4.0 Network+ Certification Cram Notes : Network Security

4.1 Explain the following common security concepts.

Risk Management methods

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks and vulnerabilities to the assets of an organization and implementing the appropriate measures to mitigate or manage those risks. The following are common methods used in risk management:

1. Security risk assessments: This is an evaluation of the security risks to an organization's assets, systems, and infrastructure. The assessment covers various aspects of security, including network, applications, and data, and is used to identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences.

2. Threat assessment: This involves identifying potential sources of harm that could cause damage to an organization's assets. The focus is on identifying the nature, scope, and likelihood of threats to the organization.

3. Vulnerability assessment: This is a systematic review of the potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities in an organization's systems and infrastructure. The objective is to identify and prioritize the vulnerabilities that need to be addressed to minimize the risk of a security breach.

4. Penetration testing: This is a simulation of a real-world attack on an organization's systems and infrastructure. The objective is to identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker.

5. Posture assessment: This is an evaluation of an organization's current security posture and its ability to respond to security incidents. The assessment covers various aspects of security, including network, applications, and data, and is used to identify any potential gaps in the security posture.

6. Business risk assessments: This is an evaluation of the risks to an organization's business operations. The assessment covers various aspects of business operations, including financial, operational, and strategic risks.

7. Process assessment: This is an evaluation of an organization's processes and procedures, including those related to security. The objective is to identify any potential inefficiencies or weaknesses in the processes and to make recommendations for improvement.

8. Vendor assessment: This is an evaluation of the security and risk management practices of an organization's vendors and partners. The objective is to identify any potential risks or vulnerabilities that could impact the security of an organization's systems and data.

Security information and event management (SIEM)

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a technology that enables organizations to manage, analyze and detect security threats by combining log data generated by various devices and systems within the network into a single centralized repository. The primary objective of SIEM is to provide organizations with the ability to detect, analyze and respond to security incidents in real-time.

SIEM systems typically have the following features:

Event Collection: SIEM systems collect log data from various sources such as servers, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDSs) and intrusion prevention systems (IPSs).

style="margin-left:20px;" SIEM systems analyze and correlate events from multiple sources to identify patterns, trends and relationships that may indicate a security incident.

Event Filtering: SIEM systems filter out normal and benign events, allowing security analysts to focus on high-risk events.

Event Management: SIEM systems provide a centralized repository for all security-related events, allowing security teams to prioritize, track and respond to incidents in real-time.

Reporting and Alerting: SIEM systems generate reports and alerts to inform security teams of potential threats, vulnerabilities, and incidents.

SIEM systems play a crucial role in an organization's security infrastructure by providing real-time visibility into potential security incidents and enabling organizations to respond quickly and effectively.