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Why are Cybersecurity Vital- Crucial Points Must Know?
From farming to finance, Cybersecurity has assumed critical importance as the use of cyberspace has exploded. With this convenience comes caution. In this article, we explore the centrality of Cybersecurity as a vigilance mechanism.
What is Cybersecurity & Why is it crucial?
Cybersecurity refers to the entire arsenal of tools, techniques, and methods employed to keep systems and data secure and safe from an array of cybercrimes. Cybersecurity advancements must stay one step ahead of adversaries as criminals update tactics and outsmart existing protective barriers.
Digitization has permeated every part of our lives. People use cyberspace for work, entertainment, and telemedicine through gadgets like smartwatches, voice assistants, and intelligent lighting.
Organizations collectively use cyberspace through automated manufacturing, facial recognition for surveillance, IoT printers, customized marketing, etc. Be it healthcare, social media, finance, or education, the use of cyberspace is ubiquitous.
When devices, networks, and the internet are so profoundly interconnected, an attack on any one component compromises the others in totality. Sensitive information, personal, financial, or identifying credentials, is highly susceptible to interception, manipulation, and theft.
Data loss can have financial implications for individuals and can misuse their credentials for illicit activity, e.g., on the Dark Web or impersonation. Organizational data breaches mean the exploitation of Intellectual Property, which disrupts business activity and dents reputation. Re-building security systems are costly and time-consuming.
What Constitutes Cybersecurity? What are the Different Components?
Cybersecurity comprises people, processes, and technical safeguards for separate areas of vulnerability. It is synonymous with Information Security in ensuring data confidentiality, availability, and integrity. Identity (ID) Management is one of the methods to accomplish the CIA triad of security. Ideally, cybersecurity solutions should incorporate all sub-domains within a single package, meeting all system requirements and providing several layers of defense.
Network Security
Networks, the medium of connection, need to be shielded from intrusion, especially shared/public networks. It implies access control through privileged authorization, passwords/biometrics, and administrative control over networks, e.g., LAN and WAN. It also encompasses hardware, e.g., routers, which screen and prevent infiltrators from blocking access or re-routing users to illegal sites. Anti-malware/virus software, firewalls, Intrusion Prevention Systems, and multi-factor authentication are commonly used tools.
Internet Security − Internet Security shields the user(s) from website threats, malicious URLs, and suspicious email attachments. Email control, remote access VPN for communication encryption and endpoint compliance, and network segmentation to block web access beyond the business perimeter are standard methods. The zero-trust network segmentation approach requires validation at every stage of the digital lifecycle.
Application Security − AppSec protects the coding and data embedded in web applications from theft and manipulation. The developer-first approach means the software developer must write robust code that can’t hijack/re-written and design secure architecture and settings. Critical authentication checkpoints, fortified interfaces, and sanitization measures for data inputting must also be in-built.
Cloud Security − Concentrated data storage and applications in the cloud can be risky, given the very few points of failure. It can jeopardize the entire system and spill over to other cloud users if compromised. Cloud architecture needs strong encryption, regular audit checks, and proper configuration. Should strengthen Risk recognition and remediation tools for workflow, platforms, and network management.
Mobile Security − Mobiles provide almost all the services computers and are the most vulnerable attack vectors, as they are direct links to larger systems and data repositories. Organizations can use Mobile Device Management systems to restrict employee access to business assets via verification and to prevent rooting & jailbreaking attacks that appropriate software.
Critical Infrastructure and Database Security − It is paramount for large organizations and governments to protect their databases and vital assets—for example, public infrastructure like schools, dams, electricity generation, and military tactics. If enemy states gain access to such databases, they can cut off public access to crucial services affecting citizen welfare.
Operational Security − OPSEC is a third-party risk assessment and management in organizations. The OPSEC team evaluates functioning to find weaknesses that could exploit for unauthorized access. OPSEC involves incorporating countermeasures to defend classified information.
Endpoint Security − It refers to applying some or all of the above security techniques on end-user platforms, like PCs or laptops, to minimize user-based risk. It includes anti-phishing alerts and EDR- Endpoint Detection & Response software.
Types of Cybersecurity Risks
MITM − In a Man-in-the-Middle Attack, the criminal intercepts communication/conversations between users or a user/application to steal encrypted data or credentials by eavesdropping or replacing encrypted data with imposter data.
Phishing − This tactic involves sending authentic-seeming emails to individuals or companies to get them to divulge credit card numbers or other personal data. There may also be attachments that, when opened, introduce Trojan horses and malware like ransomware, to name a few, into the system. It is a form of social engineering that capitalizes on people’s patterns.
Malware − It is malicious software installed in a system that can carry out unapproved actions such as disrupting activities, corrupting the OS, blocking access, and demanding payment, e.g., ransomware. Other types include adware, spyware, keyloggers, undetectable rootkits, and worms.
Botnet − Malware infects some or all of a group of computers linked together by replicating itself on multiple stand-alone systems, i.e., “zombie computers,” which control the network remotely. Communications are re-routed, systems are exposed to other threats, and services are disrupted on a larger scale.
DDoS − Distributed Denial of Service involves attackers interrupting and stopping network services to authorized users by flooding the network/server with requests and overwhelming the route.
SQL Injection − SQL queries are inserted into inputs for data tampering, voiding transactions, and gaining administrative control over databases.
Conclusion
While the advanced cybersecurity methods will keep you safe, don’t forget the basics that prevent trouble in the first place. Use strong passwords that are regularly updated, avoid insecure, open connections, use two/multi-factor authentication, don’t open suspicious, unvetted emails, and keep upgrading your system and antivirus software to deal with new threats.
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