Information Security

Network Security Analysis

Selecting The Right Candidate For Your Network Security Analysis

With the great amount of industrial network hacking going on, it is no wonder that many businesses are investing hugely in different tools for monitoring and forensics network security analysis solutions. Estimates by the FBI show that there is a loss of $200 billion annually due to industrial network hacking alone. The situation is so grim that industries are investing resources in finding out the root causes of the problem. Alarming results of such tests show that about seven in ten cases of industrial espionage and attack on an internal computer system are done by insiders. That is the reason why network security needs to be tightened up so that important industrial data remains protected from insiders as well as outsiders.

But it is very important to select the right kind of network security services. Some of the hackers are so proficient in their work that they can easily circumvent the securities set up by amateurs and pose a risk to the vulnerability put by the services. That is all the more reason why the network security professional you select must know their job well and protect your data.

Here are some tips that can help you to select the right kind of professional or tool for your network or wireless network security requirements.

- Firstly, you should look for an experienced professional. Everything about the profession cannot be learnt by rote; hence, a few years of hands-on experience is needed. A well-mannered behavior would be an asset. A work experience of a few years will ensure that the network security analyst knows about the way the hackers and Internet robbers work their ways. They can learn about the trends and mindsets of these criminals, and will also know ways to fortify computer data against such problems. Ideally, a firm with an experience of at least four to five years in the field can be considered fit for the job.

- Check up on the education qualifications of the network security analyst you are planning to hire. Some of the qualifications you can look for are the CISSP, Security Plus, TICSA and the SANS GIAC. These examinations check the knowledge of the prospective candidates in the field of network security. In addition, you can also look out for vendor specific examinations such as those conducted by Microsoft and Cisco. These vendor specific qualifications will do well for you if you are operating on their systems. But for a broad scale of operation, it is not advisable to go for professionals trained by specific vendors.

- Ordinarily, network security companies must provide you with protection against the following Internet breaches:- - Viruses - Unauthorized accesses - Service denials - Manipulation of data - Destruction of information - Confidentiality breaches - You must check up on what your company is actually providing you with.

- Try to assess whether the professionals you are planning to hire are proficient in handling the particular system configurations you deal with. Since there are vendor specific certification courses, the best way out is to see if they have that certification, or better, accreditation. Even otherwise, you can check for references, if they have worked with such configurations or not.

- Training in new world technology is a must. You must investigate if the security certified network professional you are selecting undergo continuous and regular training sessions or not. There are many new kinds of network breaches being developed each day. Some organizations handle the training of network security company professionals in new methods. Check up on how frequently the professionals keep themselves engaged in such training sessions.

Do not draw up long term contracts with network security companies at the outset. Most of these companies will work for annual contracts, and it is not wise to go beyond this period for the first time. Delineate their services properly in the contract. Check how their services measure up as your traffic increases. This will ensure your network security analysis will go well with the company you have chosen.

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