network security threats
Aug 3, 2018 | CYBERSECURITY

The Ultimate Guide to Network Security Threats

Network Security Threats: Comprehensive Guide

 

By simply using the internet, we are constantly being bombarded by multiple types of internet threats. All types of internet threats apply various forms of malware and fraud, in which every part of it uses HTTP or HTTPS protocols, and utilize other protocols and components, such as links in email or instant messaging, or malware attachments that have access to the Web.

Related: Comprehensive List of all Types of Internet Threats

 

Most types of internet threats assist cybercriminals by filching information for consequent sales and assist in absorbing infected PCs into botnets. Cyber-crime cases keep on increasing and expanding, intrinsically, cybersecurity should be considered a vital part of any business, and consequently be highlighted as part of its threat management detection system.

These types of internet threats profess an extensive variety of risks, comprising financial damages, personality theft, loss of private information, theft of network assets, damaged brand/individual status, and wearing away of user confidence in e-commerce and online banking. They have the ability for vulnerabilities to develop into attacks on computer systems, networks, and many more setups. They put users’ computer systems and professional computers at risk, so vulnerabilities must be secure so that attackers cannot penetrate the system and cause harm or loss. By deciding to overlook the perpetually present and potential threat of cyber-crime, businesses do not only put themselves at risk of monetary cost but also reputational damage.

Get to know the enemy, take a look at our guide, “The Comprehensive List of All Types of Internet Threats.

 

Network Security Threats: How to Address Them

 

Hacking is easy. And profitable. An average phishing attack could potentially cost a mid-sized organization $1.6 million. Phishing is just one of the many ways that an organization can be attacked or breached.

Let’s talk about the top 5 most common network security threats, read more in our article “How to Address Common Network Security Threats

 

What’s keeping you up at night? Is it hackers, insider threats, malware, or phishing? Maybe there are a few new types of network security threats that you haven’t heard of yet? You never know!

 

Even the most secure organization may have pitfalls that allow something to slip through the cracks. Consider Equifax and THE most talked about a breach of 2017 that could have been prevented so easily with a proper patching policy.

The fact of the matter is that the bad guys are constantly trying to catch us. You can train your employees all you want, but there’s still a chance that an employee may not be able to identify an extremely sophisticated phishing email. Phishing email creators are getting GOOD! These guys take anything from celebrity news, worldwide sporting events like the Olympics or the World Cup, or something as personal as W-2 information around tax time to make sure you will click on their email.

 

Read more in our guide, “Types of Network Security Threats and How to Combat Them.”

 

One big challenge with network security threats is the IPv6 DDoS attacks.

 

Every device on the Internet is assigned a unique IP address for identification and location definition. With the rapid growth of the Internet after its commercialization in the 1990s, it became evident that far more addresses would be needed to connect devices than the IPv4 address space available.

 

Because there are fewer than 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses available, depletion has been anticipated since the late 1980s, when the Internet started to experience dramatic growth. This depletion is one of the reasons for the development and deployment of its successor protocol, IPv6. Currently, IPv4 and IPv6 coexist on the Internet.

 

The total number of possible IPv6 addresses is more than 7.9×1028 times as many as IPv4, which uses 32-bit addresses and provides approximately 4.3 billion addresses. The two protocols are not designed to be interoperable, complicating the transition to IPv6.

Read more: How to Prepare for IPv6 DDoS attack

 

Network Security Threats: Improve Threat Detection

 

Do you have less hair now than you did when you first realized you need a SIEM? Do you avoid any meetings or emails that are about yet another issue with your SIEM? If SIEM challenges are causing you to hide under your desk, then continue reading.

 

At Cybriant, we get it. We speak to clients every day that are frustrated, angry, and hate having a SIEM in general. Here’s the thing though, a properly tuned SIEM that is managed by security people that have the right experience and expertise can help your organization tremendously.

 

Your organization needs cyber threat detection and response, it’s not a wish-list item anymore. It’s a must-have. But, many organizations think they don’t have the time, money, or resources to be able to properly do the cyber threat detection, analysis, and response that comes along with having a SIEM.

 

Do you agree with these? Check out the “5 SIEM Challenges that Cause the Most Stress.”

These days, working in a SOC (Security Operations Center) is not easy. According to the recent Cybersecurity Insiders Threat Hunting Report, which gathered insights from the Information Security Community on LinkedIn, detection of advanced threats remains the #1 challenge for SOCs (55 percent), followed by lack of security expertise (43 percent). 76 percent of respondents feel that not enough time is spent searching for emerging and advanced threats in their SOC. Lack of budget (45 percent) remains the top barrier to SOCs who have not yet adopted a threat-hunting platform.

 

Cybersecurity professionals are already challenged with the daily task of defending against the increasing number of security threats, and now the severity of those attacks has increased. Nearly 52% of organizations have experienced at least a doubling in security attacks. Over 28% of respondents say that the severity of the cyber-attacks has increased by at least 2 times in the past year.

Check out more stats at “3 Steps to Improve Network Security Threat Detection.”

 

A Security Operations Center (SOC) and a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) are two completely different species.

 

Check out the differences and how they work together to protect you from network security threats at “SIEM SOC: Your SIEM and Our SOC Working Together as One.”

 

Many of us have learned through our Fitbit that we’re not sleeping enough, exercising enough, or eating correctly. It’s the same scenario with continuous network monitoring, although instead of tracking your health, it monitors your organization’s security posture.

There are typically 5 critical cyber controls when it comes to continuous network monitoring. Read more here: Continuous Network Monitoring like a…Fitbit?

 

It’s 2018 and the spotlight is on if you are employed in any information security position. Your executive team, the board, your boss – any corporate stakeholder – wants to be sure that you have everything under control when it comes to cyber threat management. Communication about the tools you are using for cyber threat management will be key when the spotlight is on you.

 

No matter what regulatory compliance rules you are under, you will need certain cybersecurity monitoring tools. But, do you just have the tools or are you using them to your organization’s advantage? The cyber threat management tools we discuss will help take advantage of your compliance rules.

5 Tools to Simplify Cyber Threat Management

 

Network Security Threats: Start with a Cyber Security Assessment

 

The goal of a risk assessment is for an organization to understand “the cybersecurity risk to organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, and individuals” – NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Find out more in the article, “5 Key Reasons You Need a Cyber Security Assessment.”

 

Network Security Threats: Industry Focus

Legal Industry Network Security Threats

 

Law firms must understand the importance of cybersecurity in their practice. Attorneys, in general, accumulate highly sensitive and personal information from each client – including corporations. That information, along with the mobility needed to carry data from the client to the courtroom, makes mobile security increasingly important.

 

Here are the top three reasons hackers target law firms:

 

  1. Large firms, especially those with over 100 lawyers, are targets because of the availability of large quantities of valuable and quality documents. By targeting law firms, they can quickly access such information as technical secrets, business strategies, and financial data for numerous clients.
  2. By handling the important information, Law firms provide a quick detour around the information of little value. The information that attorneys have access to is high-value information, which is more selective and valuable to hackers. By skipping the corporation and targeting their law firm, they more easily access the high-value data.
  3. Data security hasn’t traditionally been a priority at law firms. Larger law firms move at a fast pace and need access to information quickly. This means law firms may have sloppy or no data security practices in place.

 

Manufacturing Network Security Threats

 

Manufacturers use advanced production processes that are often patented and extremely valuable to those companies. Opportunistic hackers target those production processes daily. Since there are often no manufacturing security safeguards, it is not difficult for even the most inexperienced hacker to find their way into your system.

 

The manufacturing sector is now one of the most frequently hacked industries. Automotive manufacturers are the top targeted manufacturing sub-industry, accounting for almost 30% of the total attacks against the manufacturing industry. Chemical manufacturers were the second-most targeted sub-industry.

 

Telecommunications Network Security Threats

 

Consumers are migrating to VOIP. The speed and storage are necessary grow year after year. Telecom solutions require unique protocols. These protocols require security controls. Hackers still pose a major risk to companies. According to PWC’s latest survey and analysis, only 50% of telecom companies have a security strategy for cloud computing.

 

“As telecoms pivot toward a more digital future, they will very likely encounter entirely new types of cybersecurity risks to data, applications, and networks.”  – according to the findings from The Global State of Information Security® Survey.

 

The Financial Industry’s Biggest Threat

 

Losing money to cyber criminals is the financial industry’s biggest threat today. Billions of dollars have been lost in 2022 alone due to cyber security incidents. This money is unrecoverable and can be blamed on one thing – poor cybersecurity practices. The money goes straight to the pockets of hackers so they can build bigger and better ways to hack and steal our money. Read More

Cyber Security Solutions Every Organization Needs

Enterprise-grade managed security services to fit your mission, needs, and budget.

Let our award-winning team make sure your business is safe.

Shoot us a message to start a discussion about how our team can help you today.

“5 star company to work with”

Jessie M.