Glossary
Digital Scepter Network Security Glossary
At Digital Scepter, we understand that the world of network security can quickly become confusing, making it harder for you to make the right decisions for your business.
That’s why we have put together the following glossary, designed to bring you up to speed on the very latest in web security technology.
Application Control
Application Control involves the allocation of permissions with regard to specific pieces of software. It is application control that allows organizations to restrict or permit access to certain specific applications. You can apply application control at the network level or on the endpoints.
Application Visibility Report/AVR
An Application Visibility Report, or AVR, is a report produced by Digital Scepter designed to show you the high-risk applications on your network, how the Internet is being used, gaps in your existing security processes, and existing malware which has already entered your infrastructure.
Device Consolidation
As a standard, organizations use numerous pieces of hardware to achieve varied security benefits. However, this is not cost effective, nor necessary when using recent devices. Device Consolidation is the process of minimizing the number of devices you are using in order to keep costs low.
External Security Assessment
An External Security Assessment looks at the threats to your security from outside your network, including failings around the perimeter of your infrastructure.
Granular Control
Granular Control refers to a fine, detailed level of administrative power on any kind of device. In the example of a next generation firewall, granular control makes it possible to set permissions for applications, hardware machines, users, and data content. This allows for a more flexible kind of protection than an ‘on-off’ binary control system.
Internal Security Assessment
An Internal Security Assessment looks at the threats to your security from within your existing infrastructure, including employee misuse, breaches in confidentiality, and how mission-critical data is stored and transmitted.
Load Balancing
Load balancing is the intelligent distribution of traffic, sending requests for data to those devices that are most available at any given moment. Introducing load balancing into your network increases server performance and availability.
Next Generation Firewall
While a traditional firewall can block or allow activity based on port number, a Next Generation Firewall is a perimeter protection device that takes a more comprehensive approach to security. By identifying the applications being used, the users who are operating them, and the content of data being transmitted, a next generation firewall gives administrators the chance to more accurately control network usage.
PCI DSS Assessment
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, or PCI DSS, is a precise set of rules and guidelines designed to enforce high levels of protection within any organization that handles credit card information. A PCI DSS Assessment tests a network for compliance with the standard, and can highlight causes for concern as well as potential solutions.
Penetration Testing
Penetration Testing is the process of attacking a network using the most common hacking tools and techniques in order to analyze the dependability and effectiveness of your security. Penetration testing is usually operated within a controlled environment, allowing for accurate, detailed results to be measured without impacting live servers.
Perimeter Protection
When considering the threat of malware, data theft, or breaches of confidentiality, the point at which traffic leaves and enters your network is incredibly important. Perimeter Protection refers to the wide range of devices and methods that keep this part of your network defended.
Redundant Pair
If large volumes of traffic flow around your network, it is possible that you would benefit from multiple hardware security devices working together to keep you protected. Often, we deploy firewalls in a redundant pair, with one device only coming into use should the lead device fail.
Splunk Deployment and Splunk Log Monitoring
Splunk is a software solution for logging and indexing the masses of data generated by even the most complex of IT infrastructures. Digital Scepter can advise on the best Splunk deployment for your organization, as well as providing Splunk log monitoring to spot problems, security breaches, or instances of misuse.
SQL Server Database Security
An SQL Server is a significant tool for any business, providing a convenient way to store large volumes of mission critical data securely and safely. To guarantee robust protection and responsive access, Digital Scepter can advise on improving the security and performance of your SQL servers.
Vulnerability Assessment
A Vulnerability Assessment involves the analysis of a network infrastructure to identify weaknesses that may be exploited, and rank them according to their importance. This kind of assessment is an important foundation in improving your network security.
Wireless Security Assessment
A Wireless Security Assessment focuses in depth on the wireless element of your network, often including mobile and remote access as well as on-site wireless networking. Wireless technology theoretically leaves your network more open than ever to external threats – a wireless security assessment is the first step in mitigating these threats.