The two main types of network security can be broadly categorized as preventive and detective measures. Preventive measures aim to stop security incidents from occurring by implementing controls such as firewalls, encryption, access controls, and authentication mechanisms. Detective measures, on the other hand, focus on identifying security breaches or incidents that have already occurred through methods like intrusion detection systems (IDS), log analysis, and security monitoring.
Network security can also be categorized into physical security and logical security. Physical security involves protecting the physical assets of a network, such as servers, routers, and cables, from physical threats like theft, vandalism, or natural disasters. Logical security, on the other hand, deals with safeguarding digital data and software components through measures like encryption, access controls, and authentication protocols.
The two levels of network security can be seen as perimeter security and internal security. Perimeter security focuses on protecting the boundaries of a network, typically through firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and secure gateways. Internal security, on the other hand, involves securing individual devices, data, and resources within the network itself, often using methods like access controls, encryption, and monitoring.
In using computers, security can be categorized into physical security and cybersecurity. Physical security involves protecting the physical devices and infrastructure of computers from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. Cybersecurity encompasses measures to protect computers, networks, and data from cyber threats such as malware, phishing, unauthorized access, and data breaches.
The two main types of network attacks are passive attacks and active attacks. Passive attacks involve monitoring or eavesdropping on data transmissions without altering or affecting them. Examples include packet sniffing and traffic analysis. Active attacks, on the other hand, involve malicious actions that disrupt, modify, or destroy data or network resources. Examples include denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, malware infections, and man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. Both types of attacks pose significant threats to network security and require appropriate countermeasures to mitigate their impact.