Network security changes are inevitable in any organization that wants to keep up with the evolving threats and technologies. However, before implementing any change, you need to evaluate its impact on the security posture, performance, and functionality of your network. In this article, you will learn how to do that in six steps.
The first step is to identify the change that you want to make and its scope. This could be anything from adding a new firewall rule, upgrading a software, or changing a network configuration. You need to document the change request, the reason behind it, the expected benefits, and the potential risks. You also need to define the success criteria and the rollback plan in case something goes wrong.
Before one can identify a change they would like to make, a prerequisite is that they must fully understand their inventory and the inter workings of their current infrastructure. This, too often, is a skipped step by leadership failing to get buy-in from their technicians. Without this understanding, mistakes will be made in rolling out changes; it’s a gamble whether they’re big or small.
Conduct a Risk Assessment: Before introducing any change, understand the potential risks associated. Analyze how the change might expose the network to new vulnerabilities or exacerbate existing ones. Tools such as vulnerability scanners can be instrumental during this phase.
The next step is to assess the current state of your network security architecture and baseline its performance and functionality. You need to collect data and metrics on the network traffic, devices, vulnerabilities, policies, and controls. You also need to review the compliance requirements and the best practices that apply to your network. This will help you understand the existing gaps and issues that need to be addressed or avoided.
The current state to your network needs to be completely understood before a person is qualified to recommend a change in the first place.
The first step is to Identify the current state and then it will go the next step to know where to put change. It is very important to understand the current architecture before making any changes.
The third step is to analyze the impact of the change on your network security architecture and its components. You need to consider how the change will affect the security objectives, such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability. You also need to evaluate how the change will influence the network performance, functionality, and usability. You can use tools and techniques such as network simulation, testing, and modeling to predict and measure the impact.
A change in one part of the network can affect another. Ensure that: 1. The proposed change is compatible with existing hardware and software. 2. There are no potential conflicts with other security protocols or tools in place. 3. Dependencies are clearly identified and addressed.
The fourth step is to plan the implementation of the change and prepare for the possible scenarios. You need to define the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved in the change process, such as the network administrators, security analysts, and end-users. You also need to schedule the change window, communicate the change details, and coordinate the resources and dependencies. You should also create a backup and restore plan in case of failure.
The fifth step is to execute the change and monitor its progress and outcome. You need to follow the change procedures and guidelines that you have established in the previous steps. You also need to verify that the change has been applied correctly and that it meets the success criteria. You should also document the change results and any deviations or incidents that occurred during the change.
The final step is to evaluate the results of the change and compare them with the expected benefits and risks. You need to collect feedback and data on the network security architecture after the change and analyze its performance and functionality. You also need to review the compliance status and the best practices alignment of your network. You should also identify the lessons learned and the improvement opportunities for future changes.