CYBER SECURITY

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, systems, data, applications, and IT (information technology) devices against attacks. Cyberattacks are generally designed to disrupt business operations, gain unauthorized access to systems, obtain data or intellectual property, or steal/extort money from organizations. Strong cybersecurity requires a multilayered defense involving technologies, processes, policies, and security expertise to protect organizations from attacks that can result in loss of business and reputation.

What is a cybersecurity program designed to do?

Effective cybersecurity programs are designed to identify threats and remediate them as quickly as possible. Cybersecurity technologies are designed to disrupt threats before they enter a network or to recognize and stop ongoing attacks. Due to the high volume and growing sophistication of cyberattacks, many cybersecurity programs focus on disrupting attacks, as well as ensuring business continuity during attacks that successfully breach initial defenses.

Why is cybersecurity important?

IT networks, applications, data, and systems are essential to operations in all organizations. As the business world becomes more interconnected, these resources become more valuable to cybercriminals and more vulnerable to cybercrimes, data breaches, and attacks. A strong cybersecurity program helps organizations prevent data loss (data protection), reputational damage, and negative impact on results.

What is a cybersecurity threat?

Although the threat landscape is constantly evolving, there are categories of common cyberattack methods that continue to pose a challenge to cybersecurity programs.

•  Malware is malicious software, such as viruses, worms, or spyware, designed to steal data or damage networks and systems.

•  Ransomware attacks use a form of malware that encrypts files within a target network, allowing cybercriminals to extract a ransom before providing an encryption key that restores access to important data.

•  Phishing attacks use fraudulent emails or text messages that appear to be from a trusted source. Phishing allows attackers to gain access to data or steal money by convincing targets to reveal login credentials, account numbers, credit card information, and other sensitive information.

•  Insider threats are individuals, such as current or former employees, partners, or vendors, who abuse permission to access information systems or networks to steal data or mount an attack.

•  DoS (denial of service) or DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks cause failures in networks, websites, or servers. A denial-of-service attack overwhelms a target with an overwhelming number of requests until it can no longer function as usual or continue to serve legitimate requests.

•  APTs (advanced persistent threats) are prolonged cybersecurity attacks in which an attacker infiltrates the system and remains undetected for a long period to steal sensitive information or spy on the activity of the target organization.

•  Machine-in-the-middle attacks are a way for hackers (attackers) to secretly insert themselves into the middle of communication between two users to steal data or credentials or to pretend to be a user.

•  SQL injection is a technique in which attackers insert malicious code into a website or app to gain unauthorized access and steal or manipulate information in a database.

•  Botnets are networks of computers infected with malware that can be controlled by a cybercriminal in order to mount large-scale attacks on a given computer system.

What are the elements or types of cybersecurity?

The security measures of a robust cybersecurity program will include technologies, processes, and policies to protect key parts of the IT ecosystem. Included are:

•  Network security or information security defends against attacks targeting vulnerabilities and operating systems, network architecture, servers, hosts, wireless access points, and network protocols.

•  Cloud security protects data, applications, and infrastructure residing in public, private, or hybrid clouds.

•  IoT (Internet of Things) security is tasked with protecting thousands or millions of devices that are part of an IoT network.

•  Application security prevents attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in software.

•  Identity and access management controls permissions granted to individuals to access systems, applications, and data.

•  Endpoint security focuses on protecting devices connected to the Internet, such as laptops, servers, and cell phones.
•  Data security solutions protect sensitive data and information assets in transit or at rest through methods such as encryption and data backups.

What are the common cybersecurity challenges?

Key challenges to ensuring cybersecurity include:

•  An evolving threat landscape. Cybercriminals are constantly refining methods and inventing new ways to bypass security defenses. To protect against attacks, organizations must always review the effectiveness of security programs and adopt new technologies to combat fast-changing attack methods.

•  Human error. User behavior and actions are generally the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. As a result, security awareness education should be part of any multilayered security program.

•  Increased reliance on IT systems and cloud services. To remain competitive, organizations are moving more resources to the cloud and relying more than ever on IT systems, increasing the size of the attack surface.

•  Remote work. An increasing number of users are working remotely or from home, increasing the risk that their connections and devices will be compromised.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies. As more users prefer to access a corporate network with their own laptops and smartphones, it is harder for organizations to protect these devices.

What are cybersecurity best practices?

Investment in a comprehensive security solution. The most effective approach to cybersecurity is a multilayered defense that protects an organization and critical infrastructure against a wide range of threats.

•  Implementation of a Zero Trust strategy. Traditional perimeter-based defenses (such as firewalls and antivirus software) assume that any traffic or user already inside the network is trusted. Still, this approach is ineffective against successful attacks that move laterally within a network to infect devices and access systems. A Zero Trust approach to cybersecurity assumes that any request may be compromised and requires every user, device, and connection to be authenticated before access is granted.

•  Deployment of strong IAM (identity and access management) technology. IAM solutions define the roles and access privileges for users. Strong IAM solutions require multi-factor authentication and provide visibility into suspicious activity at endpoints.