What are the most important steps in securing your network perimeter?

Securing our network perimeter involves 1) Regular vulnerability assessments to identify risks; 2) Firewalls and intrusion detection to monitor traffic; 3) Secure VPNs for encrypted, remote access; 4) Strong access controls and authentication; 5) Applying least privilege principles; 6) Updating and patching systems; 7) Educating employees on cybersecurity. These steps are foundational for a robust defense.

To secure your network perimeter, start with a comprehensive assessment using network and vulnerability scanners, and penetration testing to identify weaknesses. Key steps include implementing robust firewall policies, setting up intrusion detection systems, ensuring updated antivirus solutions, and establishing secure VPN access for remote connections. Network segmentation is vital for protecting sensitive data. Regularly update and patch systems to close security gaps. Educate employees on cybersecurity practices and continuously review and adjust your security measures to address evolving threats and maintain compliance with standards.

To ensure data safety despite outdated network security protocols, immediately conduct a comprehensive security audit to identify vulnerabilities. Implement encryption measures for data transmission and storage, and restrict access privileges to essential personnel only. Invest in updating network infrastructure and regularly educate employees on cybersecurity best practices.

The first step is understanding that "perimeter" means something very different than it used to even a decade ago. With mobile devices, cloud services, BYOD, WFH, etc, your "perimeter" is every device and service, (quite likely including some that you have no control over!)

Securing the network perimeter involves: 1. Implementing firewalls and intrusion prevention systems to monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic. 2. Establishing strong access controls with multi-factor authentication and least privilege principles. 3. Regularly updating and patching network devices and software to address vulnerabilities. 4. Deploying VPNs or secure gateways for remote access, ensuring encrypted communication. 5. Conducting regular security audits and assessments to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Clearly this article was written by an AI using info that's ten years out of date. Not to say firewalls and VPNs aren't still important - they are - but they're just a small part of a much larger multi-layered environment.

Un pare-feu contr?le le trafic réseau en appliquant des règles définies pour prévenir les accès non autorisés et les attaques. Configurer selon le principe du moindre privilège, surveiller et mettre à jour régulièrement. Un VPN chiffre et sécurise les connexions réseau, protégeant ainsi la vie privée et contournant les restrictions géographiques. Utilisez-le lors de connexions externes et vérifiez la robustesse de la politique de sécurité de votre fournisseur

While next-gen firewalls (NGFW) and virtual private networks (VPN) are still fundamental elements of security, especially if you operate mostly on-premise, it is important to recognise that most organisations have now moved their IT to the cloud, or at least part of it (known as hybrid cloud). In this context, NGFWs and VPNs are no longer suited to the task, since they are perimeter security devices (with cloud and IoT, the perimeter pretty much disappears). This is where ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) come into play.

Equally important is the type of MFA and how applicable it is to your environment. E.g. fingerprint scanners can generally be bypassed by one of a dozen "universal" fingerprints. Iris scanners are generally quite secure but also expensive and not widely supported. SMS (and calls) can be intercepted by rogue cell "towers", (or badly secured online services performing the handoff between carriers). In general, a hardware key, (like Yubikey or similar) is your best ROI, but again, not always supported... (And this is without even getting into additional complexities like SSO, Zero Trust deployments etc).

L'authentification multifacteur (MFA) vérifie l'identité par plusieurs moyens (mot de passe, code, empreinte digitale). Essentielle pour prévenir l'accès non autorisé, surtout pour les données sensibles. éduquez les utilisateurs sur son importance et son utilisation.

Okay, this is actually bad advice without some clarification as patches and updates often as not contain new flaws! One should stay on top of things, absolutely, but there also needs to be a test and evaluation process to be sure one isn't inadvertently introducing more problems. (How often do vendors retract a new update right after releasing because it breaks things? Frequently!)

Here are some best practices for applying patches and updates to enhance network security: *Keep all software, frameworks, libraries, and dependencies up to date with the latest security patches. *Establish a process for regular vulnerability scanning and patch management. *Create policies for securing your environment and detecting and mitigating threats from malicious actors. *Set up real-time alerts to proactively respond to security incidents. *Monitor network traffic and system logs for any signs of unauthorized access or suspicious activity. *Implement strong authentication mechanisms and access controls. *Regularly review and manage user access rights to prevent unauthorized entry. *Have an incident response plan in place.

Again, one should keep in mind that "there is no perimeter" anymore. There's also some pretty firm requirements that aren't mentioned, like a 24/7 SOC with immediate response. All the monitoring in the world is useless if you aren't aware of that Friday night intrusion until Monday morning...

Securing your network perimeter involves monitoring and auditing to ensure robust defenses. Here are some steps you can take: *Conduct a thorough risk assessment of your network. Identify vulnerabilities and prioritize what needs to be audited. *Establish a well-secured baseline for computers and networks. *Perform a network and perimeter audit using a repeatable process. *Verify key controls to provide a high level of assurance to the organization. *Use real-world examples to verify controls and techniques for continuous monitoring. *Regularly assess security settings, configurations, and compliance. *Leverage tools and techniques to detect and respond to security incidents. *Communicate risk effectively to management and operations staff.

Not bad advice, but definitely mis-leading - users are neither the first nor the last line of defense as there is 100% certainty that "somebody" will do "something" at some point. A better approach is to assume any/every device will be breached at some point and design your environment to limit the impact as much as possible. Besides all of the things mentioned above, plus EDR, that also includes Zero Trust and Least Privilege for user access, as well as Balkanization of systems and encryption at all levels.

Educating users to secure the network perimeter is crucial for maintaining robust cybersecurity. Here are some effective strategies: *Conduct regular training sessions to raise awareness about security risks, threats, and best practices. *Teach users how to recognize phishing emails, suspicious links, and social engineering attempts. *Educate users on the importance of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA). *Train users to keep their devices and software up to date. *Teach users not to click on unknown links or download files from untrusted sources. *Encourage the use of secure websites and caution when accessing public Wi-Fi networks. *Explain the role of firewalls and ACLs in controlling network traffic.

It is often stated the biggest threat is users. Users should be trained regularly to understand what to do and what not to do. This could be through simulated phishing attacks and knowing how to report, to quarterly trainings. I feel if users are more aware of the dangers to their data, they'd be more cautious.

A tiered approach is required when designing a security testing plan for complex systems. Start by doing a thorough risk assessment to determine important resources and any weak points. Create test scenarios next that include a range of attack vectors, including vulnerability scanning, code review, and penetration testing. For instance, a sizable e-commerce platform might regularly perform code reviews to find and fix vulnerabilities in its web application codebase and penetration testing to mimic actual attacks on its payment processing system. The testing strategy is periodically updated and continuously monitored to guarantee that complex systems remain resilient against ever-changing threats.