What is network security?

Types of network security protections

An IT security policy is a set of rules and procedures that underpins the network security of a business. Multiple layers of protection are best practice – consider the network security types below:

Network Access Control (NAC)

Network Access Control (NAC) reduces the risk of hackers accessing your network by bringing together multiple security measures and benefits:

• Policy adoption: Policies or rules bespoke to your business can be embedded across your network to define the users or groups who can access certain systems or resources.
• Role-based access: Businesses can manage who can access the network through authorization and authentication controls, such as user type, permission, and device type.
• Incident response: Identifies any unauthorized attempts to access your network and any devices which are compromised. If this occurs, your NAC controls will automatically block and deactivate the device in question to prevent further spread across your network.
• Reduce the risk of infection: Network security appliances or software will enable businesses to defend the network from and associated IT infrastructure from potential attacks.

Firewall protection

Providing a range of protections, firewalls monitor the traffic entering and leaving your network, gatekeeping against untrusted network traffic, software, ports, or unknown applications from accessing your internal network, computer, or devices.
Threats to your network and associated data will continue to evolve but implementing a firewall provides the first line of defense to reduce the risk of malicious activity.

Antivirus and anti-malware software

Although two of the most utilized network security software are antivirus and antimalware software, they provide two very different benefits.

• Antivirus monitors your network in real-time, providing automatic updates and protecting your business from common types of malware, viruses, and exploits
• Anti-malware can safeguard your network from advanced attacks, or second or third-generation malware that cannot be detected through traditional antivirus and network solutions alone.

Complementing antivirus software, anti-malware software can deliver additional security against ever-evolving threats to your network security.

Virtual Private Networks

The growth of remote working, external devices, and Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) has increased risks to business data security.

As more users access your network from multiple remote locations, it is imperative to ensure that all sensitive data remains secure from prying eyes. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) tool can protect your privacy online by implementing a secure and private network via a proxy connection.

AVG VPN solutions will encrypt your business data and hide your employees’ IP addresses and physical locations, making it difficult for attackers to intercept network traffic.

Network segmentation

A network segmentation policy (also known as network segregation) can separate a network into several segments. This can allow certain user groups to access parts of your network, while administrators can monitor all traffic entering and exiting your organization. It is also a useful tool for businesses to align with compliance regulations.

Examples of network segmentation include:

• User-group access: Authorized users or departments will have varied access and authorization to certain files or folders, but can also remove those with unauthorized access to confidential data.
• Guest Wireless Networks: Users can get to a microsegment of the network with basic access (or microperimeter), providing an extra protective barrier.
• Micro groups: Reduce network traffic by implementing micro groups (or subnets) which can then boost your operational performance and isolate the spread of a potential cyberattack by user group.

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) is a network security device that can detect, routinely scan, and prevent network security threats, such as brute force attacks, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, worms and viruses, SQL injection, and other computer security exploits.

IPS is distinct from Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), although often confused. While IDS software can solely “detect” any malicious activity across your network and notify administrators, IPS software applications are located inline (directly between the source and destination) and can proactively monitor traffic entering and leaving your network and prevent traffic from entering or exiting if untrusted.

IPS security software also offers several benefits:

• Seamlessly integrates with other security solutions: IPS systems can be customized and operate alongside other security applications.
• Reduces the impact on other security devices: Block any threats before they reach your network and associated devices, reducing the pressure on traditional security controls and applications.
• Ensures your policies remain compliant: IPS systems are designed to adhere to your country’s rules and regulations, such as HIPAA, and ensure all employees adhere to business policies by alerting administrators to any suspicious activity.
• Boosts productivity and investment: An IPS system will provide significant time and resource savings through its automatic monitoring capabilities.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) software automatically monitors sensitive or confidential data that enters and exits your network and defends organizations from various threats:

• Data breaches: When hackers compromise and steal your data, resulting in reputational damage, a loss in productivity, and subsequent financial losses.
• Data loss: When your data is removed from your systems because of data hacking or system malfunction.
• Data leakage: When data is sent to an unauthorized recipient unintentionally, from a malicious insider (employee), or through any vulnerability on your network. Exfiltration: When data is transferred or copied.

To deliver robust compliance and visibility across your network, DLP software can also ensure that you are compliant with local and industry-related regulations – HIPAA, SOX, PCI DSS, GDPR, etc., and auditing requirements, as well as promote visibility across your network. DLP software can also safeguard and monitor data situated on cloud systems, as well as support organizations that support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) capabilities.

Endpoint security

Alongside the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which can secure your business data and protect your privacy online, an endpoint security solution adds a layer of defense between remote devices and business networks.

Key features include:

• Identifying, detecting, and blocking malicious websites from accessing your data.
• Protecting servers, workstations, and mobiles from threats to your networks and devices.
• Safeguarding programs, files, and folders from being accessed and encrypted.
• Updating cloud platforms in real-time, offering 24/7 protection
• Monitoring and scanning your Wi-Fi network, providing continual visibility into any potential vulnerabilities.

Email and mobile security

Adopting business network security monitoring software will be essential to protecting your network, endpoints, and devices. However, human error will continue to be a risk that businesses must factor into their security policies, and extends to the use of email and mobile security software.

Safeguarding against the risk of common cyberattacks that target employees, such as malware, phishing, and viruses, AVG Email Server Business Edition can proactively protect your email and texting activities through one core solution that has anti-spyware capabilities and can:

• Block external threats to your server
• Routinely scan your devices outside core business hours, allowing your employees to focus on your business without costly distractions and delays.
• Provide Remote Management, enabling your administrator to remotely install, update, and configure AVG across your network from a single location.

Sandboxing

As the number of cyberattacks continues to grow both in numbers and sophistication, businesses must be increasingly mindful of threats to business network security.

Available both as an appliance-based tool and a cloud-based application, sandboxing enables small and mid-size businesses to create an isolated test ground to run files or untrusted code in a virtual environment that mirrors your existing network. Sandboxing can therefore provide a suitable testing ground to examine new technologies, files, or applications or even open malicious attachments without affecting the main network.

Cloud security

Adhering to compliance regulations and business policies and procedures, cloud security providers can deliver additional protection to your network security and data through the introduction of online-based infrastructure, applications, and platforms. Typically managed in partnership with the cloud service provider that holds your data, solutions can be adopted via the network rather than individual devices. Cloud antivirus solutions and authentication controls also include password protection and user access control.