Nowadays every single person is connected to the internet. Day by day the number is growing. According to the World Wide Digital Population of January 2023, the approximate number of internet users is 5.16 billion. People use the Internet for many purposes like education, research, information, watching movies, listening to music, and many kinds of social media like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and so on. As the number of internet users is growing day by day. So, one major concern arises about its security. Now, many questions arise in our mind that how can we protect our data online, what to do, and what is the way? Along with all of this, the concept is Cyber Security.

What is Cyber Security?

It refers to saving or protecting our personal or an organization and its employee’s data against cyber threats. As cyber-attacks become a threat to internet users, networks grow more complex. Now you can ask what a cyber-attack is. 

A cyber-attack is an unauthorized access attempt by external or internal threats. 

It has a wide variety that is listed below:

• Malware
• Ransomware
• Injection attack
• Man-in-the-Middle attacks
• Phishing
• Denial of service
• Privilege escalations
• Vulnerable software
• Remote code execution
• Brute force

Although there remain many layers there also exist Cyber Security Risks.

As a concept, cyber security risk refers to an organization’s vulnerability to losses due to a cyber-attack. Ransomware, phishing, malware, third-party risks, internal risks, compliance failures, and other cyber hazards are examples of specific cyber threats.

Every person and also the Business company should know cyber security risks because those threats can derail your business. They can cost money you didn’t want to spend, cause disruption you didn’t want, and ruin your fame with customers and business partners.

A robust cyber security risk management plan helps you do the following:

• Identify cyber security threats correctly.
• Recognize your company’s most susceptible points.
• Recognize the probable consequences of these risks.
• Create a strategy for defending your business.
• Learn how to reduce the effect of cyber-attacks.
• Risk transfer can help to mitigate some of the dangers.

Security is the most essential thing online for digital people. There are different types of cyber security. 

• Network Security: As the network grows worldwide most attacks occur through this network. And network security is the best way to solve this by blocking threats.

• Cloud Security: Many companies and organizations use cloud computing, and for this securing the cloud becomes a main priority. This process includes cyber security solutions, controls, policies, and services that will help to secure an organization’s whole cloud system against attack.

Endpoint Security

• Mobile Security: As every person uses a mobile phone also organization uses mobile phone for their business purpose it is mandatory to keep mobiles safe from attacks. Mobile security help for this purpose. 
•  IoT Security: While using Internet of Things (IoT) devices certainly delivers productivity benefits, it also exposes organizations to new cyber threats. For this reason, we need IoT security.
• Application Security: While connected to the internet many web applications and other sites can get attacked by threads. With application security, the attacks can be stopped.
• Zero Trust: How can these attacks be defended, it’s a big issue for cyber security. We can defend our network with essential Cyber Security layers. Before building these layers you need to understand your risk. 

• Firewall: This is the first layer of network security. It acts as a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks. 
• Patch Management: This is the process of updating software because backdated software can cause security holes that allow hackers to easily get into your network.
• Multi-factor Authentication: This is the most important thing that can reduce the risk of cyber-attack. Also known as two-factor authentication. 
• Endpoint Protection: We not only use mobile phones but also use laptops, printers, scanners, security cameras, and more. These devices can be an entry point for a hacker, known as an “Endpoint”.
• Web Content Filtering: This can block user access to websites and online content.
• E-mail Filtering: Email is one of the most common cyber-attack. 94% of malware is delivered by email. Email filtering is a good practice in this case.

Security Awareness Training and Phishing Simulation

• Sophisticated Password Policy: You need to avoid weak passwords and improve your network security. Most people use the same password for various accounts which can cause hackers to get people’s accounts hacked easily. 
• Dark Web Monitoring: This includes many illegal activities, like the sale of sensitive and personally-identifying information stolen during data breaches. Dark Web Monitoring tools scan the dark web for emails and passwords associated with your company.
• Physical Security: Firewalls can’t protect your important information from being copied and stolen via a USB drive. That’s why we need a physical security layer.

• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

• Manage Detection and Response

The intention behind a cyber-attack can be anything from information theft to money theft. Some of the key reasons behind carrying out a cyber-attack are as follows.

Most of the cyber-attacks are planned to gain monetary gain. At the very least, a cyber-attack can bring multiple benefits to the attacker, if successful. 

The gain could be millions of dollars. As per the recent IBM report, the average loss incurred from a cyber-attack is nearly $3.86 million, a huge sum.

The second main reason behind a cyber-attack is to gain business intelligence. By gaining passwords, access information, sensitive information, and other information, hackers want to control a specific business or enterprise to display their supremacy. 

We have witnessed incidents where a hacker stole crucial information and leaked it on the dark web for free.

Some cyber-attack is state-sponsored and took place because of political motives. 

We are living in the era of the internet called digital life. As we are connected to the internet we need Cyber Security to protect our data and so on. Cyber Security is the best way to keep everyone safe from cyber-attacks.

Writer

Sara Shahrin Moumi

Intern, Content Writing Department

Requin BD