Network security and protection

Overview

Network vulnerabilities, penetration testing and ethical hacking, access control, physical security, and firewalls, with how each protects a network.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Why is network security important?

   Model answer

   Networks hold valuable personal and business data that attackers want to steal or damage. A breach can stop an organisation working and lead to fines and lost trust.

2. 2

   What is a network vulnerability?

   Model answer

   A network vulnerability is a weakness that an attacker could exploit to gain access or cause damage. Weak passwords, unpatched devices and badly set firewalls are examples.

3. 3

   What is penetration testing?

   Model answer

   Penetration testing is an authorised, simulated attack on a network to find its weaknesses. The testers report every weakness found so it can be fixed.

4. 4

   Why do organisations pay for penetration testing?

   Model answer

   Weaknesses are found and fixed before criminals can exploit them. The results show how well the existing defences stand up to a real attack.

5. 5

   How does a black box penetration test differ from a white box test?

   Model answer

   A black box tester is given no inside information, like an outside attacker. A white box tester is given details of the network, like a member of staff.

6. 6

   What is ethical hacking?

   Model answer

   Ethical hacking is breaking into a system with the owner's permission to find security flaws. Ethical hackers report what they find instead of exploiting it.

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