Network Security is Crucial to Reduce Security Breaches

Jan. 20, 2011 - PRLog -- Vulnerabilities are the weakest link in the security of computer systems and networks. Security flaws are exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to files and folders stored on a computer system. Attackers may also gain remote control of the computers by executing malicious code or installing botnets. Network vulnerabilities have been the cause of discomfort for organizations over the last year.

A recent report by security firm Secunia indicates that network vulnerabilities will continue to haunt users and network administrators. Secunia emphasizes on managing the prevalent vulnerabilities to reduce instances of security breach by criminals. Vulnerabilities also allow attackers to launch denial of service attacks. Therefore, organizations must place high emphasis on network security.

Often, management team is not fully conscious of types of threats prevalent in the Internet environment resulting in inadequate budgetary provisions for IT security. Another cause for vulnerabilities is the assumption that network security is a one-time activity. However, constant threats in the IT environment make it inevitable for organizations to treat network security as a continuous process. Computer security professionals must conduct periodical review of the network security infrastructure to identify threat vectors and their remediation. E-learning modules and online training programs may enable employees to comprehend the different types of security threats and take preventive measures.

The tendency among enterprises to consider network security as only a compliance activity also results in inadequate attention to security flaws in the network infrastructure. Organizations must have robust security management policy in place to safeguard their networks and systems from security breaches. They must also have an incident response team in place to deal with any security threat. Employees must be made aware of the first response procedures in case of a data breach or system compromise. Appropriate incident response is crucial to save volatile evidence contained in the compromised computers. Computer forensics experts may help organizations to trace the crime trail.

Organizations must adhere to the latest security advisories and apply appropriate security patches to mitigate vulnerabilities. Appropriate and timely patch management is crucial to safeguard computers and networks from proactive attacks by criminals.
As all major tasks in organizations now require use of computers and the Internet, organizations must conduct  IT training  sessions and workshops to educate non-technical staff on safe computing practices, reporting unusual system activity, data protection techniques, use of anti-virus solutions and installing software upgrades.

Organizations must place high emphasis on network security to reduce vulnerabilities and safeguard systems and networks from malicious attacks.

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EC-Council
Website:  http://www.eccouncil.org
Email:  iclass@eccouncil.org
Tel:  505-341-3228


EC-Council is a member-based organization that certifies individuals in cybersecurity and e-commerce skills. It is the owner and developer of 16 security certifications, including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI) and EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)/License Penetration Tester (LPT). Its certificate programs are offered in over 60 countries around the world.

EC-Council has trained over 80,000 individuals and certified more than 30,000 members, through more than 450 training partners globally. These certifications are recognized worldwide and have received endorsements from various government agencies including the U.S. federal government via the Montgomery GI Bill, Department of Defense via DoD 8570.01-M, National Security Agency (NSA) and the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). EC-Council also operates EC-Council University and the global series of Hacker Halted security conferences.

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iClass is EC- Council's online training delivery platform. Students can attend live, or recorded training sessions for courses such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Security Analyst (ECSA) or Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI).