Creating a resilient cybersecurity network infrastructure requires a robust security architecture built on several strategies and steps to keep up with evolving 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 to protect your network against cyber threats and define how your security architecture serves your organization’s resilience goals.
By taking a proactive approach and using the following layers of cybersecurity in your network architecture design, 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 has identified.
5 Steps for Creating a Secure Network Architecture
Analyze Your Network
Before enabling multiple security measures, you must assess how your computer network and its hardware components are designed. This involves analyzing your entire network, including any peer-to-peer network setups, which can be a long and complicated process without a cybersecurity vendor to support you.
A network assessment includes many steps, such as examining:
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Areas that are fortified and areas that have vulnerabilities or security gaps.
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Your asset inventory.
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Where your online traffic is coming from, and how it gets there.
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How your network components interact and where data flows might be exposed.
A thorough network analysis is the first step toward enabling proactive threat detection, as it identifies potential weaknesses before they’re exploited.
Identify and Remove Any Backdoors
Backdoor connections are malicious code that allows those outside your network to access sensitive data. Threat actors seek out these network connections because they know that if they can access your network and bypass security component restrictions, they can distribute cyber attacks, such as ransomware, spyware, viruses, and worms, to your most critical assets.
Backdoors are difficult to identify and remove if they have 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 achieve enhanced security and mitigate the chances of a cyber attack 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 and security features, including:
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Preventing unwanted inbound and outbound traffic to your virtual private network.
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Granting insights into activity between different networks, such as helping identify where an unwanted connection is coming from.
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Encrypting your data coming to and from your organization.
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Maintaining cybersecurity regulatory compliance.
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And much more.
Traffic Monitoring and Detection
Continuous 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 network 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 network devices.
Access Control Management
Across your organization, there are various login credentials, multi factor authentications, and permissions to consider when creating a secure network infrastructure, especially for remote access to sensitive systems.
Access control management is the process of granting permissions for accessing sensitive data and data storage infrastructure. Without the right approach, your organization could be exposed to a number of avoidable cyber threats.
We recommend having strict access control and risk management by implementing a zero trust security model with 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
Network architecture for compliance and cybersecurity frameworks isn't just a standard to follow — it truly helps secure your digital network architecture. From cybersecurity best practices to implementing security controls and strategies for improving your cybersecurity posture, following trusted and updated frameworks and standards offers valuable protection against security risks and threats.
Some frameworks to consider adopting are the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and SANS Top 20 Adequate 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:
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Fast and seamless connectivity infrastructure
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Enhanced cybersecurity implementation efficiency via automation
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Blocking malicious sites to mitigate cyber attacks
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Providing appropriate and continuous testing, including incident response, penetration tests, and vulnerability scanning
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Providing continuous network monitoring as part of comprehensive security operations to identify and mitigate threats before they impact your business.
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And many more
Maximize Your Network Architecture's Security With Tec-Refresh
Creating a secure network, physical or logical 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 your organization's security architecture, data center network, and other advisory cloud services.
See if your organization is protected by learning about our Network Security Architecture Review.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is network security architecture?
A robust network security architecture helps defend an organization’s IT infrastructure by putting key security steps in place. Intrusion prevention systems, firewalls, and access controls must be put in place to guard your data and network resources.
Properly designed security strategies keep your information confidential, ensure data integrity, and keep it always available within the network.
2. How can backdoors be identified and removed from a network?
Backdoors are secret ways that allow someone without permission to enter a system. You should run regular security scans, watch all network traffic entering or leaving, and rely on endpoint security software.
To remove backdoors, put aside the affected machines, erase any damaging codes found, and update the software to stop new security threats.
3. What is layered security in network architecture?
Layered network security architecture is a cybersecurity strategy that involves adding multiple defenses from one level to another inside a wireless network. So, if the outer layer fails to protect your skin, another one can still help.
Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, network segmentation, antivirus software, and user authorization protocols are all considered key components.
4. What is access control management in network security?
Access control management is responsible for deciding who can access resources in a computer system. It accomplishes this by first checking someone’s identity and then allowing them access to some resources.
When granular access control is done well, unauthorized access attempts by threat actors cannot see private information and protect sensitive data, so the likelihood of a data breach decreases.
5. What are cybersecurity standards and frameworks?
Standards and frameworks in cybersecurity involve lists of guidelines that assist companies in keeping their cybersecurity risk low. Examples of these guides are the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO/IEC 27001, and the CIS Controls.
With these frameworks, businesses understand the steps required to ensure compliance with the law. Many network security tools help streamline compliance with these frameworks.