| The computer network is perhaps the most important | | | | websites, or an individual may have installed a virus |
| system that is running within your company. Your | | | | accidentally, thinking that it was an innocent game. |
| network powers almost everything that the computers | | | | Another form of active, which is an active form of |
| do - from daily essential tasks like email to surfing on | | | | attack, involves sending packets of data to a server |
| the Internet, sharing documents, sharing printers, etc. So | | | | until the server slows down to a crawl, thus rendering it |
| if your network happens to be down, the entire | | | | useless. This is also known as denial of service |
| organization is greatly inconvenienced. Lots of man | | | | (DDOS) attacks. The servers won't be able to |
| hours would be wasted. And if the network is down | | | | process requests sent to them until these malicious |
| repeatedly, productivity will decline. | | | | packets of data are somehow blocked. Otherwise, the |
| There are many reasons that may cause a network | | | | whole network continues to be malfunctioning. |
| to be down. We are talking about network security | | | | These are all various ways that a network can be |
| issues here. Minor network security breaches involve | | | | compromised. From innocent little games to aggressive |
| attack on the personal workstation. For example, a | | | | data packet attacks. Fortunately, there are network |
| workstation may be infested with viruses or spyware. | | | | security solutions available that will help safeguard the |
| Viruses and spyware are types are software that | | | | network. |
| operate mostly in the background. They are usually | | | | There are many different levels of network security. |
| installed on the computers without the permission of | | | | For security engineers, the challenge is always to |
| the user and perform malicious operations such as | | | | decide on adequate protection without inconveniencing |
| hijacking browsers or wiping out hard disk drive data. | | | | the users. Users may be inconvenienced when |
| More serious network security breaches involve real | | | | security hardware or software starts to interfere with |
| time attack on the servers. As the servers power | | | | other applications. For instance, the newly installed |
| many important functions of the network (e.g. sending | | | | Firewall may be preventing some software from |
| or receiving email, or storing confidential company | | | | accessing the Internet. |
| data), the consequences are disastrous if servers | | | | A comprehensive network security program involves |
| have been compromised. The general term for server | | | | hardware and software security, as well as a sound |
| attacks is known as "intrusion". | | | | educational program for the users. Users must be |
| Earlier, we have briefly discussed how a personal | | | | trained so that they know what to do. A firewall can |
| workstation can be compromised by viruses or | | | | only be used to block so many websites. Ultimately, it's |
| spyware. This is also a form of intrusion on the | | | | up to the users to exercise discretion when surfing |
| personal computer. This form of intrusion is usually | | | | dubious websites. |
| passive. In other words, it may involve some action | | | | Always consult network security professionals to |
| from the user in order for the software to be installed. | | | | explore various options before implementing a network |
| For instance, the user may be browsing malicious | | | | security plan. |