Network Security Best Practices

As we dive into 2025, the cybersecurity landscape is evolving faster than ever—like a high-stakes chess game where the hackers always seem to be one step ahead. Traditional security models? They’re the equivalent of locking your front door but leaving the windows wide open. Enter Zero Trust, the modern approach that’s rewriting the rulebook for staying secure in a connected world. Here’s why Zero Trust is the security strategy everyone’s talking about: 🔍 ###Never Trust, Always Verify Think of Zero Trust as the world’s most diligent security guard. Every access request—whether from inside or outside the network—is verified before it’s granted. No assumptions, no shortcuts. Every user and device has to prove its identity, ensuring only the right people and devices get in. 🛡️ ###Least Privilege Access Why give everyone a master key when they only need access to a single room? Zero Trust operates on the principle of least privilege, granting users only the access they need to do their job. The result? Even if someone breaks in, they can’t roam freely across your systems. 🔒 ###Micro-Segmentation Imagine your network as a hotel where each guest has access only to their room, not the entire floor. That’s micro-segmentation in action. By dividing the network into smaller, isolated zones, Zero Trust limits the damage attackers can do if they breach one area. 📊 ###Continuous Monitoring Security doesn’t end once someone is inside. Zero Trust keeps an eye on everything, analyzing behavior and network traffic in real time. Spot something fishy? It’s addressed before it can escalate. 🌐 ###Adaptive Security Policies In today’s world, one-size-fits-all security isn’t enough. Zero Trust uses context—like user identity, device health, and location—to adapt security measures dynamically. Whether you’re accessing systems from the office, a coffee shop, or halfway around the world, the right protections are in place. Zero Trust isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about building confidence in an age of uncertainty. By verifying every access request, restricting privileges, segmenting networks, and monitoring continuously, it creates a robust security framework that can stand up to modern threats. What’s your take on Zero Trust? Is your organization already on board, or are you exploring how to implement it? Let’s discuss how this approach is transforming cybersecurity and helping organizations stay ahead of the curve. #ZeroTrust #CyberSecurity #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfTech #NetworkSecurity #SecurityFirst

🌐2024 Replay: Modern Approaches to Network Access Security 🌐 CISA, the FBI, New Zealand’s GCSB, CERT-NZ, and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security collaborated on this guidance to address the limitations of traditional VPNs and emphasize the transition to modern network access solutions. The document highlights architectures like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Secure Service Edge (SSE) that align with Zero Trust principles and meet the demands of today’s hybrid, cloud-first environments. Key Takeaways: 🔓 VPN Risks: This section highlights the vulnerabilities of traditional VPNs, including real-world exploits like Citrix Bleed, which enabled attackers to bypass MFA and gain unauthorized access. 🌐 Modern Security Solutions: This section explains how Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Secure Service Edge (SSE) integrate Zero Trust principles to provide granular, adaptive access control across hybrid and cloud-first environments. 🛡️ Hardware-Enforced Segmentation: This recommendation uses unidirectional technologies like data diodes to safeguard critical systems, reducing reliance on software-based solutions and enhancing overall security. 📋 Actionable Guidance: This section includes practical steps, such as implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) policies, validating vulnerability scans, and segmenting networks to contain threats better and stop lateral movement. 📅 This post is part of my year-end review of 2024’s most impactful cybersecurity documents. Critical guidance—like this June 2024 release—often gets overlooked or fades after its initial promotion. Revisiting these documents provides an opportunity to refocus on recommendations that are foundational to enhancing security postures. (Full disclosure: I participated in initial discussions about this guidance before transitioning from CISA to #Zscaler earlier this year.) 💬 Link to the website in comments. #zerotrust #cybersecurity #informationsecurity #cloud #threathunting #cloudcomputing #technology #analytics #innovation

Let me take you back to when I was working at Microsoft… I was visiting one of our enterprise customers to review their Azure architecture as part of my role. During our discussions, I noticed a familiar pattern they were replicating their on-prem networking strategy in Azure. Their approach? Creating multiple subnets for each workload, assuming this was the best way to achieve security and isolation. I sat down with their Architect Manager and explained why this might not be the best fit for Azure. I told him: "This traditional model introduces unnecessary complexity and doesn’t align with cloud best practices." Then I started to highlighted: ❌ Increased complexity as you will Managing hundreds of subnets was making network management unscalable. ❌ Operational overhead as the Troubleshooting network issues required deep subnet analysis. ❌ Rigid security model by Subnet-based isolation lacked flexibility for modern cloud security. After reviewing their architecture, I proposed a Modern Approach instead (I named like this 😊) ✅ Network Security Groups (NSGs) To enforce precise traffic filtering without excessive subnets. ✅ Private Endpoints To secure access to PaaS services without exposing public IPs. ✅ Application Security Groups (ASGs) To dynamically group workloads, simplifying NSG rule management. ✅ Azure Firewall To centralize security policies while maintaining Zero Trust principles. At first, there was resistance (as usual 😅) it’s not easy to challenge legacy thinking. But after some deep discussions and urge back-and-forths, we moved forward with this modern networking strategy. So let me know tell the impact after the implementation modern approach Firstly 50% Reduction in network complexity by Removing unnecessary subnets simplified management. Theb we gain Stronger Security Posture by Private Endpoints ensured no direct internet exposure As well as Improved Scalability by NSGs & ASGs allowed dynamic policy enforcement as workloads scaled. Finally we become Faster Deployment by Application teams no longer needed subnet approvals for each deployment. This experience was a reminder that on-prem strategies don’t always translate well to the cloud. In the end I want to say Not every workload needs its own subnet! But By leveraging NSGs, Private Endpoints, and ASGs, companies can build secure, scalable Azure architectures without unnecessary complexity. So, tell me honestly are you still using traditional subnet segmentation in your Azure architecture? 😉 #AzureNetworking #CloudSecurity #MicrosoftAzure #ZeroTrust #CloudArchitecture #DigitalTransformation #EnterpriseIT #CloudBestPractices

As digital privacy concerns grow, businesses must rethink identity management to balance security with user control, reducing reliance on centralized databases. Embracing decentralized identities isn't just about compliance—it's about creating trust in a digital-first world. Decentralized identities (DCI) shift personal data control from organizations to individuals, reducing the risk of breaches while enhancing user privacy. Unlike traditional models that store identity information in centralized databases prone to cyberattacks, DCI leverages blockchain and cryptographic methods to validate credentials without exposing sensitive details. This approach benefits businesses by lowering regulatory risks and improving compliance with privacy laws such as GDPR. It also streamlines authentication, enabling seamless verification across platforms without constant data exposure. Interoperability challenges and regulatory adaptation remain critical factors for widespread adoption, requiring standardized frameworks and global cooperation to unlock its full potential. #DecentralizedIdentity #Blockchain #Cybersecurity #DataPrivacy #DigitalTransformation

15 years ago, we stopped trusting networks. Today, we still trust humans. That's the $1.6 billion problem staring us in the face (as that's how much deepfake fraud cost businesses last year). Alan Cohen of DCVC and I recently published this piece on why human identity needs its Zero Trust moment. Because here's the thing: North Korean hackers aren't just stealing your data anymore. They're stealing your jobs. Literally. AI-generated personas passing video interviews. Getting hired as remote developers. Funneling wages back to the regime while siphoning your IP from the inside. Your fancy setup and fancy deployments? They verify passwords, not people. They check credentials, not whether the CEO on that Zoom call authorizing a $25 million transfer is actually your CEO. We've hardened our networks. Secured our endpoints. Built fortress-like perimeters. And left the front door wide open because we still believe our eyes and ears. The Facebook Messenger "lost my wallet" scam required victims to ignore red flags. Today's deepfakes don't give you red flags to ignore. At Reality Defender, we're treating this like the emergency it is. Real-time detection at the speed of conversation. Because a security system that takes minutes to verify a video call is useless when fraud happens in seconds. Zero Trust was built for machines. It's time we built it for humans.

How do you get network data out of people’s heads — and into a single source of truth? In most telcos, critical network knowledge still lives inside the heads of a few senior engineers, planners, or ops staff. This "tribal knowledge" isn’t just a risk — it’s a barrier to scale, automation, and resilience. Here’s a proven 8-step approach we use to help operators shift from siloed knowledge to a clean, trusted, Single Point of Truth (SPOT) system: 1. Identify the knowledge holders. - Start with those who “just know” how the network works — long-serving engineers, planners, response leads. - Map who holds what knowledge and which systems lack it. 2. Locate the ‘known unknowns’ - Which areas are poorly documented? - Think: fibre routes, logical/physical mapping, patch panels, naming quirks. - Prioritise gaps that create the most risk or delay. 3. Run structured interviews and walkthroughs - Ask focused, practical questions: “Where do you look when this fails?” “How do you trace that link?” - Document real-world setups and legacy workarounds. 4. Standardise the input process - Use structured templates or forms that align with your SPOT schema. - Avoid inconsistent, free-form data collection. 5. Load, clean, and validate - Use scripts or reconciliation tools to catch ·       Duplicates ·       Conflicts ·       Missing fields - Turn human knowledge into structured data. 6. Show value immediately - Create quick wins: ·       Clean circuit maps ·       Accurate asset views ·       Easier troubleshooting - Involve original staff to validate and build trust. 7. Build a feedback loop - Assign data stewards. Make updates easy (QR code at site? Slack bot? Mobile form?). - Reconcile and improve continuously. 8. Change the culture “If it’s not in the SPOT, it doesn’t exist.” - Leadership must drive this shift: ·       Reward documentation ·       Link data quality to performance - Make documented truth the only accepted truth. If you’re struggling to build trust in your network data, we’ve built a practical course that helps teams clean, align, and take control — fast. “The Hidden Cost of Bad Network Data” 📩 Message me here on LinkedIn to learn more or enrol.

Every instant payment hides a silent question: “Can you really trust who’s on the other side?” Today’s fast payment systems move money in seconds. But trust still lags behind. Fraud, impersonation, and misdirected transfers remind us that speed without identity is speed without safety. Where Trust Breaks Down • Authentication Layer – Users are verified through fragmented methods: passwords, SMS codes, app approvals. Convenient, but prone to social engineering. • Validation Layer – Payee details are often unchecked, leading to push payment fraud and reconciliation headaches. • Settlement Layer – Funds move instantly, but if the identity is wrong, recovery is almost impossible. This separation creates friction for honest users — and opportunities for bad actors. Now imagine a Payments Identity Credential (PIC): – National ID attributes + payment metadata bound into a verifiable credential. – Wallet-based consent, where you disclose only what’s needed. – End-to-end authentication of payer, payee, and provider — in real time That’s a structural shift. Fraud risk collapses, onboarding becomes frictionless, and inclusion expands — because identity becomes portable, private, and interoperable across banks and wallets. But new questions emerge: how do we govern credentialing hubs, balance privacy with oversight, and keep competition open? #payments #fraud #instantpayments #openfinance

Chain-of-Trust: A Progressive Trust Evaluation Framework Enabled by Generative AI 👉 Why Traditional Trust Evaluation Falls Short Modern collaborative systems—from smart factories to distributed AI—rely on diverse devices working together. But how do we ensure these collaborators are trustworthy when: - Device capabilities update asynchronously - Network delays create incomplete data snapshots - Task requirements vary dramatically Traditional "all-at-once" trust assessments struggle with these dynamics, often leading to over-resourcing or security gaps. 👉 What Makes Chain-of-Trust Different Researchers from Western University, University of Glasgow, and University of Waterloo propose a staged evaluation framework: 1. Task decomposition: Break complex tasks into sequential requirements (e.g., "3D mapping" needs service availability → secure transmission → sufficient compute → reliable delivery) 2. Progressive filtering: Evaluate collaborators stage-by-stage using only relevant attributes 3. Generative AI integration: Use LLMs' contextual reasoning to:   - Interpret evolving task requirements   - Analyze partial attribute data   - Adapt evaluations dynamically through few-shot learning 👉 How It Works in Practice For a 3D mapping task: 1. Stage 1: Filter devices offering 3D mapping services 2. Stage 2: Verify communication security/bandwidth 3. Stage 3: Assess computing power/isolation 4. Stage 4: Confirm result delivery reliability At each stage, GPT-4 analyzes only the needed attributes, progressively narrowing trusted candidates. Key Results: - 92% accuracy vs. 64% in single-stage evaluations (GPT-4) - 40% resource reduction vs. full-attribute collection - No model retraining required for new tasks Implications: This approach addresses three critical gaps: 1. Handling asynchronous device updates 2. Preventing resource waste on irrelevant attributes 3. Maintaining context-aware evaluations Paper Authors: Botao Zhu, Xianbin Wang (Western University) Lei Zhang (University of Glasgow) Xuemin (Sherman) Shen (University of Waterloo) For those working on distributed systems or AI collaboration frameworks, this paper offers a practical blueprint for trustworthy resource allocation in dynamic environments.

👤 Understanding the Core of Identity & Access Management (IAM) 🪪 RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) grants access based on predefined roles like “HR Manager” or “DevOps Engineer.” Easy to manage, but less flexible for dynamic needs. 🧬 ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) uses real-time evaluation of user, resource, and environment attributes to allow or deny access. 📜 PBAC (Policy-Based Access Control) defines complex rules centrally — perfect for compliance-heavy or fine-grained control scenarios. 👤 User Attributes include details like department, job title, group membership, location, or whether MFA is enabled. 📄 Resource Attributes describe the data or system being accessed — such as type, sensitivity, owner, or classification tags. 🌐 Environment Attributes refer to contextual data like login time, device type, IP address, or session risk. 🏢 IAM is the digital gatekeeper — whether securing apps, APIs, infrastructure, or cloud accounts — and is essential for zero-trust, least privilege, and regulatory compliance. Cybernara helps businesses architect identity systems that are scalable, secure, and built for compliance — protecting everything from internal tools to customer-facing platforms. #IAM #RBAC #ABAC #PBAC #CyberSecurity #ZeroTrust #IdentityAccessManagement #EnterpriseSecurity #AccessControl #PolicyEnforcement #UserSecurity #Cybernara #DigitalTrust #ComplianceSecurity