What Is Network Security Management?

Computers. 

They’re not just nice-to-have anymore. 

Modern computing is absolutely essential to virtually any enterprise, from small, one- or two-person startups to massive, multinational business conglomerates. 

When a computer is connected to another computer—whether that be physically or via an internet connection—a network is established. Computer networks have been around since at least the 1950’s, and since then, they’ve grown to include millions of nodes in any given network. 

And, networks don’t just consist of desktop workstations. The nodes on a network could be smartphones, telemetry devices, or even wearable technology like body cameras or heart rate monitors.

Wherever data is sent, received, stored, or manipulated between two or more computers, network security becomes a concern. 

Why Network Security Matters

Every second of every day, terabytes worth of sensitive data travels across thousands of networks throughout the world. Without adequate network security, this data could be intercepted by individuals with nefarious intentions, including identity theft and corporate espionage. 

In 2019, network security mishaps accounted for billions of dollars in losses for some of the biggest companies in the world, including Marriott Hotels, Facebook, Instagram, and Capital One. Tragically, most of these data breaches could have been avoided with the implementation of strategic network security management.

At Fisher’s Technology, we know how catastrophic it can be to have to deal with the aftermath of data breaches, data theft, or data hacking. Thankfully, there are physical and virtual tools that can be used to thwart cyber criminals and to protect your data wherever it may travel across your network. 

Approaches to Network Security Management

As distributed computing gets progressively more sophisticated and as more and more companies move to cloud-based operations, network security management has been forced to evolve dramatically. 

Just in the past ten years, network security management has changed radically. The methodologies used to protect data and fortify networks hardly even resemble the techniques that used to work just a decade ago. 

So, how does network security management operate in the data climate of 2020? 

While we don’t have enough time or space in this blog post to adequately explain all of the details, we can boil it down to eight important areas of focus. 

They are: 

• Antivirus and antimalware software. The deployment of effective antivirus and antimalware software is crucial in the protection and integrity of data, no matter where it lives.
  
• Customized Data Loss Prevention Policies. Setting up user permissions and restricting access to certain data goes a long way to ensure that data doesn’t ‘leak’, something that can often happen as a result of actions taken by careless employees.
  

• Email security protocols. It’s incredibly easy for malicious software or viruses to be sent via email. Therefore, having a software program that can scan emails for potential threats before they are opened is especially valuable.
  

• Firewall integration. A firewall is a physical or virtual guardian against unauthorized data access. They are crucial in keeping data security threats at bay.
  

• Internet use and web-based security. It’s possible to compromise an entire network with a simple visit to the wrong URL. Web security measures work to prevent this by blocking access to unauthorized websites.
  

• Data segmentation. A common practice for security professionals is compartmentalizing data so that, if an area of the network is compromised by a virus or breach, the rest of the network doesn’t have to suffer alongside it.
  

• Virtual Private Networks. Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are networks that make use of public internet connections to connect users of private networks. Using VPNs, data can travel to more endpoint destinations safer.
  
• Data encryption. One of the most reliable methods of network security is using encryption whenever two networked computers communicate with each other.

This isn’t a complete list of all of the network security strategies that could be used by a company to protect their data. Also, not every company is going to need a massive, expensive network security management solution to safely operate. 

This is why it’s helpful to consult with Fisher’s Technology to determine what network security measures might make sense for your organization.

Our network security professionals will evaluate your needs, make the best recommendations, and work with you to develop a smart, effective network security plan that is as protective as it is easy to deploy. 

When you’re ready to take action to protect your network—and, by extension, your company as a whole—contact Fisher’s Technology. 

Even though the concept of data integrity is far-reaching and complex, we make network security management easy!