When
discussing the connection between network security and the fundamentals of
information technology, one could argue that there is a strong correlation
between them. Throughout the course, some of the fundamentals covered were
computers and their history, hardware and software, programming languages,
application software, database management, and network architecture and
management. Network security plays a vital role in all of these topics.
Computers have been around for many years, and so has the standard network.
Network security has played an important role just about as long as computers
have been around. According to Bhavya Daya, network security has been around
since the thirties when Alan Turing broke the code for the enigma machine
during the war (Daya, B. 2013, pg. 4, para 6).
Network
security is also essential when considering computer hardware and software. Malicious
attacks on networks can severely affect a computer and all of the components,
such as destroying a hard drive or damaging programs. Network security is also
essential when discussing database management as many organizations will use
database applications for important records that individuals can access over
networks which if not properly secured, can be subject to breaches and attacks.
As mentioned before the need for network security has been
around as long as computers. Although computers have not been around for
thousands of years, the need to secure networks such as lines of communication
has always been critical. As computers have evolved, so have networks. Over the
years, networks have made it possible for some outstanding advancements. Many
remember the days where the only way to send and receive information was
through the mail. Nowadays, an advanced network allows individuals
instantaneous communication options such as email, text messaging, video chat,
among many others. All of these tasks are possible because of networks and
these networks having the proper security. An employee for a company here in
the U.S. can video chat with a colleague in another country all because of
networks
Some
of the major hardware components of a computer system include the computer CPU,
memory, and hard drives. A computer cannot function properly without these
components. While these components are crucial for a computer to operate, so is
the need for network security to protect these components. As we know,
malicious attacks occur through a network such as electronic mail distribution.
Once a system is infected, these crucial components in the computer itself can
be compromised, causing complete failure. An attack might be sent over a network
to illegally obtain personal information stored on a company’s hard drives or
effect a personal computer by damaging the processor.
When
discussing program languages, network security can be directly
related. According to William Ruddy, knowledge of programming languages is
essential for a successful career in network security (Ruddy W. 2019). Many
attackers will use programming languages to implement attacks. An attacker
might create a malicious set of code that transmits over a network, and if the
said network is adequately secured, the network can contain the virus before it
can infect other computers. Programming languages are an essential aspect of
computing. In order to successfully protect networks from malicious attacks, we
need to have a strong understanding of how these languages can also be used to
carry out attacks.
Application
software such as Microsoft Word and Excel are great programs and are can be
instrumental in our personal and professional lives. Also, nowadays, with the
implementation of cloud services, the potential for attack increases severely.
Microsoft utilizes cloud technology to save users documents to a program called
One Drive. Users can save a word document on their computers and continue the
work on their devices. Proper network security is crucial for these
applications, as many users may have work stored on Microsoft servers.
According to one online article, WAF, or web application firewalls, can be used
to scan network traffic and analyze data between the client and server to
identify possible attacks (Clincy, V., Shahriar H, 2018).
When
discussing database management, network security will also be an essential
factor to consider. Databases are a widely used way of storing and accessing data.
A hospital might use a database to keep patient records. This database might
need to be accessed by many different individuals in numerous different
hospitals. The only way to make that possible is through a computer network.
Another example might be a branch of the military using a database to store
plans for upcoming missions. This information might be considered top secret,
and having a secure network is critical.
Given
these points, we can conclude that network security is essential to everyday
life when using computers and networks. Network architecture is influenced by
network security as individuals who might be creating a network will also need
to know how they plan to protect it. A family might want to set up a Wi-Fi
network in their home and will need to create a password to keep their network
secure. Once this family has the network set up, they will be required to
manage the network. Managing the network might include setting up notifications
to advise when an unknown device is attempting to access their network. This
family may also have anti-virus software installed on the computers, which can
prevent the spread to other devices on their network. As long as there are
computers and networks, there will always be a need for network security, and
as technology advances, so will the tools used to secure networks.
References
Clincy, V., Shahriar
H., (2018). Web
Application
Firewall: Network Security
Models and Configuration. 2018 IEEE 42nd Annual Computer Software
and Applications Conference 2018 IEEE 42nd Annual.
01:835-836
Daya, B. (2013). Network Security: History, Importance, and Future.
University of Florida Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Retrieved from www.alphawireless.co.za
Ruddy, R. (2019). Do You Need
Programming Skills for a Cyber Security Career? TechRoots: Sourcing Your
Tech Perspective. Retrieved from https://phoenixts.com
