You may have heard of “cyber security” and may also have used this term in conversations, but what exactly does it mean?
Many of us use this term to describe the digital security of a system or organization against malicious hackers and cybercriminals, which isn’t incorrect. Still, it is so much more than that.
Today, we will discuss cyber security in some detail to give you a comprehensive understanding of the term, what it encompasses, and why it is vital for organizations.
What Is Cyber Security?
Cyber security is an umbrella term for the practice of protecting computers, mobile devices, IT systems, networks, servers, and data from breaches, hacks, cyber threats, and other malicious practices on information technology systems.
For organizations, cyber security intends to defend the integrity and confidentiality of IT systems and data. Cyber security is not limited to the digital realm of cyber threats; it also encompasses real-world, non-cyber occurrences like natural disasters, human errors, and behaviors.
It protects all the digital, electronic, and virtual assets of an organization or system from internal, external cyber threats, and non-cyber threats alike. When we talk about cyber security, we are talking about anything and everything that may affect the integrity of IT systems or data.
Implementing effective and comprehensive cyber security requires the protection of multiple IT systems and data of an organization in a coordinated manner. These systems may be connected or stand-alone systems, including various types like network, mobile, cloud computing, or backup data.
Since cyber security is such a broad term, it has some common and basic subsections that are widely recognized worldwide. Most organizations around the world that use cyber security incorporate some or all of them in their security infrastructure.
They include:
Network Security
Network systems are one of the most vulnerable parts of any organization. Cybercriminals and hackers often use it as an entry point to breach their IT systems. Organizational network systems require protection to ensure the safety of all connected systems.
Software and hardware systems need to work together to prevent hackers, cybercriminals, and software from breaching the network.
Application Security
Application security aims to protect an organization’s software and applications from unauthorized access or modification. This facet of cyber security is based on secure coding, threat modeling, and many other things. However, the most important part of application security starts at the design stage of any application.
Mobile Security
Mobile devices are the most common and basic technology used by people in an organization, and since the global increase in remote working, mobile security is more important than ever. It entails protecting the company and personal data on all the organization’s mobile devices, which includes laptops, smartphones, and other portable devices.
The cyber threats to these mobile devices may include data breaches, malware, or even instances of theft or unintentional loss of devices. Mobile security takes measures to safeguard sensitive data, like implementing strong password protection or maintaining some remote access to these devices.
Cloud Security
Organizations that deploy or use cloud-based technology and services require designing secure applications, architectures, and environment configurations for effective cloud security. This enables them to prevent cyber threats by eliminating external interference, influence, or modification to their cloud systems.
Data Security & Identity Management
The safe storage, transfer, and backup of sensitive information or data come under data security. It may include protecting various types of data for an organization. Identity management ensures that only the organization’s legitimate and authorized individuals, who are allowed access, can access the organization’s information systems and data.
It encompasses all the processes and frameworks that enable the authentication of authorized individuals and protects the organization against identity theft and related security breaches.
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
Disaster recovery is an organization’s preparedness to avoid things like natural disasters or successful cyber attacks. It focuses on how organizations will respond to recover from the damage caused to their data, IT systems, and/or operations after a disaster, either physical or digital.
On the other hand, Business Continuity is an organization’s plan about how to continue operating without compromised or damaged data, IT systems, and/or operations once a disaster has occurred.
End-User Education
It is no secret that human error is the most random and common factor that results in more than 90 percent of all cyber security breaches. Even the most secure systems are not safe from the mistakes made by the people in an organization, especially if they are not following cyber security best practices.
Educating the staff and training them about cyber security and its best practices, End-User Education can eliminate most of the cyber threats for an organization by simply reducing human error. More importantly, it can educate and train users to recognize and report cyber threats before they breach or cause damage to the organization.
Why Is Cyber Security So Important?
Except for natural disasters and other environmental occurrences that may disrupt the technology and IT systems of an organization, cyber security protects them against the following forms of cyber threats:
- Cybercrimes: These are cyber threats that include the crimes committed by groups or individuals that want to take advantage by exploiting or disrupting the data or systems of an organization.
- Cyber attacks: These are cyber threats that are typically politically influenced and entail breaching, collecting, or stealing data or technology for exploitation.
- Cyber terrorism: These are cyber threats that are targeted to create panic or instill fear by compromising crucial IT systems of public or private organizations.
These types of cyber threats may come from anywhere in the world at any time. They are a constant concern for most organizations, regardless of their size or industry. What’s worse is that most cyber threats are difficult to track or bring to justice, which is why cyber security is so important.
Cyber security is the best way we know to prevent such cyber threats from crippling organizations around the world. It is crucial in preventing a multitude of threats that include, but are not limited to:
- Online Scams
- Malware
- Ransomware
- Phishing
- Injection Attacks
- Denial of Service Attacks
- Social Engineering
- Many more
Conclusion
Since almost everything in our modern world relies on data, technologies, and IT systems, implementing cyber security and its best practices is more critical than ever. Public and private organizations require some or all of the mentioned subsections of cyber security to prevent cyber threats and avoid disasters.
The realm of cyber security and cyber threats is constantly evolving, and newer, more advanced threats are developed every day. Similarly, cyber security developments are produced and implemented to counter these threats. Learning about them is the first step towards safety and cyber security.
If you want to learn more about cyber security or implement it for your business or organization, please visit our website today.