What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the technology and practices that keep computer systems, networks, and data secure from cyber attacks or unauthorized access. It includes everything from firewalls to encryption, and is an enormous field with many types of job roles.
Cybercriminals often target businesses that collect sensitive information such as health records, credit card details, and passwords. These companies include banks, hospitals, and retailers. They may also target government agencies or military installations.
While these industries have more data at risk than others, every business that operates on a network is vulnerable to attack. A customer’s personal information can be stolen by malware, or even a disgruntled employee could send confidential information to the wrong person.
Keeping the network protected from such threats requires continuous work. Cybersecurity experts monitor the system for signs of attacks and respond immediately to stop them before they cause any harm. This helps maintain a stable operation and prevents productivity loss.
A key part of cybersecurity involves training employees to recognize phishing scams and suspicious links. This teaches them to stay vigilant and can reduce the number of data breaches caused by human error.
Businesses must also back up their data so that it can be retrieved if the system is compromised. This provides peace of mind to customers and allows them to trust the business with their personal information. A breach can have a devastating effect on a business’s reputation, and a survey showed that 86% of people would be hesitant to patronize a company that suffered a breach of their personal data.