Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These cyber-attacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users; or interrupting normal business processes.  Implementing effective cybersecurity measures is particularly challenging today because there are more devices than people, and attackers are becoming more innovative.

• Application security — preventing data and code in business-critical security software (both in use and in development) from being stolen or hijacked, such as with penetration testing and encryption
• Information security — protecting physical and digital data from unauthorized access and manipulation, both on-site and through remote systems
• Infrastructure security — ensuring that the structures and facilities you rely on, such as electrical grids and data centers, are access-controlled and guarded against physical harm or disruption
• Network security — securing internal computer networks against unauthorized access, with tools like remote access management and two-factor authentication (2FA)
• User education — teaching employees and customers best practices for recognizing and avoiding cyber threats, such as malware and phishing attacks

 

There are many types of cyber threats, malicious acts that threaten to damage or steal data, or to otherwise disrupt workloads and services. No matter the type of origin, cyberthreats are a serious hazard to business health and operations. Some of the more common variations include:

 

Malware - shorthand for “malicious software” — is an application that’s intended to cause damage to systems, steal data, gain unauthorized access to networks, or otherwise wreak havoc.

Ransomware - is also a form of malware that was designed to encrypt data and lock victims out of their systems — that is, until they paid their attackers a ransom in order to restore access.

Phishing - is a common attack technique, and a form of social engineering: the strategy of manipulating people into taking unsafe actions or divulging sensitive information.

Social Engineering - is the practice of duping an individual in person, on the phone, or online into doing something that makes them vulnerable to further attacks. In the digital world, it is easier to trick people into falling into online traps than it is in real life, making online social engineering a prevalent and dangerous practice.

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) - attacks target servers, services, or networks in order to disrupt traffic flow, preventing users from accessing these resources.