For organizations dealing with large sets of data daily, cyber threats have become one of the major concerns. Network security is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of software and hardware solutions to protect companies from these types of threats. It includes guidelines, procedures, and setups for network accessibility, usage, and general threat protection.
What is Network Security?
To put it simply, network security involves the technologies, people, policies, and procedures that defend any communication infrastructure from cyberattacks, data loss, and unauthorized access. While protecting the network itself, it also plays a key role in securing traffic and network-accessible assets both at the network edge and inside the perimeter.
The increasing penetration of digital platforms has enhanced business efficiencies, reduced costs, and improved productivity. But simultaneously, they have led to the expanded attack surface across the rising network edge. Whether it is the implementation of local area networks, wide area networks, Internet of Things, or cloud computing, these deployments come along with potential vulnerability. Moreover, the growing rate of sophisticated cybercriminals exploits vulnerabilities, creating numerous threats for organizations. Ransomware, distributed denial-of-service, malware, and many others are now challenging robust IT teams to boost their defenses.
These challenges make organizations think about strengthening their network protections. Here are some of the important points that every firm should keep a note of:
- They should emphasize making a robust security infrastructure to ensure their data remains always protected.
- To build a protected network, companies must eliminate threat vectors by shielding sensitive information from unauthorized access, thereby protecting customer data and maintaining compliance.
- Moreover, protected networks are resilient against potential disruptions and result in minimal downtime, enhancing the overall productivity of businesses.
- Robust security prevents bad actors from disabling the network, ensuring the availability of key resources always.
Popular devices securing network infrastructure
Three devices play an important role in securing network infrastructure. The ethernet switches are essential hardware sets that provide adequate security at the network edge by facilitating traffic filtering and controlling access at the port level. They allow administrators to enforce policies on granular network segments.
On the other hand, Wi-Fi access points help implement encryption protocols and authentication mechanisms, safeguarding data during transit. These points also support access control lists, protecting unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.
Thirdly, 5G and LTE gateways are key to offering robust network security. Housing these pieces of apparatus under the same security umbrella ensures a common configuration, thereby reducing the attack surface.
AI, ML, and emerging technologies in revolutionizing network security
In the last few years, the advent of AI and machine learning have revolutionized the network security market. According to Allied Market Research, the industry is projected to rise at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2020 to 2027. These technologies have the potential to analyze vast amounts of data and learn from patterns, thereby predicting potential threats. Cybersecurity professionals make use of AI and ML-based platforms to identify and respond to sophisticated threats more accurately than ever before.
Moreover, the rise of zero-trust architecture has gained huge popularity in this field. This security model involves strict identity verification for individuals or devices that try to access an organizationβs network. In this model, no one is trusted by default, even if they are within the companyβs network perimeter. The increase in the number of cyberattacks targeting businesses and organizations has fueled the demand for this architecture globally.
On the other hand, cloud computing has become an integral part of many businesses nowadays, however, it comes with new security risks. Cloud security technologies such as multi-factor authentication, access controls, and encryption have emerged to address these risks. Leading businesses have already started implementing these technologies to ensure security their data in the cloud.
Furthermore, though blockchain technology is mostly associated with cryptocurrency, it has remarkable potential to transform cybersecurity as well. It can provide secure storage for sensitive information by creating a decentralized database. As there is no central authority controlling the data, it is difficult for hackers to gain unauthorized access.
Google joins hands with Wiz to expand cloud security solutions
In July 2024, Google, an American multinational corporation and technology company announced its acquisition of Wiz, a cloud security startup. With this agreement, Google aims to boost its cloud security cloud security offerings for large organizations, taking over solutions provided by cloud rivals such as Amazon.com and Microsoft. Moreover, with this move, the tech giant envisions offering advanced security products designed for modern-age businesses. These products help them defend against ransomware attacks causing substantial damage to large firms.
The crux
The landscape of network security is evolving rapidly with continuous technological developments. Moreover, the adoption of secure software-defined wide-area networks among organizations is expected to provide secure connectivity for remote locations. In the future, SD-WAN models are going to consolidate security functions such as next-generation firewalls and application gateways into a single platform.
Authorβs Bio
Although belonging to an engineering stream, Rosy had a knack for writing throughout her student life. Her keen interest in creative compositions drove her to take up content writing professionally after graduation. For the last few years, she has been delivering impactful content, engaging and delighting readers, along with grabbing their attention.
β **π¨ππππππ ππππππ: Rosy Behera
