A key element in protecting your data is balancing network security with third-party vendors. The first step is to do a thorough due diligence on vendor security practices before engaging them. Establish clear and enforceable data access policies to remain in control. Employing centralized monitoring for unusual activities across vendors can aid in compliance and efficient audits. Such proactive steps safeguard your network while enabling you to work with other stakeholders seamlessly.

This often comes as a required control in most PCI-DSS environments. There are many ways to implement this control. Easiest way is to implement this is white listing of MAC IDs in the network. Only allowed endpoint MAC Ids will have network access. There are few solutions available in the market which offers network access protection like Cisco Identity services engine (ICE). It can work with your existing IAM solutions like active directory to provide network access to only authorized users.

To keep unauthorised devices from connecting remotely, you can: Use network access control to authenticate devices. Implement strong Wi-Fi encryption and password policies. Regularly update and patch systems. Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. Implement a virtual private network (VPN) and firewall rules. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access.

Implement Network Access Control (NAC) to authenticate and authorize devices before they connect. Use multi-factor authentication, VPN with strict access policies, and enforce endpoint security checks to ensure only authorized, compliant devices gain remote access.

Robust access restrictions and monitoring are needed to stop unwanted devices from remotely connecting to your network. To make sure that only authorized users can access the network, multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be used. Implement stringent guidelines for device authentication, mandating that devices be registered or approved prior to being able to connect. Employ endpoint security and a virtual private network (VPN) to keep an eye on and limit remote access. Moreover, do routine network audits to check for illegal connections, and use network access control (NAC) tools to instantly prohibit unauthorized devices. The possibility of unwanted access is reduced by this tiered strategy.

As I was working for the largest company in the world. We used to have our own network wherever we go for our business events and it’s protected even though the venue has provided free networking services..