Chapter 10. Network Foundation Protection

This chapter covers the following topics:

Using Network Foundation Protection to secure networks

Understanding the management plane

Understanding the control plane

Understanding the data plane

The network infrastructure primarily consists of routers and switches and their interconnecting cables. The infrastructure has to be healthy and functional if we want to be able to deliver network services reliably.

If we break a big problem down into smaller pieces, such as security and what an attacker might do, we can then focus on individual components and parts. By doing this, the work of implementing security becomes less daunting. That is what Network Foundation Protection (NFP) is all about: breaking the infrastructure down into smaller components and then systematically focusing on how to secure each of those components.