What Is Cyber-Security?
Cyber-security is the practice of defending Internet-connected devices and services from malicious attacks by hackers, spammers, and cybercriminals. It protects against phishing schemes, ransomware attacks, identity theft, data breaches, and financial losses. It also safeguards modern-day essentials like the power grids and water treatment facilities that keep the world running smoothly.
The demand for cybersecurity professionals is on the rise as the world becomes increasingly digital. This is because more and more information is stored digitally, accessible through wired or wireless digital communication networks, the omnipresent internet, and on the many types of electronic devices that we use. This highly sensitive information is coveted by criminals and evil doers, who must be stopped through strong cyber security measures.
To be effective at this, a strong cybersecurity strategy must cover three areas: detection, prevention, and response. Detection includes both active monitoring and passive scanning to identify suspicious behavior, which should be flagged for further investigation. Preventing cyberattacks requires an understanding of what attackers are looking for, so that measures can be taken to stop them in their tracks. This includes implementing the principle of least privilege, which ensures that software and personnel have only the minimum permission levels necessary for their job functions, as well as requiring two-factor authentication for all high-level user accounts.
When cyberattacks do occur, a strong response must be in place to quickly address them and prevent their spread, which is why many organizations implement security incident response frameworks (SIRF). This outlines the processes and procedures that should be followed after an attack, and it also recommends various tools and techniques for dealing with threats and recovering from them as quickly as possible.