Network Diagramming Channel Feature

Analysts Recommend Diligent Network Monitoring for Public Sector Cyber Security

By Ashok Bindra
TMCnet Contributor

As cyber war continues, security experts are predicting that it will get more severe in 2013. As a result, analysts are expecting that nation-sponsored cyber attacks will be more dangerous and increasingly more sophisticated. According to CNN, such cyber attacks could also result in loss of human life.

In fact, a recent report published by researchers at McAfee (News - Alert) Labs, an Intel subsidiary, it was stated that nation states and armies will be more frequent actors and victims of cyber threats. Consequently, security analysts are saying that the government should take these threats more seriously and be vigilant round the clock. A.N. Ananth, CEO of security firm EventTracker feels that it is important for the public sector to monitor networks diligently, and think smart for their efforts to be fruitful. 

Ananth told Government Technology, “The government, it’s become relatively inexpensive to attack.”  He added, “The United States is the most connected society, bar none. There’s lots of good stuff online, and that’s why the bad guys are attacking.”

According to the CEO, the "bad guys" expect that most IT managers either don’t regularly monitor their networks or pay no attention to the results when they do. Ananth believes that network monitoring will protect tech pros from being caught off guard. However, he admits that budget constraints can hinder such useful activity.

Nevertheless, the report indicates that to do an effective network monitoring job should not require prohibitive amount of money. Ananth recommends automating part of the process, and keeping a human in charge of that process, wrote Collins. Ananth’s said, “This would make tracking network activity and hardware easier without increasing dollars spent on personnel.”

But, such monitoring comes at a cost. Backup of data takes away lots of storage space. And then the question is how long to keep it, Ananth told Collins. However, Ananth thinks that government agencies can address this problem by creating agency-specific log retention policies.

Additionally, network monitoring, a term used for “continuous monitoring,” is gaining traction in the federal sector for several reasons. In late 2012, the Department of Homeland Security issued RFP for continuous monitoring in federal networks. And, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, formed in 2012, will audit mortgage lenders and the passing of the Affordable Care Act that may prompt the government to pursue medical fraud more aggressively.

The end result is that public-sector agencies will begin to adopt continuous monitoring to avoid punishment, Ananth said.

To find out more about OPNET Technologies and Vice President of R&D and Chief Architect Gurmeet Lamba (News - Alert), visit the company at ITEXPO Miami. Taking place Jan. 29- Feb 1, in Miami, Florida, ITEXPO (News - Alert) is the only gathering where the community of communications and technology buyers, sellers, resellers, and manufacturers meet to forge relationships and close deals. Lamba is speaking during “Time to Rethink Performance Management.” For more information on ITEXPO, click here.