What is Cybersecurity?
Before explaining what Cybersecurity is and what it refers to, it is important to define another concept, that is Cyberspace.
Cyberspace can be imagined as a technological and complex “environment”, derived from an interactive use of services on the Internet. Thanks to the interconnections between different systems, not always homogeneous with each other, the area of action typically associated to the expression “Cyber” is defined.
As in any environment, also in Cyberspace there are security issues, mostly due to the not always optimal integration and interaction between the components, may they be software, hardware or, why not, also human.
Strangely, some Cyberspace subsets could also be defined as safe within their ow borders, were they well delimited. This security, however, lapses when they interconnect with other subsets.
For this reason there are several rules which regulate connections among all assets of a company, due to technical, individual and company policy reasons.
Considering this complex scenario from the outside, everyone, also non-experts, recognizes in a striking way the fundaments of security factors (or rather insecurity), which govern the modern digital era.
Now that this concept has been clarified, it is possible to tackle the definition of Cybersecurity, to understand the interaction between different Cyberspace systems.
Cybersecurity regulation: GDPR, privacy and security standards
From a regulatory perspective, there are some international standards, such as ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission), that together form the global standardization system also in the Cybersecurity field.
In particular, the ISO/IEC 27001,27002,27032, among others, constitute the basis for a conscious and wise approach, that every organization should adopt to improve its posture and mitigate cyber risk. Also thanks to the constant execution of Cybersecurity-targeted Audits, these rules have now become the fundament for a conscious and correct approach to IT Security management.
Indeed, the technical guidelines of such rules provide the assessment activity necessary to face these risks, including the measures needed to face attacks by i.e. malware, individual malicious actors or criminal organizations on the Internet or also to identify and monitor attacks, developing then the appropriate reactions/responses.
A look at the current events and the everyday news, published also by non-specialized press, makes us face a new fact, that is: Cybersecurity now plays a key role within each structured organization, directly or indirectly involving individuals, which often end up being the most damaged actors.
That is why, to date, those who do not take Cyber risk into account or simply underestimate risks, managing Cybersecurity inadequately, will, soon or late, have to deal with the consequences of such lack of action. These consequences are often considered damaging for the consistent functioning of an organization or for the security and integrity of people and the safeguard of their privacy.
However, also thanks to the regular application of GDPR basics (General Data Protection Regulation), which covers more than just Privacy related topics, all organizations should have been sufficiently encouraged to seriously consider the application of at least the minimum measures for risk mitigation, that is: s a monitored backup policy, following the 3-2-1 rule (3 data backups in 2 different locations and 1 offline backup), together with a Disaster Recovery plan to implement in case of need.
But why is there so often talk of Cybersecurity nowadays? Unfortunately, it is not about a trend or a momentary fashion. The current situation teaches us at all levels the crucial importance of this subject and how, to a certain extent, it involves everyone, from companies to private individuals, who are users of several online services.
Actions such as booking a flight or buying a product online must not be done lightly anymore: although they might seem banal activities, they can hide pitfalls anyways.
The merging of information and communication technologies, the ease of access to cyberspace and the narrowing of personal sphere among individuals are events that get the attention of single criminal organizations. These use mechanisms such as phishing, spam and spyware, together with the development of new attack techniques, to exploit potential weak spots of human assets, which are without any doubts the weak link of the Cybersecurity Supply Chain.
The right methodology for a Cybersecurity strategy
Therefore, considering Cybersecurity as a present and real issue, let us go through the fundamental concepts that an organization must take into account:
- Apply the GDPR guidelines and eventual ISO/IEC rules.
- Raise Cyber-awareness and culture, thanks to frequent training courses at all levels within the organizations, regardless of hierarchical position or role.
- Develop software solution, always relying on the principles of Security by Design and Privacy by Design.
- Apply all defensive security measures, maximizing investments to strengthen the impenetrability of the assets, may they be more or less strategic.
- Rely on proactive software solutions, if possible based on cutting-edge technologies such es AI and ML, to monitor in real time the events occurring within a IT network.
- Rely on a Team (internal or external), which can rapidly react in case of attack and that possesses the right skills to be able to counteract the threat, possibly with the help of a SOC (Security Operation Center).
- Run frequent validation tests of the defense and security measures adopted, by commissioning to trusted Ethical Hackers different types of Penetration Test (Internal, External or Web Application), according to the surface that needs to be assessed.
Machine Learning and AI for Cybersecurity
PIKERED is presenting itself on the offensive Cybersecurity market, that is, in the last of the abovementioned list entries. We are able to guide you in choosing the best assessment type for you, thanks to our specialized and technic know how that makes us capable of simulating a real Cyberattack by our Internal Red Team.
Furthermore, ZAIUX® Evo, our software solution entirely developed by our company, can perform automated and continuous actions of Internal Penetration Test, thanks to the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.