Network Security and Privilege Escalation Prevention Checklists

Network Infiltration Prevention Checklist

Perimeter Security

1. Perimeter Security Task: Implement next-generation firewalls (NGFW) with deep packet inspection (DPI) Frequency: Ongoing Priority: Critical
2. Network Segmentation Task: Segment networks to limit lateral movement of attackers Frequency: Ongoing Implementation: Use VLANs, firewalls, and network zones
3. Intrusion Detection/Prevention Task: Deploy IDS and IPS systems Frequency: Ongoing Coverage: Network-wide monitoring and automated response

Access Control and Authentication

1. Zero Trust Architecture Task: Enforce Zero Trust model for all devices Frequency: Ongoing Scope: Both internal and external devices
2. VPN and Remote Access Task: Implement secure VPN with strong encryption and MFA Frequency: Ongoing Features: Point-to-Site VPN capability
3. Multi-Factor Authentication Task: Enforce MFA for all critical systems Frequency: Ongoing Coverage: Systems, applications, remote access

System Security

1. Patch Management Task: Regular patching of all systems and software Frequency: Monthly Scope: OS, software, firmware
2. Access Control Task: Implement RBAC and least privilege principles Frequency: Ongoing Review: Regular access audits

Protection Mechanisms

1. Email Security Task: Advanced email filtering and ASR rules Frequency: Ongoing Features: Phishing protection, malware blocking
2. Endpoint Security Task: Deploy EDR solutions Frequency: Ongoing Include: Host-based firewalls, network defenses
3. Web Security Task: Implement web filtering Frequency: Ongoing Focus: Block malicious websites

Ongoing Management

1. User Training Task: Security awareness training Frequency: Quarterly Topics: Phishing, social engineering, secure practices
2. Threat Intelligence Task: Subscribe to threat feeds Frequency: Ongoing Action: Regular updates and implementation
3. Monitoring and Response Task: Implement continuous monitoring Frequency: Ongoing Include: Alert system for suspicious activity
4. DC/Cloud Security Task: Secure multi-cloud and hybrid DC environments Frequency: Ongoing Scope: All cloud and datacenter resources

Privilege Escalation Prevention Checklist

Access Management

1. Least Privilege Task: Enforce minimum required permissions Frequency: Ongoing Scope: Users and applications
2. Role-Based Access Control Task: Implement RBAC framework Frequency: Ongoing Review: Regular role audits
3. Privileged Access Management Task: Implement PAM tools Frequency: Ongoing Features: Monitoring, management, auditing

Authentication and Control

1. Multi-Factor Authentication Task: MFA for administrative accounts Frequency: Ongoing Coverage: All privileged access
2. Permission Audits Task: Review access rights Frequency: Quarterly Scope: All systems and permissions

Security Measures

1. Separation of Duties Task: Implement dual controls Frequency: Ongoing Focus: Critical operations
2. Credential Management Task: Implement password vaulting Frequency: Ongoing Tools: Credential management systems
3. Monitoring Task: Enable detailed logging Frequency: Ongoing Scope: All privileged activities

System Protection

1. Patch Management Task: Address privilege escalation vulnerabilities Frequency: Monthly Coverage: All systems and software
2. Endpoint Protection Task: Deploy EDR solutions Frequency: Ongoing Focus: Privilege escalation detection
3. Application Control Task: Implement application whitelisting Frequency: Ongoing Action: Block unauthorized software

System Configuration

1. OS Hardening Task: Apply security configurations Frequency: Quarterly Scope: OS and kernel-level access
2. Service Account Management Task: Restrict service account privileges Frequency: Ongoing Policy: No shared passwords
3. Password Management Task: Enforce strong password policies Frequency: Ongoing Focus: Privileged accounts
4. Service Management Task: Disable unnecessary services Frequency: Ongoing Goal: Minimize attack surface

Key Takeaways from operations and compliance perspective

• All "Ongoing" tasks should be reviewed at least monthly
• Maintain documentation of all changes and reviews (CAB board should be strong)
• Regular testing of security controls is essential (Testing should be always automated)
• Incident response plans should be updated quarterly
• Annual security assessment recommended

When setting up network infrastructure, especially for tasks like firewalls and network monitoring, ensuring the hardware can handle peak traffic loads is one of the most critical yet often overlooked considerations. Many organizations make the mistake of planning based on average traffic patterns. we conveniently neglect to account for traffic spikes—situations that can arise during peak usage times, attacks, or data-intensive operations. This can lead to network bottlenecks, system crashes, or even security breaches, particularly when security devices like firewalls become overloaded.

Capacity Planning

Traffic Analysis & Planning

• Baseline monitoring over extended periods
• Identifying seasonal/periodic traffic patterns
• Accounting for yearly growth projections
• Factor in 2-3x overhead for unexpected spikes
• Consider both packet rate (pps) and bandwidth (Gbps)

Firewall Sizing Considerations

• Concurrent sessions capacity
• New connections per second
• Throughput with security features enabled
• SSL/TLS inspection overhead
• VPN tunnel capacity
• Rule set complexity impact

Common Bottleneck Scenarios

• SSL/TLS inspection under heavy load
• DDoS attacks overwhelming session tables
• Large file transfers with deep inspection
• Backup windows during business hours
• Marketing campaigns/product launches
• Holiday season traffic spikes

1. Mitigation Strategies

• Deploy redundant firewalls in active-active
• Implement load balancing
• Use traffic shaping and QoS
• Enable selective bypass for trusted traffic
• Automatic failover configurations
• Cloud-based DDoS protection

1. Monitoring & Alerts

• Real-time utilization metrics
• Predictive capacity warnings
• Performance degradation alerts
• Session table utilization
• Hardware resource monitoring
• Latency/throughput tracking