What Is Cybersecurity?

Internet use has opened up a sea of opportunities for computer-literate people. Connecting with other people has never been easier, no matter the part of the world they live in. As a result, businesses can be contracted more efficiently, and better results can be achieved in record time.

It would be foolhardy for anyone to think that as beneficial as internet use is, no harm may come through its usage. More than a few have suffered heavy losses while using the internet.

This has prompted an in-depth look into avenues of protecting people as they surf the internet. Cybersecurity covers this aspect of internet usage, but it is extensive, and you must allow ample time to learn what it is about.

What Is Cybersecurity All About?

Malicious attacks may be launched at internet-connected systems such as servers, computers, electronic systems, mobile devices, data, networks and applications. Cybersecurity comprises two parts when setting up systems to keep data protected against such attacks.

The first part is cyber, which refers to technology and involves networks, systems, data, and programs. On the other hand, security protects applications, networks, systems, and information. Cybersecurity is sometimes called information technology or electronic information security.

The Types Of Cybersecurity

Several fields in cybersecurity cover different disciplines. However, these disciplines can be grouped under seven main categories.

Network security

It has been discovered that most attacks are launched over the network. To address this, several network security solutions are created to find and stop these attacks in their tracks.

The solutions used include data and access controls, for example, IAM (Identity Access Management), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall), and NAC (Network Access Control) application controls which mandate the use of safe web policies.

There are multi-layered network threat prevention and advanced technologies, which include NGAV (Next-Gen Antivirus), IPS (Intrusion Prevention System), CDR (Content Disarm and Reconstruction), and Sandboxing. Apart from these, threat hunting, network analytics, and automated SOAR (Security Orchestration and Response) technologies.

Cloud security

There is generally an increase in how organisations adopt cloud computing. This necessarily makes securing the cloud a significant priority. In any good cloud security strategy, you should expect cybersecurity solutions, services, policies, and controls.

Such a strategy can protect an organisation's entire cloud deployment, such as applications, infrastructure, data, etc., from getting attacked. Although there are several cloud providers that provide security solutions, these solutions are usually not sufficient for the task of arriving at enterprise-grade security in the cloud.

It is vital to have supplementary third-party solutions to offer protection against data breaches and targeted attacks within cloud environments.

Endpoint security

With the zero-trust security model, micro-segments are created around data wherever possible. One of the ways this could be achieved with a mobile workforce is by engaging endpoint security.

By using endpoint security, companies can provide security for end-user devices such as laptops and desktops with network and data security controls. Usually, there are also advanced threat prevention systems that serve as anti-phishing and anti-ransomware with technologies that give forensics like endpoint detection and response solutions (EDR).

Mobile security

Some mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that are often overlooked gain access to corporate data. Unfortunately, business data can become exposed to cyber threats from malicious apps, instant messaging (IM), and phishing attacks.

With mobile security, you can prevent these attacks and protect the devices and operating systems from jailbreaking and rooting. Once an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution is included, enterprises can ensure that only compliant mobile devices can access corporate assets.

IoT security

During the process of using the Internet of Things (IoT), there are productivity benefits you can enjoy from devices. However, you must understand that they can expose organisations to cyber attackers.

These attackers are always looking for vulnerable devices that may be connected to the internet. They perpetrate their nefarious activities by allowing a bot into a global bot network or creating a pathway into a corporate network.

You can keep these devices protected with IoT with the discovery and classification of connected devices, using IPS as a virtual patch so that exploits against vulnerable IoT devices may be prevented, as well as auto-segmentation to determine what network activities should take place.

At times, you could have the device's firmware augmented by using small agents that protect against exploits and runtime attacks.

Application security

Since web applications are directly connected to the internet, they also risk becoming targets for threat actors. The top 10 threats to major web applications have been tracked to security flaws like broken authentication, cross-site scripting, misconfiguration, injection, and a host of others.

By using application security, it is possible to stop the OWASP top 10 attacks. Application security can also be used to prevent bot attacks and nick the onslaught of any malicious interaction with APIs and applications in the bud. Constant learning can protect apps while DevOps continues releasing new content.

Zero trust

The traditional security model is about building walls surrounding an organisation, like a castle, to protect its valuable assets. Such a model is said to be perimeter-focused, although the approach is known to have several issues.

Some of these issues include the potential for insider threats and the quick dissolution of the network security perimeter. A new approach to security is required with the way corporate assets are moved off-premises in remote work and cloud adoption.

Benefits Of Consolidated Cybersecurity Architecture 

It was easy for organisations to get by a collection of standalone security solutions in the past. These standalone security solutions were created to tackle specific threats and use cases. At the time, malware attacks were not typical and not as sophisticated as what is seen nowadays.

Nowadays, it is common to see cybersecurity teams become overwhelmed in their attempt to manage some of these complex cybersecurity structures. There are several factors responsible for this, including:

Sophisticated attacks

It is no longer possible to detect modern cyber-attacks with legacy approaches in cybersecurity. It is necessary to implement a more thorough investigation and visibility approach to identify campaigns generated by advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other sophisticated cyber threat actors.

Complex environments

The modern corporate network uses multiple cloud environments and on-prem infrastructure. With this approach, continued policy enforcement and security monitoring over a company's entire IT system is a difficult task to accomplish.

Heterogeneous endpoints

Gone are the days when IT was limited to traditional laptop and desktop computers. With technological evolution and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, it is now necessary to have a range of devices, some of which the organisation does not even have.

Increase in remote work 

As part of the COVID-19 pandemic response, remote and hybrid work models were introduced. It has since then become clear that these models are sustainable for many companies. With their introduction, organisations now need solutions that can effectively help them protect the remote workforce similarly to how on-site employees are protected.

Approaches to solving these challenges with different disconnected solutions would not be scalable or sustainable. Achievements may only be recorded by consolidating and streamlining their security architectures to manage their cybersecurity effectively.

Talk To A Cybersecurity Expert 

Everything about cyberspace keeps evolving, and this involves the approaches employed by cyber attackers too. This is why the security solutions and measures you have in place for your business need to be updated.

You need a modern cybersecurity infrastructure designed from well-integrated solutions and consolidated communications to work together. This calls for working with a security provider that has the experience to help you protect your organisation's assets.

There can't be a better time to protect your assets against cyber-attacks than now if you have not done so already. However, should you need more information regarding cyber security, the Australian government has specific guidelines and recommendations provided on their website for business to follow and implement known as the “Essential Eight.”

Additionally, cybersecurity experts recommend all businesses to audit and implement these recommendations to improve their IT security posture. So, if you're having problems with your cybersecurity, set up an appointment with an expert and let them help you find the right solution for your organisation.