Order No.176 Adds New Internal Network Security Inspection Items: Enterprise All-Optical Networks Complete Audit Capabilities for Dumb Terminal Access

As the Measures for Supervision and Inspection of Cyberspace Security by Public Security Organs (Ministry of Public Security Order No.176) takes effect on October 1, 2026, cybersecurity inspections for enterprises are undergoing major changes. The new regulation clarifies that public security authorities may conduct remote detection via vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, in addition to on-site inspections. Cybersecurity audits are evolving from on-site configuration reviews and document checks toward practical detection of network attack surfaces.

This means enterprises must focus not only on the deployment of internal network devices, but also on vulnerabilities on public network exposure surfaces, egress security protection, and the ability to identify and audit terminals after they connect to the network.

I. More Proactive Supervision: Internal Network Security Cannot Rely Solely on Document Audits

1. From on-site inspections to online risk detection; public network exposure forms the first line of defense

In the past, many enterprises prepared for cybersecurity inspections mainly by sorting equipment inventories, reviewing security policies and compiling documentation. Under the new inspection framework, risks exposed to the public internet may be uncovered through remote scanning.

Looking at real-world attack chains, attackers first hunt for corporate public IPs, open ports and internet-facing business systems, then exploit discovered vulnerabilities. Once they breach the network perimeter, attackers may implant viruses and malware, and attempt lateral movement across internal endpoints.

Therefore, enterprise cybersecurity must assess far more than internal network issues. The internet egress must serve as the first defensive barrier to block threats before they penetrate the internal network.

2. Rising numbers of dumb terminals require identification and auditing upon access

Terminals in enterprise campuses, including cameras, access controllers, printers and IoT devices, often lack full identity authentication capabilities. These devices can connect to the network normally yet easily become blind spots in network management.

If devices can join the network freely, troubleshooting abnormal traffic becomes difficult; administrators struggle to quickly pinpoint which device or port is causing problems. Beyond egress security, enterprises need a traceability mechanism covering the full lifecycle from device access to network behaviour.

II. All-Optical Network + Security Protection: Build a Full Security Closed-Loop from Egress to Endpoints

1. Dream Gateway M1 reinforces network egress to block threats before they reach the internal network

To mitigate risks from public network exposure, AINOPOL Dream Gateway M1 acts as the security barrier at the enterprise network egress. It integrates routing and security functions to perform security inspection and protection before traffic enters the internal network.

The M1 incorporates firewall capabilities to enforce policy control over inbound and outbound traffic. Combined with IPS, WAF and antivirus protection, it identifies and blocks network attacks, malicious access and potential threats, reducing the chance that internet-borne risks infiltrate the corporate internal network.

Faced with the typical attack chain: detect public exposure → launch attack → attempt intranet penetration, enterprises establish defenses at the network egress upfront instead of remediating threats after malware has entered the internal network.

2. ONU port binding + terminal whitelisting for manageable dumb terminals

Beyond the security perimeter, terminal access control must be addressed. AINOPOL all-optical networks associate devices with their corresponding access ports through ONU port binding. Paired with terminal whitelisting, this governs which devices are permitted to join the network.

For dumb terminals such as cameras, access controllers and printers that lack sophisticated native authentication, network-side access management defines where the device connects and whether access is authorized. When rogue devices or unauthorized access occurs, administrators can rapidly locate the corresponding port and terminal, eliminating network blind spots.

3. From basic connectivity to auditability: create traceable network security

Robust internal network security is not only about blocking unauthorized devices; it also tracks what happens after devices connect. Leveraging the unified management capability of all-optical networks, the system correlates terminals, access locations and network behaviours, transforming device access from invisible to identifiable, manageable and traceable.

Together with integrated communication & encryption capabilities, the network balances transmission efficiency and data security during data transfer, laying a more complete foundation for enterprise cybersecurity.

Against the backdrop of Order No.176, enterprise cybersecurity is shifting from offline document reviews toward online risk detection and validation of real defensive capabilities.

What enterprises truly need is not a single standalone security appliance, but a complete chain: public egress protection + terminal access management + network behaviour auditing. Deploy Dream Gateway M1 as the secure egress, paired with all-optical network terminal access control and unified management, to form a comprehensive security closed-loop covering public exposure surfaces all the way to internal endpoints.

FAQ

Q: What new internal network inspection items are added under Order No.176?
A: The new regulation expands supervision scope from “internet security” to “cyberspace security”, covering internal systems, internal data repositories and personal information databases. New inspection items include data security and personal information protection, password implementation for internal business systems, terminal admission control, and log retention.

Q: Why is auditing dumb terminal access a major compliance challenge?
A: Dumb terminals cannot install security clients or run interactive authentication. Traditional networks accept all incoming connections without discrimination. Traditional infrastructure lacks unified monitoring and records for critical data: which port a device connects to, connection timestamp, and accessed resources. After Order No.176 brings internal data flows into inspection scope, the unaudited status of dumb terminals directly creates compliance gaps.

Q: What is the difference between ONU port binding on all-optical networks and conventional MAC whitelisting?
A: Traditional MAC whitelisting only validates MAC addresses, which attackers can forge. All-optical networks adopt dual binding: ONU physical port + MAC address. A device must have a whitelisted MAC address and be plugged into the designated physical port. Attackers can spoof MAC addresses, but cannot fake the physical port.