The Role of Network Security: Protecting Your Digital Infrastructure

The Role of Network Security

Published August 10, 2025

Photo: Computer network cables plugged into network switch. Credit: Jean Martinelle from Pixabay

Network security is the practice of protecting computer networks from unauthorized access, misuse, or attacks. It involves implementing policies, technologies, and controls to safeguard data integrity, confidentiality, and availability across the network. Key components include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, and access controls, which work together to prevent cyber threats like malware, phishing, and data breaches. Network security ensures that only authorized users and devices can access resources while monitoring for suspicious activity. By securing the network infrastructure, organizations can maintain business continuity, protect sensitive information, and comply with regulatory requirements, making network security essential in today’s digital environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which of the following reasons led to the creation of the OSI model?

To allow global use of present and future types of communication

The OSI model was created to standardize network communication, enabling interoperability across diverse systems worldwide.

2. As an application developer, it is important to test all the layers of a web application. You can do that by running vulnerability scanners, running tests, and _____________________ before deploying for production.

allowing other team developers to audit the web applications

Peer audits help catch security issues that automated tools might miss, ensuring more thorough testing.

3. A security pattern is a set of rules that represent and define a reusable solution to recurring security threats or issues. What is the primary goal of a security pattern?

Reduce or eliminate future security threats.

Security patterns help developers apply proven solutions to prevent known vulnerabilities in new applications.

4. If you try to intercept a secured communication, it would be useless to you due to which of the following reasons?

Due to encryption

Encryption scrambles data so only authorized parties with the correct key can read it, making intercepted data unreadable.

5. Which cryptographic service guarantees that the data has not been modified or tampered with during and after the reception?

Cryptographic integrity

Integrity checks verify that data remains unchanged, ensuring it is authentic and trustworthy.