Network controls are technologies and policies that manage and monitor network use, forming a foundational layer of cybersecurity. They determine who or what can access network resources like data, systems, applications, or devices. These controls safeguard digital assets, prevent unauthorized access, and mitigate cyber threats, helping organizations establish strong security.
What Are Network Controls?
Network controls are rules and configurations designed to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of computer networks and their data. Their primary purpose is to govern the access, flow, and behavior of traffic and users within a network. This involves managing and monitoring network usage to ensure only authorized entities interact with digital resources.
These controls aim to enhance security, maintain network performance, and enable adherence to regulatory compliance. By establishing access policies and enforcing verification and authorization of user identities and devices, network controls prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and mitigate risks from unmanaged devices. This creates a secure and resilient digital environment against evolving cyber threats.
Different Kinds of Network Controls
Network controls include various categories, each with a distinct function in the overall security architecture. Firewalls, for instance, act as a barrier between internal and external networks, filtering traffic based on security rules. Traditional firewalls protect against unwanted incoming traffic, while Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) offer advanced capabilities like application awareness and intrusion prevention.
Access control systems are another type of network control, determining who can access specific network resources. This includes user authentication, which verifies identity through methods like passwords, biometrics, or multi-factor authentication (MFA). Following authentication, authorization policies dictate what actions and resources the authenticated user or device can access, often based on their assigned role or device trustworthiness.
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) continuously monitor network traffic for suspicious activity or known threat signatures. An IDS will detect and alert on potential threats, while an IPS can actively block or prevent malicious traffic from entering the network. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) create a secure, encrypted connection over a public network, allowing remote users to securely access internal network resources as if they were physically present.
Network segmentation involves dividing a large network into smaller, isolated segments. This limits the lateral movement of attackers, containing potential breaches to a smaller area. Monitoring tools provide real-time visibility into network activity, device types, and compliance status, enabling administrators to identify and respond to security incidents. These tools also assist in the tracking and recording of network access and activities, known as accounting or auditing.
How Network Controls Protect Digital Operations
Effective network controls provide protective and operational benefits for digital environments. They prevent unauthorized access by establishing strong authentication and authorization protocols, ensuring only legitimate users and trusted devices enter the network. This reduces the risk of data breaches and insider threats.
Network controls mitigate cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks by inspecting network traffic and blocking malicious content. By implementing measures such as network segmentation, organizations can limit the scope of disruptions from security breaches, contributing to business continuity. They also contribute to data integrity and confidentiality by controlling who can access, modify, or transmit sensitive information.
These controls help maintain network availability and performance by preventing malicious activities that could degrade service or cause outages. Continuous monitoring of user activities allows for early detection of anomalous behavior, enabling timely intervention to prevent security incidents. Network controls also support regulatory compliance requirements, assisting organizations in meeting standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS by controlling and auditing network access.
Putting Network Controls into Practice
Implementing and managing network controls is an ongoing process, beginning with an initial assessment of an organization’s digital environment and security needs. This assessment identifies vulnerabilities and determines appropriate controls. Following this, controls are configured according to established security policies and best practices.
Continuous monitoring of network activity is performed to detect security threats in real-time and ensure controls function as intended. Regular updates are necessary to address newly discovered vulnerabilities and evolving cyber threats. This includes updating software, security definitions, and configurations.
Adopting a layered approach, often called “defense in depth,” involves deploying multiple control layers. If one layer fails during a breach, another can mitigate the issue. This process ensures network controls remain effective in safeguarding digital operations against a dynamic threat landscape.