TECH TOPIC: NETWORK SECURITY

Network security is one of the main pillars when computer topics are being discussed and when computers themselves are operating for whatever needs they are made for. For the seventh blog post in this course, how network security and management relate with the fundamentals of information technology, how it relies on major hardware, how programming languages fit in, the role of application software, and how managing and architecture play a role overall in network security.

Firstly, network security is truly fundamental when it comes to information technology. The text defines, “Computer security is the prevention of unauthorized computer access, including viewing, changing, or destroying a computer or data” (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). When one is building a computer or software for it to be run on network security should be at the forefront when designing. Like the text said, there is information or data that is stored on computers and to keep it from falling into the wrong hands, being deleted, or shared to parties that are not “need-to-know”, the security of the computer and the data stored on it must be secured, and it can be done by this through different means. Network Security is still attacked to this day through phishing and viruses but there are ways to defend your computer from these attacks. Even though attacks still happen, we have made much progress in the realm of ways and applications to ensure computer security. According to GeeksforGeeks.com, cybersecurity has been present since the 1970s when a program called Creeper jumped all around a network and in defense a program called Reaper was invented to identify the malware that was spreading (GeeksforGeeks, 2022). Since that time, viruses and network security measures have become ever more prevalent today.

As far as hardware that can complement cybersecurity, it can be just as integral as the software that is designed to protect your computer data. Some ICs, or integrated circuits, are designed to have cryptographic functionality to help encrypt and decrypt data that is transferring (Wheelhouse, 2022). Program languages help the user interact with a program or run a program which is also an important aspect when it comes to cybersecurity. A variety of programming languages can be utilized to secure a network, Python for example can detect malware which can cause catastrophic issues if your computer is infected with it. By using programming languages to detect these abnormalities one has a better chance at defending their computer from the virus spreading. As anyone knows when purchasing a computer from any retailer the seller tells you to download a security application upon purchasing a new computer, at least they should be. This application software is designed to keep your computer healthy by detecting malware and trying to clean shop. Computers should always have some type of security software downloaded to it when running to detect threats. Database management should always incorporate some type of security to ensure your data is safe and only accessed by individuals or groups that it is intended for.

All in all, network security is of the highest importance when it comes to building and owning a computer. Without this basic function one is leaving their computer or their network defenseless against the ever-growing threats of malware and viruses. Hardware and software applications can be deployed to safeguard data and overall computer health. Any data management  process should make cybersecurity a priority to keep their information safe.

References:

GeeksforGeeks. (2022, June 22). History of Cyber Security. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/history-of-cyber-security/

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks

Wheelhouse. (2022, December 13). What is Hardware and Software Security? https://www.wheelhouse.com/resources/what-is-hardware-and-software-security-a11018