SECNORA® is a CREST Accredited cyber security focused consulting firm with expertise in Information Security and Governance, Risk, Compliance.
Protecting organisations and their data from a wide range of cyber attacks is a great challenge today which requires planning, expertise and professional management of resources. Given the propensity of cyber criminals to carry out attacks against big corporations, a robust network security plan is essential to protect networks.
Business organisations need to take into consideration a couple of important things such as educating end users or employees and a plan that is in sync with the business model and easy to follow.
In this blog, you will find all the important steps you can take to prepare and implement a network security plan that can help businesses succeed. Before we jump deep into planning and implementation, let’s briefly understand a bit about network security.
What is Network Security?
Network security can be defined as a set of policies, procedures and technologies used by an organisation to protect networks, network assets and traffic. It is important for safeguarding critical infrastructure and preventing the sophisticated level of cyber attacks from disrupting business. The network security solutions protect networks internally as well as externally.
Moreover, IT is undergoing a massive revolution with cloud-based technologies, the Internet of Things and the growth of remote work. Thus, it is high time for businesses to use the latest and advanced network security measures.
Some of the common network security threats are listed below.
Understanding Network Security Plan
In simple terms, a network security plan defines the approach or strategy that will be used by an organisation to protect the network. It will generally lay down security policies and procedures in detail which need to be strictly followed by everyone from top to bottom of an organisation. Plus, it also clearly shows how the company intends to meet the security requirements systematically and periodically. The objective of all network security plans is to prevent unauthorized access to the network system and compromise sensitive data.
The network security plan should be well-documented and the information must be easily accessible and understandable. Also, experts suggest that network security plans need to be reviewed at regular intervals and updated as and when needed.
The management, governance and maintenance of a network security plan must be taken care of by CISOs, security heads or managers of a company. The concerned authority must be able to communicate the content, goal and implications of the plan to everyone in the company.
Preparing and Implementing a Network Security Plan
Find out the step-by-step guide on how to prepare and implement a network security plan.
Assess Network and Infrastructure
First of all, the business should know better about its network and infrastructure and the related data. This means that the decision-makers should realize what data is most critical and what needs the most protection. For example, it can vary from customer data to products for different businesses. By grading the data into different categories, the business can put in network security efforts accordingly.
Other factors that can be taken into consideration include:
Once the assessment of the network and infrastructure is done, a better and more accurate network security plan can be developed.
Developing a Security Plan
Computer systems, different applications, passwords, social media platform accounts, and Wi-Fi are the common business components connected to network security. Cybercriminals can target any of these systems to gain unauthorized access and disrupt the processes.
A thorough assessment of the existing systems must be done first. Thereafter, the right antivirus programs, cybersecurity tools and software and regular assessments can help in network protection strategy.
Everyone in the organisation must be educated about security changes at regular intervals. The security plan must also factor in the possible future development possibilities.
Lay down Security Policies & Procedures
We have already covered the importance of security policies and procedures and their documentation. Now, find out what topics need to be covered and security steps to be taken. Some of them are listed below.
Incident Response Procedures
Incident response is one of the key elements of network security planning.
Cybercriminals are on a constant lookout for opportunities to breach business organisations worldwide and disrupt them. They are finding a new and advanced level of cyber attack methods to install ransomware and carry out social engineering attacks and phishing.
Besides the outside threat, there can be insider threats looming large on an organisation. The good thing is that there are technology and tools to combat both outside and inside threats. It includes network segmentation, endpoint malware protection and firewalls. However, data breaches are still possible if one of the vulnerabilities gets exposed and exploited. This is where Incident Response can help.
The incident response involves a better-organized strategy to handle cyber attacks and data breaches once it occurs. The objective of incident response is to minimize the damage, cost and time for the organisation. It clearly underlines who needs to do what in the event of an incident, stresses documentation of the event timeline, notifies members etc. In addition, the incident response plan includes a feedback mechanism or lessons learned from the event for the organisation.
Managed Security Services
Partnering with managed security services is a great way to boost network security. The dedicated team of professionals and experts can work relentlessly and always to keep the network protected. They will be updated with the latest happenings, trends and technology too and can help your business with doubts and additional advice.
Another advantage is that the security services can be for a set period of time. Thus, it is a cost-effective solution. You can establish a service level agreement which can ultimately help in meeting network security goals today and in the future.
Long-term Security Plan
After laying the groundwork for building a network security plan, begin to think long-term. There may be significant challenges and pain points that may pop up along the way. Many team members may not be able to follow all the rules associated with network security. Thus, the leadership of an organisation should take extra care in developing a strong security culture and keeping everyone on the same page. People at the helm can appoint the following positions to look after the network security program: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Information Security Officer (ISO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Director of Security, and Security Manager Etc.
SECNORA® is a CREST Accredited cyber security focused consulting firm with expertise in Information Security and Governance, Risk, Compliance.
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