What Is Information Security
What Is Information Security
What Is Information Security
Organizations must allocate funds for security and ensure that they
are ready to detect, respond to, and proactively prevent, attacks
such as phishing, malware, viruses, malicious insiders,
and ransomware.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality measures are designed to prevent unauthorized
disclosure of information. The purpose of the confidentiality principle
is to keep personal information private and to ensure that it is
visible and accessible only to those individuals who own it or need it
to perform their organizational functions.
Integrity
Availability
Social Engineering
Lack of Encryption
Security Misconfiguration
Active Attack
Passive Attack
In a passive attack, an attacker monitors, monitors a system and
illicitly copies information without altering it. They then use this
information to disrupt networks or compromise target systems.
Types of InfoSec
Application security
Application security is a broad topic that covers software vulnerabilities in web and mobile
applications and application programming interfaces (APIs). These vulnerabilities may be found
in authentication or authorization of users, integrity of code and configurations, and mature
policies and procedures. Application vulnerabilities can create entry points for significant
InfoSec breaches. Application security is an important part of perimeter defense for InfoSec.
Cloud security
Cloud security focuses on building and hosting secure applications in cloud environments and
securely consuming third-party cloud applications. “Cloud” simply means that the application is
running in a shared environment. Businesses must make sure that there is adequate isolation
between different processes in shared environments.
Cryptography
Encrypting data in transit and data at rest helps ensure data confidentiality and integrity. Digital
signatures are commonly used in cryptography to validate the authenticity of data. Cryptography
and encryption has become increasingly important. A good example of cryptography use is the
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The AES is a symmetric key algorithm used to protect
classified government information.
Infrastructure security
Infrastructure security deals with the protection of internal and extranet networks, labs, data
centers, servers, desktops, and mobile devices.
Incident response
Incident response is the function that monitors for and investigates potentially malicious
behavior.
In preparation for breaches, IT staff should have an incident response plan for containing
the threat and restoring the network. In addition, the plan should create a system to preserve
evidence for forensic analysis and potential prosecution. This data can help prevent further
breaches and help staff discover the attacker.
Vulnerability management
Vulnerability management is the process of scanning an environment for weak points (such as
unpatched software) and prioritizing remediation based on risk.
In many networks, businesses are constantly adding applications, users, infrastructure, and so on.
For this reason, it is important to constantly scan the network for potential vulnerabilities.
Finding a vulnerability in advance can save your businesses the catastrophic costs of a breach.
Information Security is not only about securing information from unauthorized
access. Information Security is basically the practice of preventing unauthorized
access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording or
destruction of information. Information can be physical or electronic one.
Information can be anything like Your details or we can say your profile on
social media, your data in mobile phone, your biometrics etc. Thus Information
Security spans so many research areas like Cryptography, Mobile Computing,
Cyber Forensics, Online Social Media etc.
Information Security programs are build around 3 objectives, commonly known
as CIA – Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability.
At the core of Information Security is Information Assurance, which means the
act of maintaining CIA of information, ensuring that information is not
compromised in any way when critical issues arise. These issues are not limited
to natural disasters, computer/server malfunctions etc.
Thus, the field of information security has grown and evolved significantly in
recent years. It offers many areas for specialization, including securing
networks and allied infrastructure, securing applications and databases,
security testing, information systems auditing, business continuity planning etc.
What is information security?
Information security, often shortened to infosec, is the practice, policies and
principles to protect digital data and other kinds of information. infosec
responsibilities include establishing a set of business processes that will
protect information assets, regardless of how that information is formatted or
whether it is in transit, is being processed or is at rest in storage.
Generally, an organization applies information security to guard digital
information as part of an overall cybersecurity program. infosec's three
primary principles, called the CIA triad,
are confidentiality, integrity and availability.
In short, infosec is how you make sure your employees can get the data they
need, while keeping anyone else from accessing it. It can also be associated
with risk management and legal regulations.
Network security is the protection of the underlying networking infrastructure from unauthorized
access, misuse, or theft. It involves creating a secure infrastructure for devices, applications,
users, and applications to work in a secure manner.
How does network security work?
Network security combines multiple layers of defenses at the edge and in the network.
Each network security layer implements policies and controls. Authorized users gain
access to network resources, but malicious actors are blocked from carrying
out exploits and threats.
How do I benefit from network security?
Digitization has transformed our world. How we live, work, play, and learn have all
changed. Every organization that wants to deliver the services that customers and
employees demand must protect its network. Network security also helps you protect
proprietary information from attack. Ultimately it protects your reputation.
Though network security and cybersecurity overlap in many ways, network security is most
often defined as a subset of cybersecurity. Using a traditional “castle-and-moat analogy,” or a
perimeter-based security approach – in which your organization is your castle, and the data
stored within the castle is your crown jewels – network security is most concerned with the
security within the castle walls.
In this perimeter-based scenario, the area within the castle walls can represent the IT
infrastructure of an enterprise, including its networking components, hardware, operating
systems, software, and data storage. Network security protects these systems from
malware/ransomware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, network intrusions, and
more, creating a secure platform for users, computers, and programs to perform their functions
within the IT environment.
As organizations move to hybrid and multicloud environments, their data, applications, and
devices are being dispersed across locations and geographies. Users want access to enterprise
systems and data from anywhere and from any device. Therefore, the traditional perimeter-based
approach to network security is phasing out. A zero-trust approach to security, wherein an
organization never trusts and always verifies access, is fast becoming the new method for
strengthening an organization’s security posture.
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Access Control
Network security starts with access control. If bad actors gain access to a network, they can
surveil traffic and map infrastructure. Once they have mapped infrastructure and applications,
they can launch a DDoS attack or insert malware. Access control restricts the movement of bad
actors throughout the network.
Threat Control
Even with access control in place, problems can arise. For instance, a bad actor may compromise
an employee’s credentials to gain entry. Thus the need for threat control, which operates on
traffic that is already permitted. Threat control prevents the actions of bad actors from doing
damage within the network.
Threat control technologies begin with the firewall and load balancer. These devices protect the
network from DoS/DDoS attacks. Next, IDS/IPS counters known attacks traveling through the
network. Finally, unknown malware objects traveling through the network are captured with
sandbox technologies, while anomalies in network traffic that may be symptoms of a threat are
caught with NTA/NDR.
Network segmentation
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Firewalls
Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
And more
Over 90% of cyberattacks are caused by human error. This can take the form of
phishing attacks, careless decision-making, weak passwords, and more.
Insider actions that negatively impact your business's network and sensitive data
can result in downtime, loss of revenue, and disgruntled customers.
This results in a high volume of internet traffic bombarding the website with
requests and causing it to go offline. These attacks make it difficult to separate
legitimate and compromised traffic.
Rogue security software tricks businesses into believing their IT infrastructure is not
operational due to a virus. It usually appears as a warning message sent by a
legitimate anti-malware solution.
Once a device is infected with a rogue program, the malware spams the victim with
messages, forcing them to pay for a non-existent security solution, which is often
malware. Rogue security software can also corrupt your pre-existing cyber security
programs to prolong their attack.
4) Malware
Malware are malicious software programs used to gather information about victims
through compromised devices. After successful deployments, hackers can mine
devices for classified information (email addresses, bank accounts, passwords, etc.)
and use them to commit identity theft, blackmail, or other business-damaging
actions.
Malware includes:
5) Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts files within infected systems and
holds them for ransom, forcing victims to pay for a decryption key to unlock the
data. This can take the form of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS).
6) Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are scams where hackers disguise themselves as a trusted entity
and attempt to gain access to networks and steal personal information, such as
credit card details. Phishing scams take the form of emails, text messages, or phone
calls.
7) Viruses
Taking cyber security seriously can help mitigate the chances of your company
becoming a victim of data breaches and losing money and time.
You don’t know the importance of proper network security until your company is victim
of an attack.
So what security threats does your company face? Some of the most common threats
include:
Malware
Viruses
Spyware
Adware
Trojan horses
Worms
Phishing
Spear phishing
Wi-Fi attacks
Denial of service (DOS) attacks
With so many network security threats, knowing how to protect your company is vital.
Boost access control measures by using a strong password system. You should have a
mix of uppercase and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, always
reset all default passwords.
Manual software updates can be time-consuming. Use automatic software updates for
as many programs as possible.
3. Standardize Software
Keep your systems protecting by standardizing software. Ensure that users cannot
install software onto the system without approval.
Not knowing what software is on your network is a huge security vulnerability. Make
sure that all computers use the same:
Operating system
Browser
Media player
Plugins
Install a firewall
Ensure proper access controls
Use IDS/IPS to track potential packet floods
Use network segmentation
Use a virtual private network (VPN)
Conduct proper maintenance
5. Employee Training
Sometimes external threats are successful because of an insider threat. The weakest
link in data protection can be your own employees.
Ensure your employees understand network security. Your employees should be able
to identify threats. They should also know who to contact to avoid a security breach.
Provide security training throughout the year, and be sure to update it. There are new
security risk every day.
Over the last two decades, cyberattacks have become increasingly frequent,
sophisticated, and difficult to defend against. Cybersecurity experts also believe
network security risks will continue to grow more complex and aggressive. I’ll
cover the 8 most common network security threats.
1. Malware Attacks
Malware is an all-encompassing term for malicious programs that cybercriminals
use to damage a target network. In malware attacks, the cybercriminal utilizes
malicious software to exploit security vulnerabilities and cause a data leak.
Malware attack examples include:
Computer Viruses
Trojan attacks can give a cybercriminal unauthorized access to your network, steal
sensitive data, or affect the overall system performance. In trojan horse
attacks, cybercriminals hide malware behind a legitimate email or file to deceive
you into running the program. Once you open the email or download the file, it
immediately installs malware on your system.
Adware and Spyware
Rogue software attacks start as pop-ups while you’re surfing a website. The pop-
ups carry a message informing you that your system has viruses or an out-of-date
security patch. The pop-up will prompt you to click a link to download paid
software to erase the virus or update your security. However, downloading the
software installs malware on your system.
2. Phishing
Once the cybercriminal gains unauthorized access to your system, they may
embed a rootkit in your network. A rootkit is a malware collection that hides deep
within a computer’s operating system. Rootkits give cybercriminals backdoor
access by evading standard network security measures. Cybercriminals can then
control your network, disable anti-malware, or steal your data.
3. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
The difference between DoS and DDoS attacks is that a DoS attack is carried out
by one computer, while DDoS attacks are executed by several computers
worldwide. Usually, the computers involved in a DDoS attack are part of
a botnet that the cybercriminal creates by installing malware in a previous attack.
Many websites and web applications utilize SQL servers to store user data.
Cybercriminals exploit a website’s server vulnerabilities to steal user information
and other relevant data through SQL injection attacks. A malicious actor inputs
a malicious SQL query in a web application’s input field during these attacks. The
SQL database receives the malicious query, then executes the commands
embedded within the query. As a result, this gives the cybercriminal control over
the web application.
6. Privilege Escalation
7. Insider Threats
Some security risks originate from people with authorized access to your security
system. These are known as insider threats and are commonly perpetrated by
disgruntled employees. They’re also hard to detect or prevent and are very costly
to organizations.
Now that I’ve explained the 8 common networking attack types, I’ll address some
common solutions to these attacks.
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Do you have more questions about network security threats? Check out the FAQ
and Resources sections below.
FAQ
What are the sources of a network threat?
The most effective way to detect hidden malware is to download an efficient anti-
malware software. Ensure the anti-malware solution comes complete with adware
and spyware detection and that you regularly update it to get the latest
functionalities. Additionally, run regularly scheduled scans on your system to
detect any new malware.
How does malware spread?
Malware infects your system when you download infected software from
untrusted sites or open malicious emails and attachments. Once on your system,
the malware embeds itself on different programs. Then, it spreads using your
network. So, when you send an email or file to a contact, it carries a copy of the
malware. Malware also spreads when you transfer files via USB.
One of the first lines of defense against malware and other viruses is to install antivirus
software on all devices connected to a network (Roach & Watts, 2021). Antivirus software can
detect and prevent malicious files from being installed on a system, and it should be updated
regularly to include the latest definitions.
2. Create strong passwords.
Another essential step in protecting a network is to create strong passwords. Passwords should be
at least eight characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. They should
also not be easy to guess—for instance, the user’s name or the name of the company.
3. Enforce security policies.
A third way to reduce risk of attacks on a network is to enforce security policies. Security
policies can help ensure that all devices on a network are protected against viruses and malware
and that users are using strong passwords. These policies can also restrict access to some
network regions and limit user privileges.
4. Use firewalls.
Firewalls are another essential tool in defending networks against security threats. A firewall can
help prevent unauthorized access to a network by blocking incoming traffic from untrusted
sources. Additionally, firewalls can be configured to allow only certain types of traffic, such as
web traffic or email.
5. Monitor activity.
Finally, it’s important to monitor activity on the network. Tracking logs and other data enables
suspicious activity to be identified quickly, allowing security personnel to take steps to
investigate and mitigate potential threats.