Network systems are used by organizations for communication, completion of administrative functions, and file sharing among other critical organizational functions. Factors that comprise network systems have great impact on business continuity and workflow. Malicious people wanting to cripple the normal functioning of an organization will always target the network systems because they function as the heartbeat of all communication and information sharing channels (Casey, 2010). This explains reasons organizations need network vulnerability analysis tools to help with risk assessment and identification. Network vulnerability scanner help with risk identification allowing organizations time to create plans to address threat factors that are likely to compromise the system.
Currently, there are many network vulnerability tools in the market. Organizations seeking to purchase network risk assessment tools should do thorough market research, compare the options available, and perform cost analysis to find what fits their needs. For a good network, vulnerability tool currently in the market is Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer or MBSA (Casey, 2010). This is one of the best in its line, as many organizations use it for risk and vulnerability assessment. I would recommend this vulnerability assessment tool to the CTO because of its superior specifications and functionalities.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is compatible with windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, windows 8, and Windows server 2012 R2. The network vulnerability assessment tool can also run in Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Vista, windows server 2008, and windows XP among other OS and servers (Kim, 2016). I think that purchasing Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer will be a good choice for the organization because it will help with giving periodic reports about potential network risks. The organization can then use the reports given by the tool to implement mitigation approaches and update the system with devices that can prevent the attacks from occurring.
Password protection is another major problem that the CTO will want to deal with in the quest to improve network security. When protecting the passwords, the organization should implement distributed network attack (DNA) tool. DNA is a notation for distributed network attack. This tool is used by many organizations to protect passwords in different software and hardware devices (Kim, 2016). The DNA tool is better than most of the solutions available in the market because it is simple to use and implementing it into a system does not involve tedious processes. One only needs to install it on the DNA server, deploy a DNA work on the machine and enjoy protected passwords.
The DNA has exciting features that make it better when it comes to password security optimization. For example, it easier to read graphs and statistics, customize the user dictionaries, and add user dictionaries when using DNA tool. The DNA is an important tool in forensic analysis because it helps in recovering lost passwords (EC-Council Press, 2011). The DNA tool helps with hashing, a process that allows forensic investigators to verify recovered files. Hashing is used to detect any changes that might have occurred on files during forensic investigations. DNA is also instrumental in forensic investigations because it helps when generating reports on stolen passwords in pdf form. In addition, it also utilizes GPU (graphic processing unit), which makes it possible to use computer graphics in forensic investigations.
Therefore, install a DNA tool in the system will help protect the network in many ways. It will help with verifying corrupted files, recover lost passwords, and generate reports. The CTO should ensure that the system is protected from any network attacks by using reputable vulnerability assessment and the DNA tool to protect passwords. The two will help avoid risks associated with attacks on the network.
Network security audit is an active process that involves assessment, collection of data about network security, and analysis of the risks. It is an important process undertaken by organizations to keep network security intact. Modern businesses rely heavily on information technology to perform most their administrative and managerial duties including communication with customers (EC-Council Press, 2011). The information systems are not always safe from risks such as cyber-attacks, worms, Trojans, and break-ins by malicious people. As a result, networks a treated by organizations as critical components that need periodic audit just as it is the case with other financial resources. Regular network assessment improves system security.
Investigators use network security audit reports to figure out unusual and suspicious activities. Periodic assessments are revealing and often used to tell when someone or a virus executed malicious activities on the system. Normally, network security audits are not done during normal business hours (Casey, 2010). This allows the organization to explore the system activities over a period. The assessment seeks find any attempts to execute malicious functions, potential risks, and vulnerabilities. The report generated from the audit forms the basis of investigations because it indicates occurrence of a criminal activity on the computer system.
The enterprise needs to invest heavily on its network security. Hackers and malware can easily bring down its operations by attacking the system through vulnerable areas if the network is not secure. It should nurture a culture of periodic audits to assess and analyze any malicious and address them before getting out of control. It should also use an effective risk assessment tool to provide timely security risk updates. These processes are vital because they will help the organization to enjoy more freedom when using information technology resources such as the internet and other cloud services.
- Casey, E. (2010). Digital evidence and computer crime: Forensic science, computers and the Internet. London: Academic.
- EC-Council Press. (2011). Security and vulnerability assessment. Clifton Park, NY: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
- Kim, D. (2016). Fundamentals of information systems security. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
