What is Cybersecurity and why is it important

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is a process of managing and securing networks, servers, computers, users, mobile devices, applications, and databases from cyberattacks, data leakage and unauthorized access. It is normally a combination of strategy, process, tools, skills and implementation to achieve improved cyber resilience against unforeseen data breaches and cyber attacks.

Why is cybersecurity important?

With a humongous growth in technology, our world is composed of different types of electronic devices, and each of these devices have their own method of data collection, storage, processing, and application.

In this 21st century, the role of data is massive, and hackers are always looking to access, steal or delete targeted data, with proper cyber strategies businesses and individuals will be able to protect their data and keep it safe against cyberthreats. It will keep the life of a business or an individual protected.

Achieving and maintaining the right security for your business can be beneficial over a period of time.

What is cybersecurity proactive approach?

Securing your network and systems before being affected by a cyberattack is called proactive cybersecurity. Example: Patching your systems on time.

What is cybersecurity reactive approach?

Securing your network and systems after being affected by a cyberattack by receiving prompt alerts and warnings whenever something anonymous or fishy happens in your network is called reactive cybersecurity. Example: Monitoring your logs and identifying abnormal behaviors.

What is cybersecurity scope?

The domains are, 

Cybersecurity covers everything that does collect and process data, including devices that’s at network level to device designated to an individual user. It is divided into different domains for a diversified approach towards security.

• Network security
• Endpoint security
• Application security
• Data security
• Device security
• Cloud security
• Mobile security
• Database security
• Firewall security
• Active directory security
• Access based security

What are the major cybersecurity challenges?

The continuous advancement in hacking methodologies have been very challenging for security professionals. Sophisticated cyberattacks have increased numbers and will continue to grow in the future, affecting organizations that do not have the right security measures.

Ransomware, malware, remote code executions, phishing and social engineering have all made data security a mere challenge. Only with robust strategies, an entity could be safe from cyberattacks or data breaches. The most challenging factor is the mere presence of a threat, when an entity is not able to identify it was being attacked.

How to ensure the right cyber strategies are established?

• Identify the key domains of your data circulation.
• Ensure you have got the right tools for each of those domains in place.
• Recruit good cyber talents.
• Generate cyber awareness to your employees and staffs regularly.
• Practice cyber frameworks like ISO27001, ISO2002, CIS, NIST, PCI DSS, and more.
• Make data compliance a priority, comply with data protection laws like GDPR, CCPA, SHIELD act, LGPD, PDPA, POPI and more.
• Conduct periodic cyber audits.

Cyberattacks are always evolving, so ensure your cyber strategies evolves with it. Businesses need to identify their areas of interest, measure the flow of data, evaluate the software available in the market, hand-pick a few and purchase the ones that suits their need cyber needs.

Security pros should use them to validate daily cyber routines and make it the companies cyber policy over time. Understanding the flow of data could be one simple tip to identify the key domains and kick-start the cyber revolution.