How to Detect Network Security Threats and Issues

Introduction

We’ve all basically grown numb to the constant stream of cybersecurity breaches in the news. However, if you’re like me in the back of your mind you might occasionally be thinking “Am I doing everything reasonably possible to root out threats in my organization before they are exploited by a hacker?”. This blog will offer some simple, best practices and actions you can be doing right now to minimize the cybersecurity threat exposure with your available resources.

Emerging Top Threats in Network Security

According to report² released in May 2025 “A sharp escalation in both the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks marked the 2024 cybersecurity landscape…” driven by “Major geopolitical events—ranging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to elections in India and the European Union (EU)…”.

Key takeaways:

• DDoS Threat Landscape – Growth in Web DDoS attacks, network DDoS evolution, and the increase in DDoS-for-hire services
• Hacktivism and Alliances – Hacktivist were a prime driver of cyber-attacks, “lone wolves” are increasingly forming alliances, and the growing role of Telegram for both hacktivist and cooperation with law enforcement activities
• Web Application and API Threats – Significant rise in web application and API attacks with increases of 41 percent over last year’s report, a surge in API exploitation including shadow and zombie APIs as well as other advanced techniques
• The Bad Bot Threat -The amount of bad bot activity showed considerable increases with a 35 percent increase in malicious transactions
• AI in Cybercrime – Threats here ran the gamut from advanced phishing and deepfakes, AI-enhanced attacks; most worrisome were “offline AI models” which are downloadable, pre-trained AI models resulting in greatly lowering the “barrier to entry” for new cybercriminals, and direct attack on AI systems themselves

The Top 10 Things you can do to Detect Network Security Issues

Given all the existing or emerging network threats and issues described, here are some concrete steps or actions you can take to detect, eliminate or mitigate network security issues:

1. Implement Continuous Network Monitoring – Be sure to utilize intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to monitor traffic and system logs in real-time. Solutions like these aid in identifying unusual patterns, suspicious connections, and potential breaches. As part of this effort, it’s not a bad idea to have a general sense or rough idea of what “normal” network behavior is for your environment. This is discussed in more detail below in #7.
2. Perform Ongoing Vulnerability Scans – Ideally, if budgets permit this will include using tools able to support automated scanning in order to detect vulnerabilities in devices, endpoints, infrastructure, servers, applications, and network configurations. If these solutions are not an option, then tools that enable ongoing vulnerability scans should be considered. Tools such as CyberScope® can help secure your network edge. Whatever tools or solutions, these scans should be performed routinely and after any changes to the IT resources or network infrastructure. (For further reading, check out our blogs Elimination of Edge Network Vulnerabilities – Mission Impossible? and What is Vulnerability Testing?)
3. Complete Penetration Testing – Consistent and ongoing PEN testing is an excellent way to complement efforts implemented internally, including the ongoing vulnerability scans, thereby validating their efficacy. An excellent way to build confidence that processes in place are actually detecting and then eliminating network security issues.
4. Learn to Love Log Analysis – A wealth of valuable data is available from firewalls, routers, switches, servers, and endpoints. Regularly collect these valuable sources of data and review, looking for repeated failed login attempts, unusual port access, or large data transfers, which can signal an attack or compromise.
5. Get into Packets – Carefully analyze traffic behavior and the associated packet level details. Look for anomalies or suspicious behavior such as unexpected protocols, data exfiltration attempts, or lateral movement. There are many network traffic analysis solutions in this space, but also many free, open-source tools like the venerable Wireshark that can provide incredible detailed views into network conversations.
6. Monitor End-User Behavior – Be on the lookout for deviations in normal user activity. Users typically have set patterns of what they access and utilize. Sudden changes in access times, locations, or data usage may indicate credential theft or insider threats. Remember, once hackers can entry into an environment, their objective is to move laterally to gain access to critical data or applications so changes like this can be a red flag to investigate.
7. Create Baselines for Normal Activity – Determine what “normal” behavior means in your IT environment across systems and network segments—especially for mission critical services and infrastructure. Be on the lookout for changes over time as deviations can potentially indicate bad actors are at work. The more frequently you do this, the sooner you are likely to flag irregularities.
8. Keep All Systems and Software Up to Date – May sound like a no-brainer, but outdated software is a prime method by which hackers can exploit known vulnerabilities. To the extent feasible, automate patch management to ensure operating systems, applications, and firmware are consistently updated.
9. Audit Network Access Controls – Periodically review firewall rules, VPN configurations, and access control lists (ACLs). Ensure least privilege principles are enforced and that inactive or unnecessary accounts are disabled.
10. Run Security Awareness Programs – Make staff education (and re-education) a priority so they are able to recognize phishing, social engineering, and unusual device behavior. Human error remains a leading cause of breaches and staff remain the first line of defense for all cybersecurity defense strategies.

The combination of these activities, processes, and tools are the foundation on which you can detect and then effectively mitigate network threats and issues before they are exploited by bad actors.

How to Prioritize Network Security Issue Detection Efforts

You’re probably thinking, where do I begin to prioritize these top 10 items? Here are some suggestions to help you focus on the “low hanging fruit”:

• Focus on high-value assets and critical systems that if compromised would cause the most damage and truly ruin your day. Do this by completing a risk-based assessment to evaluate threats based on their likelihood and potential impact
• 1, “Implement Continuous Network Monitoring” above is at the top for reason. It is critical to detecting threats and issues ASAP. Be sure to prioritize alerts and anomalies that indicate potential breaches, such as unauthorized access attempts, unusual traffic patterns, or data exfiltration.
• Automate detection wherever possible to reduce manual workload and focus human attention on high-priority incidents. Leverage behavior analytics (third-party offerings, if budgets permit it) to identify deviations in user or system activity, giving precedence to those involving privileged accounts or sensitive data.
• As the statistics above suggest, there is no rest for the weary when it comes to network threat detection with new methods by hackers to circumvent defenses constantly emerging and evolving. Hence, regularly review and update your detection strategy being sure to also factor in your IT resource updates as well as organizational priorities.
• Integration of incident response plans with detection processes to ensure quick containment and mitigation of high-risk threats.

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Eliminating network security issues.

Now that you know what to prioritize, here are five big mistakes you should avoid when detecting network security threats and issues:

1. Ignoring Root Causes – Fixing symptoms without addressing the underlying cause can lead to recurring issues or worse, the threat actor may still be present but only dormant. For example, patching a compromised, vulnerable system without examining how it was exploited may leave other systems equally exposed.
2. Delaying Patching and Updates – Failing to apply security patches promptly is a major oversight. Threat actors often exploit known vulnerabilities within days of disclosure, so it is critical you remain on-point with the latest vendor patch recommendations. Hackers are signed up for these vendor announcements, you should too! Any delays on your part give them an easy opportunity to find and then exploit the vulnerabilities.
3. Overlooking Asset Inventory and Visibility – What you don’t know (or see) can really hurt you with unknown and unauthorized devices, endpoints, or infrastructure. Many IT teams fail to maintain a real-time, accurate inventory of all devices, applications, and connections, leaving blind spots for attackers to exploit.
4. Tools are Necessary, but not Sufficient – Make sure you do not rely blindly on the tools without understanding the context and underlying principles. For example, security tools often generate alerts. However, it falls to you to properly tune them by knowing your network. Otherwise, critical warnings may be missed or drowned in noise. Alternatively, you may drown in false alarms. You must analyze alerts in relation to business impact, known risks, and your own knowledge of IT resources in your business.
5. Neglecting User Training and Insider Threats – The latest and greatest tools and processes are just the first step. Many breaches result from human error or insider misuse. Skipping employee cybersecurity training or not monitoring privileged access increases vulnerability. Innocent mistakes and bad actors potentially within your organization must be constantly considered.

In Summary

Knowing how to quickly detect network security issues and threats is essential to maintaining a strong and robust cybersecurity posture. Given the constantly changing threat landscape, specifically as it relates to AI, it is crucial you continuously search for threats that can be exploited, with an eye toward updating all activities, tools, and processes to adjust to this dynamic environment. By following the blog tips described above, you can relatively easily implement tangible steps to improved defenses, achieving a balanced approach in terms of technology process and staff to maximize your ability to eliminate network security issues within the context of limited budgets. For additionally information on this topic, check out the Wi-Fi Security Threats and Issues blog.

²Radware 2025 Global Threat Analysis Report