What Is Cyber-Security?
Today’s world is more dependent on technology than ever before. We use it for communication (email, smartphones and tablets), entertainment, transportation, shopping and healthcare, among other things. These technologies and the information they store are valuable assets that need to be protected. Cybersecurity protects these assets from unauthorized access and criminal misuse.
Cybersecurity is a complex discipline that encompasses many activities, frameworks and tools. It includes network security, data protection and cybersecurity awareness training, among other things. It also incorporates the ability to respond quickly and effectively to threats as they occur.
One of the biggest challenges is that new threats constantly arise, and improvements to a system’s security posture must be seen as a continuous process. Despite the best efforts of organizations, cybercriminals are always one step ahead and will continue to find ways to exploit weaknesses in existing systems or create new ones.
Examples of cyberattacks include ransomware, formjacking and cryptojacking; phishing schemes; RATs (remote access trojans); Trojan horses; viruses; worms; DDOS attacks that flood servers, systems and networks with traffic to knock them offline; DNS poisoning attacks; and more.
There are several paths to a career in cyber security, including certifications and an array of college courses and majors that have sprung up with specific focuses. But the most important thing to remember is that cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, too. Educating users to delete suspicious email attachments, not plug unidentified USB drives and other basic precautions can significantly reduce the risk of a cyberattack.