What Is Perimeter Security? The Basics And Why We Need It

Protecting Your Business Against The Threat Of Malicious Attacks.

Perimeter Security technologies provide a range of security services from basic firewall protection through to end-to-end security for your network and business. In essence, perimeter security is as it says, a defence system around your network designed to stop malicious attacks from entering.

Why do we need security systems for our networks? The statistics speak for themselves.

Hackers attack every 39 seconds, on average 2,244 times a day.

43% of cyberattacks target small businesses while 64% of companies have experienced web-based attacks.  62% experienced phishing & social engineering attacks. 59% of companies experienced malicious code and botnets and 51% experienced denial of service attacks.

The stats are rather alarming but generally, this is due to the fact that many businesses don’t defend their network appropriately. The cost can be a factor when considering what kind of security your business deploys. However, according to varonis.com, the average cost of a ransomware attack on businesses is $133,000, so cybersecurity should be seen as an investment, not an expense.

In the GDPR’s first year, there were 144,000 complaints filed with various GDPR enforcement agencies and 89,000 data breaches recorded.

So why do we need perimeter security?

Short of unplugging your network from the rest of the world, perimeter security is a necessary evil. Your best defence is to stop any breach before it gets past your main gates. In most cases the simplest form of perimeter security is the boundary between your network and the internet. There are a number of layers to these defences starting with the initial entry point, your router.

Generally, your first physical line of defence is the gateway (your router), between your network and the big bad outside world (the internet). Routers serve as traffic signals for networks directing traffic in and out. Whilst your router will have some form of defence, it’s really only there to do a simple check on data entering and leaving your business- much like border control at the airport. It will do the initial check and either allow or deny data coming in and going out.

Firewalls are the sniffer dogs in your security network, completing a much more thorough check for specific threats. Like airport security dogs, they have a set of rules and will either allow traffic to pass or detect and deny specified threats. These guys pick up after your router and will complete a more thorough pass at filtering malicious traffic. Once traffic has made it passed your firewall there are still more layers which will look for suspicious data.

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are the alarm system, detecting and warning you of suspicious activity, built from a single device or a series of sensors within your network at strategic points. Much like a police officer an IDS will detect and report back to you that it may have found a suspicious character.

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are your army with shoot to kill orders. Compared to an IDS which just notifies you of a possible threat, your IPS will detect and attempt to automatically defend your system without your intervention.

With our impressive portfolio of Firewall and Unified Threat Management services, we can equip your business with the right security solution, no matter your size or budget. From entry-level services to fully featured perimeter security solutions, we can meet the most demanding threat protection requirements with our security solutions.

There are also other numerous complexities when it comes to cloud security and remote working using VPN solutions and the reason you should seek professional advice for your network security.

The most effective perimeter defence utilises multiple layers of complementary solutions, all of which work together to deny any potential intruder access to your network. When you choose a Cybersecurity solution from Elite Group, you equip your business with a robust security solution which lowers operational costs and eliminates complex management. Our advanced multi-layered security solutions include threat management, intrusion prevention, web filtering and application control for the ultimate protection of your network.

Elite Group is one of the UK’s leading unified communication providers, supplying reliable and professional IT and telecoms services to organisations seeking Business Mobile, Cloud, Networking, Connectivity, and Telephony solutions. 

For more information on how Elite Group can power your unified communication solutions, call us on 0333 060 9913 or request a quote today.