Network Basics
Understand fundamental networking concepts and how they relate to security. This is a foundational concept in information security and ethical hacking that professional developers rely on daily. The explanations below are written to be beginner-friendly while covering the depth and nuance that comes from real-world Cybersecurity experience. Take your time with each section and practice the examples
50 min•By Priygop Team•Last updated: Feb 2026
Network Protocols
- TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
- HTTP/HTTPS: Web communication protocols
- DNS: Domain Name System for address resolution
- SMTP/POP3/IMAP: Email protocols
- FTP/SFTP: File transfer protocols
Network Layers
- Physical Layer: Cables, wireless signals
- Data Link Layer: MAC addresses, switches
- Network Layer: IP addresses, routers
- Transport Layer: TCP/UDP, ports
- Application Layer: HTTP, FTP, SMTP
IP Addresses and Subnets
- IPv4: 32-bit addresses (192.168.1.1)
- IPv6: 128-bit addresses (2001:db8::1)
- Private IP ranges: 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16
- Subnet masks and CIDR notation — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- NAT: Network Address Translation
Network security Concepts
- Firewalls: Filter network traffic
- VPNs: Secure remote connections
- Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Network segmentation — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Port scanning and vulnerability assessment — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
Network Security Best Practices
Network security protects the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data as it travels across networks. Whether you're securing a home network or an enterprise infrastructure, these fundamental principles apply.
Essential Network Security Measures
- Segment your network: Separate IoT devices, guest devices, and work devices onto different network segments so a compromise in one area doesn't affect others
- Use WPA3 encryption: Always use the strongest available Wi-Fi encryption standard — WPA3 provides significantly better protection than WPA2
- Monitor network traffic: Use tools like Wireshark or built-in router logs to identify unusual traffic patterns that could indicate an intrusion
- Implement DNS filtering: Use secure DNS services (like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Quad9) to block known malicious domains before they can be reached
- Configure VPN for remote access: Require VPN connections for all remote work to encrypt traffic between the user's device and the organization's network