Computer Network Security Problems and Solutions - External and Internal Threats

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  Computer network security problems should be given thought during the planning phase of any network, be it a huge organizational LAN or a small home network. All kinds of computer networks face different types of security problems. Solutions are available for each kind of threat. You just need to understand the threat and act accordingly to reduce, if not eliminate, the impact of that threat.

  If you already have a network which you built without a thought on computer network security, you need not worry. It is still possible to reduce the computer network security problems using some solutions after you have created and implemented the network.

  Threats to any computer network arise from both external and internal entities. External threats include unauthorized access by outsiders such as hackers, virus attacks etc. Among internal threats is exploitation of the network by its users - knowingly or unknowingly. Internal threats arise due to malicious intentions and/or ignorance of the users of your computer network. For example, a person can leave the computer unattended exposing it to others who are not authorized to access the information. Another example of internal threat can be a person downloading something from the Internet that results in a malware attack.

• Solutions to Computer Network Security Problems

  This section talks about solutions to computer network security problems when you have an existing network. It also applies to people who are considering building small networks.

  First of all, you need to develop a plan to assess the vulnerabilities of your network. A vulnerability assessment plan should cover the key areas that, if affected, can bring down the network or create huge data loss. These items include

  1 - Server protection (the main computer in case of peer to peer networks),

  2 - Firewalls and antivirus on the server,

  3 - The method your server employs to communicate with other computers, and

  4 - How other peripherals on the network (computers, printers, etc) can pose a danger to the network.

  Please note that this list is not comprehensive. There can be several other points to consider - based on your network type and configuration.