Introduction To Network Security Assessment
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email applications today. Attackers gained access to a Microsoft support agent's credentials recently. This lead to a data breach. Some Outlook users received notifications from Microsoft about this data breach. A network security assessment checklist can prevent this scenario from happening.
What is network security assessment? A network security assessment examines a network for vulnerabilities. It also checks if a network is complying with standards. This includes PCI DSS and HIPAA. PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Think of a network security assessment checklist as a guide. It checks the important things to do when conducting a network security assessment. Some people call it a network vulnerability assessment checklist. Others prefer to call it an information security assessment checklist.
A network security assessment tool is the actual software or program. It has a lot of features on its own. The functionalities also depend on the software vendor. Majority of these tools offer their own network security assessment checklist.
You will know the important details on a network security assessment checklist. You will later know a great network security assessment tool that can help you.
What A Network Security Assessment Checklist Should Look Like
Doing things are a lot easier if you have some sort of guide to help you. This applies to network security as well. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your network is important. Using a network security assessment checklist gives you direction.
Here are the details one could expect in a network security assessment checklist:
| Things to check for | Description |
|---|---|
| Make sure all security or surveillance cameras are working. |
This is a standard physical security procedure. Someone sneaking in your business premises can do malicious things on your network. Having security cameras everywhere will prevent an attacker from entering your business premises. A network security assessment checklist should always include this detail on it. |
| Check if your keyless entry systems are working. |
This is very important for the physical security of your network. A sample keyless entry system is a door using biometrics for authentication. An intruder can't enter your building without verifying their identity first. A network security assessment checklist should also include this detail on it. |
| Lock computers when not in use. |
This is a standard computer security procedure that most people do not follow. The importance of locking your PC is that no one could use it other than you. You should always lock your workstation if you are going away from it like when taking breaks. One of the major threats to information security is the insider threats. These are the employees who are negligent and don't follow security policies. They are the security risks that are outside the scope of a network assessment tool. A network security assessment checklist must always include this security procedure on it. |
| Test the capability of your antimalware software. |
Your anti-malware software should be capable of detecting, removing, and preventing various threats. This includes the following:
Also, consider the variations of these threats and zero-day attacks. A network security assessment checklist should always contain this security procedure on it. |
| Check for web content. |
Block adult sites, gaming sites, and social media sites. This should be in align with your company's security policies. These sites should be inaccessible by default. Browsing these sites also reduces productivity and increases security risks. Clicking on links especially on adult sites will trigger a malware infection. A network security assessment checklist should always include this security procedure. |
| Try working around your firewall. |
Test if your firewall is effective at doing its job. It should react to any suspicious and malicious activity. Upon threat detection, it should notify you right away. There are a lot of tools out there to test the strength of a firewall. It is a matter of preference which one best fits your business needs. It is necessary to include this detail in a network security assessment checklist. |
| Use a whitelisting approach |
This procedure gives programs and processes access to network resources. A whitelist can contain the following:
All the elements in the whitelist have access to network resources. Things not on the list do not have permission. The logic here is to deny all and permit some. Whitelisting is an important thing to add in your network security assessment checklist. |
| Patch management |
Cybercriminals always target outdated software. They exploit the weaknesses while the software vendor is preparing a patch. It is necessary to update the software components of your network. Patching them will fix the bugs and vulnerabilities. Patching is a vital process to include in a network security assessment checklist. |
Choosing The Right Network Security Assessment Tool
A lot of software vendors offer the same set of features. You should use a tool with many features that save you money and time instead. ITarian offers the same set of standard features that other vendors offer. You also get extra functionalities.
ITarian's network assessment tool generates its own network security assessment checklist. It can also generate site interview guidelines. It can generate network surveys as well. Other vendors don't offer these features.
ITarian's network assessment tool highlights the issues and anomalies detected. It then recommends the possible solutions which other vendors don't offer. Generating reports after an assessment is essential. ITarian's network assessment tool can provide you with the following customizable reports:
- Client Risk Summary Report
- Change Management Report
- XP Migration Readiness Report
- Full Detail Report
- Asset Detail Report
- Excel Export Report
You now know what a network security assessment is all about. You also learned the must-have details in a network security assessment checklist. You are now also aware of the features to look for in a network security assessment tool. For more information on network security assessment checklist, please click here.
