Network Forensics

Computer Science: OCR GCSE, topic 1.4.13

Network Forensics

Some users of a network may intentionally or unintentionally break the network policy. The network administrator must look for times when this happens.

Network forensics

Network forensics

  • Network administrators must capture, store, and analyse network data to discover the source of security attacks and vulnerabilities.
How is network forensics done?

How is network forensics done?

  • Network forensics makes use of a lot of automated software which can alert administrators to suspicious activity on the network.
  • For example, an administrator might be alerted if:
  • A password has been entered incorrectly 5 times.
  • A user has tried to install software themselves.
Improvements

Improvements

  • After a security attack or vulnerability has been detected, the administrator will analyse what allowed the attack to happen.
  • The administrator can then make the necessary changes to the network to prevent similar attacks in the future.

Test yourself on Network Forensics

  • What is one purpose of automated software that network administrators use?

  • What happens if a user breaks network policy?

  • What is the main reason that network administrators analyse data from past cyberattacks?

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