5 Steps to Improve Your Network Security Monitoring

In the current era of digital uncertainty, where cyberattacks can occur at any time, there is a crucial need for best rmm tools with enhanced network security monitoring. Malicious programs are created every day, with over 450 thousand of them seemingly attempting to take advantage of unprotected networks.

Managed service providers (MSPs) bear a great deal of responsibility, and these numbers unequivocally demonstrate the vulnerabilities in your clients’ networks. The mean expense of a data breach is approximately $4.45 million, a sum that has the potential to bankrupt even the most resilient businesses.

Increasing the security of your network monitoring can protect your clients from such charges and guarantee that their networks remain impenetrable. Continue reading to learn five essential steps to strengthen your network security monitoring.

 

What is network security?

Understanding the fundamental concepts of network security is essential before delving into the specifics of network security monitoring.

Network security is a combination of hardware and software configurations, policies, and other elements that cooperate to protect a network from potential threats and unauthorized access.

 

What is network security monitoring?

The process of actively gathering and analyzing data to identify and counter security threats within a network is known as network security monitoring.

The process makes use of cutting-edge monitoring tools and “concurrent” technologies to offer insights into encrypted communication sessions, traffic patterns, and other crucial network performance metrics. This layer-based strategy guarantees the ability to identify threats and take prompt, safe action to protect the integrity of the network.

Here, we will discuss five crucial steps to strengthen your network monitoring capabilities and safeguard your clients’ digital assets:

  1. Establish objectives for network security monitoring.
  2. Understand your network
  3. Establish a procedure for ongoing monitoring
  4. Choose the tools you need to monitor network security.
  5. Boost your network security monitoring plan

 

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Step 1: Define network security monitoring goals

Any successful network security monitoring strategy begins with clearly defining and actionable monitoring goals. When you are aware of your objectives, you may more effectively adjust your techniques, methods, and resources to achieve those results.

Having specific goals also gives you a benchmark to measure your success with monitoring and make any adjustments.

Here’s what you should do to clarify your objectives:

Recognize your client’s business style: Start by fully comprehending the business operations, industry regulations, and specific vulnerabilities of your client. This information will help you define the standards by which you will evaluate your monitoring effectiveness.

Identify key metrics: How successful do you think your monitoring efforts are going? You can measure effectiveness by identifying these metrics, which may include a decrease in false positives, faster threat detection, or enhanced incident response times.

Set priorities for your assignments: Since not every client has the same needs, you should determine which needs are most important for everyone. It might be private client information, proprietary software, or internal conversations. Make sure your objectives canter around how they will garner more attention from the audience.

Identify baselines: Recognize the usual patterns and behaviors of each client’s network. In this manner, anomalies and potential threats become easier to identify.

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Step 2: Know your network

To evaluate your network, begin by comprehending its architecture. It will be essential to understand how various network components interact with one another while setting up monitoring tools and responding to potential threats.

Completing inventory and cataloguing every device—from servers and routers to individual workstations and Internet of Things devices—is the next step. Through this exercise, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the assets under your purview and any potential vulnerabilities they may have.

Identify the data you need to protect at this point. Identify the critical information that, if compromised, may seriously hurt the company or its clients.

With your assets mapped out and the information to safeguard and improve your security objectives. Additionally, make sure they meet the specific requirements and unique attributes of the network.

Lastly, choose the appropriate tools for the operation, such as network topology mapping and scanning tools. To assess security setups and compliance with best practices or regulations, auditing tools will also be required.

Another Thoughtful Read: How Can We Use Digital Technology To Grow Our Business?

Step 3: Create a process of continuous monitoring’

Setting up your monitoring tools and hoping they detect anomalies is insufficient. Instead, you need to foster a culture of constant observation.

First and foremost, make sure that every endpoint under your management is continuously monitored. Every entry point, including a workstation, mobile device, and/or server, might be a potential site of attack. Even a single device left unchecked might create a window of vulnerability that advertisers could take advantage of.

Second, keep in mind that you should be on the lookout for threats that can arise from within and be concealed by what could seem like typical user behavior. Consequently, it is imperative that you set up a procedure for consistently identifying deviations from the usual user behavior inside your firm. Unexpected system access, sudden and sudden data transfers, and/or odd login times may all point to a compromised account or, worse, an insider threat.

Lastly, develop a clear reaction process and put the safeguards in place to protect your assets. Read more about on-going observation here.

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Step 4: Select your network security monitoring tools

Making the appropriate tool selection is essential for effective network security monitoring. Although there are many products available on the market, it’s important to focus on those that are specifically tailored to your needs.

Network analysis tools are essential for examining network data for anomalies, network detection tools for spotting potential attacks, and network response tools for reacting to and mitigating incidents. These resources are available through trusted forums and recommendations from professionals in the field. Examine product reviews in-depth on specialized IT platforms to assess user effectiveness and happiness.

But keep in mind that more isn’t necessarily better. An excessive number of tools might overwhelm you with contradicting information, lead to inefficiencies, and make security management more difficult. Ironically, a jumbled toolkit may make it harder to see what you’re trying to see when monitoring.

Instead than tracking down every new tool that comes out, concentrate on locating a comprehensive tool that combines risk assessment, identification, prioritization, and reporting into a single, structured process.

Moreover, with the growth of third-party partnerships and integrations, it is critical to have ongoing security monitoring solutions that keep an eye on external partners. If their networks are not appropriately monitored, they may unintentionally become your vulnerabilities.

Some of the best open source cybersecurity monitoring tools may be found here.

 

Step 5: Superpower your network security monitoring’ strategy

Improving your monitoring strategy takes time and effort. It’s a never-ending journey of refinement that necessitates you to share the collective wisdom of the best in the business and incorporate their expertise into your operations.

Begin by identifying and following notable thought leaders and security managers in the cryptocurrency space. Their perspectives, research, and insights can provide invaluable guidance and ensure that you are in line with the best network security monitoring practices.

Additionally, you ought to invest in the ongoing professional development of your in-house team, particularly in security. Urge them to pursue advanced security certifications, participate actively in professional forums, attend seminars, and so on. As their knowledge grows, they will be more equipped to strengthen and refine your business’s distinctive protection strategies.

 

Author Bio

Fazal Hussain is a digital marketer working in the field since 2015 currently employed with Gorelo RMM tools. He has worked in different niches of digital marketing, be it SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, PPC, or content marketing. He loves writing about industry trends in technology and entrepreneurship, evaluating them from the different perspectives of industry leaders in the niches. In his leisure time, he loves to hang out with friends, watch movies, and explore new places.

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