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What Is Cyber Security and How Does It Work?

The worldwide cyber threat continues to evolve at a rapid rate, with a rising number of data breaches each year. Global spending on cybersecurity solutions is inevitably rising as the severity of the cyber threat is expected to keep growing. Following a Gartner report, the global expenditure on cybersecurity will reach a whopping rate of US$188.3 billion in 2023 and cross over US$260 billion by 2026. Nations across the globe are pushed to develop and implement effective cyber security practices and seek guidance as a way of responding to the rising cyber threats.

Considering the intensity of Cybercrimes surfacing, it is ideal we have a broad and in-depth comprehension of what is cyber security, its features, and the many advantages of Cyber security that can help businesses and organizations secure a safe cyber environment.

What is Cyber Security?

So what is Cyber security? It refers to the tools, techniques, and procedures that work together to protect and defend networks, computer systems, data, and confidential information against illegal accesses and cyber hackers known popularly as Cybercriminals. The principle primary objective of cyber security is to protect an organization’s assets from external or internal threats as well as disruptions brought on by natural catastrophes.

A successful and efficient cyber security posture necessitates coordinated activities across all of the organization’s information systems because organizational assets are composed of numerous diverse systems.

Understanding the various Types of Cyber Security

Cyber Security is a wide field made up of various disciplines combined. The different types of Cyber Security that offer the digital world protection against multiple cyber threats are:

Network Security
Network Security comprises numerous technologies, components, and procedures. It entails a planned set of guidelines and configurations put in place to safeguard the privacy, integrity, and usability of networks and data.

The objective of network security is to defend internal networks from intruders by safeguarding the infrastructure. Using new and strong passwords, and employing two-factor authentication (2FA) is an excellent example of network security.

Application Security
The practice and method of employing hardware and software to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities that may arise during an application’s development phase. Some examples of popular application security include antivirus, firewalls, encryption, etc.

Information Security
Information security or InfoSec as is commonly known aids in preventing malicious activity concerning sensitive data or information. Activities like unauthorized access, disruption, disclosure, abuse, alteration, inspection, destruction, or recording all fall under the category of Information security. InfoSec has its foundation in the three integral principles of Cyber security, i.e CIA (confidentiality, integrity, and availability).

Cloud Security
Technology, services, controls, and policies that safeguard cloud data, infrastructure, and applications against online threats and attacks are referred to as cloud security. By constantly guarding and keeping an eye on the data in the cloud, it helps to eliminate any dangers that are related to on-premises attacks.

Endpoint Security
This security type implies creating micro-segments around data regardless of location. This objective can be attained by exploiting endpoint security to your advantage. Using advanced threat prevention techniques like anti-phishing and anti-ransomware, as well as technologies that offer forensics like endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, businesses may secure end-user devices like desktops and laptops.

Mobile Security
Gadgets or devices that are portable like smartphones, laptops, and tablets are often undermined. However, they are a high potential conduit for accessing corporate data, putting companies at risk from malicious software and phishing, and several other assaults online. Here the protective mechanism of Mobile security is deployed to protect operating systems and devices from Rooting and Jailbreaking. This allows businesses to ensure that only compliant mobile devices are accessible to the company assets when combined with an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution.

IoT Security
Although deploying Internet of Things (IoT) devices undoubtedly increases productivity, it also exposes businesses to new online threats. Threat actors look for weak devices that are unintentionally connected to the Internet in order to utilize them for illicit purposes like gaining access to corporate networks or joining another bot in a large bot network. With the help of auto-segmentation to manage network activity, discovery and classification of connected devices, and the use of IPS as a virtual patch to thwart attacks on susceptible IoT devices, IoT security safeguards these gadgets.

Advantages of Cyber Security

Organizations across industries around the world significantly benefit from enforcing strong cyber security measures. Regardless of the goals, cyber security has a lot to offer to companies from protecting companies against cyber-attacks, to minimizing security expenditure, to reducing downtime, to mention a few. Let us learn about the advantages of Cyber Security and how it is aiding organizations in securing a safe digital environment.

Safeguards Confidential Data
Nowadays, data has become a valuable resource, and data including personal information is highly sought. Malware and other tools can be used by hackers to illegally access a person’s data and extort money or harm the person’s reputation. Due to its proactive nature, cyber security can shield users from such attacks before they even happen.

Protects Professional and Personal Data
Cybersecurity is a comprehensive security solution that may shield companies and organizations from a variety of dangers. For instance, businesses must safeguard their confidential information, including their internal communication logs, trade secrets, and other sensitive data like intellectual property (IP). Cyber security is able to defend an organization very successfully with its ongoing monitoring and early detection.

Enhance Productivity
Downtime in the organization’s operation is one of the most harmful impacts that cyber-attacks can bring about. An efficient cyber security strategy can provide a head’s up on when to anticipate assaults and offer advice on how to react. Cybersecurity is the only field that can respond quickly, and it is crucial that traditional security methods are given the boost to grow dynamically.

Offers a business continuity plan
A business continuity plan is made using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in cyber security. It can efficiently create timeline-based prediction models by analyzing historical data using AI and statistical algorithms.

Boost the organization’s overall security
For all security concerns affecting enterprises and organizations, cyber security is the all-inclusive solution. It monitors external hazards in addition to keeping an eye out for cyberspace threats. One of the biggest advantages of cyber security is its affordability which demands low operational expenses in contrast to conventional security techniques.
We have discussed in detail the working mechanism of cyber security and its types and advantages that will boost a company’s productivity and efficiency.