How do you keep your network secure with regular updates?

I think regular updates should not be a goal in network infrastructures. First of all, you should closely monitor whether there is a vulnerability and whether it affects you, or whether there is a feature you are waiting for in the new version.If there are no vulnerabilities in the version you are using and the current version is running stably and the manufacturer supports it, you need to rethink when considering the upgrade issue. In this respect, I think it would be better not to apply the same policies as security devices in terms of the upgrade/stability/feature set relationship of network devices, especially core network devices. If regular upgrades are inevitable, one or two versions should be behind.

Regardless of whether or not you're going to update your gear, you need to keep aware of critical vulnerabilities for the firmware you're running. That being said, it's not always the best idea to upgrade firmware just to upgrade. If you are addressing a critical vulnerability or bug, upgrading is essential. Moving to a preferred release when you have no known vulnerabilities or bugs affecting your platforms and your environment is stable could be time better spent elsewhere.

It depends, I mean if company policy is to always stay on the latest FW in that case you have to upgrade. for me, Firmware is only required if we find any vulnerability/Bug or security-related issue in our installed firmware.

It’s always a balance act between stability, support, feature-set and security. Of course you want to close vulnerabilities, you want to stay on the supported track and finally have that long awaited feature, nevertheless you also have to consider the implications. Personally I try to avoid the cutting-edge releases and rather wait for a maintenance release to at least have the “major” possible bugs being fixed. If applicable I also try to stage the upgrades so in case of new firmware trouble you can more easily rollback. I also prefer to “test” new firmware in less critical part of the network.

Keeping your network secure with regular updates is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this: 1. Inventory and Asset Management 2. Patch Management 3. Vulnerability Scanning 4. Prioritization of Updates 5. Testing Updates 6. Change Management 7. Network Segmentation 8. User Education and Awareness 9. Firewalls and Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems 10. Antivirus and Anti-malware Software 11. Access Control and Authentication 12. Regular Security Audits and Assessments 13. Incident Response Plan 14. Backup and Disaster Recovery 15. Compliance with Regulations 16. Stay Informed 17. Consider Network Security Professionals

Start with a layered defense utilizing multiple intelligence sources. Your outside connections should always be monitored and secured with packet inspection capable firewalls such as CheckPoint. Properly applying patches and knowing when to apply them is key. This may run counterintuitive to what you may have been told but an older version may not be susceptible to the attack that the new version is at risk of. Patching VMware and Servers, in my opinion, should always be kept at the latest patch level your organization can utilize. Where the updates cannot be applied make sure you mitigate risks with tools.

Updating senselessly is not a business objective. While it is assumed updates always improve security posture, it is not necessarily true and thorough evaluation of what is being patched and why or what features an update brings is a value add to the environment.

Updating network devices is crucial for security and performance. First, identify the devices that need updates. Check the manufacturer's website for the latest firmware or software versions. Before applying updates, back up device configurations to prevent data loss. Schedule updates during off-peak hours to minimize disruptions. Follow manufacturer instructions for installation, ensuring compatibility and proper settings. Test the updated device in a controlled environment before deploying it in production. Monitor for any issues post-update and have a rollback plan in case of problems. Regularly check for and apply updates to keep network devices protected and operating optimally.

It depends only on the company policy and infrastructure. If the company wants to stay on the latest firmware, firewalls and security measures, we have to upgrade. To me, I will maintain the security policies. We might have to set up a testing unit for the update.

Automation is your friend here, utilize tools that make inventorying and patching your software easier A winning strategy here would be to organize rollout waves. I prefer a 3 wave strategy, like the one below: Week 1) IT Users and Dev Environments - These are the most fault tolerant users/devices in an org. Week 2) Early Update Group - This should be representative of the users, and systems in your business. Week 3) General Availability - Go wild. Keep in mind that emergency patching will always happen as well. But having a good strategy to service your software monthly is now a necessity. It's also a fact that not every software vendor has a well thought out servicing policy, for this use a VM Management platform to identify issues.

Network segmentation is also important. While you can do this using VLAN, I recommend using software platforms in tandem with creating separate VLAN for each use case (user, admin, printers, etc). The benefits to using a two fold approach are as follows: •Finer controls as it pertains to which devices are allowed to talk to which networks/VLANs •Ability to monitor traffic and go back in time to view blocked connections •Ability to strictly restrict device to device connectivity, allowing you to disable things like SMB, SSH, FTP, etc at a device level (so you can let the machines that need to talk to each other do so and not let others )

Ensure Seamless Updates To maintain network security through regular updates, adopt a systematic approach. First, establish a schedule to routinely check for updates from vendors for all network software, including operating systems, applications, antivirus, and VPN tools. Prioritize backing up critical data and configurations before applying updates to prevent data loss. Implement updates during scheduled maintenance windows to reduce operational disruptions. After installation, rigorously test and validate the updates to confirm their effectiveness and compatibility. Finally, continuously monitor network performance post-update to promptly identify and resolve any arising issues, ensuring a secure and smoothly running network.

To update network software, start by identifying the specific software in need of an update. Visit the official website or platform where the software is sourced to find the latest version. Before proceeding, create a backup of current configurations and settings to prevent data loss. Ensure compatibility with existing hardware and network components. Schedule updates during low-traffic periods to minimize disruptions. Follow the provided installation instructions carefully. After updating, conduct thorough testing in a controlled environment to verify stability and functionality. Monitor for any post-update issues and have a contingency plan in case of complications.

Updating network policies is a crucial yet time-consuming task. It's essential for security and resource optimization. By regularly adjusting Access Control Lists (ACLs), we ensure servers remain offline when unnecessary and restrict access to specific services or web pages. Custom VPN pools further enhance security by segregating services. Fine-tuning ICMP replies also reduces network noise. While this process demands time, it's integral for safeguarding data and infrastructure.

Having an enterprise lab environment that matches the production environment as closely as possible is key. This allows you to test patches and updates in the lab environment for an extended period of time to discover any downsides of patching or updating. Documentation of how changes of performed, and automation of those changes also greatly decreases the chances of human error.

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The importance of a test/staging environment that mirrors production cannot be understated and, if possible, utilizing this environment to test updates initially is ideal. That said, many companies and environments cannot support this manner of split environment. In the event updating production first is your only option, having a consistent update schedule set is essential for good cadence and for setting expectations. When your patching is consistent, it becomes easier to monitor performance and attribute potential issues to recently-applied patches. Document everything, particularly the process for updating and what was updated, and automate this with appropriate tooling and scripting where possible to alleviate personnel hours spent.

I love everyone’s responses and contributions. Of course everyone’s environment is different right so what may be a good idea/standard at ACME probably won’t be such a great idea at A.B.C. Gum. Personally I believe in what I call perimeter companies. Like Darktrace Vectra AI etc. let those guys do all the worrying and analysis. That’s what they do and are very good at. Looking for anomalies and threats that are outside of the norm or even sometimes within the norm but out of place for whatever reason.