Security Solutions

Securing information and your privacy on your computer as well as Internet security is imperative. There are several computer security solutions, including both hardware based solutions and software based solutions. Whether you are an individual, a large corporation, a small business, or anyone else, you need network security software that provide extensive coverage. A useful tip for all computer users is to have a disaster recovery plan in the event a security breach of some sort occurs. Disaster recovery will help you recover your computer, or at least some information from your computer, if you experience a disaster, such as hacking or computer viruses. Having and utilizing a disaster recovery plan will enable you to recover pertinent information from losses and intrusions to your computer. There are several disaster recovery solutions available that are tailored to meet your needs, whether you are a business or an individual.

While having a disaster recovery plan is important, it is also crucial to employ security solutions to protect your privacy and information. There are several genres of security a person should be aware of. The most common include basic information security and network/internet security.

Information Security

Information Security, also referred to as computer security or information assurance, is the protection of data, such as customer information, personnel data, and information systems against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Information security is important because a breach in security can lead to disclosure of personal information, data tampering, abuse of resources, data destruction, financial loss, and more.

The most common information security solutions are implemented with passwords issued to authorized users. However, passwords only verify that correct numbers and/or letters have been entered – they do not verify the user. Digital certificates provide a more secure solution. Digital certificates are unique codes assigned to a person, or persons, enabling a recipient to verify the person(s) identity and encrypt a response. Generally, digital certificates are issued by a certification authority. A digital certificate will typically contain a person’s name, a serial number, expiration dates, a copy of the certificate holder’s public key, and the digital signature of the certificate issuing authority so that a recipient can verify the certificate is real. While digital certificates are a very effective method of information security, the most effective information security solutions involve biometric technologies like fingerprints in addition to passwords and digital certificates.

Network and Internet Security

Network and Internet security is the protection of network resources against unauthorized access, rogue users, malicious attackers, those who use the network for illegal purposes, and others. This is important because through the use of networks and Internet use valuable information can be lost, stolen, corrupted, damaged, or misused. A common threat that can be caused by networking and Internet use is identity theft.  In order to protect against such threats, you must have effective network and internet security software.

Examples of network resources that can be secured through network security include routers, switches, and back-end servers. A complete network and internet security solution might include security devices such as network access control, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocols, and firewalls. 

• Network access control (NAC), also referred to as network admission control, involves attempting to unify endpoint security technology, such as antivirus software or anti-spam software, user or system verification, and network security enforcement. In other words, NAC restricts the availability of network resources to endpoint security devices that comply with a defined security policy.

• SSL protocols are the most widely used network security device. SSL protocols validate the identity of a website and create an encrypted connection between a web server and a web browser. This validation ensures that all data passed between web server and the web browser remains private and secure. In order to generate SSL protocols, the web server requires an SSL Certificate. A specific example of a website that should utilize SSL protocol is a website on which personal information such as credit card data or financial information is required for processing, such as online tax filing services.
• A firewall is designed to prevent unauthorized traffic and intrusion into and out of a network or the end user’s computer. Firewall software running on a computer analyzes information passing between computers and can permit or reject one computer’s passage it if the computer does not conform to pre-configured rules. Essentially, firewalls regulate the flow of traffic between computer networks of different trust levels. Firewalls are commonly used to give users secure access to the Internet.

Specific examples of various information and Internet security products include access control systems, anti-spam solutions, anti-spyware software, ant-virus software, disaster recovery software, compliance management, email content filtering, email security and encryption, firewalls, vulnerability assessment, web content management, and wireless security.

Useful Links

Check out McAfee’s Glossary of Internet Security and Threat Terms for an extensive list of concepts and definitions. http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=glossary
For an up-to-date reference with checklists, diagrams, and flowcharts, see Wilsonmar’s Information Security Threats and Vulnerabilities. http://www.wilsonmar.com/1secvul.htm

WildList Organization has been keeping track of virus attacks around the world since 1993. For more information on viruses, visit www.wildlist.org.

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