Cyberattacks are a growing problem for modern businesses, making network risk assessments a top priority for organizations of all sizes. Novel cyber threats emerge daily, making it essential for organizations to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting networks.

Performing regular risk assessments is crucial for maintaining network security. However, it’s not just about scheduled assessments; specific network changes can trigger the need for immediate evaluation.

Attack Surface Expansion

Various organizational changes can trigger a network risk assessment. Not every change represents a threat; many network changes are benign, or even beneficial. Yet, every change in a network introduces the possibility of a new attack surface.

Conducting timely threat assessments can help cybersecurity professionals identify network vulnerabilities and mitigate risks before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Depending on an organization’s security policies and risk management framework, network changes should prompt a risk assessment.

Network Risk Assessment: Key Triggers

Logical and physical network topologies are dynamic in nature; hardware and software are replaced as technology evolves, enterprise cloud migration is happening at a rapid pace, and business models change. As a result, security plans have become living documents requiring constant updating as threats evolve and networks adapt.

In all this buzz of activity, scheduled network risk assessments are a critical strategy for maintaining network security. But what network changes can introduce vulnerabilities or expand a network’s attack surface, triggering the need for an unscheduled risk assessment?

New network architecture: Have there been significant changes, such as removing a subnet, adding a VLAN, or changing network segmentation? This can expose sensitive data and systems.
New hardware: Was a tool added to the arsenal, such as a new IoT device or server? This can introduce vulnerabilities and increase a network’s attack surface.
New software: Does existing infrastructure require a software update? Is the company migrating to the cloud? Unpatched vulnerabilities expose an organization to risk, and cloud expansion has associated data privacy and security concerns.
New protocols: Have network protocols been introduced to the network or reconfigured? Enabling or disabling protocols, including DNS, DHCP, or SSH, can unintentionally open security gaps.
New services: Have new network services been deployed, such as VPNs, Wi-Fi, or VoIP? Digital services may be vulnerable to attack vectors, creating the possibility of network exploitation.
New rules: Have firewall rules, access control lists (ACLs), or administrative permissions been modified? Changing user permissions, authentication methods, or firewall configurations can impact a network’s ability to prevent unauthorized access.
New traffic patterns: Do security information and event management (SIEM) data values indicate abnormal network traffic activity? Anomalies indicate potential threats.
New regulatory requirements: Have regulatory requirements, such as PCI-DSS, GDPR, or HIPAA, recently changed? Cybersecurity teams should perform a risk assessment, update security policies, and ensure networks reflect the new standards.
New merger or acquisition: Has a business transformation integrated new networks or systems with existing infrastructure? This can introduce security risks and prompt the need for a risk assessment.
New threat: Has a novel cyber threat emerged? Zero-day exploits, such as ransomware, may necessitate a reassessment of your security posture. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) from nation-state actors or sophisticated cybercriminal groups can bypass traditional defenses.
New incident: Has there been a recent security incident? A risk assessment can help identify lessons learned and strengthen cybersecurity defense measures.

Network Security: Best Practices

To maintain a strong network defense, there are a variety of best practices for cybersecurity professionals to consider:

Schedule regular assessments: Conduct network risk assessments at a regular interval, even without significant changes.
Take a proactive approach: Identify potential risks by staying informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
Involve key stakeholders: Collaborate with IT, security, and business teams to ensure a comprehensive assessment.
Prioritize: Focus on the most critical risks and allocate resources accordingly.
Document findings: Create detailed reports of discoveries.
Develop mitigation strategies: Implement an action plan to address identified risks.
Continuous monitoring: Implement diligent monitoring systems and threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging network risks.

The Cost of Neglect

Often, organizations report that they experienced a security breach due to a vulnerability that was known but not addressed. This fact highlights the importance of regular network risk assessments to identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats before attacks materialize.

Failing to follow network risk assessment best practices, organizations face potentially severe consequences, such as:

data breaches
operational disruptions
financial loss, including regulatory fines
reputational damage

Additional Tips

Cybersecurity team leaders should consider implementing the following suggestions:

Adopt a network risk assessment framework, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework’s Quick Start Guides, which can provide a structured approach to risk assessment and management for various organizations and industries.
Leverage automation tools for repetitive tasks like vulnerability scanning and configuration audits.
Educate employees about security best practices to minimize human error.

By taking these steps, organizations can build a robust defense against cybersecurity threats and protect critical network infrastructure.

Network Vigilance: A Proactive Stance

As networks, technology, and cybersecurity threats evolve, it’s important to remain vigilant. Ongoing network risk assessments are an integral part of an organization’s overall network security posture.

Following cybersecurity industry best practices by regularly assessing your organization’s network security will minimize vulnerabilities, maintain compliance with regulatory standards, and protect assets.

Interested to learn more? Visit our RISK MANAGEMENT category!

Network Risk Assessments: 11 Triggers