Understanding Internet Technologies and Security

Networks – what are they?  Working in an office environment today, we’ve all heard the term “network” at some point. Basically there are three types.  The first is a LAN - Local Area Network which is a computer network supporting users in a small geographical area such as an office building and are configured in be either peer-to-peer structure or a client/server structure.  The second is a MAN - Metropolitan Area Network which connects clients and servers in a region such as multiple buildings across a city.  The third is a WAN - Wide Area Network which is a network covering a wide geographical area such as a business which has branch office in several countries.

There are both internal and external security threats to a network which need to be anticipated and planned for to protect network equipment and date.  Internal threats stem from failure of management to implement and enforce proper security policies such as continuing of operations plans in a disaster, security awareness and procedures enforced with staff and making backup copies of critical data including storage of backup off-site.  External threats include those originating outside the network and include unauthorized network access, computer viruses, natural disasters, etc. At my work, there are strict policies in place for all the above.

The statistics provided under Cyber Security were enough to make me want to update my antivirus software.  Last year, I was counted in those stats because my laptop was infected with 99 viruses and had to be totally wiped clean and reconfigured.  Unfortunately, everything I had saved on it was lost because I had not made backup copies of my data.  Lesson learned.

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Image retrieved from:  http://www.techjaws.com/internet-security-checklist/