Technological advancements have demonstrated how certain vulnerabilities can have a huge negative impact on business success, causing irreparable damage. Network security is an indispensable factor in ensuring the protection and confidentiality of information against the main pitfalls found in the digital environment.
To remain competitive in today's market, companies need to ensure a secure and reliable exchange of information, blocking external threats and infrastructure problems. With the migration of most software and tools to a cloud environment, the need has also arisen to ensure that this information remains out of reach of unauthorized access.
For this reason, network security is a necessity for all businesses, regardless of their size or industry.
Network security: what is it?
Network security involves a series of processes, strategies, technologies, and policies developed to protect network traffic and information storage . Just as numerous technological resources emerge aimed at improving processes and activities, tactics are also developed to overcome the main barriers to data integrity.
Network security can increase protection at the network edges and within the network itself through layers of security. No matter how well-prepared and trained your employees are, vulnerabilities will inevitably occur, and the consequences can be devastating for a business.
The digital environment is a veritable minefield of potential threats, which can facilitate the actions of cybercriminals and destroy a business's credibility in the market . Corporate network security has some essential fundamentals for its proper functioning:
- Creating a culture of prevention;
- Investment in security resources;
- Increased layers of protection;
- Establishing access levels according to user type;
- Periodic updating of all systems and tools used by the company.
The 4 types of network security
As we saw earlier, network security is fundamental for a company to stay away from the main cyber problems and threats that are recurrent today. Through the policies and resources implemented to increase its security, the IT sector can prevent unauthorized access, contamination by viruses and malware, cyberattacks, interruption of activities, and much more.
The goal of network security is to provide greater protection for the data and systems used by the business , and it is divided into four types:
1- Firewall, antivirus and antimalware
A firewall is a security feature that creates a protective barrier in systems and networks, allowing control and monitoring of traffic based on pre-established rules . In this way, it can block unauthorized access and contribute to the filtering of data packets. Antivirus and antimalware, , are tools used to detect, block, and remove the main digital threats , helping to keep the network protected.
2- Cryptography
In short, encryption makes data unreadable to unauthorized individuals. This is achieved by encoding information, protecting and maintaining its confidentiality during its transmission across the network. Thanks to this technology, only authorized users can decipher this data.
3- VPN: Virtual Private Network
Using a VPN , it's possible to establish an encrypted and more secure connection between devices and the network. This feature is widely used, especially by remote or home-office employees, ensuring that they can access internal company network resources and data more securely.
4- DNS Firewall
DNS Firewall is a network security solution that protects against cyber threats. Acting as a defensive barrier, it filters and blocks malicious traffic based on DNS queries . This technology identifies and prevents communication with domains suspected of or known to host malware or phishing. By adding an extra layer of protection, DNS Firewall strengthens network security and helps keep systems and data safe from unwanted attacks.
Discover how network vulnerabilities can affect business continuity
A network security plan involves much more than just using tools for protection. It is necessary to establish a comprehensive policy focused on the security and confidentiality of the data stored by the business.
This means that even if a company develops an action plan aimed at dealing with possible eventualities, the damage caused by security problems can have short, medium, and long-term impacts . A business's image with its consumers and the market can be permanently damaged by incidents of this type.
Some cyberattacks target service disruption (such as DDoS attacks ), and depending on the duration of this type of attack, the company may suffer a significant financial impact . Although this type of action can be mitigated with the necessary measures, this downtime can harm market share and cause consumers to lose confidence in the brand.
Data breaches are also one of the biggest problems faced by businesses today. We can see companies of all sizes and sectors suffering attacks of this type and being considerably harmed. Businesses that have had their data leaked end up being viewed negatively by consumers , since the data entrusted to that company does not receive adequate protection.
are experiencing a time of full digital expansion, and it is necessary for businesses to know how to deal with this type of incident in order to reduce its impact and avoid harming their customers and partners. For this reason, network security is fundamental to the company's growth and maintaining its competitive edge.
The digital security risks that SMEs need to face
There is no longer a single target audience for cybercriminals, which has led all companies to invest in security measures. What was once a problem exclusive to large corporations has now become an even broader threat that can affect businesses of all types.
need to invest in technologies and strategies to protect their data and information . This is because attacks that breach the digital security of companies are becoming increasingly frequent, and there are many risks involved in protecting confidential data.
Besides data breaches , which are one of the biggest problems faced today, there are other threats that can also cause significant damage to corporations. Ransomware attacks are also victimizing small and medium-sized businesses, resulting in the loss of their information, service unavailability, and financial losses.
We know that smaller companies need to be concerned about the size of their security investments. It's essential to find a tool that helps maintain security without causing a major financial blow to the organization's coffers.
Why is it necessary to invest in digital security , regardless of the size of your company? Check out this explanatory video and understand the main security risks that can harm your business :
The importance of network security for business growth
Establishing a network security policy within companies is essential to ensure substantial and solid growth. This policy will help protect company data against the main attacks that occur in the digital environment , guaranteeing not only the confidentiality of this information, but also the reputation of the business.
It is virtually impossible to find a company today that does not rely heavily on internet tools, which leads these businesses to face many challenges. Companies need to engage their employees in a mindset focused on digital security, as well as ensure that the best tools are used to increase business security.
Contrary to what many believe, investing in network security brings significant cost reductions to a company . This is because recovering from cyberattacks can cause immense financial losses and hinder the organization's growth.
