Options In Enforcing Security In Cisco Routers
Cisco is the leader in routing and switching devices, but they aren’t without their problems. Routers need to be secured with several different configurations so as to best ensure a network is not vulnerable to outside attack. How to configure the Cisco router becomes the task, and with what commands is the problem.
There are a total of five different commands that can be used in regards to the different passwords that can be secured. The first to review is the command “Enable password.” This command is an outdated form, although it is still in use among older routers and with those who haven’t upgraded their IOS. Enable password in particular is flawed because it uses no encryption to store the password in question.
For those who favor encryption, and we all should, computer network technicians should instead opt for the enable secret command. Enable secret is a command introduced in more recent years for storing the password required to get into privileged mode in encryption. This encryption comes in handy in several cases, with notable benefit to be seen in the running configuration.
For anyone running an IOS version below 10.3, the enable secret command will not be available. Thus, it is extremely important that all Cisco router users update to the latest IOS if it hasn’t been done so already. By default, newer IOS versions will use enable secret over enable password- which is obviously the better choice in the matter.
Much of the benefit from the enable secret command comes from protecting the running configuration from prying eyes. And as far as computer networking security goes, even the smallest bit of help in security goes a long way in network stability. And when companies and businesses depend on network stability for a source of income, lacking it could run a business and its services into the ground.
Final Thoughts
Cisco routers aren’t a safety hazard by any means, but updating to the latest IOS version and taking advantage of newer commands such as “Enable secret” is the best bet in keeping the computer network up and running for months to come without hassle. For further information, consult Cicso articles and other Internet resources to learn how to actually go about the process of using Enable secret.
