Network Security and Policies

Network Security and Policies

1. What is a network policy?

   • A general document that outlines rules for computer network access, determines how policies are enforced and lays out some of the basic construction of the companies network security environment.
     • The document is usually several pages long and written by a commity
     • It is a very complex document, designed to document data access rules

2. What is Network security?

   • It refers to any activities designed to protect your network
   • These activities protect the usability, reliability and safety of your network and data
   • Targets a variety of threats and stops them from entering or spreading on your network.

3. What does it protect you from?

   • Viruses, Worms and Trojan horses
   • Spyware and adware
   • Zero-Day attacks
   • Hacker attacks
   • Denial of service attacks
   • Data interception and theft
   • Identity theft

4. How does network security work?

   • No single solution will protect you from everything
     • Multiple layers of security
       • If one fails others still stand
   • Network security is accomplished through hardware and software
     • The software must be constantly updated, to protect you from emergency threats
   • A network security system usually consists of many components
     • All of the components work together and this minimises maintenance and improves security

5. What they include

   • Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware
   • Firewall
     • to block unauthorised access to your network
   • Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
     • To identify fast spreading threats such as zero-day attacks
   • Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
     • To provide secure remote access

6. Advantages of network security

   • Network Security helps in protecting personal data
   • Hacking attempts or virus / spyware attacks from the internet will not be able to harm physical computers.
   • - Network Security protects information that is shared between computers on the network.