For over 25 years, firewalls have been the first line of defence in network security. They monitor incoming and outgoing network traffic and decide whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a set of predefined security rules.

Over the past couple of decades, we have seen an escalation in both the volume and sophistication of cybersecurity threats. We can no longer rely solely on traditional security tools like firewalls. We need to do more to protect ourselves.

Although cybersecurity should be the responsibility of every employee, it is especially important to HR and L&D professionals since they have access to a wealth of important personal information of employees and applicants. Hackers often target these databases to gain sensitive data. HR professionals are also crucial in creating a cybersecurity culture in the office, by initiating staff training, policy making, and more.

Dangers Threatening Network Protection

We are dealing with sophisticated threats involving cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and machine learning, phishing, and malware. Individuals, governments, and business entities are at constant risk of attack and can no longer rely on firewalls alone to ensure online security. There’s a myriad of online threats that firewalls won’t protect you against. These include:

• Phishing. Cybercriminals often try to trick users into compromising their own security. They may use enticing phishing emails to lure their victims into divulging sensitive information. In this case, permission is granted via the internet and the firewall may not be able to help.
• Malware. In most cases, a firewall alone will not protect you from malware. That’s because most firewalls are not configured with the latest malware definitions to detect and remove viruses from your computer.
• DDoS attacks. Firewalls are useless when it comes to defending against Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. This is a malicious attempt by hackers to prevent an organization from using its website by flooding it with traffic until the servers are overwhelmed.

Additional Security Tools

As you can see, there are still many areas of risk for your network even with a firewall. A firewall does not protect you from malware, spam, and DDoS attacks. You need to do more to protect your network. Here are the top tools to use alongside a firewall for network protection in 2020.

Antimalware

Having a proactive approach to cybersecurity will help you anticipate and prevent potential threats before they cause any damage. Anti Malware is designed to detect, stop, and treat viruses, worms, and other malicious software that may be used to attack computers in your network. Antimalware will detect and remediate potential threats by actively monitoring and updating defences.

VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the most effective tools when it comes to protecting your network. A VPN provides privacy and anonymity online by masking your IP address and scrambling your internet traffic. Using a VPN for extra protection ensures that nobody can look into your online activity or steal your data.

Vulnerability Scanner

A vulnerability scanner is another essential security tool to have in your defence strategy. This is an online security tool that can help you identify, categorize, and abate the risk of attack against your network. A vulnerability scanner can help you pinpoint security holes, coding bugs, and any other vulnerabilities in your network.

Email Security

Hackers can trick email recipients into sharing confidential information or inadvertently downloading malware into a network through complex phishing strategies. Using email security tools can help you filter phishing emails and block them before they compromise your computer system. Email security tools can monitor both inbound and outbound mail traffic, giving you complete control over your inbox.

Data Loss Prevention Software

Data loss prevention (DLP) refers to a set of tools and processes used by organizations to prevent the loss, misuse, or access to sensitive data by unauthorized users. DLP detects potential breaches or exfiltration transmissions and blocks them. DLP employs encryption, alerts, and other protective actions to ensure that users don’t maliciously or accidentally share data that could put the organization at risk.

The world has seen an escalation in both the volume and sophistication of cybersecurity threats in the past couple of decades. Using traditional security tools such as firewalls alone is no longer enough to protect your network. Individuals and organizations need other security solutions such as antimalware, VPN, DLP software, and email security to combat rising online threats.

Author: David Cadelina @TechWarn.com

Disclaimer

This article is part of the ME HR Contributor Series. The author is an expert in their field and contributes to ME HR & Learning. We are honored to feature and promote their contribution on our blog. Please note that the author is not employed by ME HR and the opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect official views or opinions of ME HR.