Why Cybersecurity Is More Important Than Ever in 2023

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Computer systems owned and run by private corporations as well as municipal, state and federal governments are assaulted by hackers daily.

There are phishing scams, malware is spread and data breaches release sensitive information to the public.

Any of these can be disastrous. More than ever, cybersecurity is essential to any entity that operates a computer network.

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a third-party program of training, certification and assessment for companies that contract with the Department of Defense.

As they handle sensitive information that is part of the Defense Industrial Base, these companies are subject to a CMMC audit periodically.

This is done in full compliance with Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) guidelines.

Types of Cybersecurity Threats

There are many types of attacks utilized by hackers. Cybersecurity experts must be vigilant to keep up with the everchanging threats computer systems face.

Some of the more common attacks are:

Phishing

This is where fake emails or texts are sent out. They appear to be from a reputable source but their intent is to steal log-in credentials and other sensitive information from the recipients.

Spear Phishing

This is a phishing scam that is targeted at a specific person or business.

Malware

Malware includes spyware, Trojan horses and worms. These are programs that install themselves into a computer system with the intent of causing harm to the user. They may collect information and send it to the hacker or shut down parts of or the entire system.

Ransomware

This is an attack designed to get money from the victim. The software shuts down a system through the use of encryption. The attacker then demands a ransom in exchange for restarting the system.

Social Engineering

This attack employs interaction with users to trick them into providing access to sensitive information.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) – A DDoS attack involves flooding a server with so many messages that it crashes and is unable to serve actual users.

Cybersecurity Benefits

Using a computer network in your business without cybersecurity is just asking for trouble. Cybersecurity should be maintained and updated regularly to be effective. Some of the benefits are:

Protection for the network and its data.
Protection for users and their devices.
Protection against breaches of data.
Faster recovery time should a breach occur.
Compliance with regulations.
Building trust with customers who can be confident their data is safe.

The Use of Automation

The cybersecurity industry faces a shortage of personnel. With the number of threats continually growing, this can be problematic for potential victims.

As such, automation is commonly used to aid in the detection of cyberattacks. Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms can be programmed to recognize known threats through the analysis of data.

AI needs no breaks, food or rest and so can be on the job constantly. It can also be programmed to predict and recognize new threats. AI can set off alarms to let human cybersecurity professionals know when a threat has been detected. These threats can be graded as