The range among other things covers authentication techniques that ensure that only trusted users are allowed access to a network. A basic authentication technique used on many local and global networks of all kinds and sizes is to request a username and password when people want to access a network. Another way of protecting a local network is to use a firewall . The firewall ensures that there is only one point through which Internet users can enter the business local network, and importantly that traffic through that point can be monitored. When sending private messages over networks, some form of encryption is often used to conceal the contents of the message.
Encryption is an effective way to achieve data security.
In the encryption process special software modifies data to prevent it from being read by unauthorised persons during transfer on a network, e.g. the Internet. Reading an encrypted file requires access to a secret key. The process is a common way of sending credit card numbers over the Internet when conducting commercial transactions, but it can be used for virtually all kinds of communication. Like the other methods, encryption exists in many forms and combinations, allowing a comprehensive yet flexible privacy and security solution to be found for any company. Test your knowledge 1.