IT Security
IT security, also known as information security or computer security, is the overall protection of computer networks and systems from both physical and digital threats, as well as from any disruption or misuse of their services. It can be broadly classified into two main areas. On one hand, it protects a system against a hacker, whereas, on the other hand, it safeguards an internal system from being penetrated by a hacker. A hacker can be defined as an unauthorized person who can gain access to a system through malicious means.
To sum up, computer security can be broadly divided into two types-physical and digital-and each is more focused on its own specific area. A general definition for this is that the physical part of a system includes the hardware and software components used to run the system; while the digital part of a system, which includes the networks, storage and files of the system.
On the other hand, physical protection encompasses protecting an external network from being attacked by outsiders, and it involves the monitoring and updating of these networks to ensure maximum security and efficiency.
With regards to digital security, there are two important aspects-access control and detection-which are of equal importance in IT security. Access control refers to the process of restricting users to certain areas and restricting them to specific applications and network interfaces, while the detection part includes detecting, tracking and stopping any unauthorized use of the network or the system, in case of any suspicious activities take place.
The detection part of a system requires more than just detecting hacker intrusions; the system also needs to have a mechanism to detect and record events, and even to log keystrokes so that they can be analyzed later.
However, this is not enough for IT security. An attacker cannot penetrate a network with just a simple hacking attempt-a hacker might only need to infiltrate the system with the intention of accessing sensitive information, while also breaking into the system to carry out other tasks such as monitoring the system and stealing data. In order for this to happen, the network and the system must be compromised in some other way.
For instance, if an employee who has access to confidential information makes use of his access codes to access the system, he is guilty of unauthorized access. Similarly, if a hacker uses his hacking skills to hack into the system, he is guilty of intrusion.
Other activities such as a denial of service attacks also fall under this category; the hacker either disrupts the network in order to prevent the normal functioning of the system, or simply stops data transfer, or access to the system is temporarily disabled, while at the same time the system is left vulnerable to further attacks, either by causing information loss of data or system downtime.
The most common cause of breaches in IT security comes from employees or system administrators’ negligence or carelessness; therefore, it is important to consider the employees who manage the system as potential attackers, rather than innocent employees.
When security breaches occur, it is important to provide training to all staff on the latest threats and the best ways to prevent or defend against them. This will not only improve system security but will also help to maintain the productivity and efficiency of the company, making it more efficient. This will, in turn, increase profit margins and the productivity of an organization.