Network Security Management: Key Concepts & Best Practices

Key Takeaways

• Network security management focuses on the CIA triad: confidentiality, integrity, and availability of a company’s network infrastructure to ensure its safety and functionality.
• Key components of network security management include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, access controls, encryption, and monitoring tools.
• Best practices in network security management involve regular updates, strong password policies, employee training, incident response plans, and continuous monitoring.
• While network security management can be a challenging field, the degree and certificate programs at Potomac provide graduates with all the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry.

Nearly 90% of organizations have at least one data breach or cyber incident. Such a staggering statistic points to the risk that is always looming over networks, whether it’s related to personal information or an entire company’s digital infrastructure. The stakes are definitely high, and the threats—relentless.

That initial percentage would be much higher and with many more breaches per organization if it weren’t for the skilled professionals dedicated to minimizing and mitigating them. In businesses, there are often entire teams solely focusing on safeguarding the company networks—commonly known as network security management.

What Is Network Security Management?

Network security management centers on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the company’s network infrastructure—the so-called “CIA triad.”

• Confidentiality means that sensitive information stays in the right hands, blocking unauthorized access. 
• Integrity is what keeps data accurate and consistent, preventing tampering or unintended changes during storage or transmission. 
• Availability assures network services and data are accessible when authorized users need them.

Network security management is a part of cybersecurity. While cybersecurity aims to protect systems and data from all types of threats, network security management is distinct because it focuses most on the network itself.

Key Components of Network Security Management

Network security management involves several components. Implementing them is what strengthens an organization’s network security and ensures protection against cyber threats. Some of these components include:

Firewalls

A firewall is like the walls of a house, protecting what’s inside from unwanted visitors. Think of it as a security gate that checks anyone trying to enter. If the visitor is trustworthy, they’re let in; if not, they’re turned away. Similarly, a firewall monitors the data trying to enter or leave your network, establishing a barrier between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks.

Intrusion detection system (IDS)

IDS continuously monitors network traffic to identify suspicious activities that may indicate potential threats or security policy violations. If it detects something out of the ordinary—like an unauthorized access attempt—it immediately alerts the administrators so they can take action quickly. When paired with other security tools, an IDS strengthens an organization’s ability to catch and respond to cyber threats before they can cause serious damage.

Virtual private networks (VPNs)

VPNs create encrypted tunnels over public networks, thus allowing remote users to securely access an organization’s internal network. This ensures that data transmitted between the user and the network remains confidential and protected from interception. 

Access control systems

Access control systems ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data and critical network resources. By implementing policies that define user permissions, these systems prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of data breaches.

Encryption

Encryption signifies the conversion of data into a coded format so that it becomes unreadable to unauthorized users. This process protects the integrity and confidentiality of data during transmission across networks. Essentially, it means that through encryption, network security management assures that only authorized parties access the information.

Best Practices in Network Security Management

There are certain practices that network security management professionals rely on as they work to protect the data and maintain operational integrity. Some of the best ones include:

Security audits & risk assessments

Conducting regular security audits by systematically reviewing network systems and identifying vulnerabilities, as well as complying with established security standards, is a must. This process includes evaluating hardware and software configurations, access controls, and organizational policies. 

Risk assessments complement such audits in identifying potential threats and assessing their likelihood and impact. It’s through these processes that organizations effectively work on improving security measures.

Strong passwords & 2FA

Implementing strong password policies is necessary for preventing unauthorized access to systems and data. For a password to be considered strong, it must include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Though it’s become common knowledge how important it is for passwords to be more complex, they still remain a common vulnerability and are quite often exploited in cyberattacks. Two-factor authentication (2FA) then provides an additional security layer. This process requires users to verify their identity after inserting the password through a code sent to their phone or some other similar manner.

Software & patch updates

It’s also important to regularly update the software, often including security patches that address newly discovered vulnerabilities. The timely application of these updates across all software, including operating systems, applications, and network devices, is what will help protect against exploits and attacks.

Employee security training

Educating employees, regardless of whether they work in the cybersecurity sector or not, about potential cyber threats is absolutely necessary in developing a security-conscious culture. This training should inform the employees regarding suspicious emails, safe internet browsing, and how to securely handle sensitive data.

Backup & recovery planning

In the event of data loss or a cyber incident, there is the possibility of recovery if the data has been properly backed up. Organizations must back up all important files, databases, and system configurations.

Testing the recovery procedures is also quite important in order to prepare and guarantee they function as intended when needed.

How to Build an Effective Network Security Management Plan

In order to build an effective network security management plan, it’s important for the experts in charge to go through several steps. They need to:

• Evaluate the organization’s existing security measures through a thorough audit of network infrastructure, software, and hardware to identify vulnerabilities and gaps.
• Conduct risk assessments to pinpoint potential threats, classify them based on likelihood and impact, and prioritize high-risk areas.
• Establish measurable objectives for the security plan, including reducing detection and response time to threats or achieving specific benchmarks like zero unauthorized access attempts.
• Define clear policies and procedures for monitoring suspicious activities, responding to incidents, and recovering operations, such as data recovery from backups and system patching.
• Involve IT staff, management, and employees to make sure that the plan is all-encompassing, with IT staff providing technical expertise, management securing necessary resources, and employees being trained to recognize and respond to threats.

Challenges in Network Security Management

If you’re looking to get started in cybersecurity, focusing on network security management is an excellent idea. However, though it might seem like building and maintaining a security management plan is all there is to it, there are many challenges organizations can face along the way, and you’d have to find solutions for them.

The first thing worth mentioning is that cyber threats evolve in tandem with technology. Nowadays, they are becoming more sophisticated as attackers utilize AI, machine learning, and automation in order to breach defenses.

Constantly working to improve your skills and keeping up with updates on new security tools and strategies are essential in such a case. Although, that can be difficult at times, particularly if you work in small or medium-sized enterprises, as they often have limited resources in this area.

Another challenge arises if you apply strict security measures, such as multi-factor authentication or frequent password resets, as this can frustrate employees and consequently hinder productivity. They also often present new challenges when accessing company networks through personal devices or unsecured home networks.

The Future of Network Security Management

The best way to combat the aforementioned evolution of cyber threats is to also develop and improve the strategies we use against them. Therefore, the solution lies in advanced technologies, innovative architectures, and scalable solutions to stay ahead of adversaries. 

Some of the trends shaping the future of this discipline include:

• AI and machine learning: They help cybersecurity experts analyze vast amounts of data in real time in order to more easily and quickly identify patterns and anomalies that could signal a potential cyber breach.
• Zero-trust architecture: It assumes no entity, inside or outside the network, is trusted automatically, thus verifying every access request through strict authentication, authorization, and encryption protocols to minimize insider threats.
• Automation: This process simplifies network security management by automating tasks like vulnerability scanning, patch management, and incident response, reducing the burden on IT teams and speeding up decision-making by prioritizing threats based on severity.
• Cloud security solutions: They provide advanced tools like encryption, access controls, and real-time monitoring to protect cloud environments while addressing challenges such as shared responsibility models and maintaining data integrity across platforms.

The Bottom Line

With cyber threats lurking at every corner, securing networks isn’t an option but a necessity. With the right training and preparation, every obstacle can be overcome.

At Potomac, we offer both a network security management degree for those ready to immerse themselves completely into the field and a network security management certificate for those looking to gain some valuable skills quickly.

In network security management, your work won’t go unnoticed; it will be essential, impactful, and undeniably crucial to protecting your network.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the differences between network security management and cybersecurity management?

Network security management focuses on protecting and managing network infrastructures, while cybersecurity management is a broader area that uses a variety of strategies for securing all digital systems, including software and data.

How can I tell if my network is vulnerable to cyber-attacks?

Performing security audits and using monitoring tools can help you identify weaknesses in your network before attackers do.