In the era of a digitally advanced world, technology has not only improved our lifestyle but  also improved the work culture of every organization. Conversely, as we move toward the creation and deployment of next-generation technologies, cyber risks to organizations’ security postures also grow. Subsets of cyber security such as network security, IT infrastructure, network and application security, cloud security, etc. are the most important security measures for any organization. They require regular maintenance and patching of security holes to leave no room for vulnerabilities. Failure to do so can result in irreversible data breaches, dangerous cyber attacks, data manipulation, loss of revenue, customers and reputation. 

Today,  cybercrime  has evolved to such an extent that perpetrators of cyberthreats do not spare the opportunity to organize cyberattacks against organizations and exploit their information. To protect the organization from cyber risks, it is necessary to start implementing security solutions. 

But the most important thing  is to understand what is the most basic but critical subset of cyber security and what are the cyber risks involved! 

The role of network security in cyber security 

Of all the major subgroups of cyber security, network security stands out as the most important subgroup of cyber security. The purpose of network security is to protect information sent through devices on an organization’s network by ensuring that the information sent is not altered or intercepted in the process. 

Its main task is to protect the organization’s IT infrastructure against the  following cyber threats: 

  •  Malware 
  •  Adware and spyware 
  •  Nu-day attacks 
  •  Trojan horses 
  •  Hacker attacks 
  •  Computer viruses and many other cyber attacks. 

Technically, network security is a broad term consisting of several technologies, devices and processes. It includes the policies and procedures used to prevent and control unauthorized access, misuse, modification or denial of computer networks and related available resources. 

He controls the network administrator’s right to access data. Users either select or receive credentials or an ID and password or authenticated credentials that allow access to an institution’s information or programs. 

Simply put, network security is a set of settings and rules  designed to ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of computer networks using software and hardware techniques. 

 Every organization, regardless of landscape, industry or infrastructure, must implement standardized network security solutions to prevent today’s evolving  cyber threats. 

 Due to the current situation and  the scope of cyberattacks in the midst of a pandemic, it is very important that everyone working in network security is aware of  network-related cyberattacks. We continue the process  to understand and learn from the most important network security attacks.

5 Main Types of Cyber ​​Attacks 

Brute Force Attack:

A brute force attack is an attack where cybercriminals use trial and error to crack a password, username, PIN or find a hidden web page, using automated software to check a large number. of possible combinations. Although it is an old attack method, it is still effective and very popular among hackers. This attack does not require hackers  to trick users into downloading malware or similar practices where users steal passwords. 

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: 

Denial of Service attacks, or DDoS attacks, are one of the fastest growing network security attacks today. A DDoS attack overwhelms system resources  so that system services stop responding. Resources like websites, game servers, DNS servers, etc. are essentially flooded with traffic intended to slow down or crash the system. DDoS attacks are launched against other hosts, usually infected with malware controlled by the attacker. 

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks:

 Also known as a MITM attack, this is an attack in which a hacker eavesdrops on communication  between a client and a server. Here, an attacker secretly modifies the communication  between two parties under the false impression that they are communicating directly  with each other. This attack applies to three types of individuals. In a successful man-in-the-middle attack, eavesdropping is not the only task that must be performed. In this attack, hackers ensure that encrypted data is decrypted in order to read and act on it.

Packet sniffing:

A packet sniffing attack is similar to data theft or hijacking to capture network traffic with  a sniffer. A sniffer is basically an application that captures network packets. When data is transmitted between networks, it is divided into data packets or small units. Those data packets are not encrypted when they reach the receiver and therefore can be read by  sniffing. Just like eavesdropping, a third party corrupts data packets in the process. Using a sniffer application, an attacker can analyze and extract information from the network, which ultimately causes the network to crash or become corrupted. 

Malware attacks: 

The term malware was created by combining two terms, malware. This is an application designed to damage, hijack or spy on  a virus-infected or vulnerable system. A malware attack is carried out by cybercriminals who create malware with the intention of installing it on the victim’s device without their knowledge. The sole purpose of doing so is to  access  their personal, financial or confidential information. There are three common intermediaries for spreading malware: 

  • Phishing: A social engineering practice in which victims are sent fraudulent emails  to trick them into downloading malicious email attachments. 
  • Malicious websites: Cyber ​​attackers create websites that contain malware disguised as legitimate downloads to trick users. 
  • Malicious Activity: Using ad networks, cyber threat actors deploy malicious ads that redirect users to websites that host malware.

Prevent Network Security Attacks 

Today’s network architecture has become complex and threatens the environment. This environment is constantly changing and evolving as cyber attackers try new ways to exploit security holes. Such vulnerabilities can exist in multiple areas or parts, including devices, data, applications, or even users. Therefore, cyber security companies have introduced many tools to improve internet security. 

Additionally, as these network security attacks become more sophisticated every day, it is important to regularly scan your network for vulnerabilities. Because it only takes a few minutes of downtime before attackers cause widespread disruption to an organization’s reputation and data. 

As a business owner or employee, it is important that every working person knows all the ways hackers can carry out cyber attacks. Similarly, it is important to stay one step ahead of these cybercriminals. 

There are a number of preventive measures such as raising cyber-security awareness among employees to help them be proactive in mitigating cyber-attacks. A risk assessment tool can also be used to determine the level of vulnerability and potential risk factors in an organization. 

In addition, network security services such as regular network penetration tests are the best way to reduce all cyber risks. For cybercriminals, poorly managed networks are the easiest targets for attacks. In particular, unprotected wireless networks are highly vulnerable to network attacks such as MITM, DDoS, authentication attacks, phishing, etc. 

Protecting your network is very important these days. There are other ways to ensure proper network security, such as: 

  •  Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) 
  •  Ensuring proper network management 
  •  Installing strong and hard-to-crack passwords 
  •  Installing a firewall 
  •  Regularly backing up your networks 

 Follow these best practices. . , can not only prevent network security attacks, but the organization can also have a cyber-secure work culture. 

The sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely affected today’s cyber security. Cyber ​​criminals, who are opportunistic destroyers, have started abusing the pandemic to launch cyber attacks. Without a firewall and a lack of cyber security infrastructure, they can easily target domestic workers. 

In this sensitive situation, it is time for all of us to be cyber aware and safe while working from home. Organizations are expected to take the initiative to train employees with proper cyber awareness training and help them combat these common cyber attacks. 

Organizations can help increase awareness among employees in a number of ways, such as a gamified quiz to identify phishing attacks, virtual cyber security training, implementing DMARC to reduce email spoofing, etc.