Breaking Down the Basics of Cybersecurity – Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October marks international Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and this year they are celebrating their 21st anniversary. What better reason is there for everyone to discuss the growing importance of digital safety??

This year’s theme - “Secure Our World”?

The theme highlights the importance of taking the initiative to safeguard sensitive information by improving cybersecurity practices. Whether you use digital platforms for personal use or as a business owner, the safety of your online space is a must. ? We have zero control over the malicious actors, but it is our responsibility to understand the basics of cybersecurity. This way we can effectively safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized use. ? ?

This blog underlines the importance of cybersecurity and explains the CIA triad for more safety from cyberattacks. ? ?

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Explaining: ‘Cybersecurity’??

Cybersecurity is a method, or a set of practices used to protect misuse of sensitive information. With the help of various technologies and processes, organizations can shield against unwarranted access. All these are used to protect networks, devices, and programs.??

There are multiple ways to ensure cybersecurity, such as the installation of antivirus software, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, and encryption.??

It is an organized structure to secure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.? ? ?

Decoding CIA Triad ? ?

CIA Triad is a cybersecurity model specifically designed to defend an organization against cyber threats. It refers to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.??

Let’s understand all three principles one by one:? ?

Confidentiality ? This principle highlights the need to maintain the confidentiality of information, allowing only authorized individuals to access it. Valuable data is safeguarded with techniques like access controls and encryption. ? ? ?

Integrity ? Integrity is about sustaining the accuracy and completeness of sensitive information. It prevents data alteration during transit and allows data tracking for security. One widely used integrity verification technique is hashing algorithms. ? ? ?

Availability ? It is all about making sensitive information available only when it is needed. Availability is ? implemented by ensuring regular software updates, creating backups, and handling hardware.? ?

Effective Cybersecurity Practices ? ?

Cybersecurity is all about maintaining some standards and following a bunch of practices to ensure complete safety. Let’s get to know some good cybersecurity practices:?

Setting a Strong Password ? Protecting sensitive data with a strong password is like adding an extra layer of security. Organizations must use unique passwords that are hard to decode. ? ?

Updating Software Regularly ? Updating your software regularly can help to keep cyber attackers at bay. As this allows pinpointing security vulnerabilities, organizations can save themselves from getting exploited. ? ?

Encrypting Data ? Data encryption prevents any third party from reading sensitive information at any time, such as during a resting period or during transit. Encrypted data cannot be accessed without a decryption key.??

Keeping Backups Regularly ? Keeping data backups allows recovery in case there is a ransomware attack or hardware failure. It ensures easy recovery and protects data.??

Ensuring Awareness Training ? Awareness training is necessary to educate employees and inform them about common cyber threats. Teaching them certain safety measures can decrease the risk of cyberattacks. ? ? ?

Some Real-Life Cyber Failures ? ?

Even when organizations make a lot of effort, data breaches still happen. Here are some examples:? ?

Yahoo Data Breach? This cyberattack happened in 2013 and is considered one of the largest breaches in history. It affected 3 billion accounts and cost around $50 million. The reason behind the attack was weak security and outdated encryption.? ? Equifax Data Breach ? The breach occurred in 2017, affecting 147 million people. It happened due to a vulnerability in a web application. It highlighted the need for vulnerability management. ? ? SolarWinds??

The cyberattack happened in 2020 affecting various organizations, including government organizations. It occurred due to a lack of multi-factor authentication and poor password management.?

Final Thoughts??

Preventing cyberattacks and data breaches is all about implementing cybersecurity measures. Even the slightest of errors can still lead to security failure and major losses.??

When it comes to malicious activities in the online world, your safety is in your hands. So, safeguard yourself from common cyber threats, practice cyber hygiene, and implement effective technical controls. Not just this; stick to the basics and update your security protocols at regular intervals.???

Let’s celebrate cybersecurity awareness month and make ourselves strong in the digital world!