The practice of cybersecurity involves protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. The aim of these cyberattacks is usually to access, alter, or destroy sensitive information, extort money from users, or interrupt normal business processes. The proliferation of devices and increasingly innovative attackers make implementing effective cybersecurity measures especially challenging today.

Types of Cybersecurity Threats:

• Phishing – Phishing is the practice of sending fraudulent emails that resemble emails from reputable sources. It is designed to steal sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and login information. Cyberattackers use this technique frequently. Education and technology solutions that filter malicious emails can help you protect yourself.
• Ransomware – Ransomware is a malicious program. By blocking access to files or the computer system until the ransom is paid, it is designed to extort money. The ransom cannot guarantee the recovery of the files or the restoration of the system.
• Malware – Malware is a type of software designed to gain unauthorized access or to cause damage to a computer.
• Social Engineering – Social engineering is a tactic that adversaries use to trick you into revealing sensitive information. They can solicit a monetary payment or gain access to your confidential data. Social engineering can be combined with any of the threats listed above to make you more likely to click on links, download malware, or trust a malicious source.
• Spear Phishing – Spear phishing is a type of phishing attack that has an intended target user, organization or business.
• Insider Threats – Insider threats are security breaches or losses caused by humans — for example, employees, contractors or customers. Insider threats can be malicious or negligent in nature.
• Distributed Denial of Service Attacks – Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are those in which multiple systems disrupt the traffic of a targeted system, such as a server, website or other network resource. By flooding the target with messages, connection requests or packets, the attackers can slow the system or crash it, preventing legitimate traffic from using it.
• Advanced Persistent Threats – Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are prolonged targeted attacks in which an attacker infiltrates a network and remains undetected for long periods of time with the aim to steal data.
  Man-in-the-middle Attacks – Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks are eavesdropping attacks that involve an attacker intercepting and relaying messages between two parties who believe they are communicating with each other.

Why is Cybersecurity Important?

Modern cyberdefense programs benefit everyone in today’s connected world. Cybersecurity attacks can result in a variety of results for individuals, from identity theft to extortion attempts to the loss of family photos. Power plants, hospitals, and financial service companies provide essential infrastructure to everyone. Our society cannot function without securing these and other organizations.

Likewise, we all benefit from the work of cyberthreat researchers, such as the team of 250 threat researchers at Talos, which investigates new cyber threats and attacks. New vulnerabilities are exposed, cybersecurity is emphasized, and open source tools are strengthened. Their efforts make the Internet safer for everyone.

Benefits of Cybersecurity:

The benefits of implementing and maintaining cybersecurity practices include:

• Business protection against cyberattacks and data breaches.
• Protection for data and networks.
• Prevention of unauthorized user access.
• Improved recovery time after a breach.
• Protection for end users and endpoint devices.
• Regulatory compliance.
• Business continuity.
• Improved confidence in the company’s reputation and trust for developers, partners, customers, stakeholders and employees.

Cybersecurity Vendors and Tools:

Midland IT offers a variety of security products and services. Common security tools and systems include:

• Identity and access management (IAM)
• Firewalls
• Endpoint protection
• Antimalware
• Intrusion prevention/detection systems (IPS/IDS)
• Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Endpoint detection and response
• Security information and event management (SIEM)
• Encryption tools
• Vulnerability scanners
• Virtual private networks (VPNs)
• Cloud workload protection platform (CWPP)
• Cloud access security broker (CASB)