Attempting to find all the network security threats and vulnerabilities for your organization can prove to be an arduous task. Network vulnerability scans can help sniff out the most common information security vulnerabilities, while penetration testing can provide additional support to this effort.
These actions provide a good start as vulnerability scans can help ensure operating systems and applications contain the latest security patches. Additionally, penetration testing can determine how well the network is protected against external threats and produce a detailed report which might include a network vulnerabilities list.
It’s important to understand, however, that running scans and testing against the network isn’t always feasible as resources may limit how often each of these tasks may be performed.
A managed security service provider with a 24/7/365 Security Operations Center and professionals who are highly knowledgeable in network security vulnerabilities and the different types of network security are crucial in providing that every day, by-the-minute support outside of testing periods. The MSSP you engage should include a trained roster of security experts who possess knowledge of the common network vulnerabilities faced in your industry and how to identify them.
Know Your Cyber Threats and Different Types of Network Security
A cyber threat is a cybersecurity event that occurs within a network that could potentially cause harm to the assets of an individual or organization. One such example would include a social engineering attack via phishing emails which can result in the installation of trojan horse malware in order to eventually gain access to sensitive data from computer systems.
Types of network security vulnerabilities include, but are not limited to:
- Malware
- Unpatched Security Vulnerabilities
- Hidden Backdoors
- Superuser/Admin Privileges
- Automated Running of Scripts
- Unknown Security Bugs in Software or Programming Interfaces (Zero Day Vulnerabilities)
- Phishing (Social Engineering)
- IoT wi fi connected devices and mobile device
- Employees (Disgruntled employees who pose as an insider threat or accidental through minimal awareness of cyber vulnerabilities)
Understanding the Types of Network Security Attacks
Types of Network Security Attacks
- Active Attack – Malicious actors are able to gain unauthorized access to computer systems or the network. The attackers are then able to modify, encrypt, or delete data.
- Passive Attack – In a passive attack, malicious actors are able to bypass network security in order to monitor sensitive information. Through this scenario, the attackers are unable to alter data, so this information is left unchanged.
Different Types of Network Security Threats
Unstructured Threats
Unstructured threats involve unfocused attacks on network systems and are usually carried out by malicious actors with limited expertise. The computer systems and any other connected devices being attacked are likely unknown to the attacker. Additionally, the attacker has minimal knowledge of network vulnerabilities and the impact of any harm that may be caused.
Structured Threats
In contrast, structured threats are an increased security risk as such attacks are more focused. These attacks may involve one or several skilled attackers with a common goal towards compromising security vulnerabilities. Attackers involved in structured threats are trained in exploiting cyber security vulnerabilities. They understand security concepts such as access control policies and are knowledgeable in web application attacks via SQL injection or command injection for various operating systems, for example.
External Threats
An external threat is an attack that is executed from outside the organization through the internet. Attackers involved in an external threat do not have authorized access within the network. This type of threat is similar to what would be involved in a penetration test except that the attacker has no intention of notifying the organization of their vulnerabilities.
Internal Threats
An internal threat consists of an attacker that may have authorized access to, or at the very least, possess a great deal of knowledge about the internal network of an organization. The attacker is usually an unhappy or disgruntled employee. The motivation for this type of threat is to cause damage to company assets or financial gain through theft and as such, can prove costly for an organization if unnoticed.
How Much Time and Resources Will It Take to Secure Your Organization from Threats?
The aforementioned network security vulnerabilities, types of attacks in network security, and types of network security threats must be properly acknowledged and taken seriously by any organization. It’s understandable and responsible to concede that the prospect of discovering every threat and vulnerability that comes across your network can be a costly ordeal. Finding and dedicating the proper resources to improve your security posture against the ever-developing threat landscape is no small feat.
Your organization should not have to go it alone when defending against common network vulnerabilities. The number of vulnerabilities in cyber security may seem vast, however, the right team of skilled and experienced analysts can help ease any concerns you may have about keeping your environment secure.
Our Sagan Solution combined with the expertise of our dedicated team of Security Analysts within our 24/7/365 Security Operations Center ensures accurate and timely identification of cyber security vulnerabilities and threats within your network. Quadrant Information Security delivers a complete platform enhanced by threat detection technologies and steadfast security professionals. Allow Quadrant to serve as your eyes and ears for around the clock monitoring, notification, and disaster recovery and remediation so that your focus can remain on running your business.
