components of cybersecurity

The Components Of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is not just one thing. Rather, the main components of cybersecurity make up a broader whole of it. So, it is important to understand these components to address and prevent several types of cyberattacks.

Types Of Cybersecurity Threats

Businesses are surely vulnerable to cyber threats. Therefore, it is a must to place a strong cybersecurity strategy to defend your business against these threats.
Security should be included among the top priorities of senior management.
Thus, listed below are the different types of cyber threats:

  • Social engineering – manipulates others into giving personal information, data, or money
  • Ransomware – locks and steals your data
  • Spyware – spies on your personal information, transmits them for malicious purposes
  • Adware – covers your screen with pop-ups ads and is unknowingly downloaded by the user
  • Phishing – claims to be a trusted well-known institution in an attempt to collect personal information or money
  • Computer virus – a malware that inserts its code into the code of other programs
  • Data breach – the data is taken from the system without the consent of the system’s owner
  • Advanced persistent threat – the goal is to steal information or intellectual property, etc. over a longer period

What Are The Components Of Cybersecurity?

Below are the main 5 components that make up the broader whole of cybersecurity.

Critical Infrastructure

This mainly involves all of the cybersystems that society relies on. For example, it can be an electrical grid, traffic lights, water plants, national security, hospitals, and telecommunications.


Other organizations also consider that an attack on critical infrastructure might affect them. So, it is vital to understand the vulnerabilities and plan how to protect against the threats.

Cloud Security

It’s necessary not to overlook Cloud security. Because, it has a range of security tools that help secure data better. Aside from that, you can have your data backed up to multiple locations. You can also benefit from having a team of professionals that manage your Cloud security.

Internet Of Things (IoT)

This refers to a wide network of connected devices. For example, devices like printers, cameras, and appliances connect to the internet. These devices offer limited or no security patching. Therefore, that’s what makes them a security risk.


Thus, it is important to carefully consider what devices are on the network. To avoid networking devices increasing your risk profiles.

Network Security

It is an essential element of any organization’s cybersecurity. Because they guard against malicious attacks. Network security includes the following:

  • Firewall
  • Antimalware/Antivirus software
  • Behavioral analytics that detects abnormal network behavior, and
  • Access control

Ongoing Employee Training

A vital part of the organization is the employees. Because they can keep your organization cyber secure.
Often, they are the first target of cybercrime. That’s because they can be easily accessed via email and social engineering attacks.
Therefore, employees must be confident to recognize and respond to cyber threats. So they should receive regular education about:

  • Safe web browsing and email usage
  • Unauthorized software or “shadow IT”
  • Understanding cyber threats
  • Understanding social engineering
  • How to create strong and unique passwords
  • Personal device use, and
  • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies

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