In today’s globalised environment, it is no surprise that cyber security issues have started taking centre stage. Virtually no sector has gone online, be it shopping, banking, or other activities. This makes it easy for conspirators to access and misuse our personal information.
As technology continues to advance, cybercriminals’ approaches are also developing. Knowledge of the basic principles of cybersecurity will ensure your private and working information is secure and well-protected from modern attacks. Cyber Security is to mitigate breaches.
In this article, we’ll discuss the different forms of cyber security and the preventative measures we apply to avoid the dangerous harms of cyber attacks on ourselves and our firms.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity protects computer systems and networks from cyber attacks by safeguarding computer devices, computer networks, and their data. This includes protecting and managing tools and processes to mitigate, identify, and control security risks.
Businesses rely on Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP) for their security planning. Everyone must take cybersecurity seriously as ignoring this growing problem will eventually result in an IT disaster.
Purpose of Cyber Security
The purpose of cybersecurity is to mitigate data breaches and encourage a safe environment for hardware failures. It protects information from random attacks from intruders, who can make your data unreachable unless a ransom payment is agreed using cryptocurrency.
Individuals who can gain unauthorised access to the data on your system or networks can range from hackers who write scripts to try to compromise cybersecurity or organised criminal enterprises who will carry out technically advanced attacks, purely for illegal financial gain.
Why Cyber Security is Essential
Cyber Security provides many things, from order creation and management at the customer’s premises to password protection and advanced features such as data protection management, encryption, and infrastructure protection. In the same way that threats evolve, so do the current trends to curb the dangers associated with them and protect users’ data.
Cybersecurity is essential for several reasons:
- Nowadays, when people go online and post their bios, skills, and even their fondest paths, they often give out way too much. Cybersecurity has always focused on protecting users’ private information from potentially unwanted brains.
- Cybercrimes can cause substantial economic harm to people and organisations. Through ransomware, people fall prey to identity theft, fraudulent activities, and extortion.
- Cyber or criminal activities are likely to cause a decline in a business’s image and customer experience.
- Business operations may be interfered with, resulting in downtime, lack of business production, and legal exposure.
For example, in 2017, the managing firm Equifax suffered a data breach that leaked the private records of about 147 million people, damaging the company’s finances and reputation.
Types of CyberSecurity
1. Network Security
Network security concerns protecting the devices that facilitate electronic communication. Measures include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network surveillance.
Moreover, firewall deployment prevents unauthorised entities from accessing specific data while monitoring network activity to detect abnormal data traffic. It also comes in handy for surveillance purposes.
These tools will also highlight the potential risks. The issue with these tools is, they are continually generating data. Due to the thousands of logs that create, genuine alerts may miss the process. With the continued advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, security software can identify and alert of imminent risks.
2. Information Security
Information security is about safeguarding your data from unauthorised access and breaches. Techniques such as data encryption and access controls play a crucial role.
Data Encryption involves converting data into a code to prevent unauthorised access. Access controls ensure that only authorised users can view or modify sensitive information.
3. Application Security
Application security involves practices like secure coding, vulnerability assessments, and application firewalls.
The most vulnerable area for cybersecurity is web applications. With developers worldwide creating web applications, each development team has a different skillset and coding standards. Often developers have not created the systems with secure coding practices, leaving these systems vulnerable and prone to attack.
Web applications must test for security weaknesses by performing Penetration (PEN) testing. Software such as OWASP or Fortify will identify issues within web applications that can address the developers.
4. Operational Security
Operational security covers the procedures and policies you implement to protect your data. This includes incident response plans, security policies, and user training.
5. End-User Education
End-user education involves training programs and awareness campaigns to help users recognise and respond to cyber threats.
6. Cloud Security
Cloud security involves securing data and applications hosted in the cloud through configurations, access management, and encryption.
More organisations are storing and sharing data on the Cloud, such as:
- GSuite for emails, storage, and productivity
- DropBox and One Drive for storage
- Xero for accounts
- Office365 for productivity
This creates further issues related to cybersecurity and also for new regulations like the GDPR. Poorly configured cloud solutions can result in cyberattacks, and it introduces a substantial risk. Cybersecurity is no longer under the control of your organisation. Businesses are relying on others to implement cybersecurity strategies.
7. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM focuses on managing and controlling user access within an organisation. Techniques such as single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) enhance security.
MFA, for instance, adds an extra layer of protection beyond just passwords.
8. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Disaster recovery and business continuity plans ensure your organisation can recover from cyber attacks and maintain operations.
This includes regular data backups and recovery strategies.
Cyberattacks
No business can be protected 100% from cyber attacks, regardless of the commitment of an individual organisation. However, cyber attacks usually occur through the most vulnerable points of access. These weak points are quite easy to secure, and if businesses follow basic cybersecurity protocols, the risk can be minimised. These security procedures, which are also known as cyber hygiene, include elements such as.
- Ensure the latest software updates are installed.
- Ensure the latest virus software is installed.
- Ensuring strong authentication, such as strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA), is implemented.
- Ensure that sensitive data is not stored in locations that can be easily accessed.
With the advancement of technology, security risks are now increasing in business computers and across homes. There are now many physical systems that can be hacked, including:
- Automotive systems
- Airlines systems
- Internet-enabled electronic devices
- Automated systems such as traffic lights in a busy city
The Internet of Things (IoT), also brings new challenges for cybersecurity. With more reliance on these systems, cybersecurity has never been more critical. New regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), are adding further complications to cybersecurity. The GDPR, for example, has a clear security policy, with large GDPR fines for non-compliance. Businesses are looking towards experienced cybersecurity professionals to ensure their organisations are fully protected.
Common Cyber Threats
Cybersecurity is essential to protect against the three most common types of cyberattacks, as listed below.
Malware
Harmful programs created to impair computer systems and networks, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, etc.
A 2024 report by Symantec revealed that ransomware attacks increased by 60% in the past year.
Phishing
Unlawful practices involving communication through deceptive means to collect sensitive data. To avoid falling prey to phishing attacks, two-factor authentication (2FA) is recommended.
According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, phishing attacks have risen by 50% in recent months.
Ransomware
This type of malware allows you to access your files after you pay a ransom to the virus’s creator.
The 2024 Cybersecurity Trends report by McAfee highlighted a 40% increase in ransomware incidents over the past year.
Denial of Service (DoS)
Denial of Service (DoS) is described as an attack adjusting to frame a single computer, network resource or multiple resources by flooding them with requested traffic.
The 2023 State of DDoS report by Arbour Networks noted a 45% increase in DoS attacks compared to the previous year.
Best Practices for Cyber Security
Regular Software Updates
Patching up cyber defences is achieved by ensuring regular updates to systems and applications. Even The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) support this practice as it seeks to eradicate previously established security loopholes.
Strong Passwords
Use complex and unique passwords for different accounts.
The 2024 Password Security Report by LastPass found that 80% of data breaches involve weak or reused passwords.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Adding an extra layer of security beyond passwords. According to Google, MFA can block 99.9% of automated attacks.
Data Encryption
Encrypting sensitive data ensures it remains protected even if accessed by unauthorised individuals.
Thales’ 2023 Encryption Trends report found that 90% of organisations consider encryption a critical component of their data protection strategy.
Backup and Recovery Plans
Regularly back up your data and have a recovery plan. The 2024 Backup and Recovery Report by Acronis found that organisations with comprehensive backup plans recover 60% faster from data loss incidents.
Cybersecurity careers
Finding the best team to manage your organisation’s cybersecurity strategy is a difficult task. With forceful laws like GDPR taking effect in the European Union, the demand for cybersecurity sources is at its highest, and there is certainly a skill shortage.
Protecting an organisation’s data and infrastructure has never been more critical, with a cybersecurity team now requiring different skills than professionals such as:
- Security engineer
- Information security officer
- Data protection officer
- Penetration testers
Dedicated cybersecurity teams are now paramount and are in high demand, with organisations ready to pay them hefty packages. The era has passed when cybersecurity may have been one of the tasks of one of the technical engineers.
Cybersecurity is a 24/7 role that requires round-the-clock the clockwork to ensure internal systems are well protect and when a potential attack is there, reacting quickly to rectify the attack. A rapidly changing environment that relies on a proactive team to continually protect the business’s interests.
Following are key roles within the cybersecurity team:
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
This is the lead role in the cybersecurity team; the CISO oversees the cybersecurity department. The CISO defines the organization’s security policies and procedures and ensures that all security planning is in place to protect the organisation in the case of a cyber-attack. Cyber security is important.
Cyber Security Analyst
The Cyber Security Analyst performs so many key responsibilities within an organisation:
- Ensures that there is a security plan in place that has fully tested form. The plan should not stop but kept updated and continue to evolve.
- Protection of data and files held within the organisation, ensuring that only the appropriate individuals can have access to these files.
- Monitor access, identifying any potential security breaches. Security breaches should be analysed to identify vulnerabilities and rectified.
- Ongoing security audits both internally and externally. Accurate network systems should be present to prevent attacks. In the case of an intrusion, network tools should detect these intrusions and follow an incident response protocol.
- Define and manage the organization’s corporate security policy.
Security Architect
The Security Architect stays in between the technical and management team. Their role is to ensure the organization’s network and security infrastructure are configured to meet the business’s cybersecurity requirements.
The Security Architect must have an excellent understanding of the business. And technology to ensure that the solution implemented is the correct solution.
Security Engineer
This role within the cybersecurity team requires the Security Engineer to be at the forefront of the organisation. The individual needs to be able to communicate well throughout the business. And have excellent technical skills to fulfil this role.
The key purpose of this role is to ensure that the infrastructure, network, and data centres are fully secure. And to develop and evolve strategies that continue to protect the organisation’s infrastructure.
Cybersecurity training
Today, IT users are often the cause of cybersecurity issues. Each user has a purpose different from another when using a computer. While a few people have better knowledge about computer security, most do not. Every user must understand the cybersecurity risks and how they can work to reduce the risk of security breaches.
Some approaches that can help in cybersecurity planning and programs are as follows:
- Software developers must not only develop software, but they should code it using an approach that halts easy access to potential hackers. Any software developed should also be PEN (Penetration) tested – this is a key element of cybersecurity that identifies security flaws within the software.
- Individuals must be trained to understand how to ensure the best security such as ensuring business software and virus protection.
- End-users must be trained to be able to identify phishing emails and to not open attachments from unknown sources or social media.
Conclusion
Protecting sensitive digital information and business functionality requires a cyber security approach. By knowing the elements of cyber security and following best practices, you can significantly lower the risks of cyber threats.
Be on the lookout for further developments and provide yourself and your employees with information relevant to cyber attacks’ safety. A little effort taken today may prevent much more significant troubles from occurring.
