The Benefits of Digital Security
Digital security is the set of practices, tools and strategies that protect people, communications, devices and data from online threats like surveillance, censorship, targeted attacks, phishing, malware, data theft and unauthorized access. It is especially important for activists, journalists and civil society organizations. Digital security is a holistic practice that includes both technical and procedural aspects and must be taken into account with physical security and human rights concerns.
The most obvious benefit of strong digital security is the protection of sensitive information, the lifeblood of modern organisations. For educational institutions, this means protecting student records and research data; for manufacturing companies, it is safeguarding production processes and supply chain details; and for property developers and housing associations, it is ensuring the integrity of financial information and building management systems.
Another crucial aspect of digital security is the ability to quickly recover from cyberattacks and hardware failures. Backing up data regularly and keeping backups in multiple locations reduces the risk of paying ransom or wasting time recovering from lost or damaged files. Continual optimization of data protection and recovery protocols also increases organisational resilience to digital threats.
Digital security is not a magic bullet and it can be overwhelming to learn how to protect yourself, your organisation or your community from all the potential threats. However, it is essential for anyone who uses a computer, mobile phone or other digital device. We recommend starting by reading one of the primers below, and checking out our tools page for a list of recommended tools for different contexts.