An investigation of network security management methods
Shamila Anuranga Ratnayake · Australasian Journal of Paramedicine · 2005
Network Management (NM) is concerned with reducing complexity and managing cost. The traditional NM tools and techniques are based on the Open System Interconnection (OSI) NM model. However, several drawbacks have been identified when managing a network using traditional NM tools (Sarkar & Verma, 2001). Network security is a major issue when managing a network. Even though the technology assists to reduce security risks, unless properly managed, the security measures may not do the job as expected. The State Model (SM) diagram is a new method, which may assists in managing the network. This new method may provide functionality not currently offered by current NM tools. Furthermore it may be possible to integrate the SM with NM tools. SM diagrams integrate relevant output from devices with protocol finite state information by means of tables. The diagrams are modular and hierarchical thereby providing top down decomposition by means of levelling. Furthermore, their modular, hierarchical characteristics allow technical detail to be introduced in an integrated and controlled manner. The State Model Diagrams were evaluated as a network management tool by twenty participants. The results clearly demonstrated that these diagrams could be of value not only as a NM tool but also as a tool for network security management.