Cybersecurity and How Can It Help Your Business?

What is Cybersecurity? In short, it's the use of tools, technologies, policies, controls, and procedures to defend and recover from attacks on networks, systems, and applications. This article focuses on three key aspects of cyber-security: identity and access management, IoT security, and Honey pots. Let's explore these topics and how they can help your business. We'll also look at how WiCyS is working to make cybersecurity more inclusive.

Cybersecurity is the application of tools, technologies

Today, organizations capture and process massive amounts of sensitive and confidential information. Even a small business can accumulate thousands of customer records in a matter of months. The more information an organization collects, the greater its risk of attack from a cyber-criminal. Threat actors are becoming more organized and systematic as well. These organizations include advocacy groups and even government departments devoted to cyberespionage.

IoT security

The rise of IoT and connected devices has brought great benefits for the business, government, and health care sectors. However, the increased interconnectivity raises the stakes for cyber-security damage. With more connected devices, the more opportunities hackers have to obtain sensitive data, and a compromised device can threaten national security. Yet, most organizations and businesses are focused on the convenience and benefits of a network and its connected devices. Unfortunately, they have not taken into consideration the risks that can be associated with a growing network.

Identity and access management

While the focus of Identity and Access Management (IAM) is on protecting users, the benefits of this technology go far beyond that. By providing authentication and authorization, IAM can protect not only users but also non-human entities. Gartner suggests making non-human entities first-class citizens of the organization and managing them with cross-functional teams. By using IAM for cyber-security, companies can reduce risk and improve productivity, while simultaneously balancing security and risk reduction.

Honey pots

Known as honeypots, these systems are used to detect malicious activity and alert the company's IT department. The system is set up with a replica of the real network. A honeypot contains a variety of data, including user information and confidential data. This type of machine looks and acts like a real network and attracts hackers. It then reports any suspicious activity to the company's IT team. The system is a great way to ensure that an attack on a network does not compromise valuable information.

Intrusion-detection systems

In the field of cyber-security, intrusion-detection systems (IDS) are useful tools to identify potential threats. Essentially, SIDS create a database of intrusion signatures and compare current activities against that list. If they find a match, they will raise an alarm. These systems use a mathematical logic known as "if antecedent, then consequent" to determine whether a certain activity is considered an intrusion.

Email spoofing

One of the best defenses against email spoofing is the use of domain-based message authentication records, or DMARC. These records enable domains to set specific rules for email delivery and help to prevent malicious emails. DMARC also helps to identify spoofed emails and provides visibility for legitimate emails. Organizations should use DMARC along with other email standards to protect their systems from cyber-attacks.

Privilege escalation

While there are various ways to prevent privilege escalation in cyber-security, users are the weakest link. Insecure passwords, opening malicious links, and using weak passwords all pose serious risks. Organizations should conduct regular security awareness programs to keep their users aware of the potential risks. In addition, administrators should monitor privileged user accounts and passwords. Attackers use enumeration commands to gather information. By monitoring these commands, organizations can spot potential privilege escalation attempts.

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