Introduction to cybersecurity: Everything you need to know
As the internet economy expands, and products and services move to the web, protecting critical information and data from untrusted entities looking to make a profit is becoming increasingly difficult. should be more important than ever.
In this article, we will look at the definition of cybersecurity, why it is necessary, and propose some suggestions to ensure safety in this environment.
What is network security?
Cyber security is the activity of protecting internet-connected systems from malicious actors.
Such individuals often steal financial information, proprietary data, or personally identifiable information (PII), then sell it on the dark web or to third-party advertisers. Some of these actions may be political in nature, for example when hackers are sponsored by governments with the goal of destroying the reputation of organizations, whistleblowers, or political opponents. .
Cybersecurity is designed to mitigate these risks and prevent hacker attacks on both digital and physical assets.
While attackers can get into your system through malware attacks or other means of attack through the network, there are threats that also lurk in the hardware. For example, an infected USB drive can quickly spread malware onto your network, bypassing firewalls and strong security algorithms.
An effective cybersecurity system typically incorporates multiple layers of protection and performs continuous checks to uncover vulnerabilities in your system.
It should be noted that cybersecurity is a field always in development. With thousands of new vulnerabilities discovered every day, cybersecurity professionals must stay up to date and test their systems against new threats.
Types of network security
Cybersecurity includes people, technology and processes. They must complement each other to provide effective protection for computer systems, data and networks. Below, we highlight some common types of cybersecurity approaches:
Application security
Many organizations today rely almost entirely on cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) applications to perform their tasks. These applications contain large amounts of important information about the organization - data that hackers may intend to access.
Ensuring the security of these applications is about strengthening their internal defenses against any intrusion attempts. While most of these security measures are typically implemented during development, application security also includes patching, regularly updating software, and performing source code audits to improve performance. The application's defenses are in place.
No application can guarantee absolute safety and 100% perfection. Cyber threats evolve rapidly and problems like zero-day vulnerabilities are a reality. Humans can make mistakes during software development. Therefore, checking and correcting vulnerabilities is a mandatory requirement to maintain system security.
Intrusion detection
Intrusion detection systems (IDS) are responsible for identifying potentially threatening network activities. This is a special type of software trained to monitor suspicious and unusual behavior. The IDS will record suspicious behavior in the central security and event management system.
Not all IDS are the same. Some of them have the ability to monitor and respond to threats when needed. This type is called an intrusion prevention system (IPS).
There are different types of IDS deployed to protect networks at different points. Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) analyze incoming network traffic and check for abnormalities. Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) monitor important system files to ensure they are not compromised or attacked.
There are two methods that IDS uses to identify and stop threats. The first method is signature-based, meaning that the IDS identifies threats by comparing against known malware samples and instruction sequences. However, signature-based tools are often ineffective against zero-day vulnerabilities, for which there is no prior sample information.
The second method is based on anomalies, which rely on machine learning algorithms that create reliable behavioral models. This behavior is compared to any new behavior discovered in the system. While the anomaly-based approach is more effective in stopping malware and zero-day threats, it can also lead to unnecessary alerts about legitimate activities, i.e. is activity that is not classified as a threat.
Prevent data loss
Data loss prevention (DLP) mechanisms are predefined processes and tools that ensure sensitive data is not accessed by unauthorized users or uploaded to unsecured servers outside the company.
Why is cybersecurity important?
As we increasingly rely on internet-related products and services, the need to protect data and applications has increased significantly in recent years.
The modern workforce needs access to important documents and applications through a variety of devices and from anywhere with a working Internet connection.
Consumers also use the Internet to access bank accounts, make wire transfers, and engage in e-commerce transactions. To put it simply, we have moved many of our sensitive activities to the internet and cloud-based applications.
Hackers have realized this. They know that if they have access to this data, they can reach out for profit or pressure companies into paying ransom.
Benefits of network security for businesses
Regardless of its size, all businesses should invest in a robust cybersecurity framework as they can all be vulnerable to malware, phishing scams and ransomware attacks.
1.Cost saving and value
2.Improve productivity
3. Trust and brand reputation
4.Protect data and intellectual property from exposure through hacking or theft.