Developing a well-rounded network security strategy is key in keeping threat actors away from essential company resources. Network security, like firewalls and email security, is key in protecting yourself in the threat landscape: Criminals can breach 93% of company networks. You can avoid being one of them.
All worthwhile cybersecurity strategies are focused on protecting company data, but there are three prongs to the question of “What is network security?”:
- Detection: Identifying threats;
- Protection: Preventing threats from breaching your network; and
- Response: Terminating and resolving threat actions.
In this blog, you’ll learn the top network security strategies, recommended network security tools that can help prevent cyber attacks and data loss, and how working with an IT security company can help you achieve security and compliance.
Top 4 Network Security Strategies
1. Conduct a Security Audit
As more employees work from home and have remote access to company networks, it’s important for companies to conduct regularly scheduled security audits. Penetration testing is an important piece of this puzzle, providing information on gaps in threat detection, mitigation, and response. This information is foundational in building a more secure network.
You may think your network is secure, but a 360-degree security audit from a trusted IT firm gives you actionable information about potential weaknesses. This is just one of the first steps you can take to reduce security risk.
2. Keep Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware Up-to-Date
Though getting anti-virus software is a good first step, as the software is deployed across a number of new devices, some versions may become dated as new devices are issued. Users may also not update their computers.
Keeping your antivirus up-to-date should be part of a regular schedule of keeping all software current—developers regularly release security patches and other fixes that safeguard software.
3. Set Up a Firewall
From device-specific firewalls to web application firewalls (WAF), this security solution should be in every IT person’s toolbox. This application security technology acts as a protective layer between the web application and the Internet, filtering HTTP and other traffic.
Protect Your Data. Develop A Network Security Strategy.
IT experts are ready to help patch your network vulnerabilities.
Contact Us
If you conduct transactions online, a WAF is of additional interest: A WAF can help you protect customer data and private information.
4. Deploy a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) provides a network security solution through three main services:
- Masking your Internet Protocol (IP) address, making your activities online nearly untraceable;
- Encrypting your network, guaranteeing online privacy; and
- Providing a secure, encrypted connection that prevents hackers from getting their hands on information like browsing and communications history.
With more employees working remotely, deploying a VPN is a fantastic example of a security strategy. As an effective network security tool, your VPN protects your files—even when you’re on a public network. If your remote team often uses public networks, a VPN is a must-have when you’re developing a network security strategy.
Recommended Tools for Network Security Strategies
As you’ve already seen, when you’re planning network security strategies, tools and strategy often boil down to the same thing. But, beyond the recommendations we’ve made above, there are a few other tools that should be in your security managers’ IT kit.
- Cyber Threat Security Remediation: The 6 Steps You Should Know
- An Easy to Follow NIST Risk Assessment Framework
- A Cyber Security Risk Assessment Template
Access Control
Limiting access to your network to vetted and trusted users is a powerful way to keep your data secure. Though threats may be both internal and external, robust access control gives users access only to the tools they need to fulfill their responsibilities. Damage mitigation begins with access limitation.
Endpoint Security
With more employees working remotely, endpoint security is imperative in preventing a data breach. If your employees are using personal devices, these devices may become a target for threats. Endpoint security is an additional shield between a personal device and the company network. Examples include firewalls, web filtering, and email security.
Develop Network Security Strategies with a Premier IT Security Company
When you work with an IT security company, experts conduct security audits and provide suggestions for next steps, including security products and planning incident response. You’ll also have a bird’s eye view of network performance and data security.
As the premier healthcare IT security company, Techumen is in the business of providing the technology security you need—not the services you don’t. Meet regulatory compliance with the help of our on-staff experts. Book a consultation today.