Running head: NETWORK PROTECTION AGAINST THREATS 1 NETWORK PROTECTION AGAINST THREATS 4 Network Protection against Threats Threats, in the context of computer security, refers to any possible vulnerability to a computer system and has the potential to adversely affect the computer system and the stored data. Threats do not have to necessarily happen but in the event that they occur then there are huge losses to businesses and individuals, security is compromised and key data may be lost completely if no recovery methods had been put in place (Silberschatz et al., 2014). Cyber criminals are taking their malice to a new level every dawn and the rates at which they are accessing stored data in systems are a reason to get worried. The potential threats to the computer systems may be from viruses, back doors, Trojans and attacks from the system hackers. System developers have greatly being involved in devising mechanisms to address the issues related to network protection and some of the key solutions are authentication and identification, data encryption, and frequent system updates. Authentication and identification With this technique, the data can only be accessed by the required and the authorized personnel. Identification occurs when a unique name or an image is assigned to the users who interact with the information (White et al., 2017). Authentication is meant to ensure that the person who uses the data is verified as one of the authorized users. These techniques are used to allow or to deny access to data and can even involve authentication of the data and the hardware, and not just the user, through the use of passwords which are only shared with those that are intended to access the data. Data encryption Data encryption is a technique that has been used by system users and developers to ensure that data cannot be accessed by unauthorized persons. Data encryption translates the data into other codes or forms and a secret key is put in place. The persons who have information about the secret key are the only ones who can successfully use the data (Siowiorek & Swarz, 2017). The information, after being translated into codes and other forms cannot be read (ciphertext). The users then will use the secret key to unencrypt the data into readable and understandable forms (plaintexts). Data encryption is one of the most effective data and system protection methods used by organizations especially due to the fact that the data can only be read by those who have the key and even if fraudsters get access to the data, they cannot understand. Frequent system update There are new versions of the systems and the applications in use which are being developed occasionally. These new updates come with advanced features meant to increase the security of the systems (Bhargava & Reese, 2015). The responsibility is now vested on the system users to ensure that the systems in use are updated and have all the new features. Using outdated .

1. Running head: NETWORK PROTECTION AGAINST
THREATS 1
NETWORK PROTECTION AGAINST THREATS 4
Network Protection against Threats
Threats, in the context of computer security, refers to any
possible vulnerability to a computer system and has the
potential to adversely affect the computer system and the stored
data. Threats do not have to necessarily happen but in the event
that they occur then there are huge losses to businesses and
individuals, security is compromised and key data may be lost
completely if no recovery methods had been put in place
(Silberschatz et al., 2014). Cyber criminals are taking their
malice to a new level every dawn and the rates at which they are
accessing stored data in systems are a reason to get worried.
The potential threats to the computer systems may be from
viruses, back doors, Trojans and attacks from the system
hackers. System developers have greatly being involved in
devising mechanisms to address the issues related to network
protection and some of the key solutions are authentication and
identification, data encryption, and frequent system updates.

2. Authentication and identification
With this technique, the data can only be accessed by the
required and the authorized personnel. Identification occurs
when a unique name or an image is assigned to the users who
interact with the information (White et al., 2017).
Authentication is meant to ensure that the person who uses the
data is verified as one of the authorized users. These techniques
are used to allow or to deny access to data and can even involve
authentication of the data and the hardware, and not just the
user, through the use of passwords which are only shared with
those that are intended to access the data.
Data encryption
Data encryption is a technique that has been used by
system users and developers to ensure that data cannot be
accessed by unauthorized persons. Data encryption translates
the data into other codes or forms and a secret key is put in
place. The persons who have information about the secret key
are the only ones who can successfully use the data (Siowiorek
& Swarz, 2017). The information, after being translated into
codes and other forms cannot be read (ciphertext). The users
then will use the secret key to unencrypt the data into readable
and understandable forms (plaintexts). Data encryption is one of
the most effective data and system protection methods used by
organizations especially due to the fact that the data can only be
read by those who have the key and even if fraudsters get access
to the data, they cannot understand.
Frequent system update
There are new versions of the systems and the applications
in use which are being developed occasionally. These new
updates come with advanced features meant to increase the
security of the systems (Bhargava & Reese, 2015). The
responsibility is now vested on the system users to ensure that
the systems in use are updated and have all the new features.
Using outdated versions of the systems only places them at a
disadvantage of possible attacks by viruses and cyber criminals.
Organizations lose data into the hands of these criminals

3. thinking that system updates are costly. Doing the updates are
far much better than having to comprise security and privacy
due to the inability to ensure that the systems are up to the
standards that are recommended by the system developers.
In conclusion, network threats are occurrences that are
happening every day, costing businesses dearly. Lose of data to
persons who are not authorized to access the information can be
traumatizing especially when the data is sensitive. Data getting
into the hands of fraudsters means that privacy and the security
of the data owners are greatly risked. System developers have
come in to save the day. Various techniques have been
developed to reduce the threats resulting from system
vulnerabilities. Organizations should put such into place.
References
Bhargava, R., & Reese, D.P. (2015). U.S. Patent NO. 8, 938,
800. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Silberschatz, A., Galvin, P.B., & Gagne, G. (2014). Operating
system concepts and essentials. John Wiley & Sons.
Siowiorek, D., & Swarz, R. (2017). Reliable computer systems:
Design and evaluation. Digital Press.
White, G.B., Fisch, E.A., & Pooch, U.W. (2017). Computer
system and network security. CRC Press.