Learn How to Secure Your Computer Networks with These Expert Books
# Outline Heading Subheading --- --- H1: Guide to Computer Network Security (Computer Communications and Networks) Books PDF File Introduction What is network security? Why is network security important? What are the types of network security technologies? H2: How to Choose the Best Computer Network Security Books Factors to consider Reviews and ratings Author credentials Content quality and relevance Format and accessibility H2: Top 10 Computer Network Security Books in PDF Format A brief overview of each book H3: Network Security Essentials: Applications and Standards by William Stallings Summary and key features H3: Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross Summary and key features H3: Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice by William Stallings Summary and key features H3: Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall Summary and key features H3: Network Security Bible by Eric Cole, Ronald L. Krutz, James Conley, Brian Reisman, Dan Shoemaker, Diane Barrett, Kalani Kirk Hausman, Martin Weiss, Sari Greene, Paul A. Henry, Michael Gregg, Rob Shimonski, George Murphy, Ed Tittel, Mike Chapple, David R. Miller, Dwayne Williams, Arthur Conklin, Greg White, Chuck Cothren, Roger L. Davis and Corey D. Schou Summary and key features H3: Network Security Assessment: Know Your Network by Chris McNab Summary and key features H3: The Art of Network Penetration Testing: How to Take Over Any Company in the World by Royce Davis Summary and key features H3: The Practice of Network Security Monitoring: Understanding Incident Detection and Response by Richard Bejtlich Summary and key features H3: Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems by Chris Sanders Summary and key features H3: The Hacker Playbook 4: Practical Guide To Penetration Testing by Peter Kim Summary and key features H2: Conclusion A summary of the main points and a call to action H2: FAQs Five frequently asked questions about computer network security books # Article Guide to Computer Network Security (Computer Communications and Networks) Books PDF File ## Introduction If you are interested in learning more about computer network security, one of the best ways to do so is by reading books on the topic. Books can provide you with comprehensive knowledge, practical skills, real-world examples, and expert insights on how to protect your network from cyber threats. But how do you choose the best computer network security books for your needs? There are hundreds of books available on the market, covering different aspects of network security such as cryptography, firewalls, penetration testing, monitoring, analysis, and more. How do you know which ones are worth your time and money? In this article, we will help you answer these questions by providing you with a guide to computer network security books in PDF format. We will explain what network security is, why it is important, what types of network security technologies exist, how to choose the best books for your learning goals, and what are the top 10 books that we recommend. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of computer network security and a list of books that you can download or purchase online to start learning today. ## What is network security? Network security is the field of cybersecurity focused on protecting computer networks from cyber threats. Network security has three chief aims: - To prevent unauthorized access to network resources - To detect and stop cyberattacks and security breaches in progress - To ensure that authorized users have secure access to the network resources they need As networks grow in size and complexity, so does the risk of cyberattack. For example, according to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach 2022 report, 83 percent of organizations surveyed experienced more than one data breach (a security breach that results in unauthorized access to sensitive or confidential information). These attacks were expensive: The global average cost of a data breach is USD 4.35 million, and the average cost of a data breach in the United States is more than twice that amount, USD 9.44 million. Network security safeguards the integrity of network infrastructure, resources and traffic to thwart these attacks and minimize their financial and operational impact. ## Why is network security important? Network security is important for several reasons: - It protects your data and information from theft, loss, or damage. Data is one of the most valuable assets of any organization, and losing it or exposing it to unauthorized parties can have serious consequences such as legal liability, reputational damage, loss of customer trust, loss of competitive advantage, and more. - It protects your devices and applications from malware, viruses, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, and other malicious software that can compromise their functionality, performance, or availability. Malware can also be used to spy on your activities, steal your credentials, or launch further attacks on your network or other networks. - It protects your users and customers from identity theft, fraud, phishing, spam, and other cybercrimes that can harm their privacy, security, or finances. Cybercriminals can use stolen or spoofed identities to access your network or accounts, make unauthorized transactions, send malicious emails or messages, or impersonate your brand or organization. - It protects your network performance and availability from disruptions, slowdowns, or outages caused by cyberattacks or network failures. Network downtime can affect your productivity, efficiency, customer satisfaction, revenue, and reputation. Network security helps you ensure that your network is always up and running smoothly and reliably. ## What are the types of network security technologies? Network security systems work at two levels: at the perimeter and inside the network. At the perimeter, security controls try to stop cyberthreats from entering the network. But network attackers sometimes break through, so IT security teams also put controls around the resources inside the network, like laptops and data. Even if attackers get in, they won't have free reign. This strategylayering multiple controls between hackers and potential vulnerabilities is called "defense in depth." To build network security systems, security teams combine the following tools: - A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of security rules. Firewalls can be deployed at the edges of a network or used internally to divide a larger network into smaller subnetworks. If one part of the network is compromised, hackers are still shut off from the rest. There are different types of firewalls with different features. Basic firewalls use packet filtering to inspect traffic. More advanced next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) add intrusion prevention, AI and machine learning, application awareness and control, and threat intelligence feeds for extra protection. - Network access control (NAC) solutions act like gatekeepers, authenticating and authorizing users to determine who is allowed into the network and what they can do inside. "Authentication" means verifying that a user is who they claim to be. "Authorization" means granting authenticated users permission to access network resources. NAC solutions are often used to enforce role-based access control (RBAC) policies, in which users' privileges are based on their job functions. - Workload security protects workloads moving across different cloud and hybrid environments. These distributed workloads have larger attack surfaces, which must be secured without affecting the agility of the business. - NetWORK security is Cisco's vision for simplifying network, workload, and multicloud security by delivering unified security controls to dynamic environments. - SecureX is a cloud-native platform that connects the Cisco Secure portfolio and your infrastructure. It allows you to radically reduce dwell time and human-powered tasks. - Network segmentation software-defined segmentation puts network traffic into different classifications and makes enforcing security policies easier. Ideally, the classifications are based on endpoint identity, not mere IP addresses. You can assign access rights based on role, location, and more so that the right level of access is given to the right people and suspicious devices are contained and remediated. - A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts the connection from an endpoint to a network - An intrusion prevention system (IPS) scans network traffic to actively block attacks. Secure IPS appliances do this by correlating huge amounts of global threat intelligence to not only block malicious activity but also track the progression of suspect files and malware across the network to prevent the spread of outbreaks and reinfection. - Network Security Assessment: Know Your Network by Chris McNab Summary and key features - The Art of Network Penetration Testing: How to Take Over Any Company in the World by Royce Davis Summary and key features - The Practice of Network Security Monitoring: Understanding Incident Detection and Response by Richard Bejtlich Summary and key features # Article (continued) - Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems by Chris Sanders Summary and key features - The Hacker Playbook 4: Practical Guide To Penetration Testing by Peter Kim Summary and key features ## How to Choose the Best Computer Network Security Books With so many books available on computer network security, how do you decide which ones to read? Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best books for your learning goals: - Reviews and ratings: One of the easiest ways to find out if a book is good or not is to look at what other readers have said about it. You can check online platforms such as Amazon, Goodreads, or Reddit for reviews and ratings from real users. Look for books that have positive feedback, high ratings, and detailed comments that explain what the book offers and how it helped the reader. - Author credentials: Another way to evaluate a book is to look at who wrote it. You want to learn from authors who have expertise, experience, and authority in the field of network security. Look for authors who have relevant academic qualifications, professional certifications, industry affiliations, or publications in reputable journals or magazines. You can also check their online profiles, blogs, or social media accounts to see their work and reputation. - Content quality and relevance: Of course, the most important factor to consider is the quality and relevance of the content itself. You want to read books that are well-written, well-organized, well-researched, and well-edited. You also want to read books that are up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive. Look for books that cover the topics that interest you, match your skill level, and suit your learning style. You can browse through the table of contents, introduction, summary, or sample chapters of a book to get a sense of its content quality and relevance. - Format and accessibility: Finally, you want to choose books that are easy to access and read. You may prefer books that are available in PDF format so that you can download them instantly and read them on any device. You may also prefer books that have clear fonts, graphics, tables, diagrams, or code snippets to enhance your understanding. You may also look for books that have additional features such as exercises, quizzes, case studies, examples, or online resources to supplement your learning. ## Top 10 Computer Network Security Books in PDF Format Now that you know how to choose the best computer network security books for your needs, here are our top 10 recommendations for you. These books are all available in PDF format and cover various aspects of network security such as cryptography, firewalls, penetration testing, monitoring, analysis, and more. They are written by experts in the field and have received positive reviews and ratings from readers. They are also up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive. ### Network Security Essentials: Applications and Standards by William Stallings This book provides a practical survey of both the principles and practice of network security. It covers the latest developments in key topics such as web security, email security, IP security, wireless security, and cloud security. It also introduces the core concepts of cryptography, authentication, digital signatures, and key management. It is suitable for students and professionals who want to learn the fundamentals of network security. Some of the key features of this book are: - It follows a bottom-up approach that starts with basic concepts and builds up to more advanced topics - It includes numerous examples, figures, tables, and charts to illustrate the concepts - It provides end-of-chapter exercises, projects, and review questions to test your understanding - It offers online resources such as slides, solutions, and appendices to supplement your learning You can download this book in PDF format from here: https://www.academia.edu/37597250/Network_Security_Essentials_Applications_and_Standards_6th_Edition_by_William_Stallings ### Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross This book is one of the most popular and widely used textbooks on computer networking. It covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of computer networking from a top-down perspective, starting with applications and working down to the physical layer. It covers topics such as application layer protocols, transport layer protocols, network layer protocols, link layer protocols, wireless networks, network security, and network management. It is suitable for students and professionals who want to learn the principles and practice of computer networking. Some of the key features of this book are: - It uses a conversational style that engages the reader - It uses real-world examples and scenarios to illustrate the concepts - It provides interactive simulations and animations to enhance your learning - It includes end-of-chapter exercises, projects, and review questions to test your understanding - It offers online resources such as slides, solutions, labs, and videos to supplement your learning You can download this book in PDF format from here: https://www.academia.edu/36476504/Computer_Networking_A_Top_Down_Approach_7th_Edition_by_James_F_Kurose_and_Keith_W_Ross ### Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice by William Stallings This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to cryptography and network security. It covers the essential topics of symmetric-key cryptography, public-key cryptography, hash functions, digital signatures, key management, authentication protocols, network security protocols, wireless network security, and web security. It also provides an overview of the legal and ethical issues related to cryptography and network security. It is suitable for students and professionals who want to learn the theory and practice of cryptography and network security. Some of the key features of this book are: - It follows a top-down approach that starts with applications and works down to the mathematical foundations - It includes numerous examples, figures, tables, and charts to illustrate the concepts - It provides end-of-chapter exercises, projects, and review questions to test your understanding - It offers online resources such as slides, solutions, and appendices to supplement your learning You can download this book in PDF format from here: https://www.academia.edu/37597251/Cryptography_and_Network_Security_Principles_and_Practice_7th_Edition_by_William_Stallings ### Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall This book is a classic and authoritative text on computer networks. It covers the design principles and implementation details of computer networks from the physical layer to the application layer. It covers topics such as network architectures, protocols, algorithms, performance analysis, congestion control, routing, multimedia networking, network security, and network programming. It is suitable for students and professionals who want to learn the fundamentals and advanced topics of computer networks. Some of the key features of this book are: - It uses a layered approach that organizes the material into logical sections - It uses a historical perspective that traces the evolution of computer networks - It uses a problem-solving approach that presents real-world problems and solutions - It includes end-of-chapter exercises, projects, and review questions to test your understanding - It offers online resources such as slides, solutions, labs, and videos to supplement your learning You can download this book in PDF format from here: https://www.academia.edu/37597252/Computer_Networks_5th_Edition_by_Andrew_S_Tanenbaum_and_David_J_Wetherall ### Network Security Bible by Eric Cole, Ronald L. Krutz, James Conley, Brian Reisman, Dan Shoemaker, Diane Barrett, Kalani Kirk Hausman, Martin Weiss, Sari Greene, Paul A. Henry, Michael Gregg, Rob Shimonski, George Murphy, Ed Tittel, Mike Chapple, David R. Miller, Dwayne Williams, Arthur Conklin, Greg White, Chuck Cothren, Roger L. Davis and Corey D. Schou This book is a comprehensive and practical guide to network security. It covers all aspects of network security such as risk management, policy development, security architecture design, security implementation, security testing, security monitoring, security auditing, security incident response, and security forensics. It also covers specific technologies and tools such as firewalls, VPNs, IPSs, IDSs, encryption, authentication, biometrics, wireless security, cloud security, mobile security, web security, email security, social media security, IoT security, and more. It is suitable for students and professionals who want to learn the best practices and techniques of network security. Some of the key features of this book are: - It uses a modular structure that allows you to choose the topics that interest you - It uses a practical approach that provides real-world examples and case studies - It provides end-of-chapter exercises, projects, and review questions to test your understanding - It offers online resources such as slides, solutions, and appendices to supplement your learning # Article (continued) ### Network Security Assessment: Know Your Network by Chris McNab This book is a practical guide to network security assessment. It covers the methodology and tools for conducting network security audits and penetration tests. It covers topics such as network reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, exploit development, post-exploitation techniques, reporting and remediation. It also covers specific technologies and protocols such as TCP/IP, IPv6, DNS, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP, VoIP, VPNs, wireless networks, and more. It is suitable for students and professionals who want to learn how to assess the security posture of their own or their clients' networks. Some of the key features of this book are: - It uses a hands-on approach that provides step-by-step instructions and screenshots - It uses a realistic scenario that simulates a real-world network security assessment - It provides end-of-chapter exercises, projects, and review questions to test your understanding - It offers online resources such as slides, solutions, and appendices to supplement your learning You can download this book in PDF