Making Your Network Safe

As the Internet becomes the dominant mode of information transfer, securing your network is critical. Carriers and vendors suggested ways to implement or update a network security policy.

Start with a plan built according to the network architecture. Assess the network and establish policies to determine what you want to protect.

Use technical solutions where you can and procedural solutions otherwise, making it as difficult as possible for an attack to succeed. Balance the cost of solutions with the value of what you want to protect.

3. Install internal firewalls to limit access, and use scanners to map out the network and identify holes. Install intrusion-detection systems to identify whether there are potentially damaging codes within the data packets.

4. System administrators must check log files vigilantly for anomalous behavior.

5. Everyone should know and follow security procedures.