Frequently Asked Question

How to Apply Network Security ?

Network security is the most important job description of the network administrators and it consists of the network infrastructure, security templates, policies and the configurations by the network administrators. Computer network security can be applied by two ways i.e. from the computer server and the computer itself. There are a lot of known threats to the network users such as viruses, spyware, hackers’ attacks, Trojan horses, denial of server, hidden files extensions, email spoofing, physical theft and unauthorized access to the network resources. To deal with these internal and external threats a lot of security policies are need to be implemented on the computer network.

Securing the computer networks is to secure the entry points of a network. The gateway computer needs to be secure from all aspects because it is directly exposed to the internet. If the network entry point is secured then the possible attacks can be stopped. Following steps will guide you to secure your computer network.

Antivirus Software

Every online computer can be attacked by the viruses, spyware and other security threats if not proper security mechanism and antivirus software has been installed and configured. To protect your LAN /WAN computer network, you need to install an up-to-dated antivirus program both on the network server and the client computer. Antivirus software will provide defensive layer against the known internet threats. The most common antivirus solutions are provided by the Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro and Panda etc.

Anti Spyware Software

Like the viruses, the spyware is also the main threat to the online and offline users. To deal with the spyware you need to install the up-to-dated anti spyware program to all the computers in a computer network. The security solution providers like Symantec, McAfee and Panda provides the complete suite of security that includes the antivirus program, anti spyware and firewall system.

Intrusion Detection System

Intrusion detection system deals with the threats to the IT assets such as computer, computer networks, databases and other network resources and devices.

Firewall System
Firewall is a protective boundary and line of defense for a computer network. A network without a proper firewall system can be attacked by the hackers and unauthorized users and once they enter in the computer network they can perform any unwanted actions like stealing the confidential data, attacking the network with viruses and spyware etc. Every computer in a network especially the gateway computer should have proper firewall software installed and configured. By default, Windows XP Professional provides the built-in firewall features. Network administrator can configure the firewall at any desired level, according to the security requirements of the network. You can block and allow any IP request with the firewall system. The other third party firewall software includes Zonealrm, Personal Firewall, Prisma Firewall, Comodo Firewall Pro 3, Secure Point Personal firewall and VPN client.

Anti Phishing

Phishing attacks are used by the hackers to steal the customer’s personal information including financial data and credit card’s information. The most common methods of the phishing attacks are through the emails and messengers. The best way to avoid the phishing attacks is not to open the emails from unknown locations. The common software that are used against the phishing attacks are Spamfighter, Norton Internet Security, McAfee Total Protection and LanGuard.

Implementing Security Policies

Security policies are the foundation of information security in an organization. By default Windows servers such as Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2003 Servers provides a lot of security features, policies and permissions. There are default security templates, which can be applied to all the network users, computer or a single computer or user.

Browser’s Security Level

Another important aspect to deal with the external security threats is to increase the security level of the browsers.

Physical Security

Physical security is preventive measure that is used to protect the network resources from the unauthorized access. Never leave your server room unattended and only authorized users should be allowed to enter in the server room. Use strong password for the network administrator user account and make one additional account of the network administrator.