Network Security Model And Its Components
Today, it is possible for anyone who uses the internet to fall victim to cybercriminals. Although some of us claim to be aware and prepared for cybersecurity threats, research shows that self-reported awareness is not a reliable indicator of one's ability to protect themselves online.
For instance, in 2016, researchers from Friedrich-Alexander University conducted a study where 76% of participants claimed to be aware of the dangers of clicking on unknown email links. Nevertheless, many of them still clicked on them, which would have led to malware infecting their devices.
As individuals become more proficient with technology, it is important to educate them on how to stay safe online. To assist with minimising the associated risks, we have taken an innovative approach by creating this guide on the network security model and its various components/types.
What is Network Security?
Computer networks are interconnected in regular transactions and communication across various industries, including government, private, and corporate sectors, which necessitates security measures. Now, network administrators are responsible for implementing several defensive measures to safeguard these networks from potential security risks.
Network security, therefore, refers to the security measures designed to protect the integrity of the network from unauthorised access and threats. The most common and straightforward approach to network protection is assigning it a unique name and password.
In essence, a network security model is a subset of networking that entails securing the connected network infrastructure from the network's core to its perimeter.
Generally handled by a network administrator, network security consists of implementing security policies and deploying network software and hardware to
- Safeguard the network, its infrastructure, and all network traffic from external cyber-attacks.
- Protect IT assets and resources available through the network from unauthorised access.
- Ensure authorised users have sufficient access to these network assets to perform their tasks effectively.
How does the Network Access Security Model Work?
Let's consider this perspective: The network security model involves two parties: a sender and a receiver, who agree to exchange information.
The sender possesses information they wish to share with the receiver, but cannot send the message in its readable form over the information channel, as an opponent could attack it.
Therefore, before sending the message through the channel, it must be transformed into an unreadable format to prevent unauthorised access.
Going forward, the general model of internetwork security carries out four fundamental tasks in designing a particular security service. These tasks include:
- designing an algorithm to perform the security-related transformation,
- generating secret information to be used with the algorithm,
- developing methods for distributing and sharing the secret information, and
- specifying a protocol for the two parties involved to use the security algorithm and secret information to achieve a specific security service.
Types of Network Security Models
Network Access Control (NAC)
NAC is a security technique applied to computer networks at the most basic level. For example, network administrators can grant full network access to users but restrict access to specific confidential files or prevent their systems from connecting to certain networks.
Antivirus and Antimalware Software
Antivirus and antimalware software are specifically available to protect computer systems from various types of malware and malicious software, including viruses, worms, ransomware, and Trojans.
Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
VPNs help users establish secure and reliable private connections between their computer or device networks and other networks across the internet.
Firewall Protection
Firewalls act as defence barriers between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and brute force attacks.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
The Zero Trust security model goes with the principle that a user should only be granted access and permissions that are necessary for them to perform their duties. This is in contrast to conventional security solutions, such as VPNs, that typically provide users with complete access.
Application Security
Each device or software product used in a networking environment has a potential entry point for hackers. Application security involves using a combination of hardware, software, and best practices to monitor potential security issues and address vulnerabilities.
Email Security
Many threat vectors, including scams, phishing, malware, and suspicious links, can be attached to or incorporated into emails. Email security systems can be customised to block the exchange of specific data types in reliable transmission and filter incoming risks.
Other components or types of network security models include Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS), Unified Threat Management (UTM), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Network Segmentation, etc.
Conclusion
Securing client data and information is crucial, and network security plays a significant role in achieving this. A network security model ensures shared data is kept safe, protects against viruses, and helps improve network performance by reducing overhead costs and losses resulting from data breaches.
To simplify your network security without compromising performance, consider checking out Instasafe Network Security solutions. Our unified approach streamlines operations, and we enable businesses to scale for growth while ensuring effective network security for our customers.
Book a demo today to see how we can help you with your network security needs.