What is Cyber Security: Types and Best Practices

06 September 2024

In today's interconnected society, protecting against online threats through cyber security is essential. If you're curious to know more about what is cyber security - which is protecting personal/business data from malware, phishing and more - is what this article explores.

What is Meaning of Cyber Security

Cybersecurity, also referred to as information technology security, is the discipline of preventing unauthorised access, use, disclosure, interruption, alteration, or destruction of digital data, networks, and systems.

They provide protection against ransomware, spyware, adware, Trojan horses, malware, viruses, and other types of intrusions. Strong computer monitoring and management systems may also aid in keeping an eye on and thwarting these assaults by seeing problems early on before they worsen and become catastrophic failures.

Elements of cybersecurity

Key Elements of Cyber Security

• People: By using strong passwords and recognizing phishing attempts, users play a crucial role in protecting themselves from cyberattacks. To prevent breaches, employee education on identifying cyber threats is essential.
• Processes: Clear frameworks, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, are necessary to help organisations manage cyberattacks. This includes identifying, detecting, responding to, and recovering from threats.
• Technology: Technology serves as the backbone of defence, protecting endpoint devices, networks, and cloud infrastructure. To mitigate cyber risks, tools like firewalls, anti-spam software, and malware protection are essential.

What are Cyber Threats?

Cyber threats are malicious actions aimed at compromising the security of digital information, networks, and systems. A cyber threat refers to any potential risk or attack targeting vulnerabilities in these digital environments. There are various forms in which threats can manifest.

• Malware: Software designed to harm a computer system, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, and ransomware.
• Phishing: A type of social engineering attack that uses email or other communication channels to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
• Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Flooding a system with a lot of traffic to prevent users from getting to it.
• Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: Eavesdropping on communication between 2 individuals in order to obtain sensitive information or introduce malicious software.
• SQL Injection Attacks: Using malicious code to access, modify, or delete sensitive data within a database.

Cyber threats can be launched by various actors, including:

• Hackers: Persons/groups that break security systems for personal gain or fame.
• Cybercriminals: Organizations or people exploit cyber threats for crimes such as identity theft or financial fraud.
• Nation-state actors: Governments or government-sponsored groups use cyber threats to disrupt or steal information from other countries.
• Terrorist organisations: Groups use cyber threats to disrupt critical infrastructure or steal sensitive information.

But What are Cyber Risks?

Cyber risks are consequences of a cyber threat or attack. These risks can include:

• Data Breaches: Unauthorised access to financial records, personally identifiable information (PII), or proprietary business details.
• System Downtime: Interruptions in business operations caused by cyber incidents may halt productivity and services.
• Financial Loss:Cyber incidents can result in direct and indirect monetary losses. These may include immediate mitigation costs and longer-term financial impacts.
• Reputational Damage:A damaged company reputation after a cyber incident may cause customer distrust and loss of market confidence.
• Intellectual Property Theft:Legal acquisition of sensitive material such as trade secrets may compromise competitive advantages.
• Regulatory Non-Compliance:Violation of legal requirements for data protection and security - possible legal action / fines / repercussions.
• Business Disruption: Sales, service delivery, and daily operations are interrupted severely.

Cyber risks also impact the bottom line for an organisation, for example.

• Revenue Loss:Revenue reductions can occur due to operational downtime or service interruptions.
• Escalating Costs: Expenses related to the immediate response and recovery following a cyber incident.
• Eroding Customer Confidence: Decreased customer trust and loyalty could impact future business and revenue streams.

Antivirus managed services, such as business antivirus solutions, provide multi-layered defence against such threats and data security across networks.

How does Malware work in Cyber Security?

• Malware: any type of malicious software that attempts to infiltrate, damage or disable computers and computer systems. More detail on the main types of malware and their workings are mentioned below.
• Viruses: Such programs attach themselves to clean files and spread across a system destroying data stored and functionality.
• Worms:This standalone malware copies itself to other computers and exploits holes in operating systems with no human interaction.
• Trojan Horses:Trojans disguise themselves as legitimate software and deliver malicious code that controls a system.
• Spyware: Spyware typically works undetected by users and collects information including passwords and credit card numbers.
• Adware: Not always malicious, adware breaks system performance with intrusive ads leading to malicious sites.
• Ransomware: Most aggressive malware encrypts user data and demands ransom for decryption keys.

Methods of Malware Distribution

• Email Attachments:Open attachments from unknown or untrusted sources may launch malicious code.
• Infected Software Downloads:Hidden malware might be included with downloads from unverified sources.
• Compromised Websites:Visiting infected sites can trigger automatic malware downloads - called drive-by downloads.
• Infected USB Drives:Attaching infested drives to computers can launch malware on its own without the user's knowledge.
• Network Vulnerabilities:Malware spreads over networks via security gaps without being actively used by users.

How to Avoid Cyber Threats?

Cybersecurity requires common sense, best practices and tech to keep up with the latest threat.. Some of the best  ways to defend against cyber threats are:

• Strong, Unique Passwords: Passwords for all your accounts should be unique and complex. Mixed letters, numbers and symbols help with security against brute force attacks.
• Antivirus Protection:Fit your devices with reputable antivirus software. Updates to this software keep it protected from new threats.
• Email Vigilance:Use caution with emails and attachments from unknown sources. Phishing attacks disguise harmful links and files in seemingly benign emails.
• Two-Factor Authentication:Two-factor authentication (2FA) protects accounts beyond a password.
• Secure Connections:For public Wi-Fi networks use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your connection to the internet to avoid interceptors.

A robust IT service desk will be there to help you with cyber incidents so your business can continue and issues can be resolved quickly by engineers.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is essential for shielding company and personal data from online predators like phishing, malware and cyberattacks. To effectively defend against a variety of dangers, cybersecurity requires a combination of people, processes, and technology. Vulnerabilities can be decreased for both individuals and enterprises by utilizing secure networks, antivirus software, and strong passwords. With the growing threat landscape, staying informed and adopting best practices is essential to safeguard sensitive information, maintain business continuity, and avoid the potentially devastating impacts of cyber incidents.