In IT, infrastructure security refers to protecting physical and virtual systems and networks. By doing so, organisations can be more certain that they will experience uninterrupted service and keep their data safe.
As simple as this may sound, it is an ongoing challenge that requires vigilance and adaptability as emerging threats continue to rear their heads. No organisation, be it a business, government organisation, or even a charity, should ignore the importance of infrastructure security.
In this article, you can learn about the benefits of IT infrastructure security, some of the considerations you should bear in mind, and discover some actionable advice on how to address infrastructure security.
Why Infrastructure Security is Important
You may have already thought about why infrastructure security matters, but there’s more to consider in today’s highly interconnected world. Infrastructure forms the backbone of every organisation, and any breach or downtime can lead to significant operational disruptions and far-reaching financial and reputational consequences. With the rise of hybrid working, the adoption of IoT, the growth of AI, and the expanding capabilities of smart cameras and VMS systems, the demand for secure, resilient infrastructure has never been greater. These factors make it essential for organisations to prioritise infrastructure security and ensure it receives the strategic attention it warrants at every level.
The following are some key reasons why infrastructure security must be treated as a strategic priority.
Protect Critical Data Resources
Your organisation handles a lot of sensitive data. Critical infrastructure security is essential for GDPR compliance. Apart from keeping employees’ and customers’ data safe, you have a few trade secrets of your own. For example, your detailed financial records and intellectual property are confidential. Keep them that way by securing your infrastructure.
Preventing Downtime
Downtime can be extremely costly for your organisation. Productivity is lost, backlogs can be difficult to clear, and sales opportunities may be missed. In some cases, restoring data or systems can be expensive, especially if backups haven’t been properly maintained. Infrastructure security measures combat risks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks that disrupt operations.
Downtime also harms reputations. Customers expect continuity and become frustrated about delays, seeing organisations with unstable infrastructure as untrustworthy or incompetent.
Promoting Trust and Preserving Reputations
Increasingly, consumers are aware that entrusting their data to organisations can be a risky business. According to an insurance survey, even banks, previously the most trusted, are losing ground. When organisations are found to have been less-than-careful with sensitive data, they not only have to pay heavy fines but also lose customer trust.
The Three Levels of Infrastructure Security
There are various definitions of the “levels” of infrastructure security. We believe that the simplest way to consider this is to classify the components that make up your IT infrastructure into three categories.
Cloud Infrastructure Security
Moving computing power, applications, and networking to the cloud was a revolution that enabled users to achieve more with less physical infrastructure. The cloud can be argued to be more secure than any in-house system, but users must be attentive to realise this benefit.
Factors to examine include data encryption, both in transit and in storage, access control and authorisations, implementing multi-factor authentication, monitoring and logging activity, and disaster recovery and data backup.
Regular cloud infrastructure security assessments will help you identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Network Infrastructure Security
Networks consist of several components, and their security is crucial to your overall infrastructure. Switches, firewalls, routers, and the devices used to access networks all contribute to the secure movement and use of data.
Your intrusion prevention and detection systems will be crucial, and access control and authentication remain key. Strategies like network segmentation help prevent lateral movement, which attackers use to gain large volumes of data from a single initial access point.
Patch management is especially important. When device firmware or application software is patched, this is often done to address security risks. Using outdated devices and software presents a serious threat to network infrastructure security.
Physical Infrastructure Security
Physical security, which involves ensuring the security of elements like servers, storage devices, and data centres, should never be overlooked. There are examples of oversights leading to radical damage.
Small details can matter: a virus transmitted by a simple data stick disabled Iran’s nuclear program. Physical security measures include setting rules for device usage, implementing access control in sensitive areas, fire suppression systems, and disaster recovery measures.
How to Secure IT Infrastructure: The Basics
Times have changed, and the basics of IT infrastructure security are far different from what they were a decade ago. What was seen as advanced then has become a basic necessity today. As a minimum, secure IT infrastructure features:
Perimeter and Internal Defenses
Layers of firewalls to filter out unnecessary or malicious traffic are essential. Networks should be closely monitored, and redundancy is a fundamental component in network stability and continuous availability.
Network Segmentation
Group similar systems, separating them from others to prevent lateral movement from one network function to another. By doing so, you are able to limit access during cyberattacks by not allowing adversarial attacks to impact entire networks.
Eliminate Backdoor Connections
Backdoors are weaknesses that can allow attackers to bypass all security systems. They are a form of software that may be loaded through a website or inadvertently left open during software development. Finding them may be far more difficult than implementing a simple software scan. They are often masked so that considerable expertise is needed to detect them.
Implement Robust Perimeter Access Controls
Configure firewalls and perimeter routers to deny unnecessary access. Without robust perimeter access controls, your network will be at risk of intrusion, and the threat of data theft will be magnified. Like physical security measures, perimeter access controls exclude unauthorised entry.
Use a Network Access Control (NAC) Solution
An NAC system goes beyond preventing external attacks. Many organisations allow network access to employees on the move. For instance, they may use their mobile phones to access certain resources. Any point of access can compromise network security. An NAC solution manages network access, checks system patches, and alerts administrators to insecure terminals.
VPN Use Must Be Limited And Encrypted
VPNs have several vulnerabilities. For example, they can be vulnerable to network scanning. To limit risk, VPN use should be carefully vetted and reduced to a minimum, with traffic filtering rules to manage VPN traffic.
Best Practices For Infrastructure Security
Thorough, periodic IT infrastructure audits are fundamental to infrastructure security. An audit examines every network component for vulnerabilities. Once they are identified, it becomes easy to prioritise and implement interventions that will reduce security risks.
User practices are also examined, and this, along with changes to the threat environment, informs how personnel should be trained to work securely, what they should look out for and report, and what should happen next. Informed staff are essential to maintaining infrastructure security.
Finally, it should always be assumed that the worst can happen. Whether infrastructure threats are physical (for example, a natural disaster) or relate to cybercrime, having recovery procedures in place will help to limit damage and overcome disruptions.
Solutions for Infrastructure Security
Infrastructure security should never be taken lightly. Cybercrime continues to rise, with the Regional Organised Crime Unit Network reporting billions of pounds of damage to people and businesses in the UK. In addition, extreme weather events attributed to climate change are ever more frequent, posing an additional challenge for infrastructure security.
There are no catch-all solutions. Infrastructure security is a moving target, and highly-trained personnel who know how to manage network security are in demand. Not all organisations can afford in-house cyber security teams. Even when they can, they struggle to find trained professionals in an area identified as representing a global skills shortage.
The answer lies in outsourcing. Choose cyber security professionals who are already equipped with the right tools, skills, and experience to help you manage network and infrastructure security. Advantex offers its customers a holistic range of cyber security services, individual consultancy, round-the-clock support, and more. Contact us today to find out more.
