Network security threats can significantly compromise the integrity of an enterprise network, posing risks to sensitive data, crucial applications, and the overall IT infrastructure.
Given the diverse range of threats faced by businesses today, it is imperative to closely monitor and mitigate the most critical vulnerabilities. This comprehensive guide provides insights into major network security threats, along with detection methods and effective mitigation strategies for organizations to adopt.
Public Internet Threats:
When an enterprise network is connected to the public internet, it becomes susceptible to a multitude of threats. The following are noteworthy examples:
- Spoofed websites: Cyber actors redirect unsuspecting internet users to deceptive websites that appear legitimate, aiming to steal their account credentials.
- Downloadable malware: Emails or website extensions containing malicious software can be automatically downloaded onto a host machine when clicked, potentially spreading across the network.
- Email-based phishing attacks: These attacks leverage employees’ business email accounts to deceive them, often utilizing spoofed websites or downloadable malware.
- DNS attacks: DNS cache poisoning or hijacking redirects users attempting to access a legitimate website to a malicious site, compromising the network’s security.
Such threats pose a significant risk to enterprise networks, as malicious traffic from the internet can permeate through networks spanning various locations and complexities. Robust protection mechanisms are crucial for safeguarding extensive business networks, including edge networks, mobile networks, branch office networks, and SANs.
To fortify network security against internet threats, organizations are advised to implement the following measures:
- Deploy a next-generation firewall (NGFW) to filter initial malicious internet traffic between the public internet and the private network.
- Utilize network detection and response software to proactively monitor the private network, identifying anomalous patterns that may indicate a breach.
- Implement endpoint protection on all network-connected devices, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to mitigate potential threats.
- Employ segmentation technologies to establish policies for each network, effectively managing traffic between subnets and minimizing lateral movement.
DoS and DDoS Attacks:
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks pose a severe threat to public-facing applications and websites, leading to substantial revenue loss. These attacks can also target internal networks.
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack floods an enterprise resource, such as an internal network or crucial application, with an overwhelming volume of traffic. In contrast, DDoS attacks employ multiple IP addresses to target a system simultaneously, causing it to crash due to the influx of requests.
Even a brief outage resulting from such attacks can have a detrimental impact, particularly for businesses relying on customer-facing applications. For instance, a retailer with multiple store locations may face an inability to process in-store transactions if the internal point-of-sale system experiences a server outage.
Protecting against DoS and DDoS attacks can be complex, as the attacks originate from external sources. Employing reverse proxies on servers can help mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks targeting a specific server. By utilizing its own IP address, the reverse proxy diverts flooded requests away from the internal server’s IP address. However, it’s important to note that this technique may not be effective against DDoS attacks targeting multiple servers simultaneously.
Unsecured and Outdated Network Protocols:
Outdated versions of network protocols often harbor vulnerabilities and bugs that have been addressed in subsequent releases. Nevertheless, many businesses and systems continue to utilize these older protocols. Notably:
- SNMP versions 1 and 2 possess known vulnerabilities.
- Older SSL and TLS versions, prior to TLS 1.3, exhibit multiple weaknesses, including susceptibility to POODLE attacks and BEAST attacks.
To prevent potential attacks related to insecure protocols, it is essential to upgrade all network connections to the latest TLS version. While no protocol version is entirely foolproof, using the most recent versions helps to mitigate known vulnerabilities. In compliance with data protection regulations, such as PCI DSS, disabling older SSL and TLS versions may be necessary.
Furthermore, promptly blocking access to connections that employ insecure protocols like HTTP is advisable to enhance network security.
It is essential for organizations to be aware of and address various network security threats that can potentially compromise their systems. Here are five key threats that every business should prioritize:
*Network Misconfigurations: Misconfigurations in network protocols or rules can inadvertently expose sensitive servers, databases, and cloud resources. Even a single line of incorrect code or inadequate router and switch configurations can lead to serious configuration errors. These misconfigurations are often challenging to detect as the rest of the software or hardware continues to function normally. It is recommended that enterprises invest in automated configuration solutions or network security tools capable of identifying and resolving misconfigurations efficiently, saving time and minimizing the risk of further issues during troubleshooting.
*Weak Access Controls: Unauthorized network access provides an entry point for malicious actors to exploit an organization’s infrastructure. Authentication and authorization are crucial components of robust access control systems. Many organizations either neglect to implement access controls or rely on broad permissions, such as shared passwords or universal admin access. This approach is highly risky, as it grants unnecessary privileges to users who may inadvertently compromise network configurations. A comprehensive access control system should include both authentication, ensuring the user’s identity, and authorization, specifying the level of access they are granted. Implementing the principle of least privilege, where users are given access only to what is necessary for their role, further reduces the risk of insider fraud and unintentional errors.
*Human Security Threats: Human error plays a significant role in data breaches, accounting for a staggering 85% of incidents. Examples of such errors include sharing router passwords or improperly configuring network access controls. Moreover, intentional insider threats, although less frequent, can pose an even greater danger to organizations. These insiders, typically with authorized network credentials, might exploit proprietary information, sell data to external parties, or seek revenge. To mitigate human errors, organizations should regularly conduct cybersecurity training sessions, incorporate security discussions into regular meetings, utilize password managers, and implement data loss prevention technology to guard against insider threats.
*Operational Technology: Operational technology (OT), encompassing industrial environments like factories, construction sites, and warehouses, can introduce significant vulnerabilities when connected to a business network. Legacy OT devices often lack built-in cybersecurity features, and the introduction of cellular and IoT technologies further exacerbates security risks. As these devices may not use Wi-Fi or Ethernet connections, their communications can go unnoticed during routine network scans. Securing OT and enterprise networks requires comprehensive device inventory, close monitoring of OT traffic, and the use of secure connections, such as WPA2, for wireless networks.
*VPN Vulnerabilities: While virtual private networks (VPNs) offer a secure communication channel for organizations, they are not immune to breaches. Third-party VPN access, granted to partners or contractors, can be challenging to restrict to specific permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access. Additionally, VPNs do not keep extensive data logs, making it difficult to identify the source of a breach if a third party abuses their permissions. Implementing least privilege access management, which restricts user permissions to what is necessary, can mitigate VPN vulnerabilities. Regular monitoring of VPN solutions and prompt patching of vulnerabilities is also crucial.
Overall, organizations must proactively address these network security threats through comprehensive security measures, regular training and awareness programs, and the use of advanced cybersecurity tools and technologies.
5 Network Security Threats Everyone Should Know
Network security is a critical concern for organizations as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. It is imperative for IT and network technicians to be knowledgeable about the different types of threats that can compromise network integrity. Here are 10 key network security threats that every organization should be aware of:
*Obsolete and Unpatched Network Resources Network hardware and software are susceptible to vulnerabilities that can emerge over time and leave the network exposed. IT and network administrators must remain informed about potential threats announced by vendors and security experts. Outdated devices present a significant risk as they cannot be updated to incorporate the latest security measures.
*Remote Access With the rise of remote work, the usage of remote connections to office networks has become popular. However, untrusted networks and personal devices pose a threat to the organization’s network and systems. Attack vectors, such as the exploited Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), have led to increased ransomware attacks. Implementing strict user policies and limiting access to specific IP addresses can mitigate risks.
*Network Threat Origins Network threats can originate from various sources, including devices, human error, malicious traffic, operations failure, and insufficient maintenance. Misconfigured hardware, insecure BYOD devices, human mistakes, deliberate insider manipulation, malicious packets, and hardware and software failures all contribute to network vulnerabilities.
*Insufficient Maintenance Regular updates and vulnerability scans are vital to ensure that network hardware and software are protected against emerging threats. Unpatched vulnerabilities in network firmware provide attackers with an easy entry point. Timely maintenance and vulnerability assessments are crucial in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities promptly.
*Network Security vs. Endpoint Security vs. Application Security While network security, endpoint security, and application security are interconnected, each plays a distinct role. Network security focuses on threats that target the overall network infrastructure, while endpoint security addresses threats originating from devices and users. Application security deals specifically with software programs and their potential impact on the organization.
The Importance of Effective Network Threat Detection
Enterprises face a multitude of network threats that can originate from various sources. To combat these threats effectively, organizations must rely on a robust set of detection tools and techniques. Implementing perimeter network security measures, conducting vulnerability assessments, and leveraging automation can assist businesses in identifying threats promptly, providing their teams with the necessary time to develop appropriate solutions.
- Network Security and Threat Detection
- Perimeter Protection and Next-Generation Firewalls
- Enhanced Network Monitoring and Traffic Analysis
- Machine Learning and Behavioral Analytics
- Automated Alerts for Immediate Action
Firewall Management
Deploying advanced network perimeter protection systems, such as next-generation firewalls, offers the advantage of configuring alerts triggered by the identification of anomalous network traffic. By closely monitoring the behavior of incoming data packets, these firewalls serve as early warning systems for IT and security teams. Next-generation firewalls also provide valuable threat intelligence to identify and block known malicious websites.
Network Monitoring
Thoroughly monitoring network devices and traffic allows enterprises to identify patterns over time. Employing advanced monitoring solutions like Network Detection and Response (NDR) enables the scanning of encrypted traffic, reducing the chances of threats going undetected. Moreover, specialized network traffic monitoring designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices helps address the challenges in securing and identifying threats within a distributed network of smart devices.
Machine Learning and Behavioral Analytics
While firewalls and other perimeter security measures can minimize some threats, there will always be traffic that manages to infiltrate the network. Fortunately, leveraging analytics to study network traffic movement is invaluable for long-term security. Machine learning and behavioral analytics tools can observe ongoing traffic patterns, detect malicious behavior, and identify Command and Control (C2) traffic. Advanced security solutions, including next-generation firewalls, commonly offer machine learning and behavioral analytics capabilities.
Automated Alerts
Given that IT teams cannot monitor networks round the clock, automation plays a crucial role in promptly notifying them of any malicious activity. By using machine learning and behavioral analytics platforms, network traffic data can be analyzed for specific patterns, enabling automated email or Slack alerts to be sent to IT personnel as soon as anomalies are detected.
Vulnerability Scanning
Conducting vulnerability scans on devices and assets helps identify potential issues such as misconfigurations and outdated software. These scans compare the identified vulnerabilities against a database of known vulnerabilities, with some scanners categorizing risks based on their severity level. Additionally, some vulnerability scanning solutions assist businesses in complying with cybersecurity and data protection regulations by establishing policies and rules.
Networks are intrinsically complex and interconnected, making them susceptible to numerous security threats. Despite the intricacies involved, organizations can enhance their network security by adhering to trusted practices consistently and ensuring that all employees are adequately trained to support these practices. Implementing careful configurations, utilizing secure protocols, protecting sub-networks, managing all endpoints, and deploying high-power firewalls are key steps in fortifying network defenses. Continuous monitoring of network traffic and providing comprehensive cybersecurity training to every employee further strengthens the organization’s security posture, reducing the risk of breaches and enhancing overall network resilience.