5 Common Vulnerabilities in Network Security and How to Avoid Them

In today’s business climate, data security is more important than ever – businesses of all sizes must be vigilant in protecting their networks from potential cyber attacks.

Like many, however, your business may be unaware of the common network vulnerabilities and types of network security threats.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the most common network security vulnerabilities and how to avoid them.

Types of Attacks in Network Security To Look Out For

Let’s begin by looking at some of the common types of attacks in network security.

There are over 700,000 attacks against small businesses, totaling $2.8 billion in damages annually. This number only continues to increase, as the cybercrime landscape becomes increasingly complex.

Some of the most common types of attacks in network security include:

1. Unauthorized access
2. Distributed denial of service (DDos)
3. Malware
4. Man in the middle attacks
5. Insider threats
6. Phishing schemes
7. Password attacks

Luckily, there are many successful ways to stay protected from these types of network security threats – with partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) among the most efficient and effective options.

5 Common Network Security Vulnerabilities: A Closer Look

1. Weak Passwords

81% of company data breaches are a result of weak passwords and poor password management (for instance, having them written down somewhere).

Fortunately, this type of network security threat is easily addressable. When you implement strong password parameters and combine them with other measures such as two-factor authentication, you enhance your security posture significantly.

Password practices and tools such as multi-factor, advanced, and certificate-based authentication, as well as encryption, can help you rest assured that your valuable assets and data are protected from data breach and online attacks.

2. Unsecured Networks

Unsecured Wi-Fi and computer networks are major players on the list of types of vulnerabilities in network security, and can present a serious risk if they are not properly secured and managed.

Such networks can allow malicious actors to gain access to your system and modify or capture sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, and financial details without detection.

As a result, it is important to take all necessary steps to ensure your business is secure against all types of vulnerabilities in network security by regularly changing passwords; configuring settings for the network firewall; enabling encryption protocols; monitoring user activity; installing antivirus software and regularly updating it; and disabling unused services.

If done properly, these measures will help identify network security vulnerabilities and keep irresponsible parties from accessing your private data.

3. Poor Cybersecurity Training

Cybersecurity training provides your employees with the tools and know-how to identify cyber security vulnerabilities, and secure sensitive data.

Having frequent and appropriate training for all users will ensure that everyone within your organization understands how to identify malicious content, route suspicious emails, and manage their own devices in accordance with the outlined security measures and best practices.

4. Misconfigured Firewalls (A Surprisingly Common Cyber Vulnerability)

Organizational data security is placed at risk when internal networks or servers are exposed to the internet. Without proper protection, malicious threat actors can gain access and attempt to steal confidential information, disrupt operations, or take control of an entire system, making misconfigured firewalls one of the greatest cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

To address these network vulnerabilities, network administrators set up traffic rules in order enforce restrictions on which packets pass through their systems. However even with these measures threats still remain as attackers could use ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), a method used for verifying connections between two devices in a given environment, to identify vulnerable targets within the organization’s framework . Blocking ICMP requests entirely makes it that much harder for unauthorized activity to be detected on sensitive networks.

5. Outdated Software

Outdated software is a major network security threat as it can leave your system vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Attackers can use unknown and unfixed vulnerabilities in the old code to give them access to the data on your system or even take control.

In addition, older versions of software may not have features that provide necessary protection to combat cyber security vulnerabilities such as encryption or authentication.

For this reason, all systems should be kept up-to-date with the latest software versions, patching, penetration tests, and vulnerability scans to stay protected against information security vulnerabilities.

How XL.net Can Help

There has never been a more crucial time to be aware of the different types of vulnerabilities in network security.

By staying aware of the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities and how to combat them, your business can continue to remain secure and competitive in today’s environment.

From helping you identify common network vulnerabilities to implementing state-of-the-art information technology and training your in-house team, XL.net has got you covered with:

• Vulnerability management
• Security controls implementation
• Security risk analysis
• Cyber security training
• Remote monitoring
• Operating system patches/updates
• Computer/mobile device security
• And more

Book your free consultation to learn more about how we can help you protect against cyber vulnerabilities today.