The world of information security can be an intimidating space. Venturing in can feel overwhelming and hazardous due to the abundance of obscure starting points. However, as a business owner, it’s vital to have a strong understanding of the proper security policies and procedures you need in place to prevent major threats. In this guide to understanding cybersecurity, we’ll help lead you into the unknown and break down the fundamentals of how to protect your company’s information.
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A Recap on Cybersecurity
To start, let’s take a recap of what cybersecurity is. According to Cisco, “cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.” For example, two-factor authentication, firewalls, and user permission are all ways of protecting our private information from cyberattacks and unwanted visitors.
These cyberattacks are an extremely prevalent and evolving danger to consumers, employees, and organizations. They have the ability to access sensitive data, extort money, and destroy businesses, financials, and personal lives.
So in simplest terms, how can you determine the best defense for these security attacks? A strong cybersecurity system should have multiple layers of protection spread across computers, devices, networks, and programs. However, a strong cybersecurity system won’t rely solely on its cyber defense technology. Having a dependable cybersecurity system also relies on having the right people to make smart cyber defense decisions for your company
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity specialist to practice good cyber defense tactics. As we take more steps into the unknown, we’ll cover how to not only help defend yourself against cyber threats, but how to initially recognize and avoid them before they infiltrate your network or devices.
Distinguishing Cybersecurity Among the Rest
As learned above, cybersecurity is the practice of defending your electronic systems, networks, computers, mobile devices, programs, and data from malicious digital attacks. Many cybercriminals can deploy a variety of attacks against individual victims or businesses, causing an array of problems. These problems could include accessing and deleting sensitive data, changing or extorting payment, or interfering with business processes.
The important thing to first understand is that cybersecurity is achieved through an infrastructure that is separated into three key components: IT security, cybersecurity, and computer security.
Also known as electronic information security, IT Security is the protection of data both where it is stored and while moving through a network. While cybersecurity only protects digital data, IT security protects both digital and physical data from intruders.
This is a subset of IT security. While IT security protects both physical and digital data, cybersecurity protects the digital data on your networks, computers, and devices. This blocks your private information from unauthorized access, attacks, and destruction.
This is a subset of cybersecurity. This type of security uses hardware and software to protect any data that are sent through your computer and other devices to the network. Network security serves to protect the IT infrastructure and guard against information being intercepted and changed or stolen by cybercriminals.
Types of Cybersecurity
To be better protected, it’s important to know the different types of cybersecurity. These include critical infrastructure security, network security, application security, information security, cloud security, data loss prevention, and end-user education.
Critical infrastructure security: Consists of cyber-physical systems such as electricity grid and water purification systems.
Network security: Protects internal networks from intruders by securing infrastructure. Examples of network security include the implementation of two-factor authentication (2FA) and new, strong passwords.
Application security: Uses software and hardware to defend against external threats that may present themselves in an application’s development stage. Examples of application security include antivirus programs, firewalls, and encryption.
Information security: Also known as InfoSec, protects both physical and digital data—essentially data in any form—from unauthorized access, use, change, disclosure, deletion, or other forms of malintent.
Cloud security: A software-based tool that protects and monitors your data in the cloud, to help eliminate the risks associated with on-premises attacks.
Data loss prevention (DLP): Consists of developing policies and processes for handling and preventing the loss of data and developing recovery policies in the event of a cybersecurity breach. This includes setting network permissions and policies for data storage.
End-user education: Acknowledges that cybersecurity systems are only as strong as their potentially weakest links: the people that are using them. End-user education involves teaching users to follow best practices like not clicking on unknown links or downloading suspicious attachments in emails—which could let in malware and other forms of malicious software.
Types of cyber threats
There are many types of cyber threats that can attack your devices and networks — most of these fall under three main categories:
These attacks can be designed to steal your personal identifying information and your bank account or credit card information. Following these attacks, your information can be sold or traded on the dark web for others to purchase and use.
Social engineering is a type of attack on confidentiality. This is the process of psychologically manipulating people into performing actions or giving away information that you can use for your malicious intent. The most common example of a social engineering attack is a phishing attack. Phishing attacks are for the user, and typically come in the from of deceptive emails tricking recipients into giving away personal information.
These attacks consist of personal or enterprise sabotage and are often called leaks. A cybercriminal will access and release sensitive information to expose the data and influence the public to lose trust in a person or an organization.
Advanced persistent threats (APTs), are a type of attack on integrity where an unauthorized user infiltrates a network undetected, and stays in the network for as long as possible without being detected. The intent of an APT is to steal data and not harm the network. APTs often happen in sectors with high-value information, such as national defense, manufacturing, and the finance industry.
This type of cyberattack aims to block users from accessing their data until they pay a fee or ransom. Typically, an intelligent cybercriminal will infiltrate a network and authorized parties from accessing important data, demanding that a ransom be paid. Companies sometimes pay the ransom and fix the cyber vulnerability afterward so that they can avoid halting business activities.
Malware, or malicious software, is a type of attack on availability. It refers to software that is designed to gain access to or damage a computer without the knowledge of the owner. Malware can do everything from stealing your login information to crashing your computer system. Several common types of malware includes spyware, keyloggers, true viruses, and worms.
Ransomware is another example of an attack on availability. Ransomware’s goal is to lock and encrypt your computer’s or device’s data. What attackers will commonly do with this tactic is hold your information hostage, and demand a ransom to restore access. A victim will typically be required to may the ransom within a set amount of time, or they may risk losing access to the information permanently. Other common types of ransomeware include crypto-malware lockers and scareware.
Security Threats
While cyber-defense tactics are evolving, so are cybersecurity threats, with malicious software and other foreseen dangers taking new forms. Cybersecurity threats don’t discriminate. All individuals and organizations that use networks are potential targets. To help protect yourself, it’s important to know the three different types of cybersecurity threats: cyberattacks, cybercrime, and cyberterrorism.
Cyberattack: An attack that is attempting to expose, alter, destroy, disable, steal, or gain information through unauthorized access. A cyberattack categorizes any attack that includes targeting computer information, computer network infrastructure, or personal devices.
Cybercrime: A crime that involves a computer and a network. The computer can be used in committing a crime, or to be the target of a crime. Most cybercrimes are used to threaten a person, company, financial system, or a nation’s security.
Cyberterrorism: Designed to breach electronic systems to instill panic and fear in its victims.
Take Control of your Cybersecurity
Only use trusted sites when providing your personal information. A rule of thumb is to check the URL. If the site includes “HTTPS://,” then it’s a secure site. If the URL includes “HTTP://,” note the missing “s” — avoid entering sensitive information like your credit card data or Social Security number.
Don’t open email attachments or click links in emails from unknown sources. This is one of the most common ways networks and users are exposed to malware and viruses is through emails disguised as being sent by someone you trust (phishing).
Always keep your devices updated. Software updates contain important patches to fix security vulnerabilities. Cyber attackers can also target outdated devices which may not be running the most current security software.
Back up your files regularly for extra protection in the event of cybersecurity attacks. If you need to wipe your device clean due to a cyberattack, it will help to have your files stored in a safe, separate place.
Cybersecurity is constantly evolving, which can make it difficult to stay up to date. Staying informed and being cautious online are two of the best ways to help protect yourself, your networks and devices, and your business. If your company is wanting to take the next step into cybersecurity, we can help create custom solutions to create the best protection for your systems and networks.
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