Every day, you hear and read various news about cybersecurity. More and more companies are becoming victims of different threats. These breaches would not happen, however, if they used a network risk assessment tool on a regular basis.
Network security risks are the factors that contribute to the success of a threat. These are the security holes in the network that need immediate attention. A network risk assessment tool will help you find and resolve these vulnerabilities.
A network risk assessment tool will scan your system for potential network risks. It will help you identify which parts of the network are vulnerable. A good network risk assessment tool also provides recommendations.
How do you know if you’ve found the right network assessment tool? What are the features or benefits to look for in a network risk assessment tool? Your network’s security depends on the tools that you will use. It is important to conduct product research before buying.
Frequent usage of a network risk assessment tool produces good results. It is ideal that you identify network vulnerabilities before attackers do. Always think ahead to counter their every move.
The Most Common Network Security Risks
| Network Security Risk | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Lack of security awareness. | Your employee can do intentional and unintentional things on your network. Most of the time there’s a lack of knowledge about existing security policies. Employees who are not satisfied with their job will do terrible things. Educating them about information security is essential. Management should also hear their side to avoid internal threats from happening. |
| 2. USB drives and support devices. |
It is a known IT security policy not to insert USB devices into the workstations. The reason behind this is that USB devices are a favorite breeding ground for malware. Inserting a USB device to a workstation will cause a malware infection. This will result in a security breach. You need a network risk assessment tool that can detect devices added to the network. |
| 3. Emails and the attachments |
Emails can contain harmful or malicious links in them. Clicking these links will compromise your system or network. The same thing happens when you download an attachment from an unknown email. |
| 4. Endpoint devices. |
BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, is one of the current trends today in a working environment. Employees can bring their laptops, smartphones, and tablets for work. This also presents security risks. These endpoint devices can introduce malware into the network. You need a network risk assessment tool that has support for endpoint devices. |
| 5. Wireless access. |
Most companies and establishments offerpublic Wi-Fi for everyone. But these connections are not secured. Many people commit the mistake of making online transactions over public Wi-Fi. This leaves their sensitive data vulnerable to attacks. A network risk assessment tool should identify and secure Wi-Fi hotspots in the network. |
| 6. Cloud-based solutions. |
A cloud service relies on internet access. The cloud service provider is also susceptible to vulnerabilities and threats. The major benefit you get from a cloud service is that it saves you money. The cloud service provider shoulders the hardware and software burden. A network risk assessment tool should detect which components are on the cloud. |
| 7. Third-party solutions. |
Using third-party software also presents some risks. Not all software vendors patch up their products on time. Releasing a patch takes about a month. During that period, the vulnerability is exploitable. Choose the right software vendor and do background checking first. |
Network Risk Assessment Tool Features
| Features | Other Vendors | ITarian |
|---|---|---|
| Endpoint protection | Not all software vendors support this. | ITarian offers support for endpoint devices. |
| Risk mitigation plan | Most software vendors offer vulnerability scanning only, without any recommendations. | ITarian not only looks for vulnerabilities but also provides possible solutions. Every network risk assessment tool should be able to offer this vital feature. |
| Easy to use | Most software vendors provide this feature. | ITarian has an easy-to-use user interface. Users can also import their networks via Workgroup, Active Directory, and IP range. |
| Analytics and reporting | Most software vendors provide these features. |
ITarian offers various reports that are customizable and editable:
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You learned what a network risk assessment is, the most common network security risks, and the features that a network risk assessment tool should have. For more information, please click here.
