intranet, or from the external network.
Therefore, the scanners are intended to address the following tasks:
- Vulnerability identification and analysis.
- Inventorying resources such as the operating system, software, and network devices
- Generate reports describing vulnerabilities and remediation options
5.1 How would the vulnerability scanners work?
The first mechanism, probing, is slow but precise. It is an active analysis mechanism that executes simulated attacks, thus testing the vulnerability. Probing uses attack execution techniques to help confirm the existence of a vulnerability and detect previously undetected flaws.
The second, scanning, is faster but produces less accurate results. It is a passive analysis, in which the scanner looks for vulnerabilities without confirming their presence, using circumstantial evidence. The scan identifies open ports and collects the associated headlines.
These are then compared against a table of rules to identify network devices, operating systems, and potential weaknesses. After comparison, the network security scanner reports the presence or absence of a vulnerability.
Most modern network security scanners work on the principles of:
- Collecting information about the network, identifying all active devices and the services running on them.
- Identification of potential vulnerabilities.
- Confirmation of selected vulnerabilities using specific methods and simulated attacks.
- Report generation.
- Automated vulnerability elimination.
6. Which are the most popular vulnerability scanners?
Nessus, a regularly updated vulnerability database, ease of installation and use, and a high level of accuracy are its advantages over competitors. And a key feature is the use of plug-ins. In other words, any penetration test is not integrated into the program but takes the form of a plug-in. An interesting point is that users will be able to write their tests using a special scripting language.
Nessus is an excellent vulnerability scanner. But it has two drawbacks. The first is that when the safe checks option is disabled, some vulnerability tests may cause failures on the systems being scanned. The second is the price.
Symantec Security Check. A free scanner from the vendor of the same name. The main functions are to detect viruses and Trojans, Internet worms, and malicious programs and search for vulnerabilities in the local network. It is an online product consisting of two parts: Security Scan, which checks system security, and Virus Detection, which performs a full scan for computer viruses.
XSpider. Which, according to its developer, can detect one-third of tomorrow’s vulnerabilities. A key feature of this scanner is the ability to detect as many “holes” in the network as possible before hackers see them. The scanner works remotely without the need for any additional, it is a wireless network security software. After working, the scanner sends a full report and advice on how to fix the problem to the security professional.
7. Why is it important to have a VPN to maintain security in our networks?
If we talk about network security tools, we cannot leave out the VPN. The abbreviation VPN means Virtual Private Network. Compared to other computer words, such as HTTP, it does give us some precise clues as to what the concept is all about.
The process changes depending on the device through which you want to connect, but the essence remains the same: your device connects to another device that provides the Internet connection. The local network refers to all the devices connected to the same router, so you can share files and printers without having to go through the Internet.
A VPN connection allows you to create a local network without the members being physically in the same space but through the Internet. Hence, its name means virtual private network, in addition to creating a new network detection and response. This means that by using a VPN, you obtain all the advantages of the local network with greater flexibility.
As it uses the Internet, it can be from one end of the world to another and this will not interfere with the security of the connection, making it a good network security tool. correctly implementation of this technology will allow and ensure the confidentiality and integrity of all data and information transmitted over the network.
7.1 How exactly does a VPN work?
It hides our real IP address and location. Once we connect to the VPN service or network, it offers us the possibility of connecting from a new server, which acts as a gateway. Thus, the public IP would not be our own, but that of that server thanks to this network security tool.
In other words, the VPN service would “spoof” our original IP address, making it appear that we find ourselves in a city or even a country other than the one we are actually in. It also encrypts our private data through encryption. When we use a VPN service or network, both our Internet traffic and our personal information, located inside the private tunnel, become encoded through encryption.
Encryption, or scrambling, consists of a way of hiding information by modifying it to make it look like random data, and is essential for Internet security. In this way, a VPN connection tends to remain virtually impossible to hack by external forces and
Encapsulates our Internet traffic. Different Internet data moves in packets and this network security tool ensures that when we use it, all our data packets get encapsulated inside additional data packets. Thus, this encapsulation generates a private tunnel within public networks.
7.2 When is it advisable to use a VPN?
A lot of security experts recommend the use of a VPN whenever we navigate through public networks. However, it is also true that it can come in handy at home, in the office, when traveling or living in a country with geographical restrictions, or on certain mobile devices.
If we tend to access the University’s wireless connection or any kind of public Wi-Fi network; it becomes easy for hackers and other entities to see and steal our primary data, even if we use a password. Therefore, at a minimum, it becomes important to use a VPN network to protect our most sensitive information, such as logins and passwords.
Moreover, this also includes any public Wi-Fi hotspot, no matter where we are: school, library, cafeteria, hotel or airport. In general, our home connection tends to remain generally private with controlled access.
However, everything we do online, from our searches on search engines such as Google or Bing to the various websites we visit every day, can easily become linked to our IP address. More often than not, especially since a few years ago, this information gets collected for marketing purposes; to provide us with relevant advertisements based on our likes and dislikes.
8. How can we finally define network security tools?
On Connect Tech we define effective network security as anything that can influence any organization’s networks and anything that helps prevent those attacks. Network security tools should enable all organizations to adopt intelligent approaches to policies and processes to safeguard data, networks, and systems. In addition, we can offer you:
- Cloud-based services.
- Software development.
- Mobile application development.
- IT outsourcing.
- MVP development, and other services that can help your business succeed.
As you can see, there are many ways to keep your company’s networks secure. If you have any questions or want to know more information, feel free to contact us at Connect Tech. To talk to us just call us at +971 43 316 688 or you can also email us: contact@connectech.dev.
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