Cybersecurity focuses on preventing threats to IT systems. These threats can include malicious software (malware) that can cause damage to IT infrastructure.
Almost every aspect of business and life today involves computers. This includes things like internet-connected doorbells, thermostats and vacuum cleaners. It’s also common for employees to work remotely.
1. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
A central component of cybersecurity, identity and access management (IAM) ensures that only the right people have the right access to devices, software applications, and IT resources. It’s a complex task that encompasses centralized rules, scalable access privileges, and identity processes.
IAM solutions allow employees, contractors, customers, and business partners to securely access company networks, apps, and systems on their own machines. It also improves productivity and helps businesses comply with compliance standards, including those requiring multifactor authentication.
It is essential to perform an assessment of current and legacy systems prior to implementing an IAM solution. This will help determine a framework for assessing access privileges and prioritizing security hardening efforts in your network. It will also assist in establishing goals for your IAM system’s long-term roadmap.
2. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
Security information and event management (SIEM) software detects threats and alerts the organization. It combines and analyzes log data from multiple security tools, systems, networks and firewalls. It also incorporates user and entity behavior analytics to monitor for lateral movement, compromised accounts, and unauthorized activity.
SIEM programming uses a statistical model to collect and record data from security gadgets, host frameworks and third-party tools. It likewise performs normalization to reduce useless data that occupies storage space and helps in retaining relevant information for analysis and reviews.
The right operational guidelines allow a well-functioning SIEM system to prevent and quickly respond to cybersecurity incidents. This includes implementing an incident response plan which defines people who are responsible, escalation processes and troubleshooting approaches to ensure that threats are addressed quickly.
3. Threat Detection and Response (TDR)
Threat detection and response (TDR) is an area of cybersecurity focused on identifying, investigating, and responding to cyber threats. This includes everything from phishing attacks and ransomware to zero-day threats, data breaches, and more.
TDR tools and tactics should aim to prevent attacks rather than simply identify them after they’ve occurred. This includes regular assessments and system evaluations to spot weaknesses that attackers can exploit.
Effective threat detection requires full attack vector visibility across an organization’s IT infrastructure, including on-premises, mobile, and cloud systems as well as Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It also involves effective malware detection, which must include the ability to detect polymorphic and evasive attacks with artificial intelligence and sandbox-based content analysis techniques. This should be done alongside automated response capabilities to speed decision-making and mitigate threats without straining strained security teams.
4. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data loss prevention includes a broad set of tools and practices to protect data from unintentional or malicious misuse. These include encryption to prevent unauthorized access to data while at rest or in transit, as well as security policies and procedures that educate employees on the need for care and caution.
The goal is to prevent sensitive data from being lost or stolen, whether by email, USB drive, cloud storage applications, collaboration apps, or any other means. It also ensures that any data that leaves the company’s digital environment is securely transferred to third parties. This is essential for maintaining compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA. It also helps reduce risk from insider threats by detecting and highlighting nefarious activities. These include shady email attachments, suspicious file names, and data movement patterns that indicate a potentially malicious intent.
5. Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
Business continuity planning (BCP) is a strategy to restore business processes after a disaster. It helps prevent financial losses, damaged reputations and lost customer confidence. It is a subset of risk management.
It begins with a business impact analysis and a risk assessment. These assess how critical processes would be impacted by a disaster, what the loss could be and determine the steps needed to minimize downtime.
Companies should also test the plan. This testing should include tabletop exercises, structured walk-throughs and simulations. It is a good idea to interview employees that have been through a disaster and ask them about their “war stories.” BCP is a continually evolving process, and many organizations use tools to help them with the task. These can range from consultants to software.