How to create a Perimeter Network?
Introduction
A perimeter network is a group of computers and devices that are connected via a computer network. The purpose of this type of networking is to provide the same level of security as an organization’s internal networks while still being able to share resources.
A perimeter network is a type of computer network that provides access to resources in an organization’s internal networks from external networks such as the Internet while enforcing access control and security policies.
What is a perimeter network?
A perimeter network is a data network that includes servers and workstations with public access, such as in an airport or hotel lobby. The border router provides internet access and typically NAT to the internal network which can be a DMZ or the internal network.
A perimeter network is not necessary for all organizations. If you don’t process credit cards online, if your business does not accept online check-in at the airport, or you do not use wireless hotspots; then you might have no reason to have a perimeter network in place.
How to create a Perimeter Network?
It is always a good practice to create a perimeter network. The first thing that you would want to do is identify the data and information that the company will be sharing with the outside world. Then, create a list of those devices and servers on which those data and information reside. Once you’ve done this, you should identify the ports that are used by these devices and servers, as this will let you know how to defend and protect them.
You also need to identify the different threats that are possible. Once you’ve identified all of these things, then you can begin your plan for how to create a perimeter network. The first thing you want to do is take stock of everything that’s out there and determine if everything that needs protecting is properly listed. Once you’ve done this, you should decide where your primary security devices are going to be located, as well as for deciding if you need additional ones. Today’s perimeter defense is often centered around high-end firewalls that not only provide protection but also deliver other useful services like application awareness and content control.
Once you’ve decided on what device or devices to use, make sure you make them accessible to the outside world. This is especially important if your company plans on using VPNs, as they should be able to reach out for this specific purpose. Make sure that the device or devices are properly configured and that there are changes needed to get everything listed where it needs to be located.
You also need to consider whether you need to include some kind of anti-spam and anti-virus capabilities as well as an intrusion detection system. These can be either physical or virtual systems, but they should be appropriately placed and tightly integrated with the other elements on your network.
Once these facets of your plan are complete and you know where everything is located, it is now time to think about how you are going to test your plan. The best way to do this is with a mock attack, as the only way to know if it will work or not is to try and break through what you have established.
Once the actual perimeter network has been created, make sure that it can be reset up if something goes wrong. This means that you should not deploy it at the beginning of your project; instead, it should be set up near the end to make sure everything is working properly. Once you’ve completed all of this, you can go live with your new perimeter network and be confident that whatever happens to it will not affect the rest of your project.
What are the benefits of having a perimeter network in place?
The advantages of a perimeter network include:
– If you only allow the company to communicate through one main server and with all messages and files going through there, it is much easier to monitor what they are doing.
– Employees can use their personal devices when at work. This means that they can check their emails from home or social media accounts.
– Employees have access to network drives and printers from whatever location they are in the office, which means that there is no hunting around for a particular file or printing it out one page at a time.
– If there is a power outage, it won’t affect the whole office because only one server will be down while everything else works as normal.
What are the drawbacks of having a perimeter network in place?
The drawbacks of a perimeter network include:
– It becomes difficult for employees to communicate with each other and the outside world because all communication must go through one main server even if they want to speak to someone within the same office or someone across town.
– Employees don’t have access to personal devices, which means they may not be able to check their emails from home or their social media accounts.
– Should there be a power outage, it could shut down your whole office. Worse yet, if anything else goes wrong with the servers, your entire infrastructure could be down.
Conclusion
A network perimeter is an organization’s outermost layer of security that protects the internal systems from outside threats. It should be designed to keep unauthorized users out and allow authorized users in, with the goal being to limit access privileges for all but a select few people who need them. The benefits of having a well-designed network perimeter are obvious: fewer breaches, increased employee productivity, decreased management costs. But implementing one can also have drawbacks if it goes too far by limiting what employees can do or simply not providing enough protection against new types of attacks like malware or ransomware that may infiltrate through other means than just web browsing capabilities.
