Network Security, Firewalls, and VPNs, 3rd Edition

Fast Growth and Overuse

Network security is not always an organizational priority. Some organizations are more concerned with profits and rapid growth than with spending time on network security. Security is sometimes viewed as an annoying overhead expense that consumes resources without providing any return to compensate for the outlay. Although this mindset is common among senior management, it is a poor and incorrect understanding of the return on investment (ROI) of the crucial investment in network security.

Network security—in fact, all forms of security—protect the organization so that its profit centers can function without interruption or interference. Without network security, the capability and availability of the IT infrastructure ...