1.1 Introduction
Network Security is the act of ensuring that an authenticated user accesses only what they are authorized to and no more. Network Security is an important aspect of any system. Network security is used to detect inside threats by monitoring file access and process activity (Behr et al, 2009). It is a powerful tool that allows one to track any local area network, giving you the most detailed information on when, how and what your network users do on daily basis. If it is a library public network, university or commercial organization network, Activity Monitor offers efficient control. In a quest for maximum profitability in a network, there is need to monitor the activities performed such that the network activity in a real time would be tracked, confidential information safeguarded and control over the daily activities of every staff established.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The Federal Inland Revenue service (FIRS) is one of the federal ministries charged with the responsibility of accessing, collecting, and accounting for the various taxes to the federal government since 1943. Tax revenue has been reliable from time, from where government rely for decision making, and aids for development and administrative planning, hence there is need for optimum human resource of the organization or ministry; for it’s considered to be their most valuable asset if properly harnessed and are well motivated to perform their assigned tasks so as to enhance the organizations goals and objectives.
Computer network security has become one of the vital tools in providing evidence in cases such as computer misuse and fraud. Computers and other devices are being used increasingly to commit, enable or support unwanted activity perpetrated against individuals, organizations or assets. Although it is most often associated with the investigation of a wide variety of computer crime, network activity monitoring system may also be used in civil proceedings. The discipline involves similar techniques and principles to data recovery and a lot of information is retained on the computer than most people realize. It’s also more difficult to completely remove information than it is generally thought. For these reasons (and many more), network activity monitoring system can often find evidence or even completely recover lost or deleted information, even if the information was intentionally deleted.
This system consist of two tier application – server and client whereby the activity monitoring server can be installed in any computer in the entire local area network and the client which is the remote spy software is installed on all the computers on the network to be monitored.
The challenges encountered that led to the execution of the research work is that; the method of operation is not so efficient for both units in the department (Operations and Reconciliation units). Both units cannot work at the same time, and this is because the staffs in one of the unit (reconciliation unit) has to wait for the staffs in the other unit (operation unit) to get their work to some extent before they can process their own work, and while they are processing their own work, the staffs in the operation unit has to pause their work a little and with this manual of operation in the department, rooms for corporate fraud is being created.
1.3 Statement of Problem
Investigation revealed the challenges of the existing Network Security system which is stated as follows:
- Difficulties in maintaining a steady reliable accounting figures and estimates
- Unauthorized access of organizational data/information by Staff
- Presence of fraudulent act of some customer/workers negatively impact the reliability of the system
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to design and implement a Network Security System using Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to develop an application software that will:
- Detect security violations by re-creating security incidents for preventing unauthorized users
- Safeguard the organizational personnel data/information
- Enhance the organizational security and eliminate all forms of mistakes associated with security control.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will assist FIRS in the area of ensuring effective security measures and it will also be of immense benefit to computer science students, Networking Engineering and other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Design and Implementation of Network Security System using Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) as a case study. It will examine the operations of FIRS in the aspect of computerizing their security control system.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.8 Definition of Terms
NAMS (Network Activity Monitoring System): This is the system that is used monitor the daily activity of every user on a network
Corporate Fraud: This is the fraud committed by insiders in a large, publicly traded (or private) corporation, and/or by senior executives.
Real Time: Occurring immediately, this is used for such task as navigation, in which the computer must react to a steady flow of new information without interruption.
LAN (Local Area Network): This is computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most LANs are confined to a single building or group of buildings.
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