22/08/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 22/08/2024 22:40
Cybersecurity is the main line of defense against a vast number of digital adversaries. It involves protecting computer and network systems against intrusion, theft, or damage.
Most organizations rely on different cybersecurity frameworks to defend themselves from attacks. These frameworks define best practices - including security auditing, security policy development, important cybersecurity tools, and methods for monitoring security conditions over time.
In this in-depth article, we'll discuss the evolution of cybersecurity, the most common risks and threats that face an enterprise, and best practices for improving your cybersecurity posture.
Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting computers, servers, electronic systems, mobile devices, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It's also called information technology security. Cybersecurity plays a key role in:
(Related reading: cybersecurity events to attend & podcasts to follow.)
Over time, attackers became more sophisticated. Their malware evolved from tools that had once been designed to be little more than a nuisance to code snippets that could cause real damage by deleting files or corrupting software. These attacks have evolved in recent years to become much more nefarious:
Malware that runs cryptocurrency mining software while the victim is unaware is one of the most common types of exploits in use today.
Nut all that is the technical side of failures of cybersecurity. Let's zoom out and look at some personal and societal impacts of cybersecurity, too.
Today, data is the key to success. Effective cybersecurity measures protect individuals' sensitive data, such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, and medical records, from being accessed by unauthorized parties. This way they help in preventing identity theft and financial loss.
As businesses are moving online, you're now able to make transactions with a laptop or a mobile device. By securing online transactions and banking activities, cybersecurity reduces the risk of fraud and unauthorized access to financial accounts, helping you protect your financial assets.
Infrastructure including power grids, water supplies, and communication networks are the backbone of a nation.
A strong cybersecurity posture helps safeguard a nation's critical assets from cyberattacks. These attacks could otherwise lead to significant disruptions and threats to public safety.
The use of any digital technology is always a matter of trust. For example, you'll likely use a mobile app that protects your personal data and maintains integrity. Effective cybersecurity fosters public trust in digital services and technologies. This trust is essential for the adoption of new technologies, such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and the Internet of Things (IoT), which rely on secure and reliable digital infrastructures.
Cybersecurity helps protect against the spread of misinformation and cyberbullying, which can have significant social and psychological impacts. By ensuring a safer online environment, cybersecurity contributes to the well-being and stability of society.
Cybersecurity emerged and gained momentum in the 1970s. The original principles were built around discovering specific attacks - including viruses, worms, or other primitive types of malware - and developing tools to stop them.
By the 1980s and 1990s, these types of attacks had become extremely commonplace, to the point where desktop security software (such as Norton Antivirus and McAfee VirusScan) became essential to stave off attacks arriving via removable floppy disks and, later, through electronic messages and web browsing. By 2000, there were more than50,000 computer viruses in the wild. And by 2008, those numbers had skyrocketed, with Symantec reporting that that number had topped 1 million.
Thankfully,managing cybersecurity is getting easier, and collaboration stands as one of the main reasons. A recent go-to strategy for predicting whether a certain activity is likely to be malicious is using technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
Apart from this, the rise in generative AI technologies has uncovered a lot of potential on the cybersecurity side. According to Splunk's annual report on The State of Security , 91% of security teams have adopted GenAI. Its use cases include identifying risks, analyzing threat intelligence, detecting and prioritizing threats, and summarizing security data. To know more about GenAI's applications in cybersecurity, check out The State of Security report.
Risks, threats, and vulnerabilities are often confused because they're closely related to one another. How do they differ?
Some of the most common security threats include the following:
The most common and costly security risks include the following:
(Related reading: risk appetite vs. risk tolerance.)
Let's be clear: cybersecurity tools are not the only thing you need for a strong defense: you need a smooth, modern security operations center (SOC), run by experts of all security domains. Still, the tooling itself cannot be overlooked.
Some of the most powerful cybersecurity tools, all of which are essential parts of any cybersecurity infrastructure, include the following:
(Related reading: Splunk is a 10-time leader in SIEM solutions.)
To create a cybersecurity strategy, you need to first understand your cybersecurity environment and then improve upon your organizational security posture.
Understanding your cybersecurity environment and related cyber threats involves following a few key steps:
An organization's security posture is defined by its overall readiness and preparation level to guard against a cyberattack. There are several cybersecurity measures your organization can take to strengthen your security posture.
There are dozens of security frameworks designed to help organizations develop a strong cybersecurity posture. Some of the most notable and widely adopted include
(Related reading: cybersecurity frameworks & risk management frameworks.)
Cybersecurity frameworks like those outlined above specify specific approaches and practices each organization should undertake in order to improve security. This process begins by developing an understanding of the organization's tolerance for risk. At a large bank, this risk tolerance is likely to be zero, while the cybersecurity risk tolerance of a middle school PTA may be considerably higher. With this tolerance in mind, the organization can then begin to prioritize its specific cybersecurity investments.
Whether you decrease risk, eliminate it entirely, transfer it to someone else, or simply accept it, the approach involves a strategic decision applied on a case-by-case basis.
Software development occupies a particular (and unique) place in the broader cybersecurity landscape. Secure software is not only able to protect the organization's infrastructure; it's also able to protect any customers who may use externally facing software tools.
Secure development today is commonly defined by the security development life cycle, an approach originally pioneered byMicrosoft in 2002 and defined by 12 practices:
(Related reading: secure AI development.)
Organizations can start building cybersecurity defenses by following the advice for improving their security posture and reducing the number of security incidents.
Audit your existing hardware, software, and services ecosystem to get a solid understanding of where you stand. Create policies built to protect the systems that are most at risk of attack (including third-party services, such as cloud providers). Then, acquire the appropriate tools needed to protect those systems. After implementation, develop metrics to track performance and ensure staff are appropriately trained on your policy expectations and the aforementioned cybersecurity tools.
Cybersecurity continues to grow in importance and size as an industry. Allied Market Research projects the total value of this industry to hit more than$300 billion by 2027. Increased incidences of insider-based attacks and updated approaches to security frameworks play a significant part in this expansion.
Looking ahead, one of the most noteworthy security trends is the growth of cloud-based security services in lieu of traditional hardware. The expansion of privacy legislation will further enhance the need for companies to take cybersecurity more seriously.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a US federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Established in 2018, CISA is responsible for protecting the US's critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats. Its mission is to enhance the security, resilience, and reliability of the US's cyber and physical infrastructure.
CISA works to safeguard critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, finance, healthcare, and transportation, from cyber threats. It offers a range of cybersecurity services, including assessments, threat intelligence, and incident response support. CISA also develops and circulates best practices, guidelines, and frameworks for cybersecurity.
Finally, it works to raise awareness about cybersecurity threats and promote good cyber hygiene practices among individuals, businesses, and government entities.
CISA collects, analyzes, and shares threat intelligence with public and private sector partners. By providing timely and actionable information about emerging threats and vulnerabilities, CISA helps organizations take proactive measures to defend against cyberattacks. If an incident occurs, CISA provides technical assistance and expertise to help organizations mitigate the impact and recover from the attack. Moreover, it conducts cybersecurity exercises and training programs to help organizations prepare for and respond to incidents.
(Related reading: OSINT open-source intelligence.)
CISA issues alerts and advisories about current cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and incidents. These alerts include detailed information on the nature of the threat, potential impacts, and recommended mitigation strategies. CISA also enables collaboration through platforms like theInformation Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) andInformation Sharing and Analysis Organizations (ISAOs).
With the help of these platforms, CISA collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders. This includes government agencies, private sector companies, and international partners, to enhance cybersecurity.
Organizations can report anomalous cyber activity to CISA through several channels, including theNational Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC). Upon receiving a report, CISA may follow up with the reporting organization to gather additional information. It then provides technical assistance and offers guidance on mitigating the threat. Also,CISA's online portal provides a streamlined process for reporting cybersecurity incidents. This portal allows organizations to submit detailed information about the incident and receive timely feedback from CISA experts.
The headlines detailing massive damage, data breaches, and financial losses due to cyberattacks tell the story best. The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, often in unpredictable and frightening ways. Now more than ever it is critical to understand your security posture and the risks faced by your organization. Building a strong cybersecurity defense requires expertise and attention to shifting conditions and emerging threats.