CYBER SECURITY

WHAT IS CYBER SECURITY?

Cyber security, also referred to as information technology security, focuses on protecting computers, networks, programs and data from unintended or unauthorized access, change or destruction. Computer security, also known as cybersecurity or IT security, is security applied to computers, computer networks, and the data stored and transmitted over them. The field is of growing importance due to the increasing reliance of compute systems in most societies.

WHY IS CYBER SECURITY IMPORTANT?

Governments, military, corporations, financial institutions, hospitals and other businesses collect, process and store a great deal of confidential information on computers and transmit that data across networks to other computers. With the growing volume and sophistication of cyber attacks, ongoing attention is required to protect sensitive business and personal information, as well as safeguard national security. 

During a Senate hearing in March 2013, the nation's top intelligence officials warned that cyber attacks and digital spying are the top threat to national security, eclipsing terrorism.

                                                             

                                                                                             Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. In a computing context, the term security implies cybersecurity. According to a December 2010 analysis of U.S. spending plans, the federal government has allotted over $13 billion annually to cybersecurity over the next five years.

Ensuring cybersecurity requires coordinated efforts throughout an information system. Elements of cybersecurity include:

• Application security
• Information security
• Network security
• Disaster recovery / business continuity planning
• End-user education.