Network security solutions are the backbone of many operations. Even if your organization isn't a fundamentally digital operation, it can depend on servers and network appliances to collect data, maintain internet connectivity, and provide access to files. You need to regularly assess its state, but how do you do that?

Audit the Systems 

First, you need to know what's even on the network. A network security services provider will typically audit a client's systems to see what's within the organization. They will directly inspect systems, check serial numbers, and follow cables. Likewise, they'll map the various ports on the network that are either listening or transmitting.

A major benefit of an audit is that it may identify old systems that have just been running. People do forget to decommission old servers, for example. As these systems age, they can end up running out-of-date software that creates vulnerabilities. Also, they're wasteful if you can consolidate their services with another system.

You should also audit the system to see if there's anything running that shouldn't be. An audit might turn up a port that has no business being open on your network. This could be evidence that a hostile party penetrated the system and opened the port so they could extract data or even access assets.

Assess Vulnerabilities and Needs

With a detailed audit of the resources on the network in hand, you can now assess the system's vulnerabilities and needs. For example, a network security solutions firm will want to update and patch as much of the software on the system as possible. Similarly, you might need to add security features to meet your company's expanding needs. If you're adding a service like a VPN port, you should ask a professional to study the best implementation for your organization.

This is also a good time to review the various configuration files for all of your network services. You might find vulnerabilities left behind from older installations or because someone thought it was convenient. A network security services technician will clean up these files to ensure that they limit access as much as possible.

Reset Privileges

Finally, you should reset the privileges on the system. Purge all unrecognized or outdated profiles. Tighten privileges for current uses, too. Once you've addressed those issues, you should reset all privilege-based systems to ensure no one unauthorized might still have access. This will reduce the risk that a former employee or an unnoticed hacker will continue to have privileges.

For more info, contact a company like Top Speed Data.