Network Security Services:
As of today, many organizations all over the world have accumulated numerous network security infrastructures and continuously make them more sophisticated and even stronger due to the continuous evolution and progressive development of cyber threats.
Network Security Services (NSS) is a cryptographic computer set of libraries created to support the cross-platform development of the security-enabled client. Also, it supports server applications with an option to support hardware TLS/SSL acceleration and hardware smart cards on the client part. Furthermore, NSS provides a complete open-source execution of cryptographic libraries associating Transport Layer Security (TLS)/ Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and S/MIME.
There are applications that use NSS, such as AOL, Google, Red Hat, Sun Microsystems/Oracle Corporation, Mozilla, and other organizations and individual sponsors that have co-developed NSS. Other than them, below also are using NSS in a range of products:
- AOL Communicator and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
- Mozilla client products such as Firefox, Thunderbird and etc.
- Open source client applications like Evolution, Pidgin and etc.
- Red Hat server products like Red Hat Directory Server, mod NSS SSL module and etc.
- Sun Java Enterprise System server products like Sun Java System Web Server, Sun Java System Portal Server and etc.
- Libreswan IKE/IPsec
Also, there are security standards that NSS supports. Below are the following:
- Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. This protocol surpasses the SSL v3.0 while still a backward-compatible with SSL v3.
- Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. This protocol permits mutual verification between a client and server and the establishment of a verified and encrypted connection.
- PKCS standards
- DTLS 1.0 (RFC 4347) and 1.2 (RFC 6347)
- DTLS-SRTP (RFC 5764)
- Cryptographic Message Syntax (used in S/MIME). This is an IETF message specification that provides a way to send and receive signed and coded MIME data.
- X.509 v3. This is an ITU standard that manages the formatting of the certificate used in public-key cryptography confirmation.
- Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP). This protocol manages real-time confirmation of the validity of the certificate.
- PKIX Certificate and CRL Profile (RFC 3280)
- and other security standards
NSS also supports PKCS #11 interface to enable access to cryptographic hardware like hardware security modules, TLS/SSL accelerators, and smart cards, as well as Java (JSS) which supports most of the security standards and encryption technologies.
All standards are created and developed mainly to strengthen security against network threats. Many corporations are ready and can easily prepare and defend the security in network systems against network threats and attacks, but not the individual consumers. Most individual consumers are not aware of its existence, or they might know, but don’t give attention to strengthening the security in computer systems due to a lack of knowledge as to how serious cyber-threats are. Since they are outside the security umbrella of the corporate, hackers and attackers will use them by entering their home system and making a way to access a bigger and wider network. Therefore, network security should not neglect individual consumers.
What is network security and its need?
Hackers will always look for an entry to pass through the network security. When a network doesn’t have good and strong security, your privacy, the information about any organizations, and even highly confidential information of government agencies will be at risk of being exposed.
Network Security is a preventive measure to prevent and protect your privacy and any organization against hackers and attackers that will compromise your privacy and deteriorate the system. It requires a compound combination of hardware devices (such as firewalls and routers) and software applications.
Strengthening your security will protect you from harmful attacks.
Since there are numerous ways that a network can be exposed to attackers, network security practices must be followed, and that includes:
- Setup active devices that block users from sending or receiving suspicious emails, block unauthorized access to the network, use software that blocks malicious programs, and stop users from accessing unsafe websites.
- Setup passive devices and software that can prompt unauthorized intrusions or suspicious activity.
- Use preventative devices that help to identify vulnerabilities of network security so they can be fixed prior to possible attacks.
- Ensure that the users are following safe practices because even if you set up strong security in the network system, the users’ actions may weaken that security.
Types of Network Security Protections
Well-designed network security could empower your protection against any malicious activity in the network, and you will be at ease that your privacy and information will not be leaked or stolen.
Below are the types of network security protections:
- Antivirus and Anti-malware software – a protection that is used to shield your system from harmful viruses, worms, Trojan attacks, and more.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) – maintain the confidentiality of data and assure that the information will not be leaked.
- Firewall – designed to analyze incoming and outgoing traffic in the network following certain rules. It permits or restricts incoming traffic. This protection plays a big part in Network Security.
- Email Security – this security application will scan incoming messages for viruses and will filter suspicious data to prevent potential loss of information.
- Network Segmentation – a software-based organization that will segment important data into two or three parts and keeps them in several locations.
- Web security – this security refers to implementing limited access to websites and URLs by blocking the sites that are vulnerable to viruses and hackers.
- Virtual Private Network (VP) – a network that uses encryption approaches for authenticating the data traffic over the Internet.
- Access Control – this security is done by putting user ID, password, and authentication process before accessing the network.
- Endpoint Security – this provides seven layers of security inclusive of file protection, auto-sandbox, web filtering, antivirus software, and a firewall
What are the advantages of network security?
Network Security plays a very big role in securing and protecting information, especially for big organizations. Protecting the information is one of the keys to a successful business. Effective network security is a preventive action against unauthorized access, modification, misuse, and changing of network security setup and its resources. Below are the advantages of network security:
- Protects information against unauthorized access
- Safeguard the traveling of data from sender to receiver
- Guard the data from any alteration
- Prohibits hiding of identity of the original sender
- Guard hardware like hard disks, PCs, and laptops from the attack of viruses, malware and etc.
- Protects the computer from the software that is installed; it can harm the system.
- Safeguard the system from Trojan horses, worms and etc. that can totally destroy the system
- Build the trust, favor, and confidence of the client and consumers, and it will protect your business from a security breach.
Where is network security used?
Cyber-attacks are a serious concern specifically for government agencies. Government agencies have built a strict security regulation of the network to protect individuals and any organizations’ data and privacy.
Network security is commonly used in organizations such as businesses, law firms, banks, and a lot more. Mainly because of the following reasons: protection of data, prevents cyber-attacks, levels of access, centrally controlled and centralized updates.
Why security in computer systems is so important?
Computer security must be a high priority for any organization that works with a network. Security in computer systems is important due to below reasons:
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- The main part of cyber security – Cyber security involves securing everything, especially securing you in the network to any threats. It also protects your data and devices.
- Protects your data – Data is one of the most important to be kept and protected. For example, is your financial information. Your bank account details should not be known to anyone. It should only be known to you unless you allow someone to do a transaction for you for some reason. But unauthorized access to your bank account would certainly be big trouble because you will probably lose your financial assets. With this, network security takes a big rule for securing that your information will not be disclosed.
- Protects client data – If you are engaged in any organization like banking, for example, the data or information of your client must never be revealed to anyone unless it’s the customer itself. Keeping and making it secure from hackers is the organization’s responsibility.
- Network security is required – There are businesses that follow a certain standard because it is a requirement to continue being recognized as part of a certain regulatory body. This means that if you are a part of it, you are following their standard set, and the customer will trust you for that. For example, if you are involved in a medical organization, there is a regulation like HIPAA.
- Improves your network’s performance
- Protects against ransomware – This malware blocks access or threatens to release your own data unless you pay a ransom.
- Emerging Cyber-attacks – Together with the improvement of technology, cyber-attacks are also upgrading. With this, big organizations are investing in superior security from time to time.
- Setting up network security may cost money, but it will cost more when you are not protected.
- Today, the world depends on technology.
How to protect your home network security?
Typical steps for dealing with a home network that will be capable enough to deal with any possibilities of network threats are the following:
- Change the router admin username and password
- Change the network name
- Use encryption
- Activate your firewalls
- Turn off guest networks
- Update router firmware
Generalization
Implementing network security is the main course to be protected against potential attacks in the network. Assigning strong passwords to the system, a regular backup, multi-level security, using antivirus software and malware protection, and updating all the software installed regularly are some of the common ways for you to be protected in the network.
Preventing future threats is at your hands. Doing this is better than trying to retrieve, save and amend the awful result.
Be updated and knowledgeable of all threats and network security development for you to take action on the possibilities prior to their occurrence as much as possible.
For more details, just visit https://www.thepractical.co.th/. See you there!