What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of defending data and digital systems, including networks, infrastructure and end-user devices, from cyberattacks. Sometimes referred to simply as “security” or “IT security,” cybersecurity protects organizations from attackers who want to steal or destroy sensitive information, disrupt business operations or commit financial crimes.

People: Many cybersecurity incidents can be prevented through cybersecurity awareness and training. Organizations should regularly educate employees to help them recognize threats and understand best practices. Simulated cyberattacks, such as phishing tests, can help staff develop a security-conscious mindset. In addition, security skills and technology training can help provide employees the skills they need to master the security technology that they use every day.

Processes: Effective policies and procedures ensure that security teams can prioritize the data and systems that must be protected, and that stakeholders throughout the organization take the necessary steps to keep them safe. These processes should include clear guidelines for data storage, access management, incident response and regulatory compliance.

Technology: Tools such as next-generation firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention (IDPS) solutions and security information and event management (SIEM) systems are critical to safeguarding enterprise data and applications. Cybersecurity tools are constantly evolving, and many of today’s solutions incorporate AI features designed to sniff out advanced threats.

Network security: Hardware and software solutions that protect network infrastructure from cyberthreats are critical. These include firewalls, intrusion detection systems and virtual private networks (VPNs). Monitoring, access control and encryption are all crucial components of network security.

Application security: The applications that leaders, employees and customers use to access company resources must also be protected. Application security centers on identifying, preventing and remediating threats and vulnerabilities through secure coding practices, regular testing and the implementation of security features such as validation and authentication.

Information security: Sensitive data must be protected both at rest and in transit. Many organizations store and process payment information, personal data such as Social Security numbers, and valuable intellectual property. Implementing identity and access management (IAM) helps restrict this data only to authorized users.

Cloud security: In addition to protecting resources in their on-premises environments, organizations must also safeguard their data, applications and infrastructure in cloud environments. To ensure cloud security, leaders must understand shared responsibility agreements with cloud vendors and take steps to prevent unauthorized access of their cloud resources. 

Endpoint security: The devices that connect to networks are a critical point of vulnerability. Organizations should protect end-user devices such as laptops and smartphones with endpoint security like mobility management and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools. 

Internet of things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) security: Increasingly, physical assets are connected to networks via smart sensors and control systems. Network segmentation and other security measures can prevent attackers from accessing physical infrastructure, such as water filtration systems and electrical grids. 

Operational security: Organizations can protect their business operations from the downtime associated with successful cyberattacks by conducting regular risk assessments, developing and enforcing security policies, conducting penetration tests and red or purple team exercises, maintaining an incident response plan and managing access controls.

Business continuity and disaster recovery: No prevention strategy is foolproof. Security leaders must adopt tools and develop processes to rapidly recover their IT environments and ensure business continuity in the event that their organization is hit by any incident with the power to compromise business operations. This process should include regular testing of backup systems and the development of incident response plans.

Multifactor authentication (MFA): By requiring two or more verification factors, MFA tools make it much more difficult for attackers to use stolen access credentials. Typically, MFA tools require at least two of the following: something you know (such as a password), something you have (such as a security token) and something you are (such as face recognition, fingerprints or other biometrics).

Malware: Cybercriminals can launch malicious software (or malware) to infiltrate networks and cause significant damage to IT systems. Malware can include viruses, worms, or Trojans designed to steal information, disrupt operations, or provide attackers with unauthorized access to systems and data.

Ransomware: Ransomware is a particular type of malware that hackers use to lock organizations out of their own data and then demand payment to restore access. Even after organizations pay these ransoms, however, attackers may still sell their information on the black market.

Phishing: In phishing emails, attackers attempt to trick users into clicking malicious links, opening malware-infected attachments or providing payment information. The emails purport to be from a legitimate source, such as a partner financial institution or a vendor. In targeted spear phishing campaigns, attackers may impersonate specific executives to make their ruse more convincing.

Social engineering: In social engineering incidents, attackers prey on trust or fear to manipulate users into giving them confidential data or otherwise compromising security. For example, in a “baiting” social engineering attack, scammers may set up phony promotions, get users to create new accounts and then attempt to use the new passwords to access the users’ corporate accounts.

Insider threats: These risks stem from employees, contractors or partners with legitimate access to corporate resources. Whether through malicious actions or unintentional errors, these internal users can compromise sensitive data and systems via their access credentials. 

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks: In a DDoS attack, malicious actors overwhelm networks and systems with manufactured traffic. This can render websites, servers or even entire networks unavailable to legitimate users, potentially disrupting business operations.

Man-in-the-middle (MITM) Attacks: During an MITM attack, a “listener” is placed in the communication path between two devices or services, such as an end-user device and an internet connection. Attackers may use this attack type to steal information or change information to their own advantage. 

The ISO security standards are a set of globally recognized guidelines developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to help organizations establish and maintain effective cybersecurity practices. These standards are designed to protect data confidentiality, integrity and availability while addressing various aspects of cybersecurity, privacy and risk management.

Key standards:

1. ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management System (ISMS). An ISMS is not a specific cybersecurity tool, but rather a structured approach to managing and protecting IT assets by identifying, assessing and mitigating security risks. An effective ISMS will define policies and procedures for data protection, access control, incident response and business continuity.
2. ISO/IEC 27002: Code of Practice for Information Security Controls. This standard provides guidelines for information security management, outlining best practices for areas including HR security, asset management, physical security and cryptography. It is a supplementary guideline for organizations implementing ISO/IEC 27001.
3. ISO/IEC 27701: Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). The creation of a PIMS helps organizations achieve compliance with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This standard outlines specifications for establishing systems that protect personally identifiable information (PII).
4. ISO/IEC 27017: Security in Cloud Services. This standard provides guidance for addressing cloud-specific considerations, such as whether the cloud service provider or the customer is responsible for specific security measures; the return or removal of assets when a cloud contract is terminated; and customer monitoring of activity within a public cloud environment.
5. ISO/IEC 27018: Protection of Personal Data in the Cloud. Focusing on personal data in the cloud, ISO/IEC 27018 provides a set of controls and guidance for PII protection not addressed by previous standards. 
6. ISO/IEC 22301: Business Continuity Management System (BCMS). This standard is designed to help organizations enhance their resilience against disruption and ensure continuity of operations and services. It provides guidance for identifying risks, preparing for emergencies and reducing recovery time after an incident.
7. ISO/IEC 27005: Information Security Risk Management. This standard provides guidance for organizations performing security risk management activities.

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 is a set of guidelines, best practices and standards designed to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risks. It was created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide a flexible and effective approach to improving cybersecurity. The framework was developed primarily for critical infrastructure sectors but is widely used across industries.

The framework outlines six core cybersecurity functions:

Govern: Establish and monitor an organization’s cybersecurity strategy, setting clear expectations and policies.

Identify: Map out and understand current cybersecurity risks by cataloging all organizational assets, including data, hardware, software, systems, facilities, services and people.

Protect: Implement security measures and safeguards to prevent cybersecurity incidents and reduce vulnerabilities.

Detect: Monitor systems and networks to quickly identify potential security threats and analyze suspicious activities before they result in harm.

Respond: Take immediate action to contain threats when cyber incidents occur. Response actions include management, analysis, mitigation, reporting and communication.

Restore: Bring affected systems and operations back to normal after a security incident, while maintaining communication with appropriate stakeholders.

Evolving threat landscape: Cybercriminals are constantly working to develop new attack methods and exploit emerging technologies, making it a challenge for organizations to stay ahead of their adversaries. Security teams must regularly update their defense systems, gather intelligence about new attacks and adapt their strategies to keep up with evolving threats.

Workforce shortages and skills gaps: A shortage of professionals with the skills necessary to combat cyberthreats is a persistent problem; 45% of IT security leaders say a majority of their stress is caused by a lack of staff.

Regulatory compliance: In addition to protecting their systems, organizations must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of data protection laws and industry-specific regulations. These requirements vary across regions and sectors, making it difficult to maintain a consistent, up-to-date global compliance posture.

Remote work vulnerabilities: The shift to remote work has essentially eliminated the network perimeter for many organizations, greatly expanding cyberattack surfaces. Today, security teams must worry not only about enterprise devices and systems but also about home networks, personal devices and cloud-based collaboration tools.

User education: Regular cybersecurity awareness training helps employees recognize potential threats and respond effectively. This training may include simulated phishing and social engineering attacks, as well as education sessions about best practices for handling sensitive data. 

Zero trust: In a zero-trust security framework, all users and devices must be continuously authenticated, validated and authorized before they are granted access to resources. This approach removes the assumption of trust that has historically been granted to users and devices once they are inside the network perimeter.

Data backup: Organizations that follow the 3-2-1 data backup rule will maintain three copies of their data, kept on two different types of storage media, with at least one copy stored offsite. Such a strategy ensures data resilience against various threat types.

Password management: Many data breaches can be traced back to stolen or hacked credentials, including insecure passwords. These may include common passwords that are easily guessed as well as default passwords for network equipment such as wireless routers. Password managers can generate and securely store unique passwords for each user account.

Regular software updates: By regularly patching their systems, security teams can prevent hackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities in their applications. When possible, software patching and updating processes should be automated.

Incident response planning: Security teams must develop a comprehensive incident response plan outlining the appropriate steps for containing, mitigating and recovering from cybersecurity incidents. Response teams should include representatives from departments across the organization, including IT, management, legal and communications.

Trends in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): Advances in AI and ML technology are enabling IT teams to quickly analyze large volumes of data, detect anomalies and automate repetitive processes. This provides organizations with capabilities such as advanced threat detection, automated response and predictive analytics.

Evolving threats: Cybercriminals are using AI to create personalized attacks that leverage deepfakes, with these attacks rising by 1,400% in the last six months of 2024. Organizations are also contending with advanced ransomware attacks, in which attackers strategically exfiltrate sensitive information and threaten its public release, increasing the pressure to pay a ransom.

Staying updated: Cybersecurity is not a one-time activity. As threats and cybersecurity technologies continue to evolve, security teams must constantly re-evaluate their approach and adopt any new solutions that will help them defend against emerging threats. 

Quantum computing: For years, cybersecurity professionals have warned that quantum computing will one day allow hackers to break through traditional encryption methods. In fact, there is some worry that cybercriminals and nation-states are already stockpiling encrypted data with the hope that they will be able to unlock it with quantum computing methods in the future.