Cyber security is the protection of systems that are connected to the internet from various cyber threats. Cyber Security plays an important role in protecting software, hardware, network, and data from cyber attacks.
Cyber attacks are extremely dangerous, and these days such attacks come in a very sophisticated way which, unless the system is highly protected, can go undetected, causing significant damage. Cyber criminals these days use Artificial Intelligence (AI) or social engineering to bypass the traditional security system and cause damage.
Businesses and organizations of any size must ensure a robust cyber security system in place. You must implement intelligent cyber security solutions to ensure optimum data security and protection of hardware. You must also use multi-factor authentication for all the users in a specific system so as to protect it from unauthorized access.
You also need to ensure that all the users and/or employees understand the risk of cyber security threats and the direct and indirect cost a security breach may cause. Each system user must take the necessary actions and avoid negligence to reduce the chances of an attack.
Types of Cyber Security
Data Security
Data security is the practice of protecting data and other digital information from an attack by cyber attackers. It is about ensuring optimum information security from hardware storage devices, access controls, also administrative and logical security of software applications. Data security also falls under organizational procedures and policies to protect the data.
Data can be of various categories such as intellectual property, personal information, personally identifiable information (PII), governmental information system, industry information system, protected health information (PHI), and more. And, it is of utmost necessity to ensure the highest degree of cyber security and protect data from mishandling.
Network Security
Network security is about protecting a network and the data involved in it. It also ensures the usability and the integrity of data along with the hardware and software in the network. Optimum network security blocks a variety of cyber threats by creating multiple layers of defenses in the network.
Having optimum network security also means that the system reduces the chances of malware, ransomware, spyware entering or spreading into a network. All the network security layers will implement strong security controls and policies to save the network from cyber attacks.
Application Security
Application security is about offering security measures at the application level. Application security helps in protecting data as well as codes within an application from being stolen or mishandled by cyber criminals.
Application security is necessary right from application design and development till its functional stage after they are deployed. Application security includes procedures to safeguard software and hardware in a network to identify the vulnerabilities and minimize them by developing security patches.
Cloud Security
Cloud security is the infrastructure that is deployed to safeguard cloud computing environments from external cybersecurity threats as well as insider mishandling.
Cloud security best practices prevent unauthorized access of data in a network. It encompasses the safety of data and applications in the cloud from any upcoming cybersecurity threats.
Whether a business uses Public cloud services, Private cloud services, Private cloud services, or Hybrid cloud services, cloud security ensures optimum security in all categories of cloud computing.
Infrastructure And Database Security
Infrastructure and database security is about using different tools, controls, and measures to establish and safeguard database integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
Database security ensures the utilization of different kinds of information security technologies and its best practices to ensure optimum security of the whole database and network infrastructure.
Endpoint Security
Endpoint security is the practice of ensuring optimum security of endpoints in end-user devices. This is also called entry points security as it deals with user devices such as laptops, desktops, and mobile devices from getting exploited by cyber criminals.
Endpoint security management is to protect these endpoints (or entry points) in a network based on the cloud from various cybersecurity threats. Endpoint security has evolved from using simple and traditional antivirus software to providing high-end protection from sophisticated malware and zero-day threats.
Identity Management
Identity management (IdM) is the practice of allowing only authorized people to have access to technology resources to perform specific jobs. It is also called identity and access management (IAM), and it consists of technologies and policies that identify, authenticate, and authorize people to access user rights based on their identities.
Mobile Security
Mobile security is the approach of protecting mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc., from cyber security threats. Optimum mobile device security means protecting data or assets while they are being used or accessed from mobile devices and communication hardware.
Operational Security
Operational security is the risk management process or the operational strategy to prevent sensitive information from being hacked or mishandled. Operational security or OPSEC identifies actions that may lead to leakage of sensitive data to cyber attackers or cyber criminals.
Operational security providers will deploy security measures from the perspective of cyber attackers and stop such a thing from happening.
Impact of Cyber Attacks
The consequences of cyber security attacks can be fatal to both users and the organization. It is important to ensure the best practices of cyber security to counter losses. Here are some of the consequences one may face due to a cyber security failure.
Economic Loss
If there is a cyber attack, there will be theft or damage of intellectual property, sensitive information, corporate information, etc. Losing such data can be damaging, and recovering the same along with mending the vulnerabilities would incur quite a loss for the enterprise.
Regulatory Cost
Data breach laws such as GDPR may hold you responsible for showing negligence in protecting your system and networks. In such a case, your organization may have to pay regulatory fines and other charges.
Reputation Loss
Any organization that is hit by cyber attacks loses the trust of its consumers, clients, and user base. And, their competitors also take advantage of the situation and try to snatch away a share of your user base. This will lead to reputation loss as well as economic loss.
Challenges Of Cyber Security And How To Tackle Them
Ensuring optimum cyber security is a tough job. With the ever-evolving technology, cyber criminals are coming up with new and sophisticated ways to launch an attack. Let us discuss the challenges faced by professionals protecting systems, networks, data, and hardware.
Sophisticated System to Exploit Security Systems
Technology is evolving with each passing day, and cyber criminals are exploiting the gap between the existing security controls and the upgraded ones to launch an attack. Cyber attackers also develop new techniques to find system vulnerabilities and initiate an attack.
Organizations need to upgrade themselves constantly to stay at par with the evolving nature of cyber security. There needs to be constant and consistent attention to the security layers deployed and also upgrade them as and when required.
Large Amount of Data to Manage
These days, most companies and organizations deal with large amounts of data on a daily basis. And, cyber criminals also prefer to target such organizations for a data breach that use a lot of users’ sensitive data. It puts all the people at risk who’s data is stolen or manhandled by the cyber attackers. Also, the organization whose data has been breached may fall under litigation if it turns out that the cyber attack happened due to their negligence.
Organizations that deal with a large amount of data should pay special attention to ensuring data safety along with protecting their network and systems.
Poor Knowledge of Employees or Users
User knowledge and awareness is an essential factor in ensuring system security. Relying entirely on cyber security software and other professionally curated solutions is not enough if the users are not conscious while logging into a system.
Employees need to be trained on different actions that can be risky for the system. For example, opening links from unknown or unauthenticated emails may turn out to be fatal as it may bring malware to the system. They should learn the important aspects they need to follow during their daily operations. Multi-factor authentication during login, along with user awareness, may help to an extent to reduce the chances of a security breach.
The Dearth of Cyber Security Experts
Another important factor that poses a hindrance in cyber security is the lack of adequate cyber security professionals. Considering the requirement in the industry, there is a huge gap between the service providers.
Companies like WebRock Media provide effective cyber security services at an affordable cost. You may connect with the professionals of this company and discuss your requirements and get a rate quote for the same.
Conclusion
If you are looking for cyber security solutions, you must connect with the adept team of WebRock Media and discuss your requirements. Our engineers and expert IT professionals will analyze the cyber threat that your business or operational system may be facing, and then accordingly, they will devise an optimum security strategy to safeguard your system from cyber criminals.
Contact us today to discuss the cyber security measures that your business needs today, and rest assured of getting the best services at the most competitive price.