Professionals in cyber security continuously defend computer systems from potential breaches. Every day, organizations and private networks are subjected to cyberattacks, and the diversity of these attacks has significantly risen. According to former Cisco CEO John Chambers, there are two categories of businesses: those that have been hacked and those that do not yet realize they have been hacked.
There are numerous motivations behind cyberattacks. One is money. To restore a system’s operation, cybercriminals may render it inoperable and demand payment. Ransomware is more sophisticated than ever, an assault that necessitates payment to restore software services.
Although businesses are more likely to be the target of cyber assaults since they leverage IT outsourcing, people can also be hit since they store sensitive data on their mobile devices and connect to the internet via an unsecured public network.
What Is a Cyber Security Threat?
A cyber security threat refers to any conceivable harmful assault that aims to access data, disrupt digital activities, or damage information unlawfully. Cyber threats can emanate from numerous entities, including corporate espionage, hacktivists, terrorist groups, hostile nation-states, criminal organizations, lone hackers, and disgruntled employees.
Sensitive data has recently been made public due to multiple high-profile cyberattacks. For example, the 2017 Equifax breach exposed the private information of over 143 million people, including their birthdates, residences, and Social Security numbers.
In 2018, Marriott International revealed that hackers had broken into its servers and taken data belonging to almost 500 million customers. Both times, the firm neglected to implement, test, and retest technical security measures, including firewalls, encryption, and authentication, which allowed the cyber security threat to flourish.
Cyber attackers can utilize a person’s or company’s sensitive data to steal information or access their financial accounts, among other potentially detrimental acts. Therefore, cyber security professionals are vital for protecting private data.
Evolution of Cyber Security
Cyber security measures continue to adapt as the internet and digitally dependent enterprises develop and change. According to Secureworks, people who study cybersecurity focus more on the two topics discussed below.
The Internet of Things
Individual devices that link to the internet or other networks give an access point to hackers. Cytelligence states that in 2019, hackers increasingly targeted smart home and internet of things (IoT) devices, such as smart TVs, voice assistants, connected baby monitors, and cell phones. Hackers that successfully infiltrate a connected house not only acquire access to users’ Wi-Fi passwords but may also gain access to private data, such as medical records, bank statements, and website login information.
The Explosion of Data
The storage of data on devices such as laptops and mobile phones makes it easier for cybercriminals to access a network via a personal device. For instance, in his forthcoming book Exploding Data: Reclaiming Our Cyber Security in the Digital Age, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff warns of the widespread exposure of individuals’ personal information, which has become more susceptible to cyber-attacks.
Zero Trust Security Strategy
Businesses are now more connected than ever. Your systems, users and data exist and function in distinct settings. Perimeter-based security is no longer sufficient, yet installing security controls within each environment is a complicated endeavor. In both scenarios, protecting your most valuable assets will be compromised.
A zero-trust strategy presupposes compromise and implements controls to check the validity and intent of every user, device, and connection to the organization. For enterprises to successfully implement a zero-trust strategy, they must be able to combine security information to provide the context (device security, location, etc.) that informs and enforces validation controls.
Consequently, businesses and government agencies require maximum cyber security to safeguard their data and operations. Cybersecurity professionals must comprehend how to address the most recent cyber threats.
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