Cybersecurity has become a central issue as digital technologies play a bigger role in everyone’s lives. Headlines about cybercrime populate the news, but what is cybersecurity and why is it important? Here’s everything you need to know:
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, devices and data from damage, loss or unauthorized access. Just as physical security protects buildings and the people in them from various physical threats, cybersecurity safeguards digital technologies and their users from digital dangers.
Cybersecurity is a broad topic, covering many different disciplines, actions, threats and ideas. However, these parts come back to the same idea: protecting people’s digital lives and assets. Things like digital currency, data and access to some computers are valuable targets for criminals, so protecting them is crucial.
Think of how many different things today use digital technologies and data. It’s a massive category, so there are various types of cybersecurity, too. Here are a few examples:
- Network security: Protects computer networks like home Wi-Fi or a business’s network from threats
- Application security: Ensures programs and apps repel hackers and keep users’ data private
- Cloud security: Focuses on the cloud, where users and businesses store data and run apps online using remote data centers