Author: Ing. Euclides Quiñonez, July 26, 2023
Introduction
The power of enterprise IT security lies in protecting your most valuable digital assets. Safeguard confidential information, prevent cyber attacks and ensure operational continuity. Provides trust to customers and partners, strengthening corporate reputation. It is a fundamental pillar to promote innovation and sustainable growth of the company in an increasingly complex digital environment.
In today’s business world, where technology and digitization are essential for competitiveness and success, the vast majority of companies have information stored in computer systems or in cloud systems; Therefore, the protection of databases and equipment against attacks or intruders is very important both for the company’s activity and for its reputation. Today, all companies pay great attention and efforts to computer security, to protect digital assets, safeguard customer privacy and trust.
While technological evolution has undeniably brought countless opportunities for business growth, it has also created increased exposure to cyber risks such as hacker attacks, data theft, and insider threats.
This article deals with information security and its role in the protection of digital assets, privacy and customer trust.
What is computer security?
Computer security or cybersecurity is the discipline that is responsible for guaranteeing the privacy and integrity of information stored in computer systems. It is made up of practices, policies, procedures, equipment and technologies that aim to protect information systems, equipment, networks, software programs, and data of an organization against threats, cyber vulnerabilities.
Its scope ranges from the prevention and detection of attacks to the mitigation of their effects and recovery from possible security incidents, taking into account that Cybersecurity is a complex and changing field because it is closely linked to technological advances and new risks that appear.
In practical terms, cybersecurity can be thought of as the security of the entire computing space, from the information asset to the information user, including all components in between. The user does not need to be a human, as a result, cybersecurity also covers communications between data processing systems.
Importance of cybersecurity in companies
It is estimated that there is a computer attack in the world every 39 seconds, this leads us to ask ourselves, are we sure that we have an optimal system that prevents the violation of our data? The reality is that many servers do not have the necessary guarantees to certify timely security.
Companies store information such as bank accounts, financial management, customer and supplier data, legal documents and confidential files, among others, which are one of their main assets. Thus, with the loss, alteration or theft of this information, the organization could be seriously harmed, even causing great financial damage and affecting its reputation. These are the reasons why companies must have a solid, reliable and permanently updated computer security system.
types of computer security
Cybersecurity covers different contexts and can be subdivided into three types of computer security:
- Network security: It serves to protect a network and the data that is transmitted through it. Antivirus, firewalls or antispyware are responsible for preventing virus attacks, worms, spy intrusions or information theft.
In modern computing infrastructure, data is likely to be in motion and at rest. This is where network security comes into play. While technically a subset of cybersecurity, network security is primarily concerned with the company’s network infrastructure. It covers topics such as securing the edge of the network, data transport mechanisms such as switches and routers, and those pieces of technology that provide protection for data as it moves between computing nodes .
- Hardware security: Protects equipment against possible intrusions, tampering or theft. Here, the physical security of the machines, the energy systems that feed them and the devices that a company has, are taken into account, keeping them in safe spaces such as locked rooms, installation of security systems such as alarms and video cameras, among others. Password protection, backup copies or UPS systems are also included to avoid system crashes.
- Software security: It is in charge of safeguarding the information stored in computer systems. It is mainly in charge of blocking and preventing malicious attacks by hackers, in the programs and data of the company that must apply the best software security practices, such as the following:
There is a wide variety of software security tools and solutions. As with any other security practice, you will need to create a strategy to ensure that your software security solutions remain relevant and work to your advantage.
- Keep your software current and with the corresponding revisions
Security services and tools can help software users keep up with the maintenance and inventory of a wide range of programs.
- least privileges
Least privilege is the concept of giving software users minimal access to programs in order to get their work done. In other words, don’t give them access to features, access rights, and controls they don’t need to use.
- Automate software security tasks
Large companies or corporations cannot manually keep track of the wide range of tasks they need. IT departments need to automate common tasks that are important to computer security software, such as security settings, firewall change analysis, and more. To automate, companies need to invest in the right software security tools and solutions that automatically update and detect new viruses. These security software must contain an antivirus program, a firewall, an anti-spam filter, content filtering software, anti-advertising software and website control.
- Educate
Software security risks don’t disappear with the push of a button. Educating employees is an important part of ensuring software security and minimizing software vulnerabilities.
It is important to teach employees to recognize signs of security attacks, phishing attempts, among others.
- Document, monitor and measure
Your software security policies must be available for all users to have access and a deep understanding of the processes involved, and you must also track and ensure that users are implementing practices related to computer security software.
Digital Asset Protection
In the digital age, digital assets are critical elements for many companies. These include confidential business data, intellectual property, trade secrets, financial and strategic information, among others. Computer security plays a fundamental role in protecting these assets, preventing their unauthorized access, modification or deletion.
Security solutions, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption, help safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of information, thereby reducing the risk of loss or theft of digital assets. Additionally, adopting secure software development and patch management practices ensures that known vulnerabilities are addressed before cybercriminals can exploit them.
Safeguard customer privacy
Customer privacy is a growing concern in the digital age, where the collection and use of personal data is rampant. Companies must demonstrate their commitment to privacy, ensuring that their customer data is protected from unauthorized access and used only for the purposes for which it was collected.
Computer security provides the necessary bases to guarantee customer privacy. Compliance with privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, which is considered the most stringent privacy and security law in the world. Although it was drafted and approved by the European Union (EU), it imposes obligations on organizations anywhere, as long as they target or collect data relating to individuals in the EU. The GDPR imposes stiff fines on those who violate its privacy and security standards. Transparency in data management and clear communication about privacy policies help build customer trust and protect their personal information.
Contribution to Business Growth and Success
Cyber security is not just about defending against cyberattacks, but can also drive business growth and success in a number of ways:
- Market Differentiation: Companies that stand out for their strong security posture have a competitive advantage over their competitors. IT security can be a decisive factor in winning customers or business partners who consider data protection as an important criterion in their selection.
- Reliable Innovation: Innovation is essential for growth, but it must go hand in hand with security. Companies that can demonstrate that they have integrated security into their product and service development processes are viewed as more trustworthy by customers.
- Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with security regulations and standards is increasingly relevant for companies operating in various sectors. Computer security facilitates regulatory compliance, avoiding sanctions and damage to the reputation of the company.
Conclusions
Computer security is a transformative force in the modern business world. Its impact on the protection of digital assets, customer privacy and trust, and its contribution to the growth and success of companies are essential for sustainable development in today’s digital landscape.
Businesses should view IT security as a strategic investment, rather than an expense. By prioritizing security, organizations can protect their most valuable assets, build customer trust, comply with regulations, and seize growth opportunities in the digital world. IT security must be a shared responsibility among all employees, from senior management to technical and non-technical staff, to build a strong and lasting security culture. Ultimately, a proactive approach to information security will help companies be better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the business future.
References
Own source
Loading...
