The convenience of technology allows users to work efficiently, talk to friends and relatives, manage individual finances as well as keep their businesses running with just a click of a hand through digital devices. Therefore, data protection must be the top priority from the organization down to the individual level. The relevance of cybersecurity is that it protects sensitive information, files, and systems including servers and networks from cyber threats and attacks. A successful cyber attack can lead to the theft of personal data, economic loss, and harm to the organization’s reputation.
The Confidential, Integrity, Availability (CIA) Triad allows organizations to have a point-of-view of cybersecurity. It starts with the principles of confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility. Confidentiality permits recognized authorities to have access to highly-sensitive information. Meanwhile, integrity permits authorized people to create changes, add, and remove sensitive information. Availability allows access to data, networks, and systems for authorized people upon the request of clients or constituents.
If there were threats within the CIA triad the organization should launch defense and strengthen security to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data, networks, and systems.
Evolving Technology
In the early 20th century, the word technology pertains to transferring ideas to tools and machines to change and manipulate the environment. Modern technology helps users to multi-task day-to-day activities. Innovations such as a switch from hard drive to cloud storage for easier data backup and sharing files remotely as one of the advantages.
New cybersecurity methods paved the way to prevent cyber threats and attacks. Organizations claim that cloud misconfigurations have been their top-one security problem. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help detect such misconfigurations and malicious activities. It can then be programmed to apply security responses while sending notifications to authorized personnel. However, with the same technological advantage, cyber attackers may also use AI to launch attacks. It's an unending cybersecurity arms race. Thus, organizations and their cybersecurity team must continue to evolve and innovate to maintain assets secured.
Business Operations
Business operations have been developed through the years. Technology offers increasing employees’ productivity and efficiency, sales monitoring, and data management while reducing the risk of profit loss. A company that has a reputable portfolio and secured system attracts investors.
However, no one is safe from cyberattacks. In 2022, Cyber Risk Kroll reported that three in four businesses in the Philippines experienced cyber attacks with the results of Malware and Phishing as the top leading cyber attacks. In addition, larger organizations are more at risk for cyber attacks compared to small enterprises. These attacks caused businesses to spend millions to billions of dollars to retrieve and recover.
Increase in Cyber Attacks
The technology is not safe from criminals, waiting for an opportunity to introduce network damage to larger attacks such as stealing giga to terabytes of sensitive information from cloud storage. It was reported that 93% of the criminals can illegally gain access to the organization's network, and these criminals can work their way for only two days starting from external networks to attack the system.
There is an increase in cybercrime because these criminals take advantage of trust and most of all the lack of people’s awareness to protect their data through Phishing and social engineering. On top of that, cybercriminals can easily run away from the jurisdiction and law due to outdated policies and the defense of the government. Furthermore, the impact of cyberattacks on organizations is the economic loss that may disrupt business to cope with the recovery, while experiencing a loss of consumers' and investors' trust, and the cost of recovery including fines for data breaches and hiring third-party risk management solutions.
Cybercrimes are preventable, and to protect organizations as well as personal data, here are some tips:
Increase awareness. Follow reputable and credible sources that offer free cybersecurity crash courses, webinars, or social media posts. These content creators regularly give updates on the latest activities related to cybersecurity.
Update the software regularly. The operating system of digital devices usually sends users notifications to update. Most of the time, these updates have increased security features.
Apply a two-factor authentication. Google Mail and social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have the option for two-factor authentication. A text message or email confirmation will be sent to users once logged in from new devices.
Enroll employees to boot camps. These boot camps will train the employees to spot malicious activities such as malware, phishing, and social engineering tactics of cyber criminals and at the same time train them to properly display defense.
Cybersecurity remains relevant because it protects everyone’s data. It prevents data breaches and damages and maintains organizations’ integrity. Cybercrime exists because of criminals that aim to gather sensitive information to earn income illegally and use leaked information for more heinous crimes that they can easily get away from. However, with a continuous team and personal effort, cybercrime can be prevented.
Comments