Network security is the practice of protecting computer networks from unauthorized access, attacks, misuse, or data breaches. It ensures safe and secure communication between connected devices. Key goal: Protect data in transit and prevent network-based attacks.

Popular Network Security Tools

• Wireshark – Analyzes network traffic for troubleshooting and security audits..
• Snort – Open-source IDS for real-time traffic analysis and packet logging.
• pfSense – Open-source firewall and router software.
• Nmap – Network scanning and port mapping tool to detect open ports and services.
• OpenVPN – Secure site-to-site or remote-access VPN solution.

Key Benefits of Network Security

• Prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems.
• Stops malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks from spreading.
• Ensures business continuity by avoiding network downtime.
• Protects user privacy and sensitive information.
• Helps meet compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS.