Cyber security protects the integrity of a computer’s Internet-connected systems, hardware, software, and data from cyber-attacks. Without a security plan in place, hackers can access your computer system and misuse your personal information, your customer’s information, your business intel, and much more.
It seems that everything now relies on the Internet and computers – entertainment, communication, transportation, medicine, shopping, etc. Even banking institutions run their business online.
The realization that most of the world relies on the Internet should prompt us to ask ourselves…
- How much of my life is dependent on the Internet?
- How much of my personal information is stored online?
- How much of my business is accessible over networks?
- How much of my customers’ information is accessible over networks?
With such a high dependency on computers, neglecting the likelihood of cybercrime in your business is extremely risky and potentially harmful to you, your business, your employees, and your customers. This article will help you build a solid foundation for a strong security strategy.
5 Main Types of Cyber Security
1. Critical Infrastructure Security
Critical infrastructure security focuses on protecting cyber-physical systems, networks, and assets that modern societies rely on. The security and resilience of critical infrastructures are vital to our society’s safety and well-being.
Common examples of critical infrastructures:
- Electricity Grid
- Water Purification
- Traffic Lights
- Shopping Centers
- Hospitals
Organizations tasked with securing a critical infrastructure should take the time to understand the vulnerabilities associated with that infrastructure’s system and create a plan to prevent future damage.
Businesses that are not responsible for a critical infrastructure but still depend on it for a portion of their operations should also develop a contingency plan by evaluating how an attack on the infrastructure they depend on might affect them.
2. Application Security
Application security protects software application code and data against cyber threats and breaches. It uses software and hardware methods to tackle external threats that can arise in the development stage of an application, including the design and deployment phases.
Since applications are more accessible over networks, it’s important to implement security standards, procedures, systems, and tools right away to protect your applications during all stages of development.
Types of application security:
- Authentication
- Authorization
- Antivirus Programs
- Antispyware Software
- Encryption Programs
- Firewalls
- Application Security Testing
These security measures help prevent unauthorized access to your applications and protect sensitive data assets through specific application security processes.
Special cybersecurity intel from our CEO, Matt Rosenthal…
Click here to schedule your free 30-minute cybersecurity consultation with Matt.
3. Network Security
As cyber security is concerned with outside threats, network security guards against the unauthorized intrusion of your internal networks due to malicious intent.
Network security ensures that internal networks are secure by protecting the infrastructure and inhibiting access to it.
Security teams are now using machine learning to flag abnormal traffic and alert threats in real-time to help better manage network security monitoring. Network administrators continue to implement policies and procedures to prevent unauthorized access, modification, and exploitation of the network.
Common examples of network security implementation:
- Extra Logins
- New Passwords
- Application Security
- Antivirus Programs
- Antispyware Software
- Encryption
- Firewalls
- Monitored Internet Access
4. Cloud Security
Improved cyber security is one of the main reasons why the cloud is taking over.
Cloud security is a software-based security tool that protects and monitors the data in your cloud resources. Cloud providers are constantly creating and implementing new security tools to help enterprise users better secure their data.
The myth flying around cloud computing is that it’s less secure than traditional approaches. People tend to believe that your data is more secure when stored on physical servers and systems you own and control. However, it has been proven through cloud security that control does not mean security and accessibility matter more than the physical location of your data.
Alert’s Logic Cloud Security Report found that on-premises environment users suffer more incidents than those in service provider environments.
The report further finds that…
- On-premise environment users experience an average of 61.4 attacks.
- Service provider environment customers experience an average of 27.8 attacks.
Cloud computing security is similar to traditional on-premise data centers, only without the time and costs of maintaining huge data facilities, and the risk of security breaches is minimal.
5. Internet of Things (IoT) Security
IoT security is the act of securing Internet devices and the networks they’re connected to from cyber threats and breaches. This type of cyber security solution protects, identifies, and monitors risks all while helping fix vulnerabilities from devices that can cause security risks for your business.
IoT devices refer to a wide variety of critical and non-critical cyber-physical systems, like appliances, sensors, televisions, Wi-Fi routers, printers, and security cameras.
According to Bain & Company’s prediction:
- The combined markets of IoT will grow to about $520 billion in 2021, which is more than double the $235 billion spent in 2017.
IoT’s data center, analytics, consumer devices, networks, legacy embedded systems, and connectors are the core technology of the IoT market.
IoT devices are frequently sent in a vulnerable state and offer little to no security patching, which poses unique security challenges for all users.
A study done by Bain & Company found:
- Security is one of the biggest barriers to great IoT adoption
- Enterprises would buy more IoT devices on average if security concerns were addressed
- Enterprises are optimistic about IoT’s business value and growth
This calls for vendors to invest in learning more about security challenges to suggest and implement more strategic solutions. In the meantime, IoT devices are near impossible to avoid, and finding an IT provider that can manage your security is your best option.
Not convinced? Remember Pied Piper’s pivotal hack in season 5 of Silicon Valley?
Pied Piper easily hacked into a distributor of refrigerators’ IoT system and used it to jump their application’s user numbers. Anything connected to the Internet is at risk.
If your business has or uses products that are connected to the Internet in any way, it’s important to implement defense strategies before the products are shipped or used! We know that’s a broad claim, but devices at risk are everywhere.
Take Action with Cyber Security Solutions
Overall, cyber security is essential to govern the conduct and manners of interacting with computer systems from suspicious behavior. In a world where even our kitchen appliances and cars are connected to the Internet, cybercriminals have endless opportunities to cause chaos.
As hackers continue to adapt to progressing technology, so will the IT security experts whose main focus is to keep our data secure.
Schedule a consultation with one of our cyber security experts to take advantage of these 5 types of cyber security methods and protect your business from cyber-attacks.
