Amazon allows me to offer the Kindle eBook for free for 5 days every 90 days, which I have been doing since I published the book to help small and midsize businesses increase their cybersecurity posture.
I published this book with the vision of "a future where all organizations, large and small, can make better and informed decisions to protect their people, processes, and technology from cyber threats".
Maybe the Blanc brothers' hack was not so innovative compared to today's cyber attacks, but it did indicate that data was always at risk. And, with the digitization of data in all shapes and forms, operations, and transport mechanisms (networks), the attack surface is huge now. It is now the responsibility of the organization and the individuals to keep the data, network, and computer infrastructure safe.
Fast forward another two decades to 2010, and the world saw what it never imagined could happen: an extremely coordinated effort to create a specifically crafted piece of software, Yes Software, which was purpose-built to target the Iranian nuclear facility. It was targeting Industrial Control Systems, otherwise known as ICS. This was designed only to target a specific brand and make of ICS by Siemens, which controls centrifuges in a nuclear facility to manage their speed. It is presumed that it was designed to deliver onsite, as per some reports, because the Iranian facility that it was targeting was air-gapped. This was one of its kind industrial cyber espionage.The malware was purpose-built so that it would never leave the facility of the nuclear plant. However, somehow, it still made its way out to the internet, and there is still speculation as to how. It took researchers many months after its discovery to figure out the working principle of the malware. It's speculated that it took at least a few years to develop to a fully functional working model. After the Stuxnet, we have witnessed many similar attack patterns in forms of Duqu, and Flame, and it's believed by some experts in this field, that malware similar to these are apparently still active.
The attack surface also brings in another term, threat landscape. We, in the cybersecurity community, talk about it every day. Threat landscape can be defined as the collection of threats that are observed, information about threat agents, and the current trends of threats. It is important that every security professional keeps track of the threat landscape. Usually, many different agencies and security vendors will release such threat landscape reports, for example, ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security), and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), along with some of the big security corporations.
With every passing day, the network of connected devices is increasing, and, while this growth of connectivity continues to grow bigger, the risk of exposure is also increasing. Furthermore, it is no longer dependent on how big or small the businesses are. In today's cyberspace it is hard to establish if any network of application is not prone to attacks, but it has become extremely important to have a sustainable, dependable, and efficient network system, as well as applications. Properly configured systems and applications will help reduce the risk of attack. But it might not ever be able to eliminate the risk of attack completely.
With the rise of technologies, most corporations and business houses are moving towards adapting newer and newer technologies to be in the race to keep their businesses ahead of the competition, and enhancing customer experience. With this also comes the potential risk of cybersecurity.
In this chapter, we explored the various aspects of the internet and how digitization has brought in a new era of cyber crimes and attacks. We also learned about the history of cyber attacks, which broke our usual belief that cyber crimes started a few decades ago. As we progressed, we learned about the various aspects of cloud computing and how it brings data under threat.
By reading this chapter, you will clearly have understood the importance of security in the current technological landscape, gained visibility of the cybersecurity landscape, and how organizations, as well as individuals, can protect data from being stolen. This knowledge is useful in identifying potential threat areas and designing a defensive game plan.
As we continue the discussion, we will explore the evolution of security from legacy systems to machine learning, AI, and other turnkey technologies. This will help us gain an insight about the past, present, and future of cybersecurity.
This book provides an easy insight into the essentials of cybersecurity, even if you have a non-technical background. You may be a business person keen to understand this important subject area or an information security specialist looking to update your knowledge.
The WSTG is a comprehensive guide to testing the security of web applications and web services. Created by the collaborative efforts of cybersecurity professionals and dedicated volunteers, the WSTG provides a framework of best practices used by penetration testers and organizations all over the world.
Cybersecurity is the ability to protect or defend the use of cyberspace from attacks. If you are new to cybersecurity, we suggest you review the training products in the order listed to develop a foundation in cybersecurity concepts and principles. After reviewing these training products, additional training is available on this webpage to expand your knowledge and skills.
ISO/IEC 27002 is an international standard that provides guidance for organizations looking to establish, implement, and improve an Information Security Management System (ISMS) focused on cybersecurity. While ISO/IEC 27001 outlines the requirements for an ISMS, ISO/IEC 27002 offers best practices and control objectives related to key cybersecurity aspects including access control, cryptography, human resource security, and incident response. The standard serves as a practical blueprint for organizations aiming to effectively safeguard their information assets against cyber threats. By following ISO/IEC 27002 guidelines, companies can take a proactive approach to cybersecurity risk management and protect critical information from unauthorized access and loss.
Essentials Series is a Gateway for any student, fresher, or professional from any industry to enter a cybersecurity career and build that rewarding career. Learn in-demand technical skills and meet the growing demand of cybersecurity professionals with 3 all-new certifications from EC-Council.
While free cyber security courses are an effective way to acquire knowledge and competencies, additional certification and degrees can boost your career opportunities. Recognized certifications and professional education in cyber security are highly valued by employers. It is recommended to combine free courses with additional cyber security pathways to strengthen your cyber security profile. Meanwhile, you can also go through the VAPT to explore the career path.
Sam Grubb is a cybersecurity consultant for a managed service provider that works with a large variety of clients. He has six years of experience teaching cybersecurity to both adults and teenagers and holds several cybersecurity certifications, including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.
Cybersecurity never sleeps. The threat environment and technologies used to defend against it are constantly evolving, making it imperative for cyber professionals to stay on top of the latest news, information and alerts.
NextGov provides news, analysis and insights on emerging technologies and their impact on the U.S. federal government. Anyone who works in or is interested in public sector IT, cybersecurity and compliance in the United States should have NextGov on their daily reading list.
A leading cybersecurity news site, Dark Reading provides in-depth analysis, breaking news, and expert perspectives on cybersecurity issues, along with informative whitepapers, webinars and other resources.
Consumers can actively reduce cyber-attacks by selecting good passwords of between 8-12 characters, including both uppercase and lowercase letters, at least one number, and a unique character. Another method is to use a phrase or short sentence.
10. Cybersecurity For Dummies. This book by Joseph Steinberg is a great book for beginners wanting to learn about how to become cyber secure and what the potential threats are and how to protect yourself from them.
A security or cybersecurity consultant could work directly for an organization, or, as the name suggests, work for client organizations that provide consulting services. If the latter is the case, the person must be able to adapt to working within specific industries, such as banking, retail, healthcare, hospitality, etc. The end goal? Come up with emergency plans and security measures for their clients.
The cost of cybercrime is estimated to be around $10.5 trillion by 2025. From small and medium businesses to large enterprises, businesses across a variety of industries are being targeted. Security consultants are an integral part of protecting businesses against cybercrime.
Advanced degrees are typically not required, but according to Cyberseek, 22% of online job listings for a cybersecurity consultant position request a graduate degree. An advanced degree can help you stand out against the competition, and in some cases, they may be preferred or required by certain employers. Consider obtaining an advanced degree in information technology, cybersecurity or computer science.
In general, the demand for security and cybersecurity jobs remains high, with experts projecting 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2021. The cybersecurity market is estimated to reach $372.04 billion by 2028.
aa06259810