Post A Total Of 3 Substantive Responses Over 2 Days 912181

Post A Total Of 3 Substantive Responses Over 2 Separate Daysfor Full

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to other students. Due Thursday Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words: Assessing the network for potential risks is part of the responsibility of providing network services for a company. Along with identifying risks, it is important to document how to mitigate these risks from occurring. What are two potential risks that exist in a network? How can you mitigate these risks? Consider adding other ways to mitigate the risks listed. This discussion may assist with the Week 3 Assignment, International Plastics, Inc., Network Diagram.

Paper For Above instruction

Effective network management is crucial for safeguarding a company's data and ensuring seamless operational continuity. Identifying potential network risks and implementing appropriate mitigating strategies are fundamental responsibilities of network administrators. Two significant risks that commonly threaten network security are unauthorized access and malware attacks. Addressing these risks involves a combination of preventative measures, monitoring, and user education to minimize vulnerabilities.

The first notable risk is unauthorized access, which occurs when individuals gain access to network resources without permission. This can be due to weak passwords, lack of multi-factor authentication, or inadequate access controls. To mitigate this risk, implementing strong password policies is essential. Enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods. Additionally, employing role-based access control (RBAC) ensures that users only have access to information pertinent to their roles, minimizing exposure to sensitive data. Regularly updating and patching network devices and software further reduces vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors seeking unauthorized entry.

Malware attacks constitute the second major risk, which include viruses, ransomware, and spyware that can compromise network integrity and steal or corrupt data. To prevent such threats, deploying comprehensive antivirus and anti-malware solutions is fundamental. These tools should be configured to perform automatic updates and regular scans to detect and eliminate threats promptly. Network segmentation also plays a crucial role; by dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments, malware spread can be contained if an infection occurs. Moreover, educating employees about safe browsing habits and phishing awareness can significantly reduce the risk of malware infiltration through social engineering tactics.

Beyond these primary methods, organizations should establish incident response plans, enabling quick action if a security breach occurs. Continuous monitoring through intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) provides real-time alerts and helps detect suspicious activity early. Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can identify weaknesses before they are exploited by attackers. Ultimately, a layered security approach—combining technical controls, user awareness, and proactive monitoring—is essential for mitigating network risks effectively.

In conclusion, unauthorized access and malware attacks are prominent risks in network security that require strategic mitigation. Implementing strong authentication protocols, strict access controls, robust antivirus measures, network segmentation, and employee training are effective ways to reduce these vulnerabilities. Incorporating continuous monitoring and response procedures further enhances the ability to prevent and address security incidents, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the network infrastructure.

References

1. Stallings, W. (2017). Principles of Information Security. Pearson Education.

2. Kim, D., & Solomon, M. G. (2016). Fundamentals of Information Systems Security. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

3. Scarfone, K., & Mell, P. (2007). Guide to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS). National Institute of Standards and Technology.

4. Tanenbaum, A. S., & Wetherall, D. J. (2011). Computer Networks (5th ed.). Pearson.

5. Rouse, M. (2020). What Is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)? Gatp.

6. Northcutt, S., & Shenk, D. (2019). Network Security: Know It All. O'Reilly Media.

7. Papadimitriou, D., & Roussopoulos, M. (2021). Network Security and Cryptography. Springer.

8. Kaspersky. (2019). Ransomware: The Growing Threat. Kaspersky Security Bulletin.

9. Infosec. (2020). Cybersecurity Best Practices for Organizations. Infosec Resources.

10. Cisco. (2022). Security Solutions for Modern Networks. Cisco Systems.