Network security standards: Everything you need to know

What arke the network security standards?

Network security standards are established protocols, guidelines, and best practices designed to protect a network and its data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other cyber threats. These cybersecurity standards outline how organizations should safeguard their networks while ensuring they meet compliance regulations.

Simply put, standards are like a recipe — they list steps to perform. Any well-managed IT organization should comply with the requirements outlined in a security standard. Security regulations, on the other hand, are legally binding. They outline how things must be done, reflecting government and public backing for the rules and processes they enforce.

Ignoring security regulations can lead to hefty fines and legal trouble. That’s why having a solid network security policy is essential — it sets clear rules, procedures, and standards for protecting sensitive information, ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR or ISO 27001.

Key aspects of network security standards

Network security relies on a few essential security measures:

• Authentication. It ensures that only the right people and devices can access a network. This includes enforcing strong passwords and requiring users to enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection.
• Virtual private network (VPN). A VPN secures the connection between a user’s device and a network, especially when accessing it remotely. VPNs are critical for maintaining security when employees work from home or connect over public Wi-Fi.
• Network encryption. Network encryption (including VPN encryption) protects sensitive traffic as it moves across the network by converting it into unreadable code. This ensures that even if someone intercepts the data, it can’t understand it without the decryption key.
• Firewalls. Firewalls act as the first line of defense between a network and potential threats. They monitor and control both incoming and outgoing traffic, blocking unauthorized access while letting legitimate traffic pass through without issues.
• Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS). IDPS tools keep an eye on network traffic, spotting suspicious activity and shutting down potential threats. An intrusion detection system (IDS) focuses on identifying breaches, while intrusion prevention blocks them before they can cause damage.
• Access control. It defines who or what can access your network and its resources. This involves setting permissions and restricting access to sensitive information to only those systems and users that have a business need.

Examples of network security standards

Let’s look at some of the most widely used network security compliance standards in the industry.

ISO/IEC 27033

The ISO/IEC 27033 standard provides comprehensive guidance on securing internal and external networks. It outlines best practices for designing secure network architectures that minimize vulnerabilities. It also helps organizations identify and address potential threats and weaknesses in their network infrastructure. Plus, it details the tools and techniques required to secure networks, such as encryption protocols, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.

PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

If your organization handles payment card transactions, PCI-DSS is a must. This standard defines strict security requirements to protect cardholder data and ensure payment systems remain secure from breaches and fraud. Its key components include encryption, access control, regular testing, and system activity logs.

IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi security standards)

IEEE 802.11 sets the benchmark for wireless network security. It includes protocols like WPA3, which strengthens Wi-Fi protection by guarding against unauthorized access and reducing vulnerabilities to data breaches.

Network security protocols

Network security protocols manage safe data transmission. They protect information from unauthorized access by using encryption and cryptography. Security standards often specify which protocols should be used to meet their requirements. Here’s a breakdown of the key network security protocols:

• Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS is a popular protocol that ensures data integrity, security, and privacy during transmission. By encrypting data exchanged between two applications, such as a web server and a browser, TLS protects it from interception. It’s a more secure and efficient version of its predecessor, SSL.
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). HTTPS is an encrypted version of HTTP, securing communication between a browser and a website. It uses TLS (or occasionally SSL) to encrypt data, protecting it from eavesdropping, tampering, and man-in-the-middle attacks. If a website has “https://” in its URL, it’s using this protocol to keep your data safe.
• Secure Socket Layer (SSL). SSL was the original cryptographic protocol for encrypting sensitive data and internet connections. Though largely replaced by the safer and faster TLS, SSL laid the groundwork for encrypted server-client and server-server communication.
• Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). SFTP encrypts file transfers, providing safe access and management of data streams. It’s typically used for transferring files between systems to ensure both commands and data remain protected from unauthorized access during transmission.

Broader information security frameworks

An information security framework is a structured set of documented processes that guide how to implement, manage, and maintain security controls. Think of it as a blueprint for managing risk, reducing vulnerabilities, and aligning security measures with business objectives. These frameworks help security professionals prioritize tasks, address threats, and meet compliance requirements, including network security compliance.

An information security framework offers a big-picture strategy to create and maintain a secure environment. In contrast, network security standards provide the specific tools and requirements needed to secure the network aspect of that environment.

ISO/IEC 27001

The ISO 27000 series, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), provides a flexible information security framework for organizations of all types and sizes. ISO 27001, a key part of this series, sets the requirements for establishing an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It helps organizations identify risks, implement controls, and continuously improve their security posture.

NIST CSF

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) was developed to protect critical infrastructure sectors in the US, such as energy, water, food, communications, healthcare, and transportation. Unlike other NIST frameworks, the CSF focuses on cybersecurity risk analysis and risk management. It organizes security controls into five key phases of risk management: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. NIST CSF is suitable for both the public and private sectors.

NIST SP 800-53

Published by the NIST, SP 800-53 addresses almost every aspect of information security management, with an expanding focus on cloud security. Initially designed for US federal agencies, it is now widely adopted in the private sector as well. It also influenced the development of other frameworks, including the NIST CSF.

NIST SP 800-171

NIST SP 800-171 was developed to secure sensitive data that resides outside US federal information systems. Popular due to its relevance to US Department of Defense contractors, it sets strict requirements for organizations handling sensitive government data. Compliance with SP 800-171 is often mandatory for bidding on federal and state contracts.

CIS controls

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Critical Security Controls focuses on practical, technical measures to reduce risks and increase resilience across IT infrastructures. Unlike frameworks like NIST CSF, which emphasize risk analysis and management, CIS Controls hone in on actionable steps to mitigate threats, from malware defenses to penetration testing.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

The GDPR sets the standard for data security and privacy for European Union citizens’ personal information. While technically not a framework in the traditional sense, it lays out clear security requirements that organizations worldwide must follow to protect personal data in the EU. These include measures like role-based access controls, least privilege access, and multi-factor authentication.

Failure to comply with GDPR can lead to severe fines, making it a critical security benchmark for organizations operating globally.

What are the benefits of implementing network security standards?

Adopting best practices for network security helps build a stronger, more resilient organization. Here’s how implementing these standards benefits you:

• Enhanced security. Implementing network standards minimizes the risk of breaches and unauthorized access.
• Regulatory compliance. Standards ensure your organization complies with legal and industry-specific requirements, like GDPR or ISO 27001.
• Improved trust. Prioritizing network security shows customers, partners, and stakeholders that you take protecting their data seriously, strengthening their confidence in your organization.
• Efficient operations. Standardized processes streamline security management, saving time and resources.
• Data safety. Encryption, firewalls, and other security measures ensure sensitive data stays safe, even in transit.
• Scalability. Security standards provide a foundation that grows with your organization, accommodating new challenges and technologies.

Network security standards vs. information security standards

While they sound similar, network security standards and information security standards aren’t the same.

Network security standards focus specifically on measures for protecting the infrastructure and traffic within a network, such as secure network protocols. On the other hand, information security standards encompass a broader scope, including physical security, data protection, and other non-network-specific concerns.

Emerging network security trends

As cybersecurity threats evolve, staying ahead of the curve is essential to protect networks and prepare for future challenges. Here are some of the most impactful trends shaping the future of network security — and potentially influencing tomorrow’s standards.

Universal ZTNA

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) applies the principle of “never trust, always verify” to network security. Unlike traditional perimeter-based models, ZTNA ensures that no user or device is trusted by default — even those inside the network. Universal ZTNA takes this concept further by extending zero-trust principles across all access points, including cloud environments, on-premises systems, and remote connections.

Secure SD-WAN

SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) provides secure and reliable connectivity for branch offices and remote users. Secure SD-WAN builds on this to support cloud-first enterprises and hybrid workforces that require secure access from anywhere. By integrating next-generation firewall (NGFW), advanced routing, ZTNA, and SD-WAN into a single system, secure SD-WAN simplifies management while ensuring security.

Unified SASE

SASE (pronounced “sassy”) combines networking and security into a single architecture, protecting distributed networks with advanced, cloud-delivered security. SD-WAN is the networking component, and FWaaS, SWG, CASB, and ZTNA comprise the edge security of SASE.

The unified SASE approach integrates all these into a unified framework. This process ensures secure, low-latency connections, bypassing the delays caused by routing traffic through centralized data centers. It also protects hybrid workers, cloud-based applications, and distributed data.