subject: It Network Security [print this page] Network security is a self-contradicting philosophy where you need to give absolute access and at the same time provide absolute security. Any enterprise needs to secure itself from two types of access of information: internal access and external access. Securing the access of information or resources from the external world is quite a task to master that is where the need for firewalls comes in. The firewalls act as gatekeepers. It segregates the intrusive and non-intrusive requests and allows access of information. Configuring & maintaining a firewall is by itself a task, which needs experience and knowledge. There are no hard and fast rules to instruct the firewalls, it depends on the source of firewall installation and how the enterprise intends to provide access to information/resources.
It is very important to understand that in security, there are two extremes: absolute security and absolute access. The closest we can get to an absolute secured machine, which is unplugged from the network, no power supply, locked in a safe, and thrown at the bottom of the ocean. A machine with absolute access is extremely convenient to use as it is there and will do whatever you tell it, without questions, authorization, passwords, or any other mechanism. The concept of absolute security and absolute access is not different from our daily lives. We constantly make decisions about what risks we are willing to accept. When we get in a car and drive to work, there is a certain risk that we are taking. It is possible that something completely out of control will cause us to become part of an accident on the highway. When we get on an airplane, we are accepting the level of risk involved at the price of convenience. However, most people have a mental picture of what an acceptable risk is, and will not go beyond that in most circumstances.
Every organization providing offshore Software Development Services needs to decide for itself that where they need to be between the two extremes of total security and total access. A policy needs to articulate this, which defines how it will be enforced. Everything that is done in the name of security must be enforced. It is an excellent idea to employ both control system engineers and IT specialists to work together to maintain the network. If you are unable to employ individuals, you may outsource the positions. The team should schedule risk analyses on a regular basis, implement change control and monitor the network regularly. Additionally, create policies and procedures that describe and outline risk mitigation, alert vectors, and actions to be taken if any type of security breach is detected. Furthermore, your operating staff should know exactly who to contact in the case of a breach or attack on the security of the network.
Network Security has to be done both internally as well as externally, the job of nailing the problem is huge tasks, which needs expertise and mostly help from software, such as Event Log Analyzers and Firewall Analyzer.
