Network security analysis involves monitoring a computer network for flaws that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information. This includes testing authentication, firewalls, virus scans, and additional safety measures depending on the context of the network. Keeping security components up to date is crucial.
A computer network refers to a number of computers connected to a primary server, from which the computers can share and exchange information and programs. Network security analysis is the act of monitoring a network for flaws that could allow people outside the network to view or intercept potentially sensitive information. There are a number of factors taken into consideration by a professional or specialist who is analyzing the security of a network. It may be very important for this specialist to ensure that all security components are working properly and up to date.
Network security analysis can begin with authorizing or authenticating users on the network. This is most commonly accomplished by requiring a user to enter a name and password to log in. Because this information can sometimes be guessed or stolen by potential network intruders, an analyst will often check for factors such as password strength. In more advanced systems, authentication can be verified through the use of fingerprint or voice recognition.
Next, analyzing your network security should involve testing your network firewall. The firewall is a network security component responsible for preventing certain users from accessing certain types of privileged information. While this component is effective at restricting access for those who are already authorized to access a network, it is important to understand that a firewall cannot scan for viruses, worms, or malware, which are designed to cause harmful malfunctions in networks.
For this reason, analyzing your network security should also include testing virus scans. These are components that are meant to check all types of incoming data for potentially harmful elements. Because worms, viruses, and malware often develop or evolve rapidly, an important aspect of analyzing network security is keeping virus scanners up to date. This is a process where the analyst makes sure that the antivirus software can detect the latest types of malware that can infect a network.
Finally, safety net analysis varies from context to context. For example, a home or small business network might only need well-functioning firewall and authorization components, as well as capable antivirus programs. Large companies and governments, on the other hand, should also be scanned for programs that encrypt information, making it difficult to read by unauthorized persons, as well as highly secured hardware. Institutions such as schools, where children access networks, may include components that prevent them from opening certain websites that include inappropriate material.
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