Network Security Training – Why is it so important?

Given our growing dependence on technology, it has become much more critical to protect every piece of online information and data. When your network isn’t properly protected, vandalism can occur, intellectual property can be stolen, and the organization you work for can experience revenue loss. These mishaps can put you out of business or hurt your reputation in the market. Network security training is very important in the modern business scenario considering that everything now has an online presence. If you want to help secure networks from malicious attackers and have an upper hand over the bad guys who enjoy compromising businesses, then you’ll need the right training to accomplish this. Find out what network security entails and how to select the best network security course for you.

What Is Network Security?

Network security is the process of protecting, detecting, predicting, and responding to unauthorized intrusion into organizational networks. It includes both software and physical technologies required to secure the fundamental networking infrastructure from misuse, unauthorized access, modification, inappropriate disclosure, or destruction.

Network security professionals implement network security tools and network defense strategies to prevent unauthorized programs or users from gaining access and connecting to them. As such, it becomes impossible to hack a computer if cybercriminals can’t reach it over the network.

Elements of a Network Security Program

While a firewall is the foundation of any network security solution, just having firewall protection is not enough to protect you and your organization. The following are the elements of a network security program that are critical in protecting against network security threats.

◉ Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

◉ Firewall security

◉ Application security

◉ Wireless security

◉ VPN management tool

◉ Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

◉ Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

◉ Network Access Control (NAC)

◉ Mobile device management security

◉ Email security

◉ Web security

◉ Antivirus and antimalware software

◉ Endpoint security

◉ Behavioral analytics

◉ Network segmentation

If you’re familiar with network security fundamentals best practices, then adding a network security certification is the next step.

Why Opt for Network Security Training?

As the modern business atmosphere continues to evolve, you as an IT professional, irrespective of your department, cannot advance without understanding the new techniques on which internal and external security relies. Considering the ever-evolving threats that are flooding the cyber world, it makes sense to opt for a certification course in network security that will allow you to be at the top of your game. Training will give you an opportunity to work on your skills and grow your knowledge so you can stay relevant in your organization.

How to Select the Best Network Security Course?

Picking the most ideal network security course for your needs can seem like a daunting task. Always remember that a well-designed network security training program will expose you to several processes that hackers exploit to access your networks, allowing you to think beyond basic security techniques and prevent a savvy cyber attacker from penetrating your network.

Here’s what you should look out for when making your choice:

1. Content and topics

Check the content and topics of the courses you want to enroll in before signing up. Network security courses are generally accessible through universities and colleges as part of their degree and certification programs. You can also access many network security classes online. A well-designed program by industry experts will offer detailed insights on multiple aspects of network security such as:

◉ Defense-in-depth security

◉ Properly designed, implemented, and enforced security policies

◉ Security architectures

◉ Secure configuration

◉ Right selection of security controls

◉ Network traffic monitoring

◉ Log management

◉ Anomalies detection

◉ Incident response

◉ Forensics investigation

◉ Business Continuity (BC)

◉ Disaster Recovery (DR)

◉ Risk and vulnerability assessment

◉ Attack surface analysis

◉ Threat intelligence

2. Hands-on

Your preferred course or training program, such as a network security engineer training, must have hands-on features. This helps you experiment with trial and error, learn from your mistakes, and know the likely disparities between theory and real-life scenarios.

3. Modality

The teaching/learning modalities of the course is also important. Certification exams should maintain high integrity and students shouldn’t find the program restrictive or inaccessible. The training programs should be available through mediums like online self-paced, live online with the help of an instructor, and physical classroom training.

4. Exam proctoring

Online exam proctoring is different from physical exam proctoring. Participants challenge online proctored tests from a remote location, and they are monitored online through a mic, webcam, and access to the screen of the candidate.

5. Accreditations, recognitions, and endorsements

Accreditation is a system of measuring quality. Make sure the institution you choose for your certification program is well recognized and accredited by the right agencies.

Jobs Available and Salary

Network security jobs are in high demand thanks to the snowballing growth of cyberattacks. A network security professional is one of the most sought-after job profiles across industries as everyone considers cybersecurity a priority.

Your network security salary depends on your level of experience, skill sets, certifications, job location, the organization you work for, and your job description. According to PayScale, an average network security engineer earns $74,286 per year.

Supercharge Your Career with EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender Program

EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender (CND) program offers you a comprehensive approach to efficiently tackle security issues in today’s modern network. CND covers the latest tools, maps to NICE 2.0 frameworks, offers enhanced threat prediction focus, adopts a hands-on approach to learning, and offers modern network security technologies and techniques. It’s also vendor neutral, so you can practice the skills you picked up as an IT professional using different types of technology without any restrictions.

CND further delves into the numerous challenges that IoT devices pose and helps you take a more proactive approach using threat intelligence. It also gives enhanced focus to cloud security and mobile security management, among several others.

The program is endorsed and accredited by several agencies including:

◉ The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

◉ The United States Department of Defense (DoD)

◉ Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)

◉ The National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF)

Source: eccouncil.org