Computers are one of the most useful devices in today’s world. They are a basic requirement for anyone from businesses to individuals to maintain their daily tasks. However, the evolving technology has also increased the risks of data breaches. This is when cyber security comes into play. Cybersecurity professionals play a vital role in today’s digital infrastructure. Cyber security is the shield that protects your system and most importantly, yourself from the attacks of malpractitioners. The field of Cyber security has various specializations, that cover different areas of digital defenses. These include network security, information security, and recovery. All these areas are very important to be protected. There should be no vulnerability that anyone can use to get access to our systems. In the modern working environment, these areas have a vital part.
We must have heard that hackers go for big corporations from where they can get some monetary or other benefits. Generally, we might think that we are of no interest to hackers, but the truth is quite the opposite. Everybody who is connected to the internet has something to lose to the hands of hackers. Today everyone is connected to the internet, so it is safe to say that each and every individual as well as businesses need cyber security. Most cyber-attacks are automated and target common vulnerabilities. These malicious programs are present everywhere on the internet. They keep looking for potential victims and attacks instantaneously. It could be anyone from individuals to big organizations.
Cyber security is a legal requirement under the GDPR and DPA 2018 guidelines to protect organizations from potential threats.
Many people confuse cyber security with information security. However, these two are very different terms.
Cyber security is the field that covers the security of computer systems from any sort of unauthorized access. It keeps your system safe from any sort of malware that may affect the functioning of your system.
Information security on the other hand protects your information by providing authorized access to individuals. The information security expert will develop security measures to keep the information safe. It is a broader concept that protects every information asset in a hard copy or a digital format.
Cyber security is a very vast topic so the challenges it faces are also widespread. Facilitating cyber security in your organization can be a very challenging task. It is a huge problem if your organization allows remote working. It becomes a major issue because you have less control over your employee’s behavior and their device security. An effective approach includes your entire IT infrastructure that is based on regular risk assessments.
One should go for a risk-based approach that will ensure that all your efforts are focused only where they are needed the most. Organizations should have regular risk assessments so that they can have a better understanding of their cyber security needs. This is the most effective and cost-efficient way of protecting your organization.
We understand that cyber security is not an easy task to maintain. However, there are some major tips that should be kept in mind when applying cyber security procedures to your organization. Let's take a look at some of the key factors that should be implemented.
The most common reason for data breaches is human error. Organizations must equip their staff with ample knowledge so that they can deal with any threats instantly. Educating your employees is a very important practice to keep your organization safe from any sort of data breach or hacking attempt. Training your staff will make them aware of how the security breaches affect them. It will also help them understand the best practices in a real-world situation.
Most of the vulnerabilities are present in the software or application that is used to access the information. It serves as a common point of trespassing for hackers. Because applications play a major role in the maintenance of information, organizations must have a testing procedure for the application to test it against the different hacking attacks to make sure that it is not vulnerable. This procedure must be repeated every once in a while, to be sure that your application is resistant to new forms of attacks.
The process of protecting the usability and integrity of an organization’s network and data is known as Network security. This can be achieved by a network penetration test that will assess your network for vulnerabilities and security issues. Hackers also use this technique to gain access to your system so if the system passes the test, you can be assured that your network is safe.
The top management of any organization should be always ready to invest in proper cyber security resources such as upgrading the systems from time-to-time and training of the staff. It is the key to cyber resilience. Without proper leadership commitment it will always be tough to establish or enforce effective processes.
A password management policy should be implemented to guide the staff regarding how to create a strong password. Most of the people use simple passwords that are easy to remember, however it was a great practice in the earlier days. Today keeping a simple password is an invitation to hackers. Organizations should train their employees on how to create a strong password with a combination of numbers, alphabets and symbols that are easy to remember.
There are various methods that are used by criminals to carry out a cyber-attack. Cyber-crime tends to be anonymous and is done majorly for the sake of monetary benefits. Let's take a look at some of the major cyber threats that are available in the market.
This is a short form for malicious software. Malware covers several types of software like adware, botnets, ransomware, spyware and viruses. It is dependent on software installation which means that it comes embedded in any software downloaded from unauthorized sources. It will not harm your system until you install the application. The malware is triggered once the software is installed. Now your system will have a vulnerability that can be used to gain access by any hacker.
This type of hacking is done majorly through mail and messages. The mail will pretend to be from an authority of trust such as IRS or a bank. The email will seem so authentic that anyone will get confused. It might also contain a link that will seem authentic when you click on it. It will be an exact replica of the authentic website. It will ask you for sensitive information such as bank account details, address and other stuff. Once you enter these details, all your information will be passed on to the hacker.
Denial of Service, also known as DoS attacks, prevents systems from working by sending in huge loads of traffic to the websites. When the website cannot handle such huge loads of data, it will stop performing the basic functions. It is majorly done by a bunch of systems rather than being dependent on a single device.
This type of attack is dependent upon unsecure networks. As the name suggests, hackers will intercept a network when sensitive data is being shared. They will then keep all your data and after you are done, they will start misusing your information for mal practices. A very nice example of this attack will be breaking into a public Wi-Fi when someone is accessing their bank. All the bank details will be stored by the hacker and could be misused afterwards.
SQL injection attacks are done by inserting a malicious piece of code inside a data-driven application. It is often used to break into secure databases and servers to retrieve sensitive information. It is one of the most common web hacking methods used by hackers to modify or delete the contents of a database.
These are some of the types of cyber-attacks that hackers can make to gain access to your systems. Now the question arises, how do we manage our safety so that everything remains safe.
The approach used for an effective cyber security procedure starts from the top. Business leaders are needed to convey the importance of protecting sensitive data. Everyone is digitally literate today. This increases the risk to cyber security. It is the responsibility of business leaders to prioritize cyber security and decrease the risk of threats to avoid potential breaches.
When protecting the data is a main concern, organizations can take several steps to facilitate effective responses and security measures. Let's have a look at some of them:
The organization must be aware of the critical data they have. There should be a safe environment where that data can be stored. It should be safe both physically and on the software end. Organizations must take extra care of these locations. Sensitive data like customer information, employee credentials and insights of the company can be stored here.
Organizations should keep doing risk assessments to identify the areas which are most prone to threats. It helps the organization to pinpoint the improvements that should be done in the defenses. This step involves ethical hacking skills to locate the exact areas where the security is lagging behind.
After identifying the areas which have vulnerabilities, organizations should create a tailored mitigation plan for reinforcing those areas. It will add an extra layer of security to your organization’s defense.
The risk of cyberattacks will always be there, that is why you should always be prepared with a response plan. The plan should be focused on alerting affected parties, identifying the attackers and removing harmful elements from your system.
These are some of the ways to keep your organization safe from cyber-attacks. However, there are some pointers that can help in prevention of hacking on an individual level. These factors include:
If you feel like securing your organization is a hectic task for you, Cyber Cops is always ready to help. We are a trusted organization in the field of cyber security. We proudly say that we have a proven track record of securing multiple organizations. We not only secure them digitally but also guide them through the new guidelines that are required for the organization to comply.
We are the cops for cyber space. Hence Cyber Cops is your solution.