Most organizations understand external network security and tools such as firewalls to secure the edge of your network. However, a lack of internal security behind the firewall can be a problem if your firewall is breached.
Being a victim of a cyberattack can cost organizations hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to repair or restore their network.
It is important to secure your network with both external and internal security to prevent any network vulnerabilities that can lead to cyberattacks.
Coeo has helped thousands of organizations secure their network by delivering network security solutions.
We know how important a secure network is to an organization and want you to understand what internal security is and how it will improve your network.
By the end of this article, you will know what internal network security is and how to improve your network’s internal security.
What is internal security?
Internal security is the security behind the firewall that protects the core of your network. A firewall sits at the edge of your network and protects your network from malicious actors attempting to enter it.
A firewall is the first line of defense when it comes to protecting your network from cyberattacks, malicious actors, and malware.
Firewalls filter incoming and outgoing traffic based on security rules that flag cyberattacks when they break a security rule.
However, cyberattacks have become increasingly sophisticated and can occasionally bypass traditional firewalls.
Therefore, a network can still be breached if an attacker is able to bypass a firewall or a firewall is corrupted or damaged.
External security tools installed on the edge of your network are not as effective at securing the internal network especially after a firewall has been breached.
After the cyberattack enters the network, your data may be exploited, stolen, or compromised if no internal security is integrated into the security solution.
The internal security behind the firewall will continue protecting the core of your network and secure the data inside the network even if the network is penetrated.
How to improve your network’s internal security
With a network’s internal security becoming more of a priority as cyberattacks become increasingly more sophisticated, it is important to improve your network’s internal security.
Some ways you can improve your organization’s network security include:
● Restrict user access controls
Limiting user access controls is an important way your organization can maintain a secure internal network. By limiting access to important data and information your data will be better protected.
Suppose you limit access to the most sensitive information to executives and IT subject matter experts.
In that situation, there will be fewer entrances for an attacker to breach since only a limited number of devices have access to the information.
● Employee security best practices
It is also important your employees understand network security best practices to ensure better internal security.
Training employees to identify and avoid phishing emails and raising awareness on how to handle sensitive or important information is necessary to ensure reliable internal security.
● Securing endpoints
To improve internal security, it is important to secure endpoints such as laptops, desktops, and mobile devices that are connected to the internet.
Regularly updating your devices with the appropriate security solutions will ensure network patch management and help manage any security threats.
In addition to ensuring devices are updated to maintain internal security, you can also rely on broader security solutions. Solutions like SASE and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) can help improve internal security.
A SASE solution combines a WAN and a security system into one cloud-based solution. EDR is a cybersecurity solution that continuously monitors endpoint devices to help avoid cyberattacks.
● Data encryption
Data encryption is another way to improve internal security. Encrypting data before it is sent, stored, or received will provide an extra layer of security around the data and improve data security.
Data encryption can be integrated as part of an SD-WAN solution in which data is sent and received through encrypted tunnels so all data is secure while being transferred transferring from one device to another.
Encryption ensures that even in the event of a data breach, all stolen data will be incomprehensible to unauthorized users.
● Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS)
IDPS technology helps detect and prevent cyberattacks and unauthorized activities.
These systems provide real-time alerts when the network is breached enabling organizations to respond quickly and remove the security threat.
● Network segmentation
Segmenting your network may also improve your internal network security as a result.
If you divide your internal network into isolated segments it can help compartmentalize sensitive data which ensures unauthorized users are less likely to gain access to the entirety of the data.
Implementing Virtual LANs and setting up strong network policies will help isolate important data within your internal network.
Next steps to improving internal security in your network
Now you know what internal security is and how to improve it within your organization.
This knowledge will help you understand how to better improve your organization’s network security to avoid cyberattacks or other malicious activity.
No organization wants to be the victim of a cyberattack and have to pay millions of dollars to repair its network.
Learning how to improve your internal network will help lock down your network and prevent cyberattacks from happening.
Coeo knows how important network security is to an organization and has helped thousands of customers with their network security by implementing security solutions into their network.
We want you to understand what internal security is and how to improve it so you can improve your organization’s internal network security to avoid a cyberattack.
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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