Network Security Best Practices: Access Control and Segmentation
EV-Consultech • October 31, 2020
Network Security Best Practices: Access Control and Segmentation
The IT network infrastructure is in many ways the backbone of any business. As a network supports countless diverse aspects of an organization, it is no surprise that IT specialists who have experienced and remediated data breaches can testify that they often cause major - and sometimes irreversible damage.
While multiple defenses exist against such threats, such as firewalls and antimalware software, are these in themselves enough to protect a business from attacks? Unfortunately, attackers know that most companies already have these security measures in place for such an event, which is why they often target the human error factor instead, knowing that people are indeed the weakest link and can be prone to making mistakes.
However, there are two controls you can implement in your organization's network that can provide another shield of protection beyond traditional security measures, making it much more challenging for intruders to compromise your network: Access Control and Segmentation.
Implement Tighter Access Control
While implementing secure access control may seem like a simple task, it can be difficult to execute in reality. Why? One reason in particular keeps many businesses from having tight controls over access, and that is convenience. It is much more convenient for businesses to use the same or similar credentials across the board, rather than having unique access policies per user or department based on individual needs.
Nevertheless, it is vital that businesses ensure their users have all the credentials they need, but not any more or any less. Any more can lead to a massive increase in damage done by an attacker should they access to the network; any less can keep your employees from meeting their job requirements. In many cases, the only exception to a limited access policy should be company owners, executive managers, and IT staff, who need universal access given the scope of their work.
A limited access policy results in a more secure work environment for everyone. Though some employees under such a policy may dislike having less freedom, the benefits of security far outweighs the costs.
Let's consider an example: A marketing employee has credentials that provide her limited access across an organization. She is able to access her marketing resources, and any other resources she needs. However, she has no access to the accounting department's resources, or the resources of any other department she does not need. She also doesn't have administrative rights. If a perpetrator is able to break into the network through her credentials, he will be able to do far less damage, and across a more limited spectrum than he might have were she to have much greater access to company data.
The bottom line is this - If you are looking for an additional wall of defense beyond traditional measures, maintain tight user access control. This is one of the best defenses you can have against security breaches.
Segment your Network
Another step you can take to secure your business data is to segment your network by dividing it into several smaller networks. While this method of network security can be time consuming, it can have a powerful affect on your network's security - similar in many ways to limited access policies.
A great way to segment a network is by department. In this way a company can have a different subnetwork for each of its functions, like accounting, shipping, and marketing. Just as tight user access controls can divide access to company resources by user, having segmented networks divides access per computer and network device.
It's also wise to create a separate network for personal devices of employees and guests, with limited access to company data compared to business computers and devices. This will limit any attacker's chance of accessing your important company data through a personal device not equipped with features as per your business's security policies.
The result of a well-designed, segmented network is a more highly secured organization, and a much greater challenge for any attacker trying to break into your company's network.
It's Worth the Effort
At first glance, it may seem too much to define unique access policies based on each user's needs, and to divide your company's network by department, but coupled with firewalls, antimalware software, and other security measures, these efforts will be well worth the time. Many companies are slow to improve their security simply because they haven't experienced a major data breach yet. Instead of having to experience one at all, we recommend you be rigorous and proactive about your company's security, and keep would-be attackers out of your network before they try to enter it.
This blog is based on information from the following articles:
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