/ˌsaɪ.bər.sɪˈkjʊə.rɪ.ti/
noun — "keeping hackers out so the rest of us can keep scrolling."
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computers, networks, programs, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, damage, or theft in information technology. It encompasses policies, technologies, and processes designed to defend against digital threats, ensure data integrity, and maintain system availability.
Technically, Cybersecurity involves:
- Network security — protecting network infrastructure from intrusions, malware, and denial-of-service attacks.
- Application security — ensuring software is free from vulnerabilities and exploits.
- Information security — safeguarding data through encryption, access control, and auditing.
- Incident response — detecting, analyzing, and responding to security breaches or attacks.
Examples of Cybersecurity practices include:
- Implementing firewalls and intrusion detection systems on corporate networks.
- Encrypting sensitive data to prevent unauthorized access.
- Conducting penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Conceptually, Cybersecurity is the digital equivalent of locks, alarms, and guards—it protects valuable information and systems from malicious actors, keeping operations secure and reliable.
In practice, Cybersecurity integrates with network monitoring, logging, audit trails, and event management to provide comprehensive protection and threat detection.
See Network Monitoring, Logging, Audit Trail, Event Management, Fraud Detection.