Firewall, Firewalls, intrusion detection and Audit Trail Reviews Are Important Tools for Business Protection
Intrusion detection system (IDS), also known as network intrusion detection system (NICIDS) are tools or software programs that monitor a computer network or other systems for policy violations or malicious activity. These activities may include denial of service attacks, hacker attacks, data leaks, use of system resources, use of port attacks and application vulnerabilities. Generally any intrusion activity or breach is usually reported either to a network administrator or stored centrally via a security management system (SMS).
The field of information security has put a premium on network security and many techniques have evolved over the years to try to combat this ever-changing threat. Network attack is a growing concern because it does not only affect a business today, but can affect businesses tomorrow. Simple network security measures alone are not enough to thwart modern day threats. To effectively defend a company from these cyber attacks, an expert system is required to detect, analyze and respond appropriately. There are several types of intruder detection and response systems that can be used to protect your network from unauthorized access.
A network security program that detects, modifies or removes malicious software is referred to as anti-malware or anti-virus protection. There are several vendors who sell products for this purpose. Some popular names in this area are Comodo, Norton, Kaspersky, Quarks Core, AVG and Mcafee. Anti-malware/anti-virus detection programs detect, examine and remove malicious code from computers. Unlike a firewall which blocks network traffic, an anti-malware/anti-virus program is designed to actively detect, modify or remove malicious code from a computer. The goal is to prevent an intruder (i.e. a hacker) from gaining access to a system by blocking suspicious content, communication or data.
Another method for filtering network traffic is through the use of what is called signature-based identification. Signature-based identification relies on mathematical algorithms to detect malicious codes and modify or remove them from a computer’s hard drive or memory. Common signature-based identification techniques are named, whitelisting, blacklisting, and licensing. Whitelisting is a method of allowing services and/or applications to freely run on a computer. Examples of services or applications that may require whitelisting include browsing tools, chat applications and web mail. Whitelisting ensures that only authorized software and services run on a computer.
The third method for protecting against security breaches is through the detection and blocking of attacks. In a firewall security program detecting and blocking attacks are typically achieved by using the block list generated by the intrusion detection system. These systems rely on a database that contains attacks that have been detected and attempted against a particular server. Depending on the type of attack a block list may be very basic or very detailed.
The fourth technique for detecting and blocking attacks is through the use of what is called an intrusion detection system orIDS. IDS uses radio signals to detect intrusions. The signals emitted by anIDS are very weak and are not audible. The listening device is designed to detect a transmission from a computer system if it is active. If anIDS detects an intrusion, it will trigger its alarm, which will be detected and recorded by an outside source.
One of the key advantages of using anIDS is that it can be configured to block specific IP addresses and/or protocols. It can also be configured to perform port scanning. Some anIDS devices come with the ability to monitor for email, instant messaging, faxes, web activity and FTP. In addition anIDS can be configured to perform live monitoring as well. This feature can help companies determine if their employees are actually accessing company resources when they aren’t supposed to be.
Firewalls and intrusion detection programs are just two of the many tools available to help prevent a penetration or attack on your network. AnIDS, port scanners and firewalls are all forms of effective network security and are easy to operate and maintain. Depending on the type of security information you need to protect an institution can determine the best type of protection for your organization. AnIDS can help protect against attacks on data and applications, while firewalls can block access to sensitive data and files from the outside. Network security audits and software updates can be performed regularly to keep your network secure. Keeping your security information updated and reviewing your security policy regularly will help ensure that your business is kept safe from any potential threats.
