Week 1.1: What is Cybersecurity?
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, "Cyber security is how individuals and organisations reduce the risk of cyber attack" (NCSC, 2024)
. To further elaborate, it focuses on how security experts defend devices and services
from malware, viruses, and cyber-attacks. Cybersecurity emphasizes the system's overall security, regularly checking and updating it and always adding an extra layer of protection to be safe. For example, for a company's security manager, cybersecurity means safeguarding the company's assets from cyber-
attacks. In my opinion, cybersecurity is a multifaceted field that can act as a function, task, and security and involves both crime and national security:
Function:
As a function, it defines security roles that help protect systems and data from threats, like defining security policies and managing firewalls and security audits.
Task:
As a task, it involves specific actions that safeguard information from unauthorized access, like installing antivirus and keeping it updated, conducting
security assessments and employee training for security awareness, and responding to vulnerabilities and security incidents.
Strategy:
Cybersecurity can be seen as a strategy companies adopt to keep their
assets and systems safe by developing and maintaining policies to implement a robust defense mechanism.
Crime:
Cybersecurity targets ways to avoid and minimize cybercrimes. Cybercrimes involve illegal activities like gaining unauthorized access to digital
devices and systems, stealing data, and selling sensitive information to a third party or a competitor. National Security:
Cybersecurity can also be responsible for national security as it involves protecting national and government information like confidential financial files, military communications, and intelligence operations.
Reference:
National Cyber Security Centre. (2024). What is cyber security? Retrieved from
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-ncsc/what-is-cyber-security
