Network security refers to any activities designed to protect the network. Specifically, these activities protect the usability, reliability, integrity, and safety of the network and data. Network security has become a requirement for all communications including businesses, especially those that rely on the Internet.
The customers, vendors and business partners need the protection of all shared information, especially that information that is considered sensitive, such as credit card numbers or confidential business details.
Network security does not only concern the security in the computers at each end of the communication. When transmitting data, the communication channel should not be vulnerable to attack. A possible hacker could target the communication channel, obtain the data and decrypt them and re-insert a false message. Securing the network is just as important as securing the computers and encrypting the message. Effective network security targets a variety of threats and stops them from entering or spreading on your network.
Network security is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of any business in the Internet. An important security requirement is to avoid denial of services; network downtime is costly to all types of businesses. Effective security allows a business to add new services and applications without disrupting the performance of the network. Safeguarding data is a necessary proactive approach to avoid interrupting customer services even when changes are being modified.
Some of the benefits that a business gets through secure networks are: customer trust (user privacy), mobility (secure access without introducing viruses or other threats), improved productivity (e.g., less time wasted on non-productive tasks such spam or dealing with viruses), and economy (network downtime is costly to all types of businesses).