As the cybersecurity professional for Company A, you are responsible for protecting the information of the company and its clients. Your roles include managing the company’s cybersecurity capabilities and tools, conducting vulnerability management, and assessing risk to sensitive information.

Company A has recently purchased Company B and wants to merge both networks. This is a complex task that requires careful planning and execution to ensure that the security of both networks is maintained.

Here are some key steps that you should take to merge the networks securely:

1. Conduct a security assessment of both networks. This will help you to identify any vulnerabilities or security risks that need to be addressed before the networks are merged.
2. Develop a plan for merging the networks. This plan should include a detailed timeline, budget, and resource allocation.
3. Implement the merger plan in a phased approach. This will help to minimize the risk of disruption to the business.
4. Monitor the merged network closely for any security incidents.

Here are some specific tasks that you should perform as part of the network merger:

• Identify and classify all assets on both networks. This includes servers, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, and cloud-based resources.
• Identify and assess all security vulnerabilities on both networks. This can be done using a variety of tools and techniques, such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and risk assessments.
• Develop and implement a security remediation plan to address any vulnerabilities that are identified. This plan should include a timeline and budget for remediation.
• Design and implement a network security architecture for the merged network. This architecture should be based on industry best practices and should take into account the specific needs of the merged organization.
• Develop and implement security policies and procedures for the merged network. These policies and procedures should be communicated to all employees and contractors.
• Configure and deploy security solutions for the merged network. This may include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.
• Monitor the merged network for security incidents. This can be done using a variety of tools and techniques, such as SIEM systems, network traffic monitoring, and log analysis.

It is important to note that merging two networks is a complex task and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The specific steps that you need to take will vary depending on the specific needs of your organization.

Here are some additional tips for merging networks securely:

• Involve all relevant stakeholders in the planning process. This includes the IT team, the security team, and business unit leaders.
• Communicate regularly with all employees and contractors throughout the merger process. This will help to ensure that everyone is aware of the changes that are being made and how they will be affected.
• Test the merged network thoroughly before it is put into production. This will help to identify any potential problems and to ensure that the network is secure.
• Have a plan in place for responding to security incidents. This plan should be communicated to all employees and contractors.

By following these steps, you can help to ensure that the merger of the two networks is done securely and that the security of both networks is maintained.