subject: What Is Network Security Software? [print this page] The term network security software is one that may well confuse those who know little of the processes involved in protecting network. It is, however, considered by many corporate and governmental organisations as a very important aspect of their overall information security. In this article we'll look briefly at how network security software is used to ensure information remains in the hands of the people who are meant to have it.
There are a great deal of network security software products available on the market today. They are all designed to keep the network of one particular organisation as safe as possible. This means keeping it safe from unauthorized access and safe from malware attacks. Another big risk is termed Data Loss Prevention, this is the loss of data through staff who are actually authorized to access data, but who lose data through human error of some kind.
The terms network security and information security are used interchangeably. A pierce of good network security software will be able to handle a wide range of different computer worms or Trojan viruses, and ideally be updated on a very regular basis so that any new threats are of little or no threat to the organisation in question.
In conjunction with network security software, there will be a one or more methods of accessing data on a given network. All network security systems starts off by making sure the user is who they say they are. The default and very least form of security involves a username and password. If you like, this is based on what you know. A second layer of security might be required by some organsiations, and this might be based on something that you 'have'.
By 'have', we could mean something like a dongle, security token, ATM card or mobile phone. For those organizations who really want to be secure, for example a military research facility or a banking corporation, might also add a layer of security based on who you 'are'. This might be a fingerprint or a retinal scan. These pieces of technology will of course tie in with your network security software, and will increase the costs significantly of protecting your data. Ultimately though, it makes protecting the network much easier.
There are a wide range of options that can be considered for your network security software, and you should conduct a good deal of research into your needs and their features before you commit to purchase.
