Every day, companies and individual users upload and store huge amounts of data online—from financial reports to personal information and photos. However, digital convenience and reliance come with many security risks, including malware, hacks, data breaches, and phishing attacks.
Cybercriminals, including hackers often lurk in the digital shadows to spread malware, mastermind and launch cyber attacks and data breaches in a bid to steal, exploit and hold data and devices at ransom. Think the WannaCry Ransomware attack that spread to over 150 countries across the globe, affecting thousands of computers and disrupting many critical infrastructures and networks.
As digitization booms, so do cyber threats. So much so that Statista forecasts show that the total loss from cybercrime worldwide will reach $15.63 trillion in 2029. In the face of constant cyber attacks, protecting data and information becomes critical and urgent for individual persons and businesses.
In this article, we dive into the main threats that lie in wait on the Internet and the key network security technologies that can help protect personal and company data.
Cyber threats and attack methods
There are many types of threats targeting individual users and companies. Here are the most common and dangerous types of cybercrimes.
Hacking into a corporate network to gain remote access
Often, attackers break into corporate networks to gain remote access. Remote Desktop Deployment (RDD) attack is the most common attack targeting the infiltration of remote company systems. Attackers take advantage of weak security in remote access infrastructure to gain illegal access to business systems. They use tactics including stolen credentials, password mining, and exploiting software vulnerabilities to launch the attack.
Phishing
Phishing is one of the oldest but still effective cyberattack methods. In this attack, cybercriminals trick users into providing sensitive data via phishing links in emails, messengers, social networks, and malicious websites.
Attackers create emails that look like official communication from banks, popular services, or corporate services. Such emails encourage users to act by clicking on a link and/or entering details to “confirm your identity” or “update your account”. If a link leads users to a fake website, they’re encouraged to enter their details, and criminals get access to them. Another popular phishing activity is a request to vote for someone you know in a raffle or poll.
DDoS Attack
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is aimed at overloading a server, network, or web application by sending many requests from multiple devices simultaneously. In the case of a DDoS attack, a system gets so overloaded with fake requests making it inaccessible to users. For instance, in 2024, Cloudflare experts recorded an attack from over 13,000 IoT devices. At its peak, it reached a record bandwidth of 5.6 Tbps.
Ransomware
Among the many cyber threats that individuals and businesses face, ransomware is the most frequently detected, responsible for about 70% of all reported cyber incidents. Ransomware blocks access to data or systems and demands a ransom to restore them. The attack begins when ransomware enters the network through a phishing email or because of network vulnerability. Once infected, system data gets encrypted, and users see a message on the screen demanding a ransom payment in cryptocurrency.
Malware
Malware includes viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and other malicious software designed to cause harm. Targets range from data theft and espionage to system damage and equipment disruption. For example, Trojans (programs posing as legitimate software applications) get onto a device/system, steal data, and can install additional malicious components, or allow access to control the device/system remotely.
Botnets
A botnet is a network of devices infected with malware and controlled by hackers. Such compromised network devices are called “zombies”. They are used to conduct DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, send spam, or steal information.
Botnet creators typically infect devices via phishing emails or exploit system vulnerabilities. Usually, the user is unaware that their device is part of a botnet. When infected, a device in the network forms part of a cybercriminal network system. For example, 911 S5, the largest botnet, took over 19 million devices in over 190 countries and resulted in huge financial losses. Its creators exploited free VPN services and sold users’ IPs to cybercriminals.
Public Wi-Fi networks
Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient ways to connect to the Internet but pose a serious security threat. On public networks, hackers can intercept traffic by gaining access to logins and passwords. The most dangerous attacks are man-in-the-middle attacks, where the criminal comes between the user and the access point and intercepts data during transmission without being seen.
Additionally, attackers can create fake access points masquerading as official café, airport, or hotel networks.
Corporate network protection practices
Cyberattacks remain a serious problem for organizations globally, with increasing financial impact. According to the report by IBM/Ponemon Institute, the average total cost of data breaches in 2024 was $4.88 million. Healthcare data leaks were the most costly, averaging $9.77 million, compared to $6.08 million in the financial services industry.
Proactive security measures are urgently necessary to minimize risks and protect sensitive corporate data. Here are some key business network security practices:
Access control
Effective access management is a key practice for keeping business data safe and preventing data leaks and malicious actions within an organization. One of the best approaches to achieve this is by using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and following a minimum privilege policy, which allows employees to access only the applications and data they need to perform their job duties.
For example, the finance department shouldn’t have access to development systems, and IT personnel shouldn’t have access to sensitive customer data. Limiting access in this way helps companies minimize security risks, including accidental data exposure and heightens the protection of critical data and information.
Network segmentation
Network segmentation is another powerful security strategy. It helps protect corporate data by dividing business networks into segments that isolate critical systems and make them available only to specific users or devices.
Example: A corporate network can have separate segments for financial data, software development, and shared resources, e.g. e-mail. If an attacker gains access to one segment, they will not be able to penetrate other parts of the network immediately. In addition, segmentation helps optimize network traffic and improve performance.
Perimeter protection
Network perimeter protection plays the role of preventing unauthorized access from the outside. The main tools include firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), VPNs, and protection against DDoS attacks. Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic based on set network rules; IPSs detect and block suspicious activity in real time.
A VPN for traffic encryption is recommended for remote employees’ access to corporate resources.
Encryption
Encryption is an essential security technique that codes and converts data into an encrypted/scrambled form that can only be read if a decryption key is available. Encryption allows you to protect sensitive information even if it is intercepted by intruders. The technique is applied to both in-transit and stored data. For example:
- HTTPS protocols provide encryption for web traffic,
- VPNs protect data when connecting to public networks.
- Symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms are recommended for corporate file storage and databases.
To better manage encryption, businesses can implement Key Management Systems (KMS) to achieve secure data storage and control authorized access to decryption keys.
Consistent Infrastructure Monitoring
Continuous network monitoring and event data analysis allow you to detect suspicious activity and respond to incidents in a timely manner. Tools for systems tracking include Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and security information and event management (SIEM) solutions are used for monitoring. Such tools collect and analyze data to help identify potential threats before they can cause damage. Better anomaly detection allows for baselines of expected system behaviour that may indicate cyberattacks or technical failures.
Security Certification
Security certification validates that business infrastructure and processes are compliant with the established standards and requirements. The certification process includes auditing current security practices, developing and implementing improvements, and conducting regular audits to ensure compliance with the standards.
Example: ISO 27001 covers information security management, including access control, data protection, and incident management. Obtaining security certificates also builds the confidence of your partners and customers. In addition to external certifications, companies can implement internal security standards tailored to their unique needs.
Employee training
Sometimes, the main problem with cybersecurity is the human factor. According to a study by Gartner, 68% of cyberattacks are due to human error. To reduce risks, companies actively train employees by raising corporate awareness and teaching them to avoid mistakes when configuring systems and not to install unproven software.
Basic network security principles
Network security measures involve various technologies, processes, and rules for detecting and preventing attacks, minimizing their impact, and protecting data. Let’s examine two network security areas: business data protection and the protection of users’ personal information.
Companies’ security includes measures to protect IT infrastructure and data. Access control significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access to the network, and segmentation limits the spread of threats. Encryption protects confidential information from interception, and network monitoring using SIEM systems helps to identify incidents quickly. These technologies minimize the risks of data breaches, financial losses, and reputational issues.
Personal internet security is achieved through various security measures, including multi-factor authentication and strong passwords, preventing unauthorized access to accounts. Software updates close vulnerabilities, and ad blockers protect against malicious websites. Regular use of these measures also reduces identity theft risks.
Means of personal data protection
To minimize online risks, it is essential to use various security methods: multi-factor authentication, secure browsers, complex passwords, and up-to-date software versions. Implementing these measures ensures the protection of personal data:
Multi-factor Authentication
MFA requires proof of identity through two or more factors. Using only a password cannot provide strong protection because attackers can intercept it through phishing or brute force attacks. MFA makes this much more complicated: even if the password is compromised, the criminal needs a second factor to log in.
Popular additional authentication methods include biometric authentication and one-time codes (OTPs) sent via SMS or generated by an authenticator application. Implementing multi-factor authentication is especially important for protecting critical accounts such as email, banking applications, and enterprise services. Programs like Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator can help secure app logins.
Secure browser
Modern browsers have many built-in features to protect user information. As such, they alert you when you visit suspicious websites and provide automatic updates. Some browsers enhance security by supporting extensions that block tracking and encrypt traffic. For example, add-ons like HTTPS on the web use an encrypted, secure connection. When browsing the Internet, it’s also important to disable unnecessary scripts and pop-ups that may contain malicious code.
Strong passwords
A good password should be long and contain lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Simple “123456” or “password” passwords are still the most popular and easiest to crack.
Using a unique password for each account prevents mass data leakage. As such, if one of the passwords is compromised, the remaining accounts remain secure. To manage a large number of complex passwords, the use of password managers is required.
Additionally, changing passwords regularly reduces the risk of hacking. However, security depends not only on the complexity of the password but also on its storage. Never store your passwords in notes on your phone or in unsecured text files. Robust password managers, such as Bitwarden or 1Password, help you store and generate unique passwords.
Timely program updates
OS, web browsers, antivirus, and application updates should be activated as soon as they are launched because attackers exploit known vulnerabilities. Setting up automatic updates helps install important updates as soon as they are released. You should also keep your network devices, such as routers and access points, up-to-date with firmware updates.
Ad Blockers
Cybercriminals often use banner ads to spread malware or redirect users to phishing websites. Ad-blocking extensions, such as uBlock Origin or AdGuard, can prevent users from downloading potentially dangerous scripts. Some blockers also filter trackers to protect users’ privacy. It’s crucial to choose blockers that regularly update their threat databases and settings for fine-grained content filtering.
Network security: Technologies and tools
From proxy servers that hide IP addresses to firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, the following tools and technologies play a vital role in network security:
Proxy servers
Proxy servers act as an intermediary between the user and the Internet, providing an additional protection layer. They hide your actual IP address, making it difficult to identify your device. Proxies also filter traffic to restrict access to potentially dangerous resources.
Corporate proxy servers enable admins to control employees’ Internet access by blocking suspicious and unwanted websites. They also use caching technologies to speed up the network and reduce the load on Internet channels.
Firewalls
Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic by blocking suspicious or forbidden connections. Firewall applications can be either software or hardware and operate based on predetermined rules that filter traffic through IP addresses, ports, and data types. Software solutions are installed on servers or workstations or in cloud environments. On the other hand, hardware firewall devices protect the entire network level or in individual segments (DMZ).
Next-generation firewalls (NGFW) further integrate intrusion detection, application-level traffic analysis, and encrypted data handling capabilities.
Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IPS/IDS)
IPS/IDS security solutions help identify and block suspicious activity on the network. The intrusion detection system (IDS) detects anomalies and alerts the administrator. Conversely, intrusion prevention systems (IPS) detect and automatically block threats in real time. These systems use multiple approaches to analyze traffic, including;
- Signature analysis (comparing against databases of known attacks and behavior patterns)
- Heuristic analysis (looking for new threats)
- Behavior analytics (capturing traffic anomalies)
For example, in case of a password brute force attempt or DDoS attack on the network, the IPS can instantly block the source of the threat.
Integrating IDS/IPS into corporate business networks enables timely detection and response to threats, minimizing the consequences of attacks. However, regularly updating signature databases and training systems are vital to help recognize new and evolving threats.
VPN
VPN services provide secure connections to corporate networks via encrypted channels. VPNs are essential for businesses with remote teams and distributed infrastructure because they prevent data interception by third parties (intruders), even if you connect through public networks.
VPN protocols such as OpenVPN, IPSec or WireGuard encrypt all traffic, making it inaccessible to outsiders. Moreover, VPN technology hides the user’s real IP address, enhancing privacy. Centrally managed enterprise VPN solutions enhance data security and protection.
Copyright protection
Digital rights management (DRM) provides control over the use of digital content and prevents its unauthorized distribution. These technologies are especially crucial for companies dealing with intellectual property and confidential information. DRM systems specifically restrict access to files and prevent them from being copied or transferred to third parties. For example, electronic documents can be password-protected or watermarked, and video files can be encrypted. Implementing such tools helps not only to protect copyrights but also to prevent corporate data leakage.
Preventing data leakage
Data loss prevention (DLP) tools protect confidential information from unauthorized access. Precisely, DLP systems control data flow by tracking its movement within and outside the network. They can block certain file types from being sent via email, messengers, or external media. DLP enables you to implement security policies that restrict access to sensitive information at the user or group level.
Event logs, monitoring, and SIEM systems
Security information and event management (SIEM) systems provide a centralized repository for collecting, analyzing, and correlating security data from various sources. SIEM enables you to monitor incidents in real time and respond to them before they lead to a major problem.
Event logs contain crucial information about user actions, system configuration changes, and suspicious access attempts. Regular logs analysis helps to identify threats and anomalies. SIEM systems offer analytical tools and alerts to automate this process.
Servercore solutions for corporate network security
Servercore guarantees the reliable protection of its clients’ data by implementing a comprehensive security approach at all user levels.
Servercore security systems include:
- 24/7 monitoring at the data center level and regular system health checks at three-hour intervals.
- Corporate security measures, including IS training for employees and data access control.
- Network protection based on automated configuration management and isolation of the management network from the company’s internal infrastructure.
- Product security realized through a modular service approach and strict isolation of your development environment from client services.
- Application security, including regular pentests, implementation of up-to-date encryption protocols, and two-factor authentication to improve data privacy.
Servercore solutions comply with international information security standards, as confirmed by PCI DSS and ISO 27001 certification.
