Network Security – Preparing for a connected future

03/10/2022

Why Network Security?

Data gathered by the UK Government shows that in the last 12 months 39% of businesses identified an attempted cyber-attack, one of the reasons that this cutting edge sector was still able to attract £800m of investment to the UK and create 3,800 new jobs in the midst of a global pandemic last year!

It’s not just booming in the capital either, more than half of the UK’s 1500 cyber security firms are based outside of London, with strong employment opportunities in our own region of North West England. The University of Bolton is already helping meet the UK’s demand cyber security professionals with our degree courses in cloud and network security.

The majority of organisations today rely heavily on computer networks to share information in a safe, effective and efficient manner. If every employee has a dedicated workstation, modern organisational computer networks can be enormous. There could be thousands of workstations and servers in a large company's network.

These workstations are often probably not centrally controlled, nor do they have the necessary security measures in place. Different operating systems, hardware, software, and protocols may be used by organisations, and user cyber awareness varies.

Imagine that these thousands of workstations connected to enterprise networks have immediate Internet access. Such an unprotected network becomes a prime target for an attack, since it contains important and sensitive data, hence the importance of network security.

Network security – what is it?

Network security, which is overseen by the network administrator or network security engineer, is responsible for the permission of data access in a network. In order to access network resources and prevent illegal access, misuse, modification, or denial, policies and practices are created that are known as network security.

Network security also includes interactions and transactions between companies, organisations, and people. Networks can be private, such as those within a firm, or public, with security present in both tiers. In addition to protecting and regulating network operations, it also secures the network.

Broaden your understanding of programming and IT

Cyber engineers with years of experience will inevitably develop an understanding of the other systems that relate to networks, but at the beginning of your career, even a basic understanding of programming languages or computer hardware will be helpful.

There are many different professions available in IT security, from planning to networking and policy design, so even if you find that life at the sharp end chasing hackers doesn’t suit you, the knowledge you've gained will still provide opportunities.

Gain a qualification in Network Security

The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security degree offers the applied skills and understanding needed for a career helping to keep a modern network running smoothly. All our courses are designed with industry requirements in mind, and elements of our Computer Networks and Security degree course are aligned with vendor certification programmes from major industry organisations such as Cisco and Red Hat.

Studying in a supportive environment like Bolton University is the best way to make your entry into cyber security a successful one. We’ll also support you to gain vital academic and lifelong learning skills so that you are well prepared to research new technologies, apply your knowledge in new ways, and keep abreast of innovations and enhancements in the computer networks and security industry throughout your career. It’s all part of experiencing #UniAsItShouldBe at Bolton.