Creating a resilient cybersecurity network infrastructure requires several strategies and steps to keep up with evolving cyber threats.
Below, we explain what makes a network architecture secure and the blueprints you can utilize to maximize your cybersecurity posture.
What Makes a Network Architecture Secure?
Network architecture security is the process of implementing various cybersecurity measures with the intent to protect your network against cyber threats.
By taking a proactive approach and using the following layers of cybersecurity, your network infrastructure will be further resilient against potentially devastating cyber attacks, such as ransomware, denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks, brute force attacks, Internet of Things (IoT) attacks, social engineering tactics, and more.
For a full list of cyber attack trends, here are the latest threats and technologies our team of cybersecurity experts have identified.
5 Steps for Creating a Secure Network Architecture
Analyze Your Network
Before enabling assorted security measures, you must first assess how your computer network is designed. This involves analyzing your entire network, which can be a long and complicated process without a cybersecurity vendor to support you.
A network assessment includes many steps, such as examining:
- Areas that are fortified as well as areas that have vulnerabilities.
- Your assets inventory.
- Where your online traffic is coming from, and how it gets there.
Identify and Remove Any Backdoors
Backdoor connections are malicious code that allows those outside your network access to sensitive data. Threat actors seek out these connections because they know if they can access your network and bypass security restrictions, they can distribute cyber attacks — like ransomware, spyware, viruses, and worms — to your most critical assets.
Backdoors are difficult to identify and remove if the backdoor has already been established. Removal requires finding the malicious code enabling the connection, and removing all traces, which can be a tedious and frustrating process without assistance from an expert.
Implement Layered Security Measures
By adding several layers of cybersecurity to your network, you can mitigate the chances of a cyber attack from breaching your data. To accomplish this, consider adding layers at multiple points of your network infrastructure, including your perimeter, endpoints, and applications.
Firewalls
Installing several firewalls throughout your network has many benefits, including:
- Preventing unwanted inbound and outbound traffic to your network.
- Granting insights into activity between different networks, such as helping identify where an unwanted connection is coming from.
- Encrypting your data coming to and from your organization.
- Maintaining cybersecurity compliance.
- And much more.
Traffic Monitoring and Detection
Monitoring and detection solutions for your network architecture can be the difference between a cyber threat being removed early or escalating into a full-scale cyber attack.
Consider utilizing a detection system for your network and full-packet captures of data stemming from different IP addresses. Doing so will paint a clear picture of your traffic activity and any abnormal behavior from endpoint devices.
Access Control Management
Across your organization, there are various login credentials, authentications, and permissions to consider when creating a secure network infrastructure.
Access control management is the process of granting permissions for accessing sensitive data. Without the right approach, your organization could be exposed to a number of avoidable cyber threats.
We recommend having strict access control management by implementing a deny-by-default, permit-by-exception approach. This means your organization will deny authorizations outside your organization by default and only grant permissions based on an established, network-wide rulebook to those connected to your organization. By taking this approach, a single rule across your network can deny several connection attempts.
Failure to use a deny-by-default, permit-by-exception approach can result in permissions that slip through, which could be connections from threat actors trying to breach your data.
Follow Cybersecurity Standards and Frameworks
Compliance and cybersecurity frameworks aren’t just standards to follow — they truly help secure your digital network architecture. From cybersecurity best practices to strategies for improving your cybersecurity posture, following trusted and updated frameworks and standards offers valuable protection against threats.
Some frameworks to consider adopting are a NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and SANS Top 20 Critical Security Controls. Finding the right framework for your company depends on your industry and what makes the most sense for your business objectives.
Get Help From a Trusted Cybersecurity Vendor
Working with a cybersecurity vendor is the most reliable way to create a secure network layout. It also takes a tremendous amount of burden off the hands of your IT team so that they can focus on more pertinent tasks while your cybersecurity vendor works asynchronously in the background.
Some benefits of working with the right cybersecurity vendor are:
- Fast and seamless connectivity infrastructure
- Enhanced cybersecurity implementation efficiency via automation
- Blocking malicious sites to mitigate cyber attacks
- Providing appropriate and continuous testing, including penetration tests and vulnerability scanning
- And many more
Maximize Your Network Architecture’s Security With Tec-Refresh
Creating a secure network layout involves implementing many strategies as well as getting the resources and support your company needs to keep up with the evolving cyber threat landscape.
Tec-Refresh not only helps implement multiple layers of cybersecurity for organizations just like yours, but we also assist in fortifying network architecture and other advisory services.
See if your organization is protected by learning about our Network Security Architecture Review.
