What is Cyber Security, IT Security, and Data Security?
What is the need for IT security and CyberSecurity?
Computer security, cybersecurity or information technology security (IT security) is the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.
IT security is a set of cybersecurity strategies that prevents unauthorized access to organizational assets such as computers, networks, and data. It maintains the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information, blocking the access of sophisticated hackers.
What is Data Security?
Data security means protecting digital data, such as those in a database, from destructive tampering and unauthorized access. Hardware based security or assisted computer security offers an alternative to software-only computer security.
Common examples of:
- Data encryption
- Tokenization
- Key management
- Data loss prevention
- Data classification
- Data accees management
What is the need for network security?
Network security is the practice of securing a computer network from intruders, whether targeted attackers or opportunistic malware. Application security focuses on keeping software and devices free of threats. A compromised application could provide access to the data its designed to protect.
What is Internet security
Internet security involves the protection of information that is sent and received in browsers, as well as network security involving web-based applications. These protections are designed to monitor incoming internet traffic for malware as well as unwanted traffic. This protection may come in the form of firewalls, antimalware, and antispyware.
What is Critical infrastructure security:
Critical infrastructure security consists of the cyber-physical systems that modern societies rely on.
Common examples of critical infrastructure:
- Electricity grid
- Water purification
- Traffic lights
- Shopping centers
- Hospitals
What is Application security:
You should choose application security as one of the several must-have security measures adopted to protect your systems. Application security uses software and hardware methods to tackle external threats that can arise in the development stage of an application.
Applications are much more accessible over networks, causing the adoption of security measures during the development phase to be an imperative phase of the project.
Types of application security:
- Software development
- Application testing
- Code review
- Vunerablity and penetration testing
What is Network security:
Network security ensures that internal networks are secure by protecting the infrastructure and inhibiting access to it.
Common examples of network security implementation:
- Extra logins
- New passwords
- Application security
- Antivirus programs
- Antispyware software
- Encryption
- Firewalls
- Monitored internet access
Types of cyber threats:
The threats countered by cyber-security are three-fold:
Cybercrime includes single actors or groups targeting systems for financial gain or to cause disruption.
Cyber-attack often involves politically motivated information gathering.
Cyberterrorism is intended to undermine electronic systems to cause panic or fear.
So, how do malicious actors gain control of computer systems? Here are some common methods used to threaten cyber-security:
Malware
Malware means malicious software. One of the most common cyber threats, malware is software that a cybercriminal or hacker has created to disrupt or damage a legitimate user’s computer. Often spread via an unsolicited email attachment or legitimate-looking download, malware may be used by cybercriminals to make money or in politically motivated cyber-attacks.
There are a number of different types of malware, including:
Virus: A self-replicating program that attaches itself to clean file and spreads throughout a computer system, infecting files with malicious code.
Trojans: A type of malware that is disguised as legitimate software. Cybercriminals trick users into uploading Trojans onto their computer where they cause damage or collect data.
Spyware: A program that secretly records what a user does, so that cybercriminals can make use of this information. For example, spyware could capture credit card details.
Ransomware: Malware which locks down a user’s files and data, with the threat of erasing it unless a ransom is paid.
Adware: Advertising software which can be used to spread malware.
Botnets:Networks of malware infected computers which cybercriminals use to perform tasks online without the user’s permission.
SQL injection
An SQL (structured language query) injection is a type of cyber-attack used to take control of and steal data from a database. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in data-driven applications to insert malicious code into a databased via a malicious SQL statement. This gives them access to the sensitive information contained in the database.
Phishing
Phishing is when cybercriminals target victims with emails that appear to be from a legitimate company asking for sensitive information. Phishing attacks are often used to dupe people into handing over credit card data and other personal information.
Man-in-the-middle attack
A man-in-the-middle attack is a type of cyber threat where a cybercriminal intercepts communication between two individuals in order to steal data. For example, on an unsecure WiFi network, an attacker could intercept data being passed from the victim’s device and the network.
Denial-of-service attack
A denial-of-service attack is where cybercriminals prevent a computer system from fulfilling legitimate requests by overwhelming the networks and servers with traffic. This renders the system unusable, preventing an organization from carrying out vital functions.
8 Cyber Security Best Practices for Business
- Conduct Phishing Simulations
- Implement Risk Management Governance Approach
- Secure Remotely Working and Travelling Employees
- Plan for mobile devices
- Create a Cybersecurity Awareness Training Program
- Monitor User and File Activity
- Enforce password best practices
- Enforce the Use of Password Managers, SSOs, and MFAs
- Audit Privileged Access
- Implement Data Loss Prevention
- Update Software and Systems
- Implement and monitor EDR, MDR, and SIEM
- Regularly back up all data, and offsite backup
CyberSecOp cybersecurity solution provide pace of mind when it comes to privacy and security. Ensuring data security in the cloud or onpfremisies , compliant and protected by best-in-class security: your data, and the tools you use to harness it, can truly empower your business.
