How Artificial Intelligence will Improve Cybersecurity
Since we are constantly being bombarded by the terms Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning I decided to write this blog post with an AI tool. I absolutely had to give it quite a bit of help in terms of adding keywords, tone, eliminating duplication of content and some other bits of tweaking. That said, it did a fairly good job of scouring 20+ sources to find the 20 Network Security Concepts that you will read about in this blog post.
How Artificial Intelligence will Improve Cybersecurity?
In cybersecurity specifically, Artificial intelligence is particularly well suited to finding patterns in huge amounts of data. Let’s discuss two use cases that AI is already being used for by security vendors and partners.
First, AI can help automate many tasks that a human analyst would often handle manually. These include automatically detecting unknown workstations, servers, code repositories and other hardware and software on a network. Artificial intelligence can also handle data-intensive tasks; AI has the potential to sift through terabytes of data much more efficiently and effectively than an analyst.
Second, AI can help detect patterns within large quantities of data that human analysts can’t see. For example, AI could detect the key linguistic patterns of hackers posting emerging threats in the dark web and alert analysts.
More specifically, AI-enabled analytics can help discern the jargon and code words hackers develop to refer to their new tools, techniques and procedures. One example is using the name Mirai to mean botnet. Hackers developed the term to hide the botnet topic from law enforcement and cyberthreat intelligence professionals.
The network security landscape is ever-changing, and staying up to date with the latest network security concepts and acronyms is essential for organizations of all sizes. The following 19 network security terms represent the most important network security concepts and acronyms you need to know:
High-Level Definitions of the Network Security Concepts
- Firewall – A network device that controls network traffic based on predetermined rules. Firewalls can also be software-based or hardware-based, depending on your network requirements.
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS) – A network security system designed to detect malicious activity within a network. IDS systems can be either network-based or host-based and are often used in conjunction with other network security mechanisms such as firewalls.
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) – A network security system designed to prevent malicious activity within a network by monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns and blocking any activities that appear dangerous or potentially malicious.
- Access Control List (ACL) – A list of rules used to control access to resources on a network, including specific IP addresses, users, and ports. ACLs can be configured for either read or write operations on specific network.
- Network Access Control (NAC) – A network security solution that allows administrators to restrict access to a network based on the user’s identity, device type, and other criteria.
- Virtual Private Networks (VPN) – An encrypted network connection used to securely connect two or more private networks over a public network such as the Internet.
- Cryptography – The study of how data is protected through encryption algorithms and cryptographic protocols.
- SSL/TLS – Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are network protocols used to secure network traffic.
- PKI – Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a network security solution that uses public-key cryptography to authenticate network users and their devices.
- NAT – Network Address Translation (NAT) is a network security technique that allows private networks to use one or more public IP addresses for outgoing traffic.
- DDoS – Distributed Denial of Service attacks are malicious attempts to overwhelm network resources with large amounts of network traffic from multiple sources or locations.
- IPSec – Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) is an internet standard protocol suite for establishing secure, encrypted connections between network devices.
- TACACS – Terminal Access Controller Access Control System (TACACS) is a network security protocol used to authenticate network users and their devices.
- RADIUS – Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) is a network authentication protocol used to securely connect network users with network services such as VPNs, network access control (NAC), and wireless networks.
- WPA/WPA2 – Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) is the most commonly used wireless network security protocol for encrypting traffic between Wi-Fi access points and clients.
- SASL – Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) is a network authentication protocol used to securely authenticate network users.
- IPSO – Intrusion Prevention System/Intrusion Detection System (IPSO) is a network security solution that combines network intrusion detection with network intrusion prevention capabilities.
- SIEM – Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a network security solution that consolidates log data from multiple sources into one centralized repository for monitoring, analysis, and reporting.
- Endpoint Security – Endpoint security is network security solution designed to protect network devices from malicious activity and threats, including malware and unsecured network connections.
- UTM – Unified Threat Management (UTM) is a network security solution that combines multiple network security solutions, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, antivirus software, and more into one unified platform.
Conclusion
By understanding the fundamentals of these 19 network security concepts and acronyms, organizations can ensure their networks are secure against malicious threats and comply with industry best practices. With the right tools in place and proper training, organizations can create an effective network security strategy that can protect their network resources and data.
Be sure to review network security policies, procedures, and standards with network administrators to ensure your network is secure. Regularly review access controls, patch management processes, and audit logs for any suspicious activity. With the proper network security measures in place, organizations can protect their network resources and data from malicious actors.
