Network and data security is a significant concern for any company. As the theft or manipulation of information increases, so implements new and more effective enterprise network security measures in companies.
Complex, highly distributed, virtualized enterprise networks require a rigorous and consistent security strategy. The best strategy lies in addressing your weaknesses and staying ahead of internal and external threats.
What is enterprise network security?
Enterprise network security combines policies, procedures, practices, tools, and expertise to protect IT networks. In this way, it covers everything within a network, including servers, applications, and data, among others, from different cyber threats.
Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, so no network is entirely secure. However, with network security, you can significantly reduce the chances of data breaches and loss. Maintaining good performance and protecting the company’s reputation is also possible.
Below, we propose five practices that will help reinforce enterprise network security in your organization:
Identify security vulnerabilities in connectivity.
The first step is to know the infrastructure and review it from end to end. Having all the information about the model, configuration data of routers, switches, firewalls, and cabling, as well as the computers, servers, and peripheral devices connected to them, will help to know the vulnerabilities of the network infrastructure.
It is necessary to reinforce the need to conduct periodic evaluations in companies—an essential practice to detect possible vulnerabilities and carry out preventive actions.
Review, implement, and share security policies.
It is not enough to create enterprise network security policies that no one reads or updates to comply with the obligation to have security policies. The IT department must review existing policies, implement them, share them with staff, and update them when required.
Enterprise network security policies are not just another document but actions that the entire company must implement to keep the company’s information well protected.
Protect access points for greater security.
Protecting entry points to the network is an essential action to prevent access by threats. A router configured so that any source can access company resources is not the best option.
Some companies have even restricted using external devices with information that can be stolen or malware shared. Granting access to business networks to employees or external personnel is usually done through a secure virtual private network or LAN network to segment traffic.
Filter Media Access Control (MAC) Addresses
Another option businesses have implemented to restrict access to corporate networks is Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering. With this filtering, all devices that can enter the network are authenticated, and a list of authorized MAC addresses is created. In this way, the router will divert traffic from all addresses that are not authorized.
Although not the most secure action, complementing it with other security strategies can be a great defense against data theft.
Avoid downtime
Serious network problems can cause downtime, which, in turn, can bring the entire business to a standstill. A defense-in-depth network security strategy addresses different vulnerabilities that may arise. Leveraging multiple advanced network security tools to mitigate risk prevents successful attacks from crippling systems.
Become external and internal support.
Financial issues often hamper the problem of enterprise network security. The lack of resources has led several companies to do without tools that secure the business network effectively. However, there are very affordable options that any company, no matter how tight their budget, could opt for.
Outsourcing your enterprise network security service to an external provider is much cheaper and more practical than running everything in-house. Another option requires involving the company’s staff, specifically the end users, to understand their needs and proposals. The experience of these people in the daily tasks and difficulties of the company can benefit the IT department.
Remember that the organization’s employees can be an essential resource in improving the security of the company’s network by communicating best practices to their colleagues so that all employees can practice them.
Security is the job of every member of a company, and the more you can involve them in the creation and execution of enterprise network security policies, the more protected you can keep your data.
Avoid data breaches
Most cyber threats use a company’s network to reach other areas of the IT infrastructure and leak personal information. This data breach targets information related to financial data and trade secrets.
Depending on the industry, geographic location, and type of data involved, a data breach could result in hefty fines and regulatory penalties for the company. Enterprise network security is the first line of defense against data breaches. This effectively prevents any attack against a company’s data and protects it.