What Is Digital Security?
Digital security includes practices, tools, and behaviors that protect devices, online accounts, communications, personal information, and networks from hacking, surveillance, phishing, and data breaches. It also ensures that people have the ability to access and use their own information. Digital security is a broad field that encompasses many different types of activities and technologies, including authentication, encryption, network security, cybersecurity assessments, and data recovery.
The digital security field is constantly evolving, and its professionals face a variety of threats. It’s important for everyone to be aware of these risks and how they can protect themselves, including by practicing good digital hygiene (using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links or attachments in emails, keeping anti-virus software up-to-date, and more).
Cybercrime costs businesses billions each year. It can jeopardize a company’s reputation, damage its relationships with customers, and even put it in significant legal jeopardy. It’s no wonder that cybersecurity has become a top priority for every business, regardless of size or industry.
In addition to protecting against cyberattacks, digital security can protect companies from the physical consequences of a data breach. For example, hackers could sabotage a car’s self-driving system or steal personal information from connected home security systems.
Despite its seemingly technical nature, digital security is also about people and their ability to participate in civic life, free from intimidation or silencing. This is especially true for marginalized communities, where adversarial entities have weaponized technology to track, repress, and silence dissent.