Network Security

A network is any system of interconnected computers. In the business world network security is of utmost importance. To achieve an acceptable level of network security for your business you must begin by determining the level of security you wish to have between your intranet and the internet. This is likely somewhere between absolute security (basically no Internet access) and absolute access.

Your Intranet contains information that should not be accessible to the public. Assign network security policies and procedures to one or a few members of your company. This person or group must make it a priority to keep up with operating system security advisories and be aware of known problems with web servers. This information is vital to maintaining network security.

Before you look to maintaining network security you must establish it. You cannot simply state "Let's install a firewall." You must first determine what that firewall will do. Ideally, in order to protect your Intranet from an Internet hacker, you want to create as many barriers as possible between the systems without compromising the speed and function of your own system.

For most business, a hybrid system provides the best option for network security. A hybrid system offers a combination of Application Gateway and Packet Filtering. An Application Gateway provides network security by sending all information through a proxy server. This allows all Intranet users to access to information on the Internet without allowing direct communication with the Internet, providing a barrier between the two. This is the most secure but slowest of the firewall options. Packet Filtering provides network security through access control lists. This allows the business owner or network security advisor to turn on or off access to a specific Internet address. What is best for your business?