What is Cyber Security?



Cyber security is the protection of internet-connected systems such as hardware, software and data from cyber-threats. The practice is used by individuals and enterprises to protect against unauthorized access to data centres and other computerized systems.

 Cyber security or information technology security are the techniques of protecting computers, networks, programs and data from unauthorized access or attacks. cyber security is the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.

Cyber security is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It's also known as information technology security or electronic information security. The term applies in a variety of contexts, from business to mobile computing, and can be divided into a few common categories.


Importance of cyber security

            Cyber-attacks are the fastest growing crime in the US, increasing in size, sophistication, and cost.  While investment in cyber security continues to grow (Gartner, Inc. forecasted a growth of 8.7 percent to $124 billion in 2019), it is not keeping pace with the US growth of cybercrime.  In a global context, in 2016, Cybersecurity Ventures predicted that by 2021 cybercrime will cost $6 trillion annually, up by $3 trillion from 2015. This represents a huge global increase in scope and financial impact of cybercrime across the board. If you do not have a cyber security strategy or focus, now is the time to invest and ensure your business is protected, as much as it can be, from the threats of cybercrime. It now seems that monthly, or sometimes even weekly, there is a segment in the news dedicated to discussing the results of a data breach at a major company, or a notice that hackers have captured a local computer network and are holding it hostage in exchange for vast sums of money (also called ransomware.) Depending on the people doing the hacking, their goals and targets could be as simple as stealing personal information from people using public Wi-Fi, or they could be more devastating such as shutting down a city or country’s power grid to cause mass panic among the public.


Challenges to cyber security

            Today cybersecurity is the main component of the country's overall national security and economic security strategies. In India, there are so many challenges related to cybersecurity. With the increase of the cyber-attacks, every organization needs a security analyst who makes sure that their system is secured. These security analysts face many challenges related to cybersecurity such as securing confidential data of government organizations, securing the private organization servers, etc.

1. Lack of awareness 

             As there is no National regulatory policy in place for cybersecurity there is a lack of awareness at both company level as well as individual level. Domestic netizens can protect and be protected from the cyber attacks only if there is a guided and supervised legal framework.With India’s highly skilled IT workforce, efforts must be harnessed and redirected towards strategic use by the government. Incentives provided by the government to the industry would encourage investment from the private sector towards an agency focused on national cybersecurity. With strengthened cybersecurity defences in India’s future, Indian businesses will become more competitive on a global level and create a safer digital India.

2. IoT Threats

            IoT stands for Internet of Things. It is a system of interrelated physical devices which can be accessible through the internet. The connected physical devices have a unique identifier (UID) and have the ability to transfer data over a network without any requirements of the human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. The firmware and software which is running on IoT devices make consumer and businesses highly susceptible to cyber-attacks.


3.Ransomware on the Rise

            The recent episodes of malware attacks, viz. WannaCry and Petya, brought home the rising menace of ransomware. As more users recognize the risks of ransomware attack via email, criminals are exploring other vectors. Some are experimenting with malware that reinfects later, long after a ransom is paid, and some are starting to use built-in tools and no executable malware at all to avoid detection by endpoint protection code that focuses on executable files. Ransomware authors are also starting to use techniques other than encryption, for example deleting or corrupting file headers.

4.Distributed denial of service (DDos) attack

             With the advent of IoT-powered botnets, destructive DDoS attacks are inevitable and have intensified in volume and frequency. Organizations in India need to improve their response capability to mitigate DDoS risks.



5.Digital Data Threat

             Growing online transactions generate bigger incentives for cybercriminals. Besides, establishments looking to mine data—for instance, customer information, results of product surveys, and generic market information—create treasured intellectual property that is in itself an attractive target.


Benefits of cyber security

1.Protects Productivity 

            Viruses can slow down personal computers to a crawl, and make working on them practically impossible. This can cause a lot of wasted time for your employees, and can often bring your entire business to a standstill.

2.Protects Personal Info 

            One of the most valuable commodities in the digital age is personal information. If a virus is able to obtain personal information regarding your employees or customers, they are quite capable of selling that information on, or even using it to steal their money.

3.Avoid legal action

            You may find yourself facing legal action if you’re the victim of a data breach and you didn’t have adequate policies in place to help prevent it. Although having cyber insurance can help you in this situation, a comprehensive security policy can make it less likely in the first place. With good staff training and rigorous procedures, you can minimise the risk of claims against your business.

4.Document security

            When you run an organisation, you have plenty of documents to be taken care of which can include insurance papers, partner agreements, bank documents, organisation documents, etc. Having a proper and secured security policy for this kind of documents is a must as they can act as evidence. This is how you will take a step for the protection and security of your data and network.


5.Time and Money Saved

Cybersecurity training for your team is also a wise investment. It is estimated that data breaches and similar attacks cost companies about $400 billion each year. In the United States, a single attack could cost a company $15.4 million. Therefore, the cost of excellent cybersecurity training is well worth it if it prevents even a single attack. And naturally, the same goes for time spent. If an attack were to occur, your team would spend a significant amount of their energy attempting to plug the holes and repair the damage. That time could be much better spent conducting other functions of business. But, this scramble can be avoided with cybersecurity training.









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