Network security is very important in today’s virtual world. If you do not manage network security well, your network will be at risk for cyberattacks potentially costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair your network.
If your network falls victim to a cyberattack, significant time and money must be spent to repair the network and secure it so another attack does not take place.
If you do not know the different types of network vulnerabilities, you may not know how to secure your network properly.
Coeo has helped thousands of customers with their network security. We want to provide you with information about network vulnerabilities and how to avoid them so your network does not fall victim to a cyberattack.
By the end of this article, you will know what a network vulnerability is, the main types of vulnerabilities, and how to combat different types of vulnerabilities to protect your network.
What is a network vulnerability?
A network vulnerability is a loophole or gap in a network that can threaten the normal functions of the network. These vulnerabilities leave your network a victim of a cyberattack or data breach.
Vulnerabilities put your data and network, as well as your customer's data and network, at risk of cyberattacks and data breaches. Network vulnerabilities can lead to easy entry for malicious actors and hackers to intrude on your network.
Network vulnerabilities can be categorized as hardware, software, firmware, and human vulnerabilities. If any of these categories are mismanaged, it can leave your network open to vulnerabilities.
Because of the different categories and types, vulnerabilities can vary in severity and complexity. Some vulnerabilities are easy to patch and will not result in severe attacks and there are others that require a more complex fix to prevent severe network damage.
3 types of network vulnerabilities
There are a few main types of network vulnerabilities. It is important that you understand the different types so you know how to properly secure your network to avoid being a victim of a cyberattack.
1. Outdated software
If your software is outdated, your network may not have the updated security protocols to prevent cyberattacks.
It is important to regularly check for updates within your network and network security to ensure you have the most up-to-date technology to avoid vulnerabilities.
Many updates can be set up to automatically update when they are available but some updates still require a manual update. Whoever manages your network should be responsible for manually updating your network and network security.
If you and your team manage your network you will have to update your network manually. However, if your network is managed by a service provider, they will handle all updates.
2. Working outside of the company network
If you are working in the office, chances are the network is strong, reliable, and secure.
Typically, the office WiFi is only accessible by password to employees working in the office, and there may be a separate guest network open to customers and visitors.
However, once employees leave the office and connect their work laptops and other devices to networks outside of the office, they could be leaving the network vulnerable to malicious actors.
If your employees take their devices out of the office and work from another location, chances are the WiFi network they are working from is not as secure as the network connection in your office which could leave you vulnerable.
Additionally, working on mobile devices that may not be connected to the main network, could cause the same problem.
Once you work from a device that is not connected to your company’s main network, you open up your network to cyberattacks because those networks likely lack proper security.
3. Stolen usernames and passwords
One of the most common ways you open your network to vulnerabilities is by having account information stolen. Usernames and passwords are two common examples of account information that most often get stolen.
If your login information is accessed by a malicious actor, your network is likely at risk of a cyberattack.
How to avoid network vulnerabilities
It is important to learn about the main types of network vulnerabilities but also how to avoid these vulnerabilities. Because there are different types of vulnerabilities, there are different ways to avoid them based on the type of vulnerability.
To avoid outdated or old software, it is important to automate all software updates or, at a minimum, regularly check for updates manually.
Whoever manages your network should be responsible for making sure your network security is always up to date.
If your employees work outside the office, it is important that their devices are secure when they are connected to outside WiFi connections to prevent any network vulnerabilities.
SASE is a network security solution that runs on employees’ devices to ensure that they are protected while connected to any WiFi network.
To avoid network vulnerabilities following stolen login information, it is important to keep usernames and passwords in a safe location; ideally in a Password Manager tool.
Next steps to preventing network vulnerability
Now you know what a network vulnerability is, the three most prevalent types of vulnerabilities, and how to avoid them. This will allow you to better secure your network to help avoid network vulnerabilities and cyberattacks.
Cyberattacks can severely damage your network and cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars to remediate.
No one wants to be a victim of a cyberattack so learning about network vulnerabilities and how to avoid them is important in preventing cyberattacks.
Coeo has helped thousands of customers with their network security. We want to give you information on network vulnerabilities so you can assess them and work on securing your network better.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about network security or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment. 
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