What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the field of cybersecurity that deals with the set of tools, processes and technological solutions to protect business systems from external attacks.
To be effective, cybersecurity integrates human, technical, organizational and legal elements, precisely identifying the weaknesses of an IT system, the associated risks and the related threats. In particular, cybersecurity is not only concerned with protecting local data, but also data that travels between devices and in the cloud.
Cybersecurity is based on three fundamental principles:
Confidentiality: ensuring that personal data is not used by unauthorized parties;
Integrity: ensuring the veracity of the data without it being modified without authorization;
Availability: ensure the possibility of uninterrupted access to your data and resources.
What are the threats and how to defend yourself
Computer systems can be exposed to numerous threats that exploit their vulnerabilities. With the arrival of mobile devices, cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT), the potential vulnerabilities of computer systems, especially corporate ones, have increased, and consequently the ways in which these attacks can occur have also multiplied. Below we delve into the main types of cybersecurity threats.
Malware
Malware is a term that includes any type of malicious software (hence the name, short for malicious software) with the purpose of damaging, causing malfunctions or allowing unauthorized access to a computer. Malware can be installed on devices in a variety of ways: by hackers with network access, through infected links, memory or USB peripherals, and by browsing compromised websites. The most widespread and well-known type of malware is the classic virus, a software capable of replicating itself. Other common examples are Trojans, worms, and spyware.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a particular type of malware that, once it penetrates the system, renders files and resources unusable through encryption. Once all sensitive data has been extracted, the hackers demand a ransom, often in cryptocurrency, which the victim must pay to free the system. However, paying the ransom does not always guarantee the recovery of all affected files. In recent years, this threat has become more and more widespread, and it is one of the most expensive to deal with.
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a type of cyberattack that leverages people’s trust and naivety to trick them into downloading malware or manipulating them to extract confidential information. Against this type of threat, training is the most effective weapon, to help potential victims recognize and avoid suspicious interactions.
Phishing
A common form of social engineering is phishing, which uses email, SMS, or social media, to contact you and trick you into revealing sensitive data or downloading malicious files. Phishing campaigns are often sent to a large amount of people in the hopes of targeting the greatest number of victims.
APT (Advanced Persistent Threat)
APTs are sophisticated and prolonged attacks, whose goal is to remain hidden for as long as possible while performing espionage activities and stealing sensitive data without being detected and countered.
DDoS attacks
Denial of Service attacks aim to disrupt the availability of services by overloading the victim website with excessive requests. Distributed attacks (DDoS) of this type, on the other hand, are based on the use of multiple devices, both in the cloud and physical, to launch the attack at the same time.
Why it is important to have a cybersecurity strategy
Considering the large amount of existing threats and their complexity, it is necessary for companies to be ready to face any situation, starting with reducing vulnerabilities in IT systems as much as possible.
A propercyber security strategy lays the foundation for the security of an organization, and must respond to the unique and specific needs of each company. Precisely for this reason, there is no universal approach to creating a cybersecurity strategy, and it is therefore important to rely on professionals in the sector to create a tailor-made plan, which is able to carry out an in-depth and timely risk assessment in which all the vulnerabilities of corporate IT systems are outlined.
This process includes mapping assets, classifying data to protect, identifying threats and critical systems. It is also essential to develop a risk management plan, where guidelines are established for data management, data storage and response procedures in the event of security incidents.
Cybersecurity is essential not only to protect data, but also to preserve a company’s reputation. Relying on specialized professionals for this type of solution is therefore essential.
AI and cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence is now an integral part of our society and, even more so, of the IT sector. AI is also playing an increasingly important role in cybersecurity. Both hackers and security professionals try to make the most of this technology. AI-integrated systems make it possible to identify and combat threats faster through automation, especially when managing massive amounts of data.
On the other hand, cybercriminals can also use AI to improve their attacks, for example to crack passwords or to alter algorithms.
Despite the risks, AI will continue to grow and be increasingly used, and responsible use by professionals in the field can ensure that the benefits far outweigh the downsides.
In an increasingly digitally complex social context, cybersecurity represents one of the main defenses against growing cyber threats. Relying on qualified experts to implement tailored strategies and investing in people training is essential to protect data and preserve corporate reputation.
