Cybersecurity has always been a broad subject anytime it is mentioned because it covers how we use systems to defend computers, servers, mobile devices, websites, networks, and data information from threats. The growth of the internet and the use of IoT devices has given rise to threats that are far beyond what an individual can handle. Today, there are various types of phishing links and malicious content out there, hoping to engineer people to click on them as clickbait. Therefore, it is important to understand cybersecurity and strengthen it. In this article, we will discuss the different areas of cybersecurity along with some cyber threats that need to be eliminated to keep the data secure.
Areas of Cybersecurity
Today, there are various fields or areas of Cybersecurity dealing with one form of protection from threats or another. Some of these fields are;
Network Security
The network a company server uses might be under a severe attack. Network engineers try to put both internal and external measures in place to ensure the network is stable at all times. Steps like setting up antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall, encryption, and other means of redirecting threats away from the system. The means of preventing incoming or outgoing threats from not spreading into the system is the job of this area of Cybersecurity.
Application Security
Application security focuses on the threats that might affect a company’s software or devices used in running them. The application design, integration, and testing have to be perfect using specific parameters before they can get deployed for use by the organization. Failure to pass through this process unscathed would mean the application isn’t fit for the purpose. Application security focuses on stuff like authentication, log in details, backup to ensure that the user’s information is safe from outside threats.
Cloud Security
Cloud security is a branch of Cybersecurity that is hugely gaining popularity because of the increase in cloud-based systems. Businesses who have come to realize that it pays more to run your company on the cloud than having a physical system set up this have spiked an increase in security in the cloud. Cloud-based networks like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, are always updating their websites to improve security. This is an excellent area of Cybersecurity that focuses on monitoring and protecting the cloud-based network from threats like malware, phishing, DOS attack, and much more. They provide a rigorous form of the authentication process in order to protect their users.
Disaster Recovery Security
This area of Cybersecurity can also be called IoT security because it focuses on securing the various devices linked to a company’s system. It also goes further to put every measure in place to ensure that there is a reliable backup for devices in case a disaster like an attack happens. Most disaster recovery security, backup their data at intervals to a cloud, sometimes it can be in minutes, hours, or days. Where ever a device connected to the system is used, it shows the last backup time and retrieves information from there after an attack.
Website Security
If the coding of a website data security is going to get tampered with, this is the branch of Cybersecurity that handles it. It protects the website’s database from any form of external attack. Files and data stored on the website are entirely safe immediately website security is available. The increase in website breaches as a result of DOS attacks has led to the improvement of website security systems. These attacks have also caused immense damage to a business’s reputation, sales, market share, and brand image. As a result of the downtime, most companies started looking at website security because they found out that their website host provider cannot protect them alone. They needed sophisticated tools to protect themselves better. In conclusion, there are diverse areas of Cybersecurity that fall under the areas of Cybersecurity we just mentioned now. Some deal with specific types of threats, while others are more focused on the applications.
The most important type of security, however, falls within orientating members of staff about the use of devices and the security measures put in place. Companies can take it a bit further by investing in seminars and workshops for their employees to enable them to grasp the full extent of the whole situation.
Types of Cybersecurity Threats
Some of these threats that have given rise to cybersecurity include:
Malware
Malware is a dangerous virus that destroys anything it finds on your computer. It is created by black hat hackers to infiltrate a company’s or individual’s system to steal information. It can pick up your password, usernames, log in details, and more.
DOS (Denial of service)
This form of threat involves sending unwarranted traffic to a website in order to crash it. Users who visit these websites at the time of the attack could only see messages on the website as not available. Such an attack could result in a loss of revenue or reputation for the business.
Phishing
Phishing is a popular type of attack usually carried out using Google shareable links. The attacker socially engineers people to click on a link in order to view content but manages to infiltrate the contact list on their email after they signed to view the file.
Ransomware
Ransomware was one of the few viruses that made Cybersecurity famous in recent times. They use different types of social engineering to ensure users click on their link or content. After that, they seize control of the persons or company information before demanding for ransom. It crippled a lot of businesses without a backup for their data when it first came out. Paying the money doesn’t always mean the attackers would release the data.
Spamming
Spamming is the use of phishing links to infiltrate the comment section of a group or forum in order to gain access to the user’s login details and use it for personal gains. People who use spamming as a tool focuses on infiltrating the forum or group without prior approval or discussions with members of the group. It can also be carried out through emails. Other types of viruses or malware that made widespread Cybersecurity include spamming, spoofing, Blackhat hacking, and more.