NETWORK SECURITY

Network Security

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Network Security

Introduction

Networks are built in order to allow users to share, however it also allows other users the possibility to obtain information and other data that are not meant for them. This is becoming a bigger problem as organizations connect their private networks onto the internet. Despite the security problems the internet posses, businesses need to be connected to be able to compete as the use of the internet offer many advantages such as internet mail, file transfers and homepages for business.

As organizations need to be connected to the internet, protection and security is required to prevent unauthorised users from accessing resources on an organizations private network and to secure data transmission over the internet. Although there are several methods to prevent unauthorised access; users occasionally are able to get through the security systems, and it is therefore essential for organizations to also be capable of detecting intruders.

The rest of this essay will discuss how management can reduce the risk of intruders and minimize the effects of intruders, with emphasis on the use of firewalls and data encryption.



Importance of Security

Before beginning to discuss how networks can be secured to improve the prevention of intruders, the reason why it is important to prevent intruders will be pointed out to help understand why network security is vital for many businesses.

As organizations around the world rely heavily on computers for all their information storage and processing, unprotected computers and networks can be an easy means for anyone to obtain this information. Also as organizations become increasingly dependent on computers and networks to run the business any damage can cause numerous problems for a business with possible costs within the millions. This is especially true for large businesses including multi-national companies, law firms and banks; in fact 'Bank of America, one of the largest banks in the United States, estimates that it would cost the bank $50 million in damage if its computer networks were unavailable for 24 hours' (Fitzgerald, 2002, p.295). These costs are caused by the inability to use computers therefore affecting productivity and sometimes causing the complete inability to run the business. 'Intruders can disrupt the functions of computers or can just simply gain private information, both being just as damaging' (Byres, 2004, pg. 32). As computer systems assist heavily in running businesses and store many of the organizations private data it is easy to see why organizations need to secure their computer systems or it will cost them; According to InformationWeek it 'estimates that worldwide annual losses due to security problems exceeds $1.6 trillion'(Fitzgerald, 2002, p.294).

Preventing Unauthorised Access

In order to prevent intruders from causing damage, the organizations networks need to be secured. There are several preventive controls that can be implemented to help prevent unauthorized access.

It might seem that if companies do not connect their networks to the internet there will be no security problems. However 'most corporate hacking to PLCs and HMIs on the plant floor comes from inside the ...