Cyber security uses technologies, processes, and practices to defend networks, servers, computers, mobile devices, and data from cyber attacks, security breaches or damage. Banks, government agencies, corporations and healthcare systems collect who store and process large amounts of sensitive data are looking to cyber security for critical infrastructure protection from cyber threat. The main elements ofcyber security include computer security, network security, application security, endpoint security, data security, cloud security and disaster recovery. Organizations generally look to these common mitigation strategies to avoid security incidents and reduce overall risk.
Computer, network, and application security involves frequent scans, updates and testing of networks to protect against malicious software attacks and unwanted information system intrusions. Endpoint security focuses on protecting and securing remote access these computer networks. Within a computer network, data security works to protect sensitive information and prevent data loss. And with the recent migration of large amounts of data to the cloud, cloud security strategies are critical to address the challenges of protecting data in online environments.
Despite these and other cyber security measures, organizations also rely on disaster recovery and business continuity in response to any security breaches or disruptions that cause an interruption in operations or result in significant data loss. These measures give organizations a viable path forward in real time, while operating on limited resources, and help them establish guidelines for restoring operating capacity.
Cyber security is a critical need and invaluable resource for organizations, allowing them to
- Protect and preserve business. Good cyber security and information system strategy can identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risk to provide comprehensive digital protection for businesses. Sound strategy can circumvent potential threats from cyber-attack that often impact day-to-day employee activity, from responding to email to sharing data or surfing the web.
- Preserve productivity. Uninvited attacks created by viruses or malware have the potential to slow down or debilitate a computer and decrease employee productivity. Infected systems can also result in significant business interruptions, such as impairing website functionality or causing disruptions in payment processing. Good cyber security strategy ensure computers, systems and processes are operating at full capacity, optimizing overall productivity.
- Secure and protect sensitive information.Protecting data and data loss is a critical aspect of cyber security. Intrusive viruses and malicious software can obtain sensitive information regarding business operations, employees, and customers. Cyber criminals can obtain business intelligence that can be sold to competitors or expose customer information and transactional data (such as credit card information) resulting in theft, fraud, and other related crimes.
- Inspire customer confidence.Businesses that prioritize customer security as a vital part of customer experience and can demonstrate they are effectively protecting customers against cyber threats inspire confidence among new employees and brand loyalists.