Trusted Networks

A Trusted Network of a company is a network that the company uses to conduct its internal business. In many cases, the Trusted Network is by default defined in the organization as 'Secure'. The Trusted Network typically supports the backend systems, internal-only intranet web pages, data processing, messaging, and in some cases, internal instant messaging. In many companies the Trusted Network is allowed to interact between systems directly, without encryption. The problem with the definition above is that many assumptions are being made at these companies. A Trusted Network is not always a secure network. In fact, in many cases the Trusted Network cannot be trusted. The reason is that an internal network comprises many different networks. These include new acquisitions, old acquisitions, international access points, and even several access points to the outside world. A common practice is to define the Trusted Network as the network that internal employees use when at the office or via a secure controlled dial-in mechanism. A single access point is established to the outside world via a mechanism called the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) .