Josh Dean, OPSWAT's Director of IT, recently created a slide deck providing users a brief overview of network security then and now, along with simple steps they can take to protect essential data and maintain the security their network. Feel free to share within your organization, and contact us if you have any questions!

1. Network Security
Josh Dean
Director of IT
jdean@opswat.com
October 2014

2. Network Security - 1990’s
 Basic and default security settings were
utilized
 Only one antivirus program was usually
installed on devices
 Very rudimentary security measures were in
place
 Didn’t have to worry about cellphones or
tablets
Network Security Then and Now
Back in the Day….

3. Network Security - 2014
 Cyber-attacks are more sophisticated and
targeted
 Every machine must be secured and
hardened to combat complex forms of
malware
 Rise in BYOD further complicates the
issue for network administrators
 Data breaches are costing companies
100’s of millions of dollars
Network Security Then and Now
What is the Security Environment like Now?

4.  Create complex passwords using numbers
and symbols
 Never use any security questions that can be
found on your social media accounts
 Lock your device at all times!
What We Can Do to Help
Don’t Make Yourself a Target
What Can We Do To Protect Ourselves?

5. What Can We Do To Protect Ourselves?
 Report stolen items immediately
 Have a “brick my device” application
What We Can Do to Help
Don’t Make Yourself a Target
 Never make pin numbers out of any of your personal
identifiable information
 Don’t let anyone unfamiliar near computers unattended

6. What Your Business is Doing for You…
Protecting You and Your Data from Threats
Protecting Your Data
 Multi-tiered Strategy
 Systems have centrally managed security
applications in place
 Servers are hardened, and additional
measures are taken to secure the data
 Next-gen equipment can shut down threats
as they happen
 Networking devices are able to examine
potential threats in real-time

7. Protecting Your Data
 High-end networking equipment can shut
down nodes automatically to contain and
quarantine threats
 Intrusion detection and prevention
equipment can help to mitigate threats
 Content filtering prevents employees from
going to malicious sites
 Always try to stay one step ahead of the
enemy!
What Your Business is Doing for You…
Protecting You and Your Data from Threats

8. What Your Business is Doing for You…
Current Trends in Networking Security
 Bring Your Own Device Era
 The increased popularity of BYOD allows guests to bring in their own portable
devices
 The challenge is administrators cannot ensure these devices are malware-free
 Gartner is predicting a large influx of phone-based viruses with malware
attackers focusing on Android devices
What’s “In” Right Now?

9. What Your Business is Doing for You…
Current Trends in Networking Security
• Internet of Things
• With all of your devices connected– could this be an easy avenue for security
vulnerability?
• Many companies are compartmentalizing networks, and adding encryption at all
levels.
• Insiders will still remain the largest threats to businesses due to unknowingly
using compromised devices
Vulnerabilities…..Everywhere!

10. What Your Business is Doing for You…
The Future of Network
Security
 With many attacks aimed at stealing financial
data, banking websites will need to get more
sophisticated in order to combat threats
 Hospitals may be at risk, since they spend very
little on cybersecurity, and have highly-sensitive
information to protect
Where Are We Heading?

11. What Your Business is Doing for You…
The Future of Network Security
 BYOD will become more common and an integral part of the
threat landscape
 As time goes on there will be vulnerabilities found and exploited
in cloud computing
 The Internet Of Things will make it more difficult to secure
networks due to numerous device vulnerabilities
Where Are We Heading?