What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the set of policies, infrastructure and tools that work together to protect computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems and networks from unauthorized access, attack and misuse. As the world becomes more technologically reliant and data-driven, cybersecurity is becoming more of an essential business need.
Data breaches and hacking are commonplace, and the impact can be devastating. It is not just personal information like credit card numbers and bank account details that are at risk; state secrets, corporate intellectual property and employee information can also be exposed. Even in the case of a simple email, someone can be tricked into clicking a link or downloading a malicious program that then takes control of a device, computer or network and steals data.
As such, cybersecurity is a critical component of any IT department. It covers a wide range of services and technologies, including anti-virus software, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. It also includes end user training to prevent an individual from inadvertently bringing in malware or a virus into the workplace on their personal devices. Cybersecurity can also help businesses protect their data against ransomware attacks and reduce the downtime of critical systems. It is no wonder that the cybersecurity market is expected to grow from $217 billion in 2021 to $345 billion by 2026.