Cyber security is one of the most important topics of organizations and nations. If you would like to learn more about this concept, this guide is what you need.
Cyber security is a practice that provides protection to ensure the security of computers, servers, networks, data, and even electronic systems and mobile devices from malicious attacks. This concept is often known as technology security or electronic data security. This term is also valid in a variety of contexts from businesses to mobile data computing and is divided into several categories.
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What Are the Common Categories of Cyber Security?
Cyber security itself is a very broad practice that is a combination of various implementations. Below, you can find some of the common sub-categories of cyber security.
Network Security
Network security is focuses on protecting a computer network from intruders. It is an important concept and should be ensured even in the absence of attackers or opportunistic malware.
Application Security
Application security focuses on protecting software and devices from possible threats. Hackers can access to protected data after hacking an application. Thus, organisations must implement successful security practices at the designing stage of the software or device.
Data Security
Data security maintains the integrity and confidentiality of the data both in storage and transfer procedures.
Operational Security
Operational security includes processes and decisions about the processing and protection of data assets. The permissions user has when accessing a network and the procedures that determine how and where data can be stored or shared are covered in this practice.
End-User Training
End-user training focuses on the most unpredictable cybersecurity element: people. Any user who does not follow the required security practices can accidentally infect a secure system. Training system users about topics such as not inserting unidentified USB drives and how to delete suspicious email attachments has crucial importance for the security of any organization.
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
Disaster recovery and business continuity define how an organization responds to a cybersecurity event or other events that lead to operational or data loss. The principles of disaster recovery focus to restore the operations and data for the organization to return to the same operational capacity as before the event. On the other hand, business continuity is the plan in which the organization keeps its system operational without specific resources.
Why Should You Pay Importance to Cyber Security?
The global cyber threat continues to increase rapidly with the increasing number of data breaches every year. During the first nine months of 2019, there were about 7,9 billion data breach reports. This is 112% more compared to the same period in 2018.
Healthcare providers, retailers, and government agencies suffered the most breaches as a result of malicious attacks. Moreover, some of these industries are usually appealing to cybercriminals as they collect medical and financial data. However, any business using a network can become a target for customer data, corporate espionage, or customer attacks.
As the scale of cyber threats continues to increase, International Data Corporation estimates that worldwide spending on cybersecurity solutions will reach $133.7 billion by 2022. As a response to the growing cyber threat, governments providing guidance to organizations to help them implement effective cybersecurity practices.
National Cyber Security Centre in the United Kingdom highlighted the importance of system monitoring in their “cybersecurity in 10 steps” guide. National Institute of Standards and Technology in the United States has created a cyber security framework. Moreover, this framework, which was created to combat and detect the proliferation of malicious code, recommends real-time and continuous monitoring of all electronic resources
Moreover, Australian Cyber Security Center also periodically publishes guides on how organizations can respond to the latest cybersecurity threats.
What Are the Types of Cyber Threat?
In general, cyber security takes measures and provides active protection against three types of threats.
Cyber Crime
It involves single actors or groups targeting systems for financial gain or operational disruption.
Cyber Attack
In general, cyber-attacks often involve politically motivated data collection.
Cyber Terrorism
Cyber terrorism is designed to undermine electronic systems in a way that causes panic or fear.
What Are the Methods Used to Threaten the Cyber Security?
If you wonder how hackers gain control of computer systems, this section is for you. Thus, here are some of the common methods used to threaten cyber security.
Malware
Hackers use malware to corrupt or damage the computer of a system user. In general, malware spreads through legitimate-looking download or an email attachment and hackers use these to make money or perform politically motivated cyber-attacks.
What Are the Types of Malware?
There are different types of malware that can infect your computer or system. Some of the most common ones are provided in the following.
Virus
A virus is a self-replicating program that attaches itself to a file and thus, spreads to the computer system to infect it by using malicious code.
Trojans
Trojans are malware that is disguised as legitimate software. Hackers trick users into installing trojans on their computers and thus, they can damage their computers or collect data.
Spyware
Spyware is a program that secretly records what a user does on his or her computer. In this way, hackers can use this data. For example, spyware can easily capture credit card information while you are paying for a product on Amazon or eBay.
Ransomware
Ransomware is malware that locks users’ files and threatens them to delete these files unless a ransom is paid.
Adware
Adware is advertising software and its purpose is to spread malware.
Botnets
Botnets are computer networks that spread malware and hackers use these networks to perform online tasks without the user’s consent.
SQL Injection
Hackers use SQL injection to control or steal the data of a database. Cybercriminals generally exploit vulnerabilities in data-driven applications in order to insert malicious code into a database by benefiting from a malicious SQL statement. Thus, this allows them to access sensitive information available in the database.
Phishing
Phishing is a cyber-attack that targets victims using emails that request sensitive information and appear to be from a legitimate company. Moreover, hackers use phishing attacks to trick people to steal credit card data and other personal information.
Man in the Middle Attack
Man in the middle attack is a cyber threat in which cyber criminals intercept communication between two people in order to steal data. For example, an attacker on an unsecured Wi-Fi network can easily steal data passed from the victim’s device and network.
DDoS (Denial of Service) Attack
The Denial of Service attack prevents a computer system from fulfilling legitimate requests by sending excessive traffic to networks or servers. This attack makes the system operational and prevents the organization to perform its vital functions.
How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks?
There are some tips that businesses and individuals can follow to protect themselves against cyber threats. Although these are quite basics tips, they can do wonders for you.
Update Your Software and Operating System
In this way, you will always benefit from the most recent security patches on your devices and systems.
Use Antivirus Software
Most of the famous antivirus software can easily detect and quarantine threats for you. Thus, you need to keep your software up-to-date to ensure the highest level of protection.
Use Strong Passwords
Make sure that your passwords cannot be easily guessable.
Do Not Open Email Attachments from Unknown Senders
Most of the individual users become victims because they open email attachments sent by unknown users. Such attachments can infect your computer or system with malware.
Avoid Using Public and Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks
Unsecured networks will make you vulnerable to man in the middle attacks.
As MS Cyber Security, we can take all the measures to ensure the safety of your devices, system, and networks. Besides offering you the highest level of protection, we can train your system users for possible vulnerabilities and increase their awareness of possible threats.
You can contact us at any time to get information and receive a free quote.