IT Security: Types and Goals of IT Security
In an increasingly hostile digital world, companies and organizations must find ways to protect their digital assets, platforms, and virtual machines. The only way to do that is to focus on IT security.
IT security is the practice of creating an incident response plan for the purpose of eradicating cyber threats. A few types of IT security exist, and different types focus on different goals. This guide aims to educate readers on IT security types and goals.
If you’re interested in that, this is your guide. So with all that said, let’s start.
What Is IT Security?
IT security, or Information Technology Security, also known as Information Security, protects networks, devices, and systems from malicious software, security risks, and numerous other cyber threats. The overall goal of IT security is to deter threat actors from gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data.
IT security comes in many forms. Understanding these types will provide an overview of IT security’s goals. So, let’s do that.
Types of IT Security
IT security represents all the plans, measures, techniques, and methods to protect devices, systems, and networks from cyber threats. But different types of IT security plans aim to achieve different goals — something we already established.
Therefore, the easiest way to understand these goals is to look at the types of IT security specifically. Let’s begin.
Cybersecurity
The most well-known type of IT security is cybersecurity. Cybersecurity aims to stop cyber threats. However, even cybersecurity is a broad term that encompasses various practices, methods, and strategies to protect digital assets.
This also includes networks, systems, and devices, with the goal of protecting sensitive information on said assets. As a result, cybersecurity solutions are slowly becoming the go-to solutions for total protection.
Endpoint Security
Endpoint security aims to protect endpoints, such as devices. This includes desktop computers, laptops, mobile devices, tablets, and other devices. Through endpoint security, organizations gain increased visibility into malicious activity.
Endpoint security aims to work hand-in-hand with cybersecurity and protect user devices on the cloud. In addition, endpoint security provides increased visibility into cloud security and who has access control over devices.
Cloud Security
Cloud security encompasses all the security measures to protect an organization’s cloud infrastructure. This includes strategies, methods, and solutions. Cloud security solutions are very popular for securing cloud-based services, such as Google Workdesk and Office 365.
Network Security
Network security aims to stop security threats posing a danger to an organization’s network and critical infrastructure. The term encompasses solutions, tools, and practices for protecting a network’s system resources and data.
In addition, network security is used to stop cybersecurity threats.
Application Security
Application security is different from other types of security, as this type of IT security focuses on protecting applications. The way application security works is simple. First, developers will examine an app’s code and identify weaknesses. Then, the developers would patch these weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Application security is necessary for organizations and businesses that build their own applications for business operations. Therefore, application security is essential for providing authorized users and guests with exceptional user experience, in addition to protecting the apps themselves.
Identity Security
The last IT security type we will discuss is identity security. Identity security includes methods, practices, and strategies to protect, identify, and verify devices, users, groups, apps, and functions. Identity-based security is essential for ensuring users’ validity and that only authorized users can access network resources and computer systems.
What are the Most Common Security Risks?
Understanding the most common security risks will increase visibility over the malicious software hackers use to bypass IT security. So, let’s explain that.
Phishing Attacks
One of the most common security risks is phishing. Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that tricks users into running malicious software, opening malicious websites, and downloading malicious files.
The majority of phishing attacks rely on the user trusting the hacker to perform one of these actions. Email is the preferred attack vector for phishing and various similar social engineering risks.
Ransomware
Ransomware ranks as the most devastating security risk an organization could face. That’s because ransomware can completely bypass an organization’s IT security measures and compromise entire networks.
Ransomware attacks lock the user out of their system and demand a ransom in exchange for giving access back. If the victim doesn’t pay the ransom, the hacker might delete all the data from devices. Therefore, it’s integral to have backups in case of a ransomware attack. Furthermore, backups are essential data security practices that can completely negate the damages from various advanced persistent threats.
Surveillance Malware
Most malware is designed to lock users out of their systems or gain confidential information. One such malicious software is surveillance malware. Surveillance malware is designed to spy on the user and gain unauthorized access to steal sensitive information.
Surveillance malware can also be used as a form of staging malware where hackers spy on victims before initiating malicious attacks.
Conclusion
Now that you know the types of IT security and the goals of each one, you are one step closer to understanding how cyberthreats and hackers operate. Education is one of the most important aspects of IT security, as it makes us better equipped to stop potential threats.
We’ve also included the three most common security risks to help you formulate security strategies and better protect your systems, networks, and devices.
