How can you identify current computer network security trends?

In recent years, computer network security has seen several noteworthy trends. The adoption of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) gained traction as organizations sought better access control. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the focus on securing remote work environments, while cloud security became paramount as businesses moved data and applications to the cloud. Artificial intelligence and machine learning were used to improve threat detection, but ransomware attacks and supply chain security concerns also increased. Strengthened identity and access management (IAM) practices, IoT security, and the potential impact of quantum computing on encryption were other areas of focus.

One thing that I have found is that while staying on top of trends and events is a requirement, finding quality sources that are not simply veiled sales pitches is a challenge. You have to spend at least part of your time sifting through angled texts designed to lead you to a purchase disguised as 'cutting edge news'. It's also helpful to find sources that are in alignment with your morals, ethics and beliefs as a security practitioner otherwise you may incur undue bias in your opinions. Finally no one in the industry has a pure sterling reputation. There are bones rattling in the closets that few know about and fewer talk about but are well known. These can haunt you when citing a source.

Staying updated on computer network security trends and overall cybersecurity is crucial. Here are five to ten reputable sources: SANS Institute: Offers courses and certifications. CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency): Provides alerts and best practices. CIS (Center for Internet Security): Develops standards and tools. Infosec Institute: Publishes articles and webinars. US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team): Offers timely information.

A handful of effective methods that ascribe to a Zero Trust Architecture are: Employing network segmentation not only for threat containment, but to analyze traffic trends across segments to understand the behavior of the internal network. Implementing strict access controls based on user and application identities to allow only required access, and interrogate any access that may seem over-permissive. Continuously verifying users and devices, aligning with access controls, strong encryption, and monitoring policies to establish a baseline. Leveraging behavioral analysis to detect anomalous network patterns indicating unauthorized access or anything suspicious, and then contextualizing this data with the traffic analysis.

Logs are the corner-stone of Cyber Network Defense activities. Any defense and protections that work without a robust logging and incident/response functions are happenstance and luck. Traffic bench marks, typical user behavior, and effective logging are essential.

Today, merely monitoring network activity isn't enough. While tools like network analyzers and intrusion detection systems remain crucial, the paradigm has shifted from endpoint security to the intricacies of identity protection. As we transition, we face new challenges that demand a proactive approach, one that not only analyzes traditional traffic but understands the nuances of individual identities and their unique vulnerabilities. It's not just about securing a system, but safeguarding an identity in an interconnected world.

Where I come from this is called "Eating your own dog food" , and it is an amazing way to show faith in your methods and methodologies to current and potential clients, investors, and interested parties. It also inspires your analysts to stay on their toes while giving them an opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience. Who doesn't love to see an analyst find a new vector and present it with a ruleset and SOP to address it?

Keeping an eye on what's happening in your network is a smart way to understand the latest trends in computer network security. You can use tools like network analyzers, intrusion detectors, firewalls, and EDR/XDR to spot and stop any suspicious or harmful activities on your network. By looking at data from your network logs, traffic, and devices, you can find any unusual patterns or problems that might mean a security issue.

Data Security is as important as it speaks itself. It helps in protecting data and keeping the privacy. It secures the data and enhances the protection.

On line communities absolutely contribute to the overall knowledge base, but they have to be handled with caution. Establish rules, limits, and requirements when participating. It is far too easy to be engaged with an online community where one person suddenly speaks out of line with questionable language or behavior or even illegal suggestions and you can incur guilt by association. Worse if someone engages in one of these incidents it can be a bad reflection on their employer as well as detrimental to all involved. Not to paint a dark cloud , because on line communities are a vital part of security culture, but keep in mind some culture belongs in a petri dish and not in your kitchen.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of progress, and in today's digital era, it's easier than ever to connect with communities that match your interests. Engaging with such communities is a valuable avenue for both learning and fostering meaningful connections. It's a means to tap into the potent force of networking and unlock its potential.

Security research on cutting edge technologies is a must in every stage of the lifecycle. Companies should build in security, and on release, the open source community will find issues that should be expected and expediently fixed by technology manufacturers. In addition to COTS products, migration to cloud technologies relies ever more on secure architectures. Just as there are a number of ways to arrive at a destination, there are numerous ways to build a solution (via code >> AppSec, via cloud >> CloudSec, etc). Experimentation, and testing those experiments, is the key to finding solutions in securing something new. It isn’t all scientific. A playful, interested approach is often more fruitful.

This entire section seems wrong: - None of the four technologies are "new" - Experimenting with "honeypots" can lead to disastrous legal consequences if done without backing legal advice - The "security auditing" part of Wireshark is a bit over-stated

My perspective on this is that venturing into new technologies is an engaging way to stay in tune with the ever-evolving landscape of computer network security. When you explore emerging tools and platforms, you're not just acquiring fresh skills; you're also uncovering potential network vulnerabilities and innovative solutions. It's a hands-on, proactive approach that equips you to adapt to the dynamic world of network security.

A few years back I laughed so hard at a single picture made by XKCD, I don't know the title but it had 2 stick humans in it. 1 Says:"Question everything" and number 2 Asks:"Why?". This is the approach I have to everything I do, and implement. So - every now and then I cycle through the what my problems are and where I want to go to - and then the playing starts.

Take every possible opportunity to expand and test your skills, but always and forever do it in a safe environment. It's sad to say how many places I have seen who will not create a dev. environment and 'test' things in production, thinking that it's acceptable or that no one will notice. The home network , once a point of humour and mocking is now as perfectly acceptable as the home garage. The owner of such can take pride in their hybrid cloud on prem perfectly segmented network as much as the owner of a perfectly tuned forest green slant 6 Volare with a GPS and CD player in it.

In the ever-evolving realm of computer network security, continuous learning is the cornerstone for staying updated. Keeping your knowledge and skills current in this dynamic field is essential. This entails reading materials, taking courses, attending events, and engaging in practical challenges and competitions.

Don't just learn the how, learn the why. I've seen people get emotionally invested in patterns and tools without really understanding why they are needed, or what they are protecting. Not all network security trends will be relevant to your environment. Understand the trends, understand why they exist, make risk-based decisions on adoption.

Staying up to date in the cyber security world is a big challenge but it is paramount. Threat actors always come up with innovative and creative ways to exploit security breaches. Cyber security analysts have to be a step ahead of threat actors in order to avoid data breach, exfiltration, and the like. Hone your skills, focus on improving your weak spots, learn about new technologies, techniques and methodologies for cyber defense. Sharpen your mind and play to win.

Update, read, and fill yourself to the brim but avoid the number one problem in this industry : becoming a paper tiger. Every day I see more and more of these people who can cite the latest trend, recite verbatim an RFC or a popular article, yet when they are addressed with a problem they are suddenly silent. When they get a challenge not out of the book with the answer in the back they are lost. Falsely thinking that because something is published it is correct and universally applicable. I once watched a certified engineer spend two days troubleshooting a system that had a disconnected ethernet cable.

Stay up to date with all the security trends as much as you can but don't forget the basics. This is especially true if you are trying to lean cyber security. You can't protect what you don't know. Look to organizations like CompTIA to make sure you know basic computer architecture and networking concepts.