Question

A financial services company tasks its it security team with reducing the network's attack surface. They have segmented the network into security zones, put port security measures in place, and physically isolated critical servers. The IT security team wants to further reduce the risk of attack by managing traffic flow between security zones. Which of the following measures should the team implement?

1) Implement a firewall to filter traffic between security zones
2) Install antivirus software on all devices in the network
3) Encrypt all data transmitted between security zones
4) Disable all network ports except for those used by critical servers

Answer 1

To manage traffic flow between security zones and reduce the risk of attack, the IT security team should implement a firewall, encrypt data transmission, and disable unnecessary network ports.

Step-by-step explanation:

To further reduce the risk of attack by managing traffic flow between security zones, the IT security team should implement the following measures:

1. Implement a firewall to filter traffic between security zones: A firewall acts as a barrier between two networks and can be configured to restrict or allow traffic based on defined rules.
2. Encrypt all data transmitted between security zones: Encryption ensures that data is converted into a secure form that can only be accessed with the appropriate decryption key, making it difficult for attackers to intercept and understand the information.
3. Disable all network ports except for those used by critical servers: By disabling unnecessary network ports, the attack surface is further reduced, limiting potential entry points for attackers.

The most effective measure to manage traffic flow between security zones is to implement a firewall, as it is specifically designed to filter traffic based on security policies, thereby reducing the network's attack surface.

The IT security team of a financial services company is working on reducing the network's attack surface to further secure their system from potential breaches. Among the measures listed, implementing a firewall to filter traffic between security zones is the most appropriate action to manage traffic flow and reduce risks.

Firewalls are network security devices that monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, creating a barrier between secured and controlled internal networks and potentially unsecured external networks like the Internet. Other measures like installing antivirus software are also important, but they are more focused on protecting devices from malware rather than managing traffic flow. Encrypting all data is a good practice for securing data integrity and privacy but does not directly manage traffic flow. Disabling all network ports except those for critical servers could be too restrictive and harm business operations, as it would not allow for legitimate traffic in areas of the network that need to communicate.