Network Security Audit – How Important Is It?
Just how important is a Network Security Audit? It helps organizations or companies to identify assets, assess possible security vulnerabilities, review network configuration, review access controls, and evaluate policies and procedures that are in place. It also ensures that organizations comply with standards and policies.
Network Auditing has different forms or types, namely:
- Security audit. With security auditing, firewalls, access controls, and threat detection are all evaluated and verified, ensuring that there are no gaps in security best practices
- Performance audit. Here, the network is evaluated, verifying the deviation between the network’s current performance and the baseline
- Configuration audit. Network device’s (routers, switches, firewall) settings are checked for compliance with standards and best practices
- Network design audit. Network architecture is evaluated, ensuring efficiency and security alignment
Network Auditing Methodologies
There are no specific universal standards on doing network auditing. It is mainly influenced by vendor-specific best practices and tools. Examples are:
- Cisco Performance IT Audit. Cisco best-practices-based evaluation of network security, architecture, and compliance
- Juniper Validated Designs. Juniper-based best practices and methodologies to assess network configurations and security
- Extreme Networks Fabric-Based Audits. Analysis of network performance, security posture, and operational efficiency based on Extreme Networks’ best practices
- HPE Networking Assessments. HPE based best practices assessment of wired and wireless network performance, scalability and security
- Huawei Network Assessment Services. Network health checks, performance optimization, and security compliance are based on Huawei’s best practices
And then there are also non-vendor-based network auditing methods:
- Freeform Auditing. This auditing style does not rely on predefined frameworks, but on expertiseand creativity
- Custom In-House Auditing. This is an organization-specific, tailored auditing form
- Experience-Based Auditing. This style is conducted by seasoned engineers based on real-worldbest practices
- Ad-Hoc Auditing. Reactive in nature, rather than proactive. Conducted informally without standardized guidelines
What are commonly included in the scope of network security audits?
Network security audits can be broad, that is why an audit scope is commonly included in an audit agreement, where scope and boundaries are defined. Common items that are included:
Infrastructure Assessment
Evaluation of network components, eg. up-to-date software versions, non EOL or EOS hardware, hardware support coverage, and identification of assets
Review Configuration and Compliance
Evaluate device configurations, access controls, and policies as compared to industry best practices
Review Network Design and Scalability
Review of network topology, segmentation, and scalability for future growth. This includes adherence to Layers 2 & 3, and wireless best practices
Review Change Management Policy
Review of change control procedures and policies for improved network reliability and minimal disruptions
Summary
In short, a network security audit is a critical component of every organization’s network operation and should be conducted regularly. Organizations benefit from it by being able identify security gaps before malicious actors exploit them, overall cybersecurity posture is enhanced, comply with standards and requirements, and risk of data breaches and downtimes are greatly reduced.
So how often should an audit be conducted? A network security audit should be conducted at least annually, with the frequency dependent on the organization’s size, industry, regulatory requirement, and risk profile. For organizations in finance, healthcare, or those that handle sensitive personal or financial information, those that implement frequent infrastructure or software changes, it is recommended that audit be done either biannually or quarterly.
If you’re a network engineer aiming to expand your skills into penetration testing or ethical hacking, this video is a must-watch. It’s especially helpful for wireless network engineers looking to understand and work with various hacking tools.
