Chapter 1. Internet Security
This chapter contains the following sections:
This chapter introduces some of the basics of network security. It starts with a brief description of some of the most common forms of attacks. Next, the chapter describes the characteristics of several types of network devices.
The Cisco Secure IOS software is specifically designed to prevent attacks from affecting your network. Cisco Secure provides the highest levels of protection from unauthorized access, denial of service (DoS) attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, and many other common methods used either to deny service or to obtain unauthorized information. The Cisco Secure IOS relies on a number of configuration techniques, hardware solutions, and technologies, including the Adaptive Security Algorithm (ASA). These provide the best security available to the network administrator today.
As technologies evolve, Cisco continuously refines its hardware and software solutions to remain on the cutting edge of network security. This book explores the methods of protecting the network that are available through use of the Cisco Secure solutions.
To set the foundations necessary for preventing attacks, the first chapter covers the format of several protocols, including Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Protocol (IP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). The more common forms of DoS attacks are then examined. Specific techniques for dealing with DoS attacks are provided in later chapters.
This chapter concludes by examining the need for and use of a corporate security policy.