If you think back to 2017, you may remember the major ransomware attacks called WannaCry, which affected over 200,000 systems in the world. In the UK, this greatly impacted the NHS, as 40 of its organisations were hit.
But cyberattacks don’t just affect businesses; they affect the regular internet user as well. So long as you have computer systems and are connected to the internet, then you’re at risk of cybercriminals trying to get into your system.
Because of this, you must have good cybersecurity. Why is cybersecurity important anyway? Read on to find out.
What Is Cybersecurity?
First off, what is cybersecurity exactly?
Many people already have a general concept that cybersecurity is the measures you take to make your networks secure. However, what few people know is that cybersecurity is also the measures you take to recover data should it be compromised.
This means cybersecurity is a holistic assessment of how to make your information secure and what to do should cybercrimes occur. This enables you to cut down on the vital minutes and hours to maximise the chances of data recovery and minimise damage.
Why Is It Important To Learn About Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity affects everyone who is connected to the internet. Most (if not all) people have sensitive information they want to keep private.
In order to do so, they must have proper cybersecurity in place. Or else, they risk data breaches.
Why Is Cybersecurity Important?
As you may already know, we’re a society that’s heavily dependent on technology. Much of our personal information and other types of intellectual property are in a digitised version in some shape or form.
Without cybersecurity, there’s no barrier between you and bad actors. This can lead to the leak of sensitive information, such as your bank account details or trade secrets.
As you can see, this can be devastating. Not only can it set you back, but it can also heavily damage your finances and reputation.
This can be so severe that your business may end up shuttering its windows as a result. In fact, 60% of businesses have to do so within 6 months of being hacked.
And when it comes to personal details, you can have your identity stolen and other sensitive details compromised. Not only will it take a lot of hassle to recover everything, but you might lose a fair bit in data and finances as well.
Cybercrimes Are On The Rise
Naturally, with more and more technology being invented, more cybercrime is happening as well. Unfortunately, people are always looking to exploit vulnerabilities in any type of system, and the internet is no different.
Back in the early days of the internet, social engineering was in its infancy. Social engineering is where instead of hacking your security systems directly, criminals trick you into revealing sensitive details, such as your login credentials.
Early phishing scams were laughably obvious. One you might be familiar with is the Nigerian Prince scam, where someone claims to be a royal descendent who needs to free up cash by using an American bank account. These emails were riddled with errors, which made them very easy to spot.
However, nowadays, social engineering has become much more sophisticated. In fact, they can be so cleverly done that even IT professionals can’t detect them as fake.
As you can see, this makes it extremely vital that you have good cybersecurity. A combination of both technology and personal know-how is key to decreasing any security risk in your home or office.
What Is Encryption & Why Is It Important In Cybersecurity?
Encryption is the process where information is coded. That way, if it lands in the wrong hands, the person can’t make sense of it without the right “code.”
Whenever you’re on the internet, whatever you do sends data packets out and you receive them as well. Without encryption, all your data has the potential of being picked up by cybercriminals. And if you’re doing something like checking your bank account, an unencrypted connection means someone can perform identity theft with that information.
As you can see, it’s a must to use encryption whenever you’re digitally connected. Without encryption, you practically have no cybersecurity.
Sure, you can take other measures to block fraudsters. But encryption is one of the last security measures in preventing them from obtaining your data, so if you don’t have it, attacks will have a higher chance of being successful.
Some Good Cybersecurity Practises
You’re probably now wondering what some good cybersecurity practises are. We’ll cover them briefly so you can get a good start.
For one, every device should have firewalls on and robust antivirus protection. Not only that, but they should always be updated promptly.
Another thing that can work well for cybersecurity is workplace training. If your employees know how to spot social engineering attempts, it’ll be less likely that they’ll fall for them. You can also do your own research to see what the trending attacks are so you’re more vigilant.
In general, you should choose strong passwords that aren’t dictionary words. Plus, you should use different passwords for each site; that way, if any criminals guess 1 password, they won’t gain access to multiple other accounts.
When opening emails, don’t click on links if you’re at all suspicious of them. Instead, type in the link yourself to be 100% sure you’re going to a genuine website. And if any unexpected email asks you to download a file, that’s most likely a phishing attempt so just ignore it; you shouldn’t even open the email in the first place.
In addition, you should back up all data. Do it often and have it in multiple places, including both digitally (such as on the cloud) and physically (such as on an external drive).
If you can’t be bothered with that, you can always have a professional perform this service for you so you won’t have to worry about data backup at all. They can also perform things like penetration tests to check whether or not your cybersecurity is adequate. With that information, they can help you patch up any vulnerabilities.
Keep Your Data Safe
Now you know the answer to the question: why is cybersecurity important?
The next step is to invest in good methods to prevent future data breaches from happening. Always remember that it isn’t a one-off thing; cybersecurity is an ongoing thing where you’re constantly trying to outpace fraudsters.
So take data protection seriously. If you’re diligent in safeguarding both work and personal data, then it’ll pay off when you avoid interruptions and catastrophes in both your work and personal life.
Would you like to upgrade the cybersecurity of your home or business? Then get in touch with us now.