When it comes to strengthening your network security posture, doing so is no longer a nice-to-have, but a strategic necessity. The notion of strengthening your network may sound time-intensive and lengthy, however, there are some immediate changes that can lead to quick wins. In this blog, we uncover four key steps IT leaders can take to strengthen network security posture and immediate quick wins that can be achieved upon doing so.
Four steps to strengthen your network security posture
Security is no longer optional. These four foundational actions will help you reduce risk and build resilience:
1. Adopt zero trust principles
Zero trust means “never trust, always verify.” Every user and device inside or outside the network must be authenticated and authorised. This approach limits the impact of breaches and is now recommended by the NCSC and leading global providers.
- Implement strong authentication for all users and devices.
- Segment networks to limit lateral movement.
- Continuously monitor for unusual behaviour.
2. Automate detection and response
Manual processes cannot keep pace with modern threats. Automation can reduce response times by up to 40%, demonstrating its ability to help defenders stay ahead.
- Use AI-driven tools for threat detection and alert triage.
- Automate patching, backup, and incident response workflows.
- Regularly test and updated automated playbooks.
3. Operational load
With many IT teams stretched thin, managed network services allow organisations to focus on strategy while experts handle day-to-day operations, monitoring and compliance.
- Consider managed firewall, detection and response and vulnerability management services.
- Ensure providers offer transparent reporting and clear SLAs.
4. Secure hybrid work
With two-thirds of UK employees working remotely at least part-time, endpoint protection and secure remote access are essential.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication for all remote access.
- Protect endpoints with up-to-date security software and policies.
- Educate staff on secure working practices.
Quick wins: Immediate actions UK IT leaders should take
Not every improvement requires a major investment or a long-term project. The following actions can quickly reduce risk and strengthen your security posture:
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to prevent account compromise, blocking the majority of phishing and credential stuffing attacks.
- Enforce MFA for all users, not just administrators.
- Use app-based or hardware tokens for stronger protection.
- Regularly review and test MFA coverage.
Patch the basics consistently and quickly
Most breaches exploit known vulnerabilities. Even delays in patching of a few days can be costly.
- Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all assets, including cloud workloads and remote endpoints.
- Apply critical patches within 14 days, as recommended by the NCSC.
- Automate patch deployment and monitor for failures.
Back up critical data securely and test your restores
Ransomware is only effective if you cannot recover your data. Secure, tested backups are essential.
- Use immutable, offsite or cloud-based backups.
- Regularly test restores to ensure data integrity.
- Protect backup credentials with MFA and restrict access.
Review firewall rules and access controls
Firewall policies can become cluttered over time with unused or overly permissive rules, creating hidden vulnerabilities.
- Schedule regular firewall reviews to remove unused or risky rules.
- Align policies with current business needs.
- Use automated tools to analyse policies for overlaps and compliance gaps.
Run a tabletop incident response exercise
Plans are only effective if teams can execute them under pressure. Tabletop exercises simulate real-world incidents, allowing teams to rehearse roles and identify gaps.
- Involve both technical and business stakeholders.
- Use realistic scenarios tailored to your organisation.
- Capture lessons learned and update your incident response plan.
See NCSC’s guidance on incident response exercises
How CACI can help enhance your network security
CACI has helped UK businesses protect their networks for decades. From network security to data centre solutions and IT consulting, our expertise delivers secure-by-design architectures, automation, and incident readiness for robust network security.
Get in touch with our team today to learn more about how your organisation can set its network environments up for success.