What is cybersecurity for dummies? Also, how does it work?
Cybersecurity sounds difficult to some. If you look it up in a dictionary, it gives you a straight-up definition.
But, it actually means different things to different people in different situations. Yes, as complicated as it may seem. So, it has extremely different ways, policies, and practices.
For example, companies think of cybersecurity as having technologies and policies. So, they can protect networks and computers.
But, it can be as simple as protecting social media accounts for individuals. So, hackers won’t take over it.
Typically, cybersecurity means different meanings. So, it has different applications and responsibilities. But, what are these?
Cybersecurity for Dummies: Definition to Different People
Cybersecurity involves protecting information. Yet, it’s not the same with information security. How so?
Let’s consider an illustration to help us understand.
For example, you wrote down your password on a piece of paper. Then, you left that paper on your desk.
Obviously, other people can see it, whether intentionally or not. So, you violated an information security principle. Yet, it results in cybersecurity consequences, like getting hacked.
For individuals, it means protecting your own data. So, other people can’t access it if you don’t allow it to.
For small business owners, cybersecurity means securing your customers’ credit card data and more. So, your point-of-sale registers are secured.
For online business firms, it means securing your services. So, untrusted outsiders and clients can’t have access.
For service providers, cybersecurity is about protecting data centers and servers. So, they can ensure the privacy of their data.
For the government, it includes data classifications. It also involves policies that they can impose on other organizations.
But, there is a common ground. They have to protect something valuable to them.
Now the question is, why do we need cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity for Dummies: The Importance
Cybersecurity is crucial today. Why?
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, hackers did not let their hands rest. In fact, cybercrime increases up to 600% during the pandemic.
So, cybercrime is a global issue now. Thus, we need cybersecurity now more than ever.
For one, it helps prevent hackers from stealing data. Knowing cybersecurity basics also helps us know about the risks of our actions. So, we can do something about it.
For many of us, this should be a wake-up call. Still, many people don’t realize how important cybersecurity is.
Just one click of a suspicious email can lead to crippling results. For individuals, it means the loss of their files. But for companies, it leads to a loss of everything. Money, reputation, files, and trust.
Cybersecurity also presents different sets of goals. So, what are these?
Cybersecurity for Dummies: The CIA Triad
The goal of cybersecurity is to ensure the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) of data.
- Confidentiality means keeping information private.
- Integrity means keeping information accurate and complete.
- Availability means keeping the information accessible.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity has different meanings from different viewpoints. But the main point is that we need it badly now.
We don’t want to lose our files to hackers. So, we have to learn more about cybersecurity.
