Enhancing Information Assurance with NAC

Computers have changed the way people work, communicate, and entertain themselves. Computer technology and other innovations have dramatically changed the way business is done and data is processed. Despite the various practical, intellectual, and creative advantages that computer technology offers, the fear of losing valuable stored data to malicious third parties or software remains a real threat.

Data loss and infiltration are two worst case scenarios for any IT department; however, securing entire networks is never an easy undertaking. Fortunately, companies, organizations, and individuals can now secure their data and networks using the latest Network Access Control (NAC) protocols.

In IT, a vulnerability is defined as a weakness which enables attackers to reduce a system’s information assurance. Companies and organizations tend to have six major vulnerabilities, and various methods of identifying, managing, and countering these vulnerabilities can increase information assurance. These vulnerabilities are classified as hardware, software, network, personnel, organizational, and site.

Securing the building or site is the first line of defense for such companies and organizations. Before buying or renting out office space, various vulnerabilities should be identified and studied, while the correct counter measures should be established to reduce the impact of these vulnerabilities. Aside from securing the building—as well as its hardware, software, and networks—employees should be issued password protected company IDs to reduce unauthorized access to confidential information.

Under Lock and Key: How to Make a Secure Password

Make no mistake: cybercrimes are a very serious matter. Someone stealing your credit card number may seem like a minor misfortune as opposed to being mugged on the street, but the effects of the former can match or even exceed those of the latter. India, for instance, is reported to have at least 42 million cybercrimes committed every year, resulting in at least $8 billion (USD) worth of financial losses throughout the country.

There are many different crimes that require you to implement different security measures, but creating a distinct, hard-to-crack password is a good way to start. It is common knowledge for people to create passwords with at least one letter and one number, but you shouldn’t just settle for that. An excellent password should be more than eight characters long and should also incorporate special characters like “#” and “/.”

Additionally, it is a wise choice if you use multiple passwords for different online accounts. In fact, it is even recommended that you change your password(s) every 30 to 90 days to keep criminals and hackers guessing, and also to serve as practice in creating secure passwords. Finally, it never hurts to seek professional help; reliable password managers and secure log-in services are just some of the tools you have at your disposal.

Why Network Access Protection Is Important

In a study conducted in 2007, it was learned that an individual with as many as 25 Web accounts only uses 6.5 different passwords to protect them. These individuals also commonly use the same e-mail address as the username for their various accounts. This means that once the password for any of an individual’s Web accounts had been cracked, the security of the rest is also compromised.

Other factors have also increased the probability of Web accounts getting hacked in recent times. One of these is the speed by which computers and networks have been operating; higher computing speeds fuel the process of cracking passwords. Through the years, hackers have also designed more sophisticated programs that can crack even passwords considered to have the most difficult combination of characters. High computing speeds plus password-cracking programs allow hackers to decode even the most difficult passwords in just a matter of days.

This vulnerability in networks and computing systems is crucial for many reasons. On the national level, critical information and state secrets leaked to the wrong hands can cause grave security threats. On the business level, companies’ trade secrets or plans may be used by rival companies in the struggle to gain the upper hand. Among individuals, leaked personal information may be used in identity theft, which has been the fastest growing white-collar crime in recent times. Businesses are also vulnerable to identity theft.